Prayer Warriors: The True Story of a Gay Son, His Fundamentalist Christian Family, and Their Battle for His Soul

by Stuart Howell Miller

When a gay man "comes out" to his fundamentalist Christian family, his father organizes a brigade of "prayer warriors"--a frightening tactic used by the extreme religious right against even the most loving of sons. 8-page photo insert.

Genres: Memoir

200 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 1999

Reviews

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up in a Christian home myself and struggling for years to find the place where my faith and my sexuality could coexist this book was masterful in helping me walk this road. A must read for all Gay Christians.

[Wayne Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've struggled with being gay all my life I've had to relocate 2500 miles because of the violence my family threatened me with in the name of Christ of course. Now I am alone and trying to be a good Christian but I don't and won't trust the church ever again nor will I set foot inside one. I would rather chew my own fingers off and douse the wounds with lemon juice than go to a Baptist or Pentecostal church with what they've put me through. Good book but remember the xians in this book have a form of religion based on a soul killing certainty and not true Christianity. I won't and refuse to desecrate and piss on God's throne and call the parent's in this book especially the dad a true Christian. Just my thoughts and my feelings

[Justin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Prayer Warriors sat on my bookshelf for four+ years, and I finally decided to pick it up this month. I opened the book hopeful of reading a story of depth and honesty that eventually came to a positive resolution, and was highly disappointed.

It appears that the author used the writing process as a therapeutic approach to processing emotions during a trying and difficult time. While I support this approach, I would hope that one would not publish the raw material for others to read. Miller's words about his family and friends were certainly unfiltered, and altogether hurtful. I can't imagine writing this book would be helpful in mending his relationships.

While I praise honesty and vulnerability, Miller's words feel self-righteous and conceited, with little care for others' feelings (which ironically mimics his depiction of his father).

Overall, I am disappointed at the lack of tact (and editing in general) in a story that could've had a stronger impact. His all-too-common story of fundamentalist Christian rejection of homosexuality was lost among the jabs at the other characters, and the use of strongly stereotypical portrayals of gay life.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stuart does an amazing job telling a tragic story faced by many lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. I read this book twice, before I put it down. Stuart's experience coming out as a gay man and the response of his evangelical Christian family, bring out the importance of a conversation many aren't willing to have. This is a must read for anyone who is thinking about "coming out" to evangelical Christian family members.

[Rod · Rating 3 out of 5]

A powerful "coming out" story and a finely drawn portrayal of what it feels like to try and open up a dialogue in a fundamentalist household.