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There's a Hula Girl on my Dashboard: How I Left Faith Behind and Embraced Life
"I didn't need to be redeemed from any unacceptable state. I didn't suffer from any metaphysical disease. I was a living, mortal, fragile, complex sentient being, and that was fine. I could make my own decisions. I could think for myself. I had my own voice." In There's a Hula Girl on my Dashboard: How I Left Faith Behind and Embraced Life, writer, lecturer, and maverick Logospilgrim candidly shares the remarkable and passionate journey that took her from religious belief to secular humanism.
116 pages, Paperback
First published March 25, 2015
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267 people want to read
About the author
Logospilgrim
12 books53 followersI'm a writer, a coconut atheist, a stay home vagabond, and a gonzo maverick. These days, I write mostly about joyful secular living and being a happy tomboy. I have a degree in Religious Studies and enjoy collecting curiosities. I may be somewhat of a curiosity myself. I'm learning to play the ukulele, and I can juggle. I am also known as the quiet professor.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 1, 2015
This little book is one of the most beautiful things I’ve read.
There’s a Hula Girl on My Dashboard is a deeply personal memoir of self-discovery, the quest for meaning and for belonging. The author goes from Evangelical Christianity to Secular Humanism, and explores several belief systems, illustrating succinctly yet powerfully the periods in her life where she tried these things on, all the time looking for a final Answer, for a resting place and for security.
This is a book that is ultimately about uncovering the pure spirituality of just being human, of being alive in the moment and reveling in all it has to offer, even-especially!- the simpler pleasures, and one person’s journey to overcome oppression, abuse, and self-doubt, and find peace in that simplicity. I found myself relating to a lot of what the author experienced: disagreeing with religion and feeling like an outcast because of it, the struggle with sexual & gender identity. I related to the searching, the frustration of finding truth in everything but the inability to connect with any ‘method’…to the nihilistic period, and finally coming to embrace ambiguity.
Belief is a very organic thing. There’s no choice- you do or you don’t believe this or that, and both are okay. You can’t actually control what you believe, what you TRULY believe, and thinking you can or should is highly stressful. After all, beliefs about what we cannot truly know are only damaging if they’re poisonous to ourselves or others. A lot of belief systems teach that our very morals must be tied inextricably to some supernatural cause or entity, and if we don’t have the proper beliefs in that cause or entity, we can’t be decent people. Bullshit, really– no matter where you believe they come from, common decency and goodness are also more human (and honestly, more RATIONAL) than many people realize, and Hula Girl does a beautiful job of really illustrating this through various conversions and encounters with kindred spirits.
It is also worth mentioning that the author handles controversial topics in a way that is not at all hostile or condemning, a great feat considering some of her rough experiences. Every feeling with each experience in each chapter is described, the good and the bad, through a subjective lens that does not assume authority and is as unpretentious as it gets. It may sound weird since the author arrives at atheism by the end, but her experiences are told in such a way that it actually helped remind me to be more empathetic rather than judgmental of religion- it shed light on why some people gravitate towards it, a good boatload of them with the purest of intentions, simple desire for order and community, or determination to reform a system they feel a passion for- all beautifully human motives. Throughout this memoir, you really feel what the author is feeling in her spiritual journey- you felt the darkness, you felt the hope, and near the end I was almost in tears (good, very good tears!). It’s at the very least a very feel-good read, that takes you back to the heart of what’s important and says you are enough and you are whole, just as you are.
Please don’t pass this up as a book *only* for atheists or for secular people! While I have never been religious, I do believe heavily in the existence of the supernatural and I (obviously by this point, lol) found this an absolutely worthwhile read! Logospilgrim’s journey through this book really embodies what it is to be human and on the search for self we’re all on, a search that can become tricky, pushing past other’s conceptions of who we should be to find our truth. Our personal truths may be different from person to person, but it’s the questing itself that’s really the heart of this book, and I would recommend it to anyone who’s ever felt torn apart both inside and out, anyone who’s ever felt isolated in their own personal quest. Anyone who’s ever struggled with religion or self-actualization or feeling shunned or ostracized for simply being true to who they are- which I’m willing to bet is most anyone with a pulse at some point or other. This book is poetic and inspiring and so heartfelt it hurts. Could not put it down from start to finish!!
There’s a Hula Girl on My Dashboard is a deeply personal memoir of self-discovery, the quest for meaning and for belonging. The author goes from Evangelical Christianity to Secular Humanism, and explores several belief systems, illustrating succinctly yet powerfully the periods in her life where she tried these things on, all the time looking for a final Answer, for a resting place and for security.
This is a book that is ultimately about uncovering the pure spirituality of just being human, of being alive in the moment and reveling in all it has to offer, even-especially!- the simpler pleasures, and one person’s journey to overcome oppression, abuse, and self-doubt, and find peace in that simplicity. I found myself relating to a lot of what the author experienced: disagreeing with religion and feeling like an outcast because of it, the struggle with sexual & gender identity. I related to the searching, the frustration of finding truth in everything but the inability to connect with any ‘method’…to the nihilistic period, and finally coming to embrace ambiguity.
Belief is a very organic thing. There’s no choice- you do or you don’t believe this or that, and both are okay. You can’t actually control what you believe, what you TRULY believe, and thinking you can or should is highly stressful. After all, beliefs about what we cannot truly know are only damaging if they’re poisonous to ourselves or others. A lot of belief systems teach that our very morals must be tied inextricably to some supernatural cause or entity, and if we don’t have the proper beliefs in that cause or entity, we can’t be decent people. Bullshit, really– no matter where you believe they come from, common decency and goodness are also more human (and honestly, more RATIONAL) than many people realize, and Hula Girl does a beautiful job of really illustrating this through various conversions and encounters with kindred spirits.
It is also worth mentioning that the author handles controversial topics in a way that is not at all hostile or condemning, a great feat considering some of her rough experiences. Every feeling with each experience in each chapter is described, the good and the bad, through a subjective lens that does not assume authority and is as unpretentious as it gets. It may sound weird since the author arrives at atheism by the end, but her experiences are told in such a way that it actually helped remind me to be more empathetic rather than judgmental of religion- it shed light on why some people gravitate towards it, a good boatload of them with the purest of intentions, simple desire for order and community, or determination to reform a system they feel a passion for- all beautifully human motives. Throughout this memoir, you really feel what the author is feeling in her spiritual journey- you felt the darkness, you felt the hope, and near the end I was almost in tears (good, very good tears!). It’s at the very least a very feel-good read, that takes you back to the heart of what’s important and says you are enough and you are whole, just as you are.
Please don’t pass this up as a book *only* for atheists or for secular people! While I have never been religious, I do believe heavily in the existence of the supernatural and I (obviously by this point, lol) found this an absolutely worthwhile read! Logospilgrim’s journey through this book really embodies what it is to be human and on the search for self we’re all on, a search that can become tricky, pushing past other’s conceptions of who we should be to find our truth. Our personal truths may be different from person to person, but it’s the questing itself that’s really the heart of this book, and I would recommend it to anyone who’s ever felt torn apart both inside and out, anyone who’s ever felt isolated in their own personal quest. Anyone who’s ever struggled with religion or self-actualization or feeling shunned or ostracized for simply being true to who they are- which I’m willing to bet is most anyone with a pulse at some point or other. This book is poetic and inspiring and so heartfelt it hurts. Could not put it down from start to finish!!
April 15, 2015
What a book! I'd call this an un-testimony. This is the story of my friend Logospilgrim's journey from Catholic to Secular Humanist and all the places in between. I knew the broad strokes of her story and came to know her via Livejournal when she was Orthodox. Something about her resonated with me. Although I am Messianic (and been on my own journey spiritually) I appreciate how she came to be Agnostic and have friends & family who are Agnostic and Atheist. Without spoiling anything just know her life has never had an easy path and you go along for all the bumps and forks in the road.
February 12, 2020
I mean, I guess this about what one would expect from a self-published memoir?
My dad gave this book to me after meeting Logospilgrim at an atheist conference. I was intrigued enough by the cover and the photo of the author on the back (a hot tattooed androgyne - self-identified - in a suit) to get around, eventually, to reading it.
This is the somewhat rambling narrative of the author's relationship with religion over the course of her life. It had its interesting moments but, well, she's a blogger, and it read like a blog. Quite stream of consciousness, not particularly lyrical, but with some awkwardly written metaphors thrown in now and again. There are copious pop culture references which aren't as meaningful to you as they are to her if you're not familiar with them. She throws in lots of interesting book recommendations though!
The conclusion of the memoir, where (spoiler alert?) she realizes that life is all the more meaningful if there is no afterlife - life is short so we must make it sweet - was my favourite part. I found it touching, and sent a text message to my spouse to tell him I loved him.
My dad gave this book to me after meeting Logospilgrim at an atheist conference. I was intrigued enough by the cover and the photo of the author on the back (a hot tattooed androgyne - self-identified - in a suit) to get around, eventually, to reading it.
This is the somewhat rambling narrative of the author's relationship with religion over the course of her life. It had its interesting moments but, well, she's a blogger, and it read like a blog. Quite stream of consciousness, not particularly lyrical, but with some awkwardly written metaphors thrown in now and again. There are copious pop culture references which aren't as meaningful to you as they are to her if you're not familiar with them. She throws in lots of interesting book recommendations though!
The conclusion of the memoir, where (spoiler alert?) she realizes that life is all the more meaningful if there is no afterlife - life is short so we must make it sweet - was my favourite part. I found it touching, and sent a text message to my spouse to tell him I loved him.
June 21, 2017
I picked up this book because I had seen the author on Twitter and found her interesting. I wasn’t sure what to think at first, since this reads more like a old-school, late-night, really-honest blog than a formal novel. The author walks us through her spiritual journey, starting with an abusive childhood, and wandering through a wide range of religions, philosophies, and even a stint working a peep show—joined by a somewhat random but clearly heartfelt extended tribute to actor Robert Englund. Yet, I kept turning the pages! Fun, quick, read of the life of a unique person who is comfortable showing her true self to the world.
January 16, 2019
She took a long time in life to reach pretty obvious conclusions!
A bit too tortured a process for this tiki fan..as an agnostic hedonist I get it but way too ponderous
A bit too tortured a process for this tiki fan..as an agnostic hedonist I get it but way too ponderous
October 13, 2016
Having been religiously bullied and brainwashed my entire life, this book really struck a chord with me, and also opened my eyes to a new way of thinking. Read this book and keep an open mind. Too often, religious people will judge, mock, harass, belittle, berate those with different beliefs, and unfortunately, most of those people are only going with the stories that have been drummed into their heads their whole life. They haven't looked at other religions, they haven't even studied their own. Fortunately, Logospilgrim provides an open-minded view of a journey towards enlightenment. There are some really memorable passages that really resonated within me. And the best thing I can take away from this book, is that just because I do not follow in my parents' or communities religious beliefs, it does not make me a bad person. It does not mean I am meant for a life, or even an afterlife of suffering. It means that I am willing to listen, learn and more importantly, respect your beliefs without condemning you. Thanks for the good read!
March 6, 2016
Logospilgrim's writing is unique and creatively powerful in many ways. Though I am Catholic, I still enjoyed reading about this personal self-discovery journey that opens us to many new diverse subjects to talk about. It also teaches us to accept one another for who we are and to never judge a book by neither it's cover or text, meaning to be kind no matter someone's race, religion or personal views on life. This story is powerful, grips you into Logospilgrim's world and really shows you how to stand up, be strong and be you.
June 30, 2015
I want to write the in depth review this book deserves but its been a long weekend and my words are failing me.
Leave it at one massively important thing.. Even tho the book is so short immediately you feel as though you're having a heart-to-heart with a dear friend.
Leave it at one massively important thing.. Even tho the book is so short immediately you feel as though you're having a heart-to-heart with a dear friend.
October 2, 2015
Awesome read. It's a very engaging narrative that takes you through a very interesting life, one that might surprise you.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews