Faith Unraveled: How a Girl Who Knew All the Answers Learned to Ask Questions

Written by Rachel Held Evans and Sarah Bessey

Narrated by Rachel Held Evans

From New York Times bestselling author Rachel Held Evans: a must-read for anyone on the journey of doubt, deconstruction, and ultimately faith reborn.

Eighty years after the Scopes Monkey Trial made a spectacle of Christian fundamentalism and brought national attention to her hometown, Rachel Held Evans faced a trial of her own when she began to have doubts about her faith.

In Faith Unraveled, Rachel recounts growing up in a culture obsessed with apologetics, struggling as her own faith unraveled one unexpected question at a time.

In order for her faith to survive, Rachel realizes, it must adapt to change and evolve. Using as an illustration her own spiritual journey from certainty to doubt to faith, Evans challenges you to disentangle your faith from false fundamentals and to trust in a God who is big enough to handle your tough questions.

In a changing cultural environment where new ideas seem to threaten the safety and security of the faith, Faith Unraveled is a profoundly moving, fearlessly honest, and relentlessly hopeful story of survival.

This book was previously titled Evolving in Monkey Town.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Jun 11, 2019
• ISBN: 9780310359159

Rachel Held Evans

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Held Evans (1981–2019) is known for her books and articles about faith, doubt, and life in the Bible Belt. Rachel has been featured in the Washington Post, The Guardian, Christianity Today, Slate, HuffPost, and the CNN Belief Blog, and on NPR, BBC, Today, and The View. She served on President Obama's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and kept a busy schedule speaking at churches, conferences, and universities. Rachel’s messages continue to reverberate around the world.

Reviews for Faith Unraveled

[Kristina Godau · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another winner that shows me that questions don't mean my faith is gone and that denying them is far more dangerous.

[Emilie Pacey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Really enjoyed hearing Ms. Evans read this herself - added some wonderful emotion to the words.

[hollymalinowsky92 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book takes you on the author’s journey of faith. The last few chapters felt very relatable to me.

[Aaro · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The name Rachel Held Evans pops up quite often on podcasts I follow, so I figured she was an author worth familiarizing myself with.

First off, I understand why her blog, and eventually her books, became popular. Evans writes in a very easy-to-follow, relatable, and intelligent tone. She writes about topics that most Christians who grew up in the 80s and 90s can relate to: issues related to evolution, the existence of heaven and hell, and sexuality. She writes in a familiar and reasonably humble tone, and I found myself agreeing with a lot of what she says.

My main problem with the book is that it's essentially an extended and carefully compiled blog post based on Evans' own personal experience and ruminations. It reads like Rob Bell, but a bit more personal. I have heard Evans praised for her theological thought processes and so expected a bit more substance behind her ideas. But, as the title implies, this book provides more questions than answers, which is indeed an important starting point but still leaves the reader hanging. Perhaps her other books delve into some of the possible answers. I'm planning on finding out.

[Dasia · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Such a great book. It does not shy away from asking question. What I love most about this book is Rachel’s vulnerability and honesty when it comes to sharing her back story and sharing how she evolved.

[Eila McMillin · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Delightful and engrossing. I deeply enjoyed Rachel's perspective and found it comforting to know that others too struggle to reconcile scripture with their hearts and minds. I'm just struck by how Rachel is provided such wonderful introspection, and devastated that she left Earth so soon in her life. I hope wherever she is, she is at peace.

[Chris Lane · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It is sad that the author died especially when she ended the book with so much hope for the future

[Charis DeRemer Derry · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Really hits home and brings hope amidst the struggle to still believe.

[Matthew McCarter · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Love Rachel’s perspective and honesty. I know everyone who knew and loved her misses her terribly.

[Nicole Blunt · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Refreshingly transparent from the Rachel Held Evans. Read this with an open heart, ready to explore the beauty of faith and doubt, in curiosity.

[Merle Arrowsmith · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I felt like I was listening to my own story of faith and doubt. It helps to have it articulated so well - but I'm afraid I went much further into deconstruction and have much more rebuilding still to do

[Sherry Bryant · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I knew as soon as the book started that I had read/heard it before but I couldn’t remember when. I listened to it again, loving every honest, vulnerable, heartfelt word and rejoiced that this precious young woman shared all of her ‘self’ with me.