Deconstructing God: A Heretic's Case For Religion [Paperback]

Ian Gurvitz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 22, 2010

WINNER 2011 NEXT GENERATION INDIE BOOK AWARDS -- RELIGIOUS NON-FICTION Deconstructing God makes a case for an understanding of religion that transcends the conventional categories in which one is either a believer, an atheist, or agnostic, by focusing on mysticism as the experiential core of religion. The book makes the case that this paradigm we've inherited in western culture has left us stuck in a series of false arguments about the subject of religion: Whether there is or isn't "a God"; the religion vs. science debate, the faith vs. reason debate. We bat these discussions back and forth under the illusion that we're engaged in a meaningful dialogue about religion, when all the while there is a more subtle understanding of the phenomenon, in the form of a very human, earthly psychological experience that, while generally referred to as "mystical" is really only a mystery in the sense that it has been obscured by our false understanding. Per Meister Eckhart: "God is at home, it's we who have gone out for a walk." "Although I don't agree 100% with Ian Gurvitz's analysis of religion -- who does on this subject? -- I loved reading this insightful, funny, and illuminating book. And we both think Pat Robertson is a douchebag." Bill Maher

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Ian Gurvitz is a native New Yorker who has lived in Los Angeles for the last 20 years, working as a TV Writer/Producer. Most recently, he published a book entitled "Hello, Lied the Agent..." a behind-the-scenes account of the world of TV development, and wrote and directed a movie -- L.A. Blues -- which was released in 2008. He is a regular contributor to The Huffington Post, and has published articles in the LA. Times and Creative Screenwriting magazine. He also maintains a blog at IBREAL.BLOGSPOT.COM. Before Hollywood, he earned a B.A. in Philosophy and worked toward an M.A. in Buddhist Studies, which involved a year living in Japan, and marked the beginning of a decades-long study of religion, which eventually lead to the writing of this book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 248 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (June 22, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1450518273
• ISBN-13: 978-1450518277
• Product Dimensions: 0.5 x 5.7 x 8.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,510,308 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Deconstructing God is very constructive November 13, 2010

By hominid

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Ian has successfully covered the major emotional, cultural and social issues involved in the experience, and institution, of religion. He does this as he stays "with" the reader. At all points the reader feels that she/he is writing the book as she/he reads it. Ian involves the reader in the creative writing process.
Ian equates the religious experience with strong emotional experiences, and at the same time connects it to the eternal. Quite an audacious juxtaposition!
Most important. Ian keeps your interest as he leads you through the maze of entailments that make up the notion of "God."
Its a good read!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A god I can understand and embrace August 12, 2010

By L. Katz

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I found part one of this book to be very refreshing and intelligent as well as humorous. It is absolutely amazing what people are willing to blindly believe in and Gurvitz does a great job of pointing out the absurdity of many peoples beliefs in the name of religion and god. He doesn't pick on any one group or belief, but shows us what true religion is not. As he states, "there is no such thing as a religious war, if it's war it's not religious". He has another line that I loved, "if it doesn't happen in reality, it doesn't happen in religion.
But then there is part two that was very compelling for me. A whole new understanding of god and religion that is not based on blind faith but on direct experience. His explanation of god as a verb was brilliant. I've been seeking religion but was uncomfortable with that notion because I only understood religion as it had been presented to me and as described in part one. Now I can comfortably be religious and believe in god in a whole new light without dogma, faith, donations, intermediaries or a lot of other trappings.
This is a wonderful, easy to comprehend and inspiring book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally an argument about religion that makes sense July 16, 2010

By David I.

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I've read a number of books and magazine articles that take organized religion to task. For the most part I usually agree with the authors, but this is the first book (and one of, if not the best written) that is written for folks like myself who don't buy into any religion, but believe that there is still some comfort to be found in a higher power. "Deconstructing God" fulfills the promise of the title, but the author has the courage to reconstruct a new argument that makes a lot more sense than the take it or leave it theology or atheism I normally see. A very smart and also humorous read.