Purchase a signed copy of Unsettling Truths:

Unsettling Truths: The Ongoing, Dehumanizing Legacy of the Doctrine of Discovery
by Mark Charles and Soong-Chan Rah (IVP, 2019)

• Publishers Weekly Starred Review
• 2020 ECPA Top Shelf Book Cover Award
• 2019 American Society of Missiology Book Award — Excellence in Missiology

Injustice has plagued American society for centuries. And we cannot move toward being a more just nation without understanding the root causes that have shaped our culture and institutions. In this prophetic blend of history, theology, and cultural commentary, Mark Charles and Soong-Chan Rah reveal the far-reaching, damaging effects of the “Doctrine of Discovery.” In the fifteenth century, official church edicts gave Christian explorers the right to claim territories they “discovered.” This was institutionalized as an implicit national framework that justifies American triumphalism, white supremacy, and ongoing injustices. The result is that the dominant culture idealizes a history of discovery, opportunity, expansion, and equality, while minority communities have been traumatized by colonization, slavery, segregation, and dehumanization. Healing begins when deeply entrenched beliefs are unsettled. Charles and Rah aim to recover a common memory and shared understanding of where we have been and where we are going. As other nations have instituted truth and reconciliation commissions, so do the authors call our nation and churches to a truth-telling that will expose past injustices and open the door to conciliation and true community.

The United States does not teach a history of America, it teaches a mythology. Whether it’s the myth that Christopher Columbus discovered America, Abraham Lincoln abolished slavery or Donald Trump was the only Presidential candidate in 2016 (and 2020) promising to “Make America Great Again”, there are many Unsettling Truths we must look at as a nation if we want to create a common memory.

Weekly Book Study with Mark Charles:
In 2021 Mark live streamed a 14 part book study going through Unsettling Truths. These videos can be viewed on Mark’s Facebook page and YouTube Channel. They are also archived on his IGTV.
Archive of Studies (YouTube):
Chapter: Introduction, One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Conclusion

2022 Monthly Book Study with Mark Charles and Soong-Chan Rah:
Mark and Soong-Chan are currently hosting a monthly book study of Unsettling Truths on Patreon. To access this study, both monthly live streams as well as past studies, follow this link to Mark’s Patreon site and subscribe to the fourth tier titled “Unsettling Truths”.

Highlighted Podcasts:

• Theology in the Raw – #945 A Native American Perspective on Christian Nationalism: Mark Charles – In this podcast, Mark gives a different perspective about the “discovery” of America and some of the profound problems when Christians go to be with the Empire.
  
• Where Ya From? – EPISODE 9 ‘The Native Story’ with Mark Charles: We must face uncomfortable truths, decolonize the gospel, and learn how understanding trauma can lead to reconciliation. In this Christianity Today Podcast, Rasool Berry talks with Mark Charles about his person story, the book he co-authored Unsettling Truths and the Doctrine of Discovery.
  
• Two Mamas and a Mustard Seed – Unsettling Truths & the Doctrine of Discovery with Mark Charles: Buckle up for an extremely thought provoking conversation! In this episode Mark Charles, a man of Navajo descent, and I discuss some “unsettling truths”.  These truths date back to the 15th century, but continue to infiltrate mindsets today. He has dedicated many years of study to the impact colonialism has had on the Native and African American people. He’ll discuss hard traumatic events in history to help educate us.

List of 2022 Unsettling Truths Book Tour Events:

2022 Unsettling Truths Book Tour
Unsettling Truths was released in November 2019 but because I was in the middle of my 2020 Independent Campaign for President, and because of the Global COVID Pandemic that began just a few months later, we were not able to have a proper book tour and national promotion. So I have decided to implement my own book tour through the spring, summer and fall of 2022. On July 19 I am departing on a cross country road trip to talk about Unsettling Truths and work to build a Common Memory.

Because this book tour is self-funded, I started a GoFundMe Page: Help me fund my Unsettling Truths Book Tour 2022. This is where I am raising funds to cover the expenses of this tour and it is also the best place to get updates, notifications and current information about my 2022 Unsettling Truths Book Tour. Below is a list of all upcoming events through the end of 2022. More events will be posted as they are confirmed.

Saturday, October 22 @ 4 PM ET
Immanuel United Church of Christ
1905 Edmondson Avenue
Cantonsville, MD