Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert

"I was a broken mess. I did not want to lose everything that I loved. But the voice of God sang a sanguine love song in the rubble of my world."

Whilein her thirties, Dr. Rosaria Champagne held a tenured position at SyracuseUniversity, owned two houses with her lesbian partner, modeled hospitality tostudents, and rescued abandoned and abused dogs. An English professor withexpertise in Feminist Studies and Gender Studies, she tried to live ethically and enjoyed classroomsbursting with students eager to hear her speak. But then she encounteredsomething that turned her world upside down: Christianity. And the experiencefelt anything like “a wonderful plan.” In her words, it felt more like “a trainwreck.”

InSecret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert:An English Professor's Journey into Christian Faith, Rosaria (now RosariaChampagne Butterfield) tells the story of her tortuous journey of repentance,worldview clashes, and life change. 

“Conversionput me in a complicated and comprehensive chaos,” she writes. “I sometimeswonder, when I hear other Christians pray for the salvation of the ‘lost,’ ifthey realize that this comprehensive chaos is the desired end of such prayers.Often, people asked me to describe the ‘lessons’ that I learned from thisexperience. I can't. It was too traumatic. Sometimes in crisis, we don't reallylearn lessons. Sometimes the result is simpler and more profound: sometimes ourcharacter is simply transformed.”

Myfriend Lance Ward recommended this book to me, observing that I would probablylike it for many reasons. And he was right. I appreciate her high view of scripture, her presentation of feminism, her observations about the good and bad of the American Christian subculture, her insight into the damage done to Christianity’s reputation when believerspublicly identify with one political party, and even what happens when we throwaround favorite "motivational" verses such as John 3:16 on verse cards without adding verse 17.An infertile woman, Butterfield is now a pastor’s wife and the mother of fourkids, some with special needs. So she has some excellent observations aboutadoption—and the homeschool subculture, of which she is now a part. 

I read this book in two sittings. It's an easy read that's not overly edited, but communicates in clear, compelling prose. And although I had some points of disagreement with the author, I still want to buy ten copies for friends. Dr. Butterfield provides great insight into culture while also providing a glimpse of the matchless character of God.