Book Review: Idiot, Sojourning Soul

Rosolino writes in a personal, no-holds-barred style. Between his personal vignettes and funny subtitles, there is plenty of entertainment and food for thought. I appreciate his integrity and blunt-force honesty.

American Christianity is, indeed, way off track. Rosolino covers the multitude of ways that colonialism and oppression have superseded the message of Jesus. I’m with him 100% in Spirit. I only wish the points he is trying to make are more accessible. His 34 page Bibliography and over 1000 endnotes are overwhelming in their sheer volume. I would dearly love an index to find some threads on various topics that he approaches from many different angles.

Having said all that – A resounding YES to his runaway-train-of-thought! The stories he tells are like many of us who love Jesus but have our issues with the Church (USA version). He rightly points out the concern of most church historians and church growth gurus – there is a generational shift away from things religious. Pew studies have, for years, pointed to the rising growth of secular-minded persons. The reality of a 21st-century mindset means that medieval thinking and theologies need to be deconstructed and rebuilt. Rosolino attempts the balancing act of retaining his faith in the Jesus of compassion and transformation, while still using logic, science, and humanity to ground himself.

Parts of his story are laugh-aloud funny. Parts are… painfully white and middle class. He owns both.

A bit of editing and indexing, and I’d give this 5 stars.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher for review purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”