The Calling: A Year Exploring What the Secular World Can Learn from Religion

by Niki Harré

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 12, 2026

Reviews

[Kelly Dombroski]

Really interesting experiment that highlights both the weirdness and value of Christian religious practice. Harre sets herself up as a secular priest for the year then documents her experience. It was interesting to read her ongoing attempts at a service and the elements that worked and didnt work when ypu attempted to remove them from religious context. Most of her experience was based on what I would say is an innovative church, Id like to hear more about the rationale to choose that particular church. Not that I disagree, it was a good choice for the project.

I was confused and irritated by the ongping return to the scientists' Listener article. I felt I couldnt quite understand the point she was trying to make. The closest she got was saying that maybe its not helpful to comment on stuff from certain postionalities -- I felt that it would have made sense to read more in the area of mātauranga if that was a main point, especially considering that her ongoing opportunity for secular blessings is in the space created by Māori practices of karakia. But maybe she was avoiding commenting from certain positionalities!

[Maria]

A thought provoking book. I’m pleased I read it and I think some of the ideas will stay with me for some time.