Jen of Conversion Diary is running all manner of contests regarding her new book, Something Other Than God so I thought I’d join the fun and give you my thoughts on it.

First, I should probably let those who aren’t my regular readers know that I’m a convert to Christianity — the bare bones story of it is here.

I was looking forward to reading Jen’s story because I enjoy spiritual autobiographies and I figured that I might be able to relate to it. I was right. I had experiences like Jen did at camp where I had people trying to “win” my soul and they definitely turned me off to organized religion for a long time. I also have a father who encouraged my natural skepticism.

I think the chapter at which I couldn’t put it down was chapter three when she was digging the fossils and started having existential questions. It was so nice to know that I wasn’t the only kid to have those thoughts or to think that way.

Like Jen, I pretty much read and researched my way to the faith. I think I own a good chunk of the faith/religion aisle at the Crown Books that we used to go to in San Jose. I didn’t read Mere Christianity until college but it did impact my faith enough that I give the book as a gift to my confirmation students.

Like Jen, I also endured a conversion from being pro-choice to being pretty exclusively pro-life. Part of it has to do with having Daniel and him being a preemie but part of it also has to do with knowing women who have had abortions and live in deep regret about having them. I hadn’t read the details of the Carhart case before the Supreme Court before I read this book but having a 29.5 weeker, I can feel Jen’s revulsion because it’s also my revulsion.

This is likely the book I’d hand my father to explain why I converted as I think he still expects me to snap out of it 19 years later. Sorry, Dad.

I think what I most resonated with was the feeling that my world shattered when I realized that God was real. It’s a point that is really hard to explain unless you’ve been there. It’s like you thinking that the puzzle of your life fits together nicely… only to have someone tip out all the pieces and have the pieces suddenly morph into a completely different puzzle. That different puzzle has been my life for the last 19 years and I got the sense that Jen experienced the same thing.

You can buy the book on Amazon.Com (here) or at Barnes & Noble (here).