Fleeing Fundamentalism: A Minister's Wife Examines Faith (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The religion depicted in this absorbing memoir of falsehood and betrayal is fundamentalism gone berserk: it has turned into an inhuman, apocalyptic, darkly controlling force that reshuffles common sense, "jumbling all logic into madness." After indoctrination at a Bible college, Cross finds herself in a marriage from hell replete with abuse, addictions and mental illness. Her husband, a popular young pastor, uses religion to mask the alternate reality he has created, a netherworld that will potentially destroy not only his career but the entire family's safety and sanity. With the courage of a trapped animal, Cross reinvents her life, waiting tables and going on welfare in order to earn a degree and support her three children. For a time discarding God, the Bible and organized religion along with her malevolent husband, she eventually redefines spirituality as "a road of discovery—not of submission to a rulebook." Cross's brief summaries of Christian history are at best simplistic, and some readers will contend that the fundamentalism she portrays is an aberration, not the norm. Still, her heartfelt condemnation of public hypocrisy couldn't be more timely. In her ex-husband's own self-indicting words: "Isn't it ironic, a guy condemning sinful society and completely without a conscience himself?" (Oct.)
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From Booklist

Cross converted to evangelical Christianity as a teenager. Subsequently, her existence followed a predictable path, or so she thought: attendance at a Bible college, early marriage to a fellow Christian, children, and life as a minister's wife. Her life seemed to be over before it had begun. But then things didn't proceed according to plan. She and her husband became emotionally distant, and after he admitted a form of sexual addiction, their marriage fell apart irrevocably. At the same time, Carr underwent a journey of self-discovery, a goodly part of it derived from her decision to study the roots of Christianity. The more she learned, the more skeptical she became of her Bible college education. She grew increasingly impatient with what she considers the misogyny of the fundamentalist tradition in particular. Divorce and graduate school preceded finally making peace with her past and her former spouse. A painfully candid account of faith gained and faith lost, of forgiveness, and of the often rocky road of spiritual growth. June Sawyers
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Algonquin Books; First Edition edition (September 20, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565124987
• ISBN-13: 978-1565124981
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #552,587 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A truly brave and memorable read!, January 24, 2007

By	GP - See all my reviews

Carlene Cross' Fleeing Fundamentalism - A Minister's Wife Examines Faith is a courageous narrative that pulls the reader in with a haunting truthfulness and warning about accepting dogma at face value. Ms. Cross bravely opens herself up to the reader and recounts her story with true dignity and grace. At no time does she blame; instead her approach compels the reader to question, question, question. Rather than raging against fundamentalist Christianity, Fleeing Fundamentalism - A Minister's Wife Examines Faith serves as a warning about blind acceptance. How many times in human history have humans blindly accepted the idealism of the day and how many millions have paid a dear price for it?

This book with its message of healing, hope, forgiveness, and triumph is wonderfully written, and the reader is able to connect with the author right from the beginning. The reader is with the author, when as a young girl, she watches her mother bake pies while simultaneously dreaming of studying distant cultures. The reader is also with her as she bravely decides to take her children out of an abusive situation and start a new life. How many can identify with Ms. Cross' despair when she realizes her education-and key to freedom-is in jeopardy? Finally, the reader is right there with her as she finally finds peace after her journey of self-discovery. Five-stars! This book is a must-read!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Rib-Sticking Read, October 13, 2006

By	A Reader - See all my reviews

In this wonderful memoir, Carlene Cross rescues herself and her three young children not only from her failed marriage to a charismatic Fundamentalist minister but from that religion's intolerant and hidebound dogmatism. Her sharp eye for detail and ear for dialogue give dimension and an aching reality to this often harrowing tale. Her predicament is eased, surprisingly, by other church women many of whom, once the surface is scratched, feel as trapped and desperate as she does. Cross puts an honest, all-too-believable face on their shared dilemma. She is brutally honest about her own shortcomings, her trials and her embarrassments but manages to avoid self-indulgence by means of her exuberant style and sheer story-telling verve. The book is both moving and funny, which is a real gift to the reader. It's a story that sticks to your ribs.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful, engaging read!, January 25, 2007

By	Katherine Vicino (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

What a brave and inspiring story! I read this book in the span of a weekend and couldn't put it down. Carlene Cross is a talented and eloquent author who draws you in to her spiritual journey, and it's a ride you don't want to miss. I admire her honesty (and courage!) to take an inward look at herself and her beliefs. She is extremely well-versed in religious studies and has an ease in describing religious history and philosophy. Whether you consider yourself devout, agnostic, or somewhere in between, there is something for everyone in this book.