Christian No More

I enjoyed the book. I left Christianity in 2008 during the Prop 8 campaign in California. I saw first hand the dishonesty and underlying oppression of religion. I was told that I would never go to heaven because I married the love of my life while I legally could. It made me realize how ridiculous the whole thing is. If they are right, I wouldn't want to spend eternity with Jerry Fallwell types anyway. I love my gay brothers and sisters. Wherever Juan goes is where I want to be. The author captured much of how I felt leaving Christianity. I felt truly free. The book is another mans journey to the same conclusions written in an easy style that reinforced my own journey.

Jeffrey Mark, like many Americans, was born into a Christian family. He grew up attending church regularly, saying prayers, and believing all the biblical stories he learned about. Eventually he had doubts about some of the church's beliefs, and this sent him on a remarkably thorough search for answers. Because of his background, Mark is uniquely qualified to write a book such as this. It is easy for someone who was never a strong believer to question religion without doubt or fear. This is not the case for someone who was brought up believing in God, Jesus, and the stories in the Bible. Because of this, you won't detect a sarcastic or belittling tone in this book. Mark understands why people have the religious beliefs they do, and he lays out many compelling arguments against these beliefs. For a nonbeliever, some of these arguments may be familiar. You have probably had some of these same thoughts. In Mark's book however, these arguments are articulated in a way that only a skilled writer can. There are also plenty of internet links and books mentioned for those who would like more evidence or details. Many of Mark's arguments will surely be ones that you hadn't considered. It is obvious that he spent a lot of time researching the topics covered in the book (and there are many). He lays out numerous arguments that I have never considered, and I've been thinking about these topics for many years. If a book may be judged by how many pages have been dog-eared, marked with a highlighter, or indexed with a sticky note, then this book is excellent. Lots and lots of great information in this well-written book. I highly recommend it for believers and nonbelievers alike.

"Christian No More" by Jeffrey Mark is an intelligent, thoroughly researched and thoughtful compilation of his personal journey in which he directly challenges the puzzling contradictions in the christian faith and/or the bible. Using humor, careful research and plain common sense, he addresses the "pink elephant" in the room (i.e. why are there so many concepts in the bible that are inaccurate, why do christians focus on hell rather than heaven, and is it possible to have a healthy/happy life outside of this religion?). As I read this book it was as though Jeffrey Mark had observed my personal pains and fears as a child growing up in a conservative christian home. "Christian No More" is a must have for all individuals struggling with the internal strife of logic & reason versus faith. It IS possible to overcome the fear and doubt... this book is an excellent tool!

When you are a Christian, you will feel like a "true" Christian and that others just aren't getting it right. When you really start to study the bible many questions will arise. There will be contradictions and improbable stories in the bible. The bible is supposedly the infallible word of god, right? Sometimes the most obvious answer is hard to see. What if the bible is not infallible? This may be obvious to some who were not brought up as a Christian, but for a large percentage of people brought up in religion it is hard to accept this possibility as fact. In Jeffrey Mark's book Christian No More, he talks about his own personal journey from Christianity to clarity, discovering facts that led him to the most intellectually honest conclusion. I recommend this book to Christians who question, and those who can't imagine how we possibly can.

When I first started reading this book I was expecting a personal narrative of internal struggle and inquiry, and it is. However I was not expecting the extensive amount of research Marks undertook in his journey. It is easy to read yet avoids dumbing-down the material. Mark's doesn't just stick to the basic questions but covers everything from science and logic to biblical facts. It's not just about facts though - the personal account takes the reader through his thought process and while stimulating the reader to question preconceived notions and society. This book will make you think. His personal story is sincere, humbling, and occasionally humorous. I wouldn't recommend this book just for Christians though. It's also a must-read for many atheists still dealing grappling with feelings of shame and guilt remaining from childhood indoctrination.