Some (mostly Christian) readers are really going to dislike this book, because Gulley challenges long-held beliefs and church tenets, especially those of Catholicism. For others, his frank discussion of religion, doubt, and faith will make them feel like someone else understands how they feel. This is not a book about becoming an atheist, but lapsed Christians will relate to him, too.

This book takes a hard look at Christianity. The author looks at its beliefs from his personal perspective and goes over what he believes now and what he doesn't about the religion. I found it an interesting read.

I would like to thank Netgalley and the Publisher for providing me with a copy of this book. This is my honest opinion of it.

I loved Gulley's book, "If the Church Were Christian." This new book I found provocative but not particularly helpful. Gulley, at age fifty-something, re-examines his entire life of faith and what he believed and now (mostly) doesn't believe.

Many of his criticisms of the institutional church are valid, and I hope clergy will heed them. Gulley strongly upholds the spirituality of the laity, which I appreciate. The first half of the book gives the reader a lot to think about, discuss, and hopefully use to make meaningful changes in faith communities. However, by the end of the book, I began to see the book as one long rant. By the latter chapters, Gulley refutes the divinity of Jesus, trinitarian theology, and just about all the basics tenets of the Christian faith. It appears that the only part of Christianity he still values is that of "community." I didn't get an iota of inspiration from the end of the book or any reason to further grow in faith.

Though I would have highly recommended the first half of the book, the latter part of the book comes off as depressing. Gulley tears a lot down, but he doesn't particularly build anything up. I'll give this book 2 and a half stars, rounding up for excellent writing and an engaging style for most of the book.