I Sold My Soul on eBay
by Hemant Mehta
Published by Waterbrook Press
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Reviewed by Al Olsen
Subtitled: Viewing faith through an atheist’s eyes
I found the book I Sold My Soul on eBay a must read for anyone who is looking to impact the nonreligious community.
It’s a story of a young man, Hemant Mehta, who decides to auction off his willingness to attend church, synagogue, or temple. The winning bid of $504 by Jim Henderson, propels Hemant into the public’s eye. The unique story is picked up by various national media outlets. Jim and Hemant come to an agreement, where in the next year Hemant will attend 15 different churches, observe and fill out a survey that is posted on Jim Henderson’s website.
Hemant Mehta also relates his journey of how he left the faith of his childhood, Jainism, and has embraced atheism. As he has embraced atheism he has discovered that there are very few atheists groups that have formed in colleges around the nation. In an effort to right this wrong, he relates how with one other student in his second year at University of Illinois–Chicago, he forms the group, Students WithOut Religious Dogma or SWORD.
About half of the book details his insights gleaned from attending these churches; they range from small churches of less than 100 in rural Dekalb, Illinois to mega-churches of thousands. He not only varies the size of the church, but also seeks out ethnically diverse churches. Most of the churches understandably were in his native state of Illinois, but he did make a couple forays, one to Houston and another to Colorado Springs. On his trip to Houston one church he attends is Lakewood Church the mega-church of Joel Olsteen. In Colorado Springs he attends Ted Hagard’s New Life Church while Ted is still senior pastor and has an interesting exchange with Pastor Ted.
At times it was almost like reading a cultural anthropology book, and he’s vulnerable enough to explain what it would take for him to believe the claims of Christ written in the Bible. He is always respectful in writing about his experience. The publisher also includes a helpful a small group discussion guide at the end of the book.
Sometimes we need fresh eyes to view our experiences in church.
Armchair Interview says: Hemant Mehta does an excellent job in that.
Author Web site: http://www.friendlyatheist.com