Go Deeper

A short, powerful book asking what the message of Jesus means for those with their backs against the wall. Written by an African American theologian and mentor to Martin Luther King Jr., it remains one of the most honest readings of the Gospels ever written.

A rigorous but readable account of what historians can say with confidence about the life of Jesus. Sanders is one of the leading New Testament scholars of the twentieth century. This is the book to read if you want the historical evidence without the theology.

A compelling account of Jesus as a first-century Jewish revolutionary in occupied Palestine. Aslan places Jesus firmly in his historical and political context, showing how radical his message actually was. Accessible and well-written.

A landmark scholarly project in which over 200 biblical scholars voted on the historical authenticity of each saying attributed to Jesus. The result is a colour-coded edition of the Gospels that distinguishes what scholars believe Jesus actually said from later additions.

Crossan is one of the world's leading historical Jesus scholars. This accessible introduction argues that Jesus was a peasant Jewish cynic whose message of radical egalitarianism challenged the social and economic structures of his day.

A New York Times bestseller by a former evangelical Christian turned biblical scholar. Ehrman shows how the New Testament was copied, edited, and changed over centuries, and what that means for how we read it. Essential reading.

A biblical scholar and former evangelical writes about why doubt is not the enemy of faith but an essential part of it. Warm, honest, and deeply human. Ideal for people in the middle of deconstruction who aren't sure what they believe any more.

McLaren proposes a four-stage model of faith development, from simplicity through complexity, perplexity, and into a more mature, humble faith. Helpful for understanding where you are in the process and where you might be going.

A memoir of leaving the Jehovah's Witnesses, but its insights apply to anyone leaving a high-control religious group. Honest, beautifully written, and deeply compassionate about the difficulty of walking away from everything you've known.

McLaren argues that Christianity needs to migrate from a violent, tribal God to the God of love; from a system of beliefs to a way of life; and from a religion focused on its own survival to one focused on the common good.

The definitive guide to understanding how high-control groups use psychological techniques to recruit, retain, and control members. Hassan's BITE model (Behaviour, Information, Thought, Emotional control) is an invaluable tool for understanding your own experience.

Winell coined the term 'Religious Trauma Syndrome' and this book is the practical guide to understanding and recovering from it. Compassionate, evidence-based, and deeply practical.

One of the first books to name and describe spiritual abuse. The authors identify the patterns of control, shame, and manipulation used by religious leaders and institutions, and offer a path to healing.

Traces the origins of common church practices, from Sunday services to tithing to the pastor's salary, and shows that most of them have no basis in the New Testament. Controversial but meticulously researched.

An academic history of the prosperity gospel movement in America. Bowler is a historian at Duke Divinity School who later wrote a memoir about being diagnosed with terminal cancer while studying the prosperity gospel. Essential context.

Claiborne left a comfortable evangelical church to live in community with the poor in Philadelphia. This book is his account of trying to actually live the Sermon on the Mount. Inspiring, challenging, and very practical.

Written by the German theologian who was executed by the Nazis for his resistance, this short book describes what genuine Christian community looks like. Not a building, not a programme, but a way of life together.

A regularly updated blog by one of the world's leading New Testament scholars. Ehrman writes accessibly about the historical Jesus, the origins of the Bible, and early Christianity. Subscription-based but affordable.

A non-profit organisation providing support for people leaving religion. Includes a helpline, support groups, and extensive resources for those experiencing religious trauma.