Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. What was your initial reaction to the book’s blend of stand-up comedy, personal memoir, and theological debate? Did you find this combination effective in making complex arguments more accessible, or difficult to follow at times?

2. Fugelsang positions this book as a practical guide for “taking Christianity back from the haters.” How successful do you think it is in this goal? Did it change the way you think about engaging in conversations about faith and politics, or reinforce what you already believed?

3. Fugelsang’s work shares thematic territory with books like Kristin Kobes Du Mez’s Jesus and John Wayne, which also explores the fusion of politics with a particular brand of Christianity. What, for you, distinguishes Separation of Church and Hate’s focus on scriptural counter-argument from other critiques of the Christian Right you may have encountered, especially in how it uses the Bible itself as a tool of critique?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Fugelsang begins by sharing the very personal story of his parents, a former nun and a former Franciscan brother. How did knowing his unique background influence your trust in him as a narrator and guide on this topic?

2. The book draws a sharp distinction between being a “Christian” and a “Christ follower.” Have you encountered this distinction in your own life or observations? How has it shaped the way you understand or respond to different religious individuals or groups?

3. Think about a time you’ve had a difficult conversation about a deeply held belief. How do Fugelsang’s debate strategies compare with the approach you took?

4. Fugelsang shares a moving story about his grandfather Leonard, who was both a loving family member and a person who held deep prejudices. Have you experienced a similar situation in your own family or community? How did you respond?

5. How did you respond to the idea that the opposite of faith is not doubt, but certainty? Did it challenge or affirm your own perspective on belief?

6. Which of the book’s reinterpretations of scripture did you find most surprising or thought-provoking? Why did it stand out to you personally?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. How did the book’s explanation of Christian nationalism, including concepts like the Seven Mountain Mandate, deepen your understanding of its influence in contemporary American politics?

2. The book details how Jerry Falwell Sr. used television to build the Christian Right, while Donald Trump utilized modern media and social platforms. What does the book suggest about the evolving role of media in shaping and spreading religious-political movements?

3. Fugelsang argues that the evangelical anti-abortion stance was largely a political strategy adopted in the late 1970s, not a long-standing theological position. How does understanding this history reframe the current debate over abortion rights in the United States?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. Fugelsang’s voice is a unique mix of irreverent humor and serious theological critique. In what ways did this distinctive tone serve his overall argument? Did the humor ever detract from or enhance the book’s persuasive power for you?

2. What rhetorical effects does Fugelsang achieve by hierarchizing scripture, placing Jesus’s direct teachings above Old Testament law and Paul’s letters?

3. The book does not mention a PBS documentary, so how might the persuasive strategies used in a written work like this differ from those in a visual medium like a documentary when tackling similar issues of faith and social justice?

4. What role does the figure of Paul the Apostle play in the book’s narrative? How does Fugelsang characterize him to build the argument that institutional Christianity has often drifted from Jesus’s original message?

5. The book consistently deconstructs the “warrior Jesus” archetype. What specific examples or arguments were most effective in dismantling this image and replacing it with a figure of radical compassion?

6. Scapegoating emerges as a recurring motif connecting the discussions on anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and other prejudices. In what ways does Fugelsang use this concept to expose a shared structure behind different forms of religious bigotry?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. The final chapter presents a list of historical “Christ followers” who resisted injustice. Who is a contemporary public figure you would add to this list, and how do their actions reflect the principles Fugelsang champions?

2. The book’s ten-point guide for debate focuses on respectful engagement. What would an eleventh rule be? Propose a guideline that reflects the spirit of the book’s approach to dialogue.

3. Fugelsang’s parents chose a new spiritual path based on their love for each other. Write a short “blessing” or piece of advice they might offer to someone struggling to reconcile their personal conscience with the doctrines of their religious community.