Drowning in a Christian World

Ray Baily
Outskirts Press (2008)
ISBN 9781432707606
Reviewed by Dr. Michael Philliber for Reader Views (9/08)

 

There are difficult books to read, and then there are hard books. “Drowning in a Christian World” by Ray Baily is a hard book to read. It’s not hard because it’s deep, or technical, but because the story is intensely heart-wrenching! In this 223 page, large-print paperback, Ray pours out the brutal story of his battered life. This is the account of his years of abuse at the hands of a malicious father and cruel mother.

Baily rehearses the blow-by-blow description of his early years in what was supposed to be a Christian home. From his earliest years Baily was tormented, battered, reviled, and made to go hungry. Often times this was brought on him by his Bible-reading, Bible-quoting, Bible-preaching dad. The fierce amount of maltreatment he received will bring shudders and shock to the reader. And yet there is no pretentious glamorization of the retelling of the grief, just a simple, “Here’s what happened, here’s what I felt, and here’s what I’m still suffering with” account.

“Drowning in a Christian World” is an important book. On the one hand, it is important for Ray Baily. It is the means by which is able to bring out the hurt, anger, fear and resentment, get it out into the open, and allow the light and air to start the healing process. But it is important in another way. The reader will hear the inside scoop of what goes on behind closed doors, and will become better suited to see the signs of child abuse. How can one child go to church or school for years, showing up with a broken nose, then a blackened eye, later a burned hand, along with other physical distresses, and someone not take notice? Even though the mom and dad put on a clean-cut, happy-family front, yet the unrelenting tale-tell signs are ever present. Having seen several child neglect and child abuse situations myself, it’s all too familiar, and all too horrendous to ignore.

The reader will find, as I did, that this is not a book to read right before going to bed. The stark, traumatic images will stir in your heart, and invade the peace of your dreams. Because this story is so important, and needs to hit the widest audience possible, it’s rather unfortunate that the editors allowed poor grammar to show up on a number of pages. It becomes a distraction that annoys and deflects the gravity of this valuable story.

“Drowning in a Christian World” by Ray Baily is an important book, and it is a hard book. Ray, as you asked at the end of the book, I’m praying!

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