The Doubters' Club itself (not the book) is an actual gathering of different kinds of people who meet together in different cities to have respectful discussions with each other. It began in Denver, Colorado, as a conversation between two friends, one an atheist and one a Christian.

In the book, Preston Ulmer says that the goal of the Doubters' Club is "to model friendship with people who think differently and pursue truth together. Period." It's not to convert each other to their own ideologies. There are no ulterior motives.

From Ulmer's perspective, it's a way for believers to find common ground with unbelievers using doubts.

But Ulmer says the Doubters' Club isn't really about doing new things. Rather, "it's a new way to do everything." It's a lifestyle of interacting with people differently, to be a bridge instead of a barrier.

And we can do that anywhere, anytime. 

Here are the five ground rules for the official Doubters' Club conversations. But they also are rules we can apply to all our conversations:

1. We value respect above being right.
2. We listen without interrupting.
3. We are a safe place.
4. We listen with an open mind.
5. We understand and accept differences of opinion.

Conversations full of spiritual curiosity can lead to committed friendships. To loving each other more, which is God's goal for each of us anyway.

This is a valuable book to learn how to interact with all kinds of people and to make all kinds of friends, with doubts and all.

My thanks to NetGalley + Tyndale House Publishers for the review copy.

In this unique take on Christian evangelism, the author advocates for meeting together in groups and respectfully discussing questions group members might have about faith. The groups are called “The Doubters’ Club” and they are open to anyone to attend. The author describes he way the groups function, with co-leaders (one Christian, one non-believer) meeting in a casual environment, like a coffee shop, with the group voting to decide which questions to discuss. This book is uplifting, and offers a challenge to Christians to step out of their comfort zones and build connections with people who think differently. This would be an excellent addition to any nonfiction collection.

Preston Ulmer presents an absolutely unique and intriguing glimpse into his ministry (though perhaps not quite the right word, given the emphasis on relationship, not conversion). If every church made an effort to do something similar in some capacity, the world's view of Christians would be much more positive.