Welcome to the Oatmeal for Breakfast book corner. I (Jonathan) will attempt to use this space to review some of the books I’ve read, if they are, in fact, worth reviewing. This one was.
Crazy for God: How I Grew Up As One Of The Elect, Helped Found The Religious Right, And Lived To Take All (Or Almost All) Of It Back by Frank Schaeffer. (Book Website.)
When I picked this up in the bookstore, I was expecting an autobiographical Prodigal Son story, in the manner of Franklin Graham (the “Rebel With a Cause“). Children of superstar evangelists seem almost inexorably drawn to life outside their parents’ fame and faith, and just as drawn back to the fold after they’ve strayed. Then they write a book about it.
It’s possible, though unlikely, that you haven’t heard of Francis Schaeffer. He was one of the few men of God who successfully brought the Gospel to the “hippie generation.” In the late 50′s, he founded a little place in Switzerland called L’Abri where students could come to study and ask questions about spirituality. His approach to theology and apologetics was conversational, down-to-earth, practical and completely free of the stuffy organized religion that was understandably unpopular with free-thinking types. He consequently became famous as an author, then a speaker and eventually was propelled to evangelical superstardom.
About two-thirds of the book covers the story of Frank’s childhood and coming-of-age: the family vacations to Portofino; his parents’ rocky relationship and flawed personalities; his escapades in boarding school; how he met his wife; the love of art and culture that eclipsed anything else his parents taught him. We learn about what L’Abri was like behind the scenes and exactly how invisible he felt when his parents were consumed with “the Lord’s work.” (Frank always puts Christian-ese phrases like that one in quotes in his writing.)
The remaining third covers Frank’s part in his father’s rise in the evangelical Christian world, and Frank’s struggle to reconcile himself with the increasingly powerful evangelical right-wing movement forming around the political activism he and his father had stirred up. Frank is deeply critical of the men that spearheaded the movement and even more critical of himself for allowing what was for him a simple issue–abortion–to become a rallying cry for a group with whom he shared almost nothing else. He describes the events that unfolded with a kind of dispassionate disgust for the people he worked for and with.
Crazy for God is a supremely misleading title. I don’t think it spoils the ending to tell you that Frank never was “crazy for God,” and still isn’t now. But, with his father’s gift for words, Frank’s description of his struggle with faith is compelling, and his self-critical look at the ugly underbelly of the evangelical movement is a good gut-check for anyone who’s ever been part of it.
It’s a book worth reading, for the stories and the honesty and the questions it’ll generate. Just take my advice and queue up a more upbeat book to read afterwards. You’ll thank me later.
Hi Jonathan. I was quite interested (and pleasantly surprised) to see your review of Frank’s latest book. I think you do an accurate job in your review, although there is much more to Frank’s relationship with his famous mother and father than comes across in this one book. I happen to know Frank quite well and still communicate with him several times a year. Back in the 70′s my promotional company in San Jose, CA was involved in doing work for Schaeffer V Productions, the company that in one form or another produced the two Schaeffer book and film series’, “How Should We Then Live?” and “Whatever Happened To the Human Race?”. We knew Francis & Edith fairly well, but never saw the “struggle” side Frank depicts in the book. It was an incredible experience to be involved with them back then, and we have many wonderful memories, but, as well, could probably add many more to the sad “evangelical” stories Frank often “colorfully” describes. Next time we have opportunity to get together I’ll bore you with a few “stories” if you have any interest. The life and times of the Schaeffers is a most interesting, often soap-operish, saga. BTW, all is not lost with Frank; his faith has just “morphed” a bit.
-Cousin Roger
Roger, that’s fascinating! I had no idea that you know the family personally. (and it’s a good thing I didn’t or I’d probably have been afraid to talk about Frank’s book in front of you!). I’d love to hear your perspective and stories sometime.
There is certainly no problem whatsoever in talking “in front of me” (or behind me, for that matter:-). As you know by reading the book, Frank likes to use the “extreme” end of most issues to enhance the dramatic. He is the same way as a public speaker (really a fine orator, btw) and at the personal level as well. Discussions with him are quite “interesting” (as well as hilariously funny). I said you did a very honest and fair review, and I stick by that. In truth, his vitriol has increased a bit as he’s “matured,” and I’m not quite sure why. I remember him questioning the inconsistencies in the lives of those older “evangelical” leaders, but at the time it seemed more humorous than acidic. I grew up in the “evangelical world”, as did Frank, and much of the frustration we all felt with the “movement” ended up getting expressed in a variety of ways. This book reflects Frank’s feelings. In our case, we moved to a more mainline worship experience. Anyway, you did a fine book review; keep it up!
And here I was, anticipating that you and Kelly would review Twilight……