EXVANGELICAL AND BEYOND

A pioneer of the "exvangelical" movement examines how toxic right-wing beliefs took over American Christianity - and why people are leaving the church and speaking out against it

With the rise of Trumpism, the American evangelical movement has more political influence than ever - yet at the same time, people are leaving Christianity in record numbers. Why are so many people walking away from the right-wing religion they were raised in, and what are they doing to overcome the past? Writer and podcaster Blake Chastain is uniquely positioned to understand this phenomenon. Raised evangelical, he went to a Christian college intending to become a pastor - until he found himself unable to reconcile his faith with the prejudice and even abuse he saw being done in God's name. He created the popular hashtag #exvangelical and the hit podcast of the same name, and soon became part of a growing movement of people walking away from toxic religion and using the unique tools of the internet to speak out, find healing, and build new communities. In Exvangelical and Beyond, Chastain delves into evangelicalism's deep roots in American politics and society, and explains why and how so many Christians - and ex-Christians - are forging a new path online. Blending history, personal narrative, and incisive analysis, this is a must-read for anyone who has left the church, is deconstructing their own faith, or simply wants to understand religious culture in America. Blake Chastain is the host of the podcast Exvangelical, writer of the newsletter The Post-Evangelical Post, and cofounder of Irreverent Media Group, a podcast collective and content network that highlights diverse voices doing work for post/ex-evangelical audiences. In 2016, he started the hashtag #exvangelical, coining what would become a common term for a person who has left evangelical Christianity. Chastain's work and advocacy have been featured in publications such as The New York Times, Newsweek, VICE, and The New Republic. He lives in Illinois with his wife and daughter.