What is "Christianity"? What's it supposed to be? In a world where Trump, Obama, Putin, and Lady Gaga all claim Christianity as their spiritual home, it's not an easy question to answer.
Part memoir, part historical-theological analysis, Idiot, Sojourning Soul tells the story of one former skeptic's exploration of Christian spirituality. Justin Rosolino was raised in a post-Christian context where all gods were up for grabs and all truth-claims equally dubious. While studying political theory in college, Justin found himself drawn to the writings of Augustine, Kierkegaard, and Martin Luther King Jr. Much to his surprise, he resonated with their profoundly Christian accounts of human nature, desire, lack, and love.
With wit and scholarly precision, Idiot examines Christianity's historical development, from its ancient beginnings to its current and confounding condition. The result is a must read for anyone who's ever wondered what Jesus was really up to, and why contemporary Christianity bears so little semblance to its namesake.
Justin Rosolino is an accomplished musician and educator. A native New Yorker, Justin graduated from the University of Virginia at the top of his class, only to forego a conventional, white-collar vocational path in favor of a career in music (and its natural corollary, poverty). Justin later earned a masters in theology from Vanderbilt. He now serves as dean of a classical school in Texas.
“I love how Rosolino draws upon the great tradition and ancient sources for the contemporary church. This book is smart and also hilarious, engaging yet challenging. I found myself laughing out loud at moments and pausing in wonder and worship at others. Highly recommended!”
—Tish Harrison Warren, author (Liturgy of the Ordinary)
“Thank God for Justin Rosolino, who confronts the oft-crippling theological myopia of American Christianity with this brilliant bit of reverent irreverence. Equal parts soulful memoir, astute biblical exegesis, and how-did-we-get-here history lesson (but way more fun than any of that sounds).”
—Scott Teems, writer-director-producer (Narcos, Rectify, and That Evening Sun)
“Rosolino’s poignant, pithy prose cuts creatively and incisively to the heart of matter. This intellectually robust, existentially vulnerable work asks, ‘What in the world was Jesus up to, and does it (still) matter in our world?’ . . . I heartily commend this new book from a fresh voice to you and am already looking forward to his next project.”
—Todd D. Still, Dean and Professor, Baylor University, Truett Seminary
“In Idiot, Sojourning Soul Justin Rosolino never plays it safe. With a historian’s intellect, a hyper-honest wit, and all ten fingers on the pulse of pop culture, Justin recounts his own unsugarcoated exploration into Christian faith. He methodically lays out for even today’s skeptic the outrageous claims of Jesus and his followers, and simultaneously dares modern Christians to bravely rethink how and what we claim to believe.”
—Chris Rice, recording artist
“This is the book all of us needed in high school, or college, or yesterday. Justin Rosolino is everyone’s favorite teacher, shooting straight, but also listening.”
—Harrison Scott Key, author (Congratulations, Who Are You Again? and The World’s Largest Man: A Memoir)