Skeptic in the House of God

By James L. Kelley

James L.Kelley, a skeptic about religion, writes with insight and humor of his journey through St. Mark's, an Episcopal church that welcomes doubters without pressuring them to compromise their intellectual integrity. When Kelley first visited the church well into his forties, he was searching for a respite from urban malaise and found himself filled with disquieting questions: How could he reconcile his convictions with the central purpose of the church-to worship a God he didn't believe in? Could he say the prayers and sing the hymns while remaining an honest skeptic? After fifteen years of full participation in a church that is open not only to skeptics but also to gay men and lesbians, blacks and Jews, where members are invited to critique Sunday sermons, and where hymns are rewritten to reflect feminist concerns, Kelley found that his agnosticism remained but his skepticism about church participation had disappeared. Modern urban life can be a sterile, isolating experience. Yet in St. Mark's Kelley discovered a place of vibrant community, honest inquiry, and support over the hard places in life.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 081352427X
• ISBN13: 9780813524276
• Release Date: April 1997
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.2" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

What do members of St. Mark's think about this book?

Jim Kelley has written a compelling, honest account of membership in St. Mark's Episcopal Church on Capital Hill. To disclose any bias, I have been a member of St. Mark's since 1992, though not a close acquaintance of Jim's. His portrayal shows the effect that a community's support, or lack of support, can have on an individual member, and discusses some of the ways St. Mark's develops a feeling of "community.". Persons interested in the role church plays in their lives would benefit from reading this book, including both those who go to church and are not sure why and those who have not gone to a church in a long time. This book also provides insight to St. Mark's functional education style which should be encountered by those interested in Christian education. Finally, any friends, family or acquaintances of St. Mark's members who have been puzzled by the devotion members have towards this church, or have wondered how a Sunday school class could teach anything of use when the words "God" or "Jesus" are not mentioned, will find some insights in "Sceptic in the House of God."