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Questions are The Answer: naked pastor and the search for understanding: nakedpastor and the search for understanding
David Hayward – the ‘Naked Pastor’ – is one of the most prolific Christian cartoonists of the online world. Describing himself as ‘a graffiti artist on the walls of religion’ with the aim of ‘helping people undress religion to the core essential of their own unique spirituality’, his immediately-recognisable images are shared by thousands across social media every day.
This book uses David’s cartoons and accompanying text to tell his own story from being a ‘Closed’ Christian, with a black and white, fundamentalist view of the world to the freedom of becoming an ‘Open’ Christian with the courage to ask questions and wrestle with some of the tougher challenges of faith.
David Hayward was a pastor for over 30 years in Presbyterian and Vineyard churches before leaving the paid clergy and setting up The Lasting Supper, an online community for spiritually-independent people. His blog nakedpastor.com has over 200,000 page views per month, with countless more people exposed to my his work via shares on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, LinkedIn, Google+ and other social media.
This book uses David’s cartoons and accompanying text to tell his own story from being a ‘Closed’ Christian, with a black and white, fundamentalist view of the world to the freedom of becoming an ‘Open’ Christian with the courage to ask questions and wrestle with some of the tougher challenges of faith.
David Hayward was a pastor for over 30 years in Presbyterian and Vineyard churches before leaving the paid clergy and setting up The Lasting Supper, an online community for spiritually-independent people. His blog nakedpastor.com has over 200,000 page views per month, with countless more people exposed to my his work via shares on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, LinkedIn, Google+ and other social media.
160 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 27, 2015
6 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 17, 2016
Full Disclosure: While David Hayward and I have not met in person, we interact online frequently, and I consider him a friend. As such this review could be considered biased; however, it represents my completely honest opinion. He did not ask me to review this book, nor was it provided to me by anyone; I purchased it myself.
This book, I am sure, is quite threatening to a lot of people. At least a lot of a certain kind of people. The certain kind of people who like to be, well...certain. I mean, its very name, Questions are The Answer, flies right in the face of the kind of certainty that passes for a lot of "faith" these days. But that's just it—faith is believing when you aren't certain. Indeed, Christianity's own definition of faith, right from the Bible is, "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1, KJV). Alas, the desire for certainty often outweighs the ability to handle mystery. But—I digress.
In this book, David tells the story of his own spiritual journey, which he describes as having 3 phases—one characterized by closed questions (the kind with only one answer, either yes or no), one of having what he calls swinging questions (the kind where the answer is yes and no...with the possibility of one or more additional options, as yet undiscovered), and one of having open questions (the kind where there is no answer, or if there is, he doesn't know what it is yet but remains open to it in case it ever arrives). Dispersed throughout the book are many of David's cartoons.
Before I read the book, I was already familiar with the big picture of David's story, i.e., I knew that he'd been involved with several different denominations over the years. What I hadn't known was how fraught with questions, doubt, and struggle it had all been. I mean, there were good times, too, but it seems from reading his story (and I read it twice) that his ministry experience was more or less him trying to make it "work" over and over again, only to meet with ever-growing frustration. He can certainly correct me if I'm wrong, but that's the impression that I get.
And as for how I responded to it, I found his story an interesting read, but it didn't rile me in the manner I mentioned in the beginning. I've come to the place in my own spiritual journey where I'm basically OK with uncertainty. I don't have it all figured out, and honestly, I no longer understand how anyone can. People can believe that some things are true, but, like I said earlier, that's faith...I don't think that when it comes to the largest matters of life, they can truly know—with certainty.
Another frequent type of response I had was of the nods-of-agreement and "Yesss!" variety, especially to his cartoons about questions and his passages about what would tend to happen when he himself raised them and when he became more inquisitive in his messages (indeed, when they became open discussions instead, and when he began admitting that he didn't have the answer to many things) and more collaborative in his leadership style. In my experience and observation, the vast majority of people in Christianity want a) to be told and b) to be told what to believe and even do. They don't want uncertainty, they don't want mystery, they don't want collaboration (as that might require some effort of them). It's like he says on page 73: "Most people, when they go to church, want answers, not questions. They want a program, not a community." So true. And for many, the very raising of a question that challenges commonly-held doctrine is a threat—because they know, deep down and not usually consciously—that there either isn't an answer or that they don't really know the answer. And when you've built your entire identity around having the answers, even being faced with such questions is a danger to be avoided at all costs.
Another thing that struck me is how much work David has done in theology and philosophy. I mean, he has multiple degrees (including 2 post-graduate ones) and has done more independent reading and study in his lifetime than many people would do in several lifetimes, plus, of course, his decades of ministry experience. One thing his critics will never be able to honestly accuse him of is not having done his homework.
I only have 2 minor bones to pick with this book. One, I am highly linear, and as such, having the cartoons placed within (and not solely at the end of) trains of thought kinda bugged me. The other is that I would have loved a lot more detail. The vast majority of the journey is told at a pretty high level; I kept wishing for more information. But, like I said, I consider these things minor and not enough to change my overall positive opinion of this book.
I recommend this book to anyone who's experiencing spiritual questioning themselves or who just wants to understand what that process can be like, especially for one who was once so "steeped in it."
This book, I am sure, is quite threatening to a lot of people. At least a lot of a certain kind of people. The certain kind of people who like to be, well...certain. I mean, its very name, Questions are The Answer, flies right in the face of the kind of certainty that passes for a lot of "faith" these days. But that's just it—faith is believing when you aren't certain. Indeed, Christianity's own definition of faith, right from the Bible is, "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1, KJV). Alas, the desire for certainty often outweighs the ability to handle mystery. But—I digress.
In this book, David tells the story of his own spiritual journey, which he describes as having 3 phases—one characterized by closed questions (the kind with only one answer, either yes or no), one of having what he calls swinging questions (the kind where the answer is yes and no...with the possibility of one or more additional options, as yet undiscovered), and one of having open questions (the kind where there is no answer, or if there is, he doesn't know what it is yet but remains open to it in case it ever arrives). Dispersed throughout the book are many of David's cartoons.
Before I read the book, I was already familiar with the big picture of David's story, i.e., I knew that he'd been involved with several different denominations over the years. What I hadn't known was how fraught with questions, doubt, and struggle it had all been. I mean, there were good times, too, but it seems from reading his story (and I read it twice) that his ministry experience was more or less him trying to make it "work" over and over again, only to meet with ever-growing frustration. He can certainly correct me if I'm wrong, but that's the impression that I get.
And as for how I responded to it, I found his story an interesting read, but it didn't rile me in the manner I mentioned in the beginning. I've come to the place in my own spiritual journey where I'm basically OK with uncertainty. I don't have it all figured out, and honestly, I no longer understand how anyone can. People can believe that some things are true, but, like I said earlier, that's faith...I don't think that when it comes to the largest matters of life, they can truly know—with certainty.
Another frequent type of response I had was of the nods-of-agreement and "Yesss!" variety, especially to his cartoons about questions and his passages about what would tend to happen when he himself raised them and when he became more inquisitive in his messages (indeed, when they became open discussions instead, and when he began admitting that he didn't have the answer to many things) and more collaborative in his leadership style. In my experience and observation, the vast majority of people in Christianity want a) to be told and b) to be told what to believe and even do. They don't want uncertainty, they don't want mystery, they don't want collaboration (as that might require some effort of them). It's like he says on page 73: "Most people, when they go to church, want answers, not questions. They want a program, not a community." So true. And for many, the very raising of a question that challenges commonly-held doctrine is a threat—because they know, deep down and not usually consciously—that there either isn't an answer or that they don't really know the answer. And when you've built your entire identity around having the answers, even being faced with such questions is a danger to be avoided at all costs.
Another thing that struck me is how much work David has done in theology and philosophy. I mean, he has multiple degrees (including 2 post-graduate ones) and has done more independent reading and study in his lifetime than many people would do in several lifetimes, plus, of course, his decades of ministry experience. One thing his critics will never be able to honestly accuse him of is not having done his homework.
I only have 2 minor bones to pick with this book. One, I am highly linear, and as such, having the cartoons placed within (and not solely at the end of) trains of thought kinda bugged me. The other is that I would have loved a lot more detail. The vast majority of the journey is told at a pretty high level; I kept wishing for more information. But, like I said, I consider these things minor and not enough to change my overall positive opinion of this book.
I recommend this book to anyone who's experiencing spiritual questioning themselves or who just wants to understand what that process can be like, especially for one who was once so "steeped in it."
January 23, 2016
This book landed in my consciousness during #notgb15 when David Hayward kindly joined in the conversation. Me buying the book was (unusually) a spontaneous impulse purchase, and I've been dipping in and out the book over the last few weeks.
Coming after a tricky fortnight at work, I found this book encouraging: questions are the answer, and something I need to work out is how to ask the questions that need asking whilst remaining civil in the face of close-minded authoritarianism.
It's also encouraging to find a book that celebrates the need for questions, the need for inclusion, and the need for humility: that there is a need for 'story', where everyone has a say to share ideas, points of view, and experience to ensure that the community works in a way where there is mutual understanding and purpose. I also liked the 'see how we go on this' rather than 'long term goal setting' so that direction can dynamically changed according to circumstance.
Good book. Good for mind and soul.
Coming after a tricky fortnight at work, I found this book encouraging: questions are the answer, and something I need to work out is how to ask the questions that need asking whilst remaining civil in the face of close-minded authoritarianism.
It's also encouraging to find a book that celebrates the need for questions, the need for inclusion, and the need for humility: that there is a need for 'story', where everyone has a say to share ideas, points of view, and experience to ensure that the community works in a way where there is mutual understanding and purpose. I also liked the 'see how we go on this' rather than 'long term goal setting' so that direction can dynamically changed according to circumstance.
Good book. Good for mind and soul.
October 23, 2015
Could there be answers in a book that is all about questions? Is it possible that the journey of one man could reflect the angst of an entire generation of spiritual seekers? Why is it that we assume peace will only be found when we can say we have obtained all or at least enough of the answers? Is the church complicit in creating an atmosphere that places more emphasis on human intellect than on divine mystery? Would it be safe of me to say that I feel better about my own peace in a life of questions after reading this book? Are you waiting for an engraved invitation to download it and see for yourself?
November 1, 2024
I've been following Naked Pastor online for a few years and really appreciate his cartoons and humor. In particular, I'm drawn to those that address queer affirmation, purity culture and deconstruction of faith. Last month I heard him present at a conference--where he shared some of the background to his cartoons. Questions are the Answer goes deeper as he tells his story and illustrates with various cartoons. Similar to my religious tradition I was taught the answers to all (sic) theological questions. When those answers began to fall short I had to learn to embrace the questions.
November 30, 2015
David Hayward, AKA the nakedpastor is a friend. So this review of Questions are the Answer: nakedpastor and the search for understanding will be biased by friendship. You have been forewarned.
David, as nakedpastor, is a cartoonist, writer and pop theologian. He would cop to cartoonist and writer. I describe him as a pop theologian. He cartoons about the inconsistencies of Christianity, sometimes topical, always poignant. He sometimes hits the headlines of the Christian world with a punch to the nose. Sometimes the Christian world punches back. The nakedpastor keeps cartooning. His friends have his six.
Questions are the Answer is a memoir of David’s search for freedom and spiritual independence. He does this personal anecdotes of his personal from the earliest of years to the present. The questions were always there. Sometimes they were closed, sometimes they swing, sometimes they are open. Sometimes David’s questions were not helpful to peace and tranquility of his chosen vocation. Just as Jesus’ questions were not palatable to the religious order of his day, at least one of the congregations he led misperceived his attempts at “facilitating authentic community…as a failure to lead” (pg 94).
Having left the vocation of pastor, David has created a community for those like himself. He facilitates authentic community among those who search the depths of the questions in their souls and inner being. Rather than seeking a definitive answer, this community encourages diversity, and the unanswered question. Or a continuing answer, which inevitably unearths more questions.
Read this book if you have questions, or you are living with doubt. If you’re certain of your answers, this might not be the best book to read. But still read it, especially if you want to understand one man’s search for understanding and spiritual maturity. You might not appreciate the conclusions. But don’t throw the first stone, unless you have it all figured out. Being honest, I venture to believe that you don’t have it figured out. I know I don’t. And I love living in the ?????QUESTIONS?????
David, as nakedpastor, is a cartoonist, writer and pop theologian. He would cop to cartoonist and writer. I describe him as a pop theologian. He cartoons about the inconsistencies of Christianity, sometimes topical, always poignant. He sometimes hits the headlines of the Christian world with a punch to the nose. Sometimes the Christian world punches back. The nakedpastor keeps cartooning. His friends have his six.
Questions are the Answer is a memoir of David’s search for freedom and spiritual independence. He does this personal anecdotes of his personal from the earliest of years to the present. The questions were always there. Sometimes they were closed, sometimes they swing, sometimes they are open. Sometimes David’s questions were not helpful to peace and tranquility of his chosen vocation. Just as Jesus’ questions were not palatable to the religious order of his day, at least one of the congregations he led misperceived his attempts at “facilitating authentic community…as a failure to lead” (pg 94).
Having left the vocation of pastor, David has created a community for those like himself. He facilitates authentic community among those who search the depths of the questions in their souls and inner being. Rather than seeking a definitive answer, this community encourages diversity, and the unanswered question. Or a continuing answer, which inevitably unearths more questions.
Read this book if you have questions, or you are living with doubt. If you’re certain of your answers, this might not be the best book to read. But still read it, especially if you want to understand one man’s search for understanding and spiritual maturity. You might not appreciate the conclusions. But don’t throw the first stone, unless you have it all figured out. Being honest, I venture to believe that you don’t have it figured out. I know I don’t. And I love living in the ?????QUESTIONS?????
August 23, 2015
I have been following David Hayward, aka NakedPastor, for some time now. His daily cartoons are my devotional, and many of his drawings reflect many of my thoughts and questions about the church.
In this book, he uses his story to let people know that it is ok to ask questions and not have answers. I found his journey interesting, and in some ways it paralleled mine. My life came crashing down in 2009, and I really started to question who I was, what I believed, and what I wanted out of life. Reading this helped me to understand this is a normal experience for people. We are constantly questioning things our whole life, and we should be. Questions are what push us to search, to challenge our current beliefs, and to force us to face the truth. If we happen to get an answer, it is often different for each individual. David is always encouraging people to think for themselves and figure out what they really believe, and to do that, you have to ask yourself questions. This is YOUR journey, and something most of us will go through. Spiritual growth is hard work, as David illustrates in this book.
It was also really neat to see many of his drawings in one place. I have seen a lot of them, but there were some I had not. If you are at a place where the spiritual questions can no longer be ignored, and you feel as though life may change dramatically because of that, this book is for you.
In this book, he uses his story to let people know that it is ok to ask questions and not have answers. I found his journey interesting, and in some ways it paralleled mine. My life came crashing down in 2009, and I really started to question who I was, what I believed, and what I wanted out of life. Reading this helped me to understand this is a normal experience for people. We are constantly questioning things our whole life, and we should be. Questions are what push us to search, to challenge our current beliefs, and to force us to face the truth. If we happen to get an answer, it is often different for each individual. David is always encouraging people to think for themselves and figure out what they really believe, and to do that, you have to ask yourself questions. This is YOUR journey, and something most of us will go through. Spiritual growth is hard work, as David illustrates in this book.
It was also really neat to see many of his drawings in one place. I have seen a lot of them, but there were some I had not. If you are at a place where the spiritual questions can no longer be ignored, and you feel as though life may change dramatically because of that, this book is for you.
August 18, 2015
Hayward succeeds at being both pithy and soul-searchingly deep. The cartoons are not mere happenstance but help provide a guide through the narrative to depths of emotion that, particularly if one's own story is anything similar, induce everything from anger to heartache and always a potential for tears. Hayward lives up to his "naked pastor" name by being truly open and uninhibited in his reflective journey out of organized religion. Whether in agreement or not, a conscientious reader who cares about a healthy life will find much here to inspire that pursuit.
December 30, 2015
Picked this up after hearing David on the Outcasts podcast where he was pretty interesting and this book sounded like a good read. Started off interestingly. I wasn't expecting it to be so short and only a monologue about his own journey without actually talking about the questions and the answers e.g. how did he get to the conlusion that scripture in not infallible?? In the end, I'm glad it was short.
January 5, 2018
A reminder that questions..all questions...are important and necessary...and not a bad thing.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews