Wounded in the Name of God

Rating:
Summary: Brent Coleman courageously exposes his personal odyssey
Review: This is a somewhat autobiographical story of the author's life as a young man trying to find his way in a world that imposes itself on his inquisitive self. As part of this arduous journey, Mr. Coleman took up the pen and boldly tells a story that few would have the energy or strength to lay before the public eye.

In doing so he tells a tale that needs to be told of a gay boy who finds self acceptance and love as a gay man. The book is broken into the two major parts: The wounding years and the healing years. This is more than just a book of recovery from religious wounding, though. It is somewhat a story of philosophical journey. It is a story of the author's life told with humor and clarity and without reservation. I felt as though I were living the experiences with the author as I read the story. There may be other religious recovery books, and books about gay men finding themselves in an unsupportive culture; but I have yet to see a story of the two combined together in the way the author does here. He details the grueling psychological and emotional work that lies before the gay man who is lost in fundamental Christian thinking; and demonstrates that it can be done.

In exposing the inner workings of a man fighting many odds to gain his self, the author provides vivid images of conversations and experiences that helped him forge his way. He learns as he goes that the 'truths' he learned as a youth may not necessarily be true; and that in order to find yourself you must be willing to take chances and challenge your own thinking (as well as the thinking around you). He wrote the book in three short months following the aftermath of the events of September 11. In doing so he shows us the courage and vulnerability it will likely take to forge a world that can live together peaceably.

As the author states, many have died in the name of God. I think he teaches us that if this is to change, we must all be willing to question those things we consider to be 'Truth.' Perhaps his tale will help us realize that we need to challenge ourselves so we have the ability to live according to the Golden Rule genuinely from our hearts. I would like to thank him for telling his story and vividly reminding me of the tender moments in my own journey. Congratulations on a meaningful work, Mr. Coleman