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Doubting Faithfully
Have you ever felt like Christianity supports only a minimal amount of intellectual input in our lives of spiritual growth? How does a pastor go about leading the Sunday faithful with so many doubts? Are our questions and doubts an invitation to trust and believe no matter what, or are they nudging us to do something else? After years of striving to grasp the “right” way to believe and teach the faith, Keith Long, ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), ventured off the known path and stepped into the void without his Christian beliefs. This book describes his journey of why and what happened next.
Unlike other religious tell-all accounts, Doubting Confessions of a Skeptical Pastor articulates what a spiritual nomadic quest of an active leader of the Sunday morning faithful feels like from the other side of the pews—a confession most clergy might prefer to keep hidden.
Unlike other religious tell-all accounts, Doubting Confessions of a Skeptical Pastor articulates what a spiritual nomadic quest of an active leader of the Sunday morning faithful feels like from the other side of the pews—a confession most clergy might prefer to keep hidden.
78 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 23, 2025
Summary: A memoir by a pastor who came to doubt Christianity and how he has proceeded from there.
I will be candid upfront. Of late, it has become heroic to question, doubt, and abandon Christian faith for a variety of reasons, write books about it, and be valorized for one’s ‘courage,” “authenticity,” and “vulnerability.” Doubting Faithfully is one such book, although as I will conclude, I take issue with this title and what it reflects of the author’s approach.
The writer is a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America who came to faith through an evangelical ministry, and later attended a denominational seminary before becoming a pastor. He describes the experience that shook his faith. It was the death of his atheist friend Carl from ALS. Carl’s motto had been think strong, be strong. His death made Keith “think strong” about what he believed about God.
This led to a process of questioning. He became an atheist for Lent and doubted much of the creed. He came to deny that Christ died for our sins or bodily rose. Long grew skeptical of the trustworthiness of the gospel accounts. From what I can tell, he read skeptical authors. But it doesn’t appear he read Gary Habermas or Richard Bauckham. Respectively, they give rigorous defenses of the resurrection and the gospels.
Then his own questioning transformed his vision of pastoral work. Long determined to lead a questioning church. He delighted in the questions youth in his church would bring. He likens life to an experience of bungee jumping off the bridge above the New River gorge, a step into the unknown, mysterious and exhilarating.
I am no stranger to questioning, either in my own life or with the graduate students I worked with over a couple decades. We struggled together over the core of Christian beliefs, the shortcomings of the church, cultural challenges to the faith, and those of other faiths, including atheism. We fostered a community where it was safe both to believe and to question. And we kept doing the faith, praying, and caring while being honest about our questions, waiting for God in his own time to give further light.
What I question is the author’s use of “doubting faithfully.” This implies to me a person who remains open to how God has revealed God’s self while honestly confessing one’s questions, struggles, and doubts. On a number of questions, it seems to me Long doesn’t doubt, but has chosen on the basis of his own “thinking strong” to no longer believe. This is neither doubt, which, as Os Guinness has described it, is being “between two minds,” nor faithfulness, in the sense of seeking like Job for God to address him.
I think the most honest and courageous thing Long could do is resign his pastorate. Instead of embracing the creeds and catechisms, he shepherds people in questioning them. Rather than dependence on God, he models a kind of autonomous intellectual self-sufficiency. I believe in a church where people may question and doubt. But doubting faithfully is something very different than what Long describes. I cannot commend his approach.
____________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Speakeasy for review.
I will be candid upfront. Of late, it has become heroic to question, doubt, and abandon Christian faith for a variety of reasons, write books about it, and be valorized for one’s ‘courage,” “authenticity,” and “vulnerability.” Doubting Faithfully is one such book, although as I will conclude, I take issue with this title and what it reflects of the author’s approach.
The writer is a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America who came to faith through an evangelical ministry, and later attended a denominational seminary before becoming a pastor. He describes the experience that shook his faith. It was the death of his atheist friend Carl from ALS. Carl’s motto had been think strong, be strong. His death made Keith “think strong” about what he believed about God.
This led to a process of questioning. He became an atheist for Lent and doubted much of the creed. He came to deny that Christ died for our sins or bodily rose. Long grew skeptical of the trustworthiness of the gospel accounts. From what I can tell, he read skeptical authors. But it doesn’t appear he read Gary Habermas or Richard Bauckham. Respectively, they give rigorous defenses of the resurrection and the gospels.
Then his own questioning transformed his vision of pastoral work. Long determined to lead a questioning church. He delighted in the questions youth in his church would bring. He likens life to an experience of bungee jumping off the bridge above the New River gorge, a step into the unknown, mysterious and exhilarating.
I am no stranger to questioning, either in my own life or with the graduate students I worked with over a couple decades. We struggled together over the core of Christian beliefs, the shortcomings of the church, cultural challenges to the faith, and those of other faiths, including atheism. We fostered a community where it was safe both to believe and to question. And we kept doing the faith, praying, and caring while being honest about our questions, waiting for God in his own time to give further light.
What I question is the author’s use of “doubting faithfully.” This implies to me a person who remains open to how God has revealed God’s self while honestly confessing one’s questions, struggles, and doubts. On a number of questions, it seems to me Long doesn’t doubt, but has chosen on the basis of his own “thinking strong” to no longer believe. This is neither doubt, which, as Os Guinness has described it, is being “between two minds,” nor faithfulness, in the sense of seeking like Job for God to address him.
I think the most honest and courageous thing Long could do is resign his pastorate. Instead of embracing the creeds and catechisms, he shepherds people in questioning them. Rather than dependence on God, he models a kind of autonomous intellectual self-sufficiency. I believe in a church where people may question and doubt. But doubting faithfully is something very different than what Long describes. I cannot commend his approach.
____________________
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Speakeasy for review.
April 1, 2021
There are very few books, over the course of the last nine years, while writing these reviews, that I have read more than once. This is one of them. I was completely and totally intrigued and captivated by the idea that a pastor of a Christian Church would take a plunge into the void of actually questioning the Bible or even the existence of God. Pastor Long “steps into the void” with a fear but also with an exhilaration, as he did during his youth when he jumped into the river from a six-story bridge. In doing so, it freed him from many of the Christian constraints that he felt bound to through the years. In his example to illustrate his idea of jumping, and the fear of falling, he relates to a high up over-head obstacle course that he once ran and managed during his college years. If you fell off of one of the obstacles, you would be held up by a harness. In relation to being afraid to questioning or even doubting our faith, he encourages us to “Step outside of your comfort zone- don’t cling to the natural instincts to safety. Fall and test and trust your tether.” Long also reminds us that, “Our brains were meant for thinking.”
Keith Long exercises his views in many ways that I can’t even imagine any other pastor or True Christian ever considering. But of course, it stands to reason, that as humans, it’s inherent in our nature, to question and to doubt, even when our beliefs seem so strong. The birth and resurrection of Jesus are not exempt from this pastor’s thoughts and doubts. To find out what his conclusions are, well, you’ll just have to read the book.
If you are like me, the faith I have, has not, nor will it ever be shaken and it is only added to when we can be free to use our God given intellect and this is precisely what Pastor Keith Long, I think, would agree with.
Doubting Faithfully- Confessions of a Skeptical Pastor is a top shelf book that everyone should read, whether you are an atheist or a Christian.
Keith Long exercises his views in many ways that I can’t even imagine any other pastor or True Christian ever considering. But of course, it stands to reason, that as humans, it’s inherent in our nature, to question and to doubt, even when our beliefs seem so strong. The birth and resurrection of Jesus are not exempt from this pastor’s thoughts and doubts. To find out what his conclusions are, well, you’ll just have to read the book.
If you are like me, the faith I have, has not, nor will it ever be shaken and it is only added to when we can be free to use our God given intellect and this is precisely what Pastor Keith Long, I think, would agree with.
Doubting Faithfully- Confessions of a Skeptical Pastor is a top shelf book that everyone should read, whether you are an atheist or a Christian.
August 3, 2025
As other reviewers have noted, there are many books written by those who question the faith traditions they grew up in.
This is - kind of - one of those books.
Most books of this genre address questions of faith and their - at least partial resolution.
In that sense, this book leaves unanswered questions hanging.
For better or worse, I can identify with this. Whatever happens after we die, if nothing else, I will still have questions.
What I like about this book is that the questions open up into more questions.
The author's point is that what we call Christianity (and perhaps every faith tradition) is really just a bunch of theological points - or propositions.
If you agree with certain points or interpretations, you will go to heaven.
To put it mildly, this is a strange philosophical cul-de-sac.
This book is a stretch,or a least a serious look, outside of established theological pathways.
His premise is that a serious believer should ask, even demand, satisfying answers to questions most people dare not ask.
It's not even that many religious people can't stomach the truth, as that most are too paralyzed to even raise disturbing questions.
But my question is; who or what is being disturbed?
Surely any God would not be disturbed by serious questions - but those who keep the privileges, profits and power thanks to to bland theological conformity might be. And my bias is that they should be disturbed - even dismissed.
God is not afraid of our questions. And our "faith" with or without a central deity, is, and he seems convinced, will always be an uneasy pursuit of more.
Is that dangerous? Heretical? Maybe. But it is always interesting...
P.S. I got this book through Speakeasy (https://thespeakeasy.info/)
This is - kind of - one of those books.
Most books of this genre address questions of faith and their - at least partial resolution.
In that sense, this book leaves unanswered questions hanging.
For better or worse, I can identify with this. Whatever happens after we die, if nothing else, I will still have questions.
What I like about this book is that the questions open up into more questions.
The author's point is that what we call Christianity (and perhaps every faith tradition) is really just a bunch of theological points - or propositions.
If you agree with certain points or interpretations, you will go to heaven.
To put it mildly, this is a strange philosophical cul-de-sac.
This book is a stretch,or a least a serious look, outside of established theological pathways.
His premise is that a serious believer should ask, even demand, satisfying answers to questions most people dare not ask.
It's not even that many religious people can't stomach the truth, as that most are too paralyzed to even raise disturbing questions.
But my question is; who or what is being disturbed?
Surely any God would not be disturbed by serious questions - but those who keep the privileges, profits and power thanks to to bland theological conformity might be. And my bias is that they should be disturbed - even dismissed.
God is not afraid of our questions. And our "faith" with or without a central deity, is, and he seems convinced, will always be an uneasy pursuit of more.
Is that dangerous? Heretical? Maybe. But it is always interesting...
P.S. I got this book through Speakeasy (https://thespeakeasy.info/)
August 3, 2025
As someone who has long wrestled with the messy intersection of faith and intellect, Doubting Faithfully felt like a lifeline. Keith Long doesn’t just give permission to doubt but he treats it as a sacred act. His reflections on the Bible’s internal contradictions, the spiritual value of uncertainty, and the courage it takes to resist performative certainty resonated deeply with me. I found particular solace in his discussion of Jesus as a question-asker, not just a doctrine-giver - a reminder that asking hard things is not a betrayal of faith, but often its truest expression.
In this current moment, when the American religious and political landscape so often demands blind allegiance and punishes nuance, I’ve found myself pulling away from organized religion, unsure where or even if I still belong. Long’s work gave language to that dislocation and offered a spacious, non-dogmatic path forward, one that values honesty over conformity and humility over certainty.
Academically, Doubting Faithfully stands out for its theological generosity and its integration of historical-critical insight with lived, pastoral experience. Long challenges the assumption that doubt is a symptom of weak faith, drawing instead on thinkers like Paul Tillich and Barbara Brown Taylor to reframe it as an essential and even transformative part of the spiritual life. This is a book for anyone who has felt exiled by certainty and who suspects that a more honest, complex faith might actually be the deeper one.
In this current moment, when the American religious and political landscape so often demands blind allegiance and punishes nuance, I’ve found myself pulling away from organized religion, unsure where or even if I still belong. Long’s work gave language to that dislocation and offered a spacious, non-dogmatic path forward, one that values honesty over conformity and humility over certainty.
Academically, Doubting Faithfully stands out for its theological generosity and its integration of historical-critical insight with lived, pastoral experience. Long challenges the assumption that doubt is a symptom of weak faith, drawing instead on thinkers like Paul Tillich and Barbara Brown Taylor to reframe it as an essential and even transformative part of the spiritual life. This is a book for anyone who has felt exiled by certainty and who suspects that a more honest, complex faith might actually be the deeper one.
February 20, 2021
“Doubting Faithfully: Confessions of a Skeptical Pastor” is Keith Long’s memoir of his spiritual journey throughout his life. It is the true story of how circumstances and situations can make a lasting impact on your life. Long’s memoir tells that he developed his love and passion for God while at college in Minnesota. He was down deep with his faith and took everything at gospel truth. His fire was hot for the Lord; he knew his path was making God his full-time job. Now that he has graduated and helped his wife achieve her MRS degree, he decided to dip his feet in the film industry. While tangibly unfruitful, it produced its fruits through the lessons he took away from the overall experience.
Now Long begins the next chapter in his life as a seminarian. While semi-hesitant of this decision, he jumps in and jumps out as an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). The hesitancy felt in the seminary becomes the truth while working in the field. Then he experiences some deaths of loved ones; this accumulation of events causes him to question everything about life, including his faith. Long searches for reassurance through any means possible to gain the answers he desperately needs. Unfortunately, he realizes that some questions may not come with the answers here on earth.
While coming up with the rest of the review, it was difficult for me to formulate my thoughts. I can say that the writing is smooth and flows well. Long does an adequate job of explaining theology, scripture, and worship practices from both viewpoints. The book gets to the point without “extra” material lying around.
On the other hand, I have problems with his nit-picking the Bible, and it seemed to me that he contradicted himself a few times on his beliefs. Long has issues with interpreting the Bible, whether to take it literally or allow room for interpretation. It shocks me that he holds views that are not even Christian (Jesus is not truly God; there is no Trinity), yet he still preaches that Jesus is a “good guy.” If someone is serious about their faith, they should consult someone else who shares their faith, not someone of a different religion or lack. The verse 2 Timothy 3:16 states that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.”
So, for readers interested in reading this book, Long makes good points about seeking answers and not being content believing what your elder tells you. However, he is way off the mark with his blasphemous comments from a Christian perspective.
Now Long begins the next chapter in his life as a seminarian. While semi-hesitant of this decision, he jumps in and jumps out as an ordained minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). The hesitancy felt in the seminary becomes the truth while working in the field. Then he experiences some deaths of loved ones; this accumulation of events causes him to question everything about life, including his faith. Long searches for reassurance through any means possible to gain the answers he desperately needs. Unfortunately, he realizes that some questions may not come with the answers here on earth.
While coming up with the rest of the review, it was difficult for me to formulate my thoughts. I can say that the writing is smooth and flows well. Long does an adequate job of explaining theology, scripture, and worship practices from both viewpoints. The book gets to the point without “extra” material lying around.
On the other hand, I have problems with his nit-picking the Bible, and it seemed to me that he contradicted himself a few times on his beliefs. Long has issues with interpreting the Bible, whether to take it literally or allow room for interpretation. It shocks me that he holds views that are not even Christian (Jesus is not truly God; there is no Trinity), yet he still preaches that Jesus is a “good guy.” If someone is serious about their faith, they should consult someone else who shares their faith, not someone of a different religion or lack. The verse 2 Timothy 3:16 states that “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.”
So, for readers interested in reading this book, Long makes good points about seeking answers and not being content believing what your elder tells you. However, he is way off the mark with his blasphemous comments from a Christian perspective.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews