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Lunch » Tags » Books » Reviews » A Twisted Faith: A Minister's Obsession and the Murder That Destroyed a Church

A Twisted Faith: A Minister's Obsession and the Murder That Destroyed a Church

1 rating: 3.0

A book by Gregg Olsen

Praise for Gregg Olsen: "As gripping and necessary as true-life drama gets.” --Stewart O’Nan "Searing and brilliant." --Ann Rule"Dark, atmospheric, riveting suspense." --Allison Brennan“Olsen is a top-notch … see full wiki

Tags: Books

Author: Gregg Olsen

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

1 review about A Twisted Faith: A Minister's Obsession...

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Power can corrupt and destroy both those who have it and those who follow...

May 2, 2010

by duffbert
posted in Cafe Libri: Reviewing Books & More

Rating:

I am always confused and dismayed when people who hold positions of authority in a church or religious organization abuse that power for their own gain. I'm even more dismayed when people who follow them end up following the person instead of their faith, letting charisma and personality overrule what they *know* to be right and wrong. Gregg Olsen portrays one of those situations in his real-life crime drama A Twisted Faith: A Minister's Obsession and the Murder That Destroyed a Church. Twisted Faith shows what happens when no one confronts evil or is willing to think for themselves and take action.

The book centers around a death that occurred in Bremerton Washington in 1997, the day after Christmas. Dawn Hacheney, the wife of youth pastor Nick Hacheney, dies in a house fire that took her life in the early morning hours as she slept. At least that's what it appears to be, and for quite some time, that's the story that all the officials signed off on. But the reality of her death is far different. Olsen documents how Christ Community Church, a Pentecostal church on Bainbridge Island, went from a small community gathering in the mid-90s to a church embroiled in power struggles, sex scandals, and ultimately the murder of one of their own. Olsen pieces together the story from interviews, news stories, and other sources, and shows how the abuse of power can destroy both the person who has it and those who follow.

There were so many emotions going through my head during this book. I was dismayed that a group of leaders could abuse biblical teachings so blatantly and repeatedly. I was also amazed that so many people can look the other way when everything they see tells them that something is very wrong and needs to be addressed. Letting a person become the focus of your faith instead of God is a sure recipe for disaster. A Twisted Faith is primarily a crime novel (and a good one), but it can also be a wake-up call to check your focus when it comes to your faith, and to make sure you're basing your beliefs on the correct foundation.

Disclosure:
Obtained From: Library
Payment: Borrowed

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