Consciencebound

LOSING MY RELIGION: How I Lost My Faith Reporting on Religion in America — and Found Unexpected Peace.

I heard about this book while listening to the Hugh Hewitt radio program. The author is a long time friend of Hewitt’s and so Hugh had him on the show for an hour to discuss his book and to take calls about it. Although my viewpoints have changed quite a bit over the years, Hugh Hewitt is still one of the conservative talk radio guys I really like and his interview with Lobdell is one reasons why. He did a two part interview with Lobdell which can be found here and here. This interview will give you a little glimpse into Lobdell’s story and personality. Hugh is an Evangelical Christian and he has callers on his radio show call in and talk to Lobdell about his book. Although the interview drags on a bit at times, I think it is good because it shows Lobdell’s sincerity and that he was a meaningful and true Christian who truly struggles with his loss of faith.

Loosing my religion is not a hard hitting atheistic argument against Christianity. He is not like Richard Dawkins or Christopher Hitchens who think that there is no value at all in Christianity and that is a big reasons to read this book. It is a very personal account of this man’s struggles with his faith of which I was able to identify with greatly. Lobdell was an Evangelical Christian and he gives his full story of how he came to faith as well as how he lost it. I like the fact that he portrayed the deep struggles that he went through as he was loosing his faith. Many people think that someone who “used to be a Christian” could not have possibly been a “true” Christian or they were trying to justify some sin and that is why they left. Lobdell struggled deeply just as I did when he was loosing his faith. It is not something that is taken lightly and I would say that most people who leave the faith would prefer to be able to believe and stay but they are overwhelmed by the evidence against it.

If you check out the reviews on Amazon, you will see many reviews written by pastors and other religious people who thought the book was very very good and who challenge other believers to read it. I would encourage the same. It is good to read things from time to time which we are not in agreement with. It makes us think and reexamine ourselves and in the long run it gives us an appreciation for other people who are different than we are.

Great Book! Also check out William Lobdell’s blog here.

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