Before I dive into how absolutely amazing this book is, I want to give a heads up that this review will be a bit different than my other book reviews. As someone in the process of leaving a high-demand religion and dealing with the damage of purity culture, this book hit close to home. In fact, that’s exactly why I chose to read it. I started following Brenda’s YouTube channel last year, around the same time I discovered Jaclyn Glenn. Both Jaclyn and Brenda’s videos have been healing for me as I deconstruct and grieve the loss of “God” or as Brenda calls this specific ‘god’, Purity God.
Don’t let the memoir, deconstructing faith aspect fool you, though. This isn’t simply a recollection of thoughts and experiences. Brenda has woven these pieces of her life into a book that feels magical. So much so, I kept thinking that it had a Weetzie Bat vibe to it. I felt like I was in Los Angeles, the magical and scary and unpredictable L.A. – you know the Shangri-L.A. kind? A coming-of-age and discovering the truth behind the curtain and how important it is to love ourselves and how precious we are.
I admire that throughout each chapter, even when Brenda details the ickier things she experienced, specifically in regard to religion, she does so in a way that is so accepting and understanding. I don’t believe in fighting fire with fire, and I know as former members of a high demand religion, we know exactly where these people are coming from. We were them. But it hurts so much and when we leave and deconstruct, it’s hard not to become bitter.
I related to Brenda’s “origin story” of entering the realms of Evangelicalism. While I was raised Christian, it wasn’t ever anything overwhelmingly controlling. I was never told I looked immodest or that sex is wrong. I wore short-short plaid skirts, sheer tops, watched rated R movies, dated older men, you name it. But somehow, I became deeply involved and seeking truth. I realize now that some of my “obsession” with finding the truth, particularly in regard to the apocalypse, was the beginnings of me developing religious OCD. I remember reading the Left Behind series, which I still love and enjoy, but I got so consumed. I’d read and re-read the book of Revelations. I studied with all sorts of denominations, including the Jehovah’s Witnesses for several years before meeting with Mormon missionaries and being baptized into the LDS Church. All the while, I thought every health problem, every bad thing I experienced, was because God had punished me for not being pure. I wasn’t pushed into a high demand religion by my family. I chose it myself. When trying to connect with ex-Mormons, it was hard to find anyone to relate to. They were raised into it, most of them. I was raised to love God but also to question him, to question everything… until the Church told me not to.
And I listened, as much as I could, but my soul had to stop because if God is Love then Purity God and Love couldn’t be one in the same. Brenda’s videos on her YouTube channel, GodIsGrey and her book was the validation I needed as I started the deconstructing process.
God, love, the Church, and life is messy. It is not simple. It is complicated. And it is most certainly not black and white – and that is okay. With that I think it’s safe to conclude how I feel about this book – 10 out of freaking 10 I recommend. No matter what you believe or don’t believe, this book gives so much insight to purity culture, high demand religions, trauma, abuse, and the list goes on. But it also provides hope and encouragement. So often we see these deconstructing books or videos from those who are 100% done with God/Jesus/etc. Which, I completely validate – but for those of us still somewhere in the middle, it’s validating to hear that that’s okay.
Oh, and as of writing this – the book is $5 for both Hardcover & Kindle. So, grab your copy & let me know what you think!
Hello, my lovelies! I know I haven’t been super active for a while, and this is part of the reason why! I was working on a novella – a prequel to an upcoming book series The Forsaken Forest – that has been published in an anthology titled Forest of the Fearless. Not only was I working on my own story, but being the owner of 
If you’re looking for an in-depth read that will get you thinking about life and your role in it, well, this book is for you. The thing that I loved most about this book is that it was never harshly judgmental towards any particular faith – in fact it quoted many denominations, including my own (Mormon/LDS). It’s a bit hard to explain this book in its entirety, but if you’re wondering where we come from, our purpose here, and how to enhance our lives – this has some pretty in-depth answers. I was hesitant, at first, when reading this book because I thought it may conflict too deeply with my own personal beliefs. Instead, it complimented them well.
Originally I was going to write up my review – after finally reading Shane Dawson’s book (Why did I not read it sooner?!) – and also touch on the subject of his most recent controversy. However, I have realized it’s not my place, especially with the content of this blog, to tear apart “gossip”. What I will say is – while I do not know Shane, and even when people DO know someone there is no way of knowing what they are capable of, the information being presented is not evidence to the claim about Shane that has been circulation. This nature of this claim is something I have seen affect so many people I care about, so I am not one to outright say, “No, that’s impossible!” … because so often times it’s the impossible ones; your teacher, your pastor, your relative that can violate one in such a horrible way. Knowing about Shane’s past, I’m sure he knows this. That being said, I don’t think it’s true, and I think we all need to be a bit more careful about gossiping when we don’t know the facts.
Although, I try to avoid discussing my personal life in books reviews, I feel that it’s acceptable given the nature of this book’s content. Now, just a quick heads up. This is a non-fiction book review for a book written by an LDS (aka Mormon) author. It tackles the subject of the Atonement and it’s one of those religious-self help-realize God’s love for you-kind of books. Therefore, I’m gonna get personal with y’all!
Okay, I know, I know. This trilogy is OLD NEWS, and it’s taken me for-freaking-ever to start reading it. I’m a terrible bookworm, but you know what? There’s got to someone else out there who has been totally hesitant about reading yet another dystopian novel. Is it just a knock-off of the Hunger Games? Divergent? Is it really worth reading? I had all the same questions. I admit I was even a bit turned off by the fact that there was praise from MTV claiming the book was like The Hunger Games. I honestly was just like, ugh … I started to sit the book down, but then I saw the author was from where I currently live: Utah. The covers are beautiful (which, I encourage you all to NEVER judge a book by its cover), and I thought eh, why not? So I bought the book and I didn’t read it for months. Finally, I read it. And I am so pissed off.
Serendipity Minds 