Bitten by a Camel: Leaving Church, Finding God

by Kent Dobson

Kent Dobson climbed Mount Sinai in search of the God who had eluded him.Instead he got bitten by a camel.Dobson was climbing the ladder of Christianity, a worship leader, teacher, and ultimately senior pastor of one of the largest and most prominent churches in America. But he was growing disillusioned with the faith, at least inside the shell of organized religion.One Sunday morning, he preached to his congregation, “I don’t know what the word God even means anymore.” He soon left the church, but his quest for God became more intense than ever.In Bitten by a Camel, Dobson deconstructs much of what passes as Christianity, but on the foundation of Jesus and the Bible, he reconstructs a faith that is fulfilling, life-giving, and true—true to himself and true to God. Dobson’s message is funny, poignant, and winsome. And it is ultimately, like the message of Jesus himself, hopeful.

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian, Theology, Faith, Spirituality, Religion, Audiobook

168 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 8, 2017

About the author

Kent Dobson is the former teaching pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where he initially served as the worship director. He's also been a Religion teacher, scholar and has been featured on Biblical programs for the History Channel and the Discovery Channel. Kent lived and studied in Israel which expanded his world and helped unravel parts of his faith. He currently leads retreats and wilderness programs designed to cultivate human wholeness and pursue the perennial questions of the soul. He also guides pilgrimage adventures to Israel and occasionally speaks and lectures. Kent lives in Ada, Michigan, with his wife and three children.

Reviews

[Charles Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Jennifer read this book in 1 day, after hearing Kent on the Robcast.

I've heard Kent tell this story a couple times now in various settings, but it was so good to see how his thoughts have crystallized since I first heard it about 3 or 4 years ago.

This is the type of book that if this is where you are... it will resonate, disturb, clarify, poke at you. It will give you permission to wander the wilderness. It will make you feel less alone, more "okay" with the journey you're on. If this is where you are in your spiritual journey you will finish this and want to talk about it with the people who matter most to you.

But, I think, to most of the people in your life, they won't get it. They won't understand why it's so important to you. It will sound a whole lot like heresy or darkness or that you're "leaving the faith." And so, as I finished this book this morning, I thought to myself..."I really want to talk about this book in a deep way," but outside of Jennifer, I don't know who I'd talk to...

And I think this too is part of the journey.

[MG · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think I would put this at the top of the list of those narrative accounts of "I was a good evangelical and discovered much that was wrong." Many of these books have not done well because they come across as mostly whining, as if the authors should get points for how they band-aided their way to preserving their faith. What is so appealing about Dobson is how earnest and straightforward he is. I got no sense that he had any stake in these matters other than being helpful to others; he was not trying to indirectly smear his detractors or even condemn those not on a similar journey. Instead he describes how his views of God, sin, hell, the afterlife, and end-times all hit a wall that caused a crisis and how being bitten by a camel while descending Mt. Sinai was the start of his recovery (though many years in the making). My only wish is that he would have said more about the role of Jesus in his life before and after, which, for me, played a crucial role when I navigated these waters. Perhaps he will in his next book. Still, I highly recommend this.

[dp · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bitten by a Camel is a poignant and very well written book. Dobson brings up important matters that Christians should wrestle with, and not seek to avoid or quickly dismiss. I personally didn’t enjoy it too much because of where I’m now at in my beliefs, but I think many people might find it of great value in stimulating necessary new thoughts & conversations.

[Tim Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book slowly because there was a lot to chew on. It’s a deconstruction - a journey up to the mountaintop of faith but instead of finding certainty and expected blessing, finding grief and confusion.

I think for many who were brought up in church, who were taught the right words to say and prayers to pray, (often feeling high on ‘believing the right things’ and low on ‘living it day to day’) it left us with a false sense of satisfaction and hope.

Kent Dobson can relate and Bitten by a Camel is his expression of his experience. I found it very relatable. I related to the wrestling match between life and faith and God and scripture, recognizing that it is not over for me. But i embrace, now the tension. I do not fear it.

I appreciate him putting into words his story of finding God disguised as life. Institutions will resist such breakdowns and deconstruction. It’s not their fault. (I need to be at peace with that). But death must come before the rebirth, and i think we are in the midst of a slow rebirth of faith in this world. Resistance, tension and the unknowing are all part of this evolution.

As he states near the end of the book: “Even the disciples had to lose their religious worldview before Jesus started making sense to them. Their hopes and expectations for what the Jewish messiah was going to be and do had to die.”

Discovering this can be both a gift and an invitation.

And the mystery of God can be found in the most ordinary places in our lives. This is part of the rebirthing. I’m thankful for this book because it has given me a lot to digest and process.

[Steve · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dobson is an excellent writer. He has a gift for describing a setting, his feelings and thoughts as well as a good dose of humor.

The problem I have with his book may be personal. Yes, I'm a theological progressive or liberal - and have been for decades. I've been reading a smattering of authors popular with young adult Christians. Virtually all of them have something of the same narrative: raised in a fundamentalist setting; have a crisis of faith borne of questions; leaving church; having a spiritual revelation/awakening; returning to faith. While circumstances are different, the narrative is the same. And I get why it appeals to folks - it's their story, too. Simply, good numbers of folks are fleeing organized church for the same reason. People still love Jesus but don't buy into the anger, the politics, the doctrinal purity and piety of traditional American Christianity. And unless we have a crisis of faith, we never develop a spirituality or theology of our own. We have to leave home to find a home. Such books tell of that.

Dobson's work is an account of his journey with questions fundamentalism could not answer. That is combined with doing all the "right" things he'd been taught would provide a deeply spiritual life amid the presence of God. Neither of those things worked. In the end, he decided to abandon Christianity to find Christ.

Most of the book is about his struggle and depressing failure to resolve it. In my opinion, he spends way too much time in the details of that struggle without clarity. I could see his pain but was not compelled to join him in it.

The best part of the book was the final two chapters. In them he gets to the heart of his spiritual journey: it's not about answers. Because he encounters mystery, he grows comfortable with mystery. There are no "real" answers of doctrine or piety, only mystery. How he expresses that is both beautiful and powerful.

Perhaps a younger reader will be engrossed by this book. I'm sorry to say it did little for my soul.

[Carrie Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first reaction was to give this 3 stars. But I think that was more of an emotional reaction. The book is good and raises good questions, many of which I already wrestle with in my own journey out of evangelicalism and into a more personal an organic relationship with God.
What I didn’t enjoy was that I feel he took everything a bit far for my liking. It almost seems he has no faith left and that makes me not oh sad, but it feels kind of hopeless.

I think I’m looking for people like the Anne Lamott and of the world who have gone through a shift and crisis of faith and come out on the other side less evangelical but still solidly believing in many “orthodox truths”. This read a little more Oprah/Elizabeth Gilbert and less Brian McClaren/Richard Rohr. I think I was hoping for deeper truths apart from church rather than a complete dismantling of everything related to faith.

Ultimately this is all my issue so I decided this review didn’t deserve to suffer. So I bumped it back up to a 4 star review. It is an important book, but I am concerned some might read this at a vulnerable stage in their journey and run from the church thinking that to ask questions one MUST exist outside those walls. We need deep, true and open community within these walls too.

[Ginny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dobson's life, background, struggles, doubts, faith...resonate with mine.

Dobson's life, background, struggles, doubts, faith...resonate with mine. I underlined great thoughts in blue, personal thoughts in pink and great truths in yellow. I was laughing out loud with delight at another Evangelical pastor who was asking the same questions and struggling with organized religion. The church is a dysfunctional, caustic space. God is all about love, not judgment. Eternity is not an important question, but truly living this life.
His approach is conversational, witty and authentic. The metaphor of the camel's bite is laced throughout, giving continuity to the mystery of faith in this life journey.
I recommend this to anyone who struggles with doing church the way we've always done it, one who longs for something more like Jesus' authentic character, and anyone who is willing to ask one's self the hard questions.
I feel this book is Spirit-guided because it is so aligned with my own journey. Kent and I both qualify as heretics.

[Spencer Schultze]

I suspect that many who read this will either love and embrace this or have strong arguments against the views and mindset presented. Those not hailing from a western, fundamentalist or otherwise strict church background will be unimpressed as the author’s views were gathered on a well worn path. I’ll sum up my experience reading it this way: I found this book engaging, thought-provoking, and overall worthwhile (it is a very quick read) even though (perhaps because) I don’t have anywhere near the same misgivings to evangelicalism as the author and our persuasions and experiences are quite different. I was left with more questions than answers on how the author’s worldview and concepts of justice, grace, and the person of Jesus hold together, but in fairness it is clear that the author’s point was to share personal experiences and views rather than a defensible systematic theology, and I gather that the author would consider raising questions to represent a job well done, or at least started.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first audio book I've ever listened to...so I know there were times that I probably wasn't as focused as I should have been.

Either way, Kent Dobson explains - in a much clearer, entertaining way than I ever could - many of the same struggles that I have gone through with my spiritual life. He climbed a mountain to find God and instead was bitten by a Camel...thereby leading him to re-evaluate everything he has held onto as what it means to be a "Christian" his entire life.

I would recommend this book to anyone that has struggled with figuring out their faith and what it means to be a Christian. Spoiler: it's not just showing up to church on Sunday mornings and checking boxes.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was a bit disappointed by this book really- initially it appeared quite interesting and seemed to give permission to question things that I had been questioning, and gave some interesting challenges. However,after the first half of the book the author seems to become more and more confused and loses his way somewhat. I started to wonder what the point of the book was, or was it just to encourage a wondering, more questioning approach to life and faith. Not as illuminating as I’d hope it would be. Main conclusion- he doesn’t have any answers either! By all means read this if you find hearing about other people’s faith journey interesting, but it wasn’t useful or helpful for my own so may or may not be to yours- our individual faith journeys are undoubtedly unique!

[Kathy Ginocchio · Rating 5 out of 5]

On the very first podcast I ever tuned into, Kent Dobson was the guest on Rob Bell's Robcast and I remember being alternately amused and amazed at what I was hearing. Loved it and determined to read his book immediately! Well almost a year later I finally got around to reading it, and It is exactly what I needed to read at this time in my life. It's engaging and an easy read, not dense or stuffy, which - considering the subject - is quite an accomplishment! Reading it, I felt heard and understood in a profound way. I think it's one of the most important books I might ever read and this middle aged lapsed Catholic feels not quite so alone wandering out here in the dark.

[Justin Banger · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It's a very readable personal account of embracing one's own spiritual journey. It is a gentle but firm criticism of the addiction to the certainty that characterizes much of western christianity. Bonus points for including my favorite Joseph Campbell quote, Mary Oliver poem, and Thomas Merton prayer (to be honest, I only know the one Merton prayer). I'm plan on reading it again soon.

[Albert · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of a memoir and less of a theological discussion. It meanders a bit and would best be described as soul-bearing. This book describes the author's journey away from a traditional Evangelical church background. I don't necessarily agree with all his take on God and Christianity, but his journey does largely parallel mine. (Warning: Chapter 7 was abruptly and uncharacteristically really dense with theology.) Interesting read. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting book. I like how he breaks down the fundamental, Evangelical church. Many people (myself included) long thought that being an Evangelical was the only way to view the faith. It isn't. Not by a long shot. It's the newest - and probably worst - way to view God and Jesus. It's anti-mustard seed, anti-development, and doesn't work for many.

The camel is a metaphor for growth and change, and I found the book to be quite inspiring.

[George Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kent Dobson takes you into his personal journey of having his beliefs unraveled, and moving forward only by leaving things behind.

I found it to be riveting. It was well-written, and reflects a lot of my own experiences.

Without a doubt, this book will sit on my shelf for a long time. (When I'm not lending it to friends, of course!)

[Becky Giovagnoni · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book challenged me. The author calls out many things about traditional evangelical Christianity that I've always struggled with or wondered about. But while I think some of what he says is true and good, I definitely do not agree with everything. And I think some of the conclusions that he draws at the end are downright dangerous.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

My sister had traveled with Kent Dobson to Israel and really appreciated him and his leading of the tour. She read this book and recommended it. I really appreciated his honesty and his humor and many of his conclusions about the role of Scripture, the idea of the afterlife and what faith means. I am sorry he felt he had to leave church however. Even while agreeing with some of his theological and spiritual ideas, I am happy to worship in our church and to be a part of a community of faith. Maybe he will again at some point.

[Tom Pasmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kent Dobson pushes to edge of Western Christianity and, in many ways beyond it. Some may call him a heretic, as he does himself, but he is my kind of heretic. God is bigger than we can imagine yet as close as our next breath. Kent captures this and the failures that we all go through to lead us to this point. Well written.

[Ryan Schwaar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book needs to slow its roll.

Ok YES to challenging everything we’re taught and finding God in everything around us & a lot of what this book teaches. But she’s flippant. A lot of sweeping conclusions with minimal justification & little room for gray interpretations, so take these concepts as ingredients, not law.

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dobson is at his best with humor. The criticism of main stream evangelical Christianity while spot on in substance is banal and uninteresting when it comes to Dobson’s originality or creativity. The problem points (eg original sin) have been explored with much more depth and nuance by many others beginning in antiquity. Go read David Bentley Hart instead.

[Danae · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was good, I didn't know he was struggling with all of this. i'm glad he found God again and found himself. He brought up very good points. Not going to lie, I only read this b/c he was my Bible teacher back in the day.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like taking a deep breath of fresh air: loads of challenging and freeing views about what it is to seek God. Just such a relief to read about someone who has been through this and come out the other side. Panentheism is my new concept to chew over.

[Joel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A comfortable read

It’s a good book. Not an amazing one, but I don’t think that’s the point. I feel like hearing more from Dobson at some point in the future. To catch up with him and see where his journey is taking him. A second book may make this one even more enjoyable.

[Jessica Norton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely worth reading if you’re deconstructing and breaking open, while still finding God everywhere. The final two chapters expressed what has been on my mind and in my heart. I underlined, reread and journaled along the way.

[Heather Yockey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A hopeful read for those who have undergone a wild undoing. I felt him a kindred spirit as he described various landmarks (experiences) in his journey.

[Erin Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s reassuring to read about someone’s faith journey that is similar to your own.

[Tim Kleyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

He makes some really interesting points but sometimes it doesn't make sense to me how he got there logically. It was a good read though.

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is yet another deconstruction tale. I enjoyed the Israel connection.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

I know nothing. Uncertainty is beautiful. I feel validated and affirmed in my doubting, questioning, and overarching faith journey.

[Nancy Wolf · Rating 3 out of 5]

A journey of faith and personal growth and most of all being able to think outside the box. I would recommend it and read it again.