The God of Wild Places: Rediscovering the Divine in the Untamed Outdoors

by Tony Jones

"I have read a lot of books in my life, but never one like this... This captivating memoir will take you places you might never have gone on your into the elemental mysteries of life, death, creatureliness, and divinity with someone who has turned from the orderliness of religion to find salvation in the God of the Wild. I'm glad I went." — Barbara Brown Taylor,  New York Times bestselling author of Leaving Church and  Learning to Walk in the Dark

A pastor walks out of the church and into the woods, in pursuit of the God he's lost.
Millions of Americans, disillusioned with organized religion, yearn for meaning and transcendence in their lives, and many of them are finding that in nature. When pastor and theologian Tony Jones, Ph.D., had his crisis of faith, brought on by personal trauma and broken relationships, he sought solace in the outdoors - paddling a canoe, hunting with his dog, butchering deer.

When he walked out of the church and into the woods, he left the orderly pews and numbered hymns for chaotic spaces and untamed wilderness. And he re-discovered God — a God who brings peace in the midst of storms, a God who lives in the community of our fellow creatures, a God who's acquainted with death. This is the God of wild places.

In The God of Wild Places , Tony mines his own experiences, recent research in evolutionary psychology, and ancient wisdom from various spiritual and philosophical traditions to fashion lessons about solitude, the predator-prey relationship, the importance of place, risk, failure, and death, and the chaotic presence of God.

Tony's guidance in The God of Wild Places promises to introduce a generation of Americans to the transcendence available only in untamed spaces; his writing draws on wisdom from Christianity to Buddhism, Kant to Cioran, Jim Harrison to Annie Dillard. This is a journey of loss and discovery through forests and fields, lakes and streams, from knowing to unknowing, from finding to losing — from life to death, and then back to life.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Nature, Christian, Spirituality, Christianity, Philosophy

184 pages, Hardcover

Published April 2, 2024

About the author

Tony Jones is the author of The God of Wild Places: Rediscovering the Divine in the Untamed Outdoors (2024) and an award-winning outdoors writer. He’s written a dozen books, including Did God Kill Jesus? and The Sacred Way: Spiritual Practices for Everyday Life. Tony hosts the Reverend Hunter Podcast, and teaches at Fuller Theological Seminary. He served as a consultant on the television show, The Path, and he owns an event planning company, Crucible Creative. He holds an A.B. from Dartmouth College, an M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary. Tony is married, has three children, and lives in Edina, Minnesota.

Reviews

[Mark Kopka · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much in our individual and collective lives has been overly sanitized, and the desire for predictable convenience has conditioned us to not engage with what is real - both in our day to day routines and within our own inner lives. This book takes us into the ‘thin places’, close encounters with what some would call the Divine - where the experience of dirt and trees, vulnerability and tears can lead us to feeling alive, leading us closer to a real God we’ve not before, or at least for a long while, seen or experienced. I find myself longing for this wild Divine encounter more and more. Thanks Tony.

[Jenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one is difficult for me to review. Jones’ deconstruction from organized religion (specifically Christianity) and subsequent rediscovery of divinity in natural spaces is very familiar to me, even if my own journey was less fraught —

I grew up ELCA Lutheran with a very positive experience of the church and spirituality as a whole, I still find deep beauty, peace, and fulfillment in the rituals and symbolism of the church, but as a young adult realized I couldn’t overlook the great harm organized religion has caused, and still causes, to so many. I still consider myself deeply spiritual, will still weep at a service, but have also realized I can find that same depth and fulfillment in other spaces - specifically the outdoors - and through other rituals and practices. I believe we’re all seeking God (or some level of divinity, peace, fulfillment, whatever word you want to use) and that we all find that in different ways and should ultimately be free to do that.

—back to the book though.

What I struggled with is the subtle undertones of sexism, criticism of his ex-wife, and ‘boys will be boys’ vibes when referring to casual violence (a hunting buddy breaking a mug over his dog’s head for example), along with the uncomfortable middle-class-white-guy-telling-me-what-to-think (something I signed up for in picking up this book but still :/)

Ultimately all of this served to contaminate the message of the book the same way that the messages of love, service, and selflessness in so many churches are contaminated by sexism, homophobia, racism, xenophobia, etc.

[Daniel Hernández · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

I heard about this book on You Have Permission podcast and knowing Tony mainly from GGCH from YHP, I was really excited to read this.

Even though I am a nerd-ish introverted guy, I felt connected to Tony's story in so many ways.

Highly recommended to those of us in the deconstruction/reconstruction journey.

[Glen Mcwherter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like Tony, I’ve been on a hunt. My experience in youth ministry, evangelism, and discipleship has met with a concern that there must be a better way to lead people in their spiritual life. We must learn to experience God in the normalcy of our trek outside the walls of church.

Rather than compartmentalizing our religious life in a box, a weekly morning ritual, a building, a sermon, or Bible study. Is there a more common, more regular, essential way to experience God? If God is truly everywhere all the time, we are missing out on so much more. It seems our simply normal experience with the divine should be central to how we carry the message of the gospel.

I’ve been on the hunt, both figuratively and literally. Tony has led me into the literature of Christian spiritual practice and we’ve paddled the BWCA, portaged and camped, all to experience the ancient message of creation. God is here, God cares, provides and is speaking. The God of Wild Places was a great review of the embodied lessons I received on a trip with a doctor of ministry cohort in June of 2021.

Thank you Tony for taking us deeper into the woods, for sharing your heart, your struggles, your joy. By your message, I’m inspired to lead others on their own quest to find God, both wild and domestic, brand new and very old.

God is leading us in a magnificent continuum of opportunities, in our ritual of contemplation and daily walk toward Transcendence.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. Jone's prose is thoughtful and deep. It is also refreshingly vulnerable. Much like the wild spaces described in its pages, the stories here leave plenty of space for your own personal self reflection. Whether you are a seasoned explorer of your own faith, or one who is more comfortable keeping conscious examination of your convictions at arms length, this book invites you to confront and embrace your internal landscapes by finding your place in the wonderfully unpredictable wild. As one who has spent my own time seeking the Divine in man made boxes (both physical and ideological), the reality is that any Creator worth finding is one that seeks us and meets us even in untamed places.

[Danielle Shroyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Admittedly, I hate hunting. I went once as a little west Texas girl and everything in my soul said: this is not for us, beloved. But as a West Texas girl, many of whose friends were ranchers, I waffle between knowing it’s not for me and knowing I rely on those people who do it. And as a mom of a vegetarian, I get all the arguments on all the sides. All of which to say, I am not the target audience for this book and I probably would never have read this book if it hadn’t been written by my friend Tony and also: I resonated with so much in here, about failure and risk and how we’ve squirreled away all forms of death in our culture of distance. I found it profoundly deeper than most spiritual books- because one things for sure, it’s blatantly honest. And it looks that paradox of my own life- I don’t like a single thing about hunting and I also know it’s necessary and can even be holy- straight in the eye. Tony’s a gifted writer and this is a beautifully crafted book and I’m so glad I read it.

[Stan Lake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished “The God of Wild Places” by Tony Jones and enjoyed it. He and I seem to share a similar notion regarding the pursuit of God in the wild although we came at it from different places. I came at it the reverse of Dr Jones in that nature has always been my place of wonder and then one day it just clicked and I realized maybe God was real and once I let that tiny bit of light in I saw him under every rock. Also for me I did the opposite of Jones in that I tried to take that passion for the wild and newfound faith into the sterile structure of the church and was crushed by it. Our stories seem to run parallel at this point. This book is as much about the solace found in nature as it is about reshaping your identity once your worldview has been drastically changed by the crushing weight of the world. Jones finds God in his pursuits while hunting or managing land in the boundary waters. All that said, this isn’t a theology book. Jones doesn’t try to sell you a belief structure. It’s a journey from professional ministry to true faith. He tells his personal story with the failures along the way. It’s honest. Ironically the book doesn’t even delve into his actual belief structure in any depth until the last chapter by design. If you like nature writing you’ll enjoy this. If you’ve ever worked for a church, you’ll get this.

[Chris Lindner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book interesting and informative, however, I had difficulty connecting and engaging with the author and his story. I love the subject and theme of finding peace and spirituality through nature and the outdoors. I found that for this author, who is a former minister who leaves his church and the ministry but continues to explore spirituality and connect through outdoor adventures, writes mainly of the benefits of hunting and the outdoors with his spiritual path. For me, although I am not disagreeable to the opinion, I found it hard to engage and connect as I am not interested at all in hunting. As a reader who loves all subjects and genres, I found the book interesting, and it was thought provoking and gave me new understanding.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly honest and raw telling of life with all the pain and joy and growth and faith. While I’m not a hunter - I found Tony’s metaphors and storytelling so helpful as I disentangle from church but deeply desire to hold onto the love of the Creator. There is no preaching or certainty- but a humble sharing of life’s ups and downs. Thank you for this gift.

[Ayekah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read twice and for the first time ever listening to audiobook.
I relished this book and Tony's writing is incredible. It's an immersive read, hence my second reading, I'm just loving it. I feel this book can be enjoyed by men and women alike, some of us have experienced the things that he went through.
Full review coming.
Highly recommend and a must read for those of us who find god in the outdoors, no matter what that looks like for us.

[Max Vinogradov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tony's book is an honest, raw, and intimate scripture of his life journey that resonated so much with my own experience of the "mid-life tornado event." It made me laugh and cry, I enjoyed this book immensely. Read it!

[Cyd]

So... I'm not giving this book "zero stars", I'm just not rating it. Before I say what I'm going to say: I have family members who hunt and own guns, I am Unitarian and absolutely believe an individual has the right to identify and pursue their own spiritual path, and I'm an omnivore.

This book has little to do with finding "God" in "the untamed outdoors" and is more about a guy finding reaffirmation in hunting after a spectacularly failed marriage that sent shock waves through the emerging church community, especially for women who survived abuse only to have church leaders turn their backs on them. (He acknowledges this briefly and obliquely. )

Jones goes into "the untamed outdoors" to tame it through hunting and logging. Which is fine. But he's mostly not going into the wild places to experience them as they are. Most of the benefits he gets come from exerting his will on nature and then explaining why this is good for nature.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

This nonfiction book offers a curious take on spirituality and the author's split from organized religion. I related to the idea of finding a "god" in nature. I feel the most connected to my spirituality and the universe when I think about science and math and the puzzles that rule our world. This is how I've learned to make sense of it all. Being out in wilderness is how our author feels the most connected to his idea of god and it was interesting to hear someone else's take on finding meaning and spirituality in science and the outdoors. I don't agree with all of his views, but it definitely makes me want to pick up more books about science as a kind of spirituality.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the authors frankness and finding God in wild spaces is just as connecting as being in a church, more so for some of us

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really honest writing, and a perspective on finding God that I really appreciated.

[Georgetowner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jones is a good writer, and this is an interesting memoir that is deeply personal…maybe too personal! However, I struggled to connect with the author’s journey. I am not a hunter, but I grew up enjoying wild spaces and places, and I found peace with God via truths from the pulpit. For God is found in both the church and the wild places. Jones’ failed marriage is clearly pivotal in his transformation from pastor to outdoorsman, but it is possible to be both. Jones makes a HUGE point that he hid behind his vestments, which I understand, but plenty of pastors pastor well without vestments and that never seems to be an option for Jones. I’ve concluded this is a story that Jones needed to tell more than it is a story that needed to be told, and the story is not really concluded at all.

[Deep Frey · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was disappointed by the lack of explanation of the authors spiritual journey. Somewhere along the way, he lost his faith. He repeatedly mentions marital difficulties and anxiety issues, but I am unsure why he abandoned the God of the Bible. I understand his natural theology, but as a Christian my times in nature point me back to the God of the Bible.

[Rebecca Tillmann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I grew up in southeast MN, never went to the Boundary Waters. 15 years ago, my life was turned upside down by the unexpected death of my son at age 2. I have spent many years searching for God in the midst of that and healing parts of my childhood. Last summer my 14 year old son and I spent 10 days canoeing the Boundary Waters with his Scout group. That trip healed parts of me that I never imagined would be healed. I found a closeness with God that I can’t put into words. But Tony came close to describing that experience in this book.

[C.J. Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not what I expected, but definitely not disappointed. In fact, I feel a sense of connection through relatability. The author shares his story of leaving his ministry and finding it again in the outdoors. He talks of the Boundary Waters, hunting, fishing, canoeing, divorce, losing friends, struggling with family, and more. Some deep thoughts causes a bit of reflection and consideration by the reader. I like a book that makes a person think.

[Phil VanOsdol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably more accurately titled “what I have learned from hunting in the woods” but nonetheless I enjoyed every page.

[Christopher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable, very honest. I wouldn't have considered myself a spiritual person, but Jones has made me reconsider. As a long-time hunter, I return to the woods each season for a reason, and I think he nailed what it is.

[Jason Steckel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tony Jones and I have crossed paths multiple times over the last couple of decades and spending time with him has always been a gift. This book is no exception.

While some of the details are fundamentally different, some of the things we have experienced and walked through are eerily similar. I deeply appreciate his honesty, vulnerability, and humanity.

[John Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is well written. I enjoyed it. I am into backpacking and camping and find God in wild places, however this book is primarily about hunting. I had hoped it would be more general about the outdoors, but I suppose if I wrote this book, someone would say that my book was only about backpacking. So I would be no different.

[Janet Ashcraft · Rating 2 out of 5]

The God of Wild Places is written by a former pastor. He shares his journey of faith, losing it, and finding his way back without organized religion. Having gone through burnout and a resulting divorce the pat answers that he glibly preached fell far short of his needs. He rebuilt his life around hunting and spending time in nature. As he spent time in the quiet he was able to reconnect to God and learn some lessons along the way. There are some good thoughts and takeaways but I found it difficult to follow as far as a timeline. I was never quite sure if he was referring to a time in the past, how far in the past, or present day. #netgalley #TheGodofWildPlaces

[Thomas N · Rating 1 out of 5]

One thing I can agree with Tony Jones in his new book, is that he wears masks. He is most disingenuous, totally lacking in honesty. He describes his life as a pastor in a traditional reformed church environment. His foray into progressive Christianity is limited to a few sentences of him trying to change a vague description of bias within the church. But nowhere does he describe anything approaching the so-called "emergent church" movement for which he was a critical part of, including abandonment of orthodoxy and critical doctrine as reflected in his authorship of heretical books. Anyone reading his current book with no knowledge of Tony's history, would conclude that Tony stepped away from historical/conservative Christianity. They would think he stepped away from true Christianity for the woods, rather than running away from his own failed false doctrines and escaping from his personal problems.

I am most saddened by the many people who have been taught a false gospel by Jones, whose life is described best in Ezekiel 34:1-4 The word of the LORD came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord GOD: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them.”

There are a few hints at honesty in his book, such as when a court-appointed psychologist diagnosed Tony as having marked narcissistic tendencies and significant anxiety. But for the most part, Tony describes himself as a victim of an out-of-control spouse that would have adult temper tantrums and throw projectiles at him such as laptops. Yet court documents show that Tony Jones was the abusive one. Divorce and custody battles followed, and Tony Jones blames the church for not being there for him. He is such a victim.

His entire book is one of self-reflection of his life and his quest for peace. But what is revealed, is a quest for success and fame -- a selfish pursuit of what would make him happy as opposed to any focus whatsoever on loving God and other people. He never describes who God is. He certainly does not ever describe the God of the Bible. Even his testimony is Christless, where in a recent newspaper interview he explains that he wanted to become a pastor since the seventh grade because he felt important in the church and he excelled there (unlike sports or other high-school pursuits where he did not excel). No where does he ever speak of a relationship with a personal God of the Bible, the blessings that God has bestowed upon him, or anything remotely that one could call a born-again experience.

Tony says he met God in the woods because it is the one place he finds peace in his life. While God brings us peace, God is so much more. Most importantly, God offers salvation. It is disturbing that faith and salvation are never even discussed in his book. And he is apparently just fine with his current wife's new age religion, with no concern that a lack of faith in Jesus Christ will condemn her to an eternity in hell.

Psychologists have traditionally described why people who have experienced dysfunctional lives often delve into hobbies such as sports or hunting. Sports and the outdoors both give us a black and white view and honesty in life. You either win or lose in sports, and there are rules against cheating. In hunting, you either shoot the deer or it gets away, there is no in-between. But in life, things are complicated and anything but black and white. In life, people can manipulate relationships and lie to each other. Real life becomes a foggy and blurry field of complex feelings and relationships that can result in heartbreaking trials. Sports and the outdoors offer an escape from life's complexities. In that sense, there is a real peace we experience when our everyday lives reflect a high level of frustration and conflict -- we escape our problems in life and therefore feel a sense of peace, even if fleeting. It is not a peace from God, but rather an escape from the challenges of life.

It is challenging for me to read Tony's book, because we have things in common. I, too, grew up in the Minnesota and now live on a lake near where Tony has a cabin. I love the outdoors. I have hunted and fished since my childhood. And I have hunted throughout North America and Africa. I love God's creation and find it to be a reflection of his glory. But I do not worship the creation -- I worship the Creator!

Tony's never describes the God of the Bible. The closest he comes to describing god is a kind of new age god, found in stuff like rocks, trees, and meat. His focus is on his life, his success, and his joy found in the outdoors. Romans 1:22-23 "Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things."

I read an award-winning book a few years ago by a Christian psychologist entitled, "When Narcissism Comes to Church". As I read Tony's new book, I kept wondering what that psychologist would say after reading Tony's book.

I suppose we all want to write our own narrative in life. And to be honest takes incredible Integrity. But I find honesty to be lacking in Tony Jone's new book.

Lastly, I also recognize an additional thing I have in common with Tony. I, too, have experienced a life stained by my own sin. But my peace has come from faith in Christ and the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ on the cross – he died once and for all to atone for the sins of all who put their faith in him alone. My prayer is that Tony would know this lasting peace as well.

[Martyn J. · Rating 1 out of 5]

To summarise - God didn’t play ball so the author invented his own that suited his own hobbies better. A warning to all believers about rightly enjoying God’s gifts and not turning them into idols.

[Claire Floyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book and met the author the week I read it at a book signing.

[miranda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a different kind of read. I loved the descriptions of the woodlands. The spiritual journey told through nature and hunting was quite beautiful.

[Grace Chiao · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe it's just me but i felt like most of the book had a patronizing tone... which did get better by the last 20% of the book, but was off-putting to say the least. I listened to the audiobook, which was read by the author, so maybe that was part of it. Admittedly, I'm not into hunting at all so I had a hard time connecting with that aspect, which is a large part of the narrative.

For most of the book, I felt like the author was very dichotomous. It was either structured religion OR nature/wild places and that God could not be found in both. I vehemently disagree. I love the outdoors and the wild places and absolutely believe that He is there. I ALSO love the structure of meeting with the church each week and absolutely believe that He is there as well. There is deep value in BOTH. It CAN be both! Just because he experienced God only in nature doesn't mean that is the case across the board.

Now I do have to give credit in 2 ways: 1) i do feel like the tone of the book changed about 80% of the way through and he softened his approach and 2) i saw a brief interview he gave on the book and i was reminded that this is his memoir, not an instructive text. That put things more into perspective for me that this is HIS story. Even though he made it sound like this should be everyone's journey, it is his journey and his journey is valid and valuable. It is a memoir of "construction, deconstruction, and reconstruction" as Richard Rhor is apt to say.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

In The God of Wild Places, Tony conducts a beautiful symphony of narrative prose that invites the reader to join him on a journey. A journey that begins with an experience of the divine and a call to help others have that same experience. But as Tony stepped across the threshold, it became clear that this journey into the unknown would have challenges, heartbreak, and even death. Yet, what Tony so beautifully demonstrates is that it is in this journey outward — away from self, away from security, away from success, and even away from faith — this is when he truly found himself and discovered The God of Wild Places. A God defined by peace, place, companions, failure, and risk. While his faith was formed inside secure walls, when it was tested, it needed to be shaped in wild and untamed spaces in order to truly encounter the transcendent. That only in journeying into the wilderness could he truly return.

While this book may be filed under “Christian Living” on Amazon it truly is a book for everyone. Why? Because it touches on the deepest human experiences of family, faith, failure, risk, and finding yourself. Whether you are a person of faith, a hunter, or even a lover of the outdoors – it doesn’t matter. This book will help you appreciate what it looks like to journey outward, be tested, and return transformed.