Customer Reviews

My Faith So Far: A Story of Conversion and Confusion

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My Faith So Far is a brilliant, close-up look into the life a conflicted, but well-intentioned young man. It's the sort of book that allows you to examine your own experiences and how you might have handled those offered by the writer. Mr. Dodd's ability to mix nostalgia, razor-sharp-wit, and an honest, even painful self-appraisal make this one of the best memoirs I've ever read.

The book centers on 2 years encapsulating his experiences in college and life as they pertain to the building and deconstructing of his world-view. It's whimsical and sardonic at once and has, at least for me, a great contemplative feeling.

You won't read too many books from Christian authors that have this depth of honesty. And the rawness with which he handles his emotional/intellectual experiences is the real treasure found in the pages of MFSF. An author's ability to connect with the reader via memoir is closely linked to his ability to be transparent, Patton Dodd allows you to feel what he feels, examine what he thinks, and come to your own conclusions about faith,life and God.


If you're trying to:
a. Get a grasp on your belief system,
b. Understand contemporary Chrsitian culture,
c. Have a good read before you go to bed at night,

Then this book is for you.

With rare honesty and at times gut-twisting vulnerability, Patton Dodd presents a unique perspective on wrestling with one's faith. His experience touches on the nearly universal longing to believe, a longing wrought with the fear of placing one's faith in something that doesn't warrent such whole-hearted commitment. As he gives himself over to what he hopes will be a life-changing conversion, he soon learns that nothing comes easily. And as life becomes littered with doubts, he finds himself wondering what to do with the faith that remains. Dodd's thought-provoking, often-humorous account of his faith journey thus far will resonate with all those who have abandoned their faith over similar doubts, those who cling to their faith despite their doubts--and those who have yet to admit such doubts, even to themselves.

Patton Dodd does a fantastic job pulling away the curtain from a very curious American subculture--Charismatic Pentecostal Evangelical Christianity. For many of us whose history has touched this subculture, My Faith So Far helps put into words many of the feelings and anxiety that repelled us from it and, in some cases, from Christianity entirely. Patton provides a hopeful story about the struggle to find or at least journey toward authentic faith.

While most readers probably won't identify with Patton's over-the-top, radical, other-worldly embrace of Charismatic worship, his critique of the Charismatic culture will resonate with anyone who has earnestly observed this brand of Christianity and walked away scratching his/her head.

My Faith So Far is a very brisk read and easy to get through in one or two sittings. It's not a scholarly read, but it does put the Charismatic movement into context and may help lead readers into a deeper discussion about the oddities of faith and the struggle to become authentically Christian.

This would be a great book for high school youth groups, especially evangelical youth groups.

"My Faith so Far" is an intoxicating read, full of humor, insight, wisdom and compassion. If you've ever struggled with your faith--and no matter how it turned out for you--you'll find this book hard to put down. In every chapter I found myself thinking, "Yeah, that's exactly how I felt," even if the details were different. But the real pay-off comes with the author's analysis and ability to bring historical context to bear on his own spiritual struggle. And no matter your place in life, you'll find this memoir to be to be a real window on the hearts and minds of so many of today's young Americans. Buy it, read it, recommend it to a friend.

If you're of the opinion that autobiographies should wait until the author's twilight years when he's lived his life and figured out what it means, this is not your book. My Faith So Far covers the author's high school and college years, and the end of the book is a confession that the questions and doubts the he had then are still kicking around inside him.

We get to follow Patton's trip through the culture of evangelical/charasmatic Christianity in Colorado Springs and then at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa. He writes much of the book in present tense, which sometimes makes it hard to tell whether he's describing beliefs he had then or ones he holds now, but which also give his story immediacy. I was with him as he struggled with listening to Christian music, which was often second-rate, versus secular music, which made him feel guilty. He's the real deal, not a tourist--he speaks in tongues, prays for hours, testifies to unbelievers--but he still questions himself and what the church is telling him. I loved the tour of Oral Roberts University, where the students have a dress code and prayer circles take up most of Technical Journalism class. Patton shows himself and other students making fun of the excesses of Christian culture, but he never loses the earnest desire to find out what Christianity is for him.

As a secular person, I found nothing in this book to offend me--no thoughtless slams or assumptions-- and much to fascinate me. Patton's philosophizing and angst were sometimes skimmable, but it was an accurate portrait of the thoughts and conversations of someone that age. I will definitely check out any future books of his.

I just finished reading Patton Dodd's book, and it is truly an extraordinary account of how faith develops in real, contemporary life. It's funny, self-deprecating, and God-loving all at the same time. To be able to write and reflect on one's faith, and one's relationship with God, with such honesty is a remarkable feat. If only all Christians were so honest with themselves and with others!

For me, this book is right up there with other contemporary spiritual autobiographies such as Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies, CS Lewis's Surprised by Joy, and Mary Blye Howe's A Baptist Among the Jews.

This book is so unique because Patton Dodd is just SO honest. He's honest in a raw, sharp, painful way. It's so rare to be able to pick up a book and feel like the author is really pouring out their soul to you and exposing all their vulnerabilities.

I would recommend this book to believers and nonbelievers alike. There is nothing preachy or judgmental or pretentious about this book. It's just a straight look at how doubt interacts with faith.

No, smart evangelicalism is NOT an oxymoron. This books gives the big lie to all sorts of popular misconceptions of born-again Christians in America, most notably the view that they are unthinking irrationalists. For here we have the examined life, evangelical style. Faith and doubt cohabitating in the body (and mind) of a 20-something American. Smart, witty, alternately reverent and irreverent. And a wonderful read.

I consider myself a thoughtful person when it comes ssues of religious faith. I've felt the sting of paradox. I've walked out of church thinking, what the heck was the pastor really saying in the sermon? I've reflected on the questions. My efforts of reflection don't hold a candle to Patton Dodd. This man is a guide to the religious zealots wading in deep forests of doubt and pain. He puts seemingly indescribable struggles of faith into words and avoids falling back on easy answers. At the same time, there i s a certain beauty and pleasure in the struggle for genuine faith. It's myterous but it doesn't discourage.

Patton's book is marvelous. He vividly captures the life of a struggling Evangelical approaching adulthood, articulating all the failures and questions and angst with the virtue of humility.

The rest of his story is just as compelling and gives me hope for the future of Evangelicalism in America.