Daniel Kleven > Recent Status Updates

In Chapter 2, Stankorb shares her own heartbreaking story of abuse.

"I never liked people telling me things happen for a reason. There is no reason for abuse and cruelty” (26).

“It’s unsettling to look back at the aughts and how commonly burqas were used as metaphors of oppression within Christian communities (where Islamophobia was nearly a norm).”

Yes, islamophobia is real; yes, there are many Muslim women content with this religious practice; however, see “Public protests are over but more Iranian women are refusing to wear the hijab” NPR, May 20, 2023 -- both can be true!

Stankorb has had quite a "faith journey" and is currently agnostic(?):

“Like millions of Americans, my own faith is still a question mark, a nebulous, softening, often-absent thing, but seeing the conviction with which some stayed in the church and used the loudest platform available to seek reform sparked something within me. Not faith exactly, but perhaps its close neighbor—hope” (8).

Aim of the book:

“Together, my sources’ influences could read like a Venn diagram, displaying overlaps between evangelical Christianity, patriarchy, nationalism, racism, and a church celebrity culture that elevates all brands of false authority. I aim to show how these themes hummed as background noise of the theology that shaped their lives” (6)

Stankorb has so many good lines, great turns of phrase, that help you see in a fresh way:

"In that dank prism, I somehow found a defiantly compassionate God” (2)

“The internet granted them a platform when some of their churches did not allow a pulpit” (6).

“Their shared struggle can be a unifier, connecting people with profound political and religious differences. When in hell, decency can forge a bridge” (8).

If you’ve watched “Shiny Happy People” this is a perfect companion, with in depth looks at many of the figures featured in the series, including the Duggars, Bill Gothard / IBLP, Michael and Debi Pearl, the Quiverfull Movement, and Generation Joshua. But it goes much further, and includes treatment of Christian Reconstruction, Rousas J. Rushdoony, Douglas Wilson, and more mainstream evangelical figures (CBMW, Piper)

Worthy Publishers reached out in June offering to "send you a free copy of Sarah Stankorb’s new book in exchange for your honest review." I hadn't heard of Stankorb before, so I went on her website and saw blurbs for the book from Kristin Kobes Du Mez and Andrew Whitehead (among others), writers whom I respect, so I said "sure!"

http://sarahstankorb.com/disobedient-...