Sign in with Facebook
Loading...
87th out of 130 books
—
102 voters
Churched: One Kid's Journey Toward God Despite a Holy Mess
He spent his childhood trapped within the confines of countless bizarre, strict rules. And lived to tell about it.
In this first-hand account, author Matthew Paul Turner shares amusing–sometimes cringe-worthy–and poignant stories about growing up in a fundamentalist household, where even well-intentioned contemporary Christian music was proclaimed to be “of the devil.”
chur...more
In this first-hand account, author Matthew Paul Turner shares amusing–sometimes cringe-worthy–and poignant stories about growing up in a fundamentalist household, where even well-intentioned contemporary Christian music was proclaimed to be “of the devil.”
chur...more
Hardcover, 240 pages
Published
October 7th 2008
by WaterBrook Press
(first published September 27th 2008)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
784)
An eye-opening book, that exposes many of the 'Toxic' religious thoughts, teaching and manipulations that unfortunately do exist is Churches all over the world today. I don't believe that all "Baptist" or "Fundamental" Churches are like the one described in this book, and I also believe there are other denominations that are falling into the same trap.
This is exactly the result of trying to earn one's salvation through morality and self-effort, rather than by the grace of God. In relying on what...more
This is exactly the result of trying to earn one's salvation through morality and self-effort, rather than by the grace of God. In relying on what...more
1 like · like · see review
view 1 comment
Do you want to know a secret?
I found a place where you can get some cool audio books for FREE (yes, they are legal!). The site is called ChristianAudio.com and it is a cool website that, while they normally sell their products, gives away a free audio book each month.
It is thru one of these promotions that I found Matthew Paul Turner’s book “Churched: One kids’s Journey Toward God Despite a Holy Mess.” (hmm..I should probably tell you that you can still download it for free).
Liking the price (wh...more
I found a place where you can get some cool audio books for FREE (yes, they are legal!). The site is called ChristianAudio.com and it is a cool website that, while they normally sell their products, gives away a free audio book each month.
It is thru one of these promotions that I found Matthew Paul Turner’s book “Churched: One kids’s Journey Toward God Despite a Holy Mess.” (hmm..I should probably tell you that you can still download it for free).
Liking the price (wh...more
First and foremost, "Will this book get someone saved?" - my answer -- "Dude, I have no clue - I am not positive any book will 'get' someone saved. What it will do is spark questions, which I have seen move many to Christ."
If you decide to read this book and only take it at face value, you will easily have a cynical view of the church, but if you look slightly deeper you will see that the cynical ideal - is more of a spiritual protection to understanding TRUTH of what God, Christ, and being Chr...more
If you decide to read this book and only take it at face value, you will easily have a cynical view of the church, but if you look slightly deeper you will see that the cynical ideal - is more of a spiritual protection to understanding TRUTH of what God, Christ, and being Chr...more
Churched is a quick, light, and humorous story about a boy growing up in a fundamentalist baptist church. In this story, pastors give sermons with plenty of hellfire and brimstone and their world is defined by plenty of do-and-don’t-s. The writing style is formatted as almost a memoir and the overall story is thought provoking.
Although I am not a fundamentalist baptist, I found a lot of the stories in this book to completely relate to my experience growing up in the church! All his stories had...more
Although I am not a fundamentalist baptist, I found a lot of the stories in this book to completely relate to my experience growing up in the church! All his stories had...more
I chose the book Churched, by Matthew Paul Turner, because it describes me too. Having also gone to church my whole life and on top of that, Christian school, I wondered if I would be able to relate to "one kid's journey toward God despite a holy mess," (as the subtitle reads.)
Turner grew up in Fundamental Baptist culture in Maryland. This means, according to the book, that from the time he was young he was terrified of hell, having long hair, and sinners. I was expecting a pretty funny book, b...more
Turner grew up in Fundamental Baptist culture in Maryland. This means, according to the book, that from the time he was young he was terrified of hell, having long hair, and sinners. I was expecting a pretty funny book, b...more
Matthew Paul Turner grew up in an independent fundamentalist baptist community. This book is a memoir, mainly a collection of anecdotes that serve to criticize the beliefs and lifestyle of the community. The author is still a Christian, however not the kind who is forbidden from seeing Hollywood movies and listening to secular music.
I think my favorite thing about the writing style was the way he doesn't go into deep analysis of the problems his old church had; it's not that kind of book. He tel...more
I think my favorite thing about the writing style was the way he doesn't go into deep analysis of the problems his old church had; it's not that kind of book. He tel...more
I’ll be adding Turner to my list of favorite memoirists. This was a great little book.
So wow. I didn’t grow up in the church and my Christian experience started at a fairly mainstream somewhat Liberal church — so this was a whole new can of weird. You kind of hear about the crazy stuff that Turner describes (with both sarcasm and love), but this was such a delicious way to go about learning about it. Turner’s writing is very conversational and often laugh-out-loud funny. He also manages to stick...more
So wow. I didn’t grow up in the church and my Christian experience started at a fairly mainstream somewhat Liberal church — so this was a whole new can of weird. You kind of hear about the crazy stuff that Turner describes (with both sarcasm and love), but this was such a delicious way to go about learning about it. Turner’s writing is very conversational and often laugh-out-loud funny. He also manages to stick...more
often humorous...but mostly sacrilegious. stories told through the eyes of a child growing up in an external, legalistic, off-base, extreme, fundamentalist church.
Not at all representative of all who are historic fundamentalists. Stories like these make me wish there was another word that would separate whatever this book describes...because I have never experienced most of what I looked in on in this book.
I really don't know what to do with what I read...If I take it as a memoir, I guess I can...more
Not at all representative of all who are historic fundamentalists. Stories like these make me wish there was another word that would separate whatever this book describes...because I have never experienced most of what I looked in on in this book.
I really don't know what to do with what I read...If I take it as a memoir, I guess I can...more
I gotta tell you, this was hard for me to read, but not because of a lack of quality. I think the title is a bit misleading because it insinuates that it is the story of a conversion. Turner is actually telling the story of his childhood in a very conservative fundamentalist atmosphere. Although the stories are very funny and entertaining (mostly because of how ludicrous many of these well-meaning fundamentalists were) they make me feel sick. The atmosphere I grew up in is not this conservative,...more
This book was hilarious. The subtitle should be "A Sociological Look at the Baptist Denomination." I felt as if I was reading a report on my religious life as a child.
The best thing about this book is that there is no agenda, only Turner explaining his religious upbringing. He is simply explaining the way his family lived in regards to church. The last chapter is a bit preachy, but when compared to the rest of the book, Turner can get away with it. There will be some who say that this book is j...more
The best thing about this book is that there is no agenda, only Turner explaining his religious upbringing. He is simply explaining the way his family lived in regards to church. The last chapter is a bit preachy, but when compared to the rest of the book, Turner can get away with it. There will be some who say that this book is j...more
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review and was very excited for the opportunity, however, the feeling was short lived. I don't know what it is about the last few books I've received but I have no enjoyed them as much as I wanted to.
The synopsis of this book is basically about a boy who grew up in a fundamentalist baptist environment where he was taught to be afraid of God and to be afraid of church staff. His parents were a little odd, as well as...more
The synopsis of this book is basically about a boy who grew up in a fundamentalist baptist environment where he was taught to be afraid of God and to be afraid of church staff. His parents were a little odd, as well as...more
Though I haven't read other reviews, I can only imagine the negative ones will come from "fundies" who think he's being sacrilegious or perhaps judgmental towards all fundamental Baptists. Nothing can be further from the truth.
Turner's book describes life as a fundamental Baptist from the view of a child. These observations come across as hilarious as the viewpoints of children often are.
I could relate to much of this book having grown up in a fundamental Baptist home myself. The difference be...more
Turner's book describes life as a fundamental Baptist from the view of a child. These observations come across as hilarious as the viewpoints of children often are.
I could relate to much of this book having grown up in a fundamental Baptist home myself. The difference be...more
It was okay. Not quite as funny as jonathan acuff, but I think he wants to be. And not quite as insightful as Donald miller, but I think he wants to be. So what you get is exactly what the subtitle promises: ONE persons journey TOWARD God. It isn't an indictment of all fundamentalism, though other reviews have accused it of being so. And while I wish there had been more healing at the end, I looked at the jacket and remembered it was a "journey toward"-- and not an "arrival at"-- a good place. I...more
I was hoping that this would be a clever and insightful slice-of-life story when I bought it, maybe because the cover design plays it relatively straight. I actually most enjoyed the final chapter, a sincere and straightforward epilogue.
The rest of the book is mainly wacky humor, with most of the stories played so thoroughly for laughs that they almost seem fabricated. I didn't feel like I had grown to know or care about most of the people, because they were primarily cartoons.
I absolutely love...more
The rest of the book is mainly wacky humor, with most of the stories played so thoroughly for laughs that they almost seem fabricated. I didn't feel like I had grown to know or care about most of the people, because they were primarily cartoons.
I absolutely love...more
Very entertaining. Listened to the audio book at christianaudio.com. If anyone is interested to know the type of fundamentalism I grew up in, they can read this book. I could empathize with many of Turner's experiences growing up in a KJV only church and school, hearing many preachers who graduated from "Fyles-Sanderson" college, and exeperiencing the ACE school system. Not a life-changing book, but entertaining especially if you grew up in a similar christian ghetto. Positives: A good reminder...more
A quick, fun and light-hearted memoir that sympathetically catalogues the absurdities inherent in fundmentalist religion from the perspective of a little kid. Little kids can view the world literally and often take metaphor literally, so there really can't be any better wide-eyed believer. Luckily, the author had a matter of fact dad who is able to put a practical spin on the more extreme logical consequences of following fundamentalist narrative. I didn't completely believe the exactness of the...more
This book made me sad...even a little mad. Well, a lot mad. I am a former Fundamentalist Baptist - from age three through my early 20s I was fully ensconced in the fundamentalist "movement." And yet, I am a-ok. I still love Jesus, although I'm more familiar with His grace than His judgment as in the first 20ish years of my life. I grew up in a large F-B church located in the midwest. I attended the Christian school "attached" to the F-B church - 3 y.o. preschool through 12th grade. I followed th...more
Matthew Paul Turner's reminiscence of growing up fundamentalist, with appropriate haircut and hell-fire-evangelism is wildly entertaining for the most part. Occasionally he is appreciative, often he pokes fun at the legalism and crazy-making beliefs and behavior he witnessed. This book seems to be his way of processing his past and trying to make his peace with church and the narrow Christianity he was raised with.
In terms of style-there is something Donald-Milleresque here, though Donald Mille...more
In terms of style-there is something Donald-Milleresque here, though Donald Mille...more
For me, there's nothing better than a child's perspective on conservative, fundamentalist Christianity. I could read Frank Schaeffer's books over and over again and never grow tired of them - and Turner's "Churched" is very much like many of Schaeffer's works.
I think it's the way that a child's simple and honest approach to life and faith exposes the absurdity and cruelty of hell-fire Christianity. God loves you, but watch out, he's also ready and willing to send you to hell in a heartbeat unle...more
I think it's the way that a child's simple and honest approach to life and faith exposes the absurdity and cruelty of hell-fire Christianity. God loves you, but watch out, he's also ready and willing to send you to hell in a heartbeat unle...more
I listened to this as an audiobook, from the ChristianBook.com free download. I was also raised Independent Fundamentalist Baptist, and even attended Hyles-Anderson college for a couple years, so many of the stories could have been taken from my own life. I loved the way he retold those stories as they were, without trying too hard to point out the flaws in the system or to promote an agenda.
It was good to see a memoir of IFB life that could look at that culture somewhat irreverently, but withou...more
It was good to see a memoir of IFB life that could look at that culture somewhat irreverently, but withou...more
Matthew Paul Turner recounts in an honest way, his child-rearing in a fundamental, independent Baptist church...very specialized group of churches - one that I myself was brought up in. The similarities of our backgrounds was astonishing, although I was never privileged to witness a boxing match between my pastor and Satan. Although, I did listen to Patch the Pirate for many of my childhood years (another experience he shares...Patch also conducted music seminars regaling audiences with the less...more
Matthew Paul Turner brings his refreshing humour and candor about his experiences in church to Churched, his memoir about growing up in an independent Baptist church in Maryland. He relates stories from throughout his childhood that connect to the way he perceived (and perceives) fundamentalist Evangelicalism, which all connect to his core idea that "fundamentalism is weird". While it seems that Turner's journey was weirder than most, there are many moments in each chapter that resonate with any...more
First, let me just say that I’m not a person who normally reads memoirs. So I was a little hesitant when I was asked to read and review Matthew Paul Turner’s Churched. I agreed because I, too, grew up in a fundamentalist church, and no one comes away from that experience unchanged. It defines a person, for the good or bad. I was curious about what Turner had to say.
Turns out, his family joined a fundamentalist Baptist church when the author was five. They had no idea what they were getting into...more
Turns out, his family joined a fundamentalist Baptist church when the author was five. They had no idea what they were getting into...more
I read this, not wanting to like it. Yet, I finished it in one day.
Turner's careful telling of growing up in the fundamentally-confused Midwest reminds of my own religious education. The punch-line refrain to one of Turner's stories, "the devil can sit on a tack," triggered long-forgotten soundtracks of places and people that shaped the person I am today. For that, I was unexpectedly grateful.
His childhood introduction to God, however, does not strike me as an expose beyond expectation (as pub...more
Turner's careful telling of growing up in the fundamentally-confused Midwest reminds of my own religious education. The punch-line refrain to one of Turner's stories, "the devil can sit on a tack," triggered long-forgotten soundtracks of places and people that shaped the person I am today. For that, I was unexpectedly grateful.
His childhood introduction to God, however, does not strike me as an expose beyond expectation (as pub...more
I picked up this book based on the fact that the author and I have a super-conservative, fundamentalist upbringing in common. Mostly a collection of essays recalling the questions and fears raised by the church. I was expecting a kind of sarcastic, bitter memoir, but I was wrong. Some sarcasm was definitely involved, but I think it was laced with grace. Humorous, vivid, insightful storytelling. A really quick and pleasant read.
This book was mildly funny. The author tells about his childhood. He is remarkably skilled at remembering and writing from a childlike point of view. During the story in the last chapter, he tells what he is looking for in a church and why he thinks it is important. Those few paragraphs made this book a worthwhile read, so much so, that I read them twice.
I clearly liked this book much more than many of the people who have reviewed it here. I thought it was very funny and didn't find it in the least bit sacrilegious. It was a realistic, yet funny, look at the dangers the church in modern US falls prey to.
For my full review, go to my blog at: http://www.thesquirrelfactor.com/2011...
For my full review, go to my blog at: http://www.thesquirrelfactor.com/2011...
Some of the book jacket blurbs compared Matthew Paul Turner to Anne Lamott. He has a similar voice and subject matter, sure, but they're not really in the same league. Still, this book made me laugh and cringe all at once.
The title is misleading, though. It's really stories from Turner's childhood in a fundamental Baptist church and not how he journeyed toward God in spite of it. The last chapter gives some insight into his feelings about church and God as an adult, but he really should have re...more
The title is misleading, though. It's really stories from Turner's childhood in a fundamental Baptist church and not how he journeyed toward God in spite of it. The last chapter gives some insight into his feelings about church and God as an adult, but he really should have re...more
I think the description of this book is a bit misleading. It says that the author, "amidst the chaotic mess of religion, falls in love with Jesus." Unfortunately, I really didn't see a love for Jesus anywhere in this book. I expected that this book would be a bit more serious, and not just a bunch of lightharted, funny stories about growing up in a fundamentalist church.
In the end I felt sad, because it doesn't seem like the author really had a breakthrough in his relationship with God - rather...more
In the end I felt sad, because it doesn't seem like the author really had a breakthrough in his relationship with God - rather...more
mostly just depressing and judgemental-ifying -- I didn't finish it because I found it was making me dwell on bitterness. Funny in places, but mostly encourages you to laugh at people who are pretending to peace that they haven't really found... which, to me, is not really funny.
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
