As a post-Xian, I’m sent ideas for Things To Read regularly by those who still live in a church world. Sometimes I read them. Sometimes I don’t. Whether they get read is completely a function of how busy I am at the time.

I find, even now, years after detaching from religion, that I am still drawn, moth-to-flame, to conversations about God. This is despite the fact that I’m very sure that there is not such thing as a God. At least, not if, by “God,” we mean the sort of deity I was raised believing in.

We commonly grow up with a traditional approach to the God idea. Singular individual, expressed in three persons. Creator of the Universe. Hears prayers, answers in the affirmative if the Plan allows for it. Inspires Holy Books, etc., etc.

I find it impossible to buy into such a thing anymore. But when I meet someone who is a believer I find I want to know everything about their God. Because maybe the God I don’t believe in isn’t the God they do believe in.

Long story short, I read Tim Keller’s A Reason For God last week. It’s a quick read, unfortunately. He never gets particularly deep. Keller is often called “the next C. S. Lewis” and I feel a certain offense at that on Lewis’ behalf. Keller’s no Lewis. Lewis was fun, playful, witty, smart and thought-provoking in a way Keller hasn’t figured out exists yet.

Reading this book, I had a crazy idea. I decided to write one of my own. An apologetics book. The title will be “What It Would Take: an unbeliever spills the beans.” Or something like that.

The idea comes from my reading of so many books defending religion that just don’t do it well. I find myself talking to the book. In the end, I find myself wanting to say something like, “Here, give me that. Let me do it.” You want to know what it’d take for a skeptic to buy your God idea? Here ya go.

The book will be available this December. More details when I have them.

This’ll be fun. The only trouble is that I have another book I planned to release by Thanksgiving as well.

Lots of writing to do, yo. Good. Writing is exactly what I want to be doing.