Overview

How do you live a meaningful life without religion Meet the “Nones,” a rapidly growing group of religiously unaffiliated Americans (so-called because they check the box that reads, essentially, “none of the above” when asked about their faith). While many Americans are raised in a religious tradition, recent decades have seen large numbers of families drift from their churches and synagogues, temples and mosques, and abandon faith-based practices. But what is lost when we leave religion Faith traditions give us a moral grounding and a sense of identity by connecting us to our past and creating tight communal bonds. But without the one-stop shop of religion, how do the nonreligious fill the need for ritual, story, community, and, above all, purpose and meaning With a quarter of Americans identifying as religiously unaffiliated, these questions have never been more urgent. Katherine Ozment—writer, journalist, and mother of three—comes face-to-face with the fundamental issue of the Nones when her son asks her the simplest of questions: “What are we” Unsettled by the only reply she can summon—“Nothing”—she sets out on a journey across the changing landscape of America to find a better answer. Ozment visits diverse congregations, from an atheist church to a storytelling gathering to a nature-based coming-of-age ritual. She turns to science and the humanities, seeking guidance from noted scholars in a wide range of disciplines. She interviews community leaders and parents, and searches for meaning on mountaintops and in her own front yard. Insightful, surprising, and compelling, Ozment’s journey is both a personal and critical exploration, revealing how to find your own way forward to a meaningful life.

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Reviews

An engagingly personal exploration of parenting without religion that's clear and honest, thoughtful and deeply felt. This is a brilliant addition to the growing chorus of voices in nonreligious parenting. Grace Without God is just that good. --Dale McGowan, author of Parenting Beyond Belief and Raising Freethinkers Combining the talent of a gifted story-teller, the erudition of a scholar, and the soft touch of a mother, Ozment takes her readers on an unforgettable examination of life's deepest questions. Profound, moving, and uplifting, Grace without God is a gem and is destined to become a classic. --Julien Musolino, Associate Professor of Psychology and Cognitive Science, Rutgers University, and author of The Soul Fallacy: What Science Shows We Gain from Letting Go of Our Soul Beliefs In this beautifully written, exhaustively researched, and deeply personal book, Katherine Ozment explores the challenges facing parents who want to raise moral, community-minded children in the absence of formal religion. Grace without God fundamentally changed the way I will raise my children. --Steve Levitt, bestselling author of Freakonomics It's not a spoiler to say that Ozment goes looking for grace only to discover she's had it all along. From the first page, you'll be struck by Ozment's gracious curiosity, intelligence, optimism, and all-around secular loveliness. I felt proud to belong to her tribe--human and godless both. --Catherine Newman, author of Waiting for Birdy and Catastrophic Happiness So many of us don't call ourselves religious, and yet miss much of what religion offered our parents and grandparents--a sense of community, morality, and ritual. Whether you are atheist, spiritual, an occasional meditator, or a confused seeker, this beautifully-written book will help answer some of life's big questions. --Laura Fraser, best-selling author of An Italian Affair This book is perfect for those of us who have moved past religion but still crave community and sense of moral guidance. Ozment has interviewed dozens of seekers, academics and spiritual leaders, finding secular answers to the big questions: What's the meaning of life? How do we deal with death? What is our purpose? A satisfying and deep read. --Julie Scheeres, bestselling author of Jesus Land This well-crafted, accessible exploration of a pressing topic, full of hard questions and astute observations, can serve as a springboard for discussion by parents--and others--who wonder whether people 'need God to be good.' --Publishers Weekly, starred review What an important book. I inhaled every word. Every person struggling to live a meaningful life will find wisdom and sustenance in Grace Without God. --Mary Johnson, author of An Unquenchable Thirst Ozment is not out to bash religion or defend atheism. Quite the contrary: with insight and sensitivity, drawing from her own experiences, Ozment presents a compelling, informative, and inspirational account. Highly recommended for those who no longer believe or congregate, but yearn to live a meaningful life all the same. --Phil Zuckerman, author of Living the Secular Life We are in new and uncharted territory. The family and kinship ties that once insured religious adherence are unwinding. What has been lost? Where might this new freedom take us? In her deeply personal quest to answer these questions, Ozment has created an important book for our time. --Ethan Watters, author of Crazy Like Us

Combining the talent of a gifted story-teller, the erudition of a scholar, and the soft touch of a mother, Ozment takes her readers on an unforgettable examination of life's deepest questions. Profound, moving, and uplifting, <em>Grace without God</em> is a gem and is destined to become a classic. --Mary Johnson, author of <em>An Unquenchable Thirst </em>

An astute journalist, Ozment deftly explores whether meaningful ritual can offer an adequate substitute for organized religion. Her candor, open-mindedness, and reflection provide solace to the reader struggling with similar issues in their own lives, respectfully honoring the ghost of religion rather than writing it off. --<em>The Humanist</em>

Combining the talent of a gifted story-teller, the erudition of a scholar, and the soft touch of a mother, Ozment takes her readers on an unforgettable examination of life s deepest questions. Profound, moving, and uplifting, <em>Grace without God</em> is a gem and is destined to become a classic. --Mary Johnson, author of <em>An Unquenchable Thirst </em>

Author Information

Katherine Ozment is an award-winning journalist and former senior editor at National Geographic. Her essays and articles have been widely published in such venues as the New York Times, National Geographic, and Salon. She lives in Chicago with her husband and children.

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