The Evolution of Faith

Starred review from May 9, 2011
No one familiar with Gulley's earlier, controversial nonfiction (If Grace Is True; If the Church Were Christian) will be surprised to find that the Quaker pastor has gotten even more progressive. He argues here, among other things, that there have been "God-bearers" other than Jesus; a focus on heaven, hell, and the afterlife is theoretical and damages the credibility of Christianity; Jesus was not a means of salvation by his death but an archetype of salvationâand so on, heretically for many. If Gulley has any evangelical Christian fans left, their numbers will again shrink. But the low-key Quaker from Indiana does not himself shrink from speaking truthâan essential Quaker practiceâderived from well-sifted pastoral and personal experience. The thoughtful pastor displays more of a Christian spirit of charity toward those who disagree with him than do his theological critics.

June 1, 2011
The faith that writer and Quaker pastor Gulley sees as evolving is personal as well as historical. A cradle Catholic who as a teenager traded Mass for Friends worship, he was something of a fundamentalist by the time he reached adulthood. He hasn't stayed that way, largely because of his now long pastoral experience. In each chapter of a book more somber than usual for the author of the warm, funny stories set in Harmony, Indiana, Gulley assays a particular subjectrevelation, God, suffering and evil, salvation, prayer, the afterlife, and othersabout which he has moderated his views because of his continued learning about Christian and religious history and his experience with good people, Christians and others. He's now a progressive Christian, he concludes, as long as that means one devoted to helping make the world new, as Jesusthough not only Jesus and not only Christianity, he stressespromised. Because of the gentle intelligence of his storytelling as much as his homely, experiential theology, he may convince many that they are progressive Christians, too.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)

Starred review from July 1, 2011

The cover of Gulley's new book is a witty spoof on the "Darwin" walking fish decals, as well as the "Jesus" decals sans feet: it shows a footed fish graced with an emoticon-style smile. Gulley speaks, in part, for a community too seldom heard from--Quakers. The author of Front Porch Tales and host of "Porch Talk" on Indiana public radio's Across Indiana, Gulley, a former Catholic, champions the idea that Christianity itself is changing and must change yet more--by celebrating inclusion, modeling community, cherishing the emulation of God's beauty and grace, and distancing itself from the distractions of over-focus on the afterlife. VERDICT The verve and clarity of Gulley's writing underscore the welcome nature of his message to many thoughtful "unchurched" or alienated Christians; Gulley gives focus to the liberal movement of many denominations and believers, and his book should be of interest to individuals and church study groups.

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.