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Description edit
Unique insights from an atheist’s Sunday-morning odyssey When Hemant Mehta was a teenager he stopped believing in God, but he never lost his interest in religion. Mehta is “the eBay atheist,” the nonbeliever who auctioned off the opportunity for the winning bidder to send him to church.... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
People edit
- Hemant Mehta: Mehta, the author of the book, is a Jain-turned-atheist who auctions himself off on eBay promises to go to different churches with the highest bidder (the number of churches depending on the dollar amount).
- Jim Henderson: Henderson was the winner of Mehta's eBay auction. He went to church with him and actually wrote a book of his own about the same experience from his perspective.
Quotes edit
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“"It is clear that most churches have aligned themselves against non-religious people."”
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“"I was convinced some of them had repeated the same motions their entire lives without really thinking about what they were doing."”
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“"My little sister's being allowed to endure a dangerous eight-day fast was the last straw."”
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“"Most atheists I've met would be more tolerant of religion if it had no government sponsorship."”
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“"It seems that pastors in general just assume that everyone in the audience already agrees with them."”
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“"If atheists are willing to debate their beliefs and be proven wrong, why aren't Christians willing to subject their own beliefs - which they hold to be absolute truth - to the same level of scrutiny?"”
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“"Look around you. Do you notice people staring at you? Are people quickly looking away when you make eye contact? Are people whispering to the person next to them while they discreetly look or point at you? Then you're being annoying. Stop it."”
- Popular Highlights from Kindle Customers
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“If you need God to prevent you from killing others, I'm glad you're religious. I can be good without God.”
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In fact, any religion that wants to keep people believing should do one simple thing: instead of limiting religious teaching to matters of what to do and how to do it, tell people why they are saying certain words, performing certain rituals, and adhering to certain beliefs.
Highlighted by 6 Kindle customers -
Atheists are highly motivated to achieve more in the present life because we believe this is the only life we have.
Highlighted by 6 Kindle customers -
if those beliefs can't stand under scrutiny, they aren't worth believing.”
Highlighted by 5 Kindle customers -
Did these people think others who had not yet found Christ were lost, scared, or miserable? Did I have to go through some sort of trauma or crisis before I would find anything of ultimate meaning?
Highlighted by 5 Kindle customers -
It seemed that all religions were trying to answer questions they didn't have the answers to. What was so wrong with not knowing? Why couldn't we just try to improve our lives, be happy, and make things better for future generations?
Highlighted by 4 Kindle customers -
Here is my advice to Christians who want to influence people like me: be open to reaching out to people who disagree with you, instead of forcing us to adopt your beliefs in order to win your approval. Why not go ahead and “approve” of me simply because I'm a fellow human? Shouldn't that be enough to earn your respect?
Highlighted by 4 Kindle customers -
I would argue that atheists are actually following Jesus’ example more closely than are a lot of Christians. Atheists are more accepting of those who disagree with them, and atheists don't demand that other people first have to join an atheist club before they will take that person seriously.
Highlighted by 4 Kindle customers -
It is clear that most churches have aligned themselves against nonreligious people.
Highlighted by 4 Kindle customers -
The most prominent feature of Jainism is adherence to the values represented in the Five Vows: nonviolence, truth, nonstealing, celibacy (until marriage), and nonpossessiveness.
Highlighted by 4 Kindle customers
Setting & Locations edit
- Mars Hill Bible Church, Grandville, MI: One of 3 churches that Mehta found particularly interesting or appealing.
- Lakewood Church, Houston, TX: One of 3 churches that Mehta found particularly interesting or appealing.
- Willow Creek Community Church, South Barrington, IL: One of 3 churches that Mehta found particularly interesting or appealing.
Organizations edit
- LaSalle Street Church, Chicago, IL: Add a description of this organization.
- Evangelical Free Church, DeKalb, IL
- Westminster Presbyterian Church, DeKalb, IL
- First Lutheran Church, DeKalb, IL
- Calvary Worship Center, Colorado Springs, CO
- Mars Hill Baptist Church, Chicago, IL
- Windsor Village United Methodist Church, Houston, TX
- Second Baptist Church, Houston, TX
- Harvest Bible Chapel, Rolling Meadows, IL
- New Life Church, Colorado Springs, CO
- The Moody Church, Chicago, IL
- Mars Hill Bible Church, Grandville, MI
- Lakewood Church, Houston, TX
- Willow Creek Community Church, South Barrington, IL
First Sentence edit
There once was a town who was the envy of all who lived outside it.
Table of Contents edit
Introduction
1) Selling My Soul on eBay
2) The Reasons I Lost my Religion
3) Getting to Know an Atheist
4) What the Nonreligious Believe
5) The View from a Smaller Pew
6) The View from a Midsized Pew
7) The View from a Larger Pew
8) Churches That Deserve Special Mention
9) What Works on Sunday Morning and What Doesn't
10) What It Would Take to Convert Me
Discussion Guide by Ron R. Lee
Errata edit
On p. 106, Mehta quotes Pastor Ted Haggard in an interview with Richard Dawkins (a video that is easily found on YouTube), and Mehta completely misrepresents/misinterprets the quote. In the words Mehta quoted, Haggard was being sarcastic and trying to characterize Dawkins' arrogance, but Mehta thought Haggard himself was sporting the attitude.
Authors & Contributors edit
- Hemant Mehta (Author)
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: Add the Library of Congress Classification.
- Dewey: 261.21
Subjects edit
- Books › Religion & Spirituality › Christianity › Christian Living › Faith
- Books › Religion & Spirituality › Christianity › Theology › Apologetics
- Books › Computers & Internet › Business & Culture › eBay
- Books › Religion & Spirituality › Christianity › Evangelism
- Books › Religion & Spirituality › New Age
Popular Tags
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