Merold Westphal

Westphal's methodology gave me language I needed (finally!) to describe how I think about religion and religious experience. He brackets truth claims and focuses on the religious experience with an aim of understanding. He argues that guilt and death are central to religion and does so with clarity and precision.

Westphal has the unusual practice of reading works by Freud, Nietzsche, and Marx during Lent. These three philosophers are among the most influential atheists. Westphal examines the faults they see in Christianity and how acurate they are. The scary thing is, their reason for turning from Christianity is Christians themselves.

The author attempts to resolve guilt and death - what he considers two main problems with human existence - in this book/thesis. Supporting evidence is well stated, if not a bit over exampled. This book will be satisfying for the analytical individuals considering atheism but craving spirituality, from the dogmatic to ethereal. For those who are not looking for a means to salvation from mere existence, having no problem with being, it lends an interesting argument from the other show more side.

Skipping from one quote to another of various individuals within the author's own sentences made for a somewhat uncomfortable read, but that is why I would consider this more of a thesis than a non-fiction book. show less