God Land : A Story of Faith, Loss, and Renewal in Middle America

"Will resonate with any readers interested in understanding American landscapes where white, evangelical Christianity dominates both politics and culture." — Publishers Weekly In the wake of the 2016 election, Lyz Lenz watched as her country and her marriage were torn apart by the competing forces of faith and politics. A mother of two, a Christian, and a lifelong resident of middle America, Lenz was bewildered by the pain and loss around her—the empty churches and the broken hearts. What was happening to faith in the heartland? From drugstores in Sydney, Iowa, to skeet shooting in rural Illinois, to the mega churches of Minneapolis, Lenz set out to discover the changing forces of faith and tradition in God's country. Part journalism, part memoir, God Land is a journey into the heart of a deeply divided America. Lenz visits places of worship across the heartland and speaks to the everyday people who often struggle to keep their churches afloat and to cope in a land of instability. Through a thoughtful interrogation of the effects of faith and religion on our lives, our relationships, and our country, God Land investigates whether our divides can ever be bridged and if America can ever come together. " God Land , Lyz Lenz's much-anticipated debut book, is a marvel. Not only is it a window into the middle America so many like to stereotype but fail to fully understand in all of its complexity, but it mixes reportage, memoir, and gorgeous prose so seamlessly I wanted to know how she did it." —Sarah Weinman, author of The Real Lolita Through A Thoughtful Interrogation Of The Effects Of Faith And Religion On Our Lives, Our Relationships, And Our Country, God Land Investigates Whether Our Divides Can Ever Be Bridged And If America Can Ever Come Together. In The Wake Of The 2016 Election, Lenz Watched As Her Country And Her Marriage Were Torn Apart By The Competing Forces Of Faith And Politics. She Was Bewildered By The Pain And Loss Around Her And Questioned: What Was Happening To Faith In The Heartland? Lenz Set Out To Discover The Changing Forces Of Faith And Tradition In God's Country. In Examining The Effects Of Faith And Religion On Our Lives, Our Relationships, And Our Country, Lenz Asks Whether Our Divides Can Ever Be Bridged-- And If America Can Ever Come Together. -- Introduction -- Dangerous Speculation -- The Heart Of The Heartland -- Yearning For Better Days -- The Pew And The Pulpit -- The Church Of The Air -- Room At The Table -- A Muscular Jesus -- The Asian American Reformed Church Of Bigelow, Minnesota -- Bridging The Divide -- A Den Of Thieves -- The Violence Of Our Faith -- Reclaiming Our Faith -- The Fire Outside -- Notes. Lyz Lenz. Includes Bibliographical References.

In the wake of the 2016 election, Lyz Lenz watched as her country and her marriage were torn apart by the competing forces of faith and politics. A mother of two, a Christian, and a lifelong resident of middle America, Lenz was bewildered by the pain and loss around her—the empty churches and the broken hearts. What was happening to faith in the heartland?

From drugstores in Sydney, Iowa, to skeet shooting in rural Illinois, to the mega churches of Minneapolis, Lenz set out to discover the changing forces of faith and tradition in God's country. Part journalism, part memoir, God Land is a journey into the heart of a deeply divided America. Lenz visits places of worship across the heartland and speaks to the everyday people who often struggle to keep their churches afloat and to cope in a land of instability. Through a thoughtful interrogation of the effects of faith and religion on our lives, our relationships, and our country, God Land investigates whether our divides can ever be bridged and if America can ever come together.

In the wake of the 2016 election, Lenz watched as her country and her marriage were torn apart by the competing forces of faith and politics. She was bewildered by the pain and loss around her and questioned: What was happening to faith in the heartland? Lenz set out to discover the changing forces of faith and tradition in God's country. In examining the effects of faith and religion on our lives, our relationships, and our country, Lenz asks whether our divides can ever be bridged-- and if America can ever come together. -- adapted from back cover