The Secular Creed: A Book Review

I absolutely loved reading Secular Creed by Rebecca McLaughlin! She writes in an easy to read style without compromising the significance or depth of her research. Secular Creed dives into five contemporary claims (Black Lives Matter, Love is Love, The Gay-Rights Movement is the New Civil-Rights Movement, Women’s Rights are Human Rights, and Transgender Women are Women) and unpacks each of their meaning, their history, their heart/significance for our culture, and the biblical truth that speaks to each of these claims. I appreciate that she did not necessarily give prescriptive “this is how believers should respond when someone says ‘love is love’…” but rather she reminds believers that God is love and all humans are made in his image. She allows (and hopes) the truth of scripture will root us in His love and determine our responses to these claims in a way that is honoring to God and to his image bearers. 

This is a book I would recommend to anyone who is hoping to learn and understand more about these five claims and their impact on the world around us, regardless whether they are in these types of conversations or not. This book is a helpful research tool to understanding our neighbors and communities at large and its thought-provoking content can help us engage in these conversations in an educated and biblical manner.  Even if someone is not in a space where these conversations are happening actively and passionately, this book is a quick read to better understand and be equipped for the possibility of those conversations.

I personally am not close with anyone who has made any of these claims to me, or at least not close enough to really engage and wrestle with them through them; but I felt like this book was so helpful for me in that! Since I am not in those spaces currently, I don’t have anyone to bring forth an opposing viewpoint or challenge a biblical assertion (i.e. where does the Bible say that, etc.). Yet, McLaughlin’s research helped me see the support that people use to back these claims. And while she continues to point to various logical holes in their claims and the biblical truth that refutes or undermines their argument, she does so in a way that helps the reader grow in compassion rather than confusion and frustration for those who stand whole-heartedly by these claims. 

Author

Mel Scherbenske graduated from CNU and has (much to her surprise) loved living in Newport News ever since. She serves on ACW (Advisory Council of Women) and with PSM (Peninsula Student Ministries). Her favorite thing to do is to go for a long walk with her husband, Daniel, and their mutt, Max.