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Women Beyond Belief: Discovering Life Without Religion
Women have made great strides toward equal rights over the past hundred years, especially in the West. But when considering the ongoing fight over reproductive rights and equal pay—and the prevalence of sexual violence and domestic abuse—it is clear that a significant gap still exists. With scripture often cited as justification for the marginalization of women, it is time to acknowledge that one of the final barriers to full equality for women is religion. Much has been written about the great strides humankind has made in knocking down many long-held religious beliefs, whether related to the age of the earth or the origin of the species. But religion’s negative impact on women has been less studied and discussed. This book is a step toward changing that. Twenty-two women from a variety of backgrounds and Judeo-Christian traditions share their personal stories about how they came to abandon organized religion, and how they discovered life after moving away from religious and supernatural beliefs. Their words serve both as a celebration of all who have taken similar steps under the weight of thousands of years of religious history—and as a source of inspiration for those individuals, especially women, who have deep doubts about their own belief traditions but who don’t yet know how to embrace life without falling back on religion.
272 pages, Paperback
Published October 1, 2016
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July 1, 2017
I was really intrigued by the idea of Women Beyond Belief: Discovering Life Without Religion. I don't have a problem with the concept of God, but I have a massive distrust of the concept of religion, so this was right up my alley. As is common with anthologies, some of the essays are stronger than others, but by and large, this is a good collection.
Overall, I only had three main issues with the text as a whole:
1) There wasn't a very wide range of women represented, in my opinion. Almost every single woman had a Christian background, except for one Jewish woman. Where were the ex-Muslims, the ex-Buddhists, the ex-Hindus? Could the editor not find anyone willing to contribute, or are Christian women the only ones who leave their faith?
2) Some of the writers had very little religious background--it was never a big deal to them and they abandoned it easily and/or early. That irked me because I felt that wasn't what the book originally claimed to be.
3) This cover is terrible. Truly hideous.
Essay-By-Essay Breakdown:
A Personal Exodus by Ann Wilcox
I remember the week that it finally hit me: I had been raised to live my life according to the mythical stories and barbaric social mores of a bunch of ancient Middle Eastern men. Suddenly, the emperor had no clothes.
I enjoyed the structure of this essay, the breakdown of the various tenets of her previous faith. I also liked her sarcastic tone. I found her somewhat negative view of the Middle East troubling, though.
Falling for the Devil by Ceal Wright
It's so clear to me now why education isn't conducive to being a Witness—it makes a person think. It opens your mind and forces you to question things that they wanted members to accept as fact. More importantly, it exposes you to a whole new segment of the population that makes you question what bad association really is.
I enjoyed the story format. While I was initially frustrated with her reluctance to make a clean break, I ultimately understood her reasons for choosing to "fade out" instead.
Growing Up Atheist by Ute Mitchell
I was taught in every subject to think critically, to find evidence for my claims. This was true for math, science, biology, physics, and chemistry, all of which were taught as separate subjects in Germany. Yet, in my religious education class, I was asked to leave these skills behind. I was asked to simply believe.
I could have read an entire essay about what it was like coming from Germany to America, in regards to religion in politics.
The Many Phases of Becoming a Young Atheist in Latin America by Matilde Reyes
I preferred the feeling of lonely truth over a community lie.
This started out promising but felt incomplete. The title was a bit misleading to me—it didn't seem like it was really hard for her to abandon her belief system. More detail would have been nice.
Animals, Religion, and the Process of Atheism by Taylor Duty
Groupthink—or as it is commonly coined—"mob mentality" is powerful, especially among youth. The inherent search for acceptance and inclusion is structured and ciphered into a moral manipulation technique. Summer camp is a hothouse for this type of groupthink, and my young mind was not exempt.
The beginning was the strongest part of this essay. I felt like the author struggled to connect her various points.
On Being Human by Sandy Olson
But the stories that were supposed to convince me that Jesus was really the son of God just didn't take. I just didn't believe it. I tired asking questions to make sense of some of this, but they were never answered to my satisfaction—even when I was young and more impressionable. It seemed I just needed to suspend logic and believe. But I couldn't seem to do this.
The style was a bit meandering, but was still enjoyable.
My Walk Away from Religion by Ruth Marimo
I had always struggled with the idea of endless worship. What kind of a God requires constant worship? In everything else we do in life, we eventually finish . . . but that is not the case with worship. It is never enough. It is never ending.
This essay tackled some really important issues, but one problem I had was that the author self-advertised for her memoir in the middle of it. And not smoothly, either.
My Life: A Long and Winding Journey by Karen Brotzman
. . . as my professional life started to take off, my position as a woman in a male-dominated church became more and more concerning. Did I really believe my place was as a wife, mother, and servant to my husband? My bishop thought it was time to get remarried. I started questioning my commitment to any of this.
The story format really drew me in, but I was a little disappointed that I couldn't pinpoint exactly what made her decide to leave her faith.
Grayce by Gil Brennan
I would be invited to friends' houses for the weekend. We would sit down for dinner, and the father, who invariably sat at the head of the table, would bow his head and say, "Let's say Grace." I would mumble, lower my head, and fake it one more time.
The strange style was puzzling and distracting throughout, from the weird present-tense opening to the childlike writing throughout: "OMG, as we say these days, talk about speechless. I refused to speak with her for years and years. This rift in our relationship was very sad, and all because of this God thing." Where was the editor on this one?
Well Beyond Belief by Kay Pullen
I did not reject all of the moral values that were taught to me as religious principles, but when I got to college, I left my religion behind at my parents' house, as forgotten as the not-so-favorite clothing and books that didn't make the final packing cut.
Is Kay Pullen me??? If you subtract veganism and add paganism, this is almost my exact journey. Weird.
How I Stopped Believing by Emma Graham
I was sixteen, and it was then that I realized how hypocritical people who called themselves Christians could be. I wanted no more of it.
The short vignettes that the author used could have been tied together better.
Of Faith, Feminism, and Master Narratives by Sylvia Benner
That night, for the first time, I considered the possibility that the Bible was precisely what it seemed to be: mythology. That was my sense. The contradictions dissolved when I downgraded the Bible from truth to claim. I went to bed a Christian around ten thirty and was an atheist by eleven thirty.
This essay damn near ruined the entire book for me. There's very little about religion or the journey from belief to non-belief. Instead, the author used this essay as a platform to bash feminism and pat herself on the back for being "egalitarian." Hard pass. It was disappointing to say the least, and I'm perplexed as to why it was included.
The Minority Atheist by Taressa Straughter
I remember when I told my mother I was an atheist, she forced me to read the bible. She probably thought that would explain things and make me a believer, but it did the exact opposite. If anything, it made me certain that god didn't exist.
The author chose a great topic, but this felt more like a rant than an essay. It definitely would have benefited from expanding on her ideas.
Escaping and Surviving Religion by Marsha Abelman
It was also painful to realize that all those years I'd been submissive and silent in church, accepting my place behind every man who ever lived, I was blindly following a tradition created by men. […] God hadn't decreed that women were dirty and untouchable because of biology or that we needed to suffer in childbirth. Men had written those words.
Not particularly hard-hitting, but a nice, thoughtful piece.
Leaving Christian Baggage Behind by Lilandra Ra
Fast-forward to my thirties, and none of the scripts that I was raised with about being a godly woman were helping me to solve real-world adult problems. God couldn't fix them. He didn't really care about me, because he was never there to begin with.
I would have liked to hear more about the back-and-forth of having a Baptist father and Catholic mother, but I was glad to finally see an essay acknowledge the problems within the atheist community, particularly in regards to anti-social justice.
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep by Karen L. Garst
I don't remember ever questioning the vision of a god who would kill everyone on Earth except for one family or who would send his son to be crucified. It just seemed part of the Sunday experience.
I really appreciated the honesty that this piece exuded.
Unspoken Betrayal by Michelle DeBord
. . . now I knew the feeling of the word hate. It was not my grandma I hated, although I was sure my love clouded my discernment on that—it was the Church. I never wanted to go back, to watch the bishop stand up in front of the ward and tell us that he believed in Jesus Christ. I never wanted to watch his fake reverence or hear his testimony of forgiveness, and I never wanted to stand by and keep his secrets.
Very emotional and gripping!
Critical Believer by Jackie Burgett
When my professor told us that Pascal's Wager was not evidence for God, I had to change my conception of the word evidence. Previously, I thought that evidence meant connecting dots, like in a detective novel. One continuous straight line. Now I saw evidence as just part of a vast picture holding up a proposition. This deeper knowledge felt exciting.
I, too, tried to summon ghosts at 13. This one was more focused on belief in the supernatural than an organized religion.
The Long Road Home to Myself by Gayle Myrna
I could easily see that Christians were as convinced as Islamists as Jews as Mormons as New Agers as Buddhists as (fill in the blank) were that their particular version of religion/philosophy/whatever was the only one that was true. And I started to think, Bullshit.
It's awfully telling, I think, that the only essay from a Jewish girl is still inundated with Christianity.
The Long and Winding Road by Robin Stafford
I envy those who were able to see behind the curtain at a young age. However, I bought it lock, stock, and barrel.
Hey, a pagan! Or at least, a pagan for a hot minute.
Running with the Devil by Anna Rankin
It was hard to believe in a god that was up in heaven somewhere when I needed him down here.
Not terrible, but it had a very formulaic structure: This happened, and then this happened, and then this happened. . .
Not Quite an Atheist (And Where Does that Leave Me?) by Nancy J. Wolf
What does it mean that I basically eschew the Christian faith but cannot declare myself an atheist? Am I an agnostic, one who admits she does not know enough to confirm or deny the existence of a god? What do I believe?
The author was very frank and logical, and used reason to break down religion. It did get a little repetitive in the end.
Even though there were some disappointments, this was an overall enjoyable read. If the editor ever decides to publish a volume 2, I'd be interested in contributing. Karen, hmu.
Three Stars: Not bad, but not fantastic either. I'll still recommend it, if I think that person might like it more than me.
I received my copy of Women Beyond Belief: Discovering Life Without Religion through a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway, in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, I only had three main issues with the text as a whole:
1) There wasn't a very wide range of women represented, in my opinion. Almost every single woman had a Christian background, except for one Jewish woman. Where were the ex-Muslims, the ex-Buddhists, the ex-Hindus? Could the editor not find anyone willing to contribute, or are Christian women the only ones who leave their faith?
2) Some of the writers had very little religious background--it was never a big deal to them and they abandoned it easily and/or early. That irked me because I felt that wasn't what the book originally claimed to be.
3) This cover is terrible. Truly hideous.
Essay-By-Essay Breakdown:
A Personal Exodus by Ann Wilcox
I remember the week that it finally hit me: I had been raised to live my life according to the mythical stories and barbaric social mores of a bunch of ancient Middle Eastern men. Suddenly, the emperor had no clothes.
I enjoyed the structure of this essay, the breakdown of the various tenets of her previous faith. I also liked her sarcastic tone. I found her somewhat negative view of the Middle East troubling, though.
Falling for the Devil by Ceal Wright
It's so clear to me now why education isn't conducive to being a Witness—it makes a person think. It opens your mind and forces you to question things that they wanted members to accept as fact. More importantly, it exposes you to a whole new segment of the population that makes you question what bad association really is.
I enjoyed the story format. While I was initially frustrated with her reluctance to make a clean break, I ultimately understood her reasons for choosing to "fade out" instead.
Growing Up Atheist by Ute Mitchell
I was taught in every subject to think critically, to find evidence for my claims. This was true for math, science, biology, physics, and chemistry, all of which were taught as separate subjects in Germany. Yet, in my religious education class, I was asked to leave these skills behind. I was asked to simply believe.
I could have read an entire essay about what it was like coming from Germany to America, in regards to religion in politics.
The Many Phases of Becoming a Young Atheist in Latin America by Matilde Reyes
I preferred the feeling of lonely truth over a community lie.
This started out promising but felt incomplete. The title was a bit misleading to me—it didn't seem like it was really hard for her to abandon her belief system. More detail would have been nice.
Animals, Religion, and the Process of Atheism by Taylor Duty
Groupthink—or as it is commonly coined—"mob mentality" is powerful, especially among youth. The inherent search for acceptance and inclusion is structured and ciphered into a moral manipulation technique. Summer camp is a hothouse for this type of groupthink, and my young mind was not exempt.
The beginning was the strongest part of this essay. I felt like the author struggled to connect her various points.
On Being Human by Sandy Olson
But the stories that were supposed to convince me that Jesus was really the son of God just didn't take. I just didn't believe it. I tired asking questions to make sense of some of this, but they were never answered to my satisfaction—even when I was young and more impressionable. It seemed I just needed to suspend logic and believe. But I couldn't seem to do this.
The style was a bit meandering, but was still enjoyable.
My Walk Away from Religion by Ruth Marimo
I had always struggled with the idea of endless worship. What kind of a God requires constant worship? In everything else we do in life, we eventually finish . . . but that is not the case with worship. It is never enough. It is never ending.
This essay tackled some really important issues, but one problem I had was that the author self-advertised for her memoir in the middle of it. And not smoothly, either.
My Life: A Long and Winding Journey by Karen Brotzman
. . . as my professional life started to take off, my position as a woman in a male-dominated church became more and more concerning. Did I really believe my place was as a wife, mother, and servant to my husband? My bishop thought it was time to get remarried. I started questioning my commitment to any of this.
The story format really drew me in, but I was a little disappointed that I couldn't pinpoint exactly what made her decide to leave her faith.
Grayce by Gil Brennan
I would be invited to friends' houses for the weekend. We would sit down for dinner, and the father, who invariably sat at the head of the table, would bow his head and say, "Let's say Grace." I would mumble, lower my head, and fake it one more time.
The strange style was puzzling and distracting throughout, from the weird present-tense opening to the childlike writing throughout: "OMG, as we say these days, talk about speechless. I refused to speak with her for years and years. This rift in our relationship was very sad, and all because of this God thing." Where was the editor on this one?
Well Beyond Belief by Kay Pullen
I did not reject all of the moral values that were taught to me as religious principles, but when I got to college, I left my religion behind at my parents' house, as forgotten as the not-so-favorite clothing and books that didn't make the final packing cut.
Is Kay Pullen me??? If you subtract veganism and add paganism, this is almost my exact journey. Weird.
How I Stopped Believing by Emma Graham
I was sixteen, and it was then that I realized how hypocritical people who called themselves Christians could be. I wanted no more of it.
The short vignettes that the author used could have been tied together better.
Of Faith, Feminism, and Master Narratives by Sylvia Benner
That night, for the first time, I considered the possibility that the Bible was precisely what it seemed to be: mythology. That was my sense. The contradictions dissolved when I downgraded the Bible from truth to claim. I went to bed a Christian around ten thirty and was an atheist by eleven thirty.
This essay damn near ruined the entire book for me. There's very little about religion or the journey from belief to non-belief. Instead, the author used this essay as a platform to bash feminism and pat herself on the back for being "egalitarian." Hard pass. It was disappointing to say the least, and I'm perplexed as to why it was included.
The Minority Atheist by Taressa Straughter
I remember when I told my mother I was an atheist, she forced me to read the bible. She probably thought that would explain things and make me a believer, but it did the exact opposite. If anything, it made me certain that god didn't exist.
The author chose a great topic, but this felt more like a rant than an essay. It definitely would have benefited from expanding on her ideas.
Escaping and Surviving Religion by Marsha Abelman
It was also painful to realize that all those years I'd been submissive and silent in church, accepting my place behind every man who ever lived, I was blindly following a tradition created by men. […] God hadn't decreed that women were dirty and untouchable because of biology or that we needed to suffer in childbirth. Men had written those words.
Not particularly hard-hitting, but a nice, thoughtful piece.
Leaving Christian Baggage Behind by Lilandra Ra
Fast-forward to my thirties, and none of the scripts that I was raised with about being a godly woman were helping me to solve real-world adult problems. God couldn't fix them. He didn't really care about me, because he was never there to begin with.
I would have liked to hear more about the back-and-forth of having a Baptist father and Catholic mother, but I was glad to finally see an essay acknowledge the problems within the atheist community, particularly in regards to anti-social justice.
Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep by Karen L. Garst
I don't remember ever questioning the vision of a god who would kill everyone on Earth except for one family or who would send his son to be crucified. It just seemed part of the Sunday experience.
I really appreciated the honesty that this piece exuded.
Unspoken Betrayal by Michelle DeBord
. . . now I knew the feeling of the word hate. It was not my grandma I hated, although I was sure my love clouded my discernment on that—it was the Church. I never wanted to go back, to watch the bishop stand up in front of the ward and tell us that he believed in Jesus Christ. I never wanted to watch his fake reverence or hear his testimony of forgiveness, and I never wanted to stand by and keep his secrets.
Very emotional and gripping!
Critical Believer by Jackie Burgett
When my professor told us that Pascal's Wager was not evidence for God, I had to change my conception of the word evidence. Previously, I thought that evidence meant connecting dots, like in a detective novel. One continuous straight line. Now I saw evidence as just part of a vast picture holding up a proposition. This deeper knowledge felt exciting.
I, too, tried to summon ghosts at 13. This one was more focused on belief in the supernatural than an organized religion.
The Long Road Home to Myself by Gayle Myrna
I could easily see that Christians were as convinced as Islamists as Jews as Mormons as New Agers as Buddhists as (fill in the blank) were that their particular version of religion/philosophy/whatever was the only one that was true. And I started to think, Bullshit.
It's awfully telling, I think, that the only essay from a Jewish girl is still inundated with Christianity.
The Long and Winding Road by Robin Stafford
I envy those who were able to see behind the curtain at a young age. However, I bought it lock, stock, and barrel.
Hey, a pagan! Or at least, a pagan for a hot minute.
Running with the Devil by Anna Rankin
It was hard to believe in a god that was up in heaven somewhere when I needed him down here.
Not terrible, but it had a very formulaic structure: This happened, and then this happened, and then this happened. . .
Not Quite an Atheist (And Where Does that Leave Me?) by Nancy J. Wolf
What does it mean that I basically eschew the Christian faith but cannot declare myself an atheist? Am I an agnostic, one who admits she does not know enough to confirm or deny the existence of a god? What do I believe?
The author was very frank and logical, and used reason to break down religion. It did get a little repetitive in the end.
Even though there were some disappointments, this was an overall enjoyable read. If the editor ever decides to publish a volume 2, I'd be interested in contributing. Karen, hmu.
Three Stars: Not bad, but not fantastic either. I'll still recommend it, if I think that person might like it more than me.
I received my copy of Women Beyond Belief: Discovering Life Without Religion through a Goodreads First Reads Giveaway, in exchange for an honest review.
April 27, 2018
Living in Alabama, the apparent heart of religious conservatism, during my deconversion has left me without many supporters of my belief changes. In addition, the atheist movement in general seems to suffer at the prominence of white, cisgendered males fueling and leading the activism. “Women Beyond Belief” not only helped me feel accompanied in my journey to atheism, but also inspired at the possibilities of what I can achieve and become as a woman with science, reasoning, and humanitarianism as my tools. One of my favorite quotes from the book:
“I’m not afraid of God or Satan anymore, but I do live with the aftermath of belief. I don’t believe in an afterlife, and I’m afraid of death. But I would rather stare that fear in the teeth than ever give up my mind and heart again... I have trouble trusting, and I am fiercely protective of my own voice. I am still trying to reimagine my beliefs about being a woman; that’s a mess... I have realized that my own mind is incredibly malleable, and it’s full of ideas put there by others, not just by my religion. I should be alarmed, but instead I feel free, free to question whatever is in my head and discard it if I think it’s trash.”
“I’m not afraid of God or Satan anymore, but I do live with the aftermath of belief. I don’t believe in an afterlife, and I’m afraid of death. But I would rather stare that fear in the teeth than ever give up my mind and heart again... I have trouble trusting, and I am fiercely protective of my own voice. I am still trying to reimagine my beliefs about being a woman; that’s a mess... I have realized that my own mind is incredibly malleable, and it’s full of ideas put there by others, not just by my religion. I should be alarmed, but instead I feel free, free to question whatever is in my head and discard it if I think it’s trash.”
September 4, 2016
There's nothing in the world more powerful than story.
It can, as it did in the lives of these women authors, build a prison around us more seemingly inescapable than any Devil's Island. But it can also turn in flight and take new direction. And the right story can forge a tool to cut the chains of religious bondage and even become a light to lead us from the dark cave of superstition.
Here in this book you will find such liberating stories. These are true stories of triumph. Stories that reveal the healing power of love and respect for reason and evidence. In these moving personal accounts, we can witness the power of the honest mind AND the noble heart to transcend the craven need for certainty and rigid rules that regulate every moral choice and answer every difficult question.
Beautifully written, engaging, and inspiring. And also enormously important as the world sits at a kind of religious tipping point, balanced precariously between the current fundamentalist backlash to the Enlightenment, and the bright future to which reason and the scientific method have opened the door.
Stories will make the influential difference there. Powerful stories like these. But only if we read and share them. Buy a copy of Women Beyond Belief and read it. And buy an extra copy for a friend who wouldn't have.
It can, as it did in the lives of these women authors, build a prison around us more seemingly inescapable than any Devil's Island. But it can also turn in flight and take new direction. And the right story can forge a tool to cut the chains of religious bondage and even become a light to lead us from the dark cave of superstition.
Here in this book you will find such liberating stories. These are true stories of triumph. Stories that reveal the healing power of love and respect for reason and evidence. In these moving personal accounts, we can witness the power of the honest mind AND the noble heart to transcend the craven need for certainty and rigid rules that regulate every moral choice and answer every difficult question.
Beautifully written, engaging, and inspiring. And also enormously important as the world sits at a kind of religious tipping point, balanced precariously between the current fundamentalist backlash to the Enlightenment, and the bright future to which reason and the scientific method have opened the door.
Stories will make the influential difference there. Powerful stories like these. But only if we read and share them. Buy a copy of Women Beyond Belief and read it. And buy an extra copy for a friend who wouldn't have.
November 4, 2016
This is a collection of essays by women who come from a variety of religious backgrounds and traditions, all explaining why they have chosen to deconvert and live non-religious lives. I think there's absolutely something to be said for the power of personal stories, which is what this book offers readers. Regardless of one's personal beliefs, it's worthwhile to listen to the voices of others and attempt to understand their experiences.
December 28, 2018
A collection of essays by women who had been raised in a religious outlook, most often some form of Christianity, in which they describe their journey toward atheism (or agnosticism). Few of them are professional writers, and the quality of the essays varies a good deal, and of course in such a collection each reader will find some essays more appealing than others. I’m still thinking about a few of them after several months.
October 24, 2016
I greatly enjoyed the stories of the women who have each left their faith and found new freedom in unbelief.
December 29, 2016
I reviewed this book here: https://turnthepagelisa.com/2016/12/2...
September 4, 2017
This collection of essays is an interesting look at different writing styles and skills. I saw reflections of my experience in every one of them.
I think parents of young children should read this book. Many of the stories describe the insidious ways religious belief is introduced to young impressionable minds, and it may encourage them to inoculate their kids against such influences. (Unless it wouldn't bother them if their kids one day came home and told them they'd been convinced their parents were doomed to burn in hell for eternity.)
I enjoyed them all except one. (Oops, spoke too soon; I hadn't read the last essay when I wrote this.) The one I disliked was meant to evoke an emotional response and was written in such torrid language I felt as if the writer was trying to rip out my heart and feed it to me. Another of the essays was in the style of a high school writing project and needs considerable editing, but all the rest were professional quality.
The one by Sylvia Benner is outstanding. It's more than a personal reflection. It was skillfully written and gave me some new insights into issues regarding feminism and religion -- and I've given these things a lot of thought.
I found myself quite frustrated by the last essay, entitled "Not Quite an Atheist (And Where Does That Leave Me?)" I want to speak directly to the author: Nancy, it's not a leap of faith this time, it's a small step from crumbling ground to firm, and you'll be glad you took it. I was. It cured my cognitive dissonance in a healthy way, and many of my questions, which were the same as yours, simply vaporized. They were answered by God is not Great, The God Delusion, and others. The author reveals some significant misunderstandings that would be cleared up if she read those books. She confuses "intelligent design" with deism, and she posits that science doesn't conflict with religion. As I read her well-thought-out restatements of the main arguments against religious belief, I hoped that she'd end by saying she had indeed overcome her final misgivings, but it was not to be. She even avoids reading books written by atheists. She just wants SO BADLY to believe in something mystical that even the awesomeness of modern scientific discovery isn't enough. God, or something, just has to be out there, right? If an educated and open-minded but critical thinker such as this can continue to stubbornly cling to ancient ideology even after compiling an impressive list of reasons why she should not, it's not surprising that religious belief persists.
I think parents of young children should read this book. Many of the stories describe the insidious ways religious belief is introduced to young impressionable minds, and it may encourage them to inoculate their kids against such influences. (Unless it wouldn't bother them if their kids one day came home and told them they'd been convinced their parents were doomed to burn in hell for eternity.)
I enjoyed them all except one. (Oops, spoke too soon; I hadn't read the last essay when I wrote this.) The one I disliked was meant to evoke an emotional response and was written in such torrid language I felt as if the writer was trying to rip out my heart and feed it to me. Another of the essays was in the style of a high school writing project and needs considerable editing, but all the rest were professional quality.
The one by Sylvia Benner is outstanding. It's more than a personal reflection. It was skillfully written and gave me some new insights into issues regarding feminism and religion -- and I've given these things a lot of thought.
I found myself quite frustrated by the last essay, entitled "Not Quite an Atheist (And Where Does That Leave Me?)" I want to speak directly to the author: Nancy, it's not a leap of faith this time, it's a small step from crumbling ground to firm, and you'll be glad you took it. I was. It cured my cognitive dissonance in a healthy way, and many of my questions, which were the same as yours, simply vaporized. They were answered by God is not Great, The God Delusion, and others. The author reveals some significant misunderstandings that would be cleared up if she read those books. She confuses "intelligent design" with deism, and she posits that science doesn't conflict with religion. As I read her well-thought-out restatements of the main arguments against religious belief, I hoped that she'd end by saying she had indeed overcome her final misgivings, but it was not to be. She even avoids reading books written by atheists. She just wants SO BADLY to believe in something mystical that even the awesomeness of modern scientific discovery isn't enough. God, or something, just has to be out there, right? If an educated and open-minded but critical thinker such as this can continue to stubbornly cling to ancient ideology even after compiling an impressive list of reasons why she should not, it's not surprising that religious belief persists.
December 26, 2018
This was an interesting read. I'm still on my spiritual journey (I don't yet know what I believe or don't believe). This is not your typical atheist book, but rather is a collection of personal stories from lots of women about how they left their religions and why. There are women on all parts of the spectrum, and I appreciated their stories. It made me feel better about my own questions and still being somewhat in "limbo."
September 11, 2016
I was very glad to see this compilation of women's essays surrounding religion's impact on their lives as it is something not talked about often enough, to my mind. It was heartening to hear that others have gone through the same questioning of religious upbringing that I have. It was enlightening to hear first person accounts of being raised in different religions or lack thereof.
February 25, 2017
What an amazing book! I recommend it to anyone who is unsure of how to proceed with leaving their faith or anyone who already has and wants to not feel so alone in their journey. I felt inspired and empowered reading of women, like me, who were Christian and are no longer and living just fine without religion.
September 25, 2016
I enjoyed these stories of the events and thinking that led to huge changes in each woman's relationship to religion. The book included a satisfying amount of historical background which added depth to the personal essays.
August 25, 2016
Thoughtful, enjoyable read on women who have deconverted.
May 4, 2018
I loved almost all the essays in this book except for the one by Sylvia Benner. The fact that she’s trying to convince women that feminism sees them as a victim and women get their true power from ‘accepting their biological role’ is utterly ridiculous. She’s basically trying to sell servitude to a husband as some type of freedom
January 10, 2018
Good concept. A little tedious in the telling.
October 26, 2018
If this had at least one essay by a former Muslim, I would give it 5 stars.
January 26, 2017
- I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via the Goodreads giveaway.
"Women Beyond Belief" is a collection of personal essays, in which dozens of smart and successful women detail their path from devoutly religious to atheist. Throughout each response, the common theme is feminism, and the fact that these women were unable to reconcile their beliefs with the religious doctrines that have historically disadvantaged women.
As someone who was baptized and attended Catholic schools all my life, I can relate so closely to this book. Each author tells a powerful story, and manages to clearly and cleverly articulate their journey. I did find the beginning of the book to be a little more engaging than the end; however, I would absolutely recommend this book to a) women everywhere and b) anyone else looking for an interesting non-fiction read.
"Women Beyond Belief" is a collection of personal essays, in which dozens of smart and successful women detail their path from devoutly religious to atheist. Throughout each response, the common theme is feminism, and the fact that these women were unable to reconcile their beliefs with the religious doctrines that have historically disadvantaged women.
As someone who was baptized and attended Catholic schools all my life, I can relate so closely to this book. Each author tells a powerful story, and manages to clearly and cleverly articulate their journey. I did find the beginning of the book to be a little more engaging than the end; however, I would absolutely recommend this book to a) women everywhere and b) anyone else looking for an interesting non-fiction read.
January 16, 2017
I won this book on Goodreads Giveaways. I am still reading it, but so far it has completely caught my attention. It is fascinating how these women have come to give up organized religion. I love reading their stories and I can relate to many of them. Definately a must read! I will write another review when I have finished the book.
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