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I've Got Questions: The Spiritual Practice of Having It Out with God
When your faith as you know it has been commodified, nationalized, scandalized, and rebranded beyond recognition, is it even possible to recover the "good" of Jesus from this cluster of epic proportions?
Writer and podcaster Erin Moon has questions, and this book is her open letter for anyone who feels iffy, conflicted, or just downright devastated by this disconnect. With empathy, insight, and the therapy of memes and a good laugh, Erin maps out not a rigid prescription but an open-hearted pathway for you to reclaim what you once loved about your faith home and light a match to the rest.
As it turns out, God is not afraid of your questions. To the contrary, the fullness of the Christian story is found not in a certainty checklist but a vision of a people who wrestle with God. This is the story to which Erin turns and guides you through, as you
- understand the good, bad, ugly, and just plain bizarre of your faith origins
- find permission to lament, ask questions, and name pressure points
- make peace as you set your own new boundaries and rebuild
Consider this your open invitation to get gut-level honest about where it started, and heart-level hopeful about where it can go from here.
Writer and podcaster Erin Moon has questions, and this book is her open letter for anyone who feels iffy, conflicted, or just downright devastated by this disconnect. With empathy, insight, and the therapy of memes and a good laugh, Erin maps out not a rigid prescription but an open-hearted pathway for you to reclaim what you once loved about your faith home and light a match to the rest.
As it turns out, God is not afraid of your questions. To the contrary, the fullness of the Christian story is found not in a certainty checklist but a vision of a people who wrestle with God. This is the story to which Erin turns and guides you through, as you
- understand the good, bad, ugly, and just plain bizarre of your faith origins
- find permission to lament, ask questions, and name pressure points
- make peace as you set your own new boundaries and rebuild
Consider this your open invitation to get gut-level honest about where it started, and heart-level hopeful about where it can go from here.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published February 4, 2025
452 people are currently reading
7,322 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 156 reviews
October 26, 2024
Pros: I am a big fan of Erin Moon’s work for the Popcast Media Group—especially with the Faith Adjacent podcast. From listening to her talk about faith for years, I was thrilled to learn she was writing a book—I knew she would approach it with the same nuance and thoughtfulness (and humor!) she brings to the podcast.
This book isn’t just for podcast listeners though. It’s for anyone who has had questions or struggles with (and grief over) their faith because of the current state of Christianity/the church. The author encourages readers to remember that faith isn’t a fixed point, that uncertainty is not a bad thing, and that curiosity is a good thing. As the author and I are millennials of similar ages, I find her (and her cultural references) to be very relatable and makes her writing feel like a friend is walking me through a “journey.�
I think this will be a book I revisit, and I hope to listen to an audio version because I am so used to hearing the author’s voice on the Faith Adjacent podcast.
Cons: The only con that I can think of is that readers must wait until February to read this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Baker Books for the opportunity to read this book.
This book isn’t just for podcast listeners though. It’s for anyone who has had questions or struggles with (and grief over) their faith because of the current state of Christianity/the church. The author encourages readers to remember that faith isn’t a fixed point, that uncertainty is not a bad thing, and that curiosity is a good thing. As the author and I are millennials of similar ages, I find her (and her cultural references) to be very relatable and makes her writing feel like a friend is walking me through a “journey.�
I think this will be a book I revisit, and I hope to listen to an audio version because I am so used to hearing the author’s voice on the Faith Adjacent podcast.
Cons: The only con that I can think of is that readers must wait until February to read this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and Baker Books for the opportunity to read this book.
February 6, 2025
Erin has a unique gift for helping you digest large complex theologies with a spoonful of laughter. I was nodding my head vigorously at our similar church upbringings. I felt seen, heard, and affirmed. A must-read if you grew up fundamentalist Christian (or any Christian really) and have some major questions to work through in adulthood.
January 27, 2025
*early release review*
If you’ve ever seen Hamilton (if you haven’t, what are you even doing), think back to the first time you saw Hamilton when the first beat dropped. There was a collective “oooooh� or maybe a “daaaaaaaamn�. It doesn’t take too long to get to My Shot and everything both unravels and comes together at the same time, and you realized this was going to be something you would return to over and over again.
That’s this book. IGQ somehow simultaneously makes me remember exactly why I wanted to burn-it-all-down and also why I just can’t let go of Jesus. If you’ve ever had a season (or maybe even a moment) when you wondered if you could really put up with this whole church thing, get a copy of this book, stat. If it’s in the next 7-8 days, order a hard cover and snag pre-order bonuses which include the audiobook AND all of the curriculum on Erin’s website (which I also have paid cash money for; no regrets). Erin is the Bible Scholar and the friend we need as we fling our questions at God, demanding answers in a tiny, impotent rage (or maybe a sad, broken, weary collapse).
If you’ve ever seen Hamilton (if you haven’t, what are you even doing), think back to the first time you saw Hamilton when the first beat dropped. There was a collective “oooooh� or maybe a “daaaaaaaamn�. It doesn’t take too long to get to My Shot and everything both unravels and comes together at the same time, and you realized this was going to be something you would return to over and over again.
That’s this book. IGQ somehow simultaneously makes me remember exactly why I wanted to burn-it-all-down and also why I just can’t let go of Jesus. If you’ve ever had a season (or maybe even a moment) when you wondered if you could really put up with this whole church thing, get a copy of this book, stat. If it’s in the next 7-8 days, order a hard cover and snag pre-order bonuses which include the audiobook AND all of the curriculum on Erin’s website (which I also have paid cash money for; no regrets). Erin is the Bible Scholar and the friend we need as we fling our questions at God, demanding answers in a tiny, impotent rage (or maybe a sad, broken, weary collapse).
January 22, 2025
Erin Moon is simultaneously ridiculously intelligent and absolutely relatable. She grew up super Baptist and takes us through the journey (drink) of setting fire to and rebuilding the little plot of land that is her faith. I laughed, cried and screamed yaaaaaasssssss several times while reading this book. Erin makes it clear that her journey is HER journey (drink again) and that mine and yours will be different. But through scripture and her personal experience, Erin reassured me that I am not alone in my questions and that wrasslin� is not just OK but absolutely necessary.
March 12, 2025
When faith has been commodified, nationalized, and scandalized, is there anything left to reclaim? With humor, insight, and a dose of memes, Erin Moon offers an open-hearted guide for those feeling conflicted or disillusioned. Through honesty, lament, and hope, she helps readers wrestle with their faith, set boundaries, and rediscover what’s worth keeping.
Am I going through deconstruction? No—especially not in the way that term is often used to describe mistrust in Scripture (I believe in its complete infallibility). But I do appreciate honest reflections from those who, even if they land differently than I do, aren’t afraid to ask hard questions and ultimately trust God more deeply.
Reading Erin’s journey felt like sitting in a spiritual direction session—not one leading to a prescribed outcome, but one that simply invites you to ask questions you’ve either been too anxious to voice or too mentally drained to consider. She’s hilariously thorough in her pop culture connections yet deeply articulate in emphasizing biblical narratives. Her writing works because of both her savvy use of language and the clear conviction behind it.
Whether you think “apostasy is nothing new� or you’re walking through deconstruction yourself, there’s something here for anyone willing to engage in honest reflection.
Why I read: I’ve followed Erin for a while (during COVID, I basically binged The Popcast), but I wasn’t planning to pick this up until I heard her interview on That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs.
Thank you @readbakerbooks for the eARC 🩶 #netgalley
Perfect for you if you like:
Deconstruction conversations that don’t abandon belief
Memes in theology
Wrestling with big questions without fear
Open faith discussions
Similar to:
Field Notes for the Wilderness by Sarah Bessey
Blessed are the Rest of Us by Micha Boyett
All Things Reconsidered by Knox McCoy
⚠️mild language
Am I going through deconstruction? No—especially not in the way that term is often used to describe mistrust in Scripture (I believe in its complete infallibility). But I do appreciate honest reflections from those who, even if they land differently than I do, aren’t afraid to ask hard questions and ultimately trust God more deeply.
Reading Erin’s journey felt like sitting in a spiritual direction session—not one leading to a prescribed outcome, but one that simply invites you to ask questions you’ve either been too anxious to voice or too mentally drained to consider. She’s hilariously thorough in her pop culture connections yet deeply articulate in emphasizing biblical narratives. Her writing works because of both her savvy use of language and the clear conviction behind it.
Whether you think “apostasy is nothing new� or you’re walking through deconstruction yourself, there’s something here for anyone willing to engage in honest reflection.
Why I read: I’ve followed Erin for a while (during COVID, I basically binged The Popcast), but I wasn’t planning to pick this up until I heard her interview on That Sounds Fun with Annie F. Downs.
Thank you @readbakerbooks for the eARC 🩶 #netgalley
Perfect for you if you like:
Deconstruction conversations that don’t abandon belief
Memes in theology
Wrestling with big questions without fear
Open faith discussions
Similar to:
Field Notes for the Wilderness by Sarah Bessey
Blessed are the Rest of Us by Micha Boyett
All Things Reconsidered by Knox McCoy
⚠️mild language
January 18, 2025
I often joke that there are only two “trends� I have ever been early to in my entire life. I got a Stanley cup in the summer of 2021 (thanks to the Mormon mom influencers I follow who made that possible) and Mike and I left the evangelical church in 2003.
The Stanley cup has definitely made me more hydrated, but leaving the evangelical church is one of the defining moments (and it was a moment - after some weeks of me asking if we could leave, Mike turned to me in the car one Sunday and said, “We’re never going back�) of my adult life. I am not going to lie to you. It was lonely and confusing. We lost friends. We had to rethink everything we knew. Everything we gained more than made up for what we ended up losing, but it was not an easy time.
For that reason, I do not always have a lot of energy for books like Erin Moon’s new book I’ve Got Questions, which is about what is now called “deconstruction.� (I don’t think we had a word for it in 2003 except “everyone you used to know thinks you are going to hell.�) There weren’t books like this available to us, though we did read quite a bit of history and theology as we were painstakingly trying to hold on to our faith. We were also incredibly lucky that our deconstruction took place having already found a community that answered (or, crucially, didn’t answer) our questions, gave us space to process, and loved us through the pain of losing our previous support network and rebuilding a new one. But I don’t necessarily want to relive it.
However, now I work as a minister (lol but seriously lol because that is a super intense deconstruction and then reconstruction all the way to the ministry) and I recognize that books like this can be helpful to people who find their way to my church from more conservative spaces. So I requested this one on NetGalley and was given an opportunity to read it. I have interacted with Erin Moon in a minor way - my instagram account about children’s ministry has been mentioned on her podcast, but I don’t know her.
I think the framework of the book is very strong. This is not a book to help provide you with the answers that you so desperately want when you are deconstructing. She highlights important stages in rethinking and (hopefully) rebuilding your faith, using a metaphor of a plot of land. I will say that the repeated references to burning things down (even a controlled burn) were difficult to read this week as we watched the fires in California, but that is the reality in which we live. She walks the reader through steps of remembering where you came from, lament, asking questions, thinking through what matters, and even asking yourself to go beyond where you feel comfortable. There is a lot of wisdom and I think this is the strongest book I’ve read about this process.
My critique of the book is not about the content, which I think is overall very good. I am not a regular listener of Moon’s Faith Adjacent podcast, but I have listened to a few episodes. The tone of the book, much like the podcast, is both sincere and kind of quippy. For that reason, it is not going to be for everyone. There are some people in my congregation I think would appreciate the content but who would not get the references or the tone. For that reason, I think it is best aimed at people younger than me and I think it would help if they were, if not Very Online, at least Somewhat Online.
Additionally, one of the things I often note when hearing stories like this is that my experiences as a young Christian were much more negative than the author’s. I want to be clear that I did not experience any physical or sexual abuse. At the same time, the church was not a place where I felt completely safe or kept or loved. I felt like a problem at church (which is funny, because overall I was pretty compliant). The main problem was that I was a girl, and in the context in which I grew up, the boys were mentored by the pastors and the girls were taught to do makeup and not talk in church. I like makeup! But what I wanted was for a religious leader to care about my faith. I wanted my faith to matter. For that reason, I have often noted that I read my Bible faithfully and was pretty good with Jesus, but was less convinced about church and church leaders. I didn’t invite my friends to church because it wasn’t a place where I was especially happy. I mostly felt unwanted by the church. So, when I found out there were churches where they acted like God and Jesus actually liked me and weren’t just always trying to Teach Me A Lesson, it was certainly easier for to me to leave than it might be for some. I am always surprised when it worked for other people for so much longer. As my husband reminded me, those systems work for people until they don’t, until death or illness or a gay family member or a sense that people don’t deserve eternal punishment pushes you off kilter. In that sense, we were lucky that our experiences of feeling somewhat rejected led us to be able to leave earlier.
Deconstruction of a childhood faith is a long and messy process! There were a couple of places where, from my vantage point, Moon’s deconstruction still felt a little bit fresh and it seemed that there were things that she was still somewhat tender about. That would make this book a good choice for someone who is still fairly new in the process (let’s say the first five years of deconstruction), but maybe less so if they have already thought through some of the questions and quieted some of the “religion cop� voices inside their heads. If the tone matches your experiences and expectations, I think Moon’s thoughtful process will work as a guidebook and make the reader feel less alone.
The Stanley cup has definitely made me more hydrated, but leaving the evangelical church is one of the defining moments (and it was a moment - after some weeks of me asking if we could leave, Mike turned to me in the car one Sunday and said, “We’re never going back�) of my adult life. I am not going to lie to you. It was lonely and confusing. We lost friends. We had to rethink everything we knew. Everything we gained more than made up for what we ended up losing, but it was not an easy time.
For that reason, I do not always have a lot of energy for books like Erin Moon’s new book I’ve Got Questions, which is about what is now called “deconstruction.� (I don’t think we had a word for it in 2003 except “everyone you used to know thinks you are going to hell.�) There weren’t books like this available to us, though we did read quite a bit of history and theology as we were painstakingly trying to hold on to our faith. We were also incredibly lucky that our deconstruction took place having already found a community that answered (or, crucially, didn’t answer) our questions, gave us space to process, and loved us through the pain of losing our previous support network and rebuilding a new one. But I don’t necessarily want to relive it.
However, now I work as a minister (lol but seriously lol because that is a super intense deconstruction and then reconstruction all the way to the ministry) and I recognize that books like this can be helpful to people who find their way to my church from more conservative spaces. So I requested this one on NetGalley and was given an opportunity to read it. I have interacted with Erin Moon in a minor way - my instagram account about children’s ministry has been mentioned on her podcast, but I don’t know her.
I think the framework of the book is very strong. This is not a book to help provide you with the answers that you so desperately want when you are deconstructing. She highlights important stages in rethinking and (hopefully) rebuilding your faith, using a metaphor of a plot of land. I will say that the repeated references to burning things down (even a controlled burn) were difficult to read this week as we watched the fires in California, but that is the reality in which we live. She walks the reader through steps of remembering where you came from, lament, asking questions, thinking through what matters, and even asking yourself to go beyond where you feel comfortable. There is a lot of wisdom and I think this is the strongest book I’ve read about this process.
My critique of the book is not about the content, which I think is overall very good. I am not a regular listener of Moon’s Faith Adjacent podcast, but I have listened to a few episodes. The tone of the book, much like the podcast, is both sincere and kind of quippy. For that reason, it is not going to be for everyone. There are some people in my congregation I think would appreciate the content but who would not get the references or the tone. For that reason, I think it is best aimed at people younger than me and I think it would help if they were, if not Very Online, at least Somewhat Online.
Additionally, one of the things I often note when hearing stories like this is that my experiences as a young Christian were much more negative than the author’s. I want to be clear that I did not experience any physical or sexual abuse. At the same time, the church was not a place where I felt completely safe or kept or loved. I felt like a problem at church (which is funny, because overall I was pretty compliant). The main problem was that I was a girl, and in the context in which I grew up, the boys were mentored by the pastors and the girls were taught to do makeup and not talk in church. I like makeup! But what I wanted was for a religious leader to care about my faith. I wanted my faith to matter. For that reason, I have often noted that I read my Bible faithfully and was pretty good with Jesus, but was less convinced about church and church leaders. I didn’t invite my friends to church because it wasn’t a place where I was especially happy. I mostly felt unwanted by the church. So, when I found out there were churches where they acted like God and Jesus actually liked me and weren’t just always trying to Teach Me A Lesson, it was certainly easier for to me to leave than it might be for some. I am always surprised when it worked for other people for so much longer. As my husband reminded me, those systems work for people until they don’t, until death or illness or a gay family member or a sense that people don’t deserve eternal punishment pushes you off kilter. In that sense, we were lucky that our experiences of feeling somewhat rejected led us to be able to leave earlier.
Deconstruction of a childhood faith is a long and messy process! There were a couple of places where, from my vantage point, Moon’s deconstruction still felt a little bit fresh and it seemed that there were things that she was still somewhat tender about. That would make this book a good choice for someone who is still fairly new in the process (let’s say the first five years of deconstruction), but maybe less so if they have already thought through some of the questions and quieted some of the “religion cop� voices inside their heads. If the tone matches your experiences and expectations, I think Moon’s thoughtful process will work as a guidebook and make the reader feel less alone.
February 7, 2025
I’ve got questions
I have been listening to Erin on the Faith Adjacent podcast and following her for years. She has become a trusted and respected voice for me because she comes at topics with so much information, research and perspective and I knew this book would be no different. And it felt good to finally find another person in the faith community that shares the same worldly views that I do, which has led me to this place where I’m like hey! Someone please guide me through these questions I have about my faith! I don’t know what I’m doing!
I feel like this is the book, guidance and permission I’ve been looking for as I go through my faith deconstruction and reconstruction era. I love that she is so relatable, shares her own very personal experiences with her own journey, and brings receipts with scripture.
This has really lit the fire under me to set my entire plot on fire (see what I did there? Once you read this you’ll understand) and continue the journey or rebuilding and rediscovering my faith that I’ve been delaying. I know this is going to be a book I continue to come back to and I can’t recommend it enough!! (Also, I did a mix of reading and also listening to the audiobook while driving and heading her read it gave it an extra personal touch!)
I have been listening to Erin on the Faith Adjacent podcast and following her for years. She has become a trusted and respected voice for me because she comes at topics with so much information, research and perspective and I knew this book would be no different. And it felt good to finally find another person in the faith community that shares the same worldly views that I do, which has led me to this place where I’m like hey! Someone please guide me through these questions I have about my faith! I don’t know what I’m doing!
I feel like this is the book, guidance and permission I’ve been looking for as I go through my faith deconstruction and reconstruction era. I love that she is so relatable, shares her own very personal experiences with her own journey, and brings receipts with scripture.
This has really lit the fire under me to set my entire plot on fire (see what I did there? Once you read this you’ll understand) and continue the journey or rebuilding and rediscovering my faith that I’ve been delaying. I know this is going to be a book I continue to come back to and I can’t recommend it enough!! (Also, I did a mix of reading and also listening to the audiobook while driving and heading her read it gave it an extra personal touch!)
February 4, 2025
I deconstructed a few years ago, and this is the book I wish I’d had. Erin managed to reach through the pages, take my hand, and walk through the past of my deconstruction while being relatable, funny, knowledgeable, and accepting; there is no expectation or condemnation to be found here. She reminisces, laments, rages, and wanders with you through this journey (drink) of faith and life. So whether you’re just starting to ask questions, already deconstructed, or anywhere in between, hop in the car, grab some Taco Bell, and let Erin drive you around so you don’t feel so alone.
January 27, 2025
If you grew up (as Erin describes) brined in the Evangelical pickle juice & find yourself with doubts, questions, wonderings, or the feeling the burn it all down, then this book is for you.
Erin, with her humor, wit, and incredible way with words (including some amazing millennial references), lovingly guides you through your questions, your doubts, and through picking back up all the beautiful parts of faith that you maybe wanted to throw out with the metaphorical bath water. I felt challenged and held and like I had a friend walking with me. I highly recommend “I’ve Got Questions.�
Thank you to Net Galley & Baker House publishing for the advanced copy!
Erin, with her humor, wit, and incredible way with words (including some amazing millennial references), lovingly guides you through your questions, your doubts, and through picking back up all the beautiful parts of faith that you maybe wanted to throw out with the metaphorical bath water. I felt challenged and held and like I had a friend walking with me. I highly recommend “I’ve Got Questions.�
Thank you to Net Galley & Baker House publishing for the advanced copy!
February 7, 2025
I’ve Got Question is a masterfully written, deeply intentional, and refreshingly funny exploration of faith deconstruction and reconstruction. With wisdom, wit, and a compassionate heart, Erin Moon takes readers on a journey of unlearning toxic religious beliefs while holding onto a faith rooted in love, justice, and authenticity.
One of the book’s greatest strengths is its ability to balance humor with deep spiritual insight. Erin’s voice is engaging and relatable. She shares personal stories with a perfect mix of vulnerability and humor, allowing readers to laugh, cry, and nod along in agreement as she unpacks the complexities of questioning long-held beliefs.
But I’ve Got Question is more than just deconstruction—it’s an invitation to rebuild with intention. Moon doesn’t leave readers in the rubble of doubt; instead, she provides hope, encouragement, and practical wisdom for reconstructing a faith that is more authentic, inclusive, and life-giving. Her words inspire courage in those who feel lost in their faith journey, reminding them that questioning isn’t the end—it’s a new beginning.
If you’re looking for a book that will challenge you, make you laugh out loud, and leave you feeling empowered in your faith journey, I’ve Got Question is a must-read.
February 8, 2025
This book felt like a warm hug, a swift kick in the pants, and a soothing balm all at once. I wish I had this book when I was 16 and my family left our church. I wish I had them book when I was 19 and mentally had checked out of Christianity or the idea that God was on my side, and I wish I had this book as I wrestled my way back into the church and my faith after starting to attend church again under the pretense of a job. I think that if you have ever had a time of doubt or huge questions when it comes to God, the church, and your faith, this is the book for you. Even if you haven’t, I think reading this book will allow you to be a more compassionate member of God’s house when your friends come to you with their doubts and questions. I have felt so bad and wrong as I’ve inwardly been dealing with my questions about God but this book showed/reminded/taught me to take a breath and remember love. God loves me. He always will. He welcomes my questions. I truly encourage you to pick up this book!
February 11, 2025
Tender, honest, and funny. The audiobook felt like listening to the most delightful extended episode of Faith Adjacent and my only regret is I don’t have the physical copy to highlight and re-read these words over and over again.
March 20, 2025
She put into words so beautifully what it means to deconstruct and reconstruct your faith. Loved it.
January 30, 2025
I have been a fan of Erin Moon for a few years now, both on the socials and via her podcasts, and her book only made me more of a fan. As someone currently trying to figure out what to do with faith when so much of what I grew up believing & the people I had put my trust in have disappointed me, Erin’s book feels like a life raft. Through her vulnerable and often hilarious storytelling, Erin seeks to guide the reader (but not direct) them through the process of letting go of what does not bring life, lamenting what has been lost, and figuring out what you want to plant in its place. If you have been disillusioned with the church or its people of late yet can’t quite let go of faith, this book is for you.
February 24, 2025
I didn’t realize how much I needed this book. After recently experiencing deep church hurt, this book helped me to see that I’m not alone. What I am going through is not so uncommon, and God wants us to ask questions. ♥️
January 29, 2025
Erin's kindness and authenticity shine through every word. If you've ever felt isolated by your doubts and questions, this book is here to remind you that you're not alone.
I've basically highlighted the whole thing, but what I'm taking with me as I move forward is this: "We joyfully affirm nothing less than this: we are the people who have it out with God"
I've basically highlighted the whole thing, but what I'm taking with me as I move forward is this: "We joyfully affirm nothing less than this: we are the people who have it out with God"
February 12, 2025
I was pretty sure this book was going to be the book I've personally wanted to write for a long time and it did not disappoint. I devoured it in about 24 hours, highlighting and sticky noting with abandon... so now I'm ready to listen to the audio or read again more slowly. I'm ready for a book club or coffee dates with other readers, other questioners.
Depending on your point of view in modern western Christianity, the idea of deconstructing your faith is either in vogue or dangerous. It's easy to find people tearing down and blowing up the Christian faith (and they have so many valid reasons). And it's easy to find people calling those people heretics who just want license to sin and lead others astray.
What's more difficult to find in these days is someone who is asking the questions, holding the church to account, and still holding fast—not for fear of being wrong or for being ostracized from faith communities, not for fear of hell or fear of change—but because Jesus is worth following, because God is love, because the Holy Spirit won't let them go.
That's the kind of someone I keep wanting to be in my own writing and in my own interactions in the world. I've been "deconstructing" as long as I can remember, since I hit the double digits, long before such a word featured prominently in podcasts and Instagram Reels.
And Jesus just keeps holding on to me, tearing up the weeds and planting better fruit. God keeps showing me He's faithful even when I can't see it, that I'm beloved even when I don't believe it. The Bible keeps astounding me. The Holy Spirit keeps flaming and whispering around my insides, reminding me of what's good and true when I feel like there's no such thing.
My book would [will?] be a little different than this one because all our stories are unique, but I definitely felt deeply connected to Erin Hicks Moon. We could have a looooong coffee date talking about life and Scripture and how Jesus just keeps being the one path we want to follow. Since we're unlikely to have that experience, this book was the next best thing.
Depending on your point of view in modern western Christianity, the idea of deconstructing your faith is either in vogue or dangerous. It's easy to find people tearing down and blowing up the Christian faith (and they have so many valid reasons). And it's easy to find people calling those people heretics who just want license to sin and lead others astray.
What's more difficult to find in these days is someone who is asking the questions, holding the church to account, and still holding fast—not for fear of being wrong or for being ostracized from faith communities, not for fear of hell or fear of change—but because Jesus is worth following, because God is love, because the Holy Spirit won't let them go.
That's the kind of someone I keep wanting to be in my own writing and in my own interactions in the world. I've been "deconstructing" as long as I can remember, since I hit the double digits, long before such a word featured prominently in podcasts and Instagram Reels.
And Jesus just keeps holding on to me, tearing up the weeds and planting better fruit. God keeps showing me He's faithful even when I can't see it, that I'm beloved even when I don't believe it. The Bible keeps astounding me. The Holy Spirit keeps flaming and whispering around my insides, reminding me of what's good and true when I feel like there's no such thing.
My book would [will?] be a little different than this one because all our stories are unique, but I definitely felt deeply connected to Erin Hicks Moon. We could have a looooong coffee date talking about life and Scripture and how Jesus just keeps being the one path we want to follow. Since we're unlikely to have that experience, this book was the next best thing.
February 11, 2025
This book is for me. For me, having lived my life by squashing down my questions and doubts (and being praised as “meek� and “humble� for it) and reducing my faith in the process. For me, having realized I wasn’t in a space that was safe to be honest about my questions or feelings.
Erin Hicks Moon opens a shelter for us with this book. Asking as many insightful questions as it answers, this book scoots over and gives you a comfy corner of the sofa, hands you a beverage, and waits patiently as you get lost in her journey (drink) until you’re stopping to look up and compare her questions with your own.
I read the chapter titled, “But What If You’re Wrong?� until it absorbed into my skin. Erin guides us in looking at the questions we’ve always had; and, her work assures us that while, there isn’t an easy answer to them, they are valid and deserve to be heard. She’s brutally honest about herself in a way that’s both generous and challenging to readers. Whether in confusion or in her lament, I’ve Got Questions offers inspiration to start rooting out the toxic and plant some good. And, that can begin with questions.
This book is for me. And, if you’ve had the same feelings about the evangelical church that I have, then this book is also for you.
Erin Hicks Moon opens a shelter for us with this book. Asking as many insightful questions as it answers, this book scoots over and gives you a comfy corner of the sofa, hands you a beverage, and waits patiently as you get lost in her journey (drink) until you’re stopping to look up and compare her questions with your own.
I read the chapter titled, “But What If You’re Wrong?� until it absorbed into my skin. Erin guides us in looking at the questions we’ve always had; and, her work assures us that while, there isn’t an easy answer to them, they are valid and deserve to be heard. She’s brutally honest about herself in a way that’s both generous and challenging to readers. Whether in confusion or in her lament, I’ve Got Questions offers inspiration to start rooting out the toxic and plant some good. And, that can begin with questions.
This book is for me. And, if you’ve had the same feelings about the evangelical church that I have, then this book is also for you.
March 27, 2025
If you’re looking for me, I’ll be in a Taco Bell parking lot with Erin asking lots of questions and trying to deal with *gestures wildly* and how we feel about it.
Some quotes that I couldn’t help but type (while I listened to the audiobook) below.
We are all at least a little wrong about God because we are not God.
If we cannot be sure, I would rather risk my life on the belief that God is love. The love that Jesus espouses is worth the gamble of being wrong.
There is room for me to be wrong, and my wrongness does not threaten who God is.
Until we can visualize God in a place where we are certain God would not go, because those people could not be liked or loved, we will not comprehend our own soul-deep likability and innately loveable belovedness.
The most radical thing you can do is really truly love your neighbor, because the most radical thing someone else is doing is really truly loving you.
Some quotes that I couldn’t help but type (while I listened to the audiobook) below.
We are all at least a little wrong about God because we are not God.
If we cannot be sure, I would rather risk my life on the belief that God is love. The love that Jesus espouses is worth the gamble of being wrong.
There is room for me to be wrong, and my wrongness does not threaten who God is.
Until we can visualize God in a place where we are certain God would not go, because those people could not be liked or loved, we will not comprehend our own soul-deep likability and innately loveable belovedness.
The most radical thing you can do is really truly love your neighbor, because the most radical thing someone else is doing is really truly loving you.
February 9, 2025
“…God is more welcoming, more loving, more inclusive, and more generous than we ever imagined. And that love gives you room: room for your questions, room for your story, room for your hopes, room for your grief and your anger, room for your transformation, and room for your whole self.�
“Grappling with the God of the universe, if you’re ready to do that, takes balls (you have to be tender), and it takes a uterus (you have to be tough).�
“God is ready, willing, and able to scrap in the dark desert over all the things that piss us off, the stuff that wounds us, the injustices in the world, and why God made all this so damn hard sometimes.�
My copy of this book is more underlined than not. Erin has managed to marry deep theological thoughts with hilarious personal stories and irreverent pop culture references.
Did I drive 700 miles to go to a release event with the author. Yes, yes I did. Erin H. Moon through podcast Faith Adjacent, her studies and her newsletter have spiritually mothered and pastored me over the last 5 years. It was a honor to be there.
“Grappling with the God of the universe, if you’re ready to do that, takes balls (you have to be tender), and it takes a uterus (you have to be tough).�
“God is ready, willing, and able to scrap in the dark desert over all the things that piss us off, the stuff that wounds us, the injustices in the world, and why God made all this so damn hard sometimes.�
My copy of this book is more underlined than not. Erin has managed to marry deep theological thoughts with hilarious personal stories and irreverent pop culture references.
Did I drive 700 miles to go to a release event with the author. Yes, yes I did. Erin H. Moon through podcast Faith Adjacent, her studies and her newsletter have spiritually mothered and pastored me over the last 5 years. It was a honor to be there.
February 15, 2025
A book I desperately wish I’d had over the last couple of years. Graciously written, and it doesn’t even matter that we may not agree on some finer points- that’s the whole thing, right? The point IS the wrestling, it IS the mystery. I can’t wait to get my hands on the physical copy so I can pull out some quotes.
February 12, 2025
I can not possibly convey in a good reads review how wonderful this book is. This is a book that I will go back to again and again. It is so special for those of us who have or have had questions and have immediately gotten side eye from our churches, pastors, friends and spiritual leaders. This is for you. This is for us.
Erin, thank you so much.
Erin, thank you so much.
February 15, 2025
This book is wonderfully written and helped me a lot with my questions about faith. Experiencing religious trauma in 2017 forced me to question a lot of what I’d always “known� to be true. This book breathed new life into my faith and helped me see my questions not as things to be ashamed of but pressure points to lean into. Highly recommend if you���re in a season of “what about�?�.
February 6, 2025
If you've grown up in church or evangelicalism like me, "deconstruction" can be seen as a bad word. It's interesting how people of faith... have no faith for their beliefs to face questions.
I've grappled with many of my long-held beliefs in the past few years and the questions whirling in my head scared me. Where would my relationship with God end up? What if my questions are too big?
Erin has been a trusted voice as I've sorted through questions, beliefs, and new thoughts and ideas. She is not here to tell you what to believe—but takes the role of a friend who encourages you to sort through the questions, keeping the good and releasing the rest. She'll keep you laughing, delight you with her storytelling, and best of all remind you of the ultimate truth that you are beloved.
Whether you know Erin already from the Faith Adjacent podcast or this is your first introduction, you're in good hands. Enjoy the journey.
I've grappled with many of my long-held beliefs in the past few years and the questions whirling in my head scared me. Where would my relationship with God end up? What if my questions are too big?
Erin has been a trusted voice as I've sorted through questions, beliefs, and new thoughts and ideas. She is not here to tell you what to believe—but takes the role of a friend who encourages you to sort through the questions, keeping the good and releasing the rest. She'll keep you laughing, delight you with her storytelling, and best of all remind you of the ultimate truth that you are beloved.
Whether you know Erin already from the Faith Adjacent podcast or this is your first introduction, you're in good hands. Enjoy the journey.
March 10, 2025
hot damn this is a good one
March 27, 2025
I have said this before and will say it again, Erin and I could hang out and have an awesome time.
January 27, 2025
Deconstruction in a faith context is a term that has come to have some negative connotations. And yet the process of thinking through what you believe and why, of tweaking, of reconsidering things you’d been taught and believed firm…is something people of faith have been doing since the beginning, and is such a normal part of the process.
Enter Erin and her book. IGQ walks alongside a reader contemplating questions of faith. She doesn’t do it as a guide who is going to teach and instruct each step of the way, but rather like a fun friend or sister who will come alongside while through screams of anger, tears of heartbreak, laughter in joy and absurdity. She lets the reader know that asking questions is just fine, that God can handle it, and that doubts and belief are fluid and ever-changing. She does this with references to pop culture, dabbling in science and the arts, and with humor. She also does it through sincere empathy with what the reader is going through, because she’s walked through it herself.
If you, too, have had questions, or have been in shouting matches with God, whether literal or figurative or both; if you have felt scared of where the questions may lead; if you’ve ever wanted a trusted companion to sit with you and reassure you through it all, you will find it in this beautiful book and Erin.
Give it a read and thank me. And don’t miss out on the preorder bonuses (Free audiobook! Free content from her website!). Snag the book before its 2/4/2025 release date!
Enter Erin and her book. IGQ walks alongside a reader contemplating questions of faith. She doesn’t do it as a guide who is going to teach and instruct each step of the way, but rather like a fun friend or sister who will come alongside while through screams of anger, tears of heartbreak, laughter in joy and absurdity. She lets the reader know that asking questions is just fine, that God can handle it, and that doubts and belief are fluid and ever-changing. She does this with references to pop culture, dabbling in science and the arts, and with humor. She also does it through sincere empathy with what the reader is going through, because she’s walked through it herself.
If you, too, have had questions, or have been in shouting matches with God, whether literal or figurative or both; if you have felt scared of where the questions may lead; if you’ve ever wanted a trusted companion to sit with you and reassure you through it all, you will find it in this beautiful book and Erin.
Give it a read and thank me. And don’t miss out on the preorder bonuses (Free audiobook! Free content from her website!). Snag the book before its 2/4/2025 release date!
February 20, 2025
I've been learning from Erin Moon since someone linked the podcast episode she made about purity culture way back in 2020. She is such a gentle teacher and this book was no different. If you have ever struggled with your faith, or people who practice your faith, this book is for you. If you need someone to take your face in their hands and remind you that Jesus loves you, this book is for you. Reading this book is like talking with a trusted friend. She doesn't talk down to you. She doesn't minimize what you might be going through. And she does it with grace and a big dose of humor while also being quite poignant. Did I expect to cry reading a chapter entitle White Lion Hot Dog Jonathan Jesus? No, no I did not. But I certainly did. Did I expect to cry reading the acknowledgements? Also no. But also I did. I'm so thankful for Erin, her ministry, and now this book. We don't deserve Erin H. Moon but I'm so glad we have her. Also, sorry to all my friends if you didn't want another book from me this year, this is all your birthday presents.
Thank you to NetGalley and Baker Books for the advance copy to read for my honest reivew.
Thank you to NetGalley and Baker Books for the advance copy to read for my honest reivew.
February 5, 2025
I get why some may find this book useful. However, to me, Erin’s tone and style come across as belittling, insensitive and rude. I understand it’s a style, but it’s just not for me.
It also frustrates me to no end that she constantly calls herself a “Resident Bible Scholar�. She has a BA in theatre for crying out loud. That’s like me, who cooks only cereal, telling everyone to give me the title, “Michelin Star Chef�. It’s a lie, meant to make her look better than she is and qualified for something she’s most definitely not. Plain and simple. It drives me crazy.
It also frustrates me to no end that she constantly calls herself a “Resident Bible Scholar�. She has a BA in theatre for crying out loud. That’s like me, who cooks only cereal, telling everyone to give me the title, “Michelin Star Chef�. It’s a lie, meant to make her look better than she is and qualified for something she’s most definitely not. Plain and simple. It drives me crazy.
April 1, 2025
This book was so incredibly refreshing. I loved Erin's approach, her personality, and especially her language.
Intead of summarizing Erin's words, here are some of my favorite quotes....
+ "You may be afraid, you may be tired, you may be sad, you may be pissed, but you're definitely not the problem."8
+ "That grief we feel is a direct correlation to the love we have for the whole thing."
+ "Just because you're not getting fed somewhere doesn't mean you have to starve. We've just got to find somewhere else to eat."
+ "Is it possible the questions come not because you're trouble, but because you see trouble? Could it be that you doubt not because you're wrong, but because something is wrong? Are you faithless, or are you faithful to something thicker than empty creeds and heartier than temporary power grabs? Are you poison, causing dissension, and division, or are you truth serum?"
+ "You don't have to prove your journey (drink) to anyone."
+ "I often see hope as an exercise in futility."
+ "I'm mad because this is IMPORTANT TO ME...The amount of rage and frustration directly correlates to how important something is to me...Your broken heart, your anger, your rage, your frustration, they're marquees naming what is important to you."
+ "We're all at least a little bit wrong about God."
+ "What if that was it? What if loving God and loving people is the work of our lives, and we filter everything in our faith through that?"
Intead of summarizing Erin's words, here are some of my favorite quotes....
+ "You may be afraid, you may be tired, you may be sad, you may be pissed, but you're definitely not the problem."8
+ "That grief we feel is a direct correlation to the love we have for the whole thing."
+ "Just because you're not getting fed somewhere doesn't mean you have to starve. We've just got to find somewhere else to eat."
+ "Is it possible the questions come not because you're trouble, but because you see trouble? Could it be that you doubt not because you're wrong, but because something is wrong? Are you faithless, or are you faithful to something thicker than empty creeds and heartier than temporary power grabs? Are you poison, causing dissension, and division, or are you truth serum?"
+ "You don't have to prove your journey (drink) to anyone."
+ "I often see hope as an exercise in futility."
+ "I'm mad because this is IMPORTANT TO ME...The amount of rage and frustration directly correlates to how important something is to me...Your broken heart, your anger, your rage, your frustration, they're marquees naming what is important to you."
+ "We're all at least a little bit wrong about God."
+ "What if that was it? What if loving God and loving people is the work of our lives, and we filter everything in our faith through that?"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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