In Search of Truth: Memoir and History with Sofia Samatar (S2:E4)

Welcome to In Search Of, a podcast where we go in search of voices and perspectives that inform and expand a life of faith. In this episode, Amy speaks with author Sofia Samatar about her memoir The White Mosque and her pilgrimage to Uzbekistan in search of  Mennonites who left Russia in the 19th century to follow a charismatic preacher to Central Asia, where Christ was supposed to return. Sofia reckons with her Mennonite and Muslim identities, the history of missions, and what it means to tell stories about yourself and others in this episode of In Search Of. A transcript of this episode is available here. 

Sofia Samatar is the author of several books, including A Stranger in Olondria, an award-winning epic fantasy that was included in Time Magazine’s list of the 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time and Esquire‘s list of the 50 Best Fantasy Books of All Time. Her short story collection Tender features the Hugo and Nebula finalist “Selkie Stories Are for Losers.” Her most recent book is The White Mosque.

Related Christian Century Content:

• “Jonathan Dyck’s queer Mennonite graphic novel,” by Annabeth Roeschley (review of Dyck’s Shelterbelts) (Nov 2022)

• “When Mennonites were settlers,” by Isaac Villegas (review of John Eicher’s Exiled Among Nations) (Sep 2021)

• “Mennonite Central Committee celebrates 100 years of service,” by Linda Espenshade (Oct 2020)

• “My Muslim friend Ali and my Christian commitment to his life of faith,” by Isaac Villegas (Jan 2020)

• “At Gilead Church in Chicago, storytelling is central to worship,” by Celeste Kennel-Shank (April 2019)

• “Talking with Miriam Toews about Women Talking,” by Elizabeth Palmer (interview with Toews) (April 2019)

• “European Christian missionaries and their false sense of progress,” by Willie James Jennings (Oct 2018)

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