Churched

One Kid's Journey Toward God Despite a Holy Mess

By: Matthew Paul Turner

Narrated by: Matthew Paul Turner

He spent his childhood trapped within the confines of countless bizarre, strict rules. And lived to tell about it. In this first-hand account, author Matthew Paul Turner shares amusing - sometimes cringe-worthy - and poignant stories about growing up in a fundamentalist household, where even well-intentioned contemporary Christian music was proclaimed to be "of the devil".

Churched is a collection of stories that detail an American boy's experiences growing up in a culture where men weren't allowed to let their hair grow to touch their ears ("an abomination"), women wouldn't have been caught dead in a pair of pants (unless swimming), and the pastor couldn't preach a sermon without a healthy dose of hellfire and brimstone. Matthew grapples with the absurdity of a Sunday School Barbie burning, the passionate annual boxing match between the pastor and Satan, and the holiness of being baptized a fifth time - while growing into a young man who, amidst the chaotic mess of religion, falls in love with Jesus.

©2011 Matthew Paul Turner (P)2011 Matthew Paul Turner

I relate to this

Matthew's accuracy and tongue in cheek humor is making me LOL and cry at intervals through this book.
I also grew up in an IFB church & school. I also asked the forbidden questions. And I also found God despite a holy mess. 🥰

Good story, rough production

I related well to a lot of the stories. I really appreciate the authors perspective. They accounts are well written.

There were several times where there's a sentence repeated. I think this is a mistake in production and editing.

Excellent retelling of the silliness of my youth

MTP excellent work here.
Im reading this now well after knowing the back story.

Why do adults actually put up with the craziness of IFBism. Im glad it's behind me.

i love the piano music [LIE]

Trying too hard

From the stories themselves, to the narration and production, it’s all just too exaggerative and is trying too hard to be funny. Too sarcastic and too bitter in my opinion.

meh.

Bloopers weren't edited out. Entire story had a bit of a sarcastic, over the top, trying too hard to be funny kind of tone to it. The epilogue and conclusion were best.