Wild Faith

Wild Faith is a book written by Tal Lavin and published by Hachette Book Group imprint Legacy Lit on October 15, 2024.^[1] Lavin spent three years working on the book.^[2] Lavin's previous book, Culture Warlords, focused on online extremist groups, and he decided to focus on right-wing Christianity because he felt that many of the ideas espoused in those extremist spaces online have since migrated to the mainstream right-wing.^[3] The second half of the book focuses on responses he received from questions he posted online.^[4]

Lavin argues that Evangelicals' beliefs have been dismissed as a tiny minority when in fact they are a large movement.^[5] For instance, 10 million people in the United States believe spiritual warfare is needed to bring about God's kingdom.^[6] Lavin notes that the patriarchal beliefs of Evangelicals lead to submission to authority figures such as pastors and political leaders.^[7] Lavin notes that many of these political projects originated in homes with strict parenting and homeschooling.^[8] The book covers abuses of power in Evangelical communities and covers reports of child abuse.^[9]

In the Topanga New Times, Jimmy P. Morgan compared the book to The Founding Myth and Jesus and John Wayne.^[10] Eric Liebetrau wrote in The Boston Globe that the book's narrative flow is negatively impacted by the number of offenses he tries to cover; however, he also notes that the book is well-researched.^[11] In The Conversation, Russell Blackford criticised the book for its proposed solution and its lack of engagement with and refutation of religious beliefs.^[12]