Blessed Are the Nones: Mixed-Faith Marriage and My Search for Spiritual Community

In this illuminating debut memoir, Kielsmeier-Cook explores the concept of spiritual singleness. After Kielsmeier-Cook’s formerly Christian husband became agnostic after three years together, they were left to navigate the challenges of a mixed-faith marriage. She mentions her concerns about the statistically high divorce rate in couples of “evangelicals and religious ‘nones,’” and recounts how she came to find fellowship among a group of local Catholic nuns, whose friendship make Kielsmeier-Cook realize she was not spiritually single. Describing the joy the nuns bring to their community, Kielsmeier-Cook inspires her husband to become more active in the church community even as he remains agnostic. Kielsmeier-Cook credits the nuns with spurring her to practice the virtues of kindness, patience, and gentleness with her family. Kielsmeier-Cook offers no pat platitudes (“This book will not save your marriage or convert your loved one”) and instead shares her story in order to “testify to a God who is good, who blesses believers and agnostics alike.” Kielsmeier-Cook’s questioning yet committed dedication to her faith will appeal and relate to any Christian within a mixed-faith home. (Sept.)

Correction: An earlier version of this review misstated how long the author and her husband had been together when he told her he was agnostic. It also mischaracterized the way the author addressed divorce statistics.