Why I Left, Why I Stayed: Conversations on Christianity Between an Evangelical Father and His Humanist Son Paperback – February 20, 2018

This book is an excellent resource for anyone who wishes to understand the problems facing American Evangelical Christianity in the 21st century. Bart’s story is all-too-typical of that told by tens of thousands of people who were led into Evangelicalism by crafty hucksters. The details of his journey are nauseatingly similar to the brainwashing attempts I endured back in the day, when I believed that God opposes gay marriage and the book of Genesis is a literal historical work. Thankfully, I now recognize those fables for the nonsense they areIronically, the Evangelical world’s ideological rigidity and aggressive recruiting tactics has created the seeds of its own destruction in the form of embittered ex-followers like Bart Campolo. Many of these former Christians have, like Bart, rejected all spirituality, embracing the triumphalist form of disbelief championed by militant atheists like Richard Dawkins. I chose a different path, one that Evangelicals might derisively refer to as “liberal Christianity.” Jesus to me was a Buddha, one who used skillful means to teach the dharma within the doctrinal constraints of temple-based Judaism.But enough about me.What makes Bart’s story so compelling is the fact that his father is Tony Campolo, a man I have admired and respected since my Christian college days back in the 1980s. He is a refreshing alternative to the usual sort of ego-driven Evangelical leaders who care more about money, fame and popularity than serving Christ. If anyone’s interpretation of Christianity can withstand critical inquiry, it is his. As for the elder Campolo’s contributions to this book, he makes a splendid case for the brand of thoughtful, moderately conservative form of Christianity he has long championed. He is living proof that one can embrace both intellectual clarity and vibrant spirituality. I don’t agree with every tenet of his faith, but it is nonetheless a vast improvement over what one might hear on Sunday morning at the local mega-church.I don’t think Bart gives his father’s arguments the careful consideration they deserve. As for his father, I suspect he harbors deep-seated resentment of his prodigal son. This is probably because the two men have a complicated relationship with more than its share of anger and regrets. I suspect it was these factors that ultimately fueled Bart’s changed worldview more than any intellectual epiphany on his part, although he claims otherwise.I do think the father builds a more coherent case for his position than the son. Bart commits the classic error of throwing out the baby with the bathwater. Simply because right-wing Evangelical Christianity is morally and spiritually bankrupt doesn’t mean that all forms of religion are therefore false. There is a vast gulf between the belief systems of the Dalai Lama or Karen Armstrong and those of people like Jerry Falwell and John MacArthur..I think Bart is guilty of a rush to judgment.In this book, Bart talks about his dream of building a secular counterpart to Christianity, one that incorporates religion's good aspects while leaving behind the bad ones. While this is a worthy goal, I doubt that it's realistic. The same instincts that bond people together also cause inter-tribal wars, witch hunts, and widespread paranoia. The atheist community is already experiencing its own version of a holy war, as left-leaning unbelievers do battle with Ayn Rand’s followers over whose form of unbelief is more rational. The value of empathic, altruistic love may seem self-evident to Bart Campolo. But Howard Roark and John Galt would heartily disagree. I refer readers to the excellent and insightful South Park episode "Go God Go," in which atheists take over the world then promptly divide into warring denominations of their own. SP is about far more than foul-mouthed children and fart jokes.As far as Bart's belief that humans are basically good, he's right, at least so long as people have full bellies, warm houses and hot showers. But let them get a little hungry and a little scared and the devils inside all of us will show themselves. Do you doubt this? Just look at how we treat each other online. Take away the face-to-face contact that restrains our bestial nature and the ugly truth becomes apparent. Or watch the Twilight Zone episode "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street." TZ was about far more than campy costumes and crazy plot twists.I would have enjoyed the book more if Bart was the son of Mike Warnke or Pat Robertson or Tim LaHaye. Those men deserve to have their legacies turn to dust. But not Tony Campolo. I think that’s why I sense an undertone of tragedy flowing through the book. However, I heartily recommend it to anyone wanting to understand the mindset of contemporary American Evangelicalism and its New Atheist antagonists.

Being an Evangelical Christian almost all of my life (and a Tony Campolo fan), I found the book quite challenging and it brought up issues which I, honestly, never have considered. Actually, I found the arguments which Bart (Tony's son) made to be more well-reasoned and compelling than his father's. I wish the book was in more of a "debate" format in terms of responding to each writer's statements. Tony, as one might expect, gets really "preachy" while Bart seems a bit cynical at times. Tony blames Bart's "conversion" to humanism on a bad experience in Cincinnati (where I happen to live also) in which Bart ministered to drug addicts and others with the hope of redeeming them BUT only ended up comforting them in whatever never-changing situation they found themselves. Tony, isn't that reality about 90% of the time? You bet, it's discouraging...but our job as ministers, friends, co-workers, neighbors is not to FIX but to ENCOURAGE. Having said that, I don't understand why Bart felt compelled to completely dump Christianity. Yeah, the Bible (at least as we have it today) has issues; it is often ambiguous, unclear and (dare I say it?) contradictory. That is why we have so many denominations and all of them insisting that they are right. And there's a real issue for me with "sovereign, all powerful" God and the problem of human suffering. Isn't it better to not believe in God at all then to charge Him with being the ultimate cause of everything that happens? Oh dear, I sound like Bart...but I'm willing to live with my unanswered questions. In summary, I commend the book to you...don't be afraid to face the issues which it brings up! Dean Carroll

The purpose of this book is simply each telling their stories of how they got to where they are, and the reasons they are where they are. It is not an apologetic book by either side, though each does give some of their reasons for holding to the belief system they have chosen for finding purpose in life. What makes the book unique from the vast majority is that it is truly written with love from both sides in which the goal is to listen to each other, and when they express their perspectives, it is not done in a judgmental way upon the other.As one who has stayed believing in Jesus as being God come to earth, I identified with several of Tony's thoughts, and mostly that what keeps us in this life of faith is our experiences of hope. Tony does not approach defending Christianity as an apologist in this book, which from some of the reviews, it seems is seen as lacking logic. While there are reasons to find the Christian story believable, there are equal number of reason to not find it believable, and there are countless books that debate faith from that perspective. This is not one of them. And to me, that God would love the messed up human race is beyond reason and logic, so I find it refreshing that Tony does not take this approach. His goal is not to make an airtight argument for faith in the Christian story; simply telling his story of what keeps him believing.Bart likewise does not attempt to make an exhaustive attempt to make a secular humanist out of the readers of the book either. In his work at USC, he does not feel compelled to pull people away from following Jesus who are loving their neighbors as themselves. While he does utilize more of science in his reasons than his dad in this book, it is because that is part of his story, but the main part of his story is that it is one of loving our neighbors as ourselves, or doing unto others as we would have them do to us. This is the story he heard as a child from his dad, and saw his dad live according to what he preached, and from that he has not left - he has found as much reason to love like this within secular humanism, and to him it is more freeing in the belief system he now embraces. He did not convince me to become a secular humanist, but he explained it better than I have seen in explained before - story has a way of doing that.Story - that is probably what I like best about the book. Neither is preaching; just telling their stories.

This is a book that tells the story of a relationship that survives father and son going down two seemingly divergent paths and yet still finding intersections where they can meet and reflect together - It is both sad and joyful and ultimately whether you are Christian or Humanist (or other) is filled with teaching moments

I have enjoyed Tony Campolo for many years, both his books and when I have heard him preach. I have welcomed his focus on social justice in particular. As a father, I have two sons who have both left the Christian faith that they grew up in. As a committed, if liberal rather than evangelical, Christian, I purchased this book looking forward to Tony responding to his son Bart's reasons for why he lost his faith in Christianity. I must say that I have come away disappointed. Bart explains his case clearly with humility and no anger. The loss of faith from a thousand cuts, from tens of thousands unanswered prayers, from an all powerful God failing to intervene in the gang rape of a vulnerable woman. He explains well how he and his wife still practice the same morality as they have always done, that they have no need to fear death without the prospect of heaven, etc.As a debate between two different viewpoints then Bart easily won. I think the reason may be that Bart for many years was a Christian evangelist and pastor so completely understood the Christian position and his challenges hit the mark. Tony, on the other hand, made responses that simply missed the mark. I am not ready to give up my faith in Jesus just yet but Bart gave me more to think about than Tony.

Excellent

Sorry but this is a.Long discussion similar to theology lessons but a tempered.argument between a.secular humanist an a.Vinci card Christian . I do feel.that Bart is indulging himself in his belief or lack of belief and I also feel that he has duped people an admits he never really believed ! What a deception especially when you've been a.paid Christian worker .Of course people los their faith but I wish I hadn't paid good.money to read this ! I have been a.fan of Tony Campolo foe years ....still value his work .But don't bother yourself with this book.