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There Is No God and Mary Is His Mother: Rediscovering Religionless Christianity
Is the Western world really post-Christian, or does Christianity simply need a reinterpretation? What did Dietrich Bonhoeffer mean by "religionless Christianity"? Is it passé? Or was it perhaps ahead of its time? In an era of dramatically increased religious pluralism and the emergence of large numbers of people identifying as "spiritual but not religious," so-called "religionless Christianity" can speak to those who find both biblicism and "belief-based" religion irrelevant. In this personal, witty, and timely book, New York Times bestselling author Thomas Cathcart takes readers on a journey into belief and unbelief and leads them through to the other side. Drawing from deep philosophical and theological wells, There Is No God and Mary Is His Mother demonstrates the meaningfulness of being a Christian in a secular age. Cathcart shows that, even absent traditional theological formulas and doctrines, Christianity can be a credible, meaningful, and practical means of negotiating worldly existence and experience. For Christians, There Is No God and Mary Is His Mother offers encouragement. For ex-Christians, it presents a different way of being a Christian than the one they've rejected. For atheists, it shows how Christianity can be an ally in affirming the here and now. Religionless Christianity is possible and desirable wherever and whenever it awakens personal and social transformation.
140 pages, Paperback
Published September 7, 2021
9 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Cathcart
11Ìýbooks149ÌýfollowersThomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein wrote the bestselling Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes, which will be translated into more than a dozen languages. Not bad for a couple of philosophy majors from Harvard who tried on various careers after graduation. Tom worked with street gangs in Chicago, doctors at Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and dropped in and out of divinity schools. Dan has written jokes for various comedians, including Flip Wilson and Lily Tomlin. Tom lives on Cape Cod with his wife. Dan lives in the Berkshires with his wife. Together, they are also authors of the politically incorrect book of daily affirmations Macho Meditations."
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 14, 2021
A very thoughtful and balanced invitation to completely reconsider what Christianity means, or at least what it can mean. Cathhart's style is genuine and plainly honest. One get's the feeling that he his imparting his wisdom developed over a lifetime of varied experiences and encounters to a generation that seems more in need of a Christian reinterpretation.
The emphasis on religion as poetry is quite reminiscent of Campbell, and the direct influence of existentialism, particularly Kierkegaard, was a pleasant surprise.
The emphasis on religion as poetry is quite reminiscent of Campbell, and the direct influence of existentialism, particularly Kierkegaard, was a pleasant surprise.
July 12, 2021
So I had my problems with this book. It's probably because unlike the author, I studied theology at university for six years and am now teaching it, considering myself being fully immersed in all things "Christian" and/or "religious". I am open minded, by no means dead and centre conservative and I was intrigued by the title. Really, the title is good. The cover as well. Sadly, that's not all a book should be.
In my mind, the arguments being made are too simplistic for a topic and claim so profound and intellectual as Cathcart's. Especially the notion that doctrine is somewhat passé and not really there for people anymore was, to a Catholic's experience, just simply absurd. I am not sure of the strategy proposed, to abandon religion because it does not seem to be attractive enough anymore, but still call ourselves Christians. In a very modern and fresh way. Doctrine and church teaching set in religion itself never was popular, yet people did not simply discard it but form it and debate it and think about it constantly and that's how it came and still is coming about.
I felt quite frustrated with this book while reading it because I felt like the author did not have one good and intelligent conversation with someone on the institutionalised religious side. On the "religion" side. For Christianity to abandon religion but still be "religious" and faith based is similar to the argument being made in Austria right now that a cross should still be hung on every wall in every official building, but it is no longer a religious symbol (according to the law) because that would upset people or make them feel excluded. I hope I don't have to explain why this is absurd.
Really I should have been warned when the blurb said things like "Is the Western world really post-Christian, or does Christianity simply need a reinterpretation?" I was excited how Cathcart would use Bonhoeffer's argument just to find out that he obviously did not understand what the man meant at the time and taking it so much out of context that it did not even resemble the original thought. Religionless Christianity indeed.
Maybe I am being too harsh. After all, the author did want to write an encouraging book and at the end of it I am not completely devastated. I believe that he and I just live in very different parts of the world if not even worlds apart. His bubble is different than my bubble and this book probably speaks to those who share his experiences in the world. This is where the trouble started for me right away.
I do not recommend this book to anyone who has a theological or even philosophical background. It feels like a misinformed 4th grader is giving you a presentation on "how to solve everything and assure world peace". This book makes wild claims and supposedly offers solutions and great insights for theists, Christians, agnostics, atheists, sceptics, everyone. The problem of religion is solved!
....well, in my opinion not so much.
2 stars for effort and some interesting thoughts.
In my mind, the arguments being made are too simplistic for a topic and claim so profound and intellectual as Cathcart's. Especially the notion that doctrine is somewhat passé and not really there for people anymore was, to a Catholic's experience, just simply absurd. I am not sure of the strategy proposed, to abandon religion because it does not seem to be attractive enough anymore, but still call ourselves Christians. In a very modern and fresh way. Doctrine and church teaching set in religion itself never was popular, yet people did not simply discard it but form it and debate it and think about it constantly and that's how it came and still is coming about.
I felt quite frustrated with this book while reading it because I felt like the author did not have one good and intelligent conversation with someone on the institutionalised religious side. On the "religion" side. For Christianity to abandon religion but still be "religious" and faith based is similar to the argument being made in Austria right now that a cross should still be hung on every wall in every official building, but it is no longer a religious symbol (according to the law) because that would upset people or make them feel excluded. I hope I don't have to explain why this is absurd.
Really I should have been warned when the blurb said things like "Is the Western world really post-Christian, or does Christianity simply need a reinterpretation?" I was excited how Cathcart would use Bonhoeffer's argument just to find out that he obviously did not understand what the man meant at the time and taking it so much out of context that it did not even resemble the original thought. Religionless Christianity indeed.
Maybe I am being too harsh. After all, the author did want to write an encouraging book and at the end of it I am not completely devastated. I believe that he and I just live in very different parts of the world if not even worlds apart. His bubble is different than my bubble and this book probably speaks to those who share his experiences in the world. This is where the trouble started for me right away.
I do not recommend this book to anyone who has a theological or even philosophical background. It feels like a misinformed 4th grader is giving you a presentation on "how to solve everything and assure world peace". This book makes wild claims and supposedly offers solutions and great insights for theists, Christians, agnostics, atheists, sceptics, everyone. The problem of religion is solved!
....well, in my opinion not so much.
2 stars for effort and some interesting thoughts.
September 18, 2021
In a prison cell in 1945, young theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer pondered the existence of a religionless Christianity. Although he never got the chance to explain what he meant by that phrase, it has caught the attention of countless theologians ever since. Thomas Cathcart is no different and in his latest book, There is No God and Mary is His Mother: Rediscovering Religionless Christianity, sets out to understand what that might mean for the 21st Century.
Cathcart begins by noting the general decline in religion in America and the rise of the ‘nones� -those who do not profess any formal religion. From there, he marks how the modern church has proclaimed the wrong message. Cathcart is an existentialist and draws heavily on Paul Tillich’s theology (as well as Kirkegaard). Rather than proclaiming our sins, Cathcart proclaims, we should be discovering the root of our alienation from the ultimate (which in his mind is our bigger problem).
From here, Catchcart address four avenues where we can enter the Christian story: (1) the kingdom of God, (2) the reliance of the Holy Spirit, (3) The gift of forgiveness and (4) Christ in me. Whereas the first part of his book has been already tried by such writers as Brian McClaren, it is these last four chapters that really provide the fodder for much discussion in the Christian Church. I think the avenues that he is pursing are avenues that the Church can pursue, even if we disagree with Cathcart on his earlier claims about historical Christianity.
There is hope for the Church, Cathcart explains. This hope may not be for the organized or institutional church, but there is power in the gospel as a call for a transformed life that overcomes one’s alienation. Ultimately, in a secular world, Catchcart argues, Christianity still has much to say.
This short book is very accessible and easy to read. Cathcart does not write in a technical way, even though he brings up famous philosophers and theologians. Having read Tillich, I am impressed with Catchcart’s ability to distill his works into easy words.
Some will not find this book earth shattering. Others will throw it away in the first few chapters. I think that Catchcart’s voice is welcome to the discussion of the future of Christianity and we should discuss much of what he says in the book. I did not agree with all of what he said, but still provided a good basis for much thought.
I highly recommend this book for pastors, Chaplains, and other Christians who are serious about their faith.
Grade: A
Cathcart begins by noting the general decline in religion in America and the rise of the ‘nones� -those who do not profess any formal religion. From there, he marks how the modern church has proclaimed the wrong message. Cathcart is an existentialist and draws heavily on Paul Tillich’s theology (as well as Kirkegaard). Rather than proclaiming our sins, Cathcart proclaims, we should be discovering the root of our alienation from the ultimate (which in his mind is our bigger problem).
From here, Catchcart address four avenues where we can enter the Christian story: (1) the kingdom of God, (2) the reliance of the Holy Spirit, (3) The gift of forgiveness and (4) Christ in me. Whereas the first part of his book has been already tried by such writers as Brian McClaren, it is these last four chapters that really provide the fodder for much discussion in the Christian Church. I think the avenues that he is pursing are avenues that the Church can pursue, even if we disagree with Cathcart on his earlier claims about historical Christianity.
There is hope for the Church, Cathcart explains. This hope may not be for the organized or institutional church, but there is power in the gospel as a call for a transformed life that overcomes one’s alienation. Ultimately, in a secular world, Catchcart argues, Christianity still has much to say.
This short book is very accessible and easy to read. Cathcart does not write in a technical way, even though he brings up famous philosophers and theologians. Having read Tillich, I am impressed with Catchcart’s ability to distill his works into easy words.
Some will not find this book earth shattering. Others will throw it away in the first few chapters. I think that Catchcart’s voice is welcome to the discussion of the future of Christianity and we should discuss much of what he says in the book. I did not agree with all of what he said, but still provided a good basis for much thought.
I highly recommend this book for pastors, Chaplains, and other Christians who are serious about their faith.
Grade: A
February 28, 2025
There were some great things in this book, but there were also some not-so-great things. I really liked some of the points being made, but there seemed to be a lot of barely-related asides that at times made those points harder to follow.
A decent portion of the book was the author retelling the beliefs of his old professor, Paul Tillich. While I appreciate the author giving credit where credit is due, I can't help but feel like the book wasn't so much about "rediscovering religionless Christianity" as it was about the beliefs of Tillich and the author's thoughts on them.
I picked the book up as an atheist that was hoping to read an argument for why someone like me should embrace a "religionless Christianity", but instead I found that this book seems to be speaking exclusively to Christians.
All that said, the author did a fantastic job citing scripture and using parallel accounts as examples for many of their arguments. They're clearly very well-read and have spent a long time (a lifetime?) thinking about this, and that is reason enough I think to give this (short) book a try. If you're even remotely interested (like I was), then I think this book is worth the read.
A decent portion of the book was the author retelling the beliefs of his old professor, Paul Tillich. While I appreciate the author giving credit where credit is due, I can't help but feel like the book wasn't so much about "rediscovering religionless Christianity" as it was about the beliefs of Tillich and the author's thoughts on them.
I picked the book up as an atheist that was hoping to read an argument for why someone like me should embrace a "religionless Christianity", but instead I found that this book seems to be speaking exclusively to Christians.
All that said, the author did a fantastic job citing scripture and using parallel accounts as examples for many of their arguments. They're clearly very well-read and have spent a long time (a lifetime?) thinking about this, and that is reason enough I think to give this (short) book a try. If you're even remotely interested (like I was), then I think this book is worth the read.
Read
February 1, 2022it was an okay book but it didn’t keep me very engaged. This author seems to have a different idea of Christianity from me so that made it hard to follow when he talks about Christianity as healing (and I don’t see what I need to be healed from) and then says that most Christians know that heaven isn’t a place you go after you die (and I was under the impression that most Christians did think this). Can’t rate it because it was a class book
November 1, 2021
I like the project of parsing out what Bonhoeffer's religionless Christianity looks like particularly for a nation on Nones and Dones. Cathcart starts strong (for me) and I resonated with the many references to Tillich, but the four paths he sketches don't sound to me like what he describes at the start.
January 3, 2023
Academglican
This was a good book.
But, I found it way more academic and theological that I expected.
Had some good points, but all-in-all not what I was expecting, regarding myth-busting.
I have been on a big myth busting Biblical events readings lately, and this was not really on the same plane.
3.1/5
This was a good book.
But, I found it way more academic and theological that I expected.
Had some good points, but all-in-all not what I was expecting, regarding myth-busting.
I have been on a big myth busting Biblical events readings lately, and this was not really on the same plane.
3.1/5
July 7, 2023
What could the idea and practice of Christianity entail if one put aside claims about God and the afterlife? Provides a great overview and various entry points for philosophers and theologians who have examined the idea. Readers accustomed to a Christianity that only accounts for "God's will" and "going to heaven" will find helpful material for engaging a broader account of Christian practice.
February 19, 2023
Y si la pregunta de la fe no es, ¿crees en Dios? Sino, ¿crees en la visión de Jesús del reino de Dios y la encuentras transformadora? El cristianismo no deberÃa ser una creencia, sino una forma de vivr, entonces el reino de Dios se convierte en una manifestación de ese estilo de vida.
August 20, 2023
Apparently theology stopped with Tillich and science has proven there is no god. A couple good nuggets here but too simplistic (and profoundly ignorant of theological development since the 1960’s) to be of much help for those formulating their faith.
October 2, 2021
The author casually glorifies drug use while denigrating mental health care, all while managing to contribute nothing new. Save your time.
March 3, 2022
👎👎👎
May 23, 2022
Boils down to some big ideas of Bonhoeffer and Tillich (and Tolstoy?) simplified for lay readers. Some interesting broad overview content but not a lot of depth.
July 27, 2022
Another research read. Definitely a comforting look at the religion I'm most intimidated by.
January 11, 2023
Despite the funny title, it’s really a defense of Christianity, minus magic.
June 13, 2023
A book length version of a COEXIST license plate. Christianity for those who do not believe in a God
Read
September 9, 2024I didn’t really get anything from this book. Maybe because I listened to it as an audiobook?
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
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