Most Evangelical Christians earnestly strive to worship the God of Love and Truth. But a belief that the Bible is literally perfect puts them in the odd position of defending falsehood, bigotry and even violence.

What do Evangelicals teach? How are these teachings distorted? How do they contradict humanity's shared moral core, including the highest values of Christianity itself?

Psychologist Valerie Tarico is a graduate of Wheaton College, bastion of Evangelical education. As a young adult, secure in the confidence that "all truth is God's truth," Dr. Tarico committed to follow her questions wherever they might lead. Ultimately they led her out of Evangelicalism. The Dark Side examines the moral and rational contradictions that caused her fundamentalist worldview to crumble. In their place it offers perspectives that are compatible with love, logic, and the quest for truth.

A Nation Under God? Several newly released books call attention to the rising social impact of Christian fundamentalism. The Dark Side complements their analysis with a thoughtful, accessible critique of the core beliefs that drive Christian fundamentalists.

About the Author: Raised in a staunch fundamentalist family, Valerie Tarico attended Wheaton College, where the Billy Graham Center houses a museum dedicated to the history of American Evangelicalism. She obtained a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Iowa before completing postdoctoral studies at the University of Washington. Now a psychotherapist in Seattle, Dr. Tarico calls upon her scientific training, professional experience, and background as a born-again Evangelical as she examines crucial questions about faith, facts, and compassion. Her essays about society, faith, and family life can be found at www.spaces.msn.com/awaypoint.