Curveball: When Your Faith Takes Turns You Never Saw Coming (or How I Stumbled and Tripped My Way to Finding a Bigger God) – A Biblical Scholar's Guide to Faith Growing Through Doubt

by Peter Enns

“Peter Enns is brilliant at taking the big topics, those Christian ideas that usually scare us or intimidate us or worry us, and then make those very places a meeting place with a God who is bigger and wilder and more wonderful and trustworthy than we ever could have guessed.”—Sarah Bessey, author of Out of Sorts and Jesus Feminist

The author of How the Bible Actually Works and The Bible Tells Me So explains how our model of God and faith must evolve as our understanding of the world deepens—just as the Bible describes it should.

Life throws us “curve balls”—from devastating personal losses to world tragedies. These events often leave us doubting God, the Bible, and our faith. But instead of pushing away our reservations, we should embrace them, Peter Enns argues. A leading biblical scholar and Christian mentor, Enns has never been afraid to question the Bible or Christian beliefs. Such thoughtful inquisitiveness, he argues, is part of God’s plan. He wants us to question, because doing so actually leads to a stronger, lasting faith.

By reframing how we see these events, we allow ourselves to see how the Bible itself showcases this very process and that “treating curve balls as the enemy” is not only counterproductive but thwarts God’s goal of helping us become mature and wise. Enns shares a number of curve balls he’s encountered in his own life and the questions he has pondered. Does God care about the millions of people who never heard the gospel? Could I relate to a God who has created a universe this big? If God is so relatable, constant, and caring, how do we explain quantum physics? He reveals how particular biblical passages have helped him find wisdom, and how they can do the same for us.

As Curveball persuasively shows, God is bigger and more mysterious than anyone’s expectations. We need a faith that can grow just as deeply. 

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

239 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 7, 2023

About the author

Peter Enns is Abram S. Clemens Professor of Biblical Studies at Eastern University, St. Davids, Pennsylvania. He has taught courses at several other institutions including Harvard University, Fuller Theological Seminary, and Princeton Theological Seminary. Enns is a frequent contributor to journals and encyclopedias and is the author of several books, including Inspiration and Incarnation, The Evolution of Adam, and The Bible Tells Me So.

Reviews

[Rachel | All the RAD Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

an essential deconstruction/evolving faith read ↩️

i was introduced to @peteenns at @evolvfaith but this was the first book of his i’ve read, and it resonated SO MUCH (see ALL THE FLAGS for evidence). i deeply appreciate his incredibly thorough, rational, intellectual, and expansive thoughts on faith, on the bible, on god, and on how he’s navigated his own journey along the way.

i learned so many new things in this one, found myself thinking about my own faith and experiences and beliefs from new angles, appreciated how he wove his own story in humbly and frankly, and how his privilege was laid bare throughout. connecting dots between history and science and faith, between blown elbows in baseball and moments in taxis and changes in plans to faith, all to help expand our view of god? yes. so beautifully done, and so compelling to me. i have a lot i’m still thinking about from this one, and i love that! i want to keep ruminating on it for a while.

a fantastic read, and one i highly recommend!

[Michael Cuevas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book offers a lot to think about and helps you grant yourself the grace to do so.

Some notable quotes:

"The goal of christian faith is the experience of God. Not the comprehension of God."

"Working out challenging issues in real time is part of the life of faith, not a prelude to the life of faith"

4.5/5

[Richard Propes · Rating 4 out of 5]

If there's a key gift that Peter Enns has, it's in taking the really complex issues of faith and turning them into something that feels accessible and relatable.

This gift manifests in abundance in "Curveball: When Your Faith Takes Turns You Never Saw Coming (or How I stumbled and Tripped My Way to Finding a Bigger God)," Enns's latest exploration of how our faith must evolve as our understanding of the world deepens.

It's likely obvious from the title, but "Curveball" looks at exactly that - life's curveballs and how they impact our faith. Enns explores a world of devastating personal losses and world tragedies that can, and probably should, impact our faith. These curveballs can leave us doubting God, doubting the Bible, and questioning our faith. In a surprisingly simple manner, Enns encourages us to embrace these doubts and reservations. He provides us a myriad of examples of his own questioning the Bible and his own beliefs, however, he argues that these are vital processes within the journey of faith as they lead us toward a stronger, lasting faith. With "Curveball," Enns essentially argues that God is bigger and more mysterious than anyone's expectations and we need a faith that strives to become bigger and willing to dig into those mysteries.

I will confess that I didn't have quite the "Aha!" moments that I expected from "Curveball," a book that felt extraordinarily familiar to my own faith journey. "Curveball," for me, has been an easygoing, comfortable read that didn't quite challenge me on the level that I hoped even if it did, in fact, affirm many aspects of my own faith journey and my own willingness to question, challenge, and even criticize aspects of the faith journey.

In some ways, I think this is because Enns tends to go more universal than personal. As someone who has experienced a great amount of trauma in my life journey, I kept hoping that Enns would somehow dig into these types of life-changing experiences and how they impact faith. Instead, Enns tended to lean into broader curveballs with one chapter even delving into quantum physics.

That's about as universal as it gets.

However, for those who've experienced Enns through "How the Bible Actually Works" and "The Bible Tells Me So," "Curveball" is going to be a richening of these discussions and a valuable companion to them as Enns takes conversations that Christians far too often aren't having and makes them safe for honest, authentic dialogue.

If you've ever been scared or intimidated to explore all the questions about faith that you've had, "Curveball" will be both coach and mentor as you learn to open yourself up to the fullness of a God who longs to be in a deeper and more meaningful relationship with you that meets you exactly where you're at.

[Ray]

Not sure how to review this, but definitely an interesting read! A year ago I would not have been open to his arguments at all, but after some amount of deconstruction before reading this book, I was much more receptive to his message now. Still need to process a lot, particularly how his view fits within the historical narrative of the Christian church (if at all). I did appreciate his "peaceful-hopeful model of faith" which seems much more in line than the faith filled with fear and anxiety I grew up in. But I also have a lot of questions about what to do with the problem of evil and the Bible's many warnings about being deceived and led astray. Also made me wonder why follow the Bible or Christianity at all if it's all so nebulous. But Enns has written a book about that, so I should probably read that before complaining.

[Jared McNeill · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this time of my deconstruction/disentangling, I'm not seeking to leave my faith in light of the world around me. I want to understand it better and go deeper with God.

This is a book that helps me.

Peter Enns, a biblical scholar, comes from an evangelical background and discusses the various curveballs of life that threw him for a loop, whether they be changes in what he thought he was going to do with his life, what an academic study of the Bible revealed to him, or what science has revealed about the world around us, and more.

I find his honesty and his journey refreshing and helpful. I like how even in the midst of what he learned, he sought to go deeper with God and not leave the faith altogether.

Experiencing the world around him caused a more profound faith, and that's precisely what I'm seeking.

I recommend this book to those on a similar journey.

[Evan Lasseter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although Pete's scholarship always points to the life of Faith, this work bears witness to him working through that life rather than being a pointed work of Theology. I think he ends up modeling the book's central thesis within its pages, which I also believe was the point. The execution was solid, but I was ultimately just awe-struck by the new insights this work opens us up to.

I really appreciated this excerpt from the epilogue, which I think aptly sums up what we're getting to with all this:

"At the end of the day, I think all this believing, praying, studying, and the rest is all about wanting to know God and be known by God."

[Josiah · Rating 1 out of 5]

Let me save you a few hours that you will never get back. Using novel arguments such as "If Bible true why Bible confusing," and "If Bible True why evolution," Enns concludes that the God of 2,000 years of historical Christian orthodoxy does not exist (Or at least the characture of Him that Enns conjured up). He's not sure what kind of God exists, but surely it's a vaguely nice and super chill sort of person. I've read a lot of blasphemous heresies before, but never so many that were based on no evidence or sources. I would give it zero stars if I could. This book is can be summed up in Romans 1:22, "Claiming to be wise, they became fools."

[Gordon Matties · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an autobiographical reflection on coming to terms with the limitations of a theological tradition that both assumed and promised too much. For those who might be stuck not knowing how to navigate their escape from conservative evangelicalism that's rooted in the absolute certainty of its convictions. I also recommend reading Enns's books The Bible Tells Me So and How the Bible Actually Works. Those books offer more practical help with revising one view of the Bible toward a more hopeful and transformative way of reading.

[Emily Malone · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic deconstruction/evolving faith type of read. I really enjoyed it, and could generally read/listen to Pete Enns to no end, but didn’t necessarily deliver groundbreaking revelations while reading. I don’t have anything specifically negative to say, but would likely recommend others from the author before this one.

[Harley · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’ve read two or three books by Enns before, and “Curveball” will be the last. This book is banal, uninspired, unintelligent, and inconsequential. My advice is to just read his “Inspiration and Incarnation” and stop there.

[Jed Moody · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main premise of this book, the fact that our lived experience shapes how we see God, faith, and the world in general, is undeniable. But to the extreme to which Mr. Enns takes it, I can’t follow. This book would make the argument that your experience should be the first wheel in a tricycle that guides your worldview/faith. I think a common theme in Enns’ books is that he makes too much of the self in theology and interpretation.

[Nathan Harden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Boom POW

I probably should not have read this as fast as I did considering I have a billion other things I need to be reading, but it’s just phenomenal. Enns writes about adjusting our perception of God in light of our everyday experiences which is an incredibly freeing concept. An infinitely other, divine being is, well, exactly that: infinitely other and divine. Who are we to say we can type and categorize God according to our logically oriented minds? God simply is not logical (at least in the way we perceive logic to be).

[Carolyn Harper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This book resonated deeply with me. I don’t necessarily agree with Enns 100%, but so much of what he writes makes sense to me. Although he is highly educated, his language is conversational and engaging. His discussion helps me see God even more vastly and intimately.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really grateful I picked up this book, which gave me permission to step away from some of the troubling scripts I’ve held from Christian religion, and the guilt that I’ve carried for questioning them. It helped me realize that it is okay to adopt different perspectives on important parts of the Christian faith, and has ignited a spark for more reflection and adjustment in my journey through spiritual questioning and doubt. Peter Enns tackles some really deep stuff in a way that is still very accessible and playful, with great examples, and a light, likable tone. I appreciate his openness, curiosity, and humbleness. My only wish is that the book was a little better organized. Sometimes I felt unclear on the overarching theme of certain chapters and the transitions were either sharp or fuzzy. There were also some parts that felt a bit redundant. With that aside, this book will definitely be influential for me in my spiritual journey and I’m sure will make a lasting impact.

[Big Fat Bear Living Somewhere Nice In Canada · Rating 5 out of 5]

if you've been raised fundamentalist/evangelical Christian and ended up disconnecting w/ your faith over the years (like myself) this book is really impactful.

what this book is is the author offering ideas as to how God can exist outside of biblical literalism - and that taking the bible at face value may not be the intended purpose by God. i had only heard of the concept of biblical literalism maybe once in my life before this book - given that it's the default in the Christian faith i didn't know there was an alternative or a word for it.

enns comes off as very humble but qualified to talk about this subject given that he's gone to seminary school, and there was a lot of ideas that will resonate with any Christian - even those not questioning their faith or place within the religion/church: why do bad things happen to Christians who do good? why doesn't God heal everyone who prays for him? how does modern science factor into the Christian cosmology?

this book has opened a lot of new inquiries for me where i previously thought i didn't have a place in Christianity. :)

[Eric Schlipf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Enns’ most vulnerable book and also (in my opinion) most readable. It gave a lot of language to a lot of my thoughts while recognizing that language will always be insufficient. I wasn’t massively interested in his conversation on quantum physics, but perhaps others will find that compelling. I will undoubtedly recommend it to others.

One thing I’ve been reflecting on this year is how to interpret our experiences and our reality, which Enns places a high emphasis on. The problem with this, in my eyes, is that he’s not actually referring to his experiences, but rather his *interpretation* of his experiences, and our interpretation of our experiences changes as we age. This makes it, in my opinion, perhaps a less reliable source of spiritual formation then scripture or tradition.

[Caroline Rex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had so many “aha” moments for me. Realizing I was shoving round pegs into a square hole all of this time & seeing how the science of today can shape our faith into something bigger & more beautiful & mysterious. I actually opened my Bible because of this book, and that’s saying something for me in recent years. To learn more about his takes in a deeper & more personal way was truly a blessing.

I hope Enns keeps up this sort of writing. While I love his other works as well, his more practical approaches to this faith he typically writes about in academic ways (but for normal people) really hits home.

I read the book way too fast and will be re-visiting it with my husband. I think it had that many good things in it.

[Jack Wilhelm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Felt like someone put to paper the same experiences/anxieties I’ve had in life about faith. Love how Peter has grace for the faith practices we’re sometimes grandfathered into (instead of overly critical or bitter as it’s so easy to do).

While this book mainly tackles faith change and evolution, I think a lot of the takeaways can be universal for our lives in general. When life throws curveballs and our systems aren’t flexible enough to help us adjust, it’s easy to feel alone and distraught.

Really sells the importance of having robust, but also flexible systems (whether it’s faith or other traditions/practices) to help us navigate these seasons of life. Furthermore, it helps paint a more beautiful picture of faith in our lives if we’re willing to see where those curveballs take us.

[Brady Kronmiller · Rating 4 out of 5]

“How we understand God has consequences for how we treat others. If we see God as drawing thick lines between groups of people, we will feel justified in doing so ourselves…[we should] never mistake our limited understanding of God for God…God is more than any of our thoughts of God allow for. God, who is Mystery, is also Love, and ANY ATTEMPT ON OUR PART TO LIMIT THAT LOVE IS, I BELIEVE, NOT OF GOD.”


“Since orthodoxy is the primary value of a religious community, treating others harshly for failing to be orthodox is not only tolerated, but valued because doing so is in the service of protecting orthodoxy”

“The Orthodox Church sees its role as that of a spiritual hospital rather than a system set up to manage a legal system of retribution. The role of the church is to be a doctor and nurse, not judge and jury.”

[Austin Hill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would give this 2.5 stars. I was leaning toward a 2. I think Pete has jumped the shark with this one. I’ve read most of his earlier books and found them helpful and thought provoking. This one seemed more like “Pete’s cosmology in a book,” which, I suppose, I didn’t need.

If I had to summarize the point, it would be, “Value your experience more than church doctrine when considering what you believe about God and everything else.” And we all do this to some extent.

While I found his discussion of science and life experience interesting, and certainly can relate, I didn’t feel like I was left with much by the time I ended the book. If taken to the conclusion Pete seems to arrive at, I don’t think you really have anything resembling Christianity, which is fine if that’s where he ends up. I just don’t think that’s where I want to go.

[Kendra Andrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Pete, you have been such a gift to me and to Christianity. I was so excited to hear your pastor's heart in this book. You unpacked the faith crisis that can come along with the academic and intellectual journey that has been your career. I didn't know there was going to be so much science, but it was glorious! The last chapter left me in tears and then the epilogue is the stuff that excellent liturgies are made of. I was listening while taking a walk, crying and clapping at the end. Thank you enormously. This is a must-read.

[Michael Donahoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an interesting and informative book. Reading through this book brought up so many questions and gave me so many interesting views to think about. I have to say there are several ideas that I had never thought about and the author's way of bringing views out really sparked my interest. I have a whole new way of looking at certain things, and it really made sense in what was said. Read this book with an open mind and see what you think. The author makes clear we certainly have a much bigger God than many of us realize.

[Savannah]

I wouldn’t recommend this book to everyone, but I do believe the the conversation is extremely important. Concepts are explained beautifully as to why they were a curveball for Pete’s faith and how he has adjusted his model to be more inclusive of his experiences. I also love the idea of reframing our thoughts around a faith crisis; rather than seeing it as crisis and something to fear, we instead have events in our lives that push us towards God with curiosity and hope.

[Emily Petersen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pete's new book is very aptly named, and really helpful for anyone that's in the dark when it comes to their faith and how it should look in practice.

I deeply appreciate his honesty and humility about the things he doesn't know, and those that he's willing to be wrong about.

This book leaves alot of room for reflection, questions and prayer. It took me a long time to finish as I tried to process my own inner life and grief.

[Sandra Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Allyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Austin Dooley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it. My favorite thing about Enns is he doesn’t make you feel like an idiot or evil from coming away from the Bible confused, or for coming away from the Bible wanting to follow Jesus. He casts a warm vision for coming out from faith as primarily fear and boundary based, more love and relationship based. His last chapter on comparing AA and the church was particularly strong.

[Catrina Berka · Rating 4 out of 5]

As always, Enns is thoughtful and well-sourced with biblical and scientific research to suggest a broader, more expansive Christian faith. Having read several of his other books, I found this one especially hopeful.

[ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complex, thoughtful, hopeful words. I needed some time to sit with the words, so I read it twice.

[Peter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Pete Enns! In this book he examines what he calls curveballs, experiences in his life which have caused to reflect on what is God really like. Experiences like having to abandon his baseball career dream, the masses of humanity seen from a taxi, most who think very differently about God, the unfathomable vastness of space and the mind boggling nature of quantum physics. He includes a discussion of near death experiences.

He reflects on what God could be like given all these observations. He concludes that this God must be vastly bigger than previously imagined. He states that this God is one of love at the core. He states all this makes him constantly say …. Thank you. Amen!