William Lobdell

Lobdell's experience of losing his faith is something that many in the non-believer community can understand. He didn't decide to quit religion out of spite or because if his reporting on evil within the church (although this certainly was important). Instead, the faith that he felt as a young man slowly dissipated until he felt nothing. In the end, he comes to discover that religious faith is not something that can be faked, and that religious experience is so personal that the dogmas of major religions are irrelevant to the individual's spirituality. I agree with other reviewers that I wish he had discussed religious and secular thinkers whose writings could have shed light on the issues he was struggling with: writers like Hume, Russell or Augustine. But Lobdell's honesty and fearlessness saves the day - finally we have a secular tract on religion that treats both believers and non-believers with respect.… (mehr)

A wonderful memoir on this person's spiritual journey. Originally raised as an Episcopalian, William Lobdell eventually stopped going to church at 17 but his life took a terrible turn after a failed marriage and other problems. Someone told him he needed God in his life, so he went to a Megachurch and joined as a Born-again Christian. So, since he was a reporter, he decided to cover religion and faith based topics. As time went on, he started to gravitate towards other sections of Christianity, the main thing being Catholicism.

As we go through this though you can see where this is going if you know recent history. The Catholic Priest Sex Scandals happened, and Mr. Lobdell began to doubt. It isn't hard to do with all of the terrible things that happen every day, all those unanswered prayers and whatnot. All of the famous priests and clerics that were terrible pedophiles and nothing was done. Many other people of faith lost their way too in the aftermath of that. The biggest problem is that if there is a God, he whispers, and nowadays that isn't good enough.

So all in all, this was a pretty good book. I can relate to what he is talking about, but it didn't take the Sex Scandals to make me doubt. That is the only difference in my case.… (mehr)

I expected this to be an in-depth meditation into losing one's faith, but it wasn't. It was even more interesting. Lobdell's journey into and out of the Christian faith is the weakest part of the book and is secondary to the insights he gained about the state of Christianity in America during his time as the LA Times religion reporter. (While he does discuss other faiths in passing, the vast majority of the discussion centers on Christianity.) In the midst of converting to Catholicism when the sex abuse scandal broke, Lobdell is plunged into a world of pedophiles, faith healers, and charlatans who rock his faith in God and ultimately drive him to atheism. The main problem, he discovers, isn't simply the fraudulent leadership. It's in the refusal of laypersons to question, condemn, or demand better from people who are openly defying the very tenets they are supposed to be promoting. Why aren't they defending the abused and disenfranchised? As he asks over and over again, "Why aren't Christians acting more Christian?"

This sounds depressing and it is. This is a very sad book to get through. He also faces some of the most horrible abuses of the Catholic Church straight on, so if child abuse disturbs you, you should be aware. He does not mince words. But unless you are extraordinarily sensitive, I think this book is worth reading. Lobdell doesn't have any answers, but he is absolutely asking the right questions.… (mehr)