Relief: A Quarterly Christian Expression - Relief Recommends I Sold My Soul on eBay

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Relief Recommends I Sold My Soul on eBay

Written by Travis Griffith

Wednesday, 02 July 2008

Relief Blogger Travis Griffith reviews I Sold My Soul on eBay: Viewing Faith through an Atheist’s Eyes, the story of the much-publicized eBay auction where Hemant Mehta sold the right to send an atheist (himself) to church.

Hemant Mehta’s Journey:

Raised in the Indian religion Jainism, Hemant Mehta rejected his religion and became an atheist as a teenager. In his early twenties, he realized he didn’t know very much about American’s main religion: Christianity.

And what’s the best way to learn about Christianity? Go to church. The twist that Mehta put on that though was to let someone else decide what church he’d attend and how many times he’d go. Hence the auction.

The winning bid of $504 placed by Seattle minister Jim Henderson sent Mehta on a cross country tour of churches and interviews (The Wall Street Journal, The Seattle Times, The Chicago Sun-Times, to name a few). Eventually an editor at Waterbrook Press asked Mehta to visit even more churches for the purposes of a book. And Mehta jumped on the opportunity to continue learning about Christianity while at the same time spreading the word of atheism and proving that atheists are not the angry God-haters they’ve been branded as by some Christians.

The Book:

The book begins with an explanation of how and why Mehta became an atheist, and then continues into his journey to churches across four states: Illinois, Michigan, Colorado and Texas. Mehta begins by reviewing small churches, followed by medium-sized churches and finally mega-churches including New Life Church (before the whole Ted Haggard controversy), Mars Hill Bible Church and Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church. Along the way, Mehta details his thoughts during each service, questions certain traditions and, at the end of the book, offers suggestions for improving services and ways for drawing non-Christians to church.

His writing style is simple and clear, and it only took a few pages before I found myself identifying with him, his emotions, and his questions regarding faith.

What really surprised me is that Mehta is completely open to belief. As a former atheist myself, I can’t say I ever had the same amount of openness. And it’s his willingness to be open that makes this book so intriguing.

Another aspect of the book I was impressed with was Mehta’s proposal to bring atheists and Christians together for discussion, which he does at his website The Friendly Atheist. After all, he says he knows atheists who are actually following Jesus’ example more closely than many Christians. Many atheists have a strong commitment to Christian values, just without the belief in Christ.

Honestly, the logic and reason with which Mehta speaks about atheism is powerful, yet never condescending towards Christians.

This book is simply about finding the truth which, perhaps, is why some Christians feel so threatened by atheism. Are Christians afraid that atheists will bring up too many good points in a debate? Do Christian teachings not stand up to reason? Can Christianity continue to survive on faith alone? If these are your fears, then you really need this book.

Mehta says it would take a miracle to convert him from atheism—some undeniable proof about the existence of God or spirituality. This book reveals whether or not he received that proof.

On a More Personal Note:

I’m in the unique position to view this topic from both sides: I was an atheist and am someone who’s seen the undeniable proof that Mehta is open for. However, one person’s proof is another person’s fiction, which I suppose is what makes faith… faith.

Read this book and you’ll gain an insight into the truth about atheism. For Christians reading this book, you’ll come away with knowledge about how your religion is viewed by outsiders, and what can be done to bridge the gap between believers and non-believers.

Relief recommends this book because it takes two polar opposite beliefs and challenges each to consider the other. In the end, I would guess that Christians who are exposed to atheism won’t become atheists, but will become more passionate about growing into their Christianity.

Travis Griffith, who recently left behind the corporate marketing world choosing family and writing in lieu of “a comfortable life” financially, is a former atheist trying to define what leading a spiritual life really means. His children’s book, Your Father Forever, published in 2005 by Illumination Arts Publishing Company, Inc. captures only a fraction of his passion for fatherhood. We’re glad to have him aboard.

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