Pastrix

The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner & Saint

By: Nadia Bolz-Weber

Narrated by: Nadia Bolz-Weber

"Seven years on from its original publication, Pastrix remains bracing and beautiful. Nadia’s bold vulnerability and tender heart are timeless gifts. And the words she has added to this edition remind me: We need her call to tender grace and a loving, forgiving God now more than ever." (Jeff Chu, author of Does Jesus Really Love Me?)

Pastrix: a derogatory term used by Christians who refuse to recognize female pastors.

Heavily tattooed and foul-mouthed, Nadia Bolz-Weber, a former stand-up comic, sure as hell didn't consider herself to be religious-leader material - until the day she ended up leading a friend's funeral in a smoky downtown comedy club. Surrounded by fellow alcoholics, depressives, and cynics, she realized: These were her people. Maybe she was meant to be their pastor.

Using life stories - from living in a hopeful-but-haggard commune of slackers to surviving the wobbly chairs and war stories of a group for recovering alcoholics, from her unusual but undeniable spiritual calling to pastoring a notorious con artist - Nadia uses humorous narrative and poignant honesty to portray a woman who is both deeply faithful and deeply flawed, giving hope to the rest of us along the way.

This is the book for people who hunger for a bit of hope that doesn't come from vapid consumerism or navel-gazing; for women who talk too loudly and guys who love chick flicks; for the gay man who loves Jesus and won't allow himself to be shunned by the church. In short, this book is for every thinking misfit suspicious of institutionalized religion but still seeking transcendence and mystery.

Updated with a new afterword, Pastrix is wildly entertaining, sardonically irreverent, and deeply resonant - a messy, beautiful, prayer - and profanity-laden narrative about an unconventional life of faith.

©2013 Nadia Bolz-Weber (P)2013 Hachette Audio

Critic reviews

"Bolz-Weber represents a new, muscular form of liberal Christianity, one that merges the passion and life-changing fervor of evangelicalism with the commitment to inclusiveness." (The Washington Post)

"Nadia Bolz-Weber is what you'd get if you mixed the DNA of Louis C.K., Joey Ramone, and St. Paul. She is by far my favorite tatted-up, cranky pastor ever. Follow her. Not just on Twitter, but wherever her unique mind takes you. What I'm trying to say is: Buy this book." (A.J. Jacobs, author of The Year of Living Biblically)

"Bolz-Weber has such a distinctive voice and outlook, it's amazing she hasn't written more books. Perhaps it's because she's been too busy living the checkered and fascinating life that is the subject of her theological memoir.... Here's hoping her authentic voice continues to preach in more books." (Publishers Weekly)

Profoundly authentic and moving

As a Catholic priest, I have read more spiritual books than most, and I can say that this is the best spiritual book I have read this year. I found Pastor Nadia’s account of parish life both inspiring as she finds God in unexpected people and places and courageous as she shares her own spiritual journey.

Finding Jesus through a cranky woman pastor

I’m from a progressive church who also is welcoming & accepting of all individuals. Although I’m not a pastor, I’m in a quasi-leadership position. I find this author has challenged me in areas I did not realize I had. My first time seeing Nadia was on a Facebook post / video of her telling the world to “Forgive Assholes”. Right there I needed to know she was and what else she had to say.

This book is not a fictional account, but some names had been changed. But it’s not a memoir either. However, each chapter is like part journal, part blog, part sermon. It was a good way to find out more about this woman of God who tells us to forgive assholes. I’ve download the next book, on Accidental Saints.

I love when the author reads their own work, as it is like they are having conversations with me.

For Christians and non-alaike

A book that proves Jesus does not care about religion. He cares about your heart.

My favorite book

I’m so glad that Nadia did the narration! A great audiobook! She has become my favorite author!

Refreshing

I appreciate Nadia’s presentation, warts and all. That even with all of our imperfections, God still loves us and desires a relationship. I love her examples of “what would Jesus do?” My hope is, just because she uses some language, people won’t shy away. Because in the greater picture, you see the heart of a beautiful and real person.

So real

What can I say? It was just good. Soulful not preachy. Emotional not sappy. Quirky but genuinely so. Above all, uplifting.

Beautiful AND Cranky

The author's faith is so real I get the chills. This faith is not anything one could imagine -- it is passionate, not pious; discerning, not blindly accepting; life-challenging, not sitting on a shelf. And it is sometimes crabby. As a Lutheran I am inspired by the author's love for the Lutheran heritage; as a Missouri-Synod Lutheran I am chagrined by her chastisement of our social conservatism. I sometimes needed to take a break from her intensity, but when I returned, I'd find my heart soaring as she continued her story.

Beautifully Messy Real Christianity

This book is the tough to live out, messy truth of real Christianity, made only possible by the merciful grace of God. I am grateful to the author for honestly speaking these truths with wit and humanity, for living these truths with imperfection and for touching my soul with them .

Scratching the spiritual itch

I didn't know what to expect... And embraced the raw, in your face realism... Pastor Bolz-Weber shared as it relates to her journey,,, Her story (one of many...in our human community) validates who we are as organic spiritual beings.

The Real Deal

Nadia is real raw and inspirational. This book is for the wounded, uncertain, mislead and spiritually adrift.