Book Review: Evolving in Monkey Town by Rachel Held Evans

I heard about Rachel Held Evans a while back, and I even have one of her books. Then I downloaded Evolving in Monkey Town from my Libby app. There are so many aspects of this book that touched me that it might be hard to hit them all, but I’ll try!

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Evolving in Monkey Town

Eighty years after the Scopes Monkey Trial made a spectacle of Christian fundamentalism and brought national attention to her hometown, Rachel Held Evans faced a trial of her own when she began to have doubts about her faith.

Growing up in a culture obsessed with apologetics, Evans asks questions she never thought she would ask. She learns that in order for her faith to survive in a postmodern context, it must adapt to change and evolve.

Using as an illustration her own spiritual journey from certainty, through doubt, to faith, Evans adds a unique perspective to the ongoing dialogue about postmodernism and the church that has so captivated the Christian community in recent years. In a changing cultural environment where new ideas threaten the safety and security of the faith, Evolving in Monkey Town is a fearlessly honest story of survival.

GENRE

Christian Living

AVAILABILITY

Pretty much anywhere!

Evolving in Monkey Town is also titled Faith Unraveled. This LINK will take you to a study guide, discussion kit, and more! It’s also available on Audible!

The Scopes Monkey Trial

Anyhow, back to the book. The Scopes Monkey Trial is something I’d heard of, but never really knew what it was. It was actually a setup. A man decided he wanted the city of Dayton, TN, to be “on the map.” The ACLU had offered to support any Tennessee schoolteacher who would challenge the state’s anti-evolution laws. The man convinced several other businessmen in Dayton that if they hosted this test trial, the town would reap the economic benefits.

Enter John T. Scopes. I won’t summarize the whole thing except to say that Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan got involved. Read the book if you want to know more. 😉

What the book is really about

Because here’s the thing, Rachel Held Evans’ Evolving in Monkey Town is a candid, honest exploration of faith, doubt, and her personal journey. Evans conveys a deep respect for her evangelical roots even while she questions what she’s learned and how she’s learned it.

“I evolved, not into a better creature than those around me but into a better more adapted me – a me who wasn’t afraid of her own ideas and doubts and intuitions, a me whose faith could survive change.” Rachel Held Evans, Evolving in Monkey Town

She courageously wrestles with some of the most difficult questions in Christianity: the problem of suffering, the exclusivity of salvation, and the tension between faith and reason. She doesn’t offer pat answers. Instead, she models what it looks like to hold faith and doubt in creative tension, finding beauty and freedom in the uncertainty.

Faith is personal

I’m not the wordsmith Evans was, but I related to so many of the things she said. Faith is personal. We should make it ours. Sometimes we ask questions to do that. She writes with the clarity of a journalist and the soul of a seeker. At times, she’s warm, funny, and deeply compassionate without being condescending.

“However, I have a feeling that if Darwin turns out to be right, the Christian faith won’t fall apart after all. Faith is more resilient than that.” Rachel Held Evans, Evolving in Monkey Town

I think readers who have felt alienated by rigid doctrine or who are navigating their own spiritual shifts will find a kinship in her story.

Evolving in Monkey Town is a beacon for anyone longing to ask big questions without fear of judgment. Rachel Held Evans doesn’t just give us permission to evolve; she shows us that faith can grow, expand, and even thrive in the face of doubt.

“Being a Christian … is about embodying a certain way …living as an incarnation of Jesus … It is about being Jesus…in tennis shoes.” Rachel Held Evans, Evolving in Monkey Town

What is your monkey town?

I love biographies and memoirs, especially when the author is struggling with a concept or belief. What kind of nonfiction do you like? Let me know in the comments!

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Hi, I’m Jen! I’ve been married for 39 years, have 5 amazing kids, and have 3 adorable grandkids. I homeschooled our three youngest children and used to blog about homeschooling. I also taught Oral Communication as an adjunct instructor for over 5 years.

Jen Dodrill Writes is born of a passion of mine – to write a novel! My first cozy mystery – Birds Alive! – released Feb. 27, 2024 and the 2nd in the series, Where’s the Quetzal? released Feb. 25, 2025!

When I’m not working, you’ll find me writing, spending time with my family, or curled up on the couch reading and drinking a mug of dark roast coffee. (Don’t forget to check out my mug shop – JDMugs!)