Not the religious type : confessions of a turncoat Atheist

Smeltzer, a minister in the Vineyard Church, describes the events that led him from athiesm to Christianity.;The Universe -- God -- Happiness -- Welcome to your centered-set life. As an atheist, Dave Schmelzer never thought of himself as the religious type--and he still doesn't, even though he now believes in God and leads a large Boston church in the shadow of some of the nation's most impressive universities. Religion is usually about rules and codes, about "being good," about what will get you embraced and what will get you shunned. But God, according to Dave, is all about how you can become a closer friend with him, with others, and with yourself. In the tradition of C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity and G. K. Chesterton's Orthodoxy comes this illuminating collection of thoughts on faith in a postmodern world. Not the Religious Type bridges the gap between the two communities in which many of us live--the secular and the religious--and suggests a new, unexpected way of seeing the world and our place in it. Whether we're the religious type or not, there's a certain part of each of us that invariably wonders if it's true--if there's a God we can connect with who is alive and active, with the kind of perspective on our lives and futures that we could never have on our own. As Dave engagingly explores these most important questions, he invites his readers into "a new and warmer spring," a way of thinking that will help both secularists who never imagined they would become people of faith and also people of faith who perhaps haven't experienced all from God that they've hoped. ALSO VISIT DAVE'S BLOG: www.notreligious.org PART 1: THE UNIVERSE If I'd Known This Was Possible, I'd Have Signed Up a Long Time Ago It Turns Out I'm Not Smart Enough to Understand Churches How M. Scott Peck Saved My Life I'm Not a Jerk! (I May, However, Be a Fool) Why -- I'm Guessing -- You'd Rather Live in Paris than Tehran I'm Better than You (Hang On -- That Didn't Come Out Right) PART II: GOD A Word From Our Lawyers On Second Thought, Disregard Everything I've Said You -- Yes, You! -- Can Hear God's Voice Nobody Suspects My True Identity Evidently My Options Are either to Be (a) Bored or (b) Terrified How Baywatch Caused 9/11 I Want Lots and Lots of Sex PART III: HAPPINESS I Was Pretty Bummed Out Yesterday Sometimes My Prayers Feel Pretty Lame Isn't Faith Always Just One Step from Being Disproved? Three Cheers for Thoughtful Atheism I Certainly Need All the Help I Can Get PART IV: WELCOME TO YOUR CENTERED-SET LIFE Some Inside Dirt on Pastors If I'd Known This Was Possible, I'd Have Signed Up a Long Time Ago The Universe -- God -- Happiness -- Welcome To Your Centered-set Life. Dave Schmelzer. Includes Bibliographical References.