Deconverted

A Journey from Religion to Reason

By: Seth Andrews

Narrated by: Seth Andrews

Length: 5 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

A former religious radio host raised in the cradle of Christianity, Seth Andrews, battled his own doubts for many years. His attempts to reconcile faith and the facts led him to a conclusion previously unthinkable, and this once-true believer ultimately became host of one of the most popular atheist communities on the internet.

©2013 Seth Andrews (P)2013 Seth Andrews

A very good primer from one who knows the game.

Would you listen to Deconverted again? Why?

I may, simply because of the author's presentation. He is a skilled broadcaster which made this book a joy to listen too.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Seth Andrews

What does Seth Andrews bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The authors perspective, and several asides not included in the print edition.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Probably not, just a bit too long, unless you are driving or flying cross country.

Any additional comments?

I am continually searching for skeptic literature in audio form from Audible. This was a fun listen, and it is always great to hear from others that are nearly at the same point in their journey, but there is not much here to further the atheist perspective or arguments beyond Hitchens, Dawkins, Harris, Stenger, Barker, Ingersol, and the other heavy weights of the genre. I recommend Seth's offering more for entertainment which can be a welcome diversion from the task of drafting your personal argument.

A man's spiritual journey out of religiousity

I must preface this review by first saying that I have been following Seth Andrews on The Thinking Atheist Podcast for a couple years. Seth's own journey, as set out in this book, covers many of the same feelings and thoughts that I also experienced in my journey from religiousity to atheism. I am thankful to Seth and his efforts, thru the Thinking Atheist Podcasts, for helping me on my journey. Seth has relay the basis of his deconversion story many times on the podcast. This book, however, gives us a much more detailed and personal insight into that experience.

I highly recommend this book to theist, skeptic, agnostic, and athiest alike. It will hopefully, get you thinking - which has always been the whole point of The Thinking Atheist.

The Audible version of this book is awesomel. Anyone who has followed the podcast, will quickly come to feel right at home as Seth narrates the book in the same casual, familiar, and humorous way as the podcasts.

This is an excellent companion to the written version.

Seth is a voice of reason anyone on a spiritual journey should listen to.

A MUST READ for the closeted atheist.

Would you listen to Deconverted again? Why?

I have, twice. The story mirrors my own. While I was never in radio, I did grow up in a super religious home, was the 'good girl', spread the name of Jesus to everyone I met, and found myself in that awkward situation of realizing it had all been a lie.
The emotions for de-converting are devastating and terrifying. It's comforting to hear or read about others who have gone through the ringer of 'coming out.'
Seth is a beacon of light in the apostasy fog, and I'm grateful that he's built a community where we can feel accepted, wanted, and included.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Deconverted?

Seth started taking a harder look at his 'beliefs' when a CCM Singer died. I took a hard look at my 'beliefs' when I lost a beloved family member.
That kind of hit home for me.
The questions he asked were the same questions I asked. "Why wasn't God there?" "Wasn't my Uncle worth saving?" "Why didn't God stop this?" "Is God NOT all powerful and all knowing?"

What does Seth Andrews bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

His voice. I am a regular listener to his podcasts every Tuesday evening. He has a very personable voice and a spark of life that comes out in his broadcasting that you just can't get on paper.
His personality is overwhelmingly comforting and welcoming and to put his humor and relatability down in writing just wouldn't do him justice.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Assume Nothing. Question Everything. And Keep Thinking.

Any additional comments?

Many atheists, myself included, had a difficult time coming to terms with their apostasy. This is something we've grown up with, we've been encouraged to believe, we've been fooled into thinking it is the only way.
We have family and friends that we know would be devastated. We lie to ourselves daily thinking that it's just a phase, or this will pass.
We are restricted from being ourselves.
A daily war wages inside that atheist that no one can really relate to, except for, maybe, homosexuals.
Seth's journey out of the 'closet' and into atheist activism should serve as a light at the end of an ever increasing tunnel. He gives information, wisdom, encouragement, and a community where we can just be who we are.
With this book we are encouraged to have a voice. We're told that it's okay to not believe. We're not freaks. We're not devils. We're not evil.
We're atheists, and that's okay.

Confessions of a Christian Apostate!

Having never heard of Seth Andrews before, I was pulled in by his broadcast quality voice and his open, supportive approach to his subject. Too often atheists are abrasive and derisive about believers. Mr. Andrews is respectful, cordial, and has a wonderful voice. His history in radio production comes through in the quality of this work.

Like Mr. Andrews I am not a scientist. This work was extremely accessible to me; it was easy to wrap my head around the logic he presents. While there are certainly arguments to support his thesis, this work is more of a memoir about Andrews' own journey from Christianity to Atheism.

Along the way he also introduces and plugs his own on-line presence. Even this is done respectfully; he does not make the mistake of turning into an advertisement. He lets the reader know that becoming an Atheist is not easy, but there is a community of unbelievers who have been there as well.

What impressed me most about this work is the lack of profanity, and the respect that Andrews gives to Christians; he does not vilify and belittle them. I found that very refreshing.

Enlightening, and entertaining

What a great read! After purchasing the audio book, I decided to also order the physical book from Amazon. I would recommend either (or both). The performance, by the author himself, is smooth and pleasant to listen to. You get more of a sense of his personality from listening to him. I wanted the physical book to be able to highlight and make reference to some of the excellent examples and information he gives in the early chapters.

Deconverted is an excellent blend of reason, historical and scientific facts, information, humor, and personal recollections. Great book for anyone, but especially "new" atheists, agnostics, humanists, and free thinkers. I especially love that Seth Andrews is such a positive, fair, and open-minded atheist spokesperson. Thank you, Seth, for being a voice for so many of us.

Thank you, Seth Andrews!

Deconverted was all that I hoped for and expected. It's the story of how a fundamentalist Christian went from solid, unquestioning faith to logical, reasoning atheist. Narrating his own book, Seth gives his account in a straightforward, often humorous manner.

Though he was (forgive the expression) preaching to the choir, and though I was already familiar with a good portion of his story, I still found myself unable to quit listening for a minute. Yes. I listened nonstop from start to finish, and it was worth every second and every penny.

Deconverted is a great gift for your theist friends and family if you are unable to articulate certain aspects of your disbelief to them. I strongly encourage theists who are under the impression that atheists are unhappy, immoral and hold deep hatred for their god to read or listen to this book. It may not "deconvert" you, but it should radically alter their perspectives about why atheists are atheists. After all, Seth's deconversion story is very similar to many atheists' own journeys from faith to skepticism.

Impressing first book!

If you could sum up Deconverted in three words, what would they be?

Faith, doubt, reason

What was one of the most memorable moments of Deconverted?

I personally enjoyed all the examples of how the bible just doesn't make any sense, especially when it comes to the so-called morality of God.

Have you listened to any of Seth Andrews’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Seth has an awesome voice and a great talent for telling stories. Listening to him reading his own words is pure pleasure.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

A leader in faith becomes a follower of reason.

Any additional comments?

After listening to it, I just wanna grab a hard copy of it as well!

Fascinating

Any additional comments?

Anyone expensing doubts about their religion should listen to this. I never experienced hard core indoctrination and of the indoctrination I have, I have only done so at the hands of my grand and grand grand parents. I had become an atheist long before my 18th birthday this was long before Mr Dawkins, The God Delusion. I found this look at an early life of of someone in a strongly religious family and the De-conversion is truly FASCINATING.





On the over note Seth um can you narrate some over books ........ please?

Honesty is the Best policy and here it shows

Would you consider the audio edition of Deconverted to be better than the print version?

I think this version is better because it is actually read by the author who on top of being a radio broadcaster makes you feel like he is having a conversation with you. It is very entertaining.

What does Seth Andrews bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He makes you feel like he is sitting across from you at a table enjoying a cup of joe and telling you about his life.

Any additional comments?

I have met Seth once and he is one of the nicest most kind individuals I have every had the pleasure of sharing company with. Everyone should take some time to read this book, religious or not.

A Wonderful Personal Journey

If you could sum up Deconverted in three words, what would they be?

Heartfelt, genuine & insightful.

What other book might you compare Deconverted to and why?

"Letting go of God" by Julia Sweeney.

What about Seth Andrews’s performance did you like?

Seth is very personal. His read feels like a one on one conversation & draws you in.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Assume Nothing. Question Everything. Open Your Eyes. Challenge the Opposition & Start Thinking...

Any additional comments?

I was really looking forward to this audiobook. It did not disappoint. Seth wrote a wonderful book about his transition from Christian to Atheist. One that many of us can relate to.

Excellent Book

What did you like most about Deconverted?

This wasn't your typical dry audiobook. It was narrated with warmth and enthusiasm just like Seth's podcasts!

What other book might you compare Deconverted to, and why?

I haven't read another book like Seth's but I also enjoyed Richard Dawkins God Delusion.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

I enjoyed listening to the journey of Seth deconversion and how he found his experience.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

The book made me hopeful that there people out there with similar ideas about life as myself.

Any additional comments?

I very much enjoyed Seth story and would strongly recommend this book to any atheist, agnostic, or religious person.

Like listening to the radio show

I really enjoyed listening to this book. I've followed Seth on the Blogtalk radio for a while and heard snippets of his journey. This book is his story showing the entanglement that can happen when growing up and living in a highly religious region and then wanting to walk away from the beliefs of that world.

Seth is a professional radio presenter and it shows! This was a delight to listen to as it all feels like it's just one long improv radio session. It doesn't feel like you're being 'read' to, more that you're the silent partner of a conversation.

You won't find scientific explanations for evolution and it is not an atheist's apologetic. It is a personal story, read by the person involved, who moved from faith to reason and the consequences of following through on this new world view.

An interesting perspective.

To think that in the 21st century an individual has to go through all this.
America does not come out well, but nothing new there.
Just proves the point that religion really is a curse.

Giving yourself permission to change

Seth Andrews. He's an apostate and atheist. To a Christian, he must be a person to avoid. But when you have an open mind and a heart to listen to someone's story of change, this is a very interesting book. I find Seth has moved from wearing the blinkers of religion to changing the blinkers for science and secularism. It's his view but you have to appreciate that we are all different and we all, without exception, have our own battles to fight. Brilliant book and well worth listening to, especially if you are thinking of dumping an outdated mode of belief for something more realistic.

Great book by a terrific guy

Really enjoy anything by Seth. He's genuine and knows how to tell a story
This is the more detailed version of his switch away from religion.

Lovely!

To all of us who love the work of The Thinking Atheist, this book, especially in it's Audio format, can be just like the never ending continuation of the podcast that we love so much...
Seth is as alive here as he always is, his personal journey and all of the seriousness along the way, together with the many of live's surprises were pleasure for me to get to know.

Testimony to reason and common sense

Honest and true story about how the author went from faith to reason.Loved every chapter

A fascinating listen

This is a very interesting book. It follows the journey of Seth Andrews, a dyed in the wool Christian in the heart of the Bible belt. He has gone from Religious Broadcaster to starting up The Thinking Atheist website and podcast. This book demonstrates the difficulties one can have when leaving their faith behind in favor of reason. It was not an easy journey. Not just coming to the realization that everything you believed in as being wrong, but coping with the reactions of those closest to you. Some atheists can be quite denegrating of religious people, but Seth know there are a great many religious people who are wonderful people, who would be "the first to run into a burning building to get you out". He is however, very scathing of the indoctrination of children before they are able to think for themselves and the attempts by some in the religious community to impose their beliefs in places they don't belong (the science classroom being just one of them).

Being from a broadcasting background, there was only ever one choice for the job of narrating this story and Seth has been able to add a real passion to his writing by reading it himself.

An excellent book and an excellent listen.

Superbly refreshing

I like the honesty and also the freshness of an atheist narrative that doesn’t descend into sarcasm and ad hominem attacks. Nicely read and intelligently approached.

Fantastic book, never a dull moment !

Seth is an excellent Storyteller. His voice is so fanrastic. I didn't want the book to end.