I didn't grow up in a strict fundamentalist Christian household. My parents believed in God, but we never went to church. But Stuart Miller, the author of Prayer Warriors, did grow up in a strict fundamentalist Christian home. His book is an autobiographical account of when he came out to his parents about being gay. Prayer Warriors caught my attention for a couple of reasons. 1) At the age of 16 I converted to Christianity and began going to church. 2) I am gay and was preparing to tell my own parents of this fact. After reading a review of Prayer Warriors in The Advocate magazine I knew I had to read the book. It took me about two days to finish. Given my interest in Christiandom and my own sexuality I found the book to be very engaging. I was in New York City when I read the book. I just had to know what happened with Stuart and his parents, so I brought the book with me everywhere I went. I read it on the subway. I read it at McDonald's. I read it on the ferry to Ellis Island. Two days later I put it down a little discouraged and a little sad by the outcome of the book. But inwardly I smiled because I knew if Stuart Miller could survive his own experiences with a religiously zealous family I knew I would be able to survive my own coming out experiences, no matter how things turned out. The book is titled Prayer Warriors because upon hearing that their son is gay, Stuart's parents wage a war for their son's soul. They envoke everyone in their church to pray for their son. We would think prayer would be a good thing, but the Miller parents and their church used prayer to hassle and condemn their son. Are Christianity and homosexuality compatible? Not according to Stuart's parents. But thankfully Christianity is not defined by the beliefs of one group of over-conservative followers. The faith of Stuart's father leaves with the never-answered question: "Is this what Christianity is all about?" Read other reviews of Prayer Warriors on Amazon.com or purchase Prayer Warriors online for $11.16.

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