What do you think?
Rate this book
Grace Without God: The Search for Meaning, Purpose, and Belonging in a Secular Age – A Mother and Journalist's Journey Through America's Nonreligious Landscape
Publishers Weekly “ Best Books of 2016 ” Spirituality & Health Magazine Best Book of 2016 Nautilus Gold Award Winner 2016: Religion and Spirituality of Other Traditions Religion News Association, First Excellence in Nonfiction Religion Books Meet “the Nones”—In this thought-provoking exploration of secular America, celebrated journalist Katherine Ozment takes readers on a quest to understand the trends and ramifications of a nation in flight from organized religion. Studies show that religion makes us happier, healthier and more giving, connecting us to our past and creating tight communal bonds. Most Americans are raised in a religious tradition, but in recent decades many have begun to leave religion, and with it their ancient rituals, mythic narratives, and sense of belonging. So how do the nonreligious fill the need for ritual, story, community, and, above all, purpose and meaning without the one-stop shop of religion? What do they do with the space left after religion? With Nones swelling to one-fourth of American adults, and more than one-third of those under thirty, these questions have never been more urgent. Writer, journalist, and secular mother of three Katherine Ozment came face-to-face with the fundamental issue of the Nones when her son asked her the simplest of “what are we?” Unsettled by her reply—“Nothing”—she set out on a journey to find a better answer. She traversed the frontier of American secular life, sought guidance in science and the humanities, talked with noted scholars, and wrestled with her own family’s attempts to find meaning and connection after religion. Insightful, surprising, and compelling, Grace Without God is both a personal and critical exploration of the many ways nonreligious Americans create their own meaning and purpose in an increasingly secular age.
320 pages, Paperback
First published June 23, 2015
95 people are currently reading
1134 people want to read
About the author
Katherine Ozment
1 book27 followersKatherine Ozment's musings on the ups and downs of raising three children have been published in such venues as The New York Times, Salon, Brain Child, Fitness, and Babble. Raised in Arkansas and New England, she loves hot yoga, fried catfish, and strong verbs. Her first book, Grace Without God: The Search for Meaning, Purpose, and Belonging in a Secular Age, took three years to research and write, but it really began in childhood as she witnessed the sense of purpose and connection religion gave to those around her. She loves talking to groups about finding grace outside the framework of organized religion. Email her at gracewithoutgod@gmail.com to learn more.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
July 19, 2016
I read a lot of nonfiction books about many different topics--global parenting, crime, spirituality, medical advances, gay rights, prison reform, even aspirin--and I can honestly say Grace Without God is one of the best books I've read in a long time. The book combines the author's personal history and present-day family experiences, which I found very moving, with fascinating research and reporting on this issue of being a "none" (that is, NOT identifying with any given religion and not necessarily believing in God). The combination was seamless and highly readable.
This book sparked many dinner time conversations at our house. My husband grew up Italian Catholic and I am Jewish. Though my parents were both scientists and unapologetic atheists, I grew up in a suburb with lots of Jewish families. My husband and I are raising our children with cultural aspects of Judaism and many of the practices of Catholicism but without an emphasis on religion or belief. My son insists he is a pastafarian and believes only in the flying spaghetti monster. It was fascinating to find out that what feels very personal to our family is actually questioning that is happening nationally.
Even after I put the book down, I couldn't stop thinking about the ideas Ozment presents so clearly and engagingly. This book is a must read for anyone who cares about the changing fabric of American society and how we find our place in it.
This book sparked many dinner time conversations at our house. My husband grew up Italian Catholic and I am Jewish. Though my parents were both scientists and unapologetic atheists, I grew up in a suburb with lots of Jewish families. My husband and I are raising our children with cultural aspects of Judaism and many of the practices of Catholicism but without an emphasis on religion or belief. My son insists he is a pastafarian and believes only in the flying spaghetti monster. It was fascinating to find out that what feels very personal to our family is actually questioning that is happening nationally.
Even after I put the book down, I couldn't stop thinking about the ideas Ozment presents so clearly and engagingly. This book is a must read for anyone who cares about the changing fabric of American society and how we find our place in it.
July 4, 2016
Loved it. Without preaching "my way or the highway," Katherine provides a very insightful, well-researched viewpoint on the trials and tribulations of navigating a secular world. Clearly she talked to a lot of people and the reporting was balanced. Not only does she personalize the journey, she also gives guideposts to others who are looking for spirituality and meaning outside the confines of organized religion. I found it refreshing without being insulting or demeaning to others who embrace "the church." Very well done.
July 6, 2016
Thoughtful, inspiring, and poignant -- but not preachy. Regardless of your relationship with religion, you will probably find something to appreciate in Katherine Ozment's gentle prose and reverent exploration of the many ways in which people practice spirituality and create meaningful lives.
January 10, 2017
It might have been okay for another 100% secular humanist but there was insufficient depth and research for anyone who has actually studied the phenomenon of the "nones". I recommend Diana Butler Bass and Phyllis Tickle for more substance.
December 30, 2017
Super fascinating book that I could very much relate to, being raised Christian but no longer being religious. It examines what organized religion provides and options for trying to achieve the positives without a traditional church.
May 29, 2018
Reading this excellent survey of secular life makes me sad. Sad that for so many people religious faith has not given them meaning, purpose and belonging. I am a member of a multi-cultural Methodist church in New Zealand, where we value and blend together pakeha, Maori & Pacific island values and rituals, along with those of people from other countries. Pacific people have much to teach us all about good things to do when loved ones die. Our monthly communion services include singing and liturgy in at least four languages. Being part of a faith community gives me both freedom and a foundation for living. Thank you Katherine for sharing your story.
September 7, 2016
I appreciate the author's purpose, but this work makes it clear, either unintentionally or not, that only the church can fulfill the role of creating community and providing meaning to people's lives in any long-lasting and structured way. I'm not sure that will come as a surprise to anyone despite the book's title.
January 31, 2017
I would not reach for this kind of book but it was recommended by a friend so I gave it a try. Couldn't handle it till the end. Too illogical for me, not convincing or inspiring. Beginning is quite OK but then the books becomes some kind of psychobabble. Too much God in Grace Without..
July 2, 2016
My review can be found on my blog, Musings of a Bookish Kitty:
http://www.literaryfeline.com/2016/06...
http://www.literaryfeline.com/2016/06...
July 28, 2016
I reviewed this book here: http://www.lisamorguess.com/2016/07/2...
Want to read
September 10, 2016Heard about this in Walla Walla In a sermon by Alex Bryan, who said he finished it in two days and thinks it's one of the greatest arguments for church he's ever seen, though written by an agnostic.
April 10, 2017
Explored different ways to live without religion. Gave helpful and actionable steps at the end. Liked the story telling aspect.
September 7, 2017
A well-written book!Highly recommended.This book explores ways of replacing meaning and sense of community that believers lose when they leave religion.
December 19, 2019
Made me think
Made me happy
I learned so much
So many resources
Made me happy
I learned so much
So many resources
July 18, 2020
A very well written book on how to live a secular humanist life.
July 31, 2019
Many people consider their religion a defining element of their identity. To be a Jew, or a Catholic, or a Muslim, or for that matter a Scientologist or a devotee of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster means not only acceding to certain doctrines, but also belonging to a supportive community, with whom you may enjoy singing, sharing laughs, and having each other’s backs.
All in all, it’s a pretty good deal. For a nominal cost, which for many begins and ends with church on Sunday morning, you get significant group benefits. Membership indeed has its privileges.
But, increasingly in America and beyond, many enlightened people simply cannot abide the intellectual absurdities and metaphysical mumbo jumbo inherent in the mythology of any religion. These are the “nones,” whose name derives from checking the box “none of the above” when asked to identify their faith. They are a growing number of skeptics who, while often stopping short of declaring themselves atheists, cultivate their own secular spirituality. Catherize Ozmet, author of “Grace without God,” is one of them.
Being a “none” can be disorienting, for it defines people by what they are not. The catalyst for Ozmet’s quest for grace came when her young son, observing people going to church on Sunday, asked her “what are we?” This question is both childish and profound, for it implies that we ought to be, well, something. All religious traditions separate “us” from “them.” You need to pick sides.
Ozmet’s exploration of the spiritual world of the “nones” is not so much a search for truth and purpose in the universe as it is a means for living comfortably without them. In Part One, “Losing It,” Ozment describes how her intellectual maturation led her to doubt the faith of her childhood. Although she was never much more than nominally Christian, Ozmet recognizes how traumatic this experience can be for some. The second part of the book, “Goodbye to All That,” tells about the fallout that comes after a person breaks from their childhood religion. Probably the majority of “nones” were brought up in a faith tradition and, while unable to swallow the dogma, still fondly recall some of its practices, its culture, and its communities.
In the modern world, though, there are enough “nones” to support each other and create their own agnostic commons, like the Unitarian Universalists, the Sunday Assembly, Parents Beyond Religion, and myriad other loosely coupled secular humanist organizations. Some even have choirs.
For many, though, the price of apostacy is uncertainty. Ozmet writes: “Religious disaffiliation isn’t as simple as turning off a switch. Many of us live in a liminal state, between the religious lives we knew and the new life we are creating.” Fledgling agnostics must recalibrate their moral order, accept mystery where once they’d had answers, and find some new purpose in an impersonal and uncaring universe. In the books final section, “The Path Forward.” Ozmet deals with the cognitive difficulties of living in a disenchanted, godless world. It takes courage and a strong, this-worldly morality to face the eternal void with no illusions, and to do good not to be rewarded in the hereafter, but just because it is the right thing to do.
There is “grace,” in the sense of being imbued with heavenly favor, and there is “grace,” as in being posed and dignified. Ozment’s writing exudes the latter.
All in all, it’s a pretty good deal. For a nominal cost, which for many begins and ends with church on Sunday morning, you get significant group benefits. Membership indeed has its privileges.
But, increasingly in America and beyond, many enlightened people simply cannot abide the intellectual absurdities and metaphysical mumbo jumbo inherent in the mythology of any religion. These are the “nones,” whose name derives from checking the box “none of the above” when asked to identify their faith. They are a growing number of skeptics who, while often stopping short of declaring themselves atheists, cultivate their own secular spirituality. Catherize Ozmet, author of “Grace without God,” is one of them.
Being a “none” can be disorienting, for it defines people by what they are not. The catalyst for Ozmet’s quest for grace came when her young son, observing people going to church on Sunday, asked her “what are we?” This question is both childish and profound, for it implies that we ought to be, well, something. All religious traditions separate “us” from “them.” You need to pick sides.
Ozmet’s exploration of the spiritual world of the “nones” is not so much a search for truth and purpose in the universe as it is a means for living comfortably without them. In Part One, “Losing It,” Ozment describes how her intellectual maturation led her to doubt the faith of her childhood. Although she was never much more than nominally Christian, Ozmet recognizes how traumatic this experience can be for some. The second part of the book, “Goodbye to All That,” tells about the fallout that comes after a person breaks from their childhood religion. Probably the majority of “nones” were brought up in a faith tradition and, while unable to swallow the dogma, still fondly recall some of its practices, its culture, and its communities.
In the modern world, though, there are enough “nones” to support each other and create their own agnostic commons, like the Unitarian Universalists, the Sunday Assembly, Parents Beyond Religion, and myriad other loosely coupled secular humanist organizations. Some even have choirs.
For many, though, the price of apostacy is uncertainty. Ozmet writes: “Religious disaffiliation isn’t as simple as turning off a switch. Many of us live in a liminal state, between the religious lives we knew and the new life we are creating.” Fledgling agnostics must recalibrate their moral order, accept mystery where once they’d had answers, and find some new purpose in an impersonal and uncaring universe. In the books final section, “The Path Forward.” Ozmet deals with the cognitive difficulties of living in a disenchanted, godless world. It takes courage and a strong, this-worldly morality to face the eternal void with no illusions, and to do good not to be rewarded in the hereafter, but just because it is the right thing to do.
There is “grace,” in the sense of being imbued with heavenly favor, and there is “grace,” as in being posed and dignified. Ozment’s writing exudes the latter.
September 11, 2017
Great work here. I really enjoyed her journey to find a way to help her children grow up w the benefits (in her mind) of a church community without the doctrine or dogma or whatever the appropriate word is for the strict interpretation of so many organized religions. In our current situation where I believe that religion divides us rather than unifies us, her extensive research and her accessible writing were very interesting. She didn't have an answer for everyone but just her answer for herself, which I appreciated because I believe strongly in different strokes for different folks. Good book!
October 20, 2017
This book is excellent.
The amount of thought, research and care that went into creating an examination of what it means to understand who you are in relation to religion was astounding. She is very earnest and honest about her longing to find a connection with a faith system that matches her emotional, intellectual and familial needs. I never felt as if she was trying to convince me that one way was better than another. Personal opinion was noticeably omitted with regard to the many religious figures, scientists, and academics she interviewed or spent time with, thus a lot of her writing was factual and unbiased.
The chapter on belonging is outstanding and gave me a deeper understanding as to why we all feel such a strong desire to belong. Also, her discussion regarding ritual in organized religion enhanced my understanding of how religion works. I had many lightbulb moments while reading this book.
Perhaps the best thing about this book is the author’s sincerity. She seems so genuine and her relaxed writing style made very complicated and complex scientific theories, philosophy and theology very accessible. In fact, it was such a wonderful mix of heart felt longing and strong, solid academic research that it was a pleasure to read. I don’t say that often about books dealing with religion.
I met the author at a talk she was giving about the book and I can confirm she was just as engaging and moving in person. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in thinking about god and religion in a new way. The ideas here are not life changing but definitely give cause to new ways of thinking.
The amount of thought, research and care that went into creating an examination of what it means to understand who you are in relation to religion was astounding. She is very earnest and honest about her longing to find a connection with a faith system that matches her emotional, intellectual and familial needs. I never felt as if she was trying to convince me that one way was better than another. Personal opinion was noticeably omitted with regard to the many religious figures, scientists, and academics she interviewed or spent time with, thus a lot of her writing was factual and unbiased.
The chapter on belonging is outstanding and gave me a deeper understanding as to why we all feel such a strong desire to belong. Also, her discussion regarding ritual in organized religion enhanced my understanding of how religion works. I had many lightbulb moments while reading this book.
Perhaps the best thing about this book is the author’s sincerity. She seems so genuine and her relaxed writing style made very complicated and complex scientific theories, philosophy and theology very accessible. In fact, it was such a wonderful mix of heart felt longing and strong, solid academic research that it was a pleasure to read. I don’t say that often about books dealing with religion.
I met the author at a talk she was giving about the book and I can confirm she was just as engaging and moving in person. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in thinking about god and religion in a new way. The ideas here are not life changing but definitely give cause to new ways of thinking.
December 24, 2017
Good. Ozment, like so many other [moderns], has abandoned religion. However, she is caught short when her children start asking questions such as "What are we?" She recognizes something has been lost - community, ritual, a sense of being part of something larger than oneself - and goes out in quest of trying to find others who have tried form a non-religious community. While there is no full replacement at this time, there are many fledgling efforts that have brought some degree of success. Her ethical letter to her children and the resources at the back of the book are very good.
Read
November 27, 2021I was drawn to this largely based on the title—a riff on the title of my favorite book about humanism/atheism/nonreligious thought (Epstein’s “Good without God” ❤️)
This was more memoir than I had expected but I found it to be an engaging/easy read that describes an exploration/search for community that I think many of those of us who identify as “nones” share.
The epilogue, “A Letter To My Children,” was a great summary of the author’s learnings and reflections (and just a lovely list of “commandments” for living a life of meaning).
This was more memoir than I had expected but I found it to be an engaging/easy read that describes an exploration/search for community that I think many of those of us who identify as “nones” share.
The epilogue, “A Letter To My Children,” was a great summary of the author’s learnings and reflections (and just a lovely list of “commandments” for living a life of meaning).
December 6, 2021
I feel more at peace with myself and with life after reading this book :)) Yes,I'm still scared of how there are so many things that I don't know of about life, but this book made me focus on things that are more important in my life. I also liked the part where the author included some scientific evidences about why religion and religious people are the way they are :v The author also left some sort of guide at the end of the book and recommended other books/ websites for us!! third eye is slightly more open now :)))))))
January 22, 2023
Read up to ch. 9, then jumped to the Conclusion and Epilogue.
It started out as a great summary of most of all the questions one has about life post-religion. But that got redundant after a few chapters. One can only read so many anecdotes about people who went through the same experience before you start thinking, "OK I get it, there's a lot of people like us. Can we get to the point now?"
In my opinion, no earth-shattering, goosebump-giving, mind-jogging profound insights here, but there are some wholesome pointers here and there.
It started out as a great summary of most of all the questions one has about life post-religion. But that got redundant after a few chapters. One can only read so many anecdotes about people who went through the same experience before you start thinking, "OK I get it, there's a lot of people like us. Can we get to the point now?"
In my opinion, no earth-shattering, goosebump-giving, mind-jogging profound insights here, but there are some wholesome pointers here and there.
January 14, 2025
I enjoyed this book a lot because I could relate to it. I had some religion growing up but my parents did not take us to church and I gained religious knowledge through friends. The feeling of lack when it comes to community is definitely a feeling I relate to as I am not a member of any organized religion. But, as the author points out there are plenty of ways to find community without religion. I absolutely believe that we do not need religion to raise compassionate and ethical children and Ozment shows us what she found on her journey. I liked it.
September 8, 2021
The back half of the book exceeded expectations. I haven't read anything quite like it. As a secular person and solitary meditator of nine years it made me appreciate more the importance of the grand narrative for people, the value of rituals as symbolic of what we perceive as the greatest good in the human heart, to reconsider the importance of a community to practice religion/spirituality in and how these help create meaning for us.
July 6, 2019
Very comprehensive in her research - almost too much about what others said and not enough about her feelings about the different options she found available to the "none's" of the world when asked about their religious affiliations. The good side is a TON of resources for someone to review if they were searching for a home.
September 25, 2019
I enjoyed that it talked about positives of religion from an atheistic perspective, but also did some irritating things I see in a lot of atheistic perspective books when talking about religion, especially contrasting scientific understanding and religious belief as irreconcilable. All in all, a good read and honest journey towards trying to find meaning in the world without God.
July 21, 2022
An interesting journey that is relevant for many people in the United States. I appreciate the many interviews the author conducted with people of various backgrounds and experiences regarding religion and spirituality. Her conclusions felt natural and made sense based on the journey she took. I appreciate the suggestions for further reading and creating a secular tradition.
August 9, 2017
Mixed feelings. I'm an atheist and I wanted to go to church after I read this book. HA! Only for the community though... not the sermon. Kind of like being invited to the reception, not the wedding. The reception is the best part.
April 27, 2021
There are no answers
There are no answers, only more questions, but good to know that I am not the only one struggling to find answers on how to communicate morality and connection and other issues without saying “because god said so.”
There are no answers, only more questions, but good to know that I am not the only one struggling to find answers on how to communicate morality and connection and other issues without saying “because god said so.”
August 12, 2019
Heard Ozment speak about this book last week at Chautauqua; Her remarks captured the text of the book in a low-key approach. Her observations, while perceptive, weren't too dynamic.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews