This is a book that has really affected me. I read it through the first time, then again taking my time and digesting it, and again a third time to really resolve my feelings about it. That's a rarity for me, and I admit it took several months to accomplish. BUT, it is really worth it! This is a powerful book that reaches out to those of us who have been questioning our beliefs, while still believing.
Myself, I have struggled with this for many years. I have tried multiple different churches, some good, some not so good. Each one wanting to force you into their "box", or core set of acceptable beliefs and behaviors. I have had several very uncomfortable experiences with "the Church". It seems like they are more concerned with their own preservation, than they are in spreading information. Greed, hypocrisy, dismissal of anything outside their doctrine, and at times, downright lying.
Swan goes through his own experiences, then turns to the past in what was the early days of Christianity. As I read the book, it reminded me of the deep, philosophical discussions we had late nights in college. Comfortable, non-judgemental, probing talks among friends and fellow classmates.
Questioning talks, without blindly accepting what we were taught in the churches we grew up in.
I want to thank the author for bringing me back to those conversations and ruminations. I'm still a work in progress, but the author makes me feel better about that.
Loved the book!

From the beginning, the writer points out things that are “evangelical” without using the word. He provides a scenario framing the distinct vocabulary and attitudes that some churches carry. “The don’ts are bigger than the do’s.” I definitely went to churches like this.

The author then confesses that he’s allergic to churches (and provides his reasoning). From there, he lays out history and the bible, along with his interpretation as well as other interpretations. His reasoning is clear for his deductions.

The book is good for making a believer think. I don’t agree with all that he said, but I think he’s comfortable with that.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the free copy*

This is a very thought-provoking book and I’m happy to have received it. The author dives deep into philosophy, history, language, and of course all sort of religious scripture to plea the case for a more expansive understanding of Christianity.

While I do feel enriched reading this, I do feel the need to mention that some portions are repeated (sometimes whole paragraphs that are the same, just reworded). I’m also not really a fan of the fictional introduction and the imagined conversation between the reader and the author at the beginning at every chapter. I’d rank it 3.75 stars if I could, because the book is great but it could use some trimming.

Overall, I was very intrigued by the author’s point of view and thought it was well defended. If you’re interested at all in the topics in the summary, do give it a read.

This book is basically a guide to the history of Christianity and how the modern evangelical church (especially in the United States) became the way it is. It draws from many different sources and gave me lots of ideas of future reading to learn more. UNBOXING GOD is all about how God, and faith, live in the gray areas despite our efforts to find 100% certainty about who and what he/she/they/it is. One of my favorite quotes is: “A person whose beliefs are static is a person who is not growing.” I took an entire month to read UNBOXING GOD because it was so dense and packed with information. It made me think and ask questions. I would recommend it to anybody who wants to understand the history of the Christian church and who isn't afraid of asking questions.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a review copy.

Unboxing God by Alden Swan is like having a late-night convo with a thoughtful friend — the one who challenges your beliefs without trying to destroy them. It’s not a flashy book, but it is full of reflections that make you pause and think deeper.

One standout quote that sums up Swan’s approach is:

“If you are going to go through the trouble of deciding whether to believe or not that someone exists, at least try to know who you do or don't believe in.”
Honestly… most of us do this every day — whether it's choosing a friend group or buying a product. You research, test, compare. But when it comes to God and eternity? We often skip that step. 🤔 A rational person would think twice.

Swan’s writing encourages that kind of thoughtful exploration. He references everyone from G.K. Chesterton to Galileo to the Apostle Paul, making it clear that asking questions isn’t rebellion — it’s growth.

“A person whose beliefs are static is a person who is not growing.”

That hit me. God never told us to shut our minds off — in fact, Paul tells us to test the spirit. So… what fruit is your current path producing? 🍇

I especially loved the reminder that while Christianity has rules, those rules exist so good things can run wild.

“The more I considered Christianity, the more I found that while it had established a rule and order, the chief aim of that order was to give room for good things to run wild.” — G.K. Chesterton

We often put God in a box because we think the “rules” are too rigid or boring — but Jesus said, “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Are we letting sin keep us from the peace found in Christ? That rest is a gift — not a punishment.

ALL TIME FAV!!
“Jesus is not like Tinker Bell, kept alive by belief.”
He doesn’t need us to believe in Him to exist… yet He offers us everlasting life through belief. That's not something you can fit in a box. ✨

As described by Swan, this isn’t a how-to manual on faith. It’s more like a series of thought experiments, quotes, and nudges that ask, “What if you took a closer look at what you believe — and why?” There are some slow-moving sections (that my POV, may be different for others), and not every reference hits, but it’s well worth the time if you’re open to a different kind of faith conversation.