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By Brad Warner - There is no God and he is always with you
Can you be an atheist and still believe in God?
Can you be a true believer and still doubt?
Can Zen give us a way past our constant fighting about God?
Brad Warner was initially interested in Buddhism because he wanted to find God, but Buddhism is usually thought of as godless. In the three decades since Warner began studying Zen, he has grappled with paradoxical questions about God and managed to come up with some answers. In this fascinating search for a way beyond the usual arguments between fundamentalists and skeptics, Warner offers a profoundly engaging and idiosyncratic take on the ineffable power of the “ground of all being.”
Can you be a true believer and still doubt?
Can Zen give us a way past our constant fighting about God?
Brad Warner was initially interested in Buddhism because he wanted to find God, but Buddhism is usually thought of as godless. In the three decades since Warner began studying Zen, he has grappled with paradoxical questions about God and managed to come up with some answers. In this fascinating search for a way beyond the usual arguments between fundamentalists and skeptics, Warner offers a profoundly engaging and idiosyncratic take on the ineffable power of the “ground of all being.”
Paperback
First published May 15, 2013
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About the author
Brad Warner
22 books595 followersBrad Warner is an ordained Zen Master (though he hates that term) in the Soto lineage founded in Japan by Master Dogen Zenji in the 13th century. He's the bass player for the hardcore punk rock group 0DFx (aka Zero Defex) and the ex-vice president of the Los Angeles office of the company founded by the man who created Godzilla.
Brad was born in Hamilton, Ohio in 1964. In 1972, his family relocated to Nairobi, Kenya. When Brad returned to Wadsworth three years later, nothing about rural Ohio seemed quite the same anymore.
In 1982 Brad joined 0DFx. 0DFx caught the attention of a number of major bands on the hardcore punk scene. But they soon broke up leaving a single eighteen second burst of noise, titled Drop the A-Bomb On Me, as their only recorded legacy on a compilation album called P.E.A.C.E./War.
In 1993, Brad went to Japan to realize a childhood dream to actually work for the people who made low budget Japanese monster movies. To his own astonishment, he landed himself a job with one of Japan's leading producers of man-in-a-rubber-dinosaur-costume giant monster movies.
Back in the early 80s, while still playing hardcore punk, Brad became involved in Zen Buddhism. The realistic, no bullshit philosophy reminded him of the attitude the punks took towards music. Once he got to Japan, he began studying the philosophy with an iconoclastic rebel Zen Master named Gudo Nishijima. After a few years, Nishijima decided to make Brad his successor as a teacher of Zen.
In 2003 he published his first book, "Hardcore Zen: Punk Rock, Monster Movies and the Truth About Reality." In 2007 he followed that up with "Sit Down and Shut Up," a punk-informed look at 13th century Zen Master Dogen. His third book is "Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate."
Brad was born in Hamilton, Ohio in 1964. In 1972, his family relocated to Nairobi, Kenya. When Brad returned to Wadsworth three years later, nothing about rural Ohio seemed quite the same anymore.
In 1982 Brad joined 0DFx. 0DFx caught the attention of a number of major bands on the hardcore punk scene. But they soon broke up leaving a single eighteen second burst of noise, titled Drop the A-Bomb On Me, as their only recorded legacy on a compilation album called P.E.A.C.E./War.
In 1993, Brad went to Japan to realize a childhood dream to actually work for the people who made low budget Japanese monster movies. To his own astonishment, he landed himself a job with one of Japan's leading producers of man-in-a-rubber-dinosaur-costume giant monster movies.
Back in the early 80s, while still playing hardcore punk, Brad became involved in Zen Buddhism. The realistic, no bullshit philosophy reminded him of the attitude the punks took towards music. Once he got to Japan, he began studying the philosophy with an iconoclastic rebel Zen Master named Gudo Nishijima. After a few years, Nishijima decided to make Brad his successor as a teacher of Zen.
In 2003 he published his first book, "Hardcore Zen: Punk Rock, Monster Movies and the Truth About Reality." In 2007 he followed that up with "Sit Down and Shut Up," a punk-informed look at 13th century Zen Master Dogen. His third book is "Zen Wrapped in Karma Dipped in Chocolate."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
February 21, 2020
“What you think of as God does not exist. It couldn’t possibly exist. No matter what you think of as God, it’s an image you’ve created in your mind.”
One of the most frustrating things about language is that its awfully limited. When I use a word, I may mean something by it, but because someone is used to a different definition of it or hearing it in a different context, they’ll understand what I am saying completely differently from what I actually mean. This is a problem that comes up a lot with Buddhism, and trying to talk about it with people who aren’t familiar with the topic (though it comes up is many other areas of life as well). A lot of (often incorrect) assumptions are made when words like “meditation”, “monk", “karma” and “enlightenment” are tossed around – and it creates a lot of confusion and frustration. Brad Warner, who in my opinion, is the sanest voice in North American Buddhism, understands that and has had a lot of experience trying to clear all that up. The concept of “God” is probably one of the trickiest one to talk about – and it’s actually fairly contentious in North American Buddhism (we just love arguing about stuff, don’t we?). And as Warner says himself: “Books could only explain what other people supposed God might be”, and I was interested to hear his take on the topic.
Warner preaches to the choir with me, because while my family was nominally Catholic, there was no real practicing of any religious anything at home (especially after I expressed disinterest in doing my First Communion), nor any indoctrinating of dogmas and beliefs: my grandfather (who was a defrocked Franciscan monk) was just adamant we should all be good to each other. Hard to argue with that. So when Warner discusses the strangeness of some ideas held by people with strong religious feelings, I absolutely agree that it’s very weird to think God prefers some places (such as Jerusalem) to others, or that one version of the concept of divinity is so much better than the others that it should justify all kinds of horrific acts (that usually directly contradict the whole “nice to each other” sentiment). “I find the behavior of religious believers to be a special kind of geekiness that leads people to go way overboard, often with tragic consequences.” I love that quote because it’s the perfect analogy: have you ever gotten between two nerds arguing about Star Wars? They will often be ready to beat each other to a pulp over an ironically quasi-religious fictional story and the way people interpret and discuss it – instead of bonding over a shared love of said story. It’s kind of sad.
Warner explores different cosmologies, contrasts the Buddhist and Judeo-Christian ones, investigates the meaning of referring to oneself as a Buddhist, discusses the concept of faith (and it’s linguistic roots that mean something a lot closer to “commitment” than to blind belief), the delicate matter of translating (and interpreting – the traps of language again!) ancient Buddhist texts, the function of rituals in society and the relationship (or lack thereof) between morality and divinity. Among other things.
Some reviewers have noted that this may be Warner’s most mature work, and I can see that. It’s certainly the less openly geeky one, it has remarkably few profanities and lacks a glorious Johnny Crap illustration on the cover. But the word I would use to describe it is more academic. It’s a nuanced and thoughtful work, insightful and reasonable – with plenty of that Brad Warner signature quirkiness: quoting “This is Spinal Tap” and Led Zeppelin lyrics while discussing God is the sort of weird touch that makes his books so endearing to me. I love that he refers to his enlightenment experiences as “incidents”, and that he writes sentences like this one: “The day I met God was completely normal, probably a Tuesday.”
This book won’t change the mind of anyone who holds rigid beliefs, but if you are curious about how the concept of God fits in Zen – or at least, how Brad Warner thinks it does, this is a very readable and insightful work on the topic.
One of the most frustrating things about language is that its awfully limited. When I use a word, I may mean something by it, but because someone is used to a different definition of it or hearing it in a different context, they’ll understand what I am saying completely differently from what I actually mean. This is a problem that comes up a lot with Buddhism, and trying to talk about it with people who aren’t familiar with the topic (though it comes up is many other areas of life as well). A lot of (often incorrect) assumptions are made when words like “meditation”, “monk", “karma” and “enlightenment” are tossed around – and it creates a lot of confusion and frustration. Brad Warner, who in my opinion, is the sanest voice in North American Buddhism, understands that and has had a lot of experience trying to clear all that up. The concept of “God” is probably one of the trickiest one to talk about – and it’s actually fairly contentious in North American Buddhism (we just love arguing about stuff, don’t we?). And as Warner says himself: “Books could only explain what other people supposed God might be”, and I was interested to hear his take on the topic.
Warner preaches to the choir with me, because while my family was nominally Catholic, there was no real practicing of any religious anything at home (especially after I expressed disinterest in doing my First Communion), nor any indoctrinating of dogmas and beliefs: my grandfather (who was a defrocked Franciscan monk) was just adamant we should all be good to each other. Hard to argue with that. So when Warner discusses the strangeness of some ideas held by people with strong religious feelings, I absolutely agree that it’s very weird to think God prefers some places (such as Jerusalem) to others, or that one version of the concept of divinity is so much better than the others that it should justify all kinds of horrific acts (that usually directly contradict the whole “nice to each other” sentiment). “I find the behavior of religious believers to be a special kind of geekiness that leads people to go way overboard, often with tragic consequences.” I love that quote because it’s the perfect analogy: have you ever gotten between two nerds arguing about Star Wars? They will often be ready to beat each other to a pulp over an ironically quasi-religious fictional story and the way people interpret and discuss it – instead of bonding over a shared love of said story. It’s kind of sad.
Warner explores different cosmologies, contrasts the Buddhist and Judeo-Christian ones, investigates the meaning of referring to oneself as a Buddhist, discusses the concept of faith (and it’s linguistic roots that mean something a lot closer to “commitment” than to blind belief), the delicate matter of translating (and interpreting – the traps of language again!) ancient Buddhist texts, the function of rituals in society and the relationship (or lack thereof) between morality and divinity. Among other things.
Some reviewers have noted that this may be Warner’s most mature work, and I can see that. It’s certainly the less openly geeky one, it has remarkably few profanities and lacks a glorious Johnny Crap illustration on the cover. But the word I would use to describe it is more academic. It’s a nuanced and thoughtful work, insightful and reasonable – with plenty of that Brad Warner signature quirkiness: quoting “This is Spinal Tap” and Led Zeppelin lyrics while discussing God is the sort of weird touch that makes his books so endearing to me. I love that he refers to his enlightenment experiences as “incidents”, and that he writes sentences like this one: “The day I met God was completely normal, probably a Tuesday.”
This book won’t change the mind of anyone who holds rigid beliefs, but if you are curious about how the concept of God fits in Zen – or at least, how Brad Warner thinks it does, this is a very readable and insightful work on the topic.
August 13, 2023
"The universe is more you than you will ever be." Tim McCarthy
Brad warner liked What Tim McCarthy had written, he doesn't know what it means. I don't know what it means either, but it is pretty cool.
In brad warner is pretty cool too even though I get the feeling that he doesn't know what he means When he is writing this book, when he is philosophizing, when he doesn't believe in everlasting life but then believes in it but he doesn't believe in a creator god but maybe he does I am so confused.
I think a lot of people who have given up on religion are confused. When I say this I do not mean that religion any religion has the truth I just mean that people believe it to be their truth Therefore, they are not confused.
Here are some examples of things he said. In order for us to have an immortal so there has to be a creator. He said that he does not believe in a creator, therefore he does not believe in eternal life. But, later when a friend dies he claims he did not go off into oblivion. And later he claims he is not a materialist. That is all okay, because his book is really entertaining.
Brad warner liked What Tim McCarthy had written, he doesn't know what it means. I don't know what it means either, but it is pretty cool.
In brad warner is pretty cool too even though I get the feeling that he doesn't know what he means When he is writing this book, when he is philosophizing, when he doesn't believe in everlasting life but then believes in it but he doesn't believe in a creator god but maybe he does I am so confused.
I think a lot of people who have given up on religion are confused. When I say this I do not mean that religion any religion has the truth I just mean that people believe it to be their truth Therefore, they are not confused.
Here are some examples of things he said. In order for us to have an immortal so there has to be a creator. He said that he does not believe in a creator, therefore he does not believe in eternal life. But, later when a friend dies he claims he did not go off into oblivion. And later he claims he is not a materialist. That is all okay, because his book is really entertaining.
September 11, 2013
This is kind of your typical book on Buddhism, in that if you're looking for answers they aren't in there. (Think "koan".) I didn't expect any answers. (The answer lies within grasshoppa')But this book has a befuddled voice to it. There are all kinds of circular logic and distractions going on. There were parts of this book that were more esoteric than an Alan Watts book. It feels like Warner is working the answer out in his head as he writes and no one does him the kindness of editing afterwards.
And, alas, the thing that I so loved about his previous books (I've read them all), has finally become irritating. He calls himself a Soto Zen priest, but then he goes to lengths to convince the reader how he's "different" and "cooler"...and he's a rebel and wear's his robes only when he wants to etc... While I understand that being a Buddhist is a very individual experience, when you take vows you are saying that you prescribe to certain tenets. OK, I get that you're a rebel. But he finally has me questioning if anyone else would describe him as a Soto Zen priest or no. He sets himself apart and describes other priests/monks/leaders as persecuting him and being at odds with him. Maybe there's a reason for this, IDK. However, I still believe, Warner has A LOT of wisdom and insight to share, but you have to pay very close attention for it in this book. It's work.
I wouldn't suggest this be your first book on Buddhism. Your brain will explode or you'll throw it at a wall. I would highly suggest Hardcore Zen or Sit Down, Shut Up to be your first. If you're not new to Buddhism, you've already read Warner more than likely. This is more of "Buddhism According to Brad"...please keep that in mind (as with any book on this subject).
And, alas, the thing that I so loved about his previous books (I've read them all), has finally become irritating. He calls himself a Soto Zen priest, but then he goes to lengths to convince the reader how he's "different" and "cooler"...and he's a rebel and wear's his robes only when he wants to etc... While I understand that being a Buddhist is a very individual experience, when you take vows you are saying that you prescribe to certain tenets. OK, I get that you're a rebel. But he finally has me questioning if anyone else would describe him as a Soto Zen priest or no. He sets himself apart and describes other priests/monks/leaders as persecuting him and being at odds with him. Maybe there's a reason for this, IDK. However, I still believe, Warner has A LOT of wisdom and insight to share, but you have to pay very close attention for it in this book. It's work.
I wouldn't suggest this be your first book on Buddhism. Your brain will explode or you'll throw it at a wall. I would highly suggest Hardcore Zen or Sit Down, Shut Up to be your first. If you're not new to Buddhism, you've already read Warner more than likely. This is more of "Buddhism According to Brad"...please keep that in mind (as with any book on this subject).
June 22, 2013
Brad Warner has been touting this as his best book, and I agree. It is his most mature book, his best written, and it actually takes up the most daring subject. His last book was about sex, which some people might have thought daring, but this book uses the word God in connection with Zen practice, and that causes people to explode.
What he says, basically, is that what we're actually connecting with as we sit zazen is God, though he doesn't use that word in the childish simplistic sense that many people mean by it. In fact, he has searched through religious tradition to find various descriptions of God, and has done a remarkable job of showing how the great mystics in all religions largely agree. His whole religious quest has been a search for God, and he feels that he has found God not just in major openings, though he has had at least one—and describes it beautifully—but in his ordinary moment by moment existence. Sitting zazen has been his means of discovering God.
I completely agree with his central thesis, and though his book was somewhat uneven, as all his books are (any writer who writes so much from his own experience is bound to be that way), I thought the best sections were marvelous. I strongly recommend this book.
What he says, basically, is that what we're actually connecting with as we sit zazen is God, though he doesn't use that word in the childish simplistic sense that many people mean by it. In fact, he has searched through religious tradition to find various descriptions of God, and has done a remarkable job of showing how the great mystics in all religions largely agree. His whole religious quest has been a search for God, and he feels that he has found God not just in major openings, though he has had at least one—and describes it beautifully—but in his ordinary moment by moment existence. Sitting zazen has been his means of discovering God.
I completely agree with his central thesis, and though his book was somewhat uneven, as all his books are (any writer who writes so much from his own experience is bound to be that way), I thought the best sections were marvelous. I strongly recommend this book.
December 6, 2014
Examination of concept of God seen through a buddhist lens. Very readable and thought provoking.
October 9, 2018
I really like Brad Warner. This is his second book I’ve read, the first being Hardcore Zen. What I like about him is his no nonsense, American, but not American approach to Zen-he has spent time in Africa, Ireland, but most importantly in Japan where he gathered much of his zen bonafides. He is a normal, albeit, dorky guy who likes b-grade monster movies, punk rock and women....not something you typically here from a Buddhist monk.
His sense of humor often carries the day and he has a very easy approach to a rather difficult topic. To sum it up, his whole thesis rests on the notion of “however you conceptualize God is wrong because our brains can not fathom what god really is, so we put a anthropomorphic mask on the universe and call it God”. He believes in God, but not in the Judeo Christian sense, but in more of a Zen Koan sense-god is a riddle....God knows he doesn’t exist.
Brad Warner is a funny, relatable guy that has better helped me in my understanding of zen.
His sense of humor often carries the day and he has a very easy approach to a rather difficult topic. To sum it up, his whole thesis rests on the notion of “however you conceptualize God is wrong because our brains can not fathom what god really is, so we put a anthropomorphic mask on the universe and call it God”. He believes in God, but not in the Judeo Christian sense, but in more of a Zen Koan sense-god is a riddle....God knows he doesn’t exist.
Brad Warner is a funny, relatable guy that has better helped me in my understanding of zen.
July 21, 2013
Goodreads First Reads Giveaway Book.
------------------------------------
Anyone who wants a fresh perceptive of God should read There Is No God and He Is Always with You: A Search for God in Odd Places. In its search for God by challenging us to understand the meanings of words, this book is engaging and funny. These topics include God, Heaven, Hell, creation, existence, death, morality, and miracles.
The author, Brad Warner, is Soto Zen Buddhist priest and Punk Rock Bass guitarist. He is also the author of 2003 book, Hardcore Zen, and 2010 book, Sex, Sin, and Zen.
In his recent book, Warner discusses Christianity in addition to Buddhist philosophy regarding his perspectives on God. Peppered with personal anecdotes, he relies heavily upon the Bible as well as the works of Dogen, the Buddhist teacher who founded the Soto school of Zen in Japan in the thirteen century and known for his extensive writing concerning Buddhist practice and enlightenment, such as the Treasury of the True Dharma Eye.
Uncompromising close-minded attitudes of God-believers and militant God-deniers have resulted in extreme cruel behavior. No communication can reach them. Ancient Hebrews stoned their prophets. Religious members demanded the death of Socrates for being an evildoer and not believing in the Athenian gods. Religious leaders murdered one of its own with cries of “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” including “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas”. Middle Age Christian leaders frequently tortured and killed both heretics and reformers. It was so bad that these Christian leaders’ close-mindedness stood in the way of human progress by forcing Bruno, Galileo, Darwin, Haeckel and other scientists to deny what they knew to be the truth. Religious beliefs became so strict that groups of Christians, many led by Martin Luther and John Wesley, broke away and revised their beliefs without the strict rigid adherence of their time.
Today, many historians and scientists identify the faith of many religions as that of blind credulity, retrospective backwardness, and idle superstition. These same intelligent people also consider much of these beliefs to be emotional in nature with little tolerance for rational analyses and criticisms. I believe that evolution should occur with religious beliefs when better data is discovered that affects those beliefs. Our religious beliefs should evolve continually with better data and not remain static. Faith in our beliefs must be rationally grounded since it’s impossible for a rational person to believe in something that he knows definitely isn’t true. I firmly believe that a rational God can’t expect His followers to think irrationally.
So, what does having an open mind mean to us? In the basic purest sense of its meaning, the adult mind contains numerous facts of events, experiences, and beliefs such that it’s virtually impossible to have a “blank slate” or a completely open mind. Instead of this extreme condition, an open mind for should mean that the mind is not “closed” to the introduction of new knowledge and understanding, even though it may contradict previous ideas.
Sadly, most people today prefer to be intellectually lazy and let others assess the data for them and tell them what it means. Furthermore, we tend to interpret information based solely upon our own biases and frame of references. Warner’s book provides us another frame of reference regarding the concept of God. In his words, “when we try to possess God and freeze him in books and enshrine him in temples we go terribly wrong.”
There Is No God and He Is Always with You may not be to everyone's taste. Yet, this book provides a fresh perspective on God to those with an open-mind.
------------------------------------
Anyone who wants a fresh perceptive of God should read There Is No God and He Is Always with You: A Search for God in Odd Places. In its search for God by challenging us to understand the meanings of words, this book is engaging and funny. These topics include God, Heaven, Hell, creation, existence, death, morality, and miracles.
The author, Brad Warner, is Soto Zen Buddhist priest and Punk Rock Bass guitarist. He is also the author of 2003 book, Hardcore Zen, and 2010 book, Sex, Sin, and Zen.
In his recent book, Warner discusses Christianity in addition to Buddhist philosophy regarding his perspectives on God. Peppered with personal anecdotes, he relies heavily upon the Bible as well as the works of Dogen, the Buddhist teacher who founded the Soto school of Zen in Japan in the thirteen century and known for his extensive writing concerning Buddhist practice and enlightenment, such as the Treasury of the True Dharma Eye.
Uncompromising close-minded attitudes of God-believers and militant God-deniers have resulted in extreme cruel behavior. No communication can reach them. Ancient Hebrews stoned their prophets. Religious members demanded the death of Socrates for being an evildoer and not believing in the Athenian gods. Religious leaders murdered one of its own with cries of “Crucify Him, crucify Him!” including “Away with this Man, and release to us Barabbas”. Middle Age Christian leaders frequently tortured and killed both heretics and reformers. It was so bad that these Christian leaders’ close-mindedness stood in the way of human progress by forcing Bruno, Galileo, Darwin, Haeckel and other scientists to deny what they knew to be the truth. Religious beliefs became so strict that groups of Christians, many led by Martin Luther and John Wesley, broke away and revised their beliefs without the strict rigid adherence of their time.
Today, many historians and scientists identify the faith of many religions as that of blind credulity, retrospective backwardness, and idle superstition. These same intelligent people also consider much of these beliefs to be emotional in nature with little tolerance for rational analyses and criticisms. I believe that evolution should occur with religious beliefs when better data is discovered that affects those beliefs. Our religious beliefs should evolve continually with better data and not remain static. Faith in our beliefs must be rationally grounded since it’s impossible for a rational person to believe in something that he knows definitely isn’t true. I firmly believe that a rational God can’t expect His followers to think irrationally.
So, what does having an open mind mean to us? In the basic purest sense of its meaning, the adult mind contains numerous facts of events, experiences, and beliefs such that it’s virtually impossible to have a “blank slate” or a completely open mind. Instead of this extreme condition, an open mind for should mean that the mind is not “closed” to the introduction of new knowledge and understanding, even though it may contradict previous ideas.
Sadly, most people today prefer to be intellectually lazy and let others assess the data for them and tell them what it means. Furthermore, we tend to interpret information based solely upon our own biases and frame of references. Warner’s book provides us another frame of reference regarding the concept of God. In his words, “when we try to possess God and freeze him in books and enshrine him in temples we go terribly wrong.”
There Is No God and He Is Always with You may not be to everyone's taste. Yet, this book provides a fresh perspective on God to those with an open-mind.
August 1, 2013
I've read everything by Brad Warner. I follow his blog. I've given half a dozen copies of Hardcore Zen to friends. I'm completely enamored with his writing, and I was excited to get my hands on his latest undertaking.
Yet, the premise in There Is No God seems unnecessary. Using the term God to represent the universe and everything comes off as less than prudent. He makes the argument that the weight the term 'God' is given makes it the best option, but I'm still left with the disagreement. I'm still wrestling with the idea. I reserve judgement.
His premise is enticing, and my preemptive nay-sayings were dispelled as I read. His years of zen meditation and worldly travels make for a unique and entertaining extrapolation of contextual tales. As I read, I find myself torn between knowing if I agree with him because I see him as an authority, or because his arguments are good. It would be a shame to jump to the conclusion either way.
There Is No God presents rational, clear arguments, and is surprising in its depth and clarity. I have to appreciate any book that gives me a moment of awe with its insight... But, that's not why you read Brad Warner. You pick up his books because there's something you hope to learn. Because of curiosity, not a desire to be pacified for 200 pages.
Still, it IS entertaining. It's got a few jokes in there. The places he talks about, the people he meets, and the overall story of the life that is Brad Warner lend themselves to the story in the classic Brad Warner style that's made Hardcore Zen sell well over the years.
For now, I'm content just thinking about the ideas he's laid out. In that sense, it's a great book. An important book even. As he succinctly said:
"Religious institutions are generally better at educating their members about what they feel are important truths than are nonreligious educational institutions."
I couldn't agree more. Anything that gets people to start thinking critically about the world gets my approval and appreciation. So, thanks!
--
If you haven't read any Brad Warner, I would recommend reading Hardcore Zen first, and then this book. Either is a good starting point, but Hardcore Zen gives you a framework.
--
I purposely didn't share my personal opinions about God or what my disagreements are because this isn't a page for my personal philosophies, rather a place to give my opinion of the book itself. My opinions are unimportant as I am not trying to prove or disprove anything, but rather stating how the book impacted me.
Yet, the premise in There Is No God seems unnecessary. Using the term God to represent the universe and everything comes off as less than prudent. He makes the argument that the weight the term 'God' is given makes it the best option, but I'm still left with the disagreement. I'm still wrestling with the idea. I reserve judgement.
His premise is enticing, and my preemptive nay-sayings were dispelled as I read. His years of zen meditation and worldly travels make for a unique and entertaining extrapolation of contextual tales. As I read, I find myself torn between knowing if I agree with him because I see him as an authority, or because his arguments are good. It would be a shame to jump to the conclusion either way.
There Is No God presents rational, clear arguments, and is surprising in its depth and clarity. I have to appreciate any book that gives me a moment of awe with its insight... But, that's not why you read Brad Warner. You pick up his books because there's something you hope to learn. Because of curiosity, not a desire to be pacified for 200 pages.
Still, it IS entertaining. It's got a few jokes in there. The places he talks about, the people he meets, and the overall story of the life that is Brad Warner lend themselves to the story in the classic Brad Warner style that's made Hardcore Zen sell well over the years.
For now, I'm content just thinking about the ideas he's laid out. In that sense, it's a great book. An important book even. As he succinctly said:
"Religious institutions are generally better at educating their members about what they feel are important truths than are nonreligious educational institutions."
I couldn't agree more. Anything that gets people to start thinking critically about the world gets my approval and appreciation. So, thanks!
--
If you haven't read any Brad Warner, I would recommend reading Hardcore Zen first, and then this book. Either is a good starting point, but Hardcore Zen gives you a framework.
--
I purposely didn't share my personal opinions about God or what my disagreements are because this isn't a page for my personal philosophies, rather a place to give my opinion of the book itself. My opinions are unimportant as I am not trying to prove or disprove anything, but rather stating how the book impacted me.
December 31, 2014
Buddhism is a practice, an attitude - not a belief or a philosophy. To convey an attitude, and the feelings associated with it (trust, faith, etc.), is harder than mere description. The author did a very good job of beginning to convey some of that attitude, some of those feelings. It's hard, because a lot of what he conveys is not some grand philosophy or insight that lends itself to dynamic, thought--provoking reading. It's the commitment, the patience, the fortitude, the daily practice and attitude that may (or may not) eventually begin to crack open the doors of perception.
I think a few quotes from the book do a better job of capturing what it's about than any description I could try to write. "In my opinion it’s entirely wrong to say that Buddhism is a religion without a God. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. To me, Buddhism is a way to approach and understand God without dealing with religion." "Buddhism is not a religion or a philosophy. It’s a practice and an attitude." "Trying to understand the meaning of life in terms of the human brain’s activities is like trying to understand the ocean by going to the seashore and scooping out a bucket of water and then analyzing it. ... Trying to assign a meaning to life is like trying to stuff the whole ocean into a bucket." "Faith ... is commitment." "Buddha believed that we need to deal with the practical questions of how to live in this world now. It is our suffering here and now that matters." [When someone gets hit by a car, you don't wait to help until you know the name of the driver, speed of the car, road conditions, etc. - you just help.] "As a Buddhist, my duty is to try to come to terms with the reality that stares me in the face every single day." "The standard attributes of God given by religious people are that he is wise, good, infinite, sovereign, holy, omniscient, faithful, loving, self-sufficient, self-existent, just, forgiving, immutable, merciful, eternal, gracious, omnipresent, and omnipotent. ... In addition we would have to add an infinite list of other qualities, many of which would be the opposite of the standard attributes."
I think a few quotes from the book do a better job of capturing what it's about than any description I could try to write. "In my opinion it’s entirely wrong to say that Buddhism is a religion without a God. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. To me, Buddhism is a way to approach and understand God without dealing with religion." "Buddhism is not a religion or a philosophy. It’s a practice and an attitude." "Trying to understand the meaning of life in terms of the human brain’s activities is like trying to understand the ocean by going to the seashore and scooping out a bucket of water and then analyzing it. ... Trying to assign a meaning to life is like trying to stuff the whole ocean into a bucket." "Faith ... is commitment." "Buddha believed that we need to deal with the practical questions of how to live in this world now. It is our suffering here and now that matters." [When someone gets hit by a car, you don't wait to help until you know the name of the driver, speed of the car, road conditions, etc. - you just help.] "As a Buddhist, my duty is to try to come to terms with the reality that stares me in the face every single day." "The standard attributes of God given by religious people are that he is wise, good, infinite, sovereign, holy, omniscient, faithful, loving, self-sufficient, self-existent, just, forgiving, immutable, merciful, eternal, gracious, omnipresent, and omnipotent. ... In addition we would have to add an infinite list of other qualities, many of which would be the opposite of the standard attributes."
August 11, 2019
I really disliked this book. The claims were broad and unqualified, often way too mystical and non-sensical: "Silence is contained in everything. And everything is contained in silence. When we are very quiet, we align ourselves with our own silence." Is this profound? After most chapters, I would struggle to even give you a summary of what was said, much like I would after reading a chapter in a Zizek book.
February 23, 2017
Summary,
Its hard to review this book. In general a book has its merit to me by how much I learn/change.
I don't feel like I learned anything from this book, but I think Brad said something important.
Brad also seems to have matured greatly in this work.
Brad, historically, has seemed to intentionally put forward a branding of himself (he is pretty consistent in his humor to the effect it seems forced) and can be too negative (hating on zigzagzen/Deepak Chopra) for my guru tastes.
In this book he improves in these regards and may be able to draw in readers who disliked his earlier works.
As a background, I still haven't gotten over my concept of perfect guru/teacher/wise one.
This book actually helped with that indirectly as I now realize that people that I look up to (Pete Holmes, Duncan Trussell, Brad) who do things I disagree with are human and even with their imperfections still have things to teach.
Brad's work shows the benefits of listening to the imperfect wise person more than any I can think of. I think this is because he doesn't seem to censor himself much and gladly exposes his flaws (which in my opinion is another flaw as it seems to be an intentional branding). Hopefully, I can better forgive other teachers now.
Its hard to review this book. In general a book has its merit to me by how much I learn/change.
I don't feel like I learned anything from this book, but I think Brad said something important.
Brad also seems to have matured greatly in this work.
Brad, historically, has seemed to intentionally put forward a branding of himself (he is pretty consistent in his humor to the effect it seems forced) and can be too negative (hating on zigzagzen/Deepak Chopra) for my guru tastes.
In this book he improves in these regards and may be able to draw in readers who disliked his earlier works.
As a background, I still haven't gotten over my concept of perfect guru/teacher/wise one.
This book actually helped with that indirectly as I now realize that people that I look up to (Pete Holmes, Duncan Trussell, Brad) who do things I disagree with are human and even with their imperfections still have things to teach.
Brad's work shows the benefits of listening to the imperfect wise person more than any I can think of. I think this is because he doesn't seem to censor himself much and gladly exposes his flaws (which in my opinion is another flaw as it seems to be an intentional branding). Hopefully, I can better forgive other teachers now.
November 7, 2016
I absolutely love Warner's writing. He is funny, insightful, and very accessible. He has certainly helped me with my own quest to gain balance through the teachings of Buddha. This book is, more or less, an overview of how he views the concept of God. Why recognizing the existence of God is important and how the creation of the anthropomorphized God is a nothing more than a fantasy.
I suppose what keeps the book from getting five stars is I couldn't figure out the entire time I was reading why acknowledging the existence of God is even important at all. People have different ideas and definition for what God is and is not, but I just had this nagging feeling the entire time that someone can still lead a fully productive and happy life, while incorporating many lessons from the Buddha, and not really give a second thought to the metaphysical. At least that is how I see it.
I suppose what keeps the book from getting five stars is I couldn't figure out the entire time I was reading why acknowledging the existence of God is even important at all. People have different ideas and definition for what God is and is not, but I just had this nagging feeling the entire time that someone can still lead a fully productive and happy life, while incorporating many lessons from the Buddha, and not really give a second thought to the metaphysical. At least that is how I see it.
September 24, 2019
Unlike some of the other reviewers I haven't been that crazy about Brad Warner's other books, but I loved this one.
One caveat -- I've been a formal student of Soto Zen Buddhism -- the same school in which Brad Warner is a teacher -- for lots of years. So he didn't say anything that was utterly new to me, but I think the way he put it together was very fresh and readable. However, I suspect that someone with no exposure to Zen whatsoever might find some of this book baffling. And if you are either an atheist or a God believer looking for confirmation of your opinions, you may be disappointed.
One caveat -- I've been a formal student of Soto Zen Buddhism -- the same school in which Brad Warner is a teacher -- for lots of years. So he didn't say anything that was utterly new to me, but I think the way he put it together was very fresh and readable. However, I suspect that someone with no exposure to Zen whatsoever might find some of this book baffling. And if you are either an atheist or a God believer looking for confirmation of your opinions, you may be disappointed.
March 23, 2014
A great memoir-style summary of the role of a "God" in Buddhism. I liked how Warner touched on the different variations of a God-like being and their implications, while keeping the material relatable and relatively simple. My main complaint is the manner in which Warner narrates - He tends to come across as the cooler-than-thou type, constantly mentioning how much of a rebel he is and name dropping his punk rock band. He also deviates from the topic with tangents in almost every chapter, which tended to get somewhat distracting.
December 19, 2013
I grabbed up this book because of the title and the fact that when I leafed through it the chapter on Sam Harris caught my eye (his "The Moral Landscape" is one of my favorites). If I had known that this book was primarily about Zen I may have passed it up. My bad- I'm not really into Zen. But I would have hoped that a book about Zen would have at least piqued my interest in it, which this book did not. I didn't find Zen anymore attractive after reading this book than I did before.
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July 14, 2022I enjoy all of Brad's books. This one was a fascinating discussion of ethics, language, and cultural concepts, and how Buddhism seems to gesture to that which lies just beyond those ideas, while being inseparable from them.
Highly recommended (but only if you're into this kinda stuff 😉).
Highly recommended (but only if you're into this kinda stuff 😉).
August 28, 2013
If you want to think about how our understanding of God can still evolve and be meaningful, Brad Warner gives you a lot of things to think about in an engaging, easy-to-read-and-yet-nuanced way.
July 3, 2016
Interesting read about Zen Buddhism. Form is emptiness and emptiness is form or, in other words, material is the immaterial and the immaterial is the material. Get it?
September 5, 2025
Though I’m not sure the majority of this book clicked for me, I did enjoy thinking about the material. As a person who was raised in a very fundamentalist American Christian religious background, I thought it would be a fun thought experiment read to see what Buddhist concepts of god would be like- most of the various ideas explored read like koans, built with contradictions and non-sequiturs, and vague feelings and ideas.
I genuinely enjoyed a lot of the personal stories and the text translations- but often the transitions when developing concepts felt forced or statements of truth or fact were fallacies. Some of the view points in the chapters just felt like leaps from if P than Q to the next. But, I think that is just how spiritual or religious faith behaves under the microscope- and it’s really not fair to ask a person’s faith to act like anything other than faith.
Im not exactly sure what the over arching point was- it seems to me that using the word god is important to the author (and according to him, Buddhists) even though the connotations for the word god implies a personality and individuality to whatever the big nebulous nothing/everything concept Warner is talking about- but my take away from many of the themes was that the god that Warner is talking about isn’t really a god that a westerner or really anyone that believes in capital G god that believers believe in- which tracks for me. But he insists you gotta use the word and it seems like a lot of the quotes he uses from people that influenced him insist on using that word too. Using that particular word is important to the perspective he’s presenting, but the reasons he laid out didn’t really strike me as important.
One of the things I didn’t enjoy about the book, that I don’t think I was bothered by in other books I’ve read by him, is that Warner has a bad habit of exploring a quote by some ancient Buddhist that is pretty esoteric and confusing but he can find meaning in it and give a summation of it without batting an eye- however, he also would provide quotes from people he disagreed with (taken from blogs and websites and twitter) and the statement will also be just as big of an exercise in contradictions- and he’ll plainly say that this makes no sense. It’s a bit of a head scratcher- but I’m also not at all familiar with any ancient Buddhists writings or perspectives at all, so maybe these differences and arguments would be more meaningful to someone who knows ways more than I do.
again- we’re really talking about the most ephemeral and esoteric concepts that exist in people’s thoughts and no one ever agrees on everything especially in religious or spiritual scenes. We’re just breaking down the most immaterial of concepts from multiple perspectives and then trying to pin that thing down with words and debate it and compare it and play with it. So- I totally believe that Warner and a lot of other people really believe and know what they’re talking about when reading and comparing these texts- but ultimately these concepts here no real relevance in the world we operate in as humans doing human things. I don’t think how anyone defines God or the universe or the material and immaterial really makes that big of difference in trying to be a good person and grow and learn. Unless we’re talking politics and then that’s a totally different conversation…. Which he does address a few different ways in different chapters, which I appreciated.
when I got to the chapter where he says something about not taking any of these texts or stories literally- something clicked for me and I stopped trying to understand on a logical level and went more for an understanding of where I’m doing my own growth to work and where I’ve connected with concepts and philosophies by other Buddhist materials. And then I was okay- if I read these things from that perspective and don’t try to hard to follow Warners explanation about God- I felt like that was the way to read it for myself. But I still never really felt connected to any concept of god Buddhist or otherwise when taking that perspective too. So, that’s how that went for me.
As always, take what you like, think about and mull over the rest and then take it or leave later. Though I only gave this 3 stars- I would still recommend this book. Just fun to think about, I think.
I genuinely enjoyed a lot of the personal stories and the text translations- but often the transitions when developing concepts felt forced or statements of truth or fact were fallacies. Some of the view points in the chapters just felt like leaps from if P than Q to the next. But, I think that is just how spiritual or religious faith behaves under the microscope- and it’s really not fair to ask a person’s faith to act like anything other than faith.
Im not exactly sure what the over arching point was- it seems to me that using the word god is important to the author (and according to him, Buddhists) even though the connotations for the word god implies a personality and individuality to whatever the big nebulous nothing/everything concept Warner is talking about- but my take away from many of the themes was that the god that Warner is talking about isn’t really a god that a westerner or really anyone that believes in capital G god that believers believe in- which tracks for me. But he insists you gotta use the word and it seems like a lot of the quotes he uses from people that influenced him insist on using that word too. Using that particular word is important to the perspective he’s presenting, but the reasons he laid out didn’t really strike me as important.
One of the things I didn’t enjoy about the book, that I don’t think I was bothered by in other books I’ve read by him, is that Warner has a bad habit of exploring a quote by some ancient Buddhist that is pretty esoteric and confusing but he can find meaning in it and give a summation of it without batting an eye- however, he also would provide quotes from people he disagreed with (taken from blogs and websites and twitter) and the statement will also be just as big of an exercise in contradictions- and he’ll plainly say that this makes no sense. It’s a bit of a head scratcher- but I’m also not at all familiar with any ancient Buddhists writings or perspectives at all, so maybe these differences and arguments would be more meaningful to someone who knows ways more than I do.
again- we’re really talking about the most ephemeral and esoteric concepts that exist in people’s thoughts and no one ever agrees on everything especially in religious or spiritual scenes. We’re just breaking down the most immaterial of concepts from multiple perspectives and then trying to pin that thing down with words and debate it and compare it and play with it. So- I totally believe that Warner and a lot of other people really believe and know what they’re talking about when reading and comparing these texts- but ultimately these concepts here no real relevance in the world we operate in as humans doing human things. I don’t think how anyone defines God or the universe or the material and immaterial really makes that big of difference in trying to be a good person and grow and learn. Unless we’re talking politics and then that’s a totally different conversation…. Which he does address a few different ways in different chapters, which I appreciated.
when I got to the chapter where he says something about not taking any of these texts or stories literally- something clicked for me and I stopped trying to understand on a logical level and went more for an understanding of where I’m doing my own growth to work and where I’ve connected with concepts and philosophies by other Buddhist materials. And then I was okay- if I read these things from that perspective and don’t try to hard to follow Warners explanation about God- I felt like that was the way to read it for myself. But I still never really felt connected to any concept of god Buddhist or otherwise when taking that perspective too. So, that’s how that went for me.
As always, take what you like, think about and mull over the rest and then take it or leave later. Though I only gave this 3 stars- I would still recommend this book. Just fun to think about, I think.
February 16, 2022
First, I much enjoyed Warner's reading of this book, even when he made mistakes - a good listen in the humor of imperfection.
Warner admits one cannot talk about God. Yet, I find attractive his use of Zen to frame the concept. Likewise, I appreciate he is willing to employ a term - "God" - that many would find un-Zen and be offended by. Yet, again true to Zen, if one is overly adoring of or detests, one is attached to a concept - this is a reason many theists and atheists are playing the same game while thinking they are on wholly opposite teams - both are holding tightly to a word - "God." It is of importance, too, that Warner is among other Zen teachers who speak "God."
Warner walks a middle path, wisely avoiding the simplicities of theism and atheism. It seems most atheists, like most theists, are talking about a "God" I, who believe in God, would not believe in either.
Of course, as noted, Warner fails, but in failing, he succeeds in offering us another illusion - one that will resonate more with some of us, especially those of us who find the overly anthropomorphic depictions of God no longer viable for us. Also, he shows us a way to work with our attachment to opposites on this matter, rather than choosing enemies and friends based on who agrees or disagrees with us. It may sound weird, but based on this book, I think Warner might agree - the only way we can get beyond God to God is to stop fussing about a word and discover God in the immediacy of what is here and happening now.
I would conclude what Warner writes would likely resonate with many - if not most - of the past mystics of theistic religions. These called "mystics" have disrobed God - that is, seen through the popular depictions of - all depictions of - God to a direct encounter with a nothing-something they find is related with most suitably in silence.
Warner admits one cannot talk about God. Yet, I find attractive his use of Zen to frame the concept. Likewise, I appreciate he is willing to employ a term - "God" - that many would find un-Zen and be offended by. Yet, again true to Zen, if one is overly adoring of or detests, one is attached to a concept - this is a reason many theists and atheists are playing the same game while thinking they are on wholly opposite teams - both are holding tightly to a word - "God." It is of importance, too, that Warner is among other Zen teachers who speak "God."
Warner walks a middle path, wisely avoiding the simplicities of theism and atheism. It seems most atheists, like most theists, are talking about a "God" I, who believe in God, would not believe in either.
Of course, as noted, Warner fails, but in failing, he succeeds in offering us another illusion - one that will resonate more with some of us, especially those of us who find the overly anthropomorphic depictions of God no longer viable for us. Also, he shows us a way to work with our attachment to opposites on this matter, rather than choosing enemies and friends based on who agrees or disagrees with us. It may sound weird, but based on this book, I think Warner might agree - the only way we can get beyond God to God is to stop fussing about a word and discover God in the immediacy of what is here and happening now.
I would conclude what Warner writes would likely resonate with many - if not most - of the past mystics of theistic religions. These called "mystics" have disrobed God - that is, seen through the popular depictions of - all depictions of - God to a direct encounter with a nothing-something they find is related with most suitably in silence.
February 22, 2021
This was my first exposure to Zen Buddhism as opposed the Therevada Buddhism which is what I have been exploring up till now. The title of the book is what appealed to me, and when I started reading I warmed to the humour and humanity of Brad Warner. If ever there was a Zen Buddhist monk to listen to, he seemed to be the one as he writes in the kind of language that most Westerners would fully understand.
However, saying that, don't be fooled into thinking that the ideas of Zen are easy to grasp! At so many points I found myself reading, re-reading, thinking hard then reading again and still not fully understanding what the author was trying to get at. However, I do recognise, even from my own very amateur experiences with meditation, that our language is woefully inadequate when it comes to trying to explain what one may discover. Warner did his best with limited tools, but even knowing that I struggled.
Now, this is not to say I don't want to find out more - on the contrary. But I'm also aware that no matter how much one reads, nothing will ever come close to personal experience. Being someone who gets passionately into a topic and wants to read everything about it, there is a part of me that knows that the answers won't be found in the pages of a book (huh? But books are the best thing in the world, aren't they?!!?). Nevertheless, to really understand Zen, you might need more than this book. I'm definitely going to try some of Brad Warner's other books, simply because I loved his style and his personality. I accept they aren't going to provide me with the answers, but that doesn't mean I can't learn just a little bit more from someone who is so much further ahead...
However, saying that, don't be fooled into thinking that the ideas of Zen are easy to grasp! At so many points I found myself reading, re-reading, thinking hard then reading again and still not fully understanding what the author was trying to get at. However, I do recognise, even from my own very amateur experiences with meditation, that our language is woefully inadequate when it comes to trying to explain what one may discover. Warner did his best with limited tools, but even knowing that I struggled.
Now, this is not to say I don't want to find out more - on the contrary. But I'm also aware that no matter how much one reads, nothing will ever come close to personal experience. Being someone who gets passionately into a topic and wants to read everything about it, there is a part of me that knows that the answers won't be found in the pages of a book (huh? But books are the best thing in the world, aren't they?!!?). Nevertheless, to really understand Zen, you might need more than this book. I'm definitely going to try some of Brad Warner's other books, simply because I loved his style and his personality. I accept they aren't going to provide me with the answers, but that doesn't mean I can't learn just a little bit more from someone who is so much further ahead...
January 1, 2023
This book started strong and I was intrigued. As it continued, however, I became skeptical about the author. He is egotistical and quite firm in his interpretations, despite the fact the all derive (at Warner's own admission) from one isolated source. I listened to this audiobook while on roadtrip with my partner, who is Buddhist, and there were several points where my partner snorted in derision. When the author affirms that there is no requirement to believe in reincarnation in order to be Buddhist, he exclaimed "That's not exactly your call to make!" and there were several other points where he pointed out Warner's ethnocentrism and distinctly western version of Buddhism. I have observed this before; a Buddhism that fits the Western ethic much more neatly, thereby providing none of the challenges that understanding Buddhism as a geo-cultural specific religion would present. Warner has clearly signed up for the Buddhism as philosophy, not religion, but in doing so he barrels over centuries of cultural tradition. He also didn't really get back to the thesis in my opinion. Again, he started strong, but trails off into anecdotes about his own experiences giving lectures, and it just wasn't all that I had hoped.
August 16, 2023
"Zen for hipsters" is how I found the book. It started out in Jerusalem explaining how the different religions coexist and it's not like the media reports. That was very interesting. But then, the book becam a lecture on philosophy, mainly Warner's digestion of various philosophies and zen masters and writers. Warner is obviously well-read and claims to have studied with various zen masters, but I got the feeling that Warner was trying to figure out "God" like a math equation. God, of course, being a "he" because as the author says, "that's the more common" pronoun for God. [Yet later in the book Warner explains a term zen masters use that sort of equates to "God" and translates as "it" or that"], Seems to me, Warner chose the pronouns "he" [instead of "it" because it was more reassuring for him, as in God is male, I am male. Good.
The God that does not exist, according to Warner's belief, is the one on a throne in a robe dispensing instructions. He is always with you, was the part Warner tried to use logic to explain as though "God" could be quantified, measured - let's see, how do I put my finger on God? Intellectualism as opposed to wisdom.
Also, the zense [a pun] of humor was not to my taste.
The God that does not exist, according to Warner's belief, is the one on a throne in a robe dispensing instructions. He is always with you, was the part Warner tried to use logic to explain as though "God" could be quantified, measured - let's see, how do I put my finger on God? Intellectualism as opposed to wisdom.
Also, the zense [a pun] of humor was not to my taste.
March 2, 2018
Looking at the dates, it may appear it took me over a year to read this book. I guess that's true. But, to be clear, I started it, shelved it to read other, harder texts, and to savor it. I've read nearly all of his other books, and don't see much sense in going backwards to his second (which he's referenced numerous times in his other books, to the point I feel I've gotten the point of it). Anyhow, excuses, excuses.
I really did want to savor it. I loved this book, as I've loved his others. I got about half way through it before shelving it to put more effort into another book and get it done. There was a good part of me that didn't want to finish it, that's how much I was enjoying it. And so getting back to it was delayed.
The book gets very deep at times. I've been pretty steeped in Western Zen, Buddhism, so the depth was enjoyable to me. Most of the depth was in the first half of the book in my opinion. I don't think it's anything people who are reading this wouldn't handle. I don't want to give any of his philosophy away, so I'll leave it to you to read. I highly recommend it.
I really did want to savor it. I loved this book, as I've loved his others. I got about half way through it before shelving it to put more effort into another book and get it done. There was a good part of me that didn't want to finish it, that's how much I was enjoying it. And so getting back to it was delayed.
The book gets very deep at times. I've been pretty steeped in Western Zen, Buddhism, so the depth was enjoyable to me. Most of the depth was in the first half of the book in my opinion. I don't think it's anything people who are reading this wouldn't handle. I don't want to give any of his philosophy away, so I'll leave it to you to read. I highly recommend it.
March 3, 2018
This is one of the best books on spirituality I have ever read. Not because I agree with all the author's conclusions or insights; some I do, some I don't. But because it is so engaging. It is a considerable achievement to write a book about this kind of stuff that is so hard to put down. Stylistically it is full of contrast. He mixes philosophy with anecdote, quotes from Zen masters and rock musicians, swerves gracefully from the transcendent to the everyday, often in the same sentence. The author writes in a discursive, familiar style which feels effortless. But a huge amount of work has gone into this book. If you are looking for a general approach to the Buddhist view of God, this isn't it. If you want a completely sincere, honest account of one person's brave, deep inquiry into this, delivered with erudition, humour and panache I recommend it unreservedly.
March 17, 2019
Definitely some "fun" topics covered - that aren't easy. While humor is a great way to lighten potentially difficult subjects, using it to dismiss arguments without much exposition is a bit, well, weak. Especially when unbalanced, as in not all difficult topics get the same treatment.
I'd also say if someone is constantly telling you they don't want to sell you something or convince you of something, there is a pretty good chance they do. That gets very tedious here. Methinks he doth protest too much.
The last few chapters seem to devolve mostly into a bizarre twitter comment troll defense - as in the author is defending himself to online trolls. Which, well, is, um, kinda embarrassing.
Nailed the title though! (I'd also say the "zen" contradiction game gets fairly tedious as well. Not that all stories end tidy, but if there is no end why begin? cough, ahem.
I'd also say if someone is constantly telling you they don't want to sell you something or convince you of something, there is a pretty good chance they do. That gets very tedious here. Methinks he doth protest too much.
The last few chapters seem to devolve mostly into a bizarre twitter comment troll defense - as in the author is defending himself to online trolls. Which, well, is, um, kinda embarrassing.
Nailed the title though! (I'd also say the "zen" contradiction game gets fairly tedious as well. Not that all stories end tidy, but if there is no end why begin? cough, ahem.
February 12, 2023
I think I’ve read this book 5+ times at this point. I read it for the first time when I was questioning my faith as a Christian and wanted hard truths from other perspectives. This book OVER delivered. I love that the author isn’t afraid to bring up the uncomfortable questions, and that throughout the books entirety he isn’t persistent in pushing his belief agenda. I think I remember a particular line where he was basically just like “you picked this book so I’m gonna talk about this but that doesn’t mean you have to believe in it too”. It read very well and felt very real/honest. I recommend this book every chance I get to anyone, not just atheists or questioning Christians, but maybe even devout followers of their beliefs. I think it’s rather important to contemplate the topics he brings up in this book if you’re a human being on earth (:
June 19, 2017
I enjoyed it very much. I get to lead a recovery based sit here in Phoenix. One of my regulars introduced me to Mr Warner and when I saw the title, I had the library send it to my local branch. I am going to read the last two paragraphs of chapter 21 tonight before we get quiet. The amusing thing to me is that this is also a centering prayer practice. I have a strong sense that Mr Warner might smile at this combination also. Zen, Catholicism and Recovery all rolled into 20 minutes of silence. God is way cool.
April 6, 2018
I read the first chapter and book this one down for a few days. Wasn’t my jam. The god thing, just too much. But I love Brad Warner... so I decided I would read strictly as an observer and put far less emphasis on my own feelings related to the topic. Very glad I did. The book stretched my concept of the god thing, it was a nice exercise in reading material I wouldn’t otherwise read. I should thank Brad for that. I highly recommended this book to everyone in any type of religious or philosophical interest. Abrahamic religions put god in a tiny little box, Brad let it out.
August 23, 2018
Though Zen monk Brad Warner is a believer in scientific materialism he says that 'God' is the least-inaccurate term to describe what meditators experience. This is related to the perception of time. Normal consciousness is a chattering individual mind with memories and fantasies of the past along with predictions and fantasies of the future. Meditators can experience consciousness without this, which changes the perception of self and reality. Warner's definition of God resembles pantheism but a pantheism based on experience rather than philosophy.
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