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A review by katykelly
Godless by Pete Hautman
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.