As we’ve discussed in the past, the evangelical memoir genre has become a trend in evangelical publishing and, like most publishing trends, it is very much a mixed bag. At its best, the genre is a refashioning of traditional conversion narratives, but one in which the writer describes the process of coming to a healthier (and sometimes more orthodox) Christian faith after growing up in a Christian sub-culture that was often anything but. At their worst, these books simply become lazy and vindictive exercises in point-scoring, a way of saying all the cruel and dishonorable things the author wished they had said to their parents, pastors, or friends.
Want to keep reading?
Subscribe for free to access this article and all of our resources.
I’m very grateful for the work of MO and have really appreciated the things I’ve learned and the companion that it has been for me on my spiritual journey.
Mere Orthodoxy reader
Thank you for offering thoughtful, reasonable and decent commentary. It is a boon to my sanity at this stage of my life in this cultural moment.
Mere Orthodoxy reader
Mere Orthodoxy is (for me) a counterpoint to social media, a place of depth and critical thought.
Mere Orthodoxy reader
You're in. Check your inbox.
Something went wrong. Try again.
Jake Meador
Jake Meador is the editor-in-chief of Mere Orthodoxy. His writing has appeared in The Atlantic, Commonweal, First Things, Books & Culture, National Review, Comment, Books & Culture, and Christianity Today. He is a contributing editor with Plough and a contributing writer at the Dispatch. He lives in his hometown of Lincoln, NE with his wife and four children.
.png?width=5000&height=2188&name=Mere%20Orthodoxy%20-%20Banner.png%20(1).png)
