Edited By Jonathan MS Pearce & Tristan Vick
Walking away from faith is never an easy journey. Leaving god and religion behind can be a challenging experience, sometimes even a painful one. Individuals have to consider the impact on family, friends, jobs, and many other aspects of life. This anthology consists of sixteen personal stories by people, from all walks of life, who have made the journey from a life steeped in religion to a life without it. In sharing these heartfelt stories with others, we hope to give those who have questions, who may be on the fence, or who have recently gone through similar experiences a sign that they are not alone. Within these pages you will find hope and inspiration, and perhaps a better understanding of what it means to take brave strides toward living a life without god and religion.
“Beyond an Absence of Faith has the potential to reach those powerful social dimensions of the believer’s mind, while at the same time comforting those who have recently suffered the social and psychological agony of leaving their religions.”
— Michael Sherlock, author of I Am Christ: The Crucifixion–Painful Truths
“A beautiful and highly recommended collection of very moving accounts…”
— James A. Lindsay, author of Dot, Dot, Dot: Infinity Plus God Equals Folly
Here are some Amazon reviews of the book:
Great material to help you feel there are others out there who no longer believe in unicorns. The journey from faith to reason is a difficult and arduous task fraught with all sorts of pitfalls and dangers not to speak of fears and apprehensions. Reading this book will solidify your resolve to become a FREE Thinker and it will comfort you by letting you realize you are not alone.
Pearce and Vick have brought together a diverse group of voices with one thing in common – they have moved beyond being “former believers” into being active participants in humanity. Each of the stories shared is unique, but former believers will find something they can identify with in every one. From the pain of separation from friends and family, to the joy of being liberated from a sexist mindset, to the harsh reality of having to find a new career in the middle of your life because you have embraced reason, these personal stories help to reinforce for the non-believer that you are not alone in your journey. Instead, you are walking a path many have gone down before, and you can take solace in knowing that these authors have been there as well.
Jonno Pearce and Tristan Vick truly are modern missionaries boldly plunging into the benighted jungles of religious faith with missionary zeal to bring believers light and succour and to rescue them from their folly. We read accounts of these drowning souls being saved and brought to the other side of the Skeptical Jordan to rest at last on its healing banks. Pearce and Vick stride like Moses with his staff and his brother Aaron into the parting Red Sea, and the pursuing legions of archaic religion are confounded. If I have one complaint it is the reluctance of these modern day prophets to publicise themselves vigorously enough. Come on fellas! Don’t hide your light under a bushel!
Skeptic Times – Illinois