Redeemed not Rejected

Insights for recovering fundamentalist or evangelical Christians desiring an open and accepting faith.

As Seen In

Fundamentalist and evangelical Christianity can be damaging

Depression

Failure to live up to the demands of black-and-white legalism, or not experiencing a “walk with the Lord” can lead to depression. Worse, a lonely desperation sets in when you turn to the church for help and instead feel more judgment.

Regret

Outside the church bubble, you encounter people from all walks of life that you enjoy and love. Regret sets in from years of judgmental outlook and legalistic living. You may feel a sense of deep loss from missed experiences and opportunities.

Doubt

As you learn more science, history, and culture, it becomes difficult to believe the Bible is literal truth as you were taught. Anxiety grows the more you learn. Friends and family worry you could lose your salvation to doubt and disbelief.

But Your Faith Can Be Redeemed

Strengthen Your Faith

Healthy Christianity is honest about doubt, mystery, and nuance. Your faith can be compatible with modern science, culture, and the full diversity of humanity.

Change Your World

Jesus accepted and loved everyone, even those at odds with religious laws. Your life and ministry can benefit everyone, too, even those the church says are living a sinful lifestyle.

Heal Your Soul

The joy of the Lord may be your strength (Nehemiah 8:10) but it is acceptable to seek professional help for your mental health, even from non-Christian providers. Your faith can heal from abuse and the sting of failures both real and imagined.

Discover More

Engage on Critical Subjects

Available Now

“An emotional, edifying remembrance, written with power and clarity.” —Kirkus Reviews

When suburban dad Carl Dubler was selected for a jury, he should have found it easy to judge someone. A lifetime in the church gave him a clear sense of right and wrong, with little room for nuance. But this was for real. Permanent. The man before him was on trial for his life. Carl could choose mercy and offend those who clamored for justice. Or he could choose full justice—death—and offend those who said there had already been enough killing. Carl imagined God looking down at him with a wry smile and asking, “How do you like doing my job?”

This is a fantastic and highly readable book. It combines an honest and unfiltered faith journey with a very compelling true story of crime and punishment. I was riveted by Dubler’s narrations of the jury room. He does a great job of putting the reader there. I have asked myself many times, both while I read and after, what I would have done if I was sitting in that jury box. Very highly recommended.

Jeff A.

Amazon Book Review

Read this book last night. Awesome read and gets you thinking about some important things. If you love to read as I do- you’ll love it. If you like to read, you’ll love it. If you don’t like to read, give it a chance- I think you’ll really love it. Have you considered what it would really mean to be on a jury and make the decision about life in prison or the death penalty? Have you considered if you are judging people, hiding behind that judgement (and most likely joyless) or loving and helping people (and most likely joyful)?

Jo Flint

Amazon Book Review

I picked up this book and once I did, I couldn’t put it down. I finished it in just a few days as I was so compelled by the story. The author did an amazing job of weaving together what was going on for him personally and how it transpired to his time spent on the jury. A worthy read and one I’ll definitely be recommending.

Andrea Costantine

Amazon Book Review

This is a fantastic and highly readable book. It combines an honest and unfiltered faith journey with a very compelling true story of crime and punishment. I was riveted by Dubler’s narrations of the jury room. He does a great job of putting the reader there. I have asked myself many times, both while I read and after, what I would have done if I was sitting in that jury box. Very highly recommended.

Jeff A.

Amazon Book Review

Read this book last night. Awesome read and gets you thinking about some important things. If you love to read as I do- you’ll love it. If you like to read, you’ll love it. If you don’t like to read, give it a chance- I think you’ll really love it. Have you considered what it would really mean to be on a jury and make the decision about life in Prison or the death penalty? Have you considered if you are judging people, hiding behind that judgement (and most likely joyless) or loving and helping people (and most likely joyful)?

Jo Flint

Amazon Book Review

I picked up this book and once I did, I couldn’t put it down. I finished it in just a few days as I was so compelled by the story. The author did an amazing job of weaving together what was going on for him personally and how it transpired to his time spent on the jury. A worthy read and one I’ll definitely be recommending.

Andrea Costantine

Amazon Book Review

About Carl Dubler

Raised in the early days of the Moral Majority, Carl was the poster boy for American Evangelicalism. By high school graduation he was preaching, speaking out in public, reciting entire books of the Bible from memory, and in general being the model fundie (fundamentalist kid). A series of life challenges and a life-or-death experience drove him to nearly lose his faith altogether—as described in his book. Today he and his wife of 25 years live in Colorado and are active in a reconciling United Methodist Church. They have two college-age children.

Contact Me

The Bible And Science

If you are a fundamentalist like I was, you went to a Christian school where key scientific concepts were treated defensively, if not ignored altogether. It can be quite a shock later in life to learn the truth about life and the cosmos.

LGBTQ

Many fundamentalists say, “We hate the sin but love the sinner.” This is not satisfactory to the LGBTQ community. It gets tougher to understand the church’s position on this when you meet a sincere gay Christian who loves Jesus as much or more than you do.

Politics

Much has been written and discussed on the rise of the American Evangelical church to a place of political power. When in the center of that bubble, it really can seem like America was founded to do the work of the Lord.

Personal Stories

I grew up with many evangelicals who struggled with their faith. Some outright rejected God and Christianity. Others found a way to redeem their faith. Here are stories from both sides.

Sexuality

My sex education as a youth came down to “stay pure (abstinent) and God will reward your married sex life.” So why was I the one who struggled while the promiscuous seemed to have a better marriage than mine?

Mental Health

As a young evangelical, I was taught to avoid psychiatry because “the joy of the Lord is your strength.” As it turns out, this may not have been the best prescription for someone with depression and anxiety.

Theology

Growing up as a fundamentalist, you are taught to respect authority, especially pastors and other Bible teachers. Doubt was not allowed. This makes it difficult to ask the tough questions about God.

Art & Culture

I grew up in a culture that viewed secular entertainment and art as dangerous. Sadly, the secular world seems to have all the high-quality stuff. Is it possible for a Christian to engage in worldly culture?