I Want to Be Left Behind- Brenda Peterson

#74. I Want to Be Left Behind: Finding Rapture Here on Earth- Brenda Peterson

Brenda Peterson grew up in an evangelical Christian household, the daughter of a forest ranger. Her parents moved frequently for her father's job, and the family subscribed to the religious doctrine that states that Christians will be raptured in the end times, and all others will be left behind. The Rapture never sits well with Brenda, and from an early age, she's branded as the family rebel. As she grows and learns more about life and religion, Brenda finds her own version of peace and worship in the beauty of nature, and luckily for her, she's able to strike a balance with her family in regards to her beliefs or lack thereof.

Lots of interesting family dynamics in this one. I really enjoyed it due to its, "This is my experience of religion" feel. She doesn't judge her family or friends for their beliefs (even though she's often judged for hers), and she doesn't make excuses for what she believes. She simply states how she was raised, what it was like, and how it changed her, for better or worse. It is what it is, and Brenda seems quite at peace with her place in this world, no matter what her family thinks. I liked that.

I was expecting the book to be heavier on nature and environmental stuff, and it wasn't (which pleased me. I don't like long passages of description, nor do I enjoy being preached at, on any subject, so yay!). She's simply a nature lover and writes beautifully of that love. The parallels between evangelical Christianity and hardcore environmentalism, though, are a little shocking, but I suppose that could be applied to any fierce beliefs, in that they all use the same pushy fear tactics to bring people over to their side. Definitely something to think about!