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Incognito: Lost and Found at Harvard Divinity School
Filled with humor, insight, and faith, this true story tells how one woman overcame challenges, stereotypes, and personal struggles at Harvard Divinity School and emerged an ordained minister.
As a bright young girl from Ohio, Andrea Raynor always wanted to be a doctor. Instead, she landed— almost by accident—at Harvard Divinity School, which, she quickly discovered, was no typical seminary. When she attended, in the 1980s, HDS was a place overflowing with creative expression and freedom of thought. Her classmates included two men who were undergoing sex changes and a woman who fancied herself a geisha. There was a lively gay and lesbian caucus, marches on Washington, civil disobedience, and more sexual intrigue than could be found in a stereotypical college fraternity house.
Providing a bird’s-eye view of life within the hallowed halls (and beneath the crimson robes), Incognito is a humorous and poignant glimpse inside one of the nation’s most revered institutions. It begins with the long drive from Ohio to Cambridge and ends at the bedside of a dying young woman. But the real story is about the challenges, surprises, and ultimately life-changing experiences Andrea faced on the road to understanding God’s call for her life. From navigating relationships to exploring whether a pretty girl can truly wear a collar, Incognito tackles our assumptions about spirituality, the church, morality, and identity, and affirms that God often works in ways—and in people—we least expect.
As a bright young girl from Ohio, Andrea Raynor always wanted to be a doctor. Instead, she landed— almost by accident—at Harvard Divinity School, which, she quickly discovered, was no typical seminary. When she attended, in the 1980s, HDS was a place overflowing with creative expression and freedom of thought. Her classmates included two men who were undergoing sex changes and a woman who fancied herself a geisha. There was a lively gay and lesbian caucus, marches on Washington, civil disobedience, and more sexual intrigue than could be found in a stereotypical college fraternity house.
Providing a bird’s-eye view of life within the hallowed halls (and beneath the crimson robes), Incognito is a humorous and poignant glimpse inside one of the nation’s most revered institutions. It begins with the long drive from Ohio to Cambridge and ends at the bedside of a dying young woman. But the real story is about the challenges, surprises, and ultimately life-changing experiences Andrea faced on the road to understanding God’s call for her life. From navigating relationships to exploring whether a pretty girl can truly wear a collar, Incognito tackles our assumptions about spirituality, the church, morality, and identity, and affirms that God often works in ways—and in people—we least expect.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published March 4, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
May 17, 2016
I won this book via a First Reads giveaway here on Goodreads. I guess I entered to win it because I was curious about what Harvard Divinity School is like. I am not, however, the intended audience for this book--I lost my Christianity two decades ago and have never looked back. Not surprisingly, then, my feelings about the book are mixed.
The fact is that devout Christians, be they liberal or conservative, just look at some things differently than doubters do, and, as such, there is no point in my arguing with some of the ideas put forth here--again, I'm not the intended audience. But on one matter I can't help myself: Andrea works at a homeless shelter as part of a required MDiv field study, and many of the guests at the shelter have mental illnesses and/or mental disabilities and/or addiction issues. Andrea expounds for a little while on how much we can benefit from our interactions with these less fortunate members of the population. This idea tends to raise my hackles. It implies that certain people are put on this earth to suffer so that others of us might learn from them. I find this idea abhorrent, to say nothing of the fact that it's a very facile way to explain away inequality and injustice. Granted, this is a fairly small part of the book, but I never lost my uneasiness with the way Andrea talked about the shelter guests.
What else didn't I like? The writing, while not terrible, didn't have a distinctive voice. There was also something kind of juvenile about it, as if it were written for high-school students and not full-fledged adults. I particularly didn't like all the passages about her boy-craziness. Of course, how you come to decide who your partner is going to be is an important part of any life journey, but I feel like it could have been written about a little more maturely here. It sounds like Andrea broke a lot of hearts, resulting in some pretty serious consequences in at least one case, but she's pretty blase about it. That was rather offputting. Finally, she misuses the phrase "immaculate conception," which surprised me. I realize that Protestants don't revere Mary the way Catholics do, but her being conceived without original sin is a significant-enough part of the Christ story that you'd think any Christian minister would know about it. So that bugged me a bit.
As for what I liked about the book ... generally, Andrea herself comes off as likeable, and I did enjoy learning about Harvard Divinity School through her eyes. As a fan of Another Bullshit Night in Suck City, I was also kind of tickled to realize that she worked at the same homeless shelter that was depicted in that book. Of course, her perspective and writing style are pretty different from Nick Flynn's, but that made it even more interesting.
What most moved me, though, was Andrea's writing about her faith. I've been searching for some kind of spirituality for a couple years now (again, not Christianity) and I loved hearing about her constant striving for a deeper faith, a deeper love, and a deeper understanding of how these things play out both within herself and in her interactions with the world around her. She mentions at one point that when she prays, she doesn't talk to God; she listens. That was something that struck a chord in me and that I suspect will stay with me for a long time. Ultimately, then, I am grateful that I read this book.
The fact is that devout Christians, be they liberal or conservative, just look at some things differently than doubters do, and, as such, there is no point in my arguing with some of the ideas put forth here--again, I'm not the intended audience. But on one matter I can't help myself: Andrea works at a homeless shelter as part of a required MDiv field study, and many of the guests at the shelter have mental illnesses and/or mental disabilities and/or addiction issues. Andrea expounds for a little while on how much we can benefit from our interactions with these less fortunate members of the population. This idea tends to raise my hackles. It implies that certain people are put on this earth to suffer so that others of us might learn from them. I find this idea abhorrent, to say nothing of the fact that it's a very facile way to explain away inequality and injustice. Granted, this is a fairly small part of the book, but I never lost my uneasiness with the way Andrea talked about the shelter guests.
What else didn't I like? The writing, while not terrible, didn't have a distinctive voice. There was also something kind of juvenile about it, as if it were written for high-school students and not full-fledged adults. I particularly didn't like all the passages about her boy-craziness. Of course, how you come to decide who your partner is going to be is an important part of any life journey, but I feel like it could have been written about a little more maturely here. It sounds like Andrea broke a lot of hearts, resulting in some pretty serious consequences in at least one case, but she's pretty blase about it. That was rather offputting. Finally, she misuses the phrase "immaculate conception," which surprised me. I realize that Protestants don't revere Mary the way Catholics do, but her being conceived without original sin is a significant-enough part of the Christ story that you'd think any Christian minister would know about it. So that bugged me a bit.
As for what I liked about the book ... generally, Andrea herself comes off as likeable, and I did enjoy learning about Harvard Divinity School through her eyes. As a fan of Another Bullshit Night in Suck City, I was also kind of tickled to realize that she worked at the same homeless shelter that was depicted in that book. Of course, her perspective and writing style are pretty different from Nick Flynn's, but that made it even more interesting.
What most moved me, though, was Andrea's writing about her faith. I've been searching for some kind of spirituality for a couple years now (again, not Christianity) and I loved hearing about her constant striving for a deeper faith, a deeper love, and a deeper understanding of how these things play out both within herself and in her interactions with the world around her. She mentions at one point that when she prays, she doesn't talk to God; she listens. That was something that struck a chord in me and that I suspect will stay with me for a long time. Ultimately, then, I am grateful that I read this book.
February 14, 2014
Andrea Raynor went to Harvard Divinity School in the early 1980s, and her record of her spiritual path during those three years makes for compelling reading. It's pretty awesome to read of a minister who was pretty sure in her youth that she didn't want to follow that spiritual path, as she couldn't reconcile her idea of what a minister should be with her own fun-loving, boy-crazy personality. But as she grew in her understanding of what her faith meant and could do, she also came to embrace her calling (as well as figure out her love life,) even if it meant that she wasn't the traditional, stodgy model of rectitude that most ministers seem to be. It was also really lovely to read of her relationship with her faith, as well as to spend time with her sunny personality. She really reminded me of several previous co-workers, whose positivity -- faith-based or otherwise -- always made interacting with them a pleasure.
What really fascinated me about this book, though, was the snapshot it gave of faith in the early 1980s. Perhaps Ms Raynor was on the progressive forefront, but it doesn't really read that way. Instead, she talks of embracing her homosexual brethren as if it was something she believed was a given. As someone who spent a good part of her youth in a repressively religious society, I marvel at and respect the ease with which she quietly challenged mainstream thought. I suppose being in a place as open to all cultures and credos as Harvard Divinity School helped a lot: I envy her courage, and greatly admire her work with the homeless and aged.
Anyway, a great read for people, especially women, wondering if a life of religious ministry is for them, as well as for anyone interested in an anecdotal portrayal of faith in the early 1980s.
ETA: Despite the title being listed here as "Confessions of a Girl Priest: How a Girl From Ohio landed at Harvard Divinity School and Came Out Ordained," the book I read had the title "Incognito: Lost And Found At Harvard Divinity School."
I received this book gratis as part of ELLE Magazine's ELLE's Lettres Jurors' Prize program.
What really fascinated me about this book, though, was the snapshot it gave of faith in the early 1980s. Perhaps Ms Raynor was on the progressive forefront, but it doesn't really read that way. Instead, she talks of embracing her homosexual brethren as if it was something she believed was a given. As someone who spent a good part of her youth in a repressively religious society, I marvel at and respect the ease with which she quietly challenged mainstream thought. I suppose being in a place as open to all cultures and credos as Harvard Divinity School helped a lot: I envy her courage, and greatly admire her work with the homeless and aged.
Anyway, a great read for people, especially women, wondering if a life of religious ministry is for them, as well as for anyone interested in an anecdotal portrayal of faith in the early 1980s.
ETA: Despite the title being listed here as "Confessions of a Girl Priest: How a Girl From Ohio landed at Harvard Divinity School and Came Out Ordained," the book I read had the title "Incognito: Lost And Found At Harvard Divinity School."
I received this book gratis as part of ELLE Magazine's ELLE's Lettres Jurors' Prize program.
March 6, 2014
I enjoyed the divinity school part of this book quite a lot but was less interested in the dating/relationship parts of her story. I have been reading a Henri Nouwen book for Sunday School, so it was fun to read about what he was like as one of her professors at Harvard. I also enjoyed reading about her work with the homeless. Overall, enjoyable and interesting story of a woman moving into her vocation. Recommended for: people who like reading books about divinity school, which is why I picked it up.
April 20, 2014
How could I not love this when I LOVE Andie Raynor..............
May 18, 2014
Very approachable book--regardless of your faith. Enjoyed the story and the humor, but especially the honesty.
March 2, 2014
Good read would recommend.
January 28, 2022
Interesting enough, but this felt less focused than I might have preferred. I suspect that's because this isn't Raynor's first book, and she (very reasonably!) didn't want to reuse too much material—there are mentions of her eventual work as a hospital chaplain, for example, but she avoids stories about that experience. I was also a little surprised by how...out there and wild?...she thought her divinity school experience was—reminds me a little of someone I know who thinks they're unusually modern, a veritable black sheep of a rebel, because they have multiple advanced degrees and don't have kids yet (this person is a good Catholic in a stable heterosexual marriage and has a respectable government position). Granted, this person is from a relatively conservative European culture, and their friends are probably parents even more conservative than they are, but...it's all relative, isn't it? I may just be reading this from too much of a 2022 perspective and not giving enough due to the fact that Raynor went to divinity school in the 80s. Ah well. Perhaps someday I'll find a copy of The Voice That Calls You Home and be able to read about her time as a hospital chaplain.
December 27, 2024
I enjoyed reading Andrea's spiritual journey at HDS. As someone who has spent a lot of time on Harvard's campus when I was an undergrad, this story felt very nostalgic. I could imagine Andrea in Harvard Square, riding the T, and walking along the Charles River, for instance, because I had done those things too. I also found the author very relatable. Not only are we headed to divinity school, but we conceptualize our lives under the same categories: school, relationships, and vocation.
My one complaint about this book is that it was more about Andrea's spiritual journey than her experience at HDS. I had the expectation that the book would describe the quirks of HDS instead of her path to becoming a Methodist minister. However, I still enjoyed this book. To anyone interested or considering divinity school, this book is for you!
My one complaint about this book is that it was more about Andrea's spiritual journey than her experience at HDS. I had the expectation that the book would describe the quirks of HDS instead of her path to becoming a Methodist minister. However, I still enjoyed this book. To anyone interested or considering divinity school, this book is for you!
February 25, 2014
I recently finished Incognito by Andrea Raynor. This got my attention because it was about her experience at Harvard Divinity School, and I am always fascinated by religion and by how people experience faith. I was hoping it would be a bit like Girl Meets God- someone struggling with where their faith was leading them, without being a call to the faith- and I suppose it was, but it didn't have the same emotion that Girl Meets God does. It read much more like anyone else struggling to declare a major and I think that dedicating a life to God would be a bit more climatic than this was. Additionally, the cover copy reads like there's going to be scandalous bits, and she shies off from really going there. I think she's trying to paint herself as a little wild and make her decision to enter the ministry as more of a moral dilemna, but there's really never any doubt. She didn't quite go far enough with her relationship scandals (what scandals?) or her ambivalence. I had a similar reaction to the one about the weight-lifting librarian.
July 14, 2014
I received the book, "Incognito: Lost and Found at Harvard Divinity School" by Andrea Raynor as a give-away. Thank you!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Andrea's journey through Divinity School and her path to figure out what she wanted to do with her life. I particularly enjoyed how honest she was when it came to her doubts and questions about faith. After all, if a divinity school student and future minister has such questions, it must be ok for me to have questions also!!! But even through all of her questioning she never lost her faith or her knowing that God was with her all the way. I applaud her boldness in standing up for what she believed in, even though some of these ideals were not the popular or accepted ones in the 1980's. It was an easy read, which made Andrea seem very approachable and very real.
I would recommend this book highly!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Andrea's journey through Divinity School and her path to figure out what she wanted to do with her life. I particularly enjoyed how honest she was when it came to her doubts and questions about faith. After all, if a divinity school student and future minister has such questions, it must be ok for me to have questions also!!! But even through all of her questioning she never lost her faith or her knowing that God was with her all the way. I applaud her boldness in standing up for what she believed in, even though some of these ideals were not the popular or accepted ones in the 1980's. It was an easy read, which made Andrea seem very approachable and very real.
I would recommend this book highly!
November 22, 2014
Andrea Raynor was raised in small town Ohio. She ends up at Harvard Divinity School in the early 1980s without a clear plan of what she wants to do with her life. The book tells of her journey through school and how she determines her life path. Of course, she is quite religious, but also considers herself a hippie. She consistently supports gay rights. She meets quite a range of people - classmates, men in a homeless shelter, students from other countries, musicians, professors, ministers. Andrea is quite unconventional and does not compromise. Eventually she feels God's calling and becomes ordained. Her story is quite interesting, even for someone who is not religious!
March 4, 2014
This spiritual memoir of a woman at Harvard Divinity School in the 80s is well written and interesting. As an evangelical Christian, I feel uncomfortable with the generality of her experience with God. There is no mention of Jesus or being saved. She identifies God as He/She. Raynor shares her experiences of finding her calling, ministering in a homeless shelter, her experiences with guys, etc. It is good for a general spiritual memoir but I feel I cannot truly identify it as Christian, as I understand the term. See my full review at http://bit.ly/1eOkepd.
September 13, 2014
I was definitely drawn to this book since I also attended Harvard Divinity School. Raynor's reflections took me back to my time there. It was an interesting read which focused primarily on her spiritual journey as she decided to pursue a career in the ministry. I wish a little more time had been spent on her experiences at HDS and what opportunities and exposure it offers to its students but I still enjoyed it.
August 18, 2015
Painting a picture
I enjoyed Andrea's reflections. She had the great gift of putting you in the narrative. I enjoyed her prose and insight and am glad to have shared this part of her journey.
I enjoyed Andrea's reflections. She had the great gift of putting you in the narrative. I enjoyed her prose and insight and am glad to have shared this part of her journey.
June 20, 2014
Something inside of me deeply resonates with this story of faith and discovering your call
July 1, 2014
A fun, charming read. Almost makes me wish I had gone to Harvard Divinity School.
July 16, 2014
A unique perspective into Harvard Divinity School from a thoughtful woman of God. A wonderful reminder of the formative years of emerging into our twenties, particularly from the 80's generation.
August 21, 2014
While the writing was sometimes overly flowery, I enjoyed the author's honest reflections and the opportunity to peek into a religious Christian's faith.
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January 13, 201520.5(2)
October 23, 2015
I couldn't put it down. When I was done, I read it again.
February 13, 2016
Check out my review here:
http://shannonsbookbag.blogspot.com/2...
http://shannonsbookbag.blogspot.com/2...
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews