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katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
How (not to) start your own religion. For teenagers.
I love books that question religion, that play with religious ideas and satirise worship. Just something I enjoy. I was interested to see how this played out when the protagonists and participants were teenagers, with their own ideas about faith perhaps not fully formed and with all the strictures of the adult world pressing down on them.
Jason Bock is bored to tears in his church services, and does what he can to lighten up the TPO meetings (Teen Power Outreach) with slightly outrageous questions and remarks. One week he is inspired (after receiving a beating from a just-about-psychotic peer) to throw aside his agnostic/atheist leanings and start his own religion, worshiping the town's water tower, the bringer of water to its citizens. Why not?
Starting from a congregation of one, Bock quickly finds his friends ready and willing to join him in the Chutengodian religion (Church of the Ten-Legged God). Best friend, the awkward Shin especially becomes infatuated with the concept and writes a new bible for the members of their group.
Viewing the establishment of the religion, how the members are persuaded to join, how they use their previously-formed ideas of faith to create their own new doctrine, and just what they decide to do to show their devotion - it's a very entertaining ride.
Some unusual characters (Jason was my favourite) made this a diverting read, a topic I'm glad teenaged readers will get the opportunity to consider and explore.
For ages 13 and above. No graphic content of any kind.
I love books that question religion, that play with religious ideas and satirise worship. Just something I enjoy. I was interested to see how this played out when the protagonists and participants were teenagers, with their own ideas about faith perhaps not fully formed and with all the strictures of the adult world pressing down on them.
Jason Bock is bored to tears in his church services, and does what he can to lighten up the TPO meetings (Teen Power Outreach) with slightly outrageous questions and remarks. One week he is inspired (after receiving a beating from a just-about-psychotic peer) to throw aside his agnostic/atheist leanings and start his own religion, worshiping the town's water tower, the bringer of water to its citizens. Why not?
Starting from a congregation of one, Bock quickly finds his friends ready and willing to join him in the Chutengodian religion (Church of the Ten-Legged God). Best friend, the awkward Shin especially becomes infatuated with the concept and writes a new bible for the members of their group.
Viewing the establishment of the religion, how the members are persuaded to join, how they use their previously-formed ideas of faith to create their own new doctrine, and just what they decide to do to show their devotion - it's a very entertaining ride.
Some unusual characters (Jason was my favourite) made this a diverting read, a topic I'm glad teenaged readers will get the opportunity to consider and explore.
For ages 13 and above. No graphic content of any kind.
ariazsilentsoul's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
iceangel32's review against another edition
3.0
This was a really interesting book. It was well written and kept me interested till the end. It tacked the idea of religion and friendship and growing up all at once. Jason Bock has a great imagination as you can tell through the book. So while struggling with his dad's instance that he be Catholic he started his own religion.
I do not think that he knew the pull he had on other people through this book and even a the end he never took any responsibility for what happened. It is something that his dad told him multiple times but he did not understand even he lost it all.
The book shows Jason growing up loosing the girl he likes without really knowing and making a loosing friends. He is in that time in his life in this book that he has to figure out who he is. But he learns that not only did he change his life he changed the others lives too.
I like Shin's idea that you can not be a part of or be fully involved in something unless you believe in it. I think that comment really carried weight for Jason and for me the reader. I don;t think this book had any resolutions and I think that it shouldn't have. It is just the kind of book that makes you think about it. I will be digesting this book for a while.
I do not think that he knew the pull he had on other people through this book and even a the end he never took any responsibility for what happened. It is something that his dad told him multiple times but he did not understand even he lost it all.
The book shows Jason growing up loosing the girl he likes without really knowing and making a loosing friends. He is in that time in his life in this book that he has to figure out who he is. But he learns that not only did he change his life he changed the others lives too.
I like Shin's idea that you can not be a part of or be fully involved in something unless you believe in it. I think that comment really carried weight for Jason and for me the reader. I don;t think this book had any resolutions and I think that it shouldn't have. It is just the kind of book that makes you think about it. I will be digesting this book for a while.
theseventhl's review against another edition
3.0
A solid short novel by a talented author who deserves more recognition. It's never going to be my favorite Hautman novel but it certainly has its moments. Manages to handle the weighty subjects of adolescence and religion without being overzealous or trite. Couldn't stand the main protagonist, however, especially in the last chapter.
ashpanda88's review against another edition
4.0
A wacky yet meaningful look at what it means to have blind faith, and the structure of religion. I thought it presented the issue in a new light. Jason just makes up a religion for fun and then he and his friends find out just what it is they've really created. I felt like the ending was a let-down in comparison with the rest of the book. Good book for anyone who's ever questioned their faith or religion as an institution.
rampaginglibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Jason is a fifteen-year old agnostic-leaning-toward-atheist (and, as i like to continually stress, there IS a difference AND agnostics do not go around Wondering/Wandering in the dark about the existence of god they believe that one cannot know!) In Godless by Pete Hautman rather haphazardly and inadvertently (but brilliantly) creates his own religion, when he is punched-out and, in a daze, lying flat on his back, stares up at the silver belly of the town's life giving water tower.
Jason makes his friend Shin the official scribe of their new religion, and eventually they gather a few more unlikely followers to the "Church of the Ten Legged God" or Chutengodianism as the faith comes to be known (once it begins to take on a life of its own). Once it does take on its own life, some of the followers begin to take the church TOO seriously and protestant offshoots even develop. Jason, of course, has no control, although the silly adults, who understand very little of the world or religious ideas themselves (being just following-sheep in their own right), think he is the instigating leader of it all, and want him to halt the whole out-of-control thing.
Much food for thought in this excellent book~If you don't listen to the voices in your head, just Who DO you listen to?
and *whateverism should be MY religion since that is one of my favorite resort-to words.
Jason makes his friend Shin the official scribe of their new religion, and eventually they gather a few more unlikely followers to the "Church of the Ten Legged God" or Chutengodianism as the faith comes to be known (once it begins to take on a life of its own). Once it does take on its own life, some of the followers begin to take the church TOO seriously and protestant offshoots even develop. Jason, of course, has no control, although the silly adults, who understand very little of the world or religious ideas themselves (being just following-sheep in their own right), think he is the instigating leader of it all, and want him to halt the whole out-of-control thing.
Much food for thought in this excellent book~If you don't listen to the voices in your head, just Who DO you listen to?
and *whateverism should be MY religion since that is one of my favorite resort-to words.
casii's review against another edition
3.0
definitely meant for a younger audience, but a decent, quick read
leilakrzyzewski's review against another edition
2.0
Water towers will now come knock on your door trying to convert you.
kristenremenar's review against another edition
4.0
Sixteen-year-old Jason Bock isn't buying his father's Catholicism or his hypochondriac mother's faith in medicine as salvation, so he decides to start his own "religion", worshipping the Ten-Legged One, the town water tower. Good for discussion on faith and religion and the influence friends can have.
ogreart's review against another edition
3.0
I reviewed this book on my blog. Please come by for a visit!
http://mrbsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2015/02/godless-by-pete-hautman.html
http://mrbsbookshelf.blogspot.com/2015/02/godless-by-pete-hautman.html