Stories of a Recovering Fundamentalist: Understanding and Responding to Christian Absolutism [Paperback]

James C. Alexander (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2008

It has been said that the opposite of faith is not doubt, but certainty. Drawing on this notion, Stories of a Recovering Fundamentalist: Understanding and Responding to Christian Absolutism recounts the author's journey as a member of the fundamentalist subculture as a child and his life among the Jesus Freaks (Jesus Movement) - a congregation of deserters from the hippie drug culture of the late 1960's and early 1970's. This movement, though of great importance in the culture of the times, now largely goes unrecognized-although the Jesus Movement provided the cover stories for many prominent secular magazines chronicling the youth culture of the late 60's and early 70's. While, not devoted to a history of the Jesus Movement, the book does a service in bringing a discussion of the Jesus Freak phenomenon to the attention of today's readers. The book goes on to recount the author's eventual abandonment of fundamentalism. As the story unfolds, critical research related to the psychology, sociology, and history of the subculture provides a framework for understanding Christian fundamentalism. Stories of a Recovering Fundamentalist recounts a gripping personal pilgrimage-at times both humorous and painful- that is rooted in honest reflection and informed by theory and research. It offers worthwhile reading for mainline Christians, curious evangelicals, recovering fundamentalists or anyone wanting to understand this timely topic.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James Alexander grew up in Kansas City, Missouri where he was part of the Jesus Movement in the early 1970's. For a few years, he lived in a commune and spent most of his days street witnessing. It was during his "Jesus Freak" days that James began to seriously question the fundamentalism which was rampant among his co-religionists. Eventually, he renounced fundamentalism as basically flawed. After graduating from college, James taught first-grade and primary level remedial reading for several years. He is an ordained minister who has served congregations in the Church of the Brethren and Cumberland Presbyterian denominations. He attended Central Baptist Theological Seminary (American Baptist) and graduated with honors from St. Thomas Theological Seminary (Roman Catholic). He has completed additional studies through Regents College Seminary in Vancouver, BC. He also holds a doctorate in curriculum and instruction from the University of Arkansas with an emphasis in literacy education and educational psychology and serves as a professor of education in a church-affiliated college. He has published many articles and book chapters related to education, philosophy, and the psychology of reading as well as several articles in religious publications including Brethren Life and Thought and Memphis Theological Seminary Journal. In 2003-2004, James completed a major study of small congregation dynamics for the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The study resulted in a book on small church health and vitality entitled The (Very) Small Church Revival Guide, which is available from the Cumberland Presbyterian Board of Christian Education. Dr. Alexander and his wife, Irene, a special education teacher, have two adult sons, Aaron, a software engineer and Galen, a sociologist. James and Irene reside in Kentucky. They are eagerly awaiting the arrival of their first grandchild.

Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: AuthorHouse (May 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1434381323
• ISBN-13: 978-1434381323
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,262,519 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Finally, A Jesus Freak Speaks Out, June 27, 2008

By 

Katy McKenna (KC, MO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stories of a Recovering Fundamentalist: Understanding and Responding to Christian Absolutism (Paperback)

For a religious movement that had a profound effect upon hundreds of thousands of young people in America in the late '60s and '70s, the Jesus Freaks have gotten remarkably little play in the history books.

And yes, Stories of a Recovering Fundamentalist could rightly be called a history book of sorts. In it, James Alexander not only examines the roots and limbs of religious fundamentalism (which he usually refers to as absolutism) over the past few decades, but he also tells a very personal story. A story of his own Baptist beginnings, his youth spent among the Jesus Freaks, and the time he's struggled to overcome absolutism without abandoning faith during his adult years.

Alexander skillfully weaves theology and research with tales of his own spiritual growth, replete as it may be with setbacks, regret, and occasional doubt. He does all this with good humor, grace for those who don't see things quite the way he does, and a seasoned maturity that's refreshing.

I recommend this book to fellow "old Jesus Freaks" who still may be trying to sort out how the spirituality of their youth has affected their religious beliefs to this day.

Alexander certainly has taken me on a walk down Memory Lane, and invited me see those years through his eyes. A trip definitely worth taking.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An insightful book, October 20, 2008

By 

Joe Moffett - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Stories of a Recovering Fundamentalist: Understanding and Responding to Christian Absolutism (Paperback)

In this intriguing book, Alexander deftly intertwines experience and theory, personal narrative and scholarly discourse, to produce a work that examines the nature of faith in our times. No one with an interest in theological debate would want to miss this penetrating inquiry into the nature of fundamentalism. I highly recommend it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A confession of sorts, from an ex-zealot who realized the hard way that one's belief in God can go too far, August 13, 2008

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stories of a Recovering Fundamentalist: Understanding and Responding to Christian Absolutism (Paperback)

To hold a belief so fervently that one begins to ignore reason - this is one definition of religious fundamentalism. "Stories of a Recovering Fundamentalist: Understanding and Responding to Christian Absolutism" is a confession of sorts, from an ex-zealot who realized the hard way that one's belief in God can go too far. Reflecting on his times as an extremist, he is frank and blunt about his downfall, and explains how he still retains his faith in God despite his past troubles. "Stories of a Recovering Fundamentalist" is a must for any Christian who wants to better understand where to draw the line.