A takedown of the white Christian nationalism that has infiltrated some corners of American Christianity; a new book from the "Pastors Wives Tell All" podcasters; and more new religion books publishing in April.
Fiction
April 9
The Surface of Water by Cynthia Beach (IVP Formatio, $20 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-5140-0753-2). To help meet the demands of his flock, megachurch pastor Matthew Goodman hires a 25-year-old administrative assistant, who turns out to have hidden motives for taking the job.
The Songbird of Hope Hill by Kim Vogel Sawyer (Waterbrook, $18 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-593-60081-8) sees a young and penniless woman escaping a 19th-century Texas brothel with a sympathetic preacher and his son, who might become a love interest if she can surmount insecurities that her past has rendered her impure in God’s eyes.
Nonfiction
April 2
An Introduction to the Making and Meaning of the Bible by Michael B. Shepherd (Eerdmans, $26.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-8028-8393-3) chronicles the formation of the biblical canon and proposes a mode of scriptural interpretation centered on Jesus’s promise of salvation.
An Autobiography of Trauma: A Healing Journey by Peter A. Levine, (Park Street Press, $18.99, ISBN 979-8-8885-0076-7) is an intimate memoir from the renowned developer of Somatic Experiencing and the bestselling author of Waking the Tiger.
The God of Wild Places: Rediscovering the Divine in the Untamed Outdoors by Tony Jones (Rowman & Littlefield, $24, ISBN 978-1-5381-8444-8) details how spending time outside helped the author connect with God after a personal crisis, and reflects on the transcendence and chaos found in nature.
Love Is Greater Than AIDS: A Memoir of Survival, Healing, and Hope by A. Stephen Pieters (Rowman & Littlefield, $29, ISBN 978-1-5381-8657-2) recounts the tumultuous life of an activist pastor who survived a notorious HIV antiviral trial and became a pioneering spokesman for those with the disease.
The False White Gospel: Rejecting Christian Nationalism, Reclaiming True Faith, and Refounding Democracy by Jim Wallis (St. Martin’s Essentials, $30, ISBN 978-1-250-29189-9) denounces white supremacist beliefs that Wallis claims have infiltrated American Christianity and calls for a return to core biblical tenets.
April 3
How Should We Then Die? A Christian Response to Physician-Assisted Death by Ewan C. Goligher (Lexham, $18.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-68359-747-6) makes a case, rooted in scriptural principles, against euthanasia.
April 9
Courage and Confidence: A Bold Guide to Unboxing Who You Were Created to Be by Nicole O. Salmon (NavPress, $16.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-64158-833-1) sets forth guidance on how Christians can stop second-guessing their actions, dismantle harmful thought patterns, and embrace their true selves.
The States of the Earth: An Ecological and Racial History of Secularization by Mohamed Amer Meziane, trans. by Jonathan Adjemian (Verso, $29.95 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-80429-177-1), dissects how the intertwined forces of empire, climate, and secularization have shaped the modern world.
April 23
Does Christianity Still Make Sense? A Former Skeptic Responds to Today’s Toughest Objections to Christianity by Bobby Conway (Tyndale Elevate, $17.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-4964-7643-2) tackles 20 faith-based questions, including why there is evil in the world and whether there is evidence to support God’s existence.
Creating a Culture of Repair: Taking Action on the Road to Reparations by Robert Turner (Westminster John Knox, $20 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-664-26807-7) lists more than 100 ways to alleviate racial injustice in believers’ communities, churches, and personal lives.
April 30
Pastors’ Wives Tell All: Navigating Real Church Life with Honesty and Humor by Stephanie Gilbert, Jessica Taylor, and Jenna Allen (Baker, Apr. 30, $18.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-1-5409-0374-7). The hosts of the eponymous podcast dish on parenting, relationships, setting boundaries, and why God embraces believers’ imperfections.
Colonial Hinduism: An Introduction by Amiya P. Sen (Mandala, Apr. 30, $39.99, ISBN 979-88-87620-75-6) tracks the far-reaching consequences of British rule in India, including the rise of a Hindu nationalism that eventually fell victim to its own excesses.
Power Moves: Ignite Your Confidence and Become a Force by Sarah Jakes Roberts (Thomas Nelson, Apr. 30, $29.99, ISBN 978-0-7852-9190-9) details how believers can tap into their authentic selves to connect with God and lead empowered lives.
The Religion of Whiteness: How Racism Distorts Christian Faith by Michael O. Emerson and Glenn E. Bracey II (Oxford Univ., Apr. 30, $24.99, ISBN 978-0-19-774628-8) argues that Christian nationalism and its perpetuation of racial inequality has assumed a religious importance for a majority of American believers.
Create a Life You Love: How to Quiet Outside Voices So You Can Finally Hear Your Own by Stephanie May Wilson (Zondervan, Apr. 30, $19.99 trade paper, ISBN 978-0-310-36755-0) aims to help believers cast off societal pressures in order to pinpoint and pursue their goals.
