Kate Bowler (1) (1980–)

Being a survivor of early onset cancer myself, I found Bowler's profoundly frank and funny memoir a welcome relief. She shines a bright light on what passes for sympathy in modern times and gives compelling insights into how dealing with "well-wishers" and "caregivers" can often be more fraught than the chemotherapy and invasive medical procedures. This book made me laugh out loud more than once and, if she can stop one more Prosperity Gospel devotee from engaging in the worst kind of victim show more blaming known to humankind, is easily some of the best wisdom you can get for under $20. Make it a must read for anyone with a cancer patient in their life. show less

A friend lent me her copy of Everything Happens for a Reason, and
I'm glad to have read this book. Kate Bowler is dying of colon (or is it liver? I'm not quite sure) cancer while living in two month increments of research in immunology therapy. Meanwhile, she loves her husband and two year-old son and teaches at Duke Divinity School. Her focus of study has been the prosperity gospel. While most of her readers will have rejected the televangelists' assertion that God rewards his good servants show more with material goodies, she pursues the other ways that we thoughtful Christians fail to question our good lives.
She pulls no punches. Knowing at age 35 that death in immanent is life shattering. Her thoughts and feelings ring true and give us who don't quite realize that we are also living in the in-between time a call to wake up, value, live fully, and be grateful for the time we have.
I wish for Kate the compassion that she would hope for her son Zach and the joy that she hopes for her husband Toban. show less

When I was young, a few months after I stopped attending church, my friends started going to a prosperity gospel church (non-denominational) that was down the street from the Pentecostal church my parents attended. It was a "Christian Center" back then with a school, a popular youth program, and guitar heavy worship music performed with ALL the colorful lights (my earliest concerts were Christian bands at that church or brought to town by that church). Every Halloween they held the Judgement show more House - the hottest ticket in town where you could get scared straight into the arms of Jesus. Now the co-pastors are a Rhema and Oral Roberts educated couple (they probably were back then, too). Everyone loved Jesus and loved spreading the Word. (The original church planter moved on to create a new Victory church). And since 2001, when I left my small North Florida hometown, the church (no longer a center) has opened a thrift store and purchased the Christian bookstore (the only bookstore in town). (If you read the Appendix about Naming Names, you'll pick up on the vocabulary -- something I did not apprehend as a teenager -- I just wanted to read books, listen to pop music, and watch movies.)

This book confirmed so much of what I've discussed with my Catholic husband -- a wonderful human who didn't grow up worrying about the End Times; who doesn't fully grasp that so much of the messaging of mainstream evangelical Christianity today is rooted in American individualism. A rugged individualism that teeters on straight-up selfishness (unless your IN the church community) paired with a good vibes only mentality that makes it impossible to discuss anything real. Further paired with a warrior Jesus that didn't exist in the Gospels, but dominates Revelations and bro-pastor sermons that make me sad.

A lovely listen, I find Bowler's voice soothing. show less

I was excited to receive an Early Readers copy of this book based on the reviews, and also because I've been really enjoying Bowler's podcast recently. Her story of realizing she'd subconsciously subscribed to some of the same beliefs she consciously eschewed, and then struggling with that feeling of being unmoored during a health crisis, was extremely relatable to me on a personal level. I appreciated that she didn't try to resolve the narrative of her struggle with easy answers, and I also show more really liked the section about what not to say to people who are suffering. Excellent read. show less