What do you think?
Rate this book
Toxic
“The unexamined faith is not worth believing.” With those words, Toxic opens a visceral, earnest, and frank exploration of the Bible. Focusing mainly on portions of scripture that the Toxic Christian Church tends to ignore or gloss over, Toxic actively engages these troublesome passages in order to show a much more complete, daresay honest, picture of the Christian God.
Christianity teaches that the Bible is God’s Word, so why does Toxic Christian doctrine ignore the Bible’s many troubling passages and excuse God’s horrible behavior to His “children,” blame the believer for God’s inaction, and teach the believer to not question their faith, their Bible, or their God?If the Bible is, indeed, God’s Word, then it’s only right that all of it be used, not just the “pretty” or comforting parts, as the basis for understanding who God is. Toxic asks difficult questions and provides ample examples from the Bible as well as Toxic Christian theology as proof of its assertions, boldly confronting that accepted theology, exposing its hypocritical and harmful precepts, and ultimately bringing scathing indictments against Toxic Christian doctrine and God.
Toxic invites anyone who has ever struggled with their faith to examine their faith closely, carefully, and honestly. "Ultimately, I want anyone who’s ever struggled with their faith to know they’re not the only ones who’ve done so. I want them to feel heard, understood, and validated.” - Mark Justice
Christianity teaches that the Bible is God’s Word, so why does Toxic Christian doctrine ignore the Bible’s many troubling passages and excuse God’s horrible behavior to His “children,” blame the believer for God’s inaction, and teach the believer to not question their faith, their Bible, or their God?If the Bible is, indeed, God’s Word, then it’s only right that all of it be used, not just the “pretty” or comforting parts, as the basis for understanding who God is. Toxic asks difficult questions and provides ample examples from the Bible as well as Toxic Christian theology as proof of its assertions, boldly confronting that accepted theology, exposing its hypocritical and harmful precepts, and ultimately bringing scathing indictments against Toxic Christian doctrine and God.
Toxic invites anyone who has ever struggled with their faith to examine their faith closely, carefully, and honestly. "Ultimately, I want anyone who’s ever struggled with their faith to know they’re not the only ones who’ve done so. I want them to feel heard, understood, and validated.” - Mark Justice
348 pages, Paperback
Published September 18, 2020
1 person is currently reading
1 person want to read
About the author
Mark Justice
4 books35 followersI started writing short fiction in high school, spent far too long writing essays in the world of academe, then got my head on straight when I founded a no-budget movie production company, Cyclops Movies, and wrote and produced three horror/sci-fi/comedies
Since then, I started writing long fiction in wildly different genres - no Annie Wilkes hobbling for me, thank you.
I'm going to write whatever pushes me past the marathon that is putting sentence after sentence for months at a time.
I currently have both a cozy mystery and pulp western series going, just published a non-fiction, and I have another two pulp series in the works plus a very grim horror novel to come out after my final installment of my cozy series.
Since then, I started writing long fiction in wildly different genres - no Annie Wilkes hobbling for me, thank you.
I'm going to write whatever pushes me past the marathon that is putting sentence after sentence for months at a time.
I currently have both a cozy mystery and pulp western series going, just published a non-fiction, and I have another two pulp series in the works plus a very grim horror novel to come out after my final installment of my cozy series.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
March 14, 2021
If you have been beaten down by the religion you were taught, burdened with guilt and fear... then the message of this book will resonate deeply for you. I feel like this man was writing/speaking for me. The author exposes all the tricks and devices that christianity uses to control people's thoughts and behaviors. Been there! Seen them, and felt the guilt attached to them.
There are eighteen pages that list 143 pairs of bible verses that contradict each other. So much for the inerrant word of god.
There is a section that seeks to understand the essence of god according to the contradictory verses in the bible. The author did not quote this, but his writing reminded me of this statement from ancient times:
Is god willing to prevent evil, but not able?
Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing?
Then he is malevolent.
Is god both able and willing?
Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing?
Then why call him god?
-- Epicurus of Sámos (341-270 BCE)
The author developed a profoundly persuasive section about the pedophilia practiced by priests and ministers asking questions like: If god is omniscient that means he KNEW this was going on and did nothing to stop it; did nothing to protect the children from the sick clergy. Why?!
The author’s anger prompts him to write passionately. That comes through loud and clear. BUT the book is in desperate need of proof reading. Typos, misspellings and grammatical errors abound. Also the level of profanity was high. “F” bombs are everywhere. These two things made reading the book a challenge FOR ME.
Nevertheless, I felt justified in the things I have felt and dealt with all my life.
There are eighteen pages that list 143 pairs of bible verses that contradict each other. So much for the inerrant word of god.
There is a section that seeks to understand the essence of god according to the contradictory verses in the bible. The author did not quote this, but his writing reminded me of this statement from ancient times:
Is god willing to prevent evil, but not able?
Then he is not omnipotent.
Is he able, but not willing?
Then he is malevolent.
Is god both able and willing?
Then whence cometh evil?
Is he neither able nor willing?
Then why call him god?
-- Epicurus of Sámos (341-270 BCE)
The author developed a profoundly persuasive section about the pedophilia practiced by priests and ministers asking questions like: If god is omniscient that means he KNEW this was going on and did nothing to stop it; did nothing to protect the children from the sick clergy. Why?!
The author’s anger prompts him to write passionately. That comes through loud and clear. BUT the book is in desperate need of proof reading. Typos, misspellings and grammatical errors abound. Also the level of profanity was high. “F” bombs are everywhere. These two things made reading the book a challenge FOR ME.
Nevertheless, I felt justified in the things I have felt and dealt with all my life.
Read
November 13, 2020Here's one review from Amazon:
"Toxic" was an absolute treat to read. It provides a very real and raw dive into the core of scripture itself, and offers up an honest and heartfelt discussion about the nature of God. Despite the weight of such a topic, the author has managed to stay away from the pitfalls of becoming a berating lecturer. Instead, "Toxic" takes the reader on a journey through the Bible itself, examining the exact word, the implications of it, and allowing for an internal dialogue that I feel is necessary for anyone that has ever followed the Christian faith.
This book is not designed, in my opinion, to lead anyone away from faith. In fact, it is a book that actually thrives better with it than without. Its a book that does not read as one that comes from being trapped with no way out from the bottom but to shout angrily at God, but rather like that of an author finding strength and the ability heal beyond the trauma of Toxic dogma.
No matter your place in your own faith, be it at a mighty strong peak, or drudging through the doubt that many Christians face throughout their own journeys, "Toxic" offers an outlet and a conversation that I do believe should be had. - Betts
"Toxic" was an absolute treat to read. It provides a very real and raw dive into the core of scripture itself, and offers up an honest and heartfelt discussion about the nature of God. Despite the weight of such a topic, the author has managed to stay away from the pitfalls of becoming a berating lecturer. Instead, "Toxic" takes the reader on a journey through the Bible itself, examining the exact word, the implications of it, and allowing for an internal dialogue that I feel is necessary for anyone that has ever followed the Christian faith.
This book is not designed, in my opinion, to lead anyone away from faith. In fact, it is a book that actually thrives better with it than without. Its a book that does not read as one that comes from being trapped with no way out from the bottom but to shout angrily at God, but rather like that of an author finding strength and the ability heal beyond the trauma of Toxic dogma.
No matter your place in your own faith, be it at a mighty strong peak, or drudging through the doubt that many Christians face throughout their own journeys, "Toxic" offers an outlet and a conversation that I do believe should be had. - Betts
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews