I have had a gross oversight. One of my favorite books read this year I have yet to do any kind of review for. Whether or not this actually amounts to anything and people take value in what I have to say about the books I've read, to not include this already would be a tremendous mistake on my part. This literally is the book I have most enjoyed reading this year.

The Unlikely Disciple is the story of Kevin Roose, a student from Brown University (one of America's most liberal universities) and decides to spend a semester at Liberty (one of America's most conservative, and Christian Evangelical at that). Liberty is founded by Jerry Falwell, who helped to get Evangelical Christians involved in politics and is most known for his controversial statements and has often been called an "agent of intolerance" (see the Wikipedia article for more).

For Kevin Roose, he need to have an internship with his degree program that he would spend writing abroad in a foreign culture. One day, he had the idea of a foreign culture that existed in his backyard that would be just as challenging to relate to as heading to Europe or any other culture in the. Thus enters, The Unlikely Disciple. A liberal student from Brown is going to spend a semester at one of the strictest and most conservative schools in all of Christianity. By trying to keep his anonymity, he will go through the semseter and documents what happens within this very dedicated and radical sector of Christianity. To those who have had any experience with Evangelicals (especially bad or unflattering), you can see where this is going.

I will spare you on a lot of the details. Those I think would undermine some of the fun if any of you decided to read this book (which I would highly recommend that you do). A few things to note though, I laughed a lot. And when I say a lot, I mean a whole lot. There were times where I laughed out loud. It's interesting what things can seem so normal to a group of people who have done it for so long. But add an "outsider" to the mix (whether politically, religiously, socially or nationally) and things become apart how ethno-centric we can become. To hear someone respond to some of the "normal" parts of Evangelical Christianity had me laughing a lot, because I felt the same way. The book also challenged me (and encouraged me to challenge others) because you never know who could be writing a 300 page book about everything you say. And what you thoughts as a joke amongst friends turns into something you wish could be erased from time. Never have I laughed so hard and then within the next pages felt so bad. To those who represent Jesus, there are some pretty dicey ways we have of explaining things. And for a guy who doesn't believe in Jesus, parties, has committed lesbian aunts and a liberal view of the world, conservative Christianity has a way of shooting itself in the foot. All that aside, I loved this book and I think you will too. Whether Christian or not, this book is an entertaining and great read. Here are some quotes that I loved. Also, you can get more info by the trailer below.

“You can peel a stereotype off a person and not see a beautiful human being underneath.” The Unlikely Disciple, Kevin Roose, pg. 110

“The Philosopher Williams James once wrote that although he himself was not religious, seeing believers who were transformed by their faith made him feel ‘washed in better moral air.’ And so far, I think I see what he meant. It’s hard to watch Liberty students singing along to worship songs during convocation, raising their hands and smiling beatifically, and not wonder whether they’ve tapped into something that makes their lives happier, more meaningful, more consistently optimistic than mine…It still feels like everyone on this campus is tuned in to a radio frequency I don’t get on my antenna. But with the help of my hallmates, I’m starting to piece things together.” The Unlikely Disciple, Kevin Roose, pg. 64-65

“When it comes down to it, no matter how pious or like-minded he might be, a Christian jerk is still a jerk.” The Unlikely Disciple, Kevin Roose, pg. 277

“At Thomas Road, on the other hand, there’s almost too much stimulation. The stage lights, the one hundred-decibel praise songs, the bright purple choir robes, the tempestuous bellowing of Dr. Falwell – it’s an hour-long assault on the senses. And all you have to do is sit back in your plush, reclining seat, latte and cranberry scone in hand, and take it all in. It’s Church Lite- entertaining but unsubstantial, the religious equivalent of a Jerry Bruckheimer movie. And once the novelty wears off, once the music becomes familiar and the motions of praise become pro forma and mechanized, you start to realize that all the technological glitz and material extravagance doesn’t necessarily add up to a spiritual experience…I think I’d appreciate the minimalist Quaker worship more than I did as a kid. It didn’t have Jumbotron screens or a five thousand-watt sound system or a café in the lobby and it wasn’t run by a world-famous televangelist with millions of followers. But at least it felt real.” The Unlikely Disciple, Kevin Roose, pg. 199

The Unlikely Disciple : A+


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