Faith, Interrupted: A Spiritual Journey

by Eric Lax

A profoundly personal, deeply felt exploration of the mystery of faith—having it, losing it, hoping for its return.

The son of an Episcopal priest whose faith is balanced by an understanding of human nature, Eric Lax develops in his youth a deep religious attachment and acute moral compass. An acolyte from age six and as comfortable in church as he is at home, he often considers becoming a priest himself. Eventually his faith guides him to resist military service in Vietnam. His principles will not allow him to kill, and he is willing to go to jail for them. His faith abides until, in his mid-thirties, he begins to question the the role of God in his life.

Whatever his doubts, Lax engages with his father, who shaped his faith and was its anchor, and his college roommate and close friend George “Skip” Packard, whose youthful faith mirrored his own, and who chooses military service and mortal combat. Their ongoing and illuminating dialogues—full of wisdom and insight, probing all the avenues and aspects of religious conviction—reveal much about three men who approach God, duty, and war in vastly different ways.

A compelling, powerful, and thought-provoking examination of faith.

Genres: Religion, Memoir, Spirituality, Biography, Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book but have some beefs with it. First of all, the title and subtitle make the book sound wholly like a memoir about faith and doubt, yet Lax takes almost 198 pages to begin discussing his doubts! I kept wondering when he was going to start talking about them. He had mentioned a few times that his faith was naïve and untested, but he didn't begin exploring his doubts until then. Also, he went on and ON about things completely unrelated, like the Vietnam War and what his friend did in and after it. I realize Lax's conscientious objector journey is an important part of his faith narrative, but I don't see why he needed to include as much detail as he did. I think he could and maybe should have written at least 1 other book and left this one to be about his faith and doubts...or at least have changed the title.

[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an interesting book. The author was the only child of an Episcopalian minister who was raised in a healthy happy environment in southern California during the 50's/60's. It is so rare to read the story of someone who had a happy childhood and young adulthood. During the Vietnam war he joined the Peace Corps to avoid the draft and when he returned,after 2 years, he still faced the draft. He spent a long time dedicating himself to the project of convincing his draft board that he was a conscientious objector and was ultimately successful. This part of the book was so moving because the author genuinely opposed killing as well as this particular war but he constantly reviewed and analyzed his feelings to try to make certain that he was not cowardly or lazy in avoiding armed service. I found this so fascinating because my feeling at the time was that the war was so insane that no one should have to justify their avoidance of it. And he doesn't try to look at it in retrospect and claim that he was right about the war politically, rather he stays on track focusing solely on the CO question.

Interestingly, his best friend from college was drafted and did go to Vietnam and became a very successful military leader and eventually an Episcopalian bishop. They remained friends throughout their lives and the author uses his life story to contrast with his best friend's life story.
The author loses his spiritual belief gradually, not as a result of some sudden crisis, but rather as a matter of course in growing older. He wishes he could regain it, but it just doesn't happen for him. I can relate totally, and I wonder at all the people who must reach the same place, coming from so many different foundations of faith.

[Gochrisgo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eric Lax's book offers a rich, first-person trip through recent American history -- the post-war expansion of California, Dr. King's civil rights work, the Vietnam War, up to 9/11 . The story is shaped by Lax's life as a devout Episcopalian clergy kid.

I was glad to learn about the author's father, a priest, and mother. Much of the book focuses on Lax's long relationship with his best friend, Skip. Skip's war service and faith life are a strong contrast to the author's. Lax's rich description of Skip's Vietnam service is worthy of an entire book.

The final chapters of the book covering more recent time lack the nuance and depth of the middle chapters. I wish Lax could speak about his current faith struggles with more clarity, using more specific examples. I am not sure I know why or how his faith was interrupted. Maybe sharing more about his family would help? Though we pick up bits along the way about past girlfriends, we don't know how he met his socially-prominent wife and his children are barely mentioned -- more space is given to describing a rain storm during his Peace Corp experience.

[E.C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eric Lax's memoir of religious upbringing in 1960s California takes a complex turn in the advent of the Vietnam War. While he follows the path of conscientious objector, his close friend, Skip, ships overseas. Lax chronicles both of their stories, as he travels to Micronesia with the Peace Corps, and Skip rises in the ranks as an expert mine tracker. Lax's riveting account of Skip's life in Vietnam nicely shows off his talent for biography. Ultimately, Skip lands in the clergy, while Lax struggles through the death of his parents, the primary connection to the faith that determined his path out of young adulthood. As fully formed adults, Lax and Skip reconnect and discuss their faith, with Skip holding fast to his beliefs and Lax still questioning the church.

[Martha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eric tells of the faith he learned from his father, and embraced - and then a different understanding of Christianity that he saw in his best friend - and how he ended up not being able to emotionally connect to either of their faiths as he reaches middle age and beyond.

[David Trout · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interntaining, taking it slow - lots to think about - hitting home with me - Lax is about the same age as me, went throught alot of the same things, faith, college, the war.