Godless by Pete Hautman

Author: Pete Hautman

Reading level: Young Adult

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Rate 9/10

Why mess around with Catholicism when you can have your own customized religion?"

Fed up with his parents' boring old religion, agnostic-going-on-atheist Jason Bock invents a new god — the town's water tower. He recruits an unlikely group of worshippers: his snail-farming best friend, Shin, cute-as-a-button (whatever that means) Magda Price, and the violent and unpredictable Henry Stagg. As their religion grows, it takes on a life of its own. While Jason struggles to keep the faith pure, Shin obsesses over writing their bible, and the explosive Henry schemes to make the new faith even more exciting — and dangerous.


When the Chutengodians hold their first ceremony high atop the dome of the water tower, things quickly go from merely dangerous to terrifying and deadly. Jason soon realizes that inventing a religion is a lot easier than controlling it, but control it he must, before his creation destroys both his friends and himself.

MY REVIEW
I really liked this book, I thought it had a lot of humor and great points were made. In religion, any of them out there, you should be able to question it and get answers. Because what's the point in believing in something if you don't know the answers to any of the questions about your faith? I'm also all for freedom of religion as long as it's peaceful and doesn't hurt people. I believe even if you don't happen to agree religiously with people you should still accept them. Another good point made in this book is that you can't really understand something until you believe in it. Jason(main character) got on my nerves at times but he made really good points all the same and he was funny in the process. Even if you don't agree with what this book brings to the table relgiously, I think you should still read it, because how are we to understand different people if we don't know anything about their differences? I'm definitely not an athiest or agnostic but I would never hate on someone who isn't and I would listen to their point of views too, even if I don't agree with them. It's also a fast read, I read it in a few hours.