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Surprised by Doubt: How Disillusionment Can Invite Us into a Deeper Faith
Even those who live by faith sometimes doubt. Those doubts don't have to mean the end of your faith.
In Surprised by Doubt, Joshua Chatraw and Jack Carson help readers rediscover a deeper faith in the midst of a confusing world. They invite skeptics and doubters to explore the ancient faith for a new perspective on contemporary Christianity.
Chatraw and Carson build on C. S. Lewis's metaphor that envisions Christianity as a house with many rooms, suggesting that readers move beyond the cramped attic of reactionary versions of the faith to explore the larger, more ancient main floors of the house.
With pastoral care and intellectual rigor, Chatraw and Carson not only help Christians think through the issues confronting them. They also help readers engage their emotional journey of anxiety, fear, anger, and frustration. Readers will discover the wisdom of the past and ways to reimagine a life of faith alongside doubt.
In Surprised by Doubt, Joshua Chatraw and Jack Carson help readers rediscover a deeper faith in the midst of a confusing world. They invite skeptics and doubters to explore the ancient faith for a new perspective on contemporary Christianity.
Chatraw and Carson build on C. S. Lewis's metaphor that envisions Christianity as a house with many rooms, suggesting that readers move beyond the cramped attic of reactionary versions of the faith to explore the larger, more ancient main floors of the house.
With pastoral care and intellectual rigor, Chatraw and Carson not only help Christians think through the issues confronting them. They also help readers engage their emotional journey of anxiety, fear, anger, and frustration. Readers will discover the wisdom of the past and ways to reimagine a life of faith alongside doubt.
192 pages, Hardcover
Published August 29, 2023
22 people are currently reading
1784 people want to read
About the author
Joshua D. Chatraw
13 books24 followersAssociate Professor of Theology and Apologetics
Executive Director of The Center for Apologetics and Cultural Engagement
Executive Director of The Center for Apologetics and Cultural Engagement
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
August 22, 2024
This book hit the sweet spot for me. I would highly recommend this to anyone struggling with doubts about the Christian faith, especially if they have primarily been exposed to a generic evangelicalism or some form of fundamentalism.
The book is easy to read without being dumbed down or simplistic. It addresses the reader with respect, humility, and honesty. It is not afraid of questions or objections but encourages readers to face both the doubts and the evidence head on.
The authors aim to help those who grew up in some form of what they call “attic Christianity” and are tempted to jump out the window and abandon Christianity altogether. Instead, they encourage readers to spend time on the main floor of the house, inspect the foundation, and consider sticking around even if you refuse to live in the attic anymore.
By “attic Christianity” they mean those Christian communities that may draw excessively tight boundaries around what counts as ‘real Christianity’ and especially ‘real Christian behavior.’ These communities often overlook or assume what the authors call the “load bearing walls” of the Christian faith in favor of emphasizing their ideas of what is truly important. Those who find the attic constricting and an unattractive place to live may not realize the Christian faith is not equivalent to the attic they grew up in. There is a whole house to explore that you may find quite beautiful, secure, and welcoming.
This house is haunted (in a good way) by Augustine, C. S. Lewis, and Blaise Pascal. These all lived in the house before us and found the other houses in the neighborhood to be lacking. The authors address to claims of Richard Dawkins, Bart Ehrman, Jordan Peterson, and others who have persuaded others to free themselves from the attic by leaving the house altogether, but ultimately cannot provide a better house than the Christian one built on the foundation of Jesus himself.
I cannot think of a book I would be more eager to give someone with an evangelical background thinking about leaving the faith. Many do so without really knowing the faith they are ready to abandon. The authors of this book understand that pull, but they have found a better way and are eager to invite you in.
The book is easy to read without being dumbed down or simplistic. It addresses the reader with respect, humility, and honesty. It is not afraid of questions or objections but encourages readers to face both the doubts and the evidence head on.
The authors aim to help those who grew up in some form of what they call “attic Christianity” and are tempted to jump out the window and abandon Christianity altogether. Instead, they encourage readers to spend time on the main floor of the house, inspect the foundation, and consider sticking around even if you refuse to live in the attic anymore.
By “attic Christianity” they mean those Christian communities that may draw excessively tight boundaries around what counts as ‘real Christianity’ and especially ‘real Christian behavior.’ These communities often overlook or assume what the authors call the “load bearing walls” of the Christian faith in favor of emphasizing their ideas of what is truly important. Those who find the attic constricting and an unattractive place to live may not realize the Christian faith is not equivalent to the attic they grew up in. There is a whole house to explore that you may find quite beautiful, secure, and welcoming.
This house is haunted (in a good way) by Augustine, C. S. Lewis, and Blaise Pascal. These all lived in the house before us and found the other houses in the neighborhood to be lacking. The authors address to claims of Richard Dawkins, Bart Ehrman, Jordan Peterson, and others who have persuaded others to free themselves from the attic by leaving the house altogether, but ultimately cannot provide a better house than the Christian one built on the foundation of Jesus himself.
I cannot think of a book I would be more eager to give someone with an evangelical background thinking about leaving the faith. Many do so without really knowing the faith they are ready to abandon. The authors of this book understand that pull, but they have found a better way and are eager to invite you in.
July 11, 2024
Wonderful. This guy's end notes looks like my library.
March 31, 2024
Never more have we needed a book allowing us to embrace our doubts in the Christian faith while guiding us through to the depths of relationship with Christ.
"Surprised by Doubt" is a play on the words coined by C.S. Lewis when, in his discovery of the love of Christ, wrote his transformation story in "Surprised by Joy". In "Surprised by Doubt", Christian Apologists Dr. Joshua D. Chatraw and Jack Carson present Christianity through an analogy used by Lewis of a house. "Lewis's house of faith has many rooms, with each representing a certain way of being Christian. These rooms represent unique combinations of denominations, cultures, and eras. All of the rooms are united by a shared belief in Jesus Christ and the ancient creeds of Christianity". These essentials of the faith are the main floor. However, "some strands of Christianity do not recognize themselves as simply one room within a larger house. They give the impression that their room is the entire house. " This is known as "attic Christianity". "If you grew up in the attic of the Christian faith, questioning the walls of your room can feel like questioning the entire house. . Built in fear to protect you from the dangers of the world outside, the attic demands a loyalty that makes the slightest deviation feel like heresy." Josh and Jack tackle the options of doubting such a faith by taking the reader down to the main floor before jumping out of the attic window entirely.
I felt EVERY word of these 165 pages. In my own faith, this book's timing was absolutely Divine and providential. I connect with reasonable apologetics and considered this book among the greats. The annotations in my copy and are extensive because I found myself saying "YES....THAT!" every page. If you are one that is struggling in your Christian faith, I highly recommend this book. It's completely ok to have doubts.
"Surprised by Doubt" is a play on the words coined by C.S. Lewis when, in his discovery of the love of Christ, wrote his transformation story in "Surprised by Joy". In "Surprised by Doubt", Christian Apologists Dr. Joshua D. Chatraw and Jack Carson present Christianity through an analogy used by Lewis of a house. "Lewis's house of faith has many rooms, with each representing a certain way of being Christian. These rooms represent unique combinations of denominations, cultures, and eras. All of the rooms are united by a shared belief in Jesus Christ and the ancient creeds of Christianity". These essentials of the faith are the main floor. However, "some strands of Christianity do not recognize themselves as simply one room within a larger house. They give the impression that their room is the entire house. " This is known as "attic Christianity". "If you grew up in the attic of the Christian faith, questioning the walls of your room can feel like questioning the entire house. . Built in fear to protect you from the dangers of the world outside, the attic demands a loyalty that makes the slightest deviation feel like heresy." Josh and Jack tackle the options of doubting such a faith by taking the reader down to the main floor before jumping out of the attic window entirely.
I felt EVERY word of these 165 pages. In my own faith, this book's timing was absolutely Divine and providential. I connect with reasonable apologetics and considered this book among the greats. The annotations in my copy and are extensive because I found myself saying "YES....THAT!" every page. If you are one that is struggling in your Christian faith, I highly recommend this book. It's completely ok to have doubts.
December 20, 2023
This is a really good book. It has several problems, which I’ll discuss last, but if you just skim book reviews, I want to make my point early on: this is indeed a good book and can be used effectively with those wrestling with doubt.
As you might guess, the title is a take-off on C. S. Lewis’s Surprised by Joy The similarities rise to more than just the title. The authors quote Lewis frequently as they make their case for genuine Christianity. Their writing style is warm and not overly academic—also like Lewis’s. On balance the book is an invitation to carefully rethink the issues that have provoked many moderns toward skepticism, or even outright rejection, of the claims of the Christian faith.
One thing that adds to their credibility is that the authors themselves have struggled with doubts about their own faith. Another is that they honor questions and doubt without dismissing or belittling the skeptic. Instead, they engage with the doubts. Another is their humility: they freely admit they don’t have answers for all of the questions. Carson and Chatraw make a case for mystery—that unanswerable mystery should be expected when investigating a sovereign God.
I’m thankful that they are going after base hits, not home runs—they admit repeatedly that they cannot prove the existence of God or the claims of the faith. Instead they are building a “wager” that the Christian explanation of reality is far more likely than alternative explanations.
The principal metaphor they employ for the Christian faith is that of a great house with many rooms, each representing a different flavor of historic, orthodox Christianity. Chatraw and Carson divide the book into three sections: The Attic, Outside the House, and The Main Floor. The rooms on the main floor all share the same load-bearing walls. The load-bearing walls represent the unifying commonality of the essentials of the orthodox faith. In other words, while each room might differ on peripheral issues, if you’re on the main floor, you are a legitimate, true Christian.
In Part 1, the first five chapters of the book, Chatraw and Carson flesh out the metaphor, saying that some people have moved up to the attic and erected new walls consisting of peripheral issues that the attic dwellers insist are load-bearing. These individuals tend to say, “if you don’t have the same walls I do, you’re not really a Christian.” Like most attics, the ceiling is not high, and these Christians have adopted a stooped posture, unable to stand up straight. That stooped posture skews how they see others and how they read the Bible.
The authors provide several examples of attic dwellers. Evangelicalism on the left, with its nouveau catechisms of social justice and sexual/gender doctrines gets a mention. Fundamentalism on the right, with its dogma specifying the approved positions on culture (politics and political parties, forms of entertainment, use of alcohol and tobacco) or theology (eschatology, position on modern Israel, the ordinances, church governance), occupies a large part of the authors’ concerns. Some churches and fellowships (right and left) become vitriolic in their insistence that all true believers must share their particular distinctives.
The authors’ chief concern in the book is for believers who grew up in an “attic church” and have reached a point of disillusionment in which they are ready to jettison the faith because they see these questionable and peripheral issues being confidently elevated as though they are essentials alongside the actual Gospel.
In Part 2, chapters six through nine, Chatraw and Carson encourage the reader to examine closely the ground outside the house before jumping out of the Attic window (the metaphor is escape, not suicide). Four alternate philosophies are explored: the New Atheism, Optimistic Skepticism, Open Spirituality, and Mythic Truth. Chatraw and Carson drive the presumptions attached to each of these secular philosophies to their logical conclusions, demonstrating that the ground outside the house is not quite as inviting as it might first appear. Jumping out the Attic window simply trades one set of problems for an even worse set.
In Part 3, chapters ten through sixteen, Chatraw and Carson invite the reader to come down to the main floor and have a look around. “Now, as we turn to explore the main floor of the Christian house, we are asking a different question: Does Christianity offer a better foundation, better explanatory power, and a better way to live than the [outside] spaces we explored in part 2” [93]? They employ three perspectives: C. S. Lewis’s device of “Looking at” and “Looking Through,” to which they add “Stepping In.”
“Looking at” is a serious exploration of the historical evidences of the resurrection in chapter ten. What explanation provides the best understanding of the claim that Jesus was raised from the dead: Fraud? Hallucinations? Chatraw and Carson provide multiple reasons why the claims of Jesus’ resurrection are best explained by His actual, historic, physical resurrection.
Next, in chapter eleven, the reader is asked to look at the Person in the Center—Jesus Himself. Are the four gospels credible? Did they misrepresent Jesus? What kind of man was He? The authors point out that the gospels present Jesus as one who challenged and scandalized the orthodoxies of His day, rather than one whose ministry was calculated to win wide approval.
In chapter twelve, we are invited to examine the load-bearing walls that are absolutely essential to the integrity of the house over all. “This brings us to the load-bearing walls of the Christian faith. Attic Christianity mistakenly makes the house appear as though most of its walls are load-bearing or at least integrally attached to the load-bearing walls” [113]. The authors’ answer is to step back and look at the historic creeds which have stood the test of time over the centuries, such as the Apostles’ Creed. The Apostles’ Creed has been accepted by the Church at large as a legitimate statement of faith for at least fifteen hundred years by believers in different faith streams of Christianity. It provides common ground for the Christian faith.
Moving to the motif of “looking through,” in chapter thirteen the authors explore Pascal’s critique of Descartes’ skeptical approach to knowledge. In Pascal’s view, the human appreciation of and desire for transcendent truth, beauty, and goodness is itself an argument for God. Pascal’s “wager” is to “take all of the aspects of human behavior into account, and ask this question: Where might true joy be found” [131]?
Chapter fourteen suggests that justice, human dignity, beauty, and meaning are all markers “gesturing toward a profound and mysterious meaning” [140]. In the authors’ words, “Christianity provides a window that makes sense of the world, including human nature and our deepest aspirations” [134]
The third perspective, “Stepping in,” occupies chapters fifteen and sixteen. Chatraw and Carson suggest that the skeptic “try” Christianity. “If you’d like to believe in Christianity, but don’t think you can, you might be going about things the wrong way. It could be that you have been trying to control contingencies in order to achieve a certain kind of certainty, your own two-plus-two approach to the God question” [147]. They provide three reasons for staying on the “main floor” rather than bolting through the window:
• There are good reasons to take the core claims of Christianity seriously [149];
• What other options do you have [149]?
• Since we can’t opt out of formative practices altogether, the question becomes which practices best form us for flourishing [151].
The chapter ends with this hopeful sentence: “But the collective witness of his people and the Scriptures is that those who humbly continue to seek God will eventually find him” [153]. Chapter sixteen suggests the spiritual practices the seeking skeptic should engage in: participate in the sacred by observing birth, death, and marriage; commit to a room on the main floor of the house that is serious about worship; slow down and pray; meditate on Scripture; slow down to appreciate the beauty of creation; and continue to look both at and along the faith.
Though I believe Surprised by Doubt is a helpful book to give someone who is considering “deconverting” from the faith because of disillusionment, I do have several concerns. For one, the authors don’t consider the matter of recent creation to be one of the load-bearing walls of the faith. It is presented as a (losing) argument with science that contributes to the disillusionment of doubting believers. But the doctrine of creation refuses to play nice. Once you give ground on recent creation by accepting some combination of theistic evolution or old-earth theories, you’ve started pulling on a thread integrally connected to nearly every major doctrine of Scripture. Besides, “science” is not speaking with a unified voice on evolution and long ages: genuine empirical science is calling into question major assumptions made by evolutionists. “Received truth” like James Hutton’s principle of uniformitarianism, the bedrock of evolutionary geology, is being seriously challenged (even by secular geologists). Andrew Snelling’s magisterial work Earth's Catastrophic Past Geology, Creation and the Flood (two volumes) documents the modern scientific discoveries that dispute doctrinaire evolutionism. Is the doctrine of recent creation a load-bearing wall of the Gospel? Perhaps not, but the loss of the doctrine throws a great deal of historic orthodoxy into difficulty. Just like the authors were courageous to drive the four secular philosophies to their logical conclusions, it might be wise for them to do the same thing if one jettisons recent creation: the resulting theological problems are daunting.
Like C. S. Lewis, Chatraw and Carson also admit to the possibility of universalism, as though the doctrine of eternal judgment is a non-load-bearing wall. Despite the authors’ loyalty to historic orthodoxy, apparently that’s a historic doctrine they have chosen to overlook.
My final concern has to do with their closing advice—engage in spiritual disciplines. For readers who are genuinely regenerated but are struggling with doubts, that is precisely the right advice. Their re-immersion into spiritual disciplines will eventually have its intended effect. But for readers who are disillusioned because they’ve never truly been regenerated (in other words, to whom 1 John 2:19 applies), Chatraw’s and Carson’s advice sounds like preparationism—a highly disputed practice in orthodox circles. In their own words: “Without claiming a mechanistic and universal demonstration of the truth of Christianity through these practices, in this chapter we’ve been inviting you to wager on Christianity by developing habits that allow you to step into its light. If there is a God and Christianity is true, these practices are some of the means of experiencing his grace” [160].
These problems aside, I think this book can be greatly used of God for people who are wrestling with doubts. The authors’ gentle tone and style, the focus on the essentials, the easily understood metaphor, and the excellent reasoning combine to make this a useful book. Four stars, highly recommended.
As you might guess, the title is a take-off on C. S. Lewis’s Surprised by Joy The similarities rise to more than just the title. The authors quote Lewis frequently as they make their case for genuine Christianity. Their writing style is warm and not overly academic—also like Lewis’s. On balance the book is an invitation to carefully rethink the issues that have provoked many moderns toward skepticism, or even outright rejection, of the claims of the Christian faith.
One thing that adds to their credibility is that the authors themselves have struggled with doubts about their own faith. Another is that they honor questions and doubt without dismissing or belittling the skeptic. Instead, they engage with the doubts. Another is their humility: they freely admit they don’t have answers for all of the questions. Carson and Chatraw make a case for mystery—that unanswerable mystery should be expected when investigating a sovereign God.
I’m thankful that they are going after base hits, not home runs—they admit repeatedly that they cannot prove the existence of God or the claims of the faith. Instead they are building a “wager” that the Christian explanation of reality is far more likely than alternative explanations.
The principal metaphor they employ for the Christian faith is that of a great house with many rooms, each representing a different flavor of historic, orthodox Christianity. Chatraw and Carson divide the book into three sections: The Attic, Outside the House, and The Main Floor. The rooms on the main floor all share the same load-bearing walls. The load-bearing walls represent the unifying commonality of the essentials of the orthodox faith. In other words, while each room might differ on peripheral issues, if you’re on the main floor, you are a legitimate, true Christian.
In Part 1, the first five chapters of the book, Chatraw and Carson flesh out the metaphor, saying that some people have moved up to the attic and erected new walls consisting of peripheral issues that the attic dwellers insist are load-bearing. These individuals tend to say, “if you don’t have the same walls I do, you’re not really a Christian.” Like most attics, the ceiling is not high, and these Christians have adopted a stooped posture, unable to stand up straight. That stooped posture skews how they see others and how they read the Bible.
The authors provide several examples of attic dwellers. Evangelicalism on the left, with its nouveau catechisms of social justice and sexual/gender doctrines gets a mention. Fundamentalism on the right, with its dogma specifying the approved positions on culture (politics and political parties, forms of entertainment, use of alcohol and tobacco) or theology (eschatology, position on modern Israel, the ordinances, church governance), occupies a large part of the authors’ concerns. Some churches and fellowships (right and left) become vitriolic in their insistence that all true believers must share their particular distinctives.
The authors’ chief concern in the book is for believers who grew up in an “attic church” and have reached a point of disillusionment in which they are ready to jettison the faith because they see these questionable and peripheral issues being confidently elevated as though they are essentials alongside the actual Gospel.
In Part 2, chapters six through nine, Chatraw and Carson encourage the reader to examine closely the ground outside the house before jumping out of the Attic window (the metaphor is escape, not suicide). Four alternate philosophies are explored: the New Atheism, Optimistic Skepticism, Open Spirituality, and Mythic Truth. Chatraw and Carson drive the presumptions attached to each of these secular philosophies to their logical conclusions, demonstrating that the ground outside the house is not quite as inviting as it might first appear. Jumping out the Attic window simply trades one set of problems for an even worse set.
In Part 3, chapters ten through sixteen, Chatraw and Carson invite the reader to come down to the main floor and have a look around. “Now, as we turn to explore the main floor of the Christian house, we are asking a different question: Does Christianity offer a better foundation, better explanatory power, and a better way to live than the [outside] spaces we explored in part 2” [93]? They employ three perspectives: C. S. Lewis’s device of “Looking at” and “Looking Through,” to which they add “Stepping In.”
“Looking at” is a serious exploration of the historical evidences of the resurrection in chapter ten. What explanation provides the best understanding of the claim that Jesus was raised from the dead: Fraud? Hallucinations? Chatraw and Carson provide multiple reasons why the claims of Jesus’ resurrection are best explained by His actual, historic, physical resurrection.
Next, in chapter eleven, the reader is asked to look at the Person in the Center—Jesus Himself. Are the four gospels credible? Did they misrepresent Jesus? What kind of man was He? The authors point out that the gospels present Jesus as one who challenged and scandalized the orthodoxies of His day, rather than one whose ministry was calculated to win wide approval.
In chapter twelve, we are invited to examine the load-bearing walls that are absolutely essential to the integrity of the house over all. “This brings us to the load-bearing walls of the Christian faith. Attic Christianity mistakenly makes the house appear as though most of its walls are load-bearing or at least integrally attached to the load-bearing walls” [113]. The authors’ answer is to step back and look at the historic creeds which have stood the test of time over the centuries, such as the Apostles’ Creed. The Apostles’ Creed has been accepted by the Church at large as a legitimate statement of faith for at least fifteen hundred years by believers in different faith streams of Christianity. It provides common ground for the Christian faith.
Moving to the motif of “looking through,” in chapter thirteen the authors explore Pascal’s critique of Descartes’ skeptical approach to knowledge. In Pascal’s view, the human appreciation of and desire for transcendent truth, beauty, and goodness is itself an argument for God. Pascal’s “wager” is to “take all of the aspects of human behavior into account, and ask this question: Where might true joy be found” [131]?
Chapter fourteen suggests that justice, human dignity, beauty, and meaning are all markers “gesturing toward a profound and mysterious meaning” [140]. In the authors’ words, “Christianity provides a window that makes sense of the world, including human nature and our deepest aspirations” [134]
The third perspective, “Stepping in,” occupies chapters fifteen and sixteen. Chatraw and Carson suggest that the skeptic “try” Christianity. “If you’d like to believe in Christianity, but don’t think you can, you might be going about things the wrong way. It could be that you have been trying to control contingencies in order to achieve a certain kind of certainty, your own two-plus-two approach to the God question” [147]. They provide three reasons for staying on the “main floor” rather than bolting through the window:
• There are good reasons to take the core claims of Christianity seriously [149];
• What other options do you have [149]?
• Since we can’t opt out of formative practices altogether, the question becomes which practices best form us for flourishing [151].
The chapter ends with this hopeful sentence: “But the collective witness of his people and the Scriptures is that those who humbly continue to seek God will eventually find him” [153]. Chapter sixteen suggests the spiritual practices the seeking skeptic should engage in: participate in the sacred by observing birth, death, and marriage; commit to a room on the main floor of the house that is serious about worship; slow down and pray; meditate on Scripture; slow down to appreciate the beauty of creation; and continue to look both at and along the faith.
Though I believe Surprised by Doubt is a helpful book to give someone who is considering “deconverting” from the faith because of disillusionment, I do have several concerns. For one, the authors don’t consider the matter of recent creation to be one of the load-bearing walls of the faith. It is presented as a (losing) argument with science that contributes to the disillusionment of doubting believers. But the doctrine of creation refuses to play nice. Once you give ground on recent creation by accepting some combination of theistic evolution or old-earth theories, you’ve started pulling on a thread integrally connected to nearly every major doctrine of Scripture. Besides, “science” is not speaking with a unified voice on evolution and long ages: genuine empirical science is calling into question major assumptions made by evolutionists. “Received truth” like James Hutton’s principle of uniformitarianism, the bedrock of evolutionary geology, is being seriously challenged (even by secular geologists). Andrew Snelling’s magisterial work Earth's Catastrophic Past Geology, Creation and the Flood (two volumes) documents the modern scientific discoveries that dispute doctrinaire evolutionism. Is the doctrine of recent creation a load-bearing wall of the Gospel? Perhaps not, but the loss of the doctrine throws a great deal of historic orthodoxy into difficulty. Just like the authors were courageous to drive the four secular philosophies to their logical conclusions, it might be wise for them to do the same thing if one jettisons recent creation: the resulting theological problems are daunting.
Like C. S. Lewis, Chatraw and Carson also admit to the possibility of universalism, as though the doctrine of eternal judgment is a non-load-bearing wall. Despite the authors’ loyalty to historic orthodoxy, apparently that’s a historic doctrine they have chosen to overlook.
My final concern has to do with their closing advice—engage in spiritual disciplines. For readers who are genuinely regenerated but are struggling with doubts, that is precisely the right advice. Their re-immersion into spiritual disciplines will eventually have its intended effect. But for readers who are disillusioned because they’ve never truly been regenerated (in other words, to whom 1 John 2:19 applies), Chatraw’s and Carson’s advice sounds like preparationism—a highly disputed practice in orthodox circles. In their own words: “Without claiming a mechanistic and universal demonstration of the truth of Christianity through these practices, in this chapter we’ve been inviting you to wager on Christianity by developing habits that allow you to step into its light. If there is a God and Christianity is true, these practices are some of the means of experiencing his grace” [160].
These problems aside, I think this book can be greatly used of God for people who are wrestling with doubts. The authors’ gentle tone and style, the focus on the essentials, the easily understood metaphor, and the excellent reasoning combine to make this a useful book. Four stars, highly recommended.
December 30, 2023
The final entry in the ARC giveaway that I received just before the holidays from Brazos Press, "Surprised by Doubt: How Disillusionment Can Invite Us Into a Deeper Faith" is a book that starts with the central idea that even those who live by faith can experience doubt.
For co-authors Joshua D. Chatraw and Jack Carson, it's central to understand that experiences such doubts doesn't have to mean an end to one's faith journey or Christian identity.
In fact, they assert that disillusionment can invite us into a deeper faith
For those familiar with C.S. Lewis, it's likely not surprising that the authors build upon Lewis's metaphor envisioning Christianity as a house with many rooms. They explain, at times convincingly and other times not so much so, that very often that disillusionment is borne out of Christians having moved into the "cramped attic of reactionary versions of the faith." Instead, they build a discussion around making a conscious decision to explore the larger, more ancient main floors of the house.
"Surprised by Doubt" is far from the first book to approach this subject matter, though Chatraw and Carson do a nice job of weaving together a theological tapestry of both pastoral care and intellect. For the most part, they lean more heavily on intellect.
At times identified as disillusionment, other times we hear words such as the currently more popular term deconstruction. Theologically, doubt and disillusionment tend to be terms more popular within evangelical and orthodox circles. On the flip side, deconstruction is a term often associated with the more progressive side of Christianity - or at least this is my own observation.
I found "Surprised by Doubt" less satisfying when exploring the more emotional aspects of disillusionment, what contributes to it, and the journey one goes through to either redefine one's faith or depart from it.
"Surprised by Doubt" is fully committed to staying connected to faith and very much builds toward that throughout its pages.
Chatraw is Billy Graham Chair of Evangelism and Cultural Engagement at Beeson Divinity School and a Keller Center fellow. Carson is the executive director of the Center for Apologetics and Cultural Engagement at Liberty University. There's no doubt, pun intended, that they've faced many students exploring their faith and at times suffering in silence for fear of expressing their doubts.
"Surprised by Doubt" expresses dismay that so many doubters will, instead of returning to the main floors of the house choose to simply jump out of the window. Chatraw and Carson explore the potential landing spots and also explore the hazards of those landing spots.
Instead of these alternatives, they present three perspectives through which to explore Christianity - looking at Christianity, looking through Christianity, and stepping into Christianity.
They offer three perspectives through which to explore Christianity and test its claims: looking at Christianity, looking through Christianity, and stepping into Christianity.
It is essentially held that by exploring one of these three perspectives those who are disillusioned will gain a more complete understanding of Christianity. There is also what feels like an assumption that gaining that understanding will suffice to move toward a deeper faith.
While I will confess I didn't resonate entirely with "Surprised by Doubt," I have no doubt it's a vital resource that will reach certain readers unlikely to pick up more progressively lensed books on the same subject. It's most certainly safe to say that wherever one lies on the theological spectrum that doubt is a part of the faith journey and this book may very well be a vital resource for those who identify with the more evangelical and perhaps even orthodox branches of faith. At the bare minimum, Chatraw and Carson present an incredibly valuable discussion at a time in history when nearly every major Christian denomination is experiencing a loss of members.
For co-authors Joshua D. Chatraw and Jack Carson, it's central to understand that experiences such doubts doesn't have to mean an end to one's faith journey or Christian identity.
In fact, they assert that disillusionment can invite us into a deeper faith
For those familiar with C.S. Lewis, it's likely not surprising that the authors build upon Lewis's metaphor envisioning Christianity as a house with many rooms. They explain, at times convincingly and other times not so much so, that very often that disillusionment is borne out of Christians having moved into the "cramped attic of reactionary versions of the faith." Instead, they build a discussion around making a conscious decision to explore the larger, more ancient main floors of the house.
"Surprised by Doubt" is far from the first book to approach this subject matter, though Chatraw and Carson do a nice job of weaving together a theological tapestry of both pastoral care and intellect. For the most part, they lean more heavily on intellect.
At times identified as disillusionment, other times we hear words such as the currently more popular term deconstruction. Theologically, doubt and disillusionment tend to be terms more popular within evangelical and orthodox circles. On the flip side, deconstruction is a term often associated with the more progressive side of Christianity - or at least this is my own observation.
I found "Surprised by Doubt" less satisfying when exploring the more emotional aspects of disillusionment, what contributes to it, and the journey one goes through to either redefine one's faith or depart from it.
"Surprised by Doubt" is fully committed to staying connected to faith and very much builds toward that throughout its pages.
Chatraw is Billy Graham Chair of Evangelism and Cultural Engagement at Beeson Divinity School and a Keller Center fellow. Carson is the executive director of the Center for Apologetics and Cultural Engagement at Liberty University. There's no doubt, pun intended, that they've faced many students exploring their faith and at times suffering in silence for fear of expressing their doubts.
"Surprised by Doubt" expresses dismay that so many doubters will, instead of returning to the main floors of the house choose to simply jump out of the window. Chatraw and Carson explore the potential landing spots and also explore the hazards of those landing spots.
Instead of these alternatives, they present three perspectives through which to explore Christianity - looking at Christianity, looking through Christianity, and stepping into Christianity.
They offer three perspectives through which to explore Christianity and test its claims: looking at Christianity, looking through Christianity, and stepping into Christianity.
It is essentially held that by exploring one of these three perspectives those who are disillusioned will gain a more complete understanding of Christianity. There is also what feels like an assumption that gaining that understanding will suffice to move toward a deeper faith.
While I will confess I didn't resonate entirely with "Surprised by Doubt," I have no doubt it's a vital resource that will reach certain readers unlikely to pick up more progressively lensed books on the same subject. It's most certainly safe to say that wherever one lies on the theological spectrum that doubt is a part of the faith journey and this book may very well be a vital resource for those who identify with the more evangelical and perhaps even orthodox branches of faith. At the bare minimum, Chatraw and Carson present an incredibly valuable discussion at a time in history when nearly every major Christian denomination is experiencing a loss of members.
June 17, 2023
Suprised by Doubt by Joshua Gathrow and Jack Carson has an audience, and I think that audience is a very specific niche. And I’m afraid I have to say I’m not entirely in that niche, which is why this book mostly wasn’t what I was looking for though the ending more than made up for it. It’s hard to rate a book that can bring much peace and understanding to others but 90% didn’t do much for me personally, so I’ll try to describe why it failed for me and what the intended audience is.
I think this book would be perfect for people still in the evangelical/calvinist fundamentalist world, and are doubting whether it’s true. If you’re fed up with the same answers and how you need to fake happiness, and you’re basically disillusioned with faith as it is.
This is a beginner friendly introduction on how to find renewed faith after being disillusioned with the fundamentalistic worldview. There are lots of examples of historical figures and what they thought which is really interesting and makes you realise these doubts are of all the ages. The authors take you in depth with the problems of evangelicalism and want to offer a more basic faith. It doesn’t have anything to offer on progressive christianity or other paths like agnosticism or spirituality, in fact they make cases against it, but they want to stay true to the original meaning of christianity, one of love and meaning and mystery and justice.
For me, I’m a little further along my journey. I’ve rediscovered the meaning of faith, know all the arguments, know my CS Lewis quotes, read a ton, and am still very much doubting christianity is real. For me, this book was written from “the attic” of fundamentalism with arguments I’ve heard before so often they fall flat to me. I don’t have the mindset of a christian anymore to agree with a lot of the statements.
I feel like the authors are making a case using the same evangelistic apologetics they dislike… I’ve definitely heard it before and even used it myself when I was a fundamentalist. The assumption that people are selfish is one I definitely don’t share. The idea that justice is a sign that christianity is true, doesn’t ring true, as there are lots of other explanations why we crave justice.
There is a lot on open spirituality, where it is explained how hollow and self righteous it is compared to christianity, which apparently has a fixed set of rules to believe that makes all the difference, felt very condescending and didn’t make me see at all how christianity (aside from those fixed rules) is any different from open spirituality.
Aside from that, I did like the other information offered. The book is easy to read, it has a nice flow and keeps the interest - and is also quite short which I like. There is a clear structure and narrative. I did have trouble with my concentration in the long middle though, but that’s because I already know most of the information being given - and I kept thinking of counterarguments. I did like what the middle was trying to do, provide a counterargument to leaving christianity, but I just heard it before and it just wasn’t for me. I kept reading because it’s an arc, and it was worth it because the last part was very interesting and really helped me gain another perspective. I have no idea if it’s enough but maybe it’ll be one day.
I received an e-arc through Netgalley, thanks to the publisher, but it hasn’t influenced my opinions.
I think this book would be perfect for people still in the evangelical/calvinist fundamentalist world, and are doubting whether it’s true. If you’re fed up with the same answers and how you need to fake happiness, and you’re basically disillusioned with faith as it is.
This is a beginner friendly introduction on how to find renewed faith after being disillusioned with the fundamentalistic worldview. There are lots of examples of historical figures and what they thought which is really interesting and makes you realise these doubts are of all the ages. The authors take you in depth with the problems of evangelicalism and want to offer a more basic faith. It doesn’t have anything to offer on progressive christianity or other paths like agnosticism or spirituality, in fact they make cases against it, but they want to stay true to the original meaning of christianity, one of love and meaning and mystery and justice.
For me, I’m a little further along my journey. I’ve rediscovered the meaning of faith, know all the arguments, know my CS Lewis quotes, read a ton, and am still very much doubting christianity is real. For me, this book was written from “the attic” of fundamentalism with arguments I’ve heard before so often they fall flat to me. I don’t have the mindset of a christian anymore to agree with a lot of the statements.
I feel like the authors are making a case using the same evangelistic apologetics they dislike… I’ve definitely heard it before and even used it myself when I was a fundamentalist. The assumption that people are selfish is one I definitely don’t share. The idea that justice is a sign that christianity is true, doesn’t ring true, as there are lots of other explanations why we crave justice.
There is a lot on open spirituality, where it is explained how hollow and self righteous it is compared to christianity, which apparently has a fixed set of rules to believe that makes all the difference, felt very condescending and didn’t make me see at all how christianity (aside from those fixed rules) is any different from open spirituality.
Aside from that, I did like the other information offered. The book is easy to read, it has a nice flow and keeps the interest - and is also quite short which I like. There is a clear structure and narrative. I did have trouble with my concentration in the long middle though, but that’s because I already know most of the information being given - and I kept thinking of counterarguments. I did like what the middle was trying to do, provide a counterargument to leaving christianity, but I just heard it before and it just wasn’t for me. I kept reading because it’s an arc, and it was worth it because the last part was very interesting and really helped me gain another perspective. I have no idea if it’s enough but maybe it’ll be one day.
I received an e-arc through Netgalley, thanks to the publisher, but it hasn’t influenced my opinions.
September 1, 2023
So much of our social encounters feel off these days: marriages, sex roles, parental responsibilities, educational tasks, and more. Even Christianity in North America seems off kilter with allegations of patriarchal heavy-handedness, charges of abuse, and stories of deconversion. Into this odd time steps Joshua D. Chatraw, the Billy Graham Chair of Evangelism and Cultural Engagement at Beeson Divinity School, and Jack Carson, the executive director of the Center for Apologetics and Cultural Engagement and as an instructor at Liberty University. These two have teamed up to publish a new 192-page hardback, “Surprised by Doubt: How Disillusionment Can Invite Us into a Deeper Faith”. The book is about the credibility of the Christian faith. But it reaches deeper into the questions, misgivings, and suspicions of those who have felt burned by their Christian experiences. And it’s readable, friendly, serious without any of the highbrow paternalism of some apologetic approaches.
The authors pick up and use C.S. Lewis’s analogy of the house. They track with Lewis regarding the main floor hallway being mere Christianity and the rooms being the different forms of the Christian faith expressed by different denominations. But Chatraw and Carson go beyond Lewis. They climb up into the attic in the house, that unseen upper story that has many narrow rooms built to keep the residents from external contamination and to attain certainty. Unfortunately, these constructed spaces become all-encompassing worlds that are presented as essential Christianity. These rooms often use the rhetoric of resentment “that reinforces the practice of defining itself in opposition to others” (31). These are the spaces where the heart of the New Testament’s “vision of the Christian life – faith, hope, and love – is gradually overshadowed by fear, anxiety, and disillusionment” (29).
I found this whole section discussing attic Christianity intriguing and insightful, especially from my early personal experiences inside a sect that promoted itself as the only form of Christian faith acceptable to God. What was touching was how the authors charitably dealt with the attic rooms. But how they also talk to those who have ‘jumped out’ of the attic thinking they know what Christianity is, based on their attic experience, and have said ‘good riddance!’ There is much in this section that goes beyond apologetics, to helping readers feel seen and heard, even the ‘deconverted’. It was, maybe accidentally, profoundly therapeutic.
The authors then come down out of the garret and walk outside the house to converse with those who jumped out of the attic windows. Whether they have fled into new atheism, optimistic skepticism, open spirituality, or mythic truth. Chatraw and Carson engage with the mouthpieces of each of these approaches, to include Jordan Peterson, Richard Dawkins, Bart Ehrman, and Rhett McLaughlin, among others. But they’re not confrontational or demeaning. Instead, they acknowledge what is legitimate about each, and reasonable regarding their critiques of Christianity. But they also thoughtfully respond in ways that keep the conversation going, with a goal in mind of helping others to consider coming inside and investigate the ground floor of the house.
Finally, the authors open the front door and walk into the house, inviting readers inside. And the authors do not disappoint. Remaining ever charitable, they show the layout of the house from the foundation with Jesus as the center, the loadbearing walls and more. This whole section helps to bring those who jumped out of the attic windows to consider that maybe there’s more to Christianity than they had believed, to ponder how expansive the house is, and to reassess their skepticism. Though much inside these chapters might be thought of as classic apologetics, nevertheless the authors remain gracious and add their own approach that is helpful, even for Christians.
“Surprised by Doubt” seems primarily focused on challenging attic Christianity’s overreach as it asserts a ‘beyond any doubt certainty’. But it also addresses the modern fundamentalist mindset of many who have deconverted, jumped out of the windows, and fled the premises. If you’ve been in the attic, you should grab a copy. You may find it restorative. If you’ve jumped out of the attic window, give it a read and see how it feels. If you’ve never been in the house at all, you ought to examine this work and see if it speaks your secret doubts. I highly recommend the work.
The authors pick up and use C.S. Lewis’s analogy of the house. They track with Lewis regarding the main floor hallway being mere Christianity and the rooms being the different forms of the Christian faith expressed by different denominations. But Chatraw and Carson go beyond Lewis. They climb up into the attic in the house, that unseen upper story that has many narrow rooms built to keep the residents from external contamination and to attain certainty. Unfortunately, these constructed spaces become all-encompassing worlds that are presented as essential Christianity. These rooms often use the rhetoric of resentment “that reinforces the practice of defining itself in opposition to others” (31). These are the spaces where the heart of the New Testament’s “vision of the Christian life – faith, hope, and love – is gradually overshadowed by fear, anxiety, and disillusionment” (29).
I found this whole section discussing attic Christianity intriguing and insightful, especially from my early personal experiences inside a sect that promoted itself as the only form of Christian faith acceptable to God. What was touching was how the authors charitably dealt with the attic rooms. But how they also talk to those who have ‘jumped out’ of the attic thinking they know what Christianity is, based on their attic experience, and have said ‘good riddance!’ There is much in this section that goes beyond apologetics, to helping readers feel seen and heard, even the ‘deconverted’. It was, maybe accidentally, profoundly therapeutic.
The authors then come down out of the garret and walk outside the house to converse with those who jumped out of the attic windows. Whether they have fled into new atheism, optimistic skepticism, open spirituality, or mythic truth. Chatraw and Carson engage with the mouthpieces of each of these approaches, to include Jordan Peterson, Richard Dawkins, Bart Ehrman, and Rhett McLaughlin, among others. But they’re not confrontational or demeaning. Instead, they acknowledge what is legitimate about each, and reasonable regarding their critiques of Christianity. But they also thoughtfully respond in ways that keep the conversation going, with a goal in mind of helping others to consider coming inside and investigate the ground floor of the house.
Finally, the authors open the front door and walk into the house, inviting readers inside. And the authors do not disappoint. Remaining ever charitable, they show the layout of the house from the foundation with Jesus as the center, the loadbearing walls and more. This whole section helps to bring those who jumped out of the attic windows to consider that maybe there’s more to Christianity than they had believed, to ponder how expansive the house is, and to reassess their skepticism. Though much inside these chapters might be thought of as classic apologetics, nevertheless the authors remain gracious and add their own approach that is helpful, even for Christians.
“Surprised by Doubt” seems primarily focused on challenging attic Christianity’s overreach as it asserts a ‘beyond any doubt certainty’. But it also addresses the modern fundamentalist mindset of many who have deconverted, jumped out of the windows, and fled the premises. If you’ve been in the attic, you should grab a copy. You may find it restorative. If you’ve jumped out of the attic window, give it a read and see how it feels. If you’ve never been in the house at all, you ought to examine this work and see if it speaks your secret doubts. I highly recommend the work.
February 1, 2024
I was really surprised by this book as a whole. I knew of Chatraw (largely through the book on Cultural Engagement he edited with Karen Swallow Prior) but this book went a completely different direction from where I was expecting.
1. Fundamentalism was addressed at length and in great detail. Chatraw and Carson draw a helpful line explaining how fundamentalism can lead to complete deconversion. I think this element was my favorite of the book, especially as someone who grew up in church in the 90s and 00s and was also involved in the homeschool community. It's not an idea I would have arrived at on my own, but now that I'm aware of it, it's hard to avoid!
2. The topics discussed are very current. From Bart Ehrman and Jordan Peterson to Rhett and Link, Chatraw and Carson graciously explore some of the most common avenues taken by those leaving the faith. I appreciated that they deal with these detractors in very good faith, not taking potshots or explaining those views in a way that their adherents wouldn't use.
3. The tone of the book is very gentle, as a whole. I read Joshua Porter's "Death to Deconstruction" last year and while the work is solid, I'd be hard pressed to hand it to someone in the throes of doubt. "Surprised by Doubt" is much kinder and understanding, which I think works to its advantage. Carson and Chatraw both continue in the Christian faith but show a lot of kindness to those with questions, not least because they've dealt with many of those questions themselves.
4. THE ENDNOTES! I love a good endnote and Carson and Chatraw have provided a wonderful list of resources for inquiring minds. Not to mention that the body of work itself is meticulously cited (a huge winning point for me).
A couple points worth knowing: the book does have a strong philosophical bent, and that means you won't be able to read it quickly. I needed a lot of time not only to read the chapters themselves but to chew them over. Additionally, as stated above, Chatraw and Carson have remained in the faith and write from that stance. This is a selling point to me but may not work for everyone.
A heady and excellent read, I'd recommend for those of us with nagging questions looking for reasons to stay as well as to those who have one foot out the door and want to think a bit more before making a move.
1. Fundamentalism was addressed at length and in great detail. Chatraw and Carson draw a helpful line explaining how fundamentalism can lead to complete deconversion. I think this element was my favorite of the book, especially as someone who grew up in church in the 90s and 00s and was also involved in the homeschool community. It's not an idea I would have arrived at on my own, but now that I'm aware of it, it's hard to avoid!
2. The topics discussed are very current. From Bart Ehrman and Jordan Peterson to Rhett and Link, Chatraw and Carson graciously explore some of the most common avenues taken by those leaving the faith. I appreciated that they deal with these detractors in very good faith, not taking potshots or explaining those views in a way that their adherents wouldn't use.
3. The tone of the book is very gentle, as a whole. I read Joshua Porter's "Death to Deconstruction" last year and while the work is solid, I'd be hard pressed to hand it to someone in the throes of doubt. "Surprised by Doubt" is much kinder and understanding, which I think works to its advantage. Carson and Chatraw both continue in the Christian faith but show a lot of kindness to those with questions, not least because they've dealt with many of those questions themselves.
4. THE ENDNOTES! I love a good endnote and Carson and Chatraw have provided a wonderful list of resources for inquiring minds. Not to mention that the body of work itself is meticulously cited (a huge winning point for me).
A couple points worth knowing: the book does have a strong philosophical bent, and that means you won't be able to read it quickly. I needed a lot of time not only to read the chapters themselves but to chew them over. Additionally, as stated above, Chatraw and Carson have remained in the faith and write from that stance. This is a selling point to me but may not work for everyone.
A heady and excellent read, I'd recommend for those of us with nagging questions looking for reasons to stay as well as to those who have one foot out the door and want to think a bit more before making a move.
April 18, 2024
Excellent resource for Christians to get introductions to what may be causing the doubts their Christian friends have (or those deconstructing). A good book to read through with someone doubting or deconstructing if they're up for it. Chatraw and Carson write with good metaphors (Lewis' house of faith) that keep you engaged throughout the book.
Favorite quote:
"To explore these truths as the essence of Christianity – the rightful walls – you will need to leave the attic, suppress the urge to leap from the window, and walk downstairs" (33).
Chatraw and Carson define "attic Christianity" as "an intellectually narrow way to inhabit Christianity, a fundamental posture that confuses a Christian group's distinctives for Christianity's essentials" (11).
Favorite quote:
"To explore these truths as the essence of Christianity – the rightful walls – you will need to leave the attic, suppress the urge to leap from the window, and walk downstairs" (33).
Chatraw and Carson define "attic Christianity" as "an intellectually narrow way to inhabit Christianity, a fundamental posture that confuses a Christian group's distinctives for Christianity's essentials" (11).
August 19, 2025
This book on doubt and disillusionment is very good. Short and compelling. Uses an interesting metaphor comparing Christianity to a house with many floors and rooms. Argues that many religious believers grow up in the “attic.” And when finally growing disillusioned with the narrow confines of attic Christianity, many choose to jump out of the house all together before realizing or considering there may be other rooms in the house they could live in instead of leaving altogether. This book shows how to return to the main floor and consider afresh how your doubts can coexist while finding your place in the Christian house. I hope my friends who are deconstructing or who have abandoned their faith would first read this book before totally jumping out of the attic.
July 13, 2024
Not a homerun, but a solid effort and worth the time, particularly if you or someone you love is somewhere on the "deconversion / exvangelical" spectrum.
(The only part I really didn't like was anything that smacked of "thank goodness WE are not like those attic dwellers" which is just Phariseeism in another costume.)
(The only part I really didn't like was anything that smacked of "thank goodness WE are not like those attic dwellers" which is just Phariseeism in another costume.)
October 22, 2023
So good!
June 17, 2025
When I started this book, I didn't expect the conclusion to be "take Pascal's Wager and go touch grass while you're at it," but that is, shockingly, where it ends.
The authors make a valiant effort to tackle the massive scope of subjects, thoughts, and questions that often drive deconstruction from and disillusionment with Christianity. They take on the main points of discussion around figures like Richard Dawkins, Bart Ehrman, Rhett Mclaughlin (yes, from Rhett and Link) and even Jordan Peterson. Skimming the surface of the various "alternatives" to Christianity and often citing other works to make their point. Although, their arguments are painfully obviously made from the outside looking in at these various viewpoints.
They lean heavily on legwork done by CS Lewis throughout the book, and exhaustingly rely on allegory, quotes, and stories to illustrate their points, which they call back on so often it became a tad repetitive.
Their critique of "the attic" (being dogmatic, rigid, fundamentalist christianity) I think is the highlight of the book, and they encourage readers to step downstairs to see the "house" (bigger picture of christianity). However, they notably don't get into doctrine beyond briefly affirming the "minimal facts argument" for Christ. Unfortunately for their case, any further delving into doctrine would highlight the endless maze of "rooms" on the main floor (being my take on the denominations of christianity that aren't in their attic). And they entirely skip the fact that what is considered a "load bearing wall" can vary depending on the denomination.
I don't have any major gripes with the book. Nothing dives particularly deep into the weeds looking to provide answers, but rather attempts to direct the reader to seek out answers within the confines of the Christian perspective by taking Pascal's Wager, even if you arent convinced. They end by giving steps to follow, which are essentially read your bible, pray, worship, and touch grass.
For someone still inside the "house" or "attic" of Christianity, this book might be useful to calm doubts and dissuade stepping outside. However, for those of us who for years have walked carefully down the stairs, looked around the rooms of the house, and finally stepped out through the front door -- there isn't much, if anything, here that hasn't been seen or heard before.
The authors make a valiant effort to tackle the massive scope of subjects, thoughts, and questions that often drive deconstruction from and disillusionment with Christianity. They take on the main points of discussion around figures like Richard Dawkins, Bart Ehrman, Rhett Mclaughlin (yes, from Rhett and Link) and even Jordan Peterson. Skimming the surface of the various "alternatives" to Christianity and often citing other works to make their point. Although, their arguments are painfully obviously made from the outside looking in at these various viewpoints.
They lean heavily on legwork done by CS Lewis throughout the book, and exhaustingly rely on allegory, quotes, and stories to illustrate their points, which they call back on so often it became a tad repetitive.
Their critique of "the attic" (being dogmatic, rigid, fundamentalist christianity) I think is the highlight of the book, and they encourage readers to step downstairs to see the "house" (bigger picture of christianity). However, they notably don't get into doctrine beyond briefly affirming the "minimal facts argument" for Christ. Unfortunately for their case, any further delving into doctrine would highlight the endless maze of "rooms" on the main floor (being my take on the denominations of christianity that aren't in their attic). And they entirely skip the fact that what is considered a "load bearing wall" can vary depending on the denomination.
I don't have any major gripes with the book. Nothing dives particularly deep into the weeds looking to provide answers, but rather attempts to direct the reader to seek out answers within the confines of the Christian perspective by taking Pascal's Wager, even if you arent convinced. They end by giving steps to follow, which are essentially read your bible, pray, worship, and touch grass.
For someone still inside the "house" or "attic" of Christianity, this book might be useful to calm doubts and dissuade stepping outside. However, for those of us who for years have walked carefully down the stairs, looked around the rooms of the house, and finally stepped out through the front door -- there isn't much, if anything, here that hasn't been seen or heard before.
October 23, 2023
"Surprised by Doubt" is a remarkable book that offers a fresh perspective on the intersection of faith and doubt. In a world where skepticism and questioning have become increasingly common, Joshua Chatraw and Jack Carson provide an insightful guide for those seeking to enhance their spiritual lives and reconcile their doubts with their Christian identity.
The authors draw inspiration from C. S. Lewis's metaphorical house of Christianity, urging readers to move beyond the reactionary beliefs to explore the vast, more ancient main floors of the faith. This shift in perspective encourages a deeper exploration of the Christian tradition, ultimately leading to a more profound and resilient faith.
Chatraw and Carson combine pastoral care and intellectual rigor. They offer thoughtful insights to help Christians navigate the challenges they face. They also empathize with the emotional journey that often accompanies doubt. Whether it's anxiety, fear, anger, or frustration, Chatraw and Carson provide guidance on how to engage with these feelings in a way that is constructive and spiritually enriching.
"Surprised by Doubt" blends the wisdom of the past with a vision for the future of faith. The book is a beacon of hope for those who may be wrestling with uncertainty, showing that doubt need not spell the end of a Christian identity but can instead be a catalyst for a more profound and authentic faith. Chatraw and Carson’s work demonstrates that doubt is not the enemy of belief but rather a potential partner on the journey towards a deeper understanding of God.
Have you ever grappled with doubt and sought a way to reconcile it with your faith? Chatraw and Carson offer a road map for rediscovering and revitalizing one's relationship with Christianity, making it a valuable resource for both skeptics and seasoned believers. "Surprised by Doubt" is a meaningful exploration of faith's capacity to thrive in the face of doubt, and it's a book that has the power to enrich spiritual lives.
"A transformative journey through doubt, 'Surprised by Doubt' offers a guiding light for those who seek to rediscover the beauty of faith amid uncertainty." – A beacon of hope for believers seeking answers.
"Chatraw and Carson breathe new life into C. S. Lewis's metaphor, inviting readers to explore the vast, uncharted rooms of their faith." – Open the door to a deeper spirituality.
"This book is your companion on the winding road of doubt, offering solace, insight, and a path to a more profound, unshakable faith." – Walk through doubt's valley with newfound strength.
"With wisdom and empathy, 'Surprised by Doubt' reminds us that doubt can be a trusted friend, guiding us to a faith that's stronger and more vibrant than ever." – A guide to an unbreakable faith.
"In 'Surprised by Doubt,' doubt is not the end but a powerful beginning. It's a journey of self-discovery, faith renewal, and deep spiritual understanding." – The start of a profound adventure.
"For skeptics and believers alike, this book is an invitation to explore the uncharted territory of doubt and emerge with a faith that proves its lasting strength." – Doubt's invitation to a lasting faith.
"Discover the strength in vulnerability and the beauty in uncertainty. 'Surprised by Doubt' is a heartfelt embrace of the spiritual quest, flaws and all." – Embrace your spiritual imperfections.
"This book combines intellectual depth with pastoral care, offering a lifeline for those caught in the storm of doubt, helping them find solid ground in their faith." – Navigating doubt with grace and resilience.
"In a world of questions, 'Surprised by Doubt' provides the answers you need to revitalize your faith. A powerful call to rediscover the essence of Christianity." – Rediscover the essence of faith.
"An indispensable guide for those who dare to question. 'Surprised by Doubt' shows that in the midst of doubt, a profound faith awaits." – Dare to question, embrace a deeper faith.
The authors draw inspiration from C. S. Lewis's metaphorical house of Christianity, urging readers to move beyond the reactionary beliefs to explore the vast, more ancient main floors of the faith. This shift in perspective encourages a deeper exploration of the Christian tradition, ultimately leading to a more profound and resilient faith.
Chatraw and Carson combine pastoral care and intellectual rigor. They offer thoughtful insights to help Christians navigate the challenges they face. They also empathize with the emotional journey that often accompanies doubt. Whether it's anxiety, fear, anger, or frustration, Chatraw and Carson provide guidance on how to engage with these feelings in a way that is constructive and spiritually enriching.
"Surprised by Doubt" blends the wisdom of the past with a vision for the future of faith. The book is a beacon of hope for those who may be wrestling with uncertainty, showing that doubt need not spell the end of a Christian identity but can instead be a catalyst for a more profound and authentic faith. Chatraw and Carson’s work demonstrates that doubt is not the enemy of belief but rather a potential partner on the journey towards a deeper understanding of God.
Have you ever grappled with doubt and sought a way to reconcile it with your faith? Chatraw and Carson offer a road map for rediscovering and revitalizing one's relationship with Christianity, making it a valuable resource for both skeptics and seasoned believers. "Surprised by Doubt" is a meaningful exploration of faith's capacity to thrive in the face of doubt, and it's a book that has the power to enrich spiritual lives.
"A transformative journey through doubt, 'Surprised by Doubt' offers a guiding light for those who seek to rediscover the beauty of faith amid uncertainty." – A beacon of hope for believers seeking answers.
"Chatraw and Carson breathe new life into C. S. Lewis's metaphor, inviting readers to explore the vast, uncharted rooms of their faith." – Open the door to a deeper spirituality.
"This book is your companion on the winding road of doubt, offering solace, insight, and a path to a more profound, unshakable faith." – Walk through doubt's valley with newfound strength.
"With wisdom and empathy, 'Surprised by Doubt' reminds us that doubt can be a trusted friend, guiding us to a faith that's stronger and more vibrant than ever." – A guide to an unbreakable faith.
"In 'Surprised by Doubt,' doubt is not the end but a powerful beginning. It's a journey of self-discovery, faith renewal, and deep spiritual understanding." – The start of a profound adventure.
"For skeptics and believers alike, this book is an invitation to explore the uncharted territory of doubt and emerge with a faith that proves its lasting strength." – Doubt's invitation to a lasting faith.
"Discover the strength in vulnerability and the beauty in uncertainty. 'Surprised by Doubt' is a heartfelt embrace of the spiritual quest, flaws and all." – Embrace your spiritual imperfections.
"This book combines intellectual depth with pastoral care, offering a lifeline for those caught in the storm of doubt, helping them find solid ground in their faith." – Navigating doubt with grace and resilience.
"In a world of questions, 'Surprised by Doubt' provides the answers you need to revitalize your faith. A powerful call to rediscover the essence of Christianity." – Rediscover the essence of faith.
"An indispensable guide for those who dare to question. 'Surprised by Doubt' shows that in the midst of doubt, a profound faith awaits." – Dare to question, embrace a deeper faith.
May 8, 2024
Although strong in its metaphor of fundamentalist Christianity (borrowed from C.S. Lewis' Mere Christianity) and in enumerating the doubts many that were/are "in the attic" experience, the book is weak on providing arguments for staying "in the house" at all. There's an underlying false dichotomy of "belief in the Christian God (as presented to me while 'in the attic')" vs. "unbelief in anything supernatural at all," when instead, it seems the real choices are broader.
I do appreciate tackling this concept, and absolutely sense that it was written in good faith (no pun intended). Although I wouldn't recommend this book in general, I do give it a solid 2 stars because it is a well-structured book and I think it would be a decent read for Christians who are seeking to learn about the not-always-pretty parts of the history of their own religious tradition, or to better understand why their peers are disillusioned. It might inoculate them against doubts of their own (generally the purpose of apologetics), or leave them with some interesting questions to consider (although personally I'd recommend doubters to read broader perspectives). But it isn't a particularly interesting or relatable read for the skeptic.
I do appreciate tackling this concept, and absolutely sense that it was written in good faith (no pun intended). Although I wouldn't recommend this book in general, I do give it a solid 2 stars because it is a well-structured book and I think it would be a decent read for Christians who are seeking to learn about the not-always-pretty parts of the history of their own religious tradition, or to better understand why their peers are disillusioned. It might inoculate them against doubts of their own (generally the purpose of apologetics), or leave them with some interesting questions to consider (although personally I'd recommend doubters to read broader perspectives). But it isn't a particularly interesting or relatable read for the skeptic.
December 30, 2025
This book is really good! I feel like I never really knew what kinds of things the authors would expose me to, and every time it was something delightful, inspiring, and genuine. For a book on doubt, I was delighted to not just be told to believe harder and not doubt nor was I just given more information to try and deal with. No this book was so human, it really sought to be honest about the million concerns that someone struggling with doubt may have. I never felt as if I needed to pull my pants up and stop struggling with doubt, instead I was invited to see that I may have my own misconception that lead to doubt, that doubt is not the condemnation, and that 100% certainty is not the promise for the Christian. For anyone struggling with doubt and is a deep thinker, I would recommend this book. My only concern with this book is that it can get very philosophical and may use a few words that most people don’t know (I didn’t know some of them either). However, for someone has been wrestling with doubt, this is a perfect book!
February 7, 2024
Next time anyone asks me about my faith journey, I'm just going to loan them a copy of this book 😅
Dr. Chatraw and Carson, thank you for telling my story, even though you didn't know it. It was a beautiful confirmation of the journey I've been through since having Chatraw's apologetics class at Liberty 6 or so years ago. (Which has been influencing my faith practice ever since).
I hope that doubtful, discouraged college students like I was will stumble on this book and really pay attention. It reflects real life experience, sincerely considers doubt, rests where there is unknown, and ultimately points to a faith practice that is healing. And importantly, it's gentle and respects its reader.
I know I'll be buying a copy just to loan out to anyone who comes to me wearied with doubt. I'm sure not everyone will land in the same place (my little Anglican church doesn't have a big enough parking lot 😅) but I do hope they'll find renewed joy in doubt the way I did.
Dr. Chatraw and Carson, thank you for telling my story, even though you didn't know it. It was a beautiful confirmation of the journey I've been through since having Chatraw's apologetics class at Liberty 6 or so years ago. (Which has been influencing my faith practice ever since).
I hope that doubtful, discouraged college students like I was will stumble on this book and really pay attention. It reflects real life experience, sincerely considers doubt, rests where there is unknown, and ultimately points to a faith practice that is healing. And importantly, it's gentle and respects its reader.
I know I'll be buying a copy just to loan out to anyone who comes to me wearied with doubt. I'm sure not everyone will land in the same place (my little Anglican church doesn't have a big enough parking lot 😅) but I do hope they'll find renewed joy in doubt the way I did.
February 6, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.
A gentle look at those who are wrestling with deconstruction. The authors provide a step guide through the house of faith toward a way to move forward in your faith in Christ - before, during, or after deconstruction. I wish it would have spent a little more time on the front end with a follow along story and gentle reminders deconstruction is a normal part of the faith journey. Everyone should move through this at least once followed by a healthy process of reconstruction.
I enjoyed the authors’ gentle way of handling the right wing/conservative/fundamentalist way of poisoning the well of Christianity. Additionally, they nudge readers to fall in love with apologetics.
- side note: read their structure of faith creatively. What would the basement be? (maybe spiritual practices)
A gentle look at those who are wrestling with deconstruction. The authors provide a step guide through the house of faith toward a way to move forward in your faith in Christ - before, during, or after deconstruction. I wish it would have spent a little more time on the front end with a follow along story and gentle reminders deconstruction is a normal part of the faith journey. Everyone should move through this at least once followed by a healthy process of reconstruction.
I enjoyed the authors’ gentle way of handling the right wing/conservative/fundamentalist way of poisoning the well of Christianity. Additionally, they nudge readers to fall in love with apologetics.
- side note: read their structure of faith creatively. What would the basement be? (maybe spiritual practices)
October 1, 2024
I'd give it a 3.5 - while I do like the primary analogy they use of "the Christian house" it felt a bit overused. As I was reading to know if I'd recommend it to a friend struggling with doubt, I don't know if I can say if it would be helpful - though it probably wouldn't be harmful. I do appreciate the overall premise of the book... Something like: if you have doubts, don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.
March 8, 2025
The metaphor of the Christian house and the encouragement to come down from the “attic” and explore a richer and more solid faith is powerful and keeps the book tight.
I found the investigation of popular ways of dealing with existential questions (open spirituality & mythic truth) insightful and personal.
The invitation to consider all of human experience and longing in our “Wagering” is very compelling and rings true.
I enjoyed it and would recommend!!
I found the investigation of popular ways of dealing with existential questions (open spirituality & mythic truth) insightful and personal.
The invitation to consider all of human experience and longing in our “Wagering” is very compelling and rings true.
I enjoyed it and would recommend!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2024
3.5 stars.
A really good overview of the "types" of doubt and disillusionment, and what might be causing them, in our culture today. A bit less compelling when it turns to some classic apologetic tropes, but a compassionate and clear voice in the whole conversation about deconstruction.
Full video review here: https://youtu.be/nXOTyUuslHw
A really good overview of the "types" of doubt and disillusionment, and what might be causing them, in our culture today. A bit less compelling when it turns to some classic apologetic tropes, but a compassionate and clear voice in the whole conversation about deconstruction.
Full video review here: https://youtu.be/nXOTyUuslHw
June 3, 2024
Oh boy. This was not a good book. Maybe apologetics are lost on me, but this was a gift from a friend.
I can't get over the leap in logic that the authors make. Even if I grant that theism is a better explanation over atheism or agnosticism, there isn't much of argument that the authors' brand of Christianity is the logical choice other than them saying it makes more sense.
I can't get over the leap in logic that the authors make. Even if I grant that theism is a better explanation over atheism or agnosticism, there isn't much of argument that the authors' brand of Christianity is the logical choice other than them saying it makes more sense.
July 17, 2024
A faith examined is a faith well lived. This is more apologetics based than I was expecting, but it was still a good run through of the reasons people don’t believe in God and counter arguments to these. One must wrestle with matters of faith that cause doubts and bring them to the Lord, and this is a good book for those with doubts to confront and question them.
February 7, 2025
An amazing read if you’re going through a season of doubt. I believe it’s possible to grow up in a Christian household and never hear that “Doubt is normal” and “You don’t have to know all the answers”. Learning to trust God when you are doubting is the best place to start, and this book unpacks that really well.
July 27, 2024
Of course, no two experiences are alike. Humans and social movements are complex. Our tendency to make either saviors or devils out of individuals and groups often hinders us from seeing the truth clearly. (p. 24)
December 13, 2023
Gracious and helpful in thinking through doubt and various worldviews. Not pushy or naive.
December 9, 2024
Real, honest, encouraging, and very helpful.
January 10, 2025
Excellent.
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