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bookrec's review against another edition
5.0
He didn't sell his soul. He did go to 15 different churches in the Chicago area and rate them. He considered things suchas whether the sermon held his interest, where the people friendly, did the church look appealing. He rates them according to size soo he isn't comparing a mega to a 150 person church. He gives good ideas churches should listen to when trying to attract new members.
He is an athiest. He mentions several times that he is who churches are trying to attract. I disagree. I think churches are trying to attract believers who don't attend church for one reason or another.
He is an athiest. He mentions several times that he is who churches are trying to attract. I disagree. I think churches are trying to attract believers who don't attend church for one reason or another.
leighnonymous's review against another edition
5.0
I'm very glad I read this book. Mehta's final message is one I know to be right and despite how I often feel the opposite, it's one that truly should happen. If I was to summarize, it would be this: "Churches, do you even realize how powerful you are? Please start using your power for the good of humanity."
Initially, the book irritated me with all the walking on eggshells lest anyone become "offended" with a differing point of view. Mehta was only tiptoeing in the room ensuring all were listening before he began to speak.
He's fortunate to have "come out" so early, as the rest of us have had to watch friendships evaporate the moment the word "atheist" is out of our mouth, listen to former friends say nasty things to and about us for the way we live our lives (although the only difference is that we don't attend church), have the same friends perform moral postmortems on years-old conversations, and get proselytized to when it's revealed we don't believe in God. I, for one, am no longer a "friendly" atheist. Having said that, I wish I could be. I give Mehta five years before he's with the rest of us, crying from frustration about being misunderstood. I still get upset thinking about how absolutely hateful and vitriolic a certain former friend was to me about this.
So even in my point view, this book was great, if a little tame. Mehta made some excellent, clear points about the strength of churches, their goals, and the fronts they present. I hope beyond hope that Christians read this and can take something from it: It's about the Christian VALUES, not the Christianity. It's about helping your fellow man through volunteering, giving comfort where it's needed, loving each other, and just helping others, regardless of their beliefs. Christian charity should never be contingent upon a soul rental.
I was incredibly impressed with how clearly Mehta laid his points out and how readable his words were. I confess that I am dying to see Rob Bell preach. But, it would take a miracle to get me into church.
Initially, the book irritated me with all the walking on eggshells lest anyone become "offended" with a differing point of view. Mehta was only tiptoeing in the room ensuring all were listening before he began to speak.
He's fortunate to have "come out" so early, as the rest of us have had to watch friendships evaporate the moment the word "atheist" is out of our mouth, listen to former friends say nasty things to and about us for the way we live our lives (although the only difference is that we don't attend church), have the same friends perform moral postmortems on years-old conversations, and get proselytized to when it's revealed we don't believe in God. I, for one, am no longer a "friendly" atheist. Having said that, I wish I could be. I give Mehta five years before he's with the rest of us, crying from frustration about being misunderstood. I still get upset thinking about how absolutely hateful and vitriolic a certain former friend was to me about this.
So even in my point view, this book was great, if a little tame. Mehta made some excellent, clear points about the strength of churches, their goals, and the fronts they present. I hope beyond hope that Christians read this and can take something from it: It's about the Christian VALUES, not the Christianity. It's about helping your fellow man through volunteering, giving comfort where it's needed, loving each other, and just helping others, regardless of their beliefs. Christian charity should never be contingent upon a soul rental.
I was incredibly impressed with how clearly Mehta laid his points out and how readable his words were. I confess that I am dying to see Rob Bell preach. But, it would take a miracle to get me into church.
leighkhoopes's review against another edition
3.0
Hemant Mehta is one of the top representatives of the secular community and those of us who are familiar with his work know why: he's curious, friendly, intelligent, and extremely objective. He lacks the combative, angry vibe a lot of visible atheists embody, which is a turn off to pretty much everyone.
I would recommend this book to Christians who do not understand why or how someone can be non-religious, but if you're already an atheist/agnostic/humanist, and especially if you were raised Christian and are no longer religious, this book is somewhat redundant. I would have liked to have seen insight into other religions besides Protestant Christianity--he does not visit a Catholic, Mormon, Jewish, Muslim or Hindu house of worship to try to understand these faiths as well. I guess since Protestants and Evangelicals are the biggest groups in America, it makes sense to focus on these.
As an agnostic, I am glad to have Hemant and the work he does to strengthen and solidify the secular community. This is an important book and a good account of his experience learning about these faiths and his empirical research and discovery process. If you're already a member of the secular community, you won't discover anything you didn't already know, however.
I would recommend this book to Christians who do not understand why or how someone can be non-religious, but if you're already an atheist/agnostic/humanist, and especially if you were raised Christian and are no longer religious, this book is somewhat redundant. I would have liked to have seen insight into other religions besides Protestant Christianity--he does not visit a Catholic, Mormon, Jewish, Muslim or Hindu house of worship to try to understand these faiths as well. I guess since Protestants and Evangelicals are the biggest groups in America, it makes sense to focus on these.
As an agnostic, I am glad to have Hemant and the work he does to strengthen and solidify the secular community. This is an important book and a good account of his experience learning about these faiths and his empirical research and discovery process. If you're already a member of the secular community, you won't discover anything you didn't already know, however.
slapshottechnology's review against another edition
4.0
Good, easy read on guy visiting churches and critiquing them. Coming from a logical Atheist perspective discussing our morales, diiscussion with churches, etc.
kayisolo's review against another edition
4.0
This is a book for religious and non-religious readers alike. It's the writings of an atheist who spent plenty of time in churches in a number of states, critiquing their sermons and services, detailing what they did that was good and bad. He's an open-minded individual, more concerned with trying to engage in discussion and learning than trying to prove other people wrong, and to that end he succeeds.
His message is one that I personally agree with. As an atheist myself, I've had great fun going to churches, mosques, etc. reading books on religion and talking to people. I wasn't out to antagonize anyone, but to learn. And I've learned plenty. To that end, I wish more people on all 'sides' would read this book; it's about engaging with those of different beliefs in peaceful ways, recognizing that communicating and starting a dialogue is a great way to improve relations, and that we get better results when we don't alienate others simply for having different beliefs.
His reviews of different churches are fascinating, and it gives an interesting insight on what non-believers see. For example, when he goes to a church but the sermons are given as though everyone is already an expert, it makes newcomers feel unwelcome. He explains that if churches really want to reach out to people who don't share their faith, there are ways to improve, and he explains that helping them improve is something he genuinely wants to do.
It's not a lengthy or offensive read, and definitely one I'd recommend picking up. If you're religious, it presents questions and critique without insults. I'd also recommend this book to anti-theists as proof that you can be atheist and also not be antagonistic and angry (and if you are, that you can recognize what you're doing to the reputation of the rest of us).
His message is one that I personally agree with. As an atheist myself, I've had great fun going to churches, mosques, etc. reading books on religion and talking to people. I wasn't out to antagonize anyone, but to learn. And I've learned plenty. To that end, I wish more people on all 'sides' would read this book; it's about engaging with those of different beliefs in peaceful ways, recognizing that communicating and starting a dialogue is a great way to improve relations, and that we get better results when we don't alienate others simply for having different beliefs.
His reviews of different churches are fascinating, and it gives an interesting insight on what non-believers see. For example, when he goes to a church but the sermons are given as though everyone is already an expert, it makes newcomers feel unwelcome. He explains that if churches really want to reach out to people who don't share their faith, there are ways to improve, and he explains that helping them improve is something he genuinely wants to do.
It's not a lengthy or offensive read, and definitely one I'd recommend picking up. If you're religious, it presents questions and critique without insults. I'd also recommend this book to anti-theists as proof that you can be atheist and also not be antagonistic and angry (and if you are, that you can recognize what you're doing to the reputation of the rest of us).
ashleykitkat's review against another edition
3.0
Insightful, every Christian should read this book to know how they come off to a skeptic.
aarhodes's review against another edition
2.0
I found this book to be...how do say?...annoying. The premise came across as gimmicky and I often felt like I was reading this guy's xanga diary where he recounts going to church and being bored. Nothing about this book really resonated with me, and the criticisms and suggestions and even the organization of the chapters seemed one dimensional. I finished it because it was a fairly quick read and even with the excessive eye-rolling I was doing, I was able to finish it quite quickly. Though I did end up skimming the final two chapters.
christopherborum's review
4.0
As an atheist married into a Lutheran family, all I can say is that most of my in-laws would benefit from reading this book. It really gives a clear picture of why people choose not to believe, and what it's like sometimes to be a religious minority in a heavily Christian country.
satyridae's review
2.0
Interesting concept in which an atheist sells his time to the highest bidder, and at said bidder's request, attends several different churches & critiques the services. Mehta, I think, is sincere but he cuts the charlatans and fools in these churches too much slack.
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