Imagine Ken Wilber’s wide-angle lens on consciousness and systems theory blended with the grounded spiritual honesty of Barbara Brown Taylor. That gives you a sense of what Spiritual Edge offers. Joran Slane Oppelt writes from the liminal spaces where religion meets transformation, where doctrine gives way to dialogue, and where ancient questions are reframed for a searching, postmodern world.
For those of us curating resources in the Northeastern Ohio Synod, this book feels especially timely. Many communities are asking what it means to be church in a time when fewer people identify with religious institutions but still seek meaning, connection, and transcendence. Spiritual Edge does not dwell on decline. Instead, it recognizes this shifting landscape as fertile ground for growth and reimagining.
Oppelt approaches this terrain with clarity and curiosity. His work is deeply interspiritual, yet it holds deep respect for tradition. He writes for those who have grown disenchanted with rigid systems but remain committed to the spiritual life. This book gives voice to the evolution of faith, not as a departure but as an unfolding.
Spiritual Edge is a compelling resource for clergy, adult formation leaders, and anyone interested in the intersections of spirituality, science, ritual, and justice. It offers a vision of faith that is open, intelligent, and welcoming—well suited for congregations becoming more hospitable to spiritual seekers and those at the edges of belief. If your church is ready to explore new questions and create space for honest searching, this is a book worth spending time with.

At a time when many in our pews are quietly carrying questions they’re afraid to speak aloud, Keith Long’s Doubting Faithfully offers a needed and generous companion. As someone who serves in a role that connects congregations with resources for faith formation, spiritual growth, and honest reflection, I found this book both refreshing and deeply pastoral.
Long doesn’t try to tidy up doubt with apologetics or offer easy answers. Instead, he treats doubt as a sacred invitation, not as a problem to solve but as a path to walk. Drawing on Scripture, theology, and his own experiences in ministry, he reframes doubt as a natural part of discipleship and an opportunity to deepen our faith rather than dismantle it.
This book is especially timely for leaders and congregants who are navigating spiritual deconstruction, disillusionment with the institutional church, or the painful intersections of faith and suffering. Long’s writing honors the complexity of faith without veering into cynicism. His tone is approachable and hopeful, a steady guide for those who feel they’ve lost the map but are still searching for something real.
Whether you’re a pastor supporting others through their doubt, a lifelong Lutheran reexamining familiar beliefs, or someone quietly wondering if you’re still welcome at the table, Doubting Faithfully will remind you that even questions can be a form of worship. For congregations across our synod, this book can be a powerful tool for adult formation groups, small group discussions, or individual reflection. We commend this book to those who are seeking space for both faith and questions and who believe that God meets us in both.