Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for being able to listen to an advanced reader copy. This audiobook was hard to put down. I could relate to the author and her Kansas City upbringing. I also was raised in the evangelical church so things she mentioned I saw and experienced in the mid to late 90s while in high school and college. I was saddened that Sarah and many other former evangelicals had such a horrible experience with Christianity. I would still call myself evangelical; but from listening to this book it had me question if evangelical is the word I would use. Maybe for me I would say I am a disciple of Jesus.
I liked how thorough this book is and how it was filled with well researched information about why Sarah and many others have left the evangelical church. This book got me out of my comfort zone and allowed me to see another point of view. It also allowed me to see how the evangelical movement has made so many distant themselves from Christianity and the church.

the Exvangelicals was an excellent read and listen. I really appreciated the author's weaving of her own experience with evangelicalism with the power it holds over the political systems in this country. The indoctrination was eye-opening and the "world" these believers live in is so not "of this world." I have shared this book with a few friends who grew up like the author.

First thing’s first: thank you Netgalley for the ALC of this book!
The Exvangelicals was an interesting book that felt awfully familiar to me. The author is honest and open in detailing her upbringing and the ways it damaged her, her adult life and the ways her faith began to unravel, and the pain and grief that comes with questioning everything she’d been taught. While this didn’t challenge me in any way (I had hoped it might), it was still comforting to read someone’s journey and see so much of my own reflected back into it. She spoke with a lot of compassion for the life she’d left without shying away from the honesty of the trauma it left her with. I really enjoyed this one.
4⭐️

Macmillan Audio ALC
This memoir looked at the evangelical church, and pointed out it shortcomings. I appreciated how candid the author was about her experience growing up in the church and all of the different hangups she had because of that upbringing. I found a lot of it to be relatable and it’s just a perfect book to read for where I am at disentangling all of my different beliefs. I also liked how the author personalized the story for those that are trying to figure things out. I’ve seen other books lately that has come out and just not give any nuance or grace to the deconstruction movements. I was very impressed with this and I can see myself coming back to this again one day. I would also highly recommend pairing it with Jesus and John Wayne wings.

I just finished listening to The Exvangelicals by Sarah McCammon. I find this subject matter interesting, so I thought this would be my cup of tea.

The book is well written. It puts forth the many reasons people are leaving evangelical churches in droves. It also examines the new religious and spiritual homes these evangelicals are finding.

Unfortunately, the author appears to suffer from TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome). A large portion of the book smacks of political commentary favoring leftist liberal ideals.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a free digital audio copy of this title from Net Galley.

#TheExvangelicals#SarahMcCammon#NetGalley

This was a deeply thoughtful and engaging book about the white evangelical movement. As a person who didn't grow up within christianity, this helped me to really humanize how people exist and believe in the church and what allows them to leave.

I am so grateful to #NetGalley and #MacMillanAudio for access to an audio arc. Listening to this book helped me to understand everything being shared, particularly the data and research, in a more meaningful way!

I can't review The Exvangelicals without first disclosing my personal perspective, which is that I grew up Seventh Day Adventist (its own kind of evangelicalism) in the 1980s and '90s and that although I would still consider myself a Christian, I am no longer affiliated with a church and strongly disagree with the evangelical stance on sociopolitical issues. (Thankfully, this did not cause me to lose family, which is sadly the case for many people who leave the church.) My personal religious philosophy is this, I suppose: Jesus loved and accepted everyone, so I'm going to do that too. Even the people who park like assholes and don't return their carts at the grocery store.

It took a long time for me to get here. There's part of The Exvangelicals where Sarah McCammon talks in great detail about childhood religious trauma, and it resonated with me. When you're a child in that sort of environment -- when you're constantly told that you are a sinner, you'll always be a sinner, and that God is watching everything you do; when your questions about the geographical locations of heaven and hell or how the Bible's teachings and the proof of dinosaurs can co-exist are disregarded or outright ignored -- that sticks with you, and you really can't see how it may have affected you until you're an adult and are no longer in that environment. At least, I couldn't.

The Exvangelicals is part memoir and part journalistic investigation into the white evangelical church, blending McCammon's personal experiences with the larger evangelical narrative encompassing political and social issues. The structure really worked for me, as the book read like both a cathartic experience for McCammon and a well-researched, insightful discussion of complex issues. McCammon successfully navigates several highly-charged issues with empathy and sensitivity in a thought-provoking exploration that encourages pragmatic dialogue and raises lots of questions, and admits that there are no easy answers. However, I feel like she does sometimes paint evangelicals as a whole with a pretty broad brush without acknowledging those churches or individuals that are more progressive in their mindsets.

The sad reality is that most white evangelical Christians are not going to pick this book up, because it overtly challenges the dogma of the church -- and exploring other viewpoints and perspectives is not something that most white evangelicals are comfortable with. But if you are interested in the Christian church or involved in evangelicalism yourself -- formerly, tangentially, or currently -- I highly recommend The Exvangelicals as a solid entry into a growing cannon of books that challenge organized religion. And for this book specifically, treat yourself to the audio; McCammon, a journalist for NPR, reads it very well.

The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church by Sarah McCammon is a fascinating look at the evangelical Christian community. Part memoir and part investigative reporting, the author takes us on a personal journey to better understand this far-right community and its influence on current politics.

Until reading this book, I never had the opportunity to take a deep dive into understanding the evangelical church. The author explores many topics such as relationships, education, discipline, modesty and purity, and the evangelical perspective on each of these topics. I particularly connected with the chapter on their LGBTQ+ beliefs and the author’s relationship with her gay grandfather.

While I did appreciate the investigative nature of the book and the interviews with other “exvangelicals,” I looked forward to reading about the author’s personal story and her ever-evolving relationship with her parents and the church.

Ultimately, The Exvangelicals is a well-researched and well-written book, particularly for those of us who wish to learn more about the cultural and political impact of the evangelical Christian community.

Sarah McCammon was raised in a conservative Christian home in Kansas City and educated at Christian schools. She attended a Christian college before becoming a political reporter for National Public Radio. Even in her teens she saw conflicts between the Christian worldview that was imposed on her and things that she was observing firsthand, including racism, sexism, xenophobia, and homophobia. Over time the author left the evangelical Christian church and now belongs to a growing group of ex-followers named the exvangelicals.

The Exvangelicals is part memoir and part investigative journalism into the influence of evangelical Christianity in modern American politics. In each chapter, the author describes multiple personal experiences during her childhood (1980s and 1990s) alongside Christian practices social mores, and political practices at the time. She also quotes other peoples’ experiences and social scientists on the exvangelical movement.
Additionally she reveals what she witnessed firsthand when she covered the Trump campaign for NPR: power and influence that evangelical Christian beliefs held on the political right.

This book explains why so many conservative Christians have left either established denominations or the church altogether and describes the hypocrisies that they see. It also describes how religion has influenced recent American politics. The Exvangelicals is full of cultural references and quotes from prominent religious leaders that most adult Americans will be able to recognize. It is a very well researched explanation of what is happening in the United States today and presents questions for voters to think about before going to the polls.

I listened to the audiobook, which was narrated by the author. She speaks clearly and is easy to understand. I definitely remembered many of her childhood experiences because they were also occurring in my Alabama church at the same time. Her insight is valuable to both spiritual leaders concerned about declining memberships and to political activists. The Exvangelicals definitely should be on the shelves of every public library in the United States.

I received an advance review copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This book is an NPR journalist’s coverage of the exvangelical movement mixed with a memoir of being raised in the white, evangelical world and the process of leaving it behind. I loved both of those elements, and I loved having Sarah’s familiar voice in my ears.

Some books are window books and some are mirrors. For me, this was a mirror book and it meant a lot to see my experience growing up reflected on the page in a way I frankly never have before. Most 90s references that millennials swoon over don’t resonate with me, but references to Adventures in Odyssey and Brio Magazine really do (if you get those references, please let me know!!). I also really appreciated her reflection that it’s often the people who were the most ardent believers who are the ones making a point of leaving, and how painful that process is.

I’m lucky that my experience with faith overall was very loving and positive, so there were a lot of elements of Sarah’s experience that were different from my own. Still, as someone who pays attention to this stuff, there wasn’t a lot new or groundbreaking here for me. I do hope this book finds the readers who need it and helps them feel less alone. “Exvangelical” and “deconstruction” were not terms in the zeitgeist when I left Christianity over a decade ago, but I’m so happy people now have this language for their experiences and that these terms can help build community.

Thank you NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the free copy in exchange for my honest review!

I requested this book because a Bible College professor of mine had recommended Rachel Held Evan’s book Searching for Sunday Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church and this book seemed similar. I could relate to many of the stories McCammon told about growing up in an evangelical church in the 80s & 90s. The discussion of purity culture was very interesting for me & reminded me of how hard it is for people growing up in that to figure out sex in marriage given we are told it’s not ok and then the act of marriage makes it ok. It made me sad to read stories of intolerance towards others and it made me so grateful to have grown up in a Christian home with parents who modelled loving others despite differences. I am glad that exvangelicals still love Jesus even though they may not attend church any more and have found ways to love life outside the bubble.

I enjoyed that the author narrated this book. I think it adds so much to the stories.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this audiobook.

This book gave me a lot to think about. I didn't realize how much I didn't know about evangelicalism compared to Catholicism or mainstream Christianity. While there were many instances where I was nodding my head as someone who was raised Catholic and is now not religious at all, especially as regards the attitudes toward abortion, rights for LGBTQ+ people, pre-marital sex, etc., there were also some surprises. For instance, I truly had no idea how corporal punishment has been embraced by the followers of evangelical churches. I also really was somewhat surprised to hear that people in these churches are actively getting the message to get involved in politics in order to advance their churches' agendas. I don't remember that message being part of Catholicism growing up - in fact, I think I remember, as a 90s kid, the acknowledgment that church and state are meant to be separate, and that part of what makes the US great is that no one can be persecuted for their varied religious beliefs or lack thereof.
It was heartening to hear about the people who are growing up and getting out of these toxic institutions that do not make room for all of their members. I really recognized the world that we live in and the members of the far right in this book, especially when it was shared that people who are steadfastly remaining in evangelical churches who are also very comfortable espousing all of the far right ideology see people leaving the evangelical church as a threat, as persecution. If peacefully leaving a religion is persecuting those who continue to practice, then it makes sense that these people are not ready to participate in American life or tolerate people who are different than they are - but what I am left wondering is how American society as a whole can move forward.

I was interested in THE EXVANGELICALS given the place of white evangelical Protestants in American politics. And this was a thought-provoking read, combining the author's own lived experiences, the experiences of other exvangelicals, and a more sociological (and historical) perspective.

At times, that mix felt seamless and at others, uneven.

The audiobook is narrated by the author, Sarah McCammon, who's a national political correspondent for NPR. I found her voice faster-paced than the typical audiobook narrator (so I listened to this at a slower speed).

I finished this book yesterday [3.17.2024] and 24hrs later, my head is still spinning, my heart is hurting and I am in full-trauma recovery-mode. I am afraid that I will be unable to write a full review for this book simply because every time I try, I burst into tears and the whole trauma-cycle starts again.

I knew going in that this book would bring up some unpleasant memories for me in regards to my time in the evangelical church [from age 10, when we moved in with my grandparents until I finally left for good in 2014], but had no idea just how deep this book would touch me or how intense my memories were of that time; I am pretty sure that anyone who has had an experience similar to mine will totally and completely understand and would react in a similar way.

I DO think that everyone should be reading this book, especially if you did not grow up in evangelicalism and have friends that did, as it will help you understand them a little more, and if you currently have friends who are the whole evangelical-political spectrum, because it will help with all of that as well. It is a well-written, eye-opening [even for this exvangelical], and at times, very painful to read [I imagine it will be so for non-evangelicals as well], and deeply profound and personal and I am so grateful to the author for being both brave enough and transparent in writing this book. Talking about life within the evangelical church and the damage it did, is extremely difficult for most of us [and I cannot imagine trying to sort my emotional thoughts and distress into a book], and I admire her ability to do just that.

I do wish I could garner my emotions to write more here - I often find when people can do that, it helps others as they are navigating an unfamiliar landscape, but at this moment, I just cannot. Maybe a day will come where things will be less traumatic for me and I will be able to add to this review; we shall see. Until then, know that I too am among the survivors of trauma at the hands of the evangelical church and that I see you, the other survivors, and join you in the struggle for healing and moving forward. May we all find peace and healing.

The audiobook for this was excellent. The author narrates and it was particularly helpful to have her own voice telling her own story and I highly recommend listening to this book [with the book open and a highlighter and notebook at the ready] to get the full experience.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah McCammon, St. Martin's Press, and Macmillan Audio for providing both the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

4.5

Drawing on her childhood growing up in an evangelical family in the Midwest in the '80s and '90s as well as her time as a NPR reporter covering Trump and the 2016 election, Sarah McCammon uses personal anecdotes to complement her investigation into the mass exodus of younger generations from the evangelical church. While I don't think this is a perfect book, I do think this is a great entry point to understanding this culture shift because the author makes it so personal. That being said, I think the memoir aspects of the book worked better for me than the attempts at journalistic inquiry.

Part of this I think is because the author herself admits that the blend of white evangelicals and right wing politics started well before Donald Trump, yet she continued to write as if this movement started in 2016. Yes, I think Trump (and the 2015 Obergefell ruling and the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2020 murder of George Floyd and and and) highlighted this connection and caused a lot more people to start questioning their beliefs, but it's been around for longer than that.

Overall, I think a lot of people who have struggled with their faith and its ties to politics, etc they don't agree with will feel very seen by this. Though McCammon doesn't really offer any solutions, it can be comforting to know others have felt similarly to you. I also appreciate that she calls out how challenging leaving the church can be because often times the church is your family, community, and social safety net.

Though I've never thought of myself as an "exvangelical" mostly because I never associated my religious upbringing with the evangelical church even though it probably was and because for reasons my family always felt somewhat distant from our local church community. Nevertheless, I still related to this book in a lot of ways that I will continue to be unpacking. There's a line toward the end where the author quotes her brother as saying it can be hard to reconcile having had a perfectly fine childhood with the need to deal with repercussions of it and when I heard that my brain went "oh. yeah. that." So that's something to talk to my therapist about I guess.

A powerful and important book about the trauma that religion can inflict on people. Only part that I didn't like is that sometimes it felt repetitive, like she repeated a fact and then a little bit later said it again. But otherwise, I really enjoyed this listen!

Such a strong young woman. Breaking away from a church that you have been raised in, that your family and friends , many who are still part of, takes alot of strength. I was raised Catholic, and in many ways I can relate to some of what she is detailing in this book. But this is a whole other kettle of fish. Your whole life is based on church teachings, I say brainwashing, where you are given little choice but to fall in line.

Its very frightening to me, the power of these churches. This book is so informative and goes a long way in explaining the evangelicals worship of Trump and his agenda and theirs. If you are curious this is a good book to read because the author was part of this movement and had the courage to leave.

The narration was clear and concise. Well done.

I learned a lot from this book! The Exvangelical movement is comprised of those who left the Evangelical church by choice, although for many, they continue to feel guilty about their inevitable choice. Everything about the Evangelical church, particularly white evangelicals seems to be aimed at making the entire country (whether it be the US or elsewhere) jump to the values and morals held by the church, which include the most conservative of beliefs.

The author tells her own story of leaving the church, of growing up rather estranged from her grandfather because as she later learned he was gay (or homosexual, as her parents explained), of picketing abortion clinics with her mother, and other tales of conservatism that were visited upon her as a child and adolescent. Her choice to leave was difficult, but it was necessary. She is now married to a Jewish man.

The author also tells the stories of others and their journey in leaving the church. The story at times falls a little flat and is filled with data and academic information regarding the church, but all in all, it is an enlightening read that foreshadows the political scene that awaits us in 2024 and beyond.

This book has given a definition to my struggles. I am a 52 year old preacher's kid. To say my dad was an evangelical is almost an understatement. Just read and think about some of the phrases that shaped my Christian upbringing, "...not Santa Claus but Satan Claus," "Happy Halloween? How can Satan's day be happy?," "Superman takes peoples' eyes off of Jesus," and "ET looks like a demon." I was raised to be in the world and not of it and to both fear and love God simultaneously. After high school I joined the Army and got heavily into drinking. Fortunately, I am not an alcoholic, so stopping a few years later was not a struggle. But the guilt from the partying and not going to church and not tithing and so many other sins was almost overwhelming. So much so that I had become a proud backslider for 30ish years. After reading this book, I realize that I am not a backslider. I am an exvangelical or a postvangelical or maybe something else. I will do more research, but because of The Exvangerlicals, at least I have a direction in which to go. I am thankful that I have found this book and I am thankful to Sarah McCammon for being brave enough to speak out about this delicate subject.

The Exvangelicals: Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church breaks down evangelicalism, mainly white evangelicalism, and the trauma it has caused people, families and politics. It especially resonated with me because I attended a Christian school for over half of my K-12 school career. So many of the terms, restrictions, feelings and neuroses Sarah McCammon described in the book were the same things I experienced in my teens and early twenties. Being the only BIPOC in these spaces added an extra feeling of fear and discomfort. I appreciated the chapters McCammon devoted to the perspectives of POC and LGBTQ+ who have either deconstructed and left the church and those who have developed a new relationship with God without the human judgments, hatred and hypocrisy of Christianity/organized religion.

I highly recommend this book for people who are deconstructing or are noticing the things they witnessed in the church and/or while growing up and questioning their faith. It's an eye-opening book that kept me riveted.

Netgalley provided a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.