Unapologetic: Why, Despite Everything, Christianity Can Still Make Surprising Emotional Sense

Written by Francis Spufford

Narrated by Francis Spufford

Francis Spufford's Unapologetic is a wonderfully pugnacious defense of Christianity. Refuting critics such as Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and the "new atheist" crowd, Spufford, a former atheist and Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, argues that Christianity is recognizable, drawing on the deep and deeply ordinary vocabulary of human feeling, satisfying those who believe in it by offering a ruthlessly realistic account of the grown-up dignity of Christian experience.

Fans of C. S. Lewis, N. T. Wright, Marilynne Robinson, Mary Karr, Diana Butler Bass, Rob Bell, and James Martin will appreciate Spufford's crisp, lively, and abashedly defiant thesis.

Unapologetic is a book for believers who are fed up with being patronized, for non-believers curious about how faith can possibly work in the twenty-first century, and for anyone who feels there is something indefinably wrong, literalistic, anti-imaginative and intolerant about the way the atheist case is now being made.

• Language: English
• Publisher: ChristianAudio.com
• Release date: Feb 11, 2020
• ISBN: 9781545914236

Francis Spufford

Francis Spufford began as the author of four highly praised books of nonfiction. His first book, I May Be Some Time, won the Writers’ Guild Award for Best Nonfiction Book of 1996, the Banff Mountain Book Prize, and a Somerset Maugham Award. It was followed by The Child That Books Built, Backroom Boys, and most recently, Unapologetic. But with Red Plenty in 2012 he switched to the novel. Golden Hill won multiple literary prizes on both sides of the Atlantic; Light Perpetual was longlisted for the Booker Prize. In England he is a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Literature and the Royal Historical Society. He teaches writing at Goldsmiths College, University of London.

Reviews for Unapologetic

[admiralcreedy · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

One book that is probably going to be given to many and various people this Christmas, and possibly find its way on to many shelves, is the latest in the discussion generated by the so-called 'New Atheists'. This book, however, is ostensibly written by a Christian. Francis Spufford is a writer and teacher of writing, and writes "Unapologetic" because, as his subtitle goes, "Why, despite everything, Christianity can still make surprising emotional sense".An interesting premise for a book then! There are three main parts to my review - the style and writing of the book, the picture of the Christian story that Spufford paints, and his success in doing so. Firstly, and most positively, the style and writing of "Unapologetic". I love the way Spufford writes - and so, apparently, should I, as he has won awards for writing and indeed teaches writing - partly because I can so identify with the 'stream of consciousness' style in response to stimuli that he employs so successfully here. The odd swear word will put off some, but it also demonstrates the passion of the writer, and so doesn't come across like a schoolboy trying to impress his peers. This is one of the most readable books I've read this year (and I read a lot of books!), which is a commendation in itself. The writing is enjoyable, and it is easy to see what Spufford is saying, rather than flailing around between meanings, as can happen with books on a spiritual theme.Spufford paints a picture of the Christian story, a version of the Christian message, that is quintessentially british, quite Anglican, and generally hopeful. I disagree with him on some fairly key areas, but I thoroughly agree with his central premise: that Christianity makes sense. In his own admission - on the back cover in fact - this is not meant to be a technical, doctrinal apologetic, but it is a book very aware of the odd place of religion, particularly Christianity, in the UK and the West today. The opening story about his daughter is quite charming and revealing, and makes a point that many will identify with; "We're weird because we go to church". This book makes much of human sinfulness - which Spufford amusingly (and arguably quite helpfully) identifies as "HPtFtU" (or, in English, the Human Propensity to F*** things Up [first swear, please forgive me, oh invisible editors]) - which is helpful, and an excellent starting point.Where I found myself disagreeing with Spufford's presentation of the Christian message was occasionally serious - such as the existence of hell, for example - but his core message is helpful. I wouldn't recommend this book to a serious seeker, or for evangelism training, over C.S.Lewis or similar, but it is helpful. This book adds to the discussion. This, arguably, is the emotional, unfinished side of the coin that David Bentley-Hart's superb "Atheist Delusions" forms the rational/historical side of. Its also an immensely enjoyable and readable book. I don't know if I'd revisit it, but I did enjoy it, and felt it has a use.

[skybalon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An extremely interesting and readable book that fills an important niche. It has one of the more important introductions as it is written to Americans because the book originally was published in England and it helps clear up some things that otherwise would be opaque.

Ultimately Chapter 5 was my favorite, it gives a different perspective on Jesus' life than pure apologetics could ever provide. It is not maybe as complete as it could be, I honestly think a stronger case could be made, but it does a real good job as far as it goes.

It is also rare that a book like this would contain as many profanities as it does. The author explains it in the Introduction, but it still may be off putting to some US readers. If you can get past it however, it is worth the read.

[john.cooper · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Fed up with the attacks of Richard Dawkins et al. on a faith he doesn’t recognize, and knowing that he can’t assert the truth of religion on an atheist’s terms, Francis Spufford (author of 2017’s top novel Golden Hill) sets out to explain the way Christianity can satisfy the needs of an intelligent person in the modern age. Spufford writes like the somewhat more serious cousin of Nick Hornby, speaking his truth as your most articulate friend might speak it over a pint. Pointed sarcasm is not unknown here. Exasperation is honestly expressed. Arguments are made carefully, and begin with a well-nigh undeniable presentation of sin, or as Spufford calls it, the Human Propensity to F*** Things Up — HPtFtU.The book did not quite bring me back into the fold. A maybe-yes maybe-no Christian, religious but baffled, I concede the immense attraction, conceptual power, and (yes) intellectual rigor of the faith, without quite being able to assent to enough dogma to fit into an organized community of believers. Ultimately, the keystone to Spufford’s emotional connection is the power of the forgiveness offered by the Christian conception of God; this doesn’t resonate with me. But I’m glad to read such a smart, nondogmatic, passionate defense of a belief system that sorely needs defenders these days. And I highly recommend it to anyone, religious or not, who can say the word “Christianity” without giggling, sneering, or cringing.

[jsburbidge · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I am very much not the target audience for this book.In fact, I suspect that, in general, very few reviewers of apologetics are the target audience for apologetics; they are likely to be regular, if not professional, churchgoers. The best one can do is assess the book against one's own knowledge and experience.From that perspective, Spufford comes off fairly well. His narrative - and because he is providing an experiential and emotional appeal rather than a logical argument, it is a narrative - matches up fairly well with a reasonable mainstream Anglican position. (I can't assess how it would seem to somebody outside the church, having been more or less continuously involved in active parish life - choir member, server, member of synod, subdeacon - since my confirmation, and Spufford's description of experience from outside I have no parallel knowledge to compare with.)I would tweak a few things theologically - the place of hell, for example, has been radically downgraded in the past few decades (see, for example, Hans Urs von Balthasar's Dare We Hope That All Men Be Saved? With a Short Discourse on Hell) but, being a final bulwark of radical free will, has not been expunged - but what he deals with is generally solid, if rather basic.I picked this up because of Spufford's skill as a writer, and he does not disappoint.As a modern example of lay apologetics this is worth reading. The niche Lewis and Blamires filled for the C of E has been vacated by the passage of time (both start to show very much where they took specific traits of their age as universal) and this book stands up well as a successor.

[annebrooke · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Mostly unhelpful ranting, but in the midst of the guff, there's a totally brilliant chapter about Jesus, and a very powerful ending.

[dubiousdisciple · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

British Christianity just isn’t the same as our American brand. It’s funnier, raunchier, and more real … that is, if Spufford, a self-proclaimed Christian, is a legitimate example.We’re not likely to hear Spufford’s take on Christianity from the pulpit, but I wish we could. I really do. This book is a must-read. This is Christ and Christianity down off its pedestal, down in the mud and the blood. This is Jesus the way he really lived and died. It is Christians today, with our human doubts and fears and needs, the way we live and die in the real world. This is life; therefore, this is God.The kicker? Despite everything, despite the HPtFtU (Human propensity to f— things up) Christianity does still make surprising emotional sense.Francis Spufford is first and foremost a writer, as becomes evident in the opening paragraph, which is a good thing. Set aside a few hours for a captivating, picturesque read.Harper One, © 2013, 213 pagesISBN: 978-0-06-230046-1

[jandm_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Brilliant. Simply brilliant. It's the book I no longer need to write -- not that I could ever match Spufford's honesty or style in writing, and getting underneath the surface of faith. This would particularly suit someone who thinks that the Christian faith could never be satisfying, or is underneath just a nasty religion, or is just shallow wish-fulfilment.

[spbooks_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

You’ve heard of something being a breath of fresh air. Well... this book is like standing in the middle of a thunderstorm, wind trying to push you over, rain slamming into your face. It’s stunning. The author, Francis Spufford, pulls no punches and rips through the bullshit that often attends the debates around the Christianity/atheist divide. I love the fact that the author is raw and earthy, using language that’s right on the edge of decency to get his point across. For example, he defines sin as ‘The human potential to fuck things up’. Haven’t heard it defined in quite that way before - but it certainly expresses the point articulately. Spufford does not, of course, use coarse language like this all the time. That would just make the language bland and superficial. Even when he is using ‘normal’ language, his descriptions, turns of phrases, alternative perspectives, analogies, metaphors are surprising, refreshing, and often confronting. This book is not for the fluffy, rigid, fundamentalist - Christian or atheist. It’s for those who are pissed off with the run-of-the-mill, intellectualised, defensive, avoiding, unrealistic, detached-from-reality inanity the plagues debates around religion. I loved it and am now cleaning up after the brain-cleansing storm!

[hamburgerclan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've picked up a number of books over the years that make the case for why you should believe that the Bible and Jesus are true: Evidence That Demands A Verdict, Mere Christianity, What They Need to Hear. Each have their own way of approaching the truth, each have their own reasons for why Christianity is rational, if not compelling. But Unapologetic brings one thing to the table that the others lack: the F-word. No, I'm not talking about faith. I'm talking about #^@$! (Gotta watch my language. My mom might read this.) Mr. Spufford does not approach the truth with pleasant gentility. He speaks plainly and honestly, with a bit of snark. He describes a world from which vulgarity arises and presents a situation, our sinfulness, which certainly warrants such language. (In his opinion, at least.)(And mine.)But then, in his own words, Mr. Spufford also tells the story of Jesus, in all its wonder and wackiness. No vulgarity there, though he paints a picture of an earthy, utterly human messiah. Not in the Jehovah's Witness sense, but in the "true man, born of the Virgin Mary" sense. He then takes on arguments/objections that have been raised against Christian beliefs, as well as those against Christians. I love the wit and honesty that he brings to bear on the subject.All in all, I had to go out and add Unapologetic to my bookshelves. It's not a perfect book--it's lacking a clear declaration of the Gospel, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, etc. But then, that was never Mr. Spufford's intention. His hope was to present the reasonableness Christian faith to those who had never experienced it. Not being in that category, I can't judge how well he's succeeded. But I can say that he's presented my own faith in a voice that rings true and is well worth hearing.

[khiemstra631 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Critics from across the ocean have hailed Francis Spufford as the great new Christian apologist of this century. He has written a rather difficult book that probably should be read two or three times to grasp all of what he intends to convey to the reader. Two interesting points are that the book is filled with profanity, and his statement that the great majority of Christians have known for several generations that there is no such place as Hell. Uh, that is not exactly true in my neck of the woods, but I am part of a group known to him as "wacky Americans". Despite all of that, his chapter on the life and ministry of Yeshua/Jesus is really wonderful and pretty much profanity-free. At 220 pages and of a small physical footprint, it's a worthwhile read.

[maryreinert · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

've been a Christian all my live--was born and raised that way. But somewhere along the line, I decided that was really a good thing. My beliefs have changed considerably since going through junior high confirmation instruction, but amazingly they have also stayed much the same. This book is nothing short of brilliant in that it puts into words much of what I have come to believe but just didn't have the ability to express it in such a way. And although I've heard the story of the last days of Jesus thousands of times, I've never heard it told the way he does. It's as if I was hearing it for the first time.That's not to say this is an easy read by any means. Spufford makes many references that I had to look up and I even had to resort to the dictionary several times. His vocabulary is far greater than mine. Many times, I simply had to reread an entire paragraph to understand. At the same time, he often made me laugh out loud. Yes, he's irreverent in places, but irreverent to things that really don't matter. For the things that do matter, he obviously has deep respect.This is a book to keep and reread. It's not a devotional or an inspirational book. It's an objective look at a very subjective topic, told not from research or in any kind of scientific way. Spufford is obviously a very smart man, and it's very refreshing to read an intelligent and thoughtful look at Christianity and what it means to him. And what it means to him, makes makes sense to me and that is reassuring. This is not a book for everyone, but it is a book that should be explored by those that question what they believe and by those that are uncomfortable with what many call "Christianity." This isn't any kind of "new age" approach; it isn't a condemnation of anyone or any belief, it isn't political, liberal or conservative. It isn't my junior high Sunday School lesson; yet, in many ways the theme is still the same. Spufford's lesson, however, is for the adult who has realized that a twelve-year-old's faith doesn't cut it in a forty-year old's life.