Good God, Lousy World, and Me: The Improbable Journey of a Human Rights Activist from Unbelief to Faith

(Paperback)

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In a world awash in evil, the author unexpectedly finds herself on a faith journey--from skeptic to atheist to believer. Says Burkhalter, "I wrote the book to answer the question that kept me from believing for almost my entire adult life- why does a good God allow such suffering on earth" Holly's riveting story unfolds in the grip of its soul-rending question, and it will resonate with a generation of globally oriented, social activists--agnostic and evangelical alike. She brings to the page the voice of a heartbroken idealist who is fearlessly, often angrily, sometimes hilariously at odds with a cruel and distant God. He is a Being she "doesn't believe in," of course, until the day she finds herself drawn into a community of fellow activists who actually love, worship, and serve this same God. Holly's style is witty, thoughtful, literate, and deeply affecting. "In this extraordinary memoir, one of the foremost human rights advocates of the last half century shares her brutally and hilariously honest story of finding God."-Gary A. Haugen, president and CEO, International Justice Mission For years, Holly Burkhalter was a heartbroken idealist working on the front lines of change around the world-a witness to the brutalities of genocide, sex trafficking, rape, slavery, greed and injustice. Throughout her career she found herself angrily, sometimes hilariously at odds with a God who seemed distant at best and tyrannical at worst. Until the day she found herself drawn into a community of fellow activists who loved, worshiped, and served another God altogether-a God who hated injustice, too. And who had a plan for combating it. Us. It was the greatest, most radiant surprise of her life. Today Holly engages deeply with the questions that kept her from faith for most of her adult life- How could a good God allow brutality, mental illness, and AIDS Why does God seem indifferent when we are in great need What is our part in pushing back the darkness Through riveting stories from her life, she wrestles these questions to the ground. Sometimes she wins. Sometimes the questions do. Either way, Good God, Lousy World & Me will transform your understanding of God's presence and purpose-and ours-in a broken world. Now includes a small group discussion guide.

Reviews

Praise for Good God, Lousy World, and Me

Holly Burkhalter has been a voice of conscience in Washington for many, many years. She has written some of the most powerful and pointed op-eds the Post has published. Shes a gifted writer with a big heart and a unique, compassionate take on the human condition.
Fred Hiatt of The Washington Post

Hollys story, from a distance, is absolutely fascinatingone of the worlds top experts in human rights turns out to be a person of deep Christian commitments. But her story up close is even better: by turns laugh-out-loud funny, poignant, wrenching, and hopeful. I think this is a voice the wider world needs to hear.
Andy Crouch, author of Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling and executive editor of Christianity Today

Good God, Lousy World, and Me is what happens when a passion for justice is joined to a seeking spirit. Holly Burkhalters work for a world that cherishes all people is undergirded by her faith in a God who does likewise. This is Christianity as we wish it could be.
Phillip Gulley, author of Living the Quaker Way

Good God, Lousy World, and Me is a desperately needed, encouraging read, helping us see that we dont need everything figured out before we act on behalf of the poor, marginalized, and oppressed. Instead Holly takes us on a journey where true strength shows up through our humanity, where our daily burdens and spiritual questioning make faith the miracle it truly is. With a blunt, challenging, funny, and intimate recount of personal experiences, Holly punches some of the taboos left in todays society. For those of us whove questioned God after witnessing, hearing, or experiencing injustice or those whove quietly suffered with mental illness, Hollys words rally the soul and challenge the myth that one must accept neat answers to lifes darkest moments before professing faith and declaring war on injustice.
Steve Martin, CEO of Love146

Anything written by Holly Burkhalter is worth reading, and her book is no exception.
Jody Williams, winner of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize

Hollys story is a journey from unbelief to the unbelievably critical work of justice for the poor and marginalized in the name of God. Its a powerful story from an unforgettable pilgrim.
Joel Edwards, director of Micah Challenge International

In this extraordinary memoir of grace, one of the foremost human rights advocates of the last half century shares her brutally and hilariously honest story of finding God on one of the most unlikely, irreverent, and utterly beautiful pilgrimages through life as it actually is. Hers will become an iconic story of spiritual reflection in our eraa chronicle of the deepest human yearning amidst shattering pain, everyday redemption, and the irrepressible love of her Maker.
Gary A. Haugen, president & CEO of International Justice Mission

Face to face with atrocities that call into question both the existence of God and is there any human left in humanity, Holly comes out swinging. Intermittently humble and fierce, she dares to plumb the depths of faith and slowly, tenderly finds God. Living between winsome and raw, which is not for the faint of heart, there are tungsten strands of emerging faith. This book will leave you exhausted and exhilarated, both of which are good for expanding the soul.
Nancy Ortberg, author of Looking for God

Author Bio

Holly Burkhalter is a leading international human rights advocate with a thirty-year career in Wash-ington, DC. Currently, she is vice president for Government Relations and Advocacy for International Justice Mission. She and her husband, John Fitzpatrick, live with their two daughters and one large dog in a small house on Capitol Hill.