The Exvangelicals

Loving, Living, and Leaving the White Evangelical Church

By: Sarah McCammon

Narrated by: Sarah McCammon

This program is read by the author.

"An intimate window into the world of American evangelicalism. Fellow exvangelicals will find McCammon’s story both startlingly familiar and immensely clarifying, while those looking in from the outside can find no better introduction to the subculture that has shaped the hopes and fears of millions of Americans."—Kristin Kobes Du Mez, New York Times bestselling author of Jesus and John Wayne

The first definitive book that names the massive social movement of people leaving the church: the exvangelicals.

Growing up in a deeply evangelical family in the Midwest in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Sarah McCammon was strictly taught to fear God, obey him, and not question the faith. Persistently worried that her gay grandfather would go to hell unless she could reach him, or that her Muslim friend would need to be converted, and that she, too, would go to hell if she did not believe fervently enough, McCammon was a rule-follower and—most of the time—a true believer. But through it all, she was increasingly plagued by fears and deep questions as the belief system she'd been carefully taught clashed with her expanding understanding of the outside world.

After spending her early adult life striving to make sense of an unraveling worldview, by her 30s, she found herself face-to-face with it once again as she covered the Trump campaign for NPR, where she witnessed first-hand the power and influence that evangelical Christian beliefs held on the political right.

Sarah also came to discover that she was not alone: She is among a rising generation of the children of evangelicalism who are growing up and fleeing the fold, who are thinking for themselves and deconstructing what feel like the “alternative facts” of their childhood.

Rigorously reported and deeply personal, The Exvangelicals is the story of the people who make up this generational tipping point, including Sarah herself. Part memoir, part investigative journalism, this is the first definitive book that names and describes the post-evangelical movement: identifying its origins, telling the stories of its members, and examining its vast cultural, social, and political impact.

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

©2024 Sarah McCammon (P)2024 Macmillan Audio

Critic reviews

"With sensitivity and candor, Sarah McCammon offers readers an intimate window into the world of American evangelicalism. Fellow exvangelicals will find McCammon’s story both startlingly familiar and immensely clarifying, while those looking in from the outside can find no better introduction to the subculture that has shaped the hopes and fears of millions of Americans. Filled with humor, insight, and hard-earned wisdom, The Exvangelicals is a gift to all who find themselves on a spiritual journey."—Kristin Kobes Du Mez, New York Times bestselling author of Jesus and John Wayne

"No one else could have written The Exvangelicals but Sarah McCammon. The way she seamlessly weaves together her own journalistic expertise and deeply personal experience of leaving evangelicalism to explore this moment in American history is stunning. Immediately after reading this book, I found myself already excited for her next one."—Nadia Bolz-Weber, New York Times bestselling author of Accidental Saints

"The Exvangelicals is a sensitive, informed exploration of what is often most personal and perplexing to us—our faith. McCammon takes the scramble of thoughts, feelings, and fears that characterize this era of religious re-examination and makes them legible. This isn't just a book about what evangelicalism has become, it is also about the ways people are trying to find what comes next."—Jemar Tisby, PhD, New York Times bestselling author of The Color of Compromise and How to Fight Racism

Interesting and helpful

I enjoyed hearing more about this “movement” and how different people came to feel about their experiences. It helped me to understand and appreciate the way I realized I was feeling too but had not been able to express.

Excellent

I relate to all of this, well done book. I learned good things from authors well researched information as well as her own and others personal stories.

The story of an amazing journey!

This is a beautiful book interwoven with stats and data, people and institutions, and personal representations that are incredibly vulnerable. We are so fortunate that Sarah shares so deeply and also helps us to understand the evangelical and ex community.

must read

Thoroughly researched, thought provoking, and well performed.
The author speaks from personal experience as the child of an evangelical family, and addresses the serious social consequences of a country whose religion has gotten mixed up with its politics.
A measured, articulate and gripping account.

Honest, Helpful, Hopeful

As a female Boomer who first encountered fundamental pentecostalism in my teens (KC & christian school), I never stopped openly (respectfully) debating my faith. The Vietnam War, Civil Rights, and women's roles. This book validates with much-needed introspection and open perspective. This is not a new (lonely) experience for many of us, just more exposed than in the past. The term "faith shifting" was new to me and appropriate to describe decades of reflections and growth.

This is the best book from a first-hand narrative (my opinion) with history and valuable insights. I just wish I could have met her fascinating grandfather and discussed philosophy.

I know many, many who have struggled from religious toxic patterns and would benefit by reading to the end. Almost cried tbrough Chapter 13. Take breaks, if you must, to process. The last chapter was as valuable as the first.

must read

This is probably the best book I have listened to recently regarding this subject. At times she hit so close to home for me it made me sick to my stomach. She brought up a lot of things I had forgotten I had also been through. If you're questioning everything and everyone around you, you're not alone. This book will help you see that Christian nationalism isn't actual Christianity. Some of these teachings are hurtful in multiple ways. She did an excellent job describing how strange some of the things we had to go through, read, and were taught as kids during private or home schooled christian school. Highly recommend.

I wish I had read this 10 years ago

Wonderful and impactful read. The author does a fantastic job, addressing the deep flaws and evangelic movement while being friendly, supportive, and objective about the broader topic.

Insightful Read

Well woven honest and well researched story. Insightful. Recommend to those interested in the topic.

I’m so glad I read this book. Exceptional.

This book resonated in a way I have needed for so long. Beautifully written and researched. The story and insights are shared with clarity, honesty, and compassion. It provided both a validation for my own frustrations and a balm for my soul. Thanks for writing it Sarah McCammon!

Wonderfully insightful and deeply personal

After listening to several books about the Evangelical experience and deconstruction, I have to say that this is definitely my favorite so far. The author is refreshingly honest about the culture she grew up and how that not only affected her but those around her. Shes clearly done a lot of personal and professional work in the space because she so deeply understands the culture and is able to cut to the core of each element of American Evangelical faith, especially in the 90s/00s. She explores the building blocks of why the culture exists, the teachings, and how those teachings/structures change those within it.

As a person who was in a similar space at the same time (although not so deeply entrenched, I never worked in Washington on behalf of the Evangelical movement), this book explored so many elements that I’ve also struggled to understand and come to terms with. She lays out how the culture was built and how it turned into its current form. If you want to understand Evangelicals, this is the book for you. If you are already in that space and wondering why so many people are leaving the church, this is book will give you insight through both personal stories and interviews.

Wonderful book. I can’t wait to see what the author writes next.