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Where Goodness Still Grows: Reclaiming Virtue in an Age of Hypocrisy
Declining church attendance. A growing feeling of betrayal. For Christians who have begun to feel set adrift and disillusioned by their churches, Where Goodness Still Grows grounds us in a new view of virtue deeply rooted in a return to Jesus Christ’s life and ministry.
The evangelical church in America has reached a crossroads. Social media and recent political events have exposed the fault lines that exist within our country and our spiritual communities. Millennials are leaving the church, citing hypocrisy, partisanship, and unkindness as reasons they can’t stay. In this book Amy Peterson explores the corruption and blind spots of the evangelical church and the departure of so many from the faith - but she refuses to give up hope, believing that rescue is on the way.
Where Goodness Still Grows:
Dissects the moral code of American evangelicalismReimagines virtue as a tool, not a weaponExplores the Biblical meaning of specific virtues like kindness, purity, and modestyProvides comfort, hope, and a path towards spiritual restorationAmy writes as someone intimately familiar with, fond of, and deeply critical of the world of conservative evangelicalism. She writes as a woman and a mother, as someone invested in the future of humanity, and as someone who just needs to know how to teach her kids what it means to be good. Amy finds that if we listen harder and farther, we will find the places where goodness still grows.
Praise for Where Goodness Still Grows:
“In this poignant, honest book, Amy Peterson confronts her disappointment with the evangelical leaders who handed her The Book of Virtues then happily ignored them for the sake of political power. But instead of just walking away, Peterson rewrites the script, giving us an alternative book of virtues needed in this moment. And it’s no mistake that it ends with hope.”
— James K. A. Smith, author of You Are What You Love
Narrator Charity Spencer brings an honest and thought-provoking audiobook to life. Weaving conviction and a constant thrum of energy into each sentence, she keeps listeners engaged throughout this short but powerful audiobook. Peterson challenges evangelical culture and the rationale behind many Christian traditions that have been held—often unquestioned—for centuries. Spencer ensures that the author's words are delivered at a steady pace and weighted with just the right amount of candor. Her pristine delivery offers a compelling listening experience.
The evangelical church in America has reached a crossroads. Social media and recent political events have exposed the fault lines that exist within our country and our spiritual communities. Millennials are leaving the church, citing hypocrisy, partisanship, and unkindness as reasons they can’t stay. In this book Amy Peterson explores the corruption and blind spots of the evangelical church and the departure of so many from the faith - but she refuses to give up hope, believing that rescue is on the way.
Where Goodness Still Grows:
Dissects the moral code of American evangelicalismReimagines virtue as a tool, not a weaponExplores the Biblical meaning of specific virtues like kindness, purity, and modestyProvides comfort, hope, and a path towards spiritual restorationAmy writes as someone intimately familiar with, fond of, and deeply critical of the world of conservative evangelicalism. She writes as a woman and a mother, as someone invested in the future of humanity, and as someone who just needs to know how to teach her kids what it means to be good. Amy finds that if we listen harder and farther, we will find the places where goodness still grows.
Praise for Where Goodness Still Grows:
“In this poignant, honest book, Amy Peterson confronts her disappointment with the evangelical leaders who handed her The Book of Virtues then happily ignored them for the sake of political power. But instead of just walking away, Peterson rewrites the script, giving us an alternative book of virtues needed in this moment. And it’s no mistake that it ends with hope.”
— James K. A. Smith, author of You Are What You Love
Narrator Charity Spencer brings an honest and thought-provoking audiobook to life. Weaving conviction and a constant thrum of energy into each sentence, she keeps listeners engaged throughout this short but powerful audiobook. Peterson challenges evangelical culture and the rationale behind many Christian traditions that have been held—often unquestioned—for centuries. Spencer ensures that the author's words are delivered at a steady pace and weighted with just the right amount of candor. Her pristine delivery offers a compelling listening experience.
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Published January 21, 2020
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January 18, 2021
If you are a conservative Christian who can't understand how any Christian could support Democrats, this book may be for you.
If you are a progressive Christian who can't understand how can any Christian could support Trump, this book may be for you.
Amy Peterson, who self-identifies as an evangelical Christian and a Democrat, set out to understand how Christians could wholeheartedly support Trump despite his anger, his sometimes subtle, sometimes overt racist asides, his anger, his name-calling, his lack of the fruit of the spirit. To her, this appeared to be hypocrisy.
She loves her family and friends who are Trump supporters and just wanted to understand. In this book, she sets out to explore what the Bible says about kindness, hospitality, purity, modesty, authenticity, love, discernment, and hope, virtues most Christians agree should exemplify our lives.
Her prose is beautiful. Her stories about life and family are warm and descriptive. She includes research. (Yes, of course, I love this.)
This is NOT a book which bashes Trump supporters; it's a book filled with an open spirit and an open heart, and I think Christians who identify as conservative and progressive. We need to understand each other.
If you are a progressive Christian who can't understand how can any Christian could support Trump, this book may be for you.
Amy Peterson, who self-identifies as an evangelical Christian and a Democrat, set out to understand how Christians could wholeheartedly support Trump despite his anger, his sometimes subtle, sometimes overt racist asides, his anger, his name-calling, his lack of the fruit of the spirit. To her, this appeared to be hypocrisy.
She loves her family and friends who are Trump supporters and just wanted to understand. In this book, she sets out to explore what the Bible says about kindness, hospitality, purity, modesty, authenticity, love, discernment, and hope, virtues most Christians agree should exemplify our lives.
Her prose is beautiful. Her stories about life and family are warm and descriptive. She includes research. (Yes, of course, I love this.)
This is NOT a book which bashes Trump supporters; it's a book filled with an open spirit and an open heart, and I think Christians who identify as conservative and progressive. We need to understand each other.
April 19, 2020
I wanted it to be just a little bit longer, to dig just a little bit deeper...at times, it feels more like a collection of essays than a book. But there is some gold here, a cri de coeur for reveling in the complex love of God against the reductionist worldviews of American mass culture and evangelicalism-as-identity.
In the interests of full disclosure, I, as a survivor of 90s youth group, am the target audience.
In the interests of full disclosure, I, as a survivor of 90s youth group, am the target audience.
April 22, 2020
I loved this book. There's been so much "deconstruction" of the evangelical heritage handed down to many of us (and for good reason), but many deconstructionists leave you in the wreckage of your faith with no blueprint for how to rebuild it, or how to recognize the foundation that's still standing once the dust settles. Amy's book is a breath of fresh air, because she gracefully models divesting what is wrong and clinging to what is right. If you've felt disillusioned by the American evangelical church, especially in the last 10 years, read this book. It'll give you hope.
March 23, 2021
This is a difficult review to write. The author and I are the same age and grew up with many of the same experiences. ("On the margins of the moral majority, in a conservative evangelical homeschooling family in the South...We didn't totally kiss dating goodbye in favor of courtship...We memorized hymns and catechisms and Bible verses...made friends at the local pool...Steven Curtis Chapman and Amy Grant and Adventures in Odyssey rotated through our tape deck...while we avoided Madonna and MTV, we marinated in plenty of classic pop culture: albums by the Beatles...movies starring Gene Kelly and Judy Garland...Our parents encouraged us to read widely...We weren't wildly political...But we did attend pro-life fund-raisers...")
So, anyway, a lot of her story resonated with me in that respect, right down to the attending of church camps and a focus on apologetics and logic as a teenager.
I thought this book would address the need to recover a wholistic view of Virtue, and not just the "Book of Virtues" chosen by William Bennet type of virtue, but instead the book is more of a memoir of one woman growing up disillusioned with her corner of Christianity and coming to almost, but not quite, not believe anything her parents believe while smugly assured that her morals and virtues are now far superior to those with which she was raised. In other words, the journey from Fundamental Christian to Progressive Christian, without becoming an actual "ex-vangelical." (Being Progressive involves ethical views such as eating more mindfully and cultivating the earth a la Wendell Berry, Michael Pollan, or Barbara Kingsolver; accepting that sexual ethics are a lot more complicated than purity culture would have us believe; modesty is about wealth and power, not how much skin is covered, etc.)
I appreciate this book in the contribution it is to current on-going discussions of contemporary Christianity and some needed correctives in the abuse of relationships and power structures (along side Kristin Kobes du Mez's "Jesus and John Wayne" or Aimee Byrd's books or Rachel Green Miller or the upcoming books talking back to purity culture).
But the tone is so antagonistic I doubt anyone not already disposed to agree with the author would read past the first chapter. (For example: repeated use of the phrase "raping the earth" in early chapters would be enough to cause my parents and their friends to close the book and not read any further.)
I particularly appreciated the chapter on Authenticity and the discussion of prayers (ritual vs. spontaneous). As someone who was raised Baptist (with a strong emphasis on no rote prayers, at all, ever, for any reason!) who has grown to appreciate the riches of liturgical prayer (as in the Book of Common Prayer) as an adult, her insights into the subject resonated with me.
The other 8 chapters varied greatly for me from "This is ridiculous and self-indulgent" to "Yes, I can see what she's saying here, but I wish she would have said it more winsomely so I could recommend the book to those not yet convinced."
So, definitely a swing and a miss for me. But obviously YMMV, as the youths used to say. I'd give it 2 & 1/2 stars (rounded down to 2 for the purposes of Goodreads). The discussion must continue because Virtue does exist and Truth is worth it.
(Other books mentioned or referenced by Peterson that I do HIGHLY recommend: Christine Pohl's "Making Room", Kathleen Norris's "Acedia and Me", and N.T. Wright's "Surprised by Hope.")
So, anyway, a lot of her story resonated with me in that respect, right down to the attending of church camps and a focus on apologetics and logic as a teenager.
I thought this book would address the need to recover a wholistic view of Virtue, and not just the "Book of Virtues" chosen by William Bennet type of virtue, but instead the book is more of a memoir of one woman growing up disillusioned with her corner of Christianity and coming to almost, but not quite, not believe anything her parents believe while smugly assured that her morals and virtues are now far superior to those with which she was raised. In other words, the journey from Fundamental Christian to Progressive Christian, without becoming an actual "ex-vangelical." (Being Progressive involves ethical views such as eating more mindfully and cultivating the earth a la Wendell Berry, Michael Pollan, or Barbara Kingsolver; accepting that sexual ethics are a lot more complicated than purity culture would have us believe; modesty is about wealth and power, not how much skin is covered, etc.)
I appreciate this book in the contribution it is to current on-going discussions of contemporary Christianity and some needed correctives in the abuse of relationships and power structures (along side Kristin Kobes du Mez's "Jesus and John Wayne" or Aimee Byrd's books or Rachel Green Miller or the upcoming books talking back to purity culture).
But the tone is so antagonistic I doubt anyone not already disposed to agree with the author would read past the first chapter. (For example: repeated use of the phrase "raping the earth" in early chapters would be enough to cause my parents and their friends to close the book and not read any further.)
I particularly appreciated the chapter on Authenticity and the discussion of prayers (ritual vs. spontaneous). As someone who was raised Baptist (with a strong emphasis on no rote prayers, at all, ever, for any reason!) who has grown to appreciate the riches of liturgical prayer (as in the Book of Common Prayer) as an adult, her insights into the subject resonated with me.
The other 8 chapters varied greatly for me from "This is ridiculous and self-indulgent" to "Yes, I can see what she's saying here, but I wish she would have said it more winsomely so I could recommend the book to those not yet convinced."
So, definitely a swing and a miss for me. But obviously YMMV, as the youths used to say. I'd give it 2 & 1/2 stars (rounded down to 2 for the purposes of Goodreads). The discussion must continue because Virtue does exist and Truth is worth it.
(Other books mentioned or referenced by Peterson that I do HIGHLY recommend: Christine Pohl's "Making Room", Kathleen Norris's "Acedia and Me", and N.T. Wright's "Surprised by Hope.")
February 18, 2020
This is a fantastic book. I love Peterson’s beautiful and thoughtful prose, her integration of truth and hope, and her balance of self and other.
January 8, 2023
I give this five stars not because it's perfect, but because I found it so thought-provoking while also being a delight to read. I have some similar experiences to Amy, and appreciated her honesty and accountability for where she once was (at the same time being gentle to her younger self) while explaining what has changed. I also thought the concept of organizing this around "virtues" was great, though some chapters felt more cohesive to me than others.
A friend who read this called it "hopeful" and I agree with that. A lot of us have experienced so much loss and lament as the hypocrisy of a certain strain of Christianity has been loudly, publicly laid bare in recent years. It's not that those issues were never there-- they were-- but I think it has become more visible to many of us, and it has caused some to lose their faith, and others to cling to their faith, but with a crushing sadness over what we've seen. I love that this book doesn't shy away from that pain, but also is not at all prepared to burn all of Christianity to the ground because of American evangelicalism. "What next?" is something we all have to ask ourselves.
Nominating it for book club-- I think there are some great discussions here.
A friend who read this called it "hopeful" and I agree with that. A lot of us have experienced so much loss and lament as the hypocrisy of a certain strain of Christianity has been loudly, publicly laid bare in recent years. It's not that those issues were never there-- they were-- but I think it has become more visible to many of us, and it has caused some to lose their faith, and others to cling to their faith, but with a crushing sadness over what we've seen. I love that this book doesn't shy away from that pain, but also is not at all prepared to burn all of Christianity to the ground because of American evangelicalism. "What next?" is something we all have to ask ourselves.
Nominating it for book club-- I think there are some great discussions here.
June 18, 2020
This is a phenomenal book. I was originally supposed to have done a formal review of it but that fell through, and then I managed to lose my copy for more than a month even though I literally hadn’t left the house in all that time. But now that I’ve devoured it - whoosh. It is at once a book for the ages and a book for the moment. I love that Peterson doesn’t mince words about the Trump administration. It reminded me a little of Anne Lamott’s anti Bush baby book. I am really frustrated with some conversations I’m overhearing from friends writing books now - publishers not wanting any mention of the pandemic?! It doesn’t date a book to speak to the author’s context; this book will be central to shaping our understanding of the great dissipation of the evangelical movement. But it’s also more than that. Peterson gave me completely new ways of imagining a variety of virtues that will shape my life and faith.
June 16, 2020
I didn’t always agree with Amy’s theological conclusions but that isn’t why I picked up this book. I needed a trusted companion — someone to tell me I wasn’t alone in my heartache over the last few years. I found that with Amy. I was not there with her in the chapel auditorium as much as she was not with me as I wept at the news. We travelled separately and yet we were also along the same road. That gave me profound comfort. I needed a voice to echo what I couldn’t find in myself to express and I found that in this book.
July 19, 2020
I started this book when it came out and it got lost in the shuffle - If I believed in such things, it would be because now is when I was supposed to read it.
In the meantime I read Amy’s first book that helped me understand where this book came from.
There are a lot of seeds here for reconstruction- most days I am not sure I am looking for reconstruction - but deep down I know it’s time to put the sledgehammer away and start throwing some seeds around.
In the meantime I read Amy’s first book that helped me understand where this book came from.
There are a lot of seeds here for reconstruction- most days I am not sure I am looking for reconstruction - but deep down I know it’s time to put the sledgehammer away and start throwing some seeds around.
April 22, 2024
This book is not primarily an exegetical theology book, rather, it is the author's reflections on certain virtues and how they might be applied in modern times. However, my curiosity was piqued throughout the entire book and while I often found myself resonating with some of the problems she identified, I found myself asking, "Why is this virtue here and not another? Why is this virtue defined in this way? Why did the author use this analogy to represent this virtue?" I found myself wishing for a deeper conversation about the virtues themselves and will definitely be having follow up conversations with the person who recommended it, which is probably the best outcome anyway. Overall, it was a very hopeful book and I do think the author loves Jesus and is trying to follow and obey him.
The chapter on Authenticity was well worth a read.
The chapter on Authenticity was well worth a read.
March 7, 2020
Peterson is an eloquent writer who is convicted and compassionate in her defense of Christian virtues against their assault from within.
I don’t agree with everything she says, but the beautiful point she’s making is that we can and should learn from the other! And so I’ve tried to do so while reading this. The most thought-provoking chapter is her one on discernment.
By comparing truth to taste, she argues compelling hey that we need to expand our palate. “We will be healthier, and so will our communities, if we lose our fear of the unfamiliar and taste new things.”
This book wasn’t necessarily a new taste for me, but it’s a taste I would have found unsavory not too long ago. But now, my palate has expanded and I’m grateful for the truth I’ve chewed on while reading this book.
I don’t agree with everything she says, but the beautiful point she’s making is that we can and should learn from the other! And so I’ve tried to do so while reading this. The most thought-provoking chapter is her one on discernment.
By comparing truth to taste, she argues compelling hey that we need to expand our palate. “We will be healthier, and so will our communities, if we lose our fear of the unfamiliar and taste new things.”
This book wasn’t necessarily a new taste for me, but it’s a taste I would have found unsavory not too long ago. But now, my palate has expanded and I’m grateful for the truth I’ve chewed on while reading this book.
January 21, 2020
In a recent interview, author Amy Peterson wrote "I deeply love the evangelicals who raised me, and I deeply love the post-evangelicals among whom I often find myself now — and these groups seem to speak past each other so much of the time." This is a wonderful book on truth and beauty that bridges this divide in profound and moving ways.
April 21, 2024
For starters, just because the rating is low, this was not an awful book. I rated it three stars because I didn't think the author was always particularly careful theologically or doctrinally--at points allowing her philosophy to inform her theology, instead of the other way around--and it made some of the arguments inconsistent. I would also hazard a guess (even though she was decidedly evasive) that the author and I hold some very different views on a handful of critical secondary or tertiary beliefs. All that said, I do believe that the author is barking up the right tree and I think what she shares of her own life in the book reveals someone who very much wants to follow Jesus with her whole heart, soul, mind, and strength and display his character to her neighbor, even if we vary on what we think that looks like, biblically.
I think the author does a good job at raising many valid questions and concerns about how the evangelical church in modern America has understood and practiced Christian virtues. Specifically, how is it possible for American Christians to not lament the state of our nation and roll up our sleeves and get messy for the sake of the gospel? How can entire congregations sing peppy songs Sunday after Sunday, untouched by the tragedies in our own culture; tragedies of our own sin? There were many times throughout the book that I resonated with the author's experience and I, too, long for a more holistic approach to Christian virtues from the Church at large.
Each chapter aims to break down a different Christian virtue and help the reader see it in a less two-dimensional form, striving for original biblical context. Some chapters were closer to the mark than others. The chapter about authenticity I thought was particularly compelling. Others less so. I admit I've never quite read a book like this before, where I could be 'fist pumping' and 'amen-ing' in agreement on one page, and then cringing and bemoaning a statement made on the next. It was frustrating in a (mostly) good way because it forced me to wrestle with the question "why DO I agree/disagree with that?" on a number of issues.
I think more books like this, calling the Church to self-examine, are necessary, and I think Peterson is right in her concern that American Christians tend to sacrifice true Christian virtue out of fear of culture, etc. However, I don't think Peterson hits a home run, here. I also think her message might be lost on those whom she is most trying to reach because she continually insists on presenting these issues from a political standpoint, almost exclusively espousing Right-Wingers with poor virtues in a way that I thought served little to drive home her point but only to further drive the wedge between Christians with varying political views. Everything vital about her message could have been conveyed without naming names and politi-shaming large swaths of potential readers. The truth is, Christians on both sides of the political spectrum are willing to sacrifice their virtues for 'their guy' to remain on top. I felt that a more grassroots approach to winning people over would have been more apropos, considering the title.
There are very few books willing to ask the hard questions this book asks. While I would advise someone to read this with a discerning, comparative eye on Scripture, I do think it's worth reading if only for the sake of challenging one's own assumptions and hauling one's own heart out on the carpet to examine its virtue. I can see it being a helpful conversation catalyst about what true Christian virtue should look like, today. This book was gifted to me by someone I care for, deeply, and I can't wait to discuss it over a cup of good coffee--which is probably just what the author would want to happen. :)
I think the author does a good job at raising many valid questions and concerns about how the evangelical church in modern America has understood and practiced Christian virtues. Specifically, how is it possible for American Christians to not lament the state of our nation and roll up our sleeves and get messy for the sake of the gospel? How can entire congregations sing peppy songs Sunday after Sunday, untouched by the tragedies in our own culture; tragedies of our own sin? There were many times throughout the book that I resonated with the author's experience and I, too, long for a more holistic approach to Christian virtues from the Church at large.
Each chapter aims to break down a different Christian virtue and help the reader see it in a less two-dimensional form, striving for original biblical context. Some chapters were closer to the mark than others. The chapter about authenticity I thought was particularly compelling. Others less so. I admit I've never quite read a book like this before, where I could be 'fist pumping' and 'amen-ing' in agreement on one page, and then cringing and bemoaning a statement made on the next. It was frustrating in a (mostly) good way because it forced me to wrestle with the question "why DO I agree/disagree with that?" on a number of issues.
I think more books like this, calling the Church to self-examine, are necessary, and I think Peterson is right in her concern that American Christians tend to sacrifice true Christian virtue out of fear of culture, etc. However, I don't think Peterson hits a home run, here. I also think her message might be lost on those whom she is most trying to reach because she continually insists on presenting these issues from a political standpoint, almost exclusively espousing Right-Wingers with poor virtues in a way that I thought served little to drive home her point but only to further drive the wedge between Christians with varying political views. Everything vital about her message could have been conveyed without naming names and politi-shaming large swaths of potential readers. The truth is, Christians on both sides of the political spectrum are willing to sacrifice their virtues for 'their guy' to remain on top. I felt that a more grassroots approach to winning people over would have been more apropos, considering the title.
There are very few books willing to ask the hard questions this book asks. While I would advise someone to read this with a discerning, comparative eye on Scripture, I do think it's worth reading if only for the sake of challenging one's own assumptions and hauling one's own heart out on the carpet to examine its virtue. I can see it being a helpful conversation catalyst about what true Christian virtue should look like, today. This book was gifted to me by someone I care for, deeply, and I can't wait to discuss it over a cup of good coffee--which is probably just what the author would want to happen. :)
January 20, 2020
If you grew up in the evangelical subculture during the 1990s or even the 2000s like author Amy Peterson did or if you worked with youth during this time period like I did, there are certain virtues and values that were an important part of life. This was the era of purity culture where modesty and good character was emphasized, learning to logically defend your faith was encouraged, and The Book of Virtues was bedtime reading. As this generation is in the midst of parenting their own children and fully embracing adulthood, contemporary culture is causing many to question these virtues and values particularly at a time when some church leaders seem to have done an about face in regard to these same values particularly in the political sphere. In Where Goodness Still Grows: Reclaiming Virtue in an Age of Hypocrisy, Amy Peterson shares personally regarding her own journey and experiences and digs into research regarding each virtue being examined through nine thought provoking chapters.
Beyond the engaging exploration of her own faith journey and experiences, Peterson does a marvelous job of digging into each of the virtues presented and what they mean. She explores the history and meaning of different words, pulls in biblical research for the basis of each virtue, and shows how the meaning or practice of a particular virtue has changed over time. For example, her exploration of the meaning of the word "kind" which we often throw way as a generic "nice person" showed the root of the word and turns your understanding around. For other terms, Peterson demonstrates that the version of "purity" or "modesty" frequently taught in evangelical sub-culture is a subverted view of the true biblical meaning. Some readers will be surprised when seeing "lament" as the first chapter as it is not a virtue frequently discussed. However, Peterson uses this chapter to set the stage for why she wrote this book and encourages us that lament needs to be a virtue we embrace more fully.
Where Goodness Still Grows is a book that demands a slow, thoughtful reading. It is not a book to sit down and read quickly but should be savored and discussed with others. In fact my only suggestion for improving this book would be the addition of questions to facilitate discussion in a book group setting. If you feel a disconnect between the virtues and values you were taught while growing up, particularly if you grew up or worked with youth in the 1990s, and the current seeming disdain for those same virtues, you need to read this book. If you don't feel there is a disconnect but wonder why people feel that way, read this book with an open heart and mind.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received Where Goodness Grows from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Beyond the engaging exploration of her own faith journey and experiences, Peterson does a marvelous job of digging into each of the virtues presented and what they mean. She explores the history and meaning of different words, pulls in biblical research for the basis of each virtue, and shows how the meaning or practice of a particular virtue has changed over time. For example, her exploration of the meaning of the word "kind" which we often throw way as a generic "nice person" showed the root of the word and turns your understanding around. For other terms, Peterson demonstrates that the version of "purity" or "modesty" frequently taught in evangelical sub-culture is a subverted view of the true biblical meaning. Some readers will be surprised when seeing "lament" as the first chapter as it is not a virtue frequently discussed. However, Peterson uses this chapter to set the stage for why she wrote this book and encourages us that lament needs to be a virtue we embrace more fully.
Where Goodness Still Grows is a book that demands a slow, thoughtful reading. It is not a book to sit down and read quickly but should be savored and discussed with others. In fact my only suggestion for improving this book would be the addition of questions to facilitate discussion in a book group setting. If you feel a disconnect between the virtues and values you were taught while growing up, particularly if you grew up or worked with youth in the 1990s, and the current seeming disdain for those same virtues, you need to read this book. If you don't feel there is a disconnect but wonder why people feel that way, read this book with an open heart and mind.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received Where Goodness Grows from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
August 23, 2020
To those of us who feel adrift and without a Church, this book helps to ground us a new view of virtue and practical theology. If this is what post-evangelicalism looks like, sign me up. While some of the chapters are meatier than others, Peterson carefully illustrates mistakes the American evangelical church has made, on how to address these mistakes in our own personal walks with Christ.
Recommended for: Christians who have grown increasingly ashamed of their church, those seeking what faith in Christ truly looks like, and all those in between.
Recommended for: Christians who have grown increasingly ashamed of their church, those seeking what faith in Christ truly looks like, and all those in between.
November 8, 2024
I think more people need to read this book and be reminded of who Jesus actually is and not who Christian nationalism has made him to be.
February 25, 2021
Both convicting and healing to read, this book is a must-read for any young Christian — Amy writes with a beautiful level of attention and care I didn’t know I needed
January 9, 2020
When I heard the title of this book, I was instantly intrigued. The hypocrisy in our world, particularly relating to the evangelical zealous support of Trump, has been disorienting and more than troubling. The author addresses this at the beginning of the book, but she doesn't dwell on that singular point, which was in part the impetus to write the book. I'm so grateful she wrote this for folks like me, who are hungry for hope and a return to the roots of virtues. I am confident that the reader's perspective on the virtues addressed in this book will be broadened and challenged. Mine definitely were.
This book is a wonderful blend of thoughtful scholarship, personal reflection, and a grounding of scripture. I already know that this will be one of my favorite books of the year.
This book is a wonderful blend of thoughtful scholarship, personal reflection, and a grounding of scripture. I already know that this will be one of my favorite books of the year.
January 21, 2022
This is such a beautiful model of reconsidering and re-examining the virtues taught by evangelical Christianity. What was good and true is celebrated but what was distorted is called out and deconstructed so that the beauty and truth can be restored. Goodness still grows in the soil of the gospel.
September 1, 2023
Every single chapter made me pause, made me reach out to friends for discussion, made me recommend it to a friend, made me rethink, and made me want to be more virtuous.
January 27, 2020
Amy & I grew up in the same conservative evangelical American subculture - in fact, the very same church & high school. So when she writes about her dismay & grief at the current witness from that world, it cuts close to the bone.
How have the virtues we were taught, that shaped who we are today, also shaped things that horrify us? "There was goodness there, but something must have been missing, or flawed..." She digs in, honest & sharp.
Lament. Kindness. Hospitality. Purity. Modesty. Authenticity. Love. Discernment. Hope. Her musings on each of these are radical, in the way that the root word for radical, radix, means, well, root.
And my heart was in my throat the whole way through. I'm so glad she's shared where she finds redemption & hope because I, for one, sorely need both.
How have the virtues we were taught, that shaped who we are today, also shaped things that horrify us? "There was goodness there, but something must have been missing, or flawed..." She digs in, honest & sharp.
Lament. Kindness. Hospitality. Purity. Modesty. Authenticity. Love. Discernment. Hope. Her musings on each of these are radical, in the way that the root word for radical, radix, means, well, root.
And my heart was in my throat the whole way through. I'm so glad she's shared where she finds redemption & hope because I, for one, sorely need both.
March 11, 2020
This is the voice of a generation of evangelicals who were betrayed by their faith tradition. Peterson finds the balance between deconstruction and hope and offers a lot of interpretations that helped me articulate my own tradition to myself. The chapters on purity and modesty were particularly strong. This wasn't a perfect book (the chapter on hope was a weak ending to a strong book), but it was absolutely timely and an important addition to post-evangelical evangelicalism.
January 11, 2020
A favorite for me this year. So thought-provoking.
August 30, 2023
Where Goodness Still Grows, Amy Peterson
Purity is about things being in the right places. Instead of asking, How can I be pure? And pointing to rules for appropriate sexual relationships. Practice virtue by asking, Where do I belong? Where do I fit? Where’s my right places in it? And my right place is wherever Jesus is. It’s the new kingdom Jesus brought to earth, characterized by love rather than fear of contamination.
When we love our normal disgust triggers turn off.
Jesus love and purity are so strong that any impurity they encounter are immediately made beautiful. To be pure to be in the right place requires only this, to be with Jesus.
Purity culture and evangelicalism. Let’s name them. First, modesty was taught with a focus on outward appearance rather than character and behavior. Second, this interpretation of modesty conflated cultural norms and standards with eternal truth. By failing to discuss the importance of culture and context, we miss an opportunity to decenter our own experiences of the world and to practice understanding a moral issue through someone else’s lens.
The message was “Dress modestly, snag a husband.” Modesty was about power, either men having power over women’s bodies, or women using their bodies to gain power over men. This is a problem. It’s virtuous and loving to act with your neighbors best interests in mind, but is it virtuous to control your neighbor? Modesty doctrine is problematic in that women learn to see their bodies as innately problematic, and that only men have active sex drives. Men are taught they have no power over their impulses, that the sight of a bra strap hinders their ability to exercise self-control.
In Paul’s day, braids were symbols of rank as much as wealth. Paul worried that women were using their clothes/jewelry to display social status and riches. Pearls, braids, elaborate clothes were emblems of power. If you’re godly, you’re discreet about class.
The rhythmic words of liturgy: Dad prayed every night I would wake up with a smile on my face, a song in my heart, and joy deep down inside. A joy that withstands difficult circumstances, and is guarded by the peace of God.
Perhaps it’s not too strong to say that the elevation of ethical positions to essential beliefs has led many people of my generation to leave the church. They saw a church more interested in defending political positions than loving their neighbor.
Love manifests as curiosity.
Purity is about things being in the right places. Instead of asking, How can I be pure? And pointing to rules for appropriate sexual relationships. Practice virtue by asking, Where do I belong? Where do I fit? Where’s my right places in it? And my right place is wherever Jesus is. It’s the new kingdom Jesus brought to earth, characterized by love rather than fear of contamination.
When we love our normal disgust triggers turn off.
Jesus love and purity are so strong that any impurity they encounter are immediately made beautiful. To be pure to be in the right place requires only this, to be with Jesus.
Purity culture and evangelicalism. Let’s name them. First, modesty was taught with a focus on outward appearance rather than character and behavior. Second, this interpretation of modesty conflated cultural norms and standards with eternal truth. By failing to discuss the importance of culture and context, we miss an opportunity to decenter our own experiences of the world and to practice understanding a moral issue through someone else’s lens.
The message was “Dress modestly, snag a husband.” Modesty was about power, either men having power over women’s bodies, or women using their bodies to gain power over men. This is a problem. It’s virtuous and loving to act with your neighbors best interests in mind, but is it virtuous to control your neighbor? Modesty doctrine is problematic in that women learn to see their bodies as innately problematic, and that only men have active sex drives. Men are taught they have no power over their impulses, that the sight of a bra strap hinders their ability to exercise self-control.
In Paul’s day, braids were symbols of rank as much as wealth. Paul worried that women were using their clothes/jewelry to display social status and riches. Pearls, braids, elaborate clothes were emblems of power. If you’re godly, you’re discreet about class.
The rhythmic words of liturgy: Dad prayed every night I would wake up with a smile on my face, a song in my heart, and joy deep down inside. A joy that withstands difficult circumstances, and is guarded by the peace of God.
Perhaps it’s not too strong to say that the elevation of ethical positions to essential beliefs has led many people of my generation to leave the church. They saw a church more interested in defending political positions than loving their neighbor.
Love manifests as curiosity.
December 29, 2019
The American evangelical image is going through an ugly patch right now. Believers are divided. Unbelievers are disgusted. The silent majority are shaking their heads. American evangelicalism is broken. It has split believers into more ways than one. More often than not, political allegiances dominate personal integrity. Standing up for values becomes more important than character of the person. The ends justify the means. Power trumps truth. Many people have used at least five things to demonize the perceptions of Christians these days: Judgmentalism, Legalism, Intolerance, Sexism, and Hypocrisy. Of all these five, hypocrisy has been something that haunted Christianity through the ages. Even during the time of Jesus, hypocrisy has been rearing its ugly head in the lives of the Pharisees and various religious leaders. Author Amy Peterson captures this state in American evangelicalism today. She notes: "Something has gone terribly wrong in the culture that taught me about virtue. I learned how to find truth in Scripture and orient my life around loving God and my neighbor from a community that seems to have stopped believing many of the things they taught me—things like the value of every human life, the importance of religious freedom, and the sanctity of marriage; things like hospitality, purity, modesty, truth, and love. I find myself now wondering if the ground I grew up in was radioactive all along and whether anything good can grow here. Does this hypocrisy mean I need to discard everything I learned growing up in the evangelical church?"
Thankfully, her hope of redemption is stronger than her despair. After acknowledging the state of brokenness of American evangelicalism, she sees that there has been lots of disconnect between the virtues she had been brought up in and the reality of the current spiritual climate. In spite of all the negativity, she maintains that there is still much goodness sown within the hearts of people. This in itself makes this book a hopeful (even necessary) addition to our bookshelves. She gives us nine ways to go about to reclaim virtue in an age of hypocrisy. Beginning with LAMENT, we need to acknowledge our brokenness in the first place. Never start from perfection because of our sins. Peterson calls lament as "holy complaint." Lamenting is the first step toward any change. She takes us through some of the lament psalms in scripture to remind us that it is alright to feel down. With this renewed beginning, we enter into KINDNESS. Inspired by her reading of Janet Soskice's "The Kindness of God," Peterson learns that kindness is far stronger than weakness. It marks a point of strong connection with people, even those we disagree strongly with. HOSPITALITY is essentially welcoming the stranger, even those who are different from us. Peterson links this back to how others had shown her hospitality in the past. That is loved demonstrated in practice. In talking about PURITY, the author remembers how the word has been associated with sexual purity more than anything else, to the point that people shun the topic of sex. Truth is, purity is much more than sexual discussions. It is simply about "things being in their right places." MODESTY is beyond clothing. Noting how this virtue has been manipulated by the powerful over the weak, we are reminded that modesty is about recognizing our bodies as God's gifts for us. She highlights Eisabeth Elliot's observation when she was living among the Huaorani, a native people who wore very little clothing, but lived in greater harmony than many in America. In other words, modesty is more of the mind than the clothing we wear. AUTHENTICITY is about being real, and not conformity to unreal expectations. Peterson rounds up the set of virtues with the final three: LOVE, DISCERNMENT, and HOPE.
My Thoughts
It takes a while before one could recover from disappointment to hope. For Peterson, this book is about that personal journey. Every chapter has a story from her life experiences. It would have been tempting to wallow in the negative experiences and abandon the Church. Thankfully, the author did not do that. Instead, we get a book that shows us the way to transition from any form of disappointment in people into hope in God. Focus our attention on people's behaviour and we will surely sink emotionally. Turn our eyes on Jesus and we see how perfect love is complete in Christ. What grabs my attention initially was the issue of hypocrisy. Peterson is spot on when she identifies the many flaws in the American evangelical image. By starting from a LAMENT perspective, Peterson is taking a leaf from the first statement of the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous that says: "We admitted we were powerless over ________." Here, lament essentially means admitting we start as broken people in a broken world. It is only when we recognize our true state can we begin a process of rebuilding and restoration.
I appreciate the way Peterson laments about her own journey of disappointment over the hypocrisy she saw. For one who had grown up in the tradition and conservative culture, it must have been tough for her to stomach. Looking at how conservative cirlces defended Trump at any cost had essentially made her flip. It is understandable that disappointment would be an understatement. There is something quite gentle and intentional about the way the virtues are arranged. The first three virtues of lament, kindness, and hospitality, are both practical and applicable for all. It is easier to show kindness instead of trying to justify one's modesty or discernment. Being kind is a no brainer. One does not need to think about whether or not to be kind. Kindness is that virtue that applies across the board. The middle three virtues of purity, modesty, and authenticity, up the ante. After practicing the basic aspects of kindness and hospitality, we are emotionally more ready to progress to the rest. This gradual ascent toward the virtues of hope and love helps us be authentic.
We need hope more than ever today. Otherwise, disappointment easily leads to disillusionment, which eventually could lead to depression or dejection. As each year passes, the world does not seem to be looking better. In such a climate, we need to hang on to hope, that one day, Christ will make all things new. Romans 8:18-19 should encourage us: "18I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God."
Peterson's book points us to that hope even as we long for more authenticity.
Amy Peterson is a writer, teacher, and postulant in the Episcopal Church of America. She has contributed articles in the Washington Post, the Other Journal, Christianity Today, Christian Century, and many others. She also teaches creative writing, intercultural communication, and interdisciplinary honours courses at a Christian college.
Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of W Publishing and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
Thankfully, her hope of redemption is stronger than her despair. After acknowledging the state of brokenness of American evangelicalism, she sees that there has been lots of disconnect between the virtues she had been brought up in and the reality of the current spiritual climate. In spite of all the negativity, she maintains that there is still much goodness sown within the hearts of people. This in itself makes this book a hopeful (even necessary) addition to our bookshelves. She gives us nine ways to go about to reclaim virtue in an age of hypocrisy. Beginning with LAMENT, we need to acknowledge our brokenness in the first place. Never start from perfection because of our sins. Peterson calls lament as "holy complaint." Lamenting is the first step toward any change. She takes us through some of the lament psalms in scripture to remind us that it is alright to feel down. With this renewed beginning, we enter into KINDNESS. Inspired by her reading of Janet Soskice's "The Kindness of God," Peterson learns that kindness is far stronger than weakness. It marks a point of strong connection with people, even those we disagree strongly with. HOSPITALITY is essentially welcoming the stranger, even those who are different from us. Peterson links this back to how others had shown her hospitality in the past. That is loved demonstrated in practice. In talking about PURITY, the author remembers how the word has been associated with sexual purity more than anything else, to the point that people shun the topic of sex. Truth is, purity is much more than sexual discussions. It is simply about "things being in their right places." MODESTY is beyond clothing. Noting how this virtue has been manipulated by the powerful over the weak, we are reminded that modesty is about recognizing our bodies as God's gifts for us. She highlights Eisabeth Elliot's observation when she was living among the Huaorani, a native people who wore very little clothing, but lived in greater harmony than many in America. In other words, modesty is more of the mind than the clothing we wear. AUTHENTICITY is about being real, and not conformity to unreal expectations. Peterson rounds up the set of virtues with the final three: LOVE, DISCERNMENT, and HOPE.
My Thoughts
It takes a while before one could recover from disappointment to hope. For Peterson, this book is about that personal journey. Every chapter has a story from her life experiences. It would have been tempting to wallow in the negative experiences and abandon the Church. Thankfully, the author did not do that. Instead, we get a book that shows us the way to transition from any form of disappointment in people into hope in God. Focus our attention on people's behaviour and we will surely sink emotionally. Turn our eyes on Jesus and we see how perfect love is complete in Christ. What grabs my attention initially was the issue of hypocrisy. Peterson is spot on when she identifies the many flaws in the American evangelical image. By starting from a LAMENT perspective, Peterson is taking a leaf from the first statement of the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous that says: "We admitted we were powerless over ________." Here, lament essentially means admitting we start as broken people in a broken world. It is only when we recognize our true state can we begin a process of rebuilding and restoration.
I appreciate the way Peterson laments about her own journey of disappointment over the hypocrisy she saw. For one who had grown up in the tradition and conservative culture, it must have been tough for her to stomach. Looking at how conservative cirlces defended Trump at any cost had essentially made her flip. It is understandable that disappointment would be an understatement. There is something quite gentle and intentional about the way the virtues are arranged. The first three virtues of lament, kindness, and hospitality, are both practical and applicable for all. It is easier to show kindness instead of trying to justify one's modesty or discernment. Being kind is a no brainer. One does not need to think about whether or not to be kind. Kindness is that virtue that applies across the board. The middle three virtues of purity, modesty, and authenticity, up the ante. After practicing the basic aspects of kindness and hospitality, we are emotionally more ready to progress to the rest. This gradual ascent toward the virtues of hope and love helps us be authentic.
We need hope more than ever today. Otherwise, disappointment easily leads to disillusionment, which eventually could lead to depression or dejection. As each year passes, the world does not seem to be looking better. In such a climate, we need to hang on to hope, that one day, Christ will make all things new. Romans 8:18-19 should encourage us: "18I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God."
Peterson's book points us to that hope even as we long for more authenticity.
Amy Peterson is a writer, teacher, and postulant in the Episcopal Church of America. She has contributed articles in the Washington Post, the Other Journal, Christianity Today, Christian Century, and many others. She also teaches creative writing, intercultural communication, and interdisciplinary honours courses at a Christian college.
Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.
conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of W Publishing and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
Read
October 19, 2020I resonated with so much of this, and found a lot of comfort in words that captured so much of what I've felt as I have tried to untangle the roots of my faith from all the baggage and damage done by the American evangelical church. It is necessary to call out the specific harm caused by people in power (or those who believe themselves to be empowered by their faith) against individuals and groups of people deemed as other. There is a heap of hypocrisy in the church that must be addressed, from purity culture and gatekeeping to the troubling and widespread Christian support of an ungodly and morally reprehensible president. I especially appreciated the chapter on lament, which invites us to pause and really grieve what's been destroyed or lost—something the modern church often rushes past in its tendency to move forward with near toxic positivity. I had the opportunity to discuss this book in more depth with the author and really valued the chance to do so—there is something so validating about finding a community of people who share similar stories and want to keep the conversation going. This book offers a seed of hope to those who have become increasingly disappointed in what the Christian church has become, and for those who want to reimagine what a post-evangelical world might look like once tilled and tended to.
April 21, 2020
Peterson pulls no punches in addressing the ethical flaws of evangelicalism, especially as exposed in this age of Trump. But she's not cynical (or even super "liberal"); with lots of good insights into unspoken powers, the book has enough Truth to challenge anyone who's reading it seriously and prayerfully. Her look into purity as a virtue was particularly helpful, and the chapter on love as mothering is especially powerful. I would recommend it to Gen-Xers and millennials who grew up in the evangelical environment of the 90s and 2000s (as the author and I did).
The audiobook read by Charity Spencer is very well done.
The audiobook read by Charity Spencer is very well done.
September 7, 2020
Finished this today and am reflecting on her subtitle: "Reclaiming Virtue in an Age of Hypocrisy". True that. I found myself challenged, sometimes a bit squirmy and utterly intrigued. I found myself nodding "yes" and thinking "I have thought that too" but felt wrong for even thinking such things. Which doesn't mean I am in complete agreement with all she put forth, but that's ok-complete agreement is not and should not be the goal. I am challenged and I am refreshed having read this book and I will continue to think about the ways she has sought to "reclaim virtue" in this age of complete and disappointing hypocrisy. May the beauty of Christ and the truth of the Gospel shine bright and renew the Church of Jesus for our good and His glory.
October 25, 2020
Cathartic and thoughtful, challenging and encouraging, author Amy Peterson reimagines the life of a Christian, extrapolating on various virtues for today’s world. I should confess some bias towards this book in that I feel I’ve traveled on a similar trajectory from rigid evangelicalism towards a more gracious understanding of faith and we have a loose Indiana college/church connection. Regardless, Peterson writes beautifully, sharing personal stories, cultural commentary, and effortlessly weaving in biblical text. Welcome and nourishing homilies in a time where I often feel resistant to any sort of inspiration.
February 24, 2021
Very clear and engaging re-think through the "virtues" espoused by the Christian church. I am going to put this book on my RE-READ pile because I'm still mulling over so many of her points. I have strong thoughts about white, patriarchal, highly evangelical Christianity, and they're full of pain for me, so reading a book that allows me space to process the unloving, judging church I grew up in and process the really amazing things about having faith in "God" is rather unprecedented, for me. I feel like the author could really understand my own journey of faith, and I feel like the author's dedicated and in-depth research lends credence to her ponderings.
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