Customer Reviews

Finding an Unseen God: Reflections of a Former Atheist

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Is there a Divine being truly overseeing the universe as we know it? And if so, how involved in our lives is this Divine being? Alicia Britt Chole does not join in the age old debates on this topic, but rather challenges the very foundation from which these questions have arisen in Finding an Unseen God. And you won't find any dry philosophies or grandiose theories within the pages of this book. This is palpable, real life, and completely genuine. This is the first time I have come across a non-Atheist earnestly validating Atheistic beliefs, I would say rare indeed. Chole's depth of insight and approach left me thinking, "huh, I've never thought of it in that way before." Not only was the read intellectually stimulating, but personally moving. Chole shares her journey, an Atheist not looking for a Divine being ,who's life becomes abruptly interrupted in one day. This is a story you want to read and will more than likely never forget!

Chole makes use of every space, leaving out dull repetition and prolonged points. The 160 some page book is comprised with purpose behind every word and broken down into pleasantly short chapters. I personally was kept up during the night, unable to resist starting a new chapter. Chole offers more than a fresh perspective or new idea that only fades with the sun. What she respectively submits before you will make it clear if your belief system is livable. Placing my own beliefs next to her test was both terrifying and assuring. She speaks as one with experience, as she has lived from varying places across the spectrum of world beliefs. Her story telling abilities are captivating, sharing applicable details in unreservedly honest fashion. I have walked away from this book more informed, challenged, and wanting to read it all over again!

"Finding an Unseen God" is a personal account of a former atheist who was not 'looking for God'. She did not sense a 'void' in her life. She did not lack love in her life, or a good family. God literally 'interrupted' her life, as said in her own words:

"In a period of minutes, I had abruptly transitioned from being completely certain that god-concepts were self-medicating illusions of the masses to being confronted mentally, physically, and emotionally by tangible confirmation that God IS."

Throughout the rest of the book, Chole weaves an amazing tapestry of apologetics, intellectual questions, and provoking thoughts, with her personal journey from childhood to the present. It is both mind-stimulating and emotional. She challenges the Christian to THINK and to identify and evaluate the premises supporting our arguments. And she challenges the Atheist to reconsider the foundations on which they stand. For both groups, she reminds us to listen more than we speak...carry responsibility for the human we are interacting with, as well as to the 'unseen others' who share their opinion...and to walk in humility.

I'd encourage you all to read it! Be challenged, be encouraged and be reminded of the amazing God who relentlessly pursues even the toughest of us!

Truth is dead. God never lived. Life is filled with pain. Death is the end of life. These were the beliefs of a young woman who believed God to be a fairy tale. Finding An Unseen God: Reflections of a Former Atheist by Alicia Britt Chole tells her story of growing up, how her realism and intellect led her to atheism and how the God she denied showed up when least expected.

This book is a memoir, an autobiography, and a testimony. There are two threads to the story. She gives us a glimpse into her life growing up, weaving that in with her experience of finding God. The chapters are short and written with such grace and respect that I found myself compelled to finish the entire book in one sitting.

She doesn't write to convince other Atheists to her viewpoint (though she does share things to think about when it comes to your beliefs) but merely shares her story. This is a book that I believe could be enjoyed by someone who is not a Christian but is interested in how one woman's worldview was transformed.

It is an encouraging read for Christians as well. Not only is it an inspiring story of how God pursues us, but she includes ideas that can help us to be more sensitive to others. There is a chapter on <em>Things Not To Say To An Atheist </em>(for example, "If there's no such thing as God, why do you have to deny his existence?"). She makes an appeal for the importance of showing love over winning debates, with a heart tugging example of a debate won but lost by a lack of love.

I am typically not a fan of biographies, I actually prefer fiction for my reading relaxation, but this book was different for me. I really liked this story, it was challenging, encouraging, and faith strengthening. To me, it cries out to be discussed and dug into deeper and my hope is to use this book as the Summer Book Club choice for our church. I highly recommend it.

Alicia Britt Chole(last name is pronounced Show-lee), has written a profound, enlightening book of her journey as an atheist. This book was refreshing and inspiring, because it is from a former atheist's perspective. She keeps it real when she talks about her parents, she writes so intelligently when she is describing the Bowheads, her time picking up the bible and then using it as weights in her bathroom, and how her father meant so much to her because he simply let her be who she is, even when she found Jesus.

Favorite quote from the book:

"Daughter, I know the reason you turned out different is because of Jesus."

"Yes, Dad, but its also because of you...the love you and mom showed me, put a face on God."

This book encouraged me to stay in God's presence and it is a good teaching tool on how to speak to those who do not believe.As Chole says," Listen to the voice in the bible" I will be reading more of her books.

This is a delightful, honest story about finding, or better, being found by, God. In two converging threads, Chole narrates her own journey through Atheism to faith in God while also reflecting on the nature of God and belief. Chole's own story highlights her father, a man who she deeply respected and loved, and who didn't believe in God. Before reaching junior high, Chole had embraced her father's Atheism, and into high school she grew to be outspoken in her disdain for faith of every kind. But in the summer after high school, wholly unlooked-for, God met her.

Woven together with her own journey to faith is Chole's thoughtful reflections on Atheism and its adherents, for whom she has the utmost respect, and her description of the nature of belief in God, complete with four "filters" (consistent, livable, sustainable, transferable) through which various belief systems can be sifted, all in search of truth. Last, through five things that she likes about God (God delights in sincere questions; walking with God sharpens the mind; God is not a fool; God is the ultimate realist; God is knowable), she paints a beautiful portrait of what God is like; one especially suited to those seeking or being sought by God.

While some might be put off by the interwoven story lines, I think Chole pulls off the two threads to good effect. Her writing is very clear, with many finely turned phrases elegantly communicating the depth of her reflection. This book is not an argument for God's existence, a handbook of apologetics, but is instead a thoughtful and honest story of being found by God. I would not hesitate to put this book into the hands of an Athiest or an agnostic, or even any Christian who may need to meet God afresh, because Chole's compassion and respect for others comes through clearly in her writing and earns her a hearing.

This is a narrative story of the life of a former Atheist. Alicia shares with us the readers her life, her thoughts and her emotions throughout her journey of finding God when she didn't even believe He was there.

She experiences God in way she says: "Her rational mind wouldn't let her deny". It is a beautiful story that is hard to put down. Alicia also gives great wisdom for Christians on how to reach Atheists...and how NOT to reach Atheists with the Truth of our God. Her candor, depth and wisdom are a treasure that should not be ignored!

I enjoyed this book more than I could have ever guessed. When I read the write up on the book from Bethany House's website, I knew I had to read it...I just wasn't aware of how much I would truly enjoy it.

I have an Atheistic teen within my ministry and I was curious to "get into the mind" of a former Atheist. In fact, (what I didn't know) she was a teen Atheist and talked, acted and thought like the Atheist in my ministry! I was so pleased to understand the teen Atheist's perspective, it really gave me a depth of understanding that I never had.

I am serious when I say that this book will open your eyes. It will bring you to a place of understanding and rejoicing. Alicia's story was one that God desired to be told and tell it she does.

I highly recommend this book. It's a quick read (165 pages) and is completely narrative in nature. It sucks you in and doesn't let you go.

It helped me to understand my teens better and for that, I am truly grateful!

To buy this book, go to: http://www.bakerpublishinggroup.com/ME2/Audiences/dirmod.asp?sid=0477683E4046471488BD7BAC8DCFB004&nm=&type=PubCom&mod=PubComProductCatalog&mid=BF1316AF9E334B7BA1C33CB61CF48A4E&AudId=205F4A61B07648D98551934CA40DE116&tier=3&id=92433763B99A428EB0B44D44E003AE7E

Truth is dead.
God never lived.
Life is filled with pain.
Death is the end of life.

Whenever we as Christians hear these statements, immediately our defenses go up and we are ready to defend our faith against whatever else an atheistic, agnostic, or spiritually relativistic person can throw at us. We often forget the humanity of the person making these statements in our attempts to defend and go on the offensive against these principles. We simply switch into debate mode and steam headlong into our desire to win the argument at all costs.

Finding an Unseen God is part autobiography and part philosophical apologetics for the Christian faith as seen from the perspective of a former atheist. The above axioms guided author Alicia Britt Chole's world until one day, unexpectedly, her world was broken into by a Person who had doggedly pursued after her for her entire life. She chronicles her journey into and subsequently her sudden departure out of the world of atheism. The chapters alternate between her story and her helpful, compassionate insights into the mind of an atheist. It is this compassionate, full-of-grace style that permeates the book while refusing to argue for the sake of argument. Her points come across simply yet profoundly and full of wisdom. In noting the tendency for both sides of the argument to become heated over the elusiveness or non-elusiveness of truth, she offers and expands on four filters for any belief system to be tested by:

* Is my belief system consistent (at its core)?
* Is my belief system livable (and not just quotable)?
* Is my belief system sustainable (through life-size pain)?
* Is my belief system transferable (to others)?

Although at first it seems that the manner in which the short, bite-sized chapters are presented is confusing, the disjointed writing style becomes welcoming as she flits back and forth between childhood and adulthood, one thread detailing her life before Christianity, the other thread discussing the philosophical whys and wherefores of belief. For example, when talking about her dad and his non-religious views, she breaks away to first delve into explaining atheistic thought-processes before returning once more to her dad. In a way, it gives depth to both lines of thought.

She closes with five "things I like about God" and again I was struck by the simple manner in which she writes about a God whose love has affected her life so dramatically. The book ends with a revision of the original belief statements that once again brings our focus to the true and living God who is Truth.

Truth is not dead.
God has always lived.
Life is full of pain.
Death is but a door.
And the God who is, aches to love us.

Do we find God, or does He "find" us? Recently a friend who describes himself as "not having been blessed with faith yet" stated, "If God comes to me, that will be different." This is an account of a woman lovingly pursued, awakened, & captured by the God who knows, loves, & pursues even those who deny Him. An awesome, uplifting read...but I'll let you get the details (they're spot-on) from all the wonderful reviewers who came before me.

In this auto-biography it is easy to see that Ms. Chole is a brilliant woman. She has an analytical, scientific mind--one who needs to have proof and facts before she's willing to believe anything. This is true across the board in her life, which of course encompassed the question and belief, is there a God? That is until, she had an encounter with Christ that was undeniable, unmistakable, and life changing.
We all have doubts and times and Ms. Chole brings it all back into perceptive with the simple yet profound Truth that changed her life then, and is continuing to change her now-- God and His written word.
Because of her background and experience, I believe she will be able to reach folks that in my normal, everyday circle, I would never be able to. Like Ravi Zacharis, and other brilliant folks, they can make make sense, with the help of the Holy Spirit, to expound the Word of God to like-minds and seeking people.

Positive Elements: I am glad that I read this book if for no other reason than how it challenged me to dig back into God's word.

Finding an Unseen God is an easy, but profound read. I was immediately captivated by the creative chapter arrangement as thoughtful retrospect, observation and realization weave through the author's personal life story.

Alicia clarifies some murky waters through her observations of Atheism, Theism and society's common perception of the two. With reflective questions the author gently opens the door for an honest conversation.

Chole doesn't shy away from real life, but invites you into her world with stories that will make you laugh, cry, and ponder.

Put Finding an Unseen God at the top of your summer reading list.