Faitheist

Most atheists have little in common, save one thing--that they do not believe in God. There is, however, a growing population of atheists united by another belief: that religion is the root of all evil, and that atheists and the religious have conflicting and irreconcilable goals. In Faitheist,one atheist shares the story of his secular upbringing and how his search for meaning led to a "Born Again" conversion to Evangelical Christianity at the age of eleven. Shortly after converting, his realization that he was gay resulted in an inner struggle that eventually led to his becoming an anti-religious atheist. But after continued exposure to the diversity of religious expression, he realized that his narrow definition of religion was unfair and that his bitterness and hostility toward religion was not only making him just as unhappy as being religious had--it was also holding him back from engaging in meaningful work with people of faith. Faitheistis an introduction to the idea that one doesn't need to stand in opposition to religion just because one isn't religious, through the eyes of a young man who has stood on both sides of the divide. Drawing on his life experiences, his academic study of religion, and his work organizing interfaith and secular communities, Stedman speaks to a generation that is increasingly nonreligious and offers a new way forward for atheists: one that prioritizes cooperation and understanding with the religious over division and shouting matches. *55,000 words

Foreword by Eboo Patel
Chapter 1: There's Nothing Worse Than a Faitheist
Chapter 2: Starting Secular, Seeking Substance
Chapter 3: Conversation and Confusion
Chapter 4: Losing and Finding My Religion
Chapter 5: Unholier Than Though: Saying Goodbye to God
Chapter 6: Putting My money Where Other People's Mouths Are
Chapter 7: In Search of the Secular Soul
Chapter 8: Fact or Friction, Engage or Enrage
Afterword
Acknowledgements
Notes