Skeptic in the house of God

Book Description

In a world where spiritual seeking often demands choosing sides, James L. Kelley offers a refreshingly honest exploration of finding community without abandoning intellectual honesty. This thoughtful memoir chronicles his unexpected fifteen-year journey as an avowed skeptic who becomes a full participant in St. Mark's Episcopal Church, a congregation that embraces questions rather than demanding answers.

Kelley's story begins in his forties, when urban isolation drives him to seek something more meaningful than the sterile disconnection of modern city life. What he discovers challenges conventional assumptions about faith and belonging. At St. Mark's, he encounters a remarkable community where doubters worship alongside believers, where sermons invite critique rather than blind acceptance, and where traditional hymns are reimagined to reflect contemporary values and concerns.

The central tension that drives this narrative is deeply relatable: How does one participate authentically in religious community while maintaining genuine skepticism about its core beliefs? Kelley navigates this delicate balance with both humor and insight, demonstrating that spiritual community and intellectual integrity need not be mutually exclusive.

Through his experience in a church that welcomes gay and lesbian members, people of different races and faiths, and those who question everything, Kelley reveals how authentic spiritual community can flourish when built on acceptance rather than conformity. His agnosticism remains unchanged, yet his understanding of what religious participation can offer transforms completely.