church – Scott J. Pearson’s Book Review

I Take My Coffee Black: Reflections on Tupac, Musical Theater, Faith & Being Black in America

By Scott J. Pearson | February 25, 2024February 25, 2024 by Scott J. Pearson

This book opens with a heavy moment of racial stereotyping of an innocent black male as suspect, even criminal. Then it introduces us to that man’s life story. Hardly nefarious, author Tyler Merritt has overcome numerous challenges to embrace life today. With loads of humor and empathy, he lets readers know what it feels to be him. He is entangled at times with fame, but in the long run, he learns to be authentically himself.…

Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin

By Scott J. Pearson | January 25, 2024September 24, 2024 by Scott J. Pearson

In the early twentieth century, Harlem was the place to be for black culture. Many had recently moved northward from the South to try out city life. As much as they wanted to reinvent themselves, past culture, built on the Christian Scriptures, remained ever near. In a small Harlem church, a teenage son came to terms with his identity in a relatively short amount of time. This book starts with the beginning of his epiphany,…

Religion-Philosophy

Confessing Our Faith: The Book of Confessions for Church Leaders

By Scott J. Pearson | November 12, 2023September 24, 2024 by Scott J. Pearson

The Presbyterian Church resides in the Reformed Protestant tradition of theology and faith. Contrary to the belief of some churches that split from it, this tradition is a living, broad tradition that continues to reform itself. That is, it recognizes that it continues to develop historically as new challenges confront the church – and humanity. It also is an open faith that does not claim a monopoly on the truth. Its historic creeds are published…

Biography-Memoir Leadership Religion-Philosophy

The Woman They Wanted: Shattering the Illusion of the Good Christian Wife

By Scott J. Pearson | August 29, 2023September 24, 2024 by Scott J. Pearson

Many of us who grew up in conservative evangelical churches bear stark memories of how a culture can entrap people instead of empowering them. One prime way is through gender roles, in a form of patriarchy where only men are allowed leadership roles and a public voice. Decades ago, Shannon Harris married the best-selling author Joshua Harris (I Kissed Dating Goodbye) and quickly became a silent, unpaid role of a pastor’s wife. In this memoir,…