What do you think?
Rate this book
Gospel of Lies
Learn how to defend yourself against Christian evangelicalism
A psychological civil war is brewing, tearing through families and friendships as belief clashes with non-belief. In today's hyper-polarized climate, evangelicalism and right-wing extremism are often seen as one and the same, intensifying the divide. Believers perceive any departure from religious tradition as a personal affront, while non-believers fear their fundamental human rights are at the mercy of the religious majority. How do you navigate such a taboo topic when the stakes feel impossibly high?
Gospel of Lies fearlessly confronts these critical issues head-on. This book offers a direct, no-nonsense guide to responding to the full spectrum of Christian rhetoric, from the seemingly innocent "How can you not believe in a god when you see the world around you?" to the fiery condemnation of "You'll regret this when you're burning in hell."
Beyond the debates, Gospel of Lies compassionately addresses the profound trauma that religion and early indoctrination can inflict. It acknowledges the lingering fears and anxieties that often persist long after faith has faded. Through eight incisive chapters, this book delves into specific doctrines, religious practices, and the author's personal experiences, providing practical responses and empowering insights.
Arm yourself with the knowledge to confidently answer apologetics-based questions, navigate challenging family conversations about non-belief, and find validation in your courageous pursuit of truth and skepticism over blind faith.
A psychological civil war is brewing, tearing through families and friendships as belief clashes with non-belief. In today's hyper-polarized climate, evangelicalism and right-wing extremism are often seen as one and the same, intensifying the divide. Believers perceive any departure from religious tradition as a personal affront, while non-believers fear their fundamental human rights are at the mercy of the religious majority. How do you navigate such a taboo topic when the stakes feel impossibly high?
Gospel of Lies fearlessly confronts these critical issues head-on. This book offers a direct, no-nonsense guide to responding to the full spectrum of Christian rhetoric, from the seemingly innocent "How can you not believe in a god when you see the world around you?" to the fiery condemnation of "You'll regret this when you're burning in hell."
Beyond the debates, Gospel of Lies compassionately addresses the profound trauma that religion and early indoctrination can inflict. It acknowledges the lingering fears and anxieties that often persist long after faith has faded. Through eight incisive chapters, this book delves into specific doctrines, religious practices, and the author's personal experiences, providing practical responses and empowering insights.
Arm yourself with the knowledge to confidently answer apologetics-based questions, navigate challenging family conversations about non-belief, and find validation in your courageous pursuit of truth and skepticism over blind faith.
208 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2026
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
June 3, 2026
The author describes her challenging philosophical journey from rigid evangelical Christianity to atheism.
Interesting to read, compare and contrast the experiences of those who find fulfillment and nourishment in religion, vs. those who leave feeling dissatisfied.
Interesting to read, compare and contrast the experiences of those who find fulfillment and nourishment in religion, vs. those who leave feeling dissatisfied.
June 26, 2026
Few books have resonated with me as deeply as Gospel of Lies by Promise Backlund. What makes this work so remarkable is not only its subject matter, but the care, intelligence, and nuance with which it is written. Backlund tackles difficult questions about faith, truth, identity, and belief with a voice that is both compassionate and unflinchingly honest.
The writing is thoughtful, engaging, and meticulously crafted. Rather than relying on caricatures or simplistic arguments, Backlund presents a deeply human story that invites readers to think critically.
Reading Gospel of Lies felt, at times, like reading parts of my own story. Backlund captures the emotional complexity of reevaluating faith: the fear of questioning, the guilt that can accompany doubt, the tension between loyalty to loved ones and loyalty to truth, and finally the sense of liberation that comes from following evidence and reason wherever they lead.
Gospel of Lies is an exceptionally well-written and thought-provoking work. Whether readers ultimately agree with its conclusions or not, they will find themselves challenged to think more carefully about faith, truth, and the stories we inherit. For anyone who has ever questioned what they were taught to believe—or who values critical thinking and intellectual honesty—this book is well worth reading.
The writing is thoughtful, engaging, and meticulously crafted. Rather than relying on caricatures or simplistic arguments, Backlund presents a deeply human story that invites readers to think critically.
Reading Gospel of Lies felt, at times, like reading parts of my own story. Backlund captures the emotional complexity of reevaluating faith: the fear of questioning, the guilt that can accompany doubt, the tension between loyalty to loved ones and loyalty to truth, and finally the sense of liberation that comes from following evidence and reason wherever they lead.
Gospel of Lies is an exceptionally well-written and thought-provoking work. Whether readers ultimately agree with its conclusions or not, they will find themselves challenged to think more carefully about faith, truth, and the stories we inherit. For anyone who has ever questioned what they were taught to believe—or who values critical thinking and intellectual honesty—this book is well worth reading.
June 5, 2026
As someone who grew up immersed in this same dogma, it’s good to see that others who grew up similarly are seeing the problems with the teachings of our childhoods and doing the work to figure things out for themselves.
June 4, 2026
This is a great book for people who are recovering from religion, people deconstructing, and/or people who just want to know more about life without god/religion. Having listened to Promise for a few years now on The Line and her social media, parts of it were engaging and informative, but much of the content reiterated concepts that were already familiar to me.
August 3, 2026
WOWWWW
June 19, 2026
I left Mormonism nearly 20 years ago, and leaving a high-demand religion is never easy and can be quite lonely. I was frequently surprised as I read *Gospel of Lies* just how much I related to Promise and her experience. As she discussed topics like purity culture, black-and-white thinking, and problematic scripture, I was struck by how similar her journey was to my own.
I only wish I had a book like this years ago to help me understand the questions I should have been asking and how to respond to the criticism I faced for leaving. Back then, there was no social media or easily accessible ex-religious community to lean on. I highly recommend *Gospel of Lies* to anyone struggling with doubts or questions about their faith; it provides essential tools for thinking critically when everything you thought you knew about reality is shifting.
I only wish I had a book like this years ago to help me understand the questions I should have been asking and how to respond to the criticism I faced for leaving. Back then, there was no social media or easily accessible ex-religious community to lean on. I highly recommend *Gospel of Lies* to anyone struggling with doubts or questions about their faith; it provides essential tools for thinking critically when everything you thought you knew about reality is shifting.
June 16, 2026
What a great book this is! It's an excellent primer on the process of deconstruction, deconversion, atheism, critical thinking about religion, and so much more. Backlund is very good writer, and tackles difficult, abstract concepts in a way that is both understandable and relatable. Just her chapters on grief and morality alone ("Tiny Little Funerals" and "Good and Godless") are worth the cover price. And the lists of "Common Arguments You'll Hear" in each chapter help to bring the concepts she discusses into focus and into our practical experience.
This book is a great achievement and a valuable read for anyone who is either within religion, thinking of leaving religion, or who has already exited religion, especially if it's the American brand of evangelical Christianity.
This book is a great achievement and a valuable read for anyone who is either within religion, thinking of leaving religion, or who has already exited religion, especially if it's the American brand of evangelical Christianity.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Gospel of Lies by Promise Backlund addresses many of the popular and extremely harmful mindsets in evangelicalism and provides thoughtful counterarguments that readers can use both when conversing with other people and when doing the work of deprogramming themselves from religious indoctrination. The author includes plenty of personal anecdotes about her Christian upbringing that let readers see that yes, many families really do live like this and believe these things, but obtaining mental freedom is possible.
In reading this book, I found many parallels between my own home life and upbringing under evangelicalism. The persistent fear of hell at a very young age is one of them. I remember the dread I felt about turning thirteen because it meant I would no longer be a child; I would begin the life of a teenager. One belief I was raised with is that all children automatically get into heaven, while everyone else is a sinner whose final destination is judged by their earthly actions. As a child, I’d often wished that I would die before I turned thirteen so I’d have a guaranteed spot in heaven and wouldn’t have the potential of hell hanging over my head for the rest of my life. Super fun things for a kid to be worried about.
It’s hard to tell people about the beliefs and behaviors prevalent in this religion when they haven’t lived that reality, because so much of it is completely absurd. To other people, it all just becomes a joke. Something not real and not worth listening to. Like we’re the insane ones for giving any weight to it, as if we had any control over the way we were raised or the brainwashing we’ve endured.
In each chapter, the arguments that Backlund presents against popular ideas in Christianity are helpful and enlightening for alleviating personal fear and beginning the process of peeling back layers to find the truth. I likely won’t be engaging in any debates any time soon because they’re not worth my sanity, but there are plenty of effective talking points to share with people who are actually willing to listen and consider. The inclusion of Bible verses throughout also makes it easier to connect evangelical beliefs with the source and see for yourself the points that Backlund makes in the text.
Ultimately, the message to walk away with is that it’s up to us to save ourselves in this world. It’s better to spend time honoring yourself, doing things you love, and helping other people in whatever ways you can than waiting on a deity to come in and fix everything for you. So many people waste their whole lives on fear and misplaced belief when there are simpler answers that don’t require you to undergo lasting trauma.
review cross-posted on my blog
In reading this book, I found many parallels between my own home life and upbringing under evangelicalism. The persistent fear of hell at a very young age is one of them. I remember the dread I felt about turning thirteen because it meant I would no longer be a child; I would begin the life of a teenager. One belief I was raised with is that all children automatically get into heaven, while everyone else is a sinner whose final destination is judged by their earthly actions. As a child, I’d often wished that I would die before I turned thirteen so I’d have a guaranteed spot in heaven and wouldn’t have the potential of hell hanging over my head for the rest of my life. Super fun things for a kid to be worried about.
It’s hard to tell people about the beliefs and behaviors prevalent in this religion when they haven’t lived that reality, because so much of it is completely absurd. To other people, it all just becomes a joke. Something not real and not worth listening to. Like we’re the insane ones for giving any weight to it, as if we had any control over the way we were raised or the brainwashing we’ve endured.
In each chapter, the arguments that Backlund presents against popular ideas in Christianity are helpful and enlightening for alleviating personal fear and beginning the process of peeling back layers to find the truth. I likely won’t be engaging in any debates any time soon because they’re not worth my sanity, but there are plenty of effective talking points to share with people who are actually willing to listen and consider. The inclusion of Bible verses throughout also makes it easier to connect evangelical beliefs with the source and see for yourself the points that Backlund makes in the text.
Ultimately, the message to walk away with is that it’s up to us to save ourselves in this world. It’s better to spend time honoring yourself, doing things you love, and helping other people in whatever ways you can than waiting on a deity to come in and fix everything for you. So many people waste their whole lives on fear and misplaced belief when there are simpler answers that don’t require you to undergo lasting trauma.
review cross-posted on my blog
June 11, 2026
A Thought Provoking and Courageous Read
Gospel of Lies by Promise Backlund is a bold, insightful, and deeply personal exploration of the impact of evangelical extremism on individuals, families, and communities. Backlund combines personal experience, psychological analysis, and cultural commentary to examine how rigid belief systems can shape identity, relationships, and worldviews.
What makes this book particularly compelling is its willingness to tackle difficult and often uncomfortable subjects with clarity and conviction. Rather than simply criticizing religion, the author focuses on the emotional and psychological effects of dogmatic thinking, offering readers valuable insight into why belief systems can become so influential and divisive.
The writing is engaging, accessible, and thought provoking. Whether you agree with every argument or not, the book encourages critical thinking and self reflection. Backlund presents complex issues in a way that is both informative and relatable, making the book appealing to readers interested in psychology, religion, social dynamics, and personal growth.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its emphasis on understanding and healing. It speaks directly to those who have struggled with religious trauma, questioned long held beliefs, or sought to rebuild their identity outside of restrictive environments.
Gospel of Lies is a courageous and timely work that sparks meaningful conversation about faith, freedom of thought, and personal autonomy. It is a powerful read for anyone interested in examining the intersection of belief, culture, and human psychology.
A compelling, honest, and intellectually engaging book that challenges readers to think deeply about the beliefs that shape their lives.
Gospel of Lies by Promise Backlund is a bold, insightful, and deeply personal exploration of the impact of evangelical extremism on individuals, families, and communities. Backlund combines personal experience, psychological analysis, and cultural commentary to examine how rigid belief systems can shape identity, relationships, and worldviews.
What makes this book particularly compelling is its willingness to tackle difficult and often uncomfortable subjects with clarity and conviction. Rather than simply criticizing religion, the author focuses on the emotional and psychological effects of dogmatic thinking, offering readers valuable insight into why belief systems can become so influential and divisive.
The writing is engaging, accessible, and thought provoking. Whether you agree with every argument or not, the book encourages critical thinking and self reflection. Backlund presents complex issues in a way that is both informative and relatable, making the book appealing to readers interested in psychology, religion, social dynamics, and personal growth.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its emphasis on understanding and healing. It speaks directly to those who have struggled with religious trauma, questioned long held beliefs, or sought to rebuild their identity outside of restrictive environments.
Gospel of Lies is a courageous and timely work that sparks meaningful conversation about faith, freedom of thought, and personal autonomy. It is a powerful read for anyone interested in examining the intersection of belief, culture, and human psychology.
A compelling, honest, and intellectually engaging book that challenges readers to think deeply about the beliefs that shape their lives.
July 18, 2026
I originally rated this book a 4.5/5. But, after sleeping on it and gathering my thoughts, I decided to change it to a 5/5. For a book to be rated 5/5 stars from me, it has to do 1 or both of the following: 1) Make me think deeply. 2) Evoke actual emotion from me. I really believe this book did both for me. This book had me filling pages and pages of my journal, highlighting, underlining, note-taking, etc. I very rarely ever do that with any book, but this one had me engaged from beginning to end.
Through this book, the author brought me back to my childhood and my religious upbringing, and showed me just how fucked up mine and many others’ experiences were within the Christian religion. No one in my tiny social “circle” really understands why I left religion and won’t come back. Promise does. And that alone made me feel so seen and validated. When I first left religion, my dad subtweeted about me on Facebook, accusing me of being in psychosis. Through speaking with my therapist and reading this book, I now know I wasn’t going crazy and I’m still not crazy now. My trauma and pain were real. The great news is that I have so many more freedoms now after leaving religion!
Thank you for putting this out into the world, Promise! Your wisdom is needed now more than ever!!
Through this book, the author brought me back to my childhood and my religious upbringing, and showed me just how fucked up mine and many others’ experiences were within the Christian religion. No one in my tiny social “circle” really understands why I left religion and won’t come back. Promise does. And that alone made me feel so seen and validated. When I first left religion, my dad subtweeted about me on Facebook, accusing me of being in psychosis. Through speaking with my therapist and reading this book, I now know I wasn’t going crazy and I’m still not crazy now. My trauma and pain were real. The great news is that I have so many more freedoms now after leaving religion!
Thank you for putting this out into the world, Promise! Your wisdom is needed now more than ever!!
August 7, 2026
How to begin to write a review for a book and a human who has, from a distance, impacted my life more in the last 5 years than I could say. I will forever think of her as Eve, thanks to IG though I am trying to mentally make the switch to Promise. This book, is absolutely fantastic. It challenges evangelical Christianity and gives practical ways to “defend” your lack of faith. Having this roadmap in one place to refer back to is so valuable as someone who often doesn’t have the right things to say. Not only does this book help those of us who are further down the road but it is an incredibly powerful tool for someone questioning and just beginning their journey. And while I no longer believe in trying to proselytize I do want to help people around me who are questioning everything. As someone who is stuck in the Deep South, I don’t often get to be “out” about my change in beliefs but slowly I’m helping people know I’m a safe place. I have already ordered a copy to keep on hand for anyone who is needing guidance on deconstructing their faith. Thank you Promise for the work you do and the countless hours you have poured into undoing the effects of harmful theology. This was simply a masterpiece.
Review of advance copy received from Publishers Weekly
I am an evangelical Christian. I expected this book to be hard for me to read, and it was. I have tried very hard to base my rating on the quality of the writing in this book and not on worldview. With that said, my only real critique is that for most of the book, I didn't have a clear understanding of what the author's goal was. The first half seemed to be something between a memoir and apologetics, and I was finding the apologetics lacking a bit. However, once the author made clear that she simply wanted to share her experiences and encourage people to think about what they have been told about God, considering whether it makes sense to them, the book came into focus for me. I received an arc of this book from Publisher's Weekly, and while I can't say it was an enjoyable read for me, I can say that I believe there is value in listening to the views of people who believe differently than I do.
August 6, 2026
Gospel of Lies is a personal and honest account of author Promise Backlund's journey from Evangelical Christian to Atheist. There are several other good autobiographical books in this vein (Learning to Think by Tracy King, Wayward by Alice Greczyn, etc.) and I would say that this is the best I have read so far. Promise's journey illuminates the shackles of religious faith and the personal challenges one may face in trying to release themselves from a worldview built on lies, into one built on evidence-based realities. Promise is an excellent writer - she is articulate, intelligent, and has obviously thought very deeply about her past, her transformation, where she is now, and what this might mean for her future. Along the way she provides excellent advice that is not merely anecdotal but based upon research. Her deep, honest, and personal account communicates new found strength, maturity, celebrates freedom, but also recognizes those things that have been lost. She structures each chapter to include 'Common Arguments' and how to respond to them, something potentially very helpful for people examining their beliefs. There is also a helpful Resource Directory.
This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it.
This is an excellent book and I highly recommend it.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Gospel of Lies gives a clear and personal view of what it’s like to grow up in evangelical Christianity and what happens when you start to question those beliefs.
Promise Backlund uses her own story to show how fear, especially fear of hell, Satan, and control, can shape how people think and live. The book is most powerful when it links belief to fear and shows the lasting mental and emotional effects.
The book’s structure keeps the pace lively. Each section covers a new topic and questions common arguments, so it feels more like a conversation than a lecture.
This book takes a clear stance against certain beliefs, so it will not resonate with everyone.
Promise Backlund uses her own story to show how fear, especially fear of hell, Satan, and control, can shape how people think and live. The book is most powerful when it links belief to fear and shows the lasting mental and emotional effects.
The book’s structure keeps the pace lively. Each section covers a new topic and questions common arguments, so it feels more like a conversation than a lecture.
This book takes a clear stance against certain beliefs, so it will not resonate with everyone.
July 5, 2026
Promise Backlund is a gifted communicator, and Gospel of Lies is a testament to that. She weaves her personal journey through evangelical Christianity and deconversion together with practical, actionable guidance in a way that never feels disjointed. It all flows naturally and resonates deeply. Whether you're in the thick of deconstruction or just trying to understand conversations with family members who are, this book meets you where you are. The well-researched footnotes are a nice bonus for anyone who wants to dig deeper. Highly recommend!
August 1, 2026
This is quite possibly the greatest book I have ever read. My expectations were high and it delivered well beyond what I was imagining. Every chapter is poignant, and contains wisdom that is universally applicable to much more than religion alone, and I invite any and every person with a desire to grow to read this. An unending thanks to Promise for encapsulating so much of what I have strived to articulate into an incredibly well written and well spoken piece that will certainly serve generations to come.
Read
July 4, 2026Picked this up bc I’m so curious right now about how religious rhetoric is showing up in our current political climate. I grew up in a tradition a lot like the one Backlund writes about. Her honesty about fear, shame, and control in evangelical spaces was hard to read at times, but resonated. She sometimes put words to thoughts and feelings I’ve carried for a long time. I don’t always land where she lands, but I came away with a clearer sense of why so many people are asking these questions right now. Worth reading if you’re curious, not just if you agree.
June 16, 2026
As an ex Christian this book helped me put words to all the feelings I've dealt with since deconstructing. Its written so intelligently and is very easy to read. If you've left religion behind, this book is a must read. If you currently are a part of religion, it's a must read to understand why people leave so often.
June 6, 2026
The book’s structure keeps the pace lively. Each section covers a new topic and questions common arguments, so it feels more like a conversation than a lecture.
This book takes a clear stance against certain beliefs, so it will not resonate with everyone
This book takes a clear stance against certain beliefs, so it will not resonate with everyone
June 22, 2026
4.5 stars
So real, so raw, literally almost cried near the end. I didn't grow up evangelical, but there was a lot more overlap between evangelical and fundie teachings than my parents would like to admit that I didn't really realize until this book.
So real, so raw, literally almost cried near the end. I didn't grow up evangelical, but there was a lot more overlap between evangelical and fundie teachings than my parents would like to admit that I didn't really realize until this book.
June 23, 2026
“Evangelicalism cost me my identity…Leaving religion gave me the gift of ME.” 😭😭😭
Thank you Promise for putting all of this into a book! Wish I could give it to some of my friends and family to read with an open mind. 🫶
Thank you Promise for putting all of this into a book! Wish I could give it to some of my friends and family to read with an open mind. 🫶
July 29, 2026
This is a good book as far as teaching one how to deconstruct and how it can impact you. Promise doesn't go into as much detail as other deconstruction books but I think this works well.
August 13, 2026
Superb book, suggest it to anyone who understands why people leave faith.
June 27, 2026
GREAT READ!
I have been following Promise on social media for a while and could not wait to read this book. It did not disappoint!
I have been following Promise on social media for a while and could not wait to read this book. It did not disappoint!
June 26, 2026
I think this is a thought-provoking and personal book that challenges religious beliefs while exploring the emotional impact of growing up in evangelical Christianity. Backlund writes with honesty and passion, making the book feel both reflective and engaging. Even when it tackles heavy topics, it encourages readers to think deeply and question long-held ideas.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews