A Change of Heart: A Personal and Theological Memoir
Thomas Oden
As a young man in the 1950s, Oden was a budding progressive theologian who was transfixed by the social revolutions of his time. But an encounter with the writings of the early church fathers brought about a return to historic Christianity—to Jesus. Oden’s memoir, A Change of Heart, tells the story of one who underwent the deconstruction journey and came away with a stronger, more orthodox faith.
Sacred Fire: A Vision for a Deeper Human and Christian Maturity
Ronald Rolheiser
Rolheiser is a Catholic theologian whose spiritual writings appeal to increasing numbers of Protestants. Sacred Fire offers a fresh vision of Christian formation and discipleship. While evangelical readers may differ at points, Rolheiser’s vision of oneness with Christ is at times breathtaking. For those experiencing doubt and deconstruction, there is often a desire for answers. But Rolheiser invites us to something deeper: an experience of the love and mercy of Christ’s presence.
Mark Sayers
Australian pastor and cultural critic Mark Sayers is gifted at helping Christians reframe the pursuit of Jesus in a post-Christian context. Here, he gives a fascinating look at a book that changed a generation—Jack Kerouac’s On the Road. Sayers’s cultural insights are shrewd, but what impresses most is his invitation to faith in Jesus in an age of cynicism. The goal of Christian spirituality, he shows, is finding, not endless seeking.
Flannery O’Connor
O’Connor, the acclaimed Southern writer who endured a nearly lifelong battle with illness, is something of a patron saint for those who doubt. Few writers have so profoundly put to pen the experience of someone struggling with faith. O’Connor’s intimate prayer journals don’t offer all the answers—they offer the words of a friend sharing the same pain.
For the Life of the World: Theology That Makes a Difference
Miroslav Volf and Matthew Croasmun
While not dealing head-on with the topic of doubt, this book sets a helpful framework for faith and theology in an age of radical skepticism. Volf and Croasmun contend that theological self-critique can be healthy, but only as it furthers repentance, grace, justice, and mercy. As the authors write, “We need an ‘I have a dream’ speech, not an ‘I have a complaint’ speech.”
