Overhearing a Christian Apology to the Nones

“The respectful tone in this book is as important as its brilliant contents. Because when you take knowledge and add humility, you get wisdom. And then when you take such wisdom and add it to compassion, you get love. And such love is at the heart of life . . . God is love. And so, I hope many will not only learn a great deal from what is said but also from how it has been presented.”


—Robert J. Wicks, author of Heartstorming: Creating a Place God Can Call Home





“In times of significant change like the present, people usually turn to religion to make meaning of what is happening. Yet Americans are increasingly turning away from religion. Rodgerson turns a sympathetic yet critical eye and ear toward the Nones in this carefully researched, compelling account of their growth and what it means for the future of church and society.”


—Curtis Ramsey-Lucas, editor, The Christian Citizen





“In an age of religious tumult and opportunity, Rodgerson employs the ancient technique of overhearing dialogue to introduce new ways of considering the Nones and the Christian traditions. This prophetic guide, solidly grounded in research and compassion, evidences how we can embrace religious difference and stand at the threshold of a new era to create a way for all to ‘drink at the well of essential nurture, of personal worth, of personal meaning, of love.’”


—Jill L. Snodgrass, Associate Professor of Theology, Loyola University Maryland





“Tom Rodgerson asks us to consider: ‘What is the shelf life of canned religion?’ It is a question of perennial quality; people of faith, and of no particular faith, must answer this question at some point. Rodgerson artfully, intellectually, and spiritually provides us with wise guidance to discover together the relevance of the Christian tradition to today’s spiritual seekers—inviting us to delve deeply, through dialogue, into the core of our potential for spiritual vitality.”


—Jesse Fox, Associate Professor, Stetson University