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Benjamin L. Corey
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Unafraid: Moving Beyond Fear-Based Faith Kindle Edition

by Benjamin L. Corey (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 136 ratings
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The creator of the popular Formerly Fundie blog on Patheos explains how the "American Christianity" we are currently taught is actually a fear-saturated distortion of biblical faith.

Benjamin L. Corey thought he was suffering a crisis of faith, but it turned out to be a spiritual awakening.

Corey became aware that the constant fear of hell and judgment that defined his Christian faith was out of sync with the idea that God acts from love, and promises to deliver us from fear. In the wake of this realization came newfound insights—from reading the Bible to re-examining American life and the church's role in the wider world. Corey learned that what he had been taught was a distorted version of Christianity that was not only untrue but caused real spiritual harm.

He also discovered that he wasn’t alone. Many Christians are yearning to distinguish between the Christianity that has become a rigid American civil religion and the authentic Christian faith embodied in Jesus. As he recounts his own spiritual journey, Corey offers a powerful and inspiring message of hope for every Christian increasingly frustrated with the church today. Do not be discouraged, he assures them. You do not need to give up your faith; you can rediscover the reality of a vibrant Christianity that delivers us from fear and inspires and guides us all today.

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  1. Print length
    224 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    HarperOne
  5. Publication date
    November 7, 2017
  6. File size
    852 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
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  9. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

Review

''Unafraid is a poignantly familiar story for those of us who grew up in a religion that made us fear the wrath of a punitive God. A powerful resource for Christians wanting to fully embrace the unconditional love of God.'' --Kristen Howerton, blogger at Rage Against the Minivan

''I loved Unafraid. Corey shows us what it means to explore our faith and embrace life in the midst of spiritual wrestling. In the end, Unafraid leads us to find an authentic and life-giving faith that isn't determined by needing to have it all right.'' --Trey Pearson, Christian musician

''Benjamin Corey has a way of capturing the heart of Jesus and his message. . . . You'll find in this book a jolt of full-strength gospel and high-test challenge along with undiluted encouragement.'' --Brian D. McLaren, author, speaker, and activist

''If you've reached your tipping point, Benjamin L. Corey's Unafraid is just what you need. He shows you a way out of fear-based faith that doesn't require you to lose your faith, but rather, to rediscover it as something bigger, better, and more alive.'' --Brian D. McLaren, author of The Great Spiritual Migration

''In a winsome way Benjamin Corey offers a life-boat to Christians who have been taught a frightening caricature of biblical faith. He invites his readers to unlearn that caricature in order to recognize gospel faith that is joyous, life-affirming, and emancipatory.'' --Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary

''Corey, a survivor of some of the worst expressions of ''evangelism by terrorism'' to be found in fundamentalism, leads other terrorized believers beyond a fear-based faith. I have no doubt that Unafraid will help many, many people retain or recover their Christian faith.'' --Brian Zahnd, pastor of Word of Life Church in St. Joseph, Missouri, and author of Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God

''Amazingly, Ben Corey has made Unafraid feel like a conversation you'd have with a good friend. This vulnerable and engaging book has a life of its own, putting into words what many Christians have felt too afraid to say. By book's end, I felt like a child of God.'' --Caleb Wilde, author of Confessions of a Funeral Director

''As a tiny girl, I went to church in curly ribbons and ruffled dresses, and soon became captive to a faith of hell fire and relentless fear. In this compassionate book, Corey speaks peace to that small child, and reminding us all that we can face life unafraid.'' --Carol Howard Merritt, author of Healing Spiritual Wounds

''Whether you are paralyzed by spiritual fear or running from a God you no longer understand, Unafraid is a pause in the midst of panic -- a chance to breathe into breakthrough.'' --Reba Riley, author of Post Traumatic Church Syndrome

''Corey offers us his most vulnerable, passionate, and honest sermon. In Unafraid, Corey shows us his fears and empowers us to resist being afraid, to let go of our anxieties, to take a chance on believing again, and to experience God with utter freedom, the way we were meant to.'' --Matthew Paul Turner, bestselling author of When God Made You, Churched, and Hear No Evil

''Benjamin L. Corey is the fresh new voice that is going to lead the next generation of Jesus followers into a more beautiful expression of Christianity.'' --Frank Schaeffer, New York Times best-selling author of Keeping Faith

''It seems so obvious: 'God is not a terrorist.' Yet, as Benjamin Corey points out, too many of us say 'God is Love' but actually believe in a God who is Fear. Walk with him through these pages and find a new path to love.'' --Diana Butler Bass, author of Grounded: Finding God in the World, A Spiritual Revolution

From the Back Cover

GOD IS NOT TO BE FEARED!

Benjamin L. Corey thought he was suffering a crisis of faith. But what he was going through was a spiritual awakening. Corey documents his growing awareness that the version of Christianity he was raised with was built upon a foundation of fear—fear of our sins, fear of hell, fear of God’s judgment, fear of becoming heretical, fear of getting the faith wrong, and much more. But he also knew that God was supposed to deliver us from fear. So how did Christian faith get so intertwined with fear?

Corey realized that fear does not express faith, since Scripture makes clear that love is both God’s nature and God’s mandate to us, and that these are fully incompatible foundations for faith. In the wake of this realization came newfound insights. Corey learned that what he had been taught was a distorted version of Christianity that was not only untrue but caused real spiritual harm.

He also discovered that he wasn’t alone. Many Christians are yearning to return to the root of their faith, to learn how to distinguish between the Christianity that has become a rigid American civil religion and the authentic Christian faith embodied in Jesus and passed on by his disciples. As he recounts his own spiritual journey, Corey offers a powerful and inspiring message of hope for every Christian increasingly frustrated with fear-based Christianity. Do not be discouraged, he assures them. You do not need to give up your faith; you can rediscover the reality of a vibrant Christianity that delivers us from fear and inspires and guides us all today.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01N5J5G8Z
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperOne; Reprint edition (November 7, 2017)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 7, 2017
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 852 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 136 ratings

About the author

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Benjamin L. Corey

Benjamin L. Corey

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Dr. Benjamin L. Corey, is a provocative Christian author, speaker, and blogger. His articles are read by millions each year on platforms such as: TIME, Patheos, and Sojourners, among others. He has been an interviewed guest on CNN, HuffPo Live, and repeated appearances on John Fugelsang. He is a two-time graduate of Gordon-Conwell and holds his doctorate from Fuller Theological Seminary. Connect at www.benjaminlcorey.com

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
136 global ratings
Saying "Goodbye" To The God Of Fear
5 Stars
Saying "Goodbye" To The God Of Fear
Most varieties of Christianity promote a belief in a scary God who is easily offended and who seeks revenge for slights and failures of humans he calls his children. This is not the God Jesus showed us and it is the God Benjamin Corey seeks to free us from. In trading the turmoil of tribal theological systems we are invited to discover a Christianity where our faith in a God of love is rewarded by actually coming to know this God through Jesus. Corey brings us a glimpse of faith free from fear and a life of peace with God, others, and ourselves.
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Top reviews from the United States

lv2sew
5.0 out of 5 stars Shows the way out of fear-based faith and into peace
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2023
Verified Purchase
Corey does an excellent job of explaining his journey out of fear-based faith and into being Unafraid. There are so very many who have been raised in what he refers to as "biblicism". "The heresy of Biblicism, however, promulgates the functional belief in a four-person Godhead rather than belief in the Trinity... God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit- but it includes a dangerous fourth person: God the Holy Scriptures... in Biblicism, the Bible itself becomes God." (p. 54) And the fallout- umpty-jillion interpretations resulting in over 40,000 denominations, with the Bible being used to justify whatever people want it to.

But the chapter that impacted me the most is Chapter 5- Ending the Endtimes Narrative. Herein lieth the source of the fear that has crippled so very many. He goes into the history of what many of us have been taught about the so-called end times, and it all started with a dude named Darby. Talk about an eye-opener. And then the fallout from that- the industries that have profited off of it all. Oh my.

Corey has a wonderful, humorous style that made me snort coffee more than once. I highly recommend this one.
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Glenda
5.0 out of 5 stars Corey Brought Me Revival!
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2023
Verified Purchase
It's been many years since I've actually attended a revival...Yet, I've been at a week-long wonderful experience with Benjamin L. Corey, in which Reverend Corey provides readers with his own testimony about his own revival experience, in which he now shares that he...and I...and You...do not need to be afraid! Hallelujah!

For surely, I have been blessed by the book Unafraid and at the end of the first day of reading, I was grinning, thanking God for sending me this book, for surely it was the one that all others had been building up to...at least until the next one! LOL

For surely, God wants to never stop sharing with us, His children... His Love is so wonderful, so powerful that there is absolutely NO limits to it! Praise His Name!

Corey starts his story when he was young and was always doing something to gain approval...like being the best scripture memorizer and winning awards for that and then moves on to talk about his growing up in a conservative home and learning all that he must do to be accepted as one of God's children...

And, of course, along the way, he learned from the hell and damnation preachers who threatened the fires of hell if he didn't...whatever...was on the mind of the preacher that day...

And how he met with problems in his home life, losing his children that he loved... Of course, each one of us may have a similar background, perhaps? But each of us has our own personal story that reflects our own early home environment and church life. I was moving along with the Reverend, thinking about how his life compared with mine--something we all do, don't we? Well, the main thing I was thinking was that I really had no fear of God...

Or did I?

Folks, in over 60 years of reading book after book about God and Jesus--both nonfiction and fiction, I have never had My Personal Questions addressed as I found in this book--I've already ordered another book by this same author. For, you know, folks, I know that I know that I know that God has touched this man and he has a story to tell you that has been given to him by The Holy Spirit. It was a hard story for him to write. For some, it will be a hard story to read. Me, I was so excited that in some way, through what I call a God Incident, I had been led to this book!

Perhaps it was because of the title! For surely, with what is happening in America, so many of us are afraid. And most of that fear, in my opinion, is based upon the political climate that now exists today!

There is no way I can tell whether this book will touch you like it did me. All that I can tell you is that Corey has brought a revival to my spirit and I feel so Alive! And, of course, I call this a must-read if you are indeed afraid... Because, today, I say, I have no fear except from those individuals living in America. Who do not know that God is The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit! Once again I have no fear for I know that God is Alive...and Watching...and In Control!

And what happens may not be what many Americans will expect...

May His Spirit Touch YOU This Day! Check out complementary music at Book Readers Heaven, if you enjoy singing!

GABixlerReviews
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Luvmwyf
4.0 out of 5 stars Similar journey
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2017
Verified Purchase
As a former pastor I did find myself relating many times with his journey. I think this is a great book to share with others.
4 people found this helpful
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anonymous
5.0 out of 5 stars He also clearly shows how Christianity based on love is far superior to the fear-based Christianity many are ...
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2017
Verified Purchase
This book is profoundly thought provoking. The author shares some of his personal experiences of growing up in a rural fundamentalism. He also clearly shows how Christianity based on love is far superior to the fear-based Christianity many are exposed to today. Christianity based on love is also the type of Christianity that Jesus intended. My favorite chapter—chapter 5 (Ending the End-Times Narrative)—gives a glimpse into historical perspective on one reason why modern day christianity has become increasingly fear based.

A captivating writing style, raw authenticity, and compelling evidence….it’s all found in this book. Get it, read it, share it….it will change your life!!
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Sandra Scott
5.0 out of 5 stars I found it confirming many things and changes that are ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 10, 2018
Verified Purchase
I found it confirming many things and changes that are taking place in the body of Christ at this time. Also a challennge
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Jean Draper
4.0 out of 5 stars Be open and see what you can learn
Reviewed in Canada on February 25, 2018
Verified Purchase
I’ve been in “parking lots” my entire life and this helped me understand why. I have loved Jesus but definitely never fit in at any church or anywhere for that matter! This book affirms a faith in Christ is not the same thing as a church membership. I’ve known this intellectually but found great comfort that I’m not a “backslider” or heretic because I can’t do it “their way”. Here’s to growing in love - the greatest and really only commandment!
One person found this helpful
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