"Godless" is about a boy who is struggling with the religious beliefs he believes are forced on him and society. Because of this he starts his own religion, one in which they worship a water tower. Creating it was more of a joke and statement, but his followers soon get carried away. He must try to control them and face the consequences of society for his radical behavior.
The concept of this book was really good. The author did good at bringing up an issue that is on a lot of peoples heads. The main character of the book was just different from a normal main character to me. He just was different like I said. He had a few things that were normal and made him seem decent and not so weird and different. In the book he was in love with this girl and liked to draw her with very little clothes on, or just naked period. It was kind of funny just being a teenage boy knowing whats going on in that kids head and yeah, but that’s me being a teenage boy, girls may not like this book as much.
I'm guessing the author wrote this because that's the way a lot of guys are. Still, to me that took away half of his audience. I guess the author adding this gives girls an idea on what goes on in some guys heads im assuming. Not saying every teenage boy is like that but don’t let that blind you from the fact that the book is funny and has a decent moral to it.
There are a lot of teenage boyish stuff that goes on in the book, and there was one girl in the whole book and her only role was that of a love interest. Im just saying look at it as more of a joke then take it so serious. I believe the author was just showing what goes on in a teenage boys head and how belifes and different things change.
I liked the book very much, has good comedy and good little lesson to it, the characters are funny and I some what relate to them being a teenage boy. It definitely had literary value but there were just some aspects that were weird and different but really nothing wrong with that, just makes you think more. I would recommend this book for the themes and for making your own decisions. There is good comedy to it as well and is very interesting topic that is being touched through the entire book.

This book is a thought-provoking and introspective novel that explores themes of faith, belief, and the search for personal identity. “Godless” delves into the exploration of belief systems, particularly the concepts of atheism, in a way that encourages readers to question and reflect on their own beliefs. The novel raises thought-provoking questions about religion, spirituality, and the nature of faith, providing a space for readers to contemplate their own perspectives. The book features well-developed characters who grapple with their own beliefs and personal journeys. Jason, the protagonist, embarks on a quest to start a new religion that believes in no God. His interactions with other characters provide insight into the complexities of belief systems and the impact they have on individual lives. “Godless” presents a coming-of-age narrative, as he navigates adolescence and grapples with uncertainties faced by teenagers in their search for meaning and purpose. The novel explores the dynamics of friendship and the influence of peer pressure on personal beliefs. Jason’s interactions with his friends and the community shed light on the power of social influence and the struggle to stay true to oneself in the face of societal expectations. Overall, “Godless” is a thought-provoking and humorous novel that explores themes of belief, identity, and the search for meaning. It appeals to readers who appreciate introspective and nuanced explorations of faith, atheism, and the complexities of personal belief systems. The book’s engaging characters, wit, and introspective narrative make it a compelling and worthwhile read for those seeking a fresh perspective on those topics.

An excerpt from a paper if mine on Hautman:

In Godless,  Pete Hautman used his character Jason Bock to illustrate his philosophy, “[in a book] what you see is somebody's idea of reality.” But sit down with a stack of student journals, and one would notice that dealing with faith and religion, like Hautman does in Godless, is right on the top of many students’ “real issue” lists. Hautman’s novels have teen themes─getting the girl, fitting in, being successful, peer pressure─but he tackles adult issues and writes with a voice that shows that he respects the reader’s intelligence. He doesn’t sugarcoat issues in any of his books, and Godless is no exception. His character Jason Bock is questioning his faith, and doesn’t answer any of his questions by the end of the book, but he is allowed to question. For Bock, Hautman, and his readers, that was enough.

I never would have thought that I'll have the chance to read this book, for the reason that I don't even know that this book exist. However, when I once again attended a meet-up by The Filipino Group in Goodreads last April 10 2011, which was also a celebration of the first anniversary of the group, Kwesi and I had the opportunity to swap books.

I have given him the book 1st to Die by James Patterson and he gave this book to me, which I don't have any idea what the book is all about. But judging on the title "Godless" I have a feeling that it will delve on Religion and Atheism.

Reading the backcover of it I was already fascinated, a teenage boy bored of his parent's religion (Catholicism) decided one summer to create his own religion, which was Chutengodianism, a new worship which fundamentally believe that the Town's Water Tower was the one and true God.

A big part of me immediately relate to that kid. I would say that I also found going to churh, listening to priest, praying rosary, reading the bible etc. boring. Most of the time, I believe I am a non-believer, an atheist, but no I think a Skeptic is the perfect word for me. I want to believe in God but I wanted proof, I want to see it before I believe it.

I find it really funny that this book is so natural. There are a lot of things the character said about Religion specifically Catholicism that are really offensive. I'm thinking if you're a believer of Christian Faith you might find it blasphemous or the book was like questioning Religion and it puts Religion on a bad state and there are a lot of the propaganda but for me it doesn't felt contrived or it doesn't felt like I was forced to believe in it. It's like here's the thing, think about it and it's not like here's the thing, believe in it. If that even makes sense.

I also love that the book is very funny and sarcastic. It's like reading this, I laughed out loud and I can't stop it. I even think about it's like a long time ago a book made me feel that way. And yeah I found books that made me laugh, special. It's like a very nice friend that could lighten up your mood and will give you a stomachache for its dry wit.

It's a very nice read and I really recommend it, just be open minded especially if you're a Catholic. I don't find questioning faith and God wrong or even found Atheists bad people. It's a very thought provoking and imaginative book that would really got you thinking about your own faith as well.

I also find the ending of it satisfying and it's a great way to end the book. Jason, the main character ended it with an epiphany or a reflection about himself, and there is that uncertainty about him and what he really believes in, that I find amazing and haunting.

I usually only read genre fiction (AKA fantasy and mystery), but once I started reading this book, I couldn't put it down. Part of that was the pacing: I thought the book was pretty well paced overall. The issue of religion also intrigued me. We hear all the time that adolescence is a time of change and that reevaluating religious beliefs can be a major part of that.

It was interesting to me to watch the characters' motivations evolve throughout the story. Jason is curious, Shin is obsessed, Henry wants an excuse to climb the water tower, and Magda seems to be looking for an excuse to get close to Henry. I think this is something that people either overlook or ignore entirely about religion in the lives of teens. Why is it that people so often ignore the motives for religious attendance and focus instead on how they appear to worship? Jason is trying to find his faith, and he admits to feeling like a nonbeliever. He's a teenager! It's normal! So why would society condemn him for questioning?

In short, I like books that make me think. If I were more awake, I could probably go on about this for longer, but I won't.

2004 National Book Award winner for Young People’s Literature, this is a contemporary book in that it isn’t fantasy or sci-fi, but the whole setting seemed more reminiscent of my own childhood more than my kids’. I read a ton of YA literature, but not that much of it contemporary. Most of my more realistic YA fiction recommendations come from my friend who is currently writing in the YA genre while working her day job as a lawyer. She has excellent book picks.

Set in a small town, a group of mostly Catholic kids are tempted to join a group which has invented its own religion, and the center of the religion is the town’s water tower. The whole “feel” reminded me of “That 70s Show” which was also set in the timeframe and state of my childhood and they liked to hang out on the water tower. I loved the Midwest 1970s era setting, and the whole atmosphere of this book.

Anyway, the kids question religion and faith and how we choose what to believe. One of the kids starts converting others to this alternative "religion" and holding rites at night by the water tower. An entire mythology is built around it, and some people take it too seriously. Very interesting.

Jason doesn’t like having religion forced on him, so he creates his own. Everyone knows that,“Water is life,” so it make sense that god should be the town’s water tower. Jason somehow manages to get the bully, the beautiful girl, and his two best friend to follow him in his new religion. Humorous, easy to access YA fiction.

GODLESS
By Pete Hautman

I bought this book after meeting the author at a book signing. He was a local citizen, and grew up on familiar territory. The cover was fresh, it smelled like paper, and I was excited. This sense of excitement was short-lived, and I’m sorry to say that the voice was bland as bread. Let’s get into more detail:

PLOT -

Overview: Jason Bock is annoyed with his religion. Then, after Henry Stagg punches him he has a reinvention of sorts. When he falls, the town’s water tower faces him like a god. Jason realizes that the water tower controls the lives of the community, without ever getting enough credit, so Jason, Shin, Magda, and Henry start calling themselves the Chutengodians in honor of the water tower, or “the Ten-legged one.” Now Jason must answer difficult questions on his values, the rules of society, and how far is too far. This rebellious game against his parents takes a violent twist, causing something horrific to happen.

When I read the back cover of Godless for the first time I was overwhelmed with that feeling you get when you think you’ve discovered your next favorite indie novel. Unfortunately, the storyline was slow, and the small conflicts along the way practically drove me INSANE. Over and over again, Jason made stupid mistakes that acted against the Chutengodian religion, and he risked his friends’ well-being in the process. I admire Hautman’s ability to think it up in the first place but his execution is poor, causing major disappointment.

CHARACTERS -

Overview: Jason Bock is one of the most incredibly average American teens imaginable. He’s an overweight, unambitious, slightly rebellious, heterosexual, teenager…except he’s a complete jerk. Even though he knows his friend can get carried away, isn’t socially normal, and relatively lonely, he still breaks his heart every chance he gets. In fact, I would go as far as saying that Jason Bock is one of the most insensitive humans imaginable. Godless is written in first-person, so this took away from the enjoyment of the book in every sentence; every paragraph frustrated me. Shin is Jason Bock’s best friend. He has a strange obsession with snails. After becoming a Chutengodian he starts writing their version of The Bible. Frankly, the little excerpts of Shin’s book at the start of every chapter are my favorite part of this book. They were stunning. Breathtaking. Moving, breathing, thinking words. (I’ll give an example below.) Magda Price is the cute girl that works at the Slushie place in town. In my opinion the book would’ve been just as good without her, because she was a stereotypical love interest. Finally, we have Henry Stagg, or the short guy who hits Jason Bock to start this whole book. He, like Jason, was insensitive and annoying. Oh well…

The execution wasn’t terrible for writing characters. Their personalities definitely shined through, but that’s not necessarily a good thing when your characters are eggheads. Shin was interesting and unique, which was something I could appreciate, but the others didn’t strike any curiosity. Shin’s connection the Ten-legged one really added a level of complexity to the novel. You can see this connection through the backstory he’s writing, which starts like this:

“In the beginning was the Ocean. And the Ocean was alone. [T]he Ocean did not know where it ended or where it began, and so it created Time. And the Ocean passed through Time. Still, the Ocean was alone in Time, and Time was endless, and so the Ocean drew in upon itself and became finite, a writhing ball of water and foam surrounded by nothingness. And the Ocean passed through Time and Space. But the Ocean was still alone.”

The above quotes are a mix of the first few chapters, and when you read them separately they really hit you. There’s something about them that was beautiful, and poetic. If I was given the chance to read the whole story, which we’re told is over twenty pages long, then I would jump from my seat with the money. That won’t happen though, so I’ll just enjoy the short-lived justice these words gave Godless. Their contribution is greatly admired, I must say.

It’s important to note how short this book was—only 198 pages. If it was written as a novella I think it would’ve had the potential to be AMAZING, but for a full-sized chapter book there wasn’t enough excitement. A big portion of the book is just Jason Bock’s day-to-day thoughts, so with some picky editors this could be improved upon.

Yes, I only gave this book two stars. However, I’m against saying you shouldn’t read it, because the plot is flawless. Whenever I’m reading Pete Hautman’s books I also get an unusual urge write poetry, too. I don’t know the reasoning behind it, but my copy is covered in annotation, especially the dedication page.

Annika

I honestly did not enjoy this book. It was not that interesting. I guess not up my alley. I would recommend this for people confused with religion and looking for a funny and cool book.

Interesting take on how different people approach faith and religion. As a teacher in a fairly conservative community, I wonder how many parents would truly appreciate the ideas discussed in the story. More than a few, I would guess, would feel threatened that it would give their children ideas contrary to their belief system. Worth reading and discussing, especially in how each character approaches "Chutengodianism" differently.

15-year-old Jason Bock is fed up with Catholicism. He spites his parents' religion by creating his own religion, "Chutengodianism," in which he and his followers worship the town's water tower. Chutengodianism's followers include Shin, Dan Grant, Magda Price, and Henry Stagg. Shin is the First Guardian of the Sacred Text and actually takes the religion seriously. He believes that the water tower is talking to him--even claiming that he can channel the power of the water tower to help him talk to girls and to write Chutengodian scripture. Dan Grant is given the title "First Acolyte Exaltus." Magda Price is the High Priestess. Henry is actually one of Jason and Shin's bullies, but Jason makes him the High Priest anyway. Jason's cynical behavior continues throughout the novel. At one point Jason tells his faithful cousin that Jason is a member of a Satanic cult, just to freak him out. This conversation escalates and his cousin falls into a pool. All of the religion's members besides Shin (who is incapable of the climb) climb the water tower and swim in it one night to celebrate their Sabbath. Henry takes a terrible fall and severely injures his leg. When the police find that the group has been swimming in the water tower, the group is in huge trouble. It is very costly to sanitize the water and the city is going to make the teens pay for it. The uninjured Chutengodianism members spend a few hours in jail before their parents come to pick them up. Jason gets grounded for six weeks. Henry invites some of his friends to join the religion without Jason's permission and he and Magda write new commandments. Shin finally musters the courage to climb the water tower, but he does so during a storm. Jason cannot get Shin to come down and has to call the police. Shin has become far too mentally involved in the religion and ends up being admitted to a psych ward. Henry hits Jason on the head with a crutch after Jason insults him. Jason spends time at the hospital where he has time to ponder the events of the novel. The whole ordeal leads to significant introspection for him. He feels guilty but also confused. He envies those with unshakable faith in religion.

I get what Hautman is trying to do with this novel. Sometimes people blindly follow things that can be detrimental to them. Maybe organized religion is one of those things, maybe it isn't. Many teens struggle to believe in the same religion as their parents and this novel is a good way for them to realize that they are not alone and that it is okay and natural to have doubts. Everyone should determine their religious beliefs for themselves rather than following exactly what those around them believe. However, I don't really appreciate the cynical nature of the novel. I don't think the friendships are healthy. Hautman does partially address this by having Dan tell Jason that the whole thing was a bad idea. Even so, I don't think this novel is the best read for teens.

How (not to) start your own religion. For teenagers.

I love books that question religion, that play with religious ideas and satirise worship. Just something I enjoy. I was interested to see how this played out when the protagonists and participants were teenagers, with their own ideas about faith perhaps not fully formed and with all the strictures of the adult world pressing down on them.

Jason Bock is bored to tears in his church services, and does what he can to lighten up the TPO meetings (Teen Power Outreach) with slightly outrageous questions and remarks. One week he is inspired (after receiving a beating from a just-about-psychotic peer) to throw aside his agnostic/atheist leanings and start his own religion, worshiping the town's water tower, the bringer of water to its citizens. Why not?

Starting from a congregation of one, Bock quickly finds his friends ready and willing to join him in the Chutengodian religion (Church of the Ten-Legged God). Best friend, the awkward Shin especially becomes infatuated with the concept and writes a new bible for the members of their group.

Viewing the establishment of the religion, how the members are persuaded to join, how they use their previously-formed ideas of faith to create their own new doctrine, and just what they decide to do to show their devotion - it's a very entertaining ride.

Some unusual characters (Jason was my favourite) made this a diverting read, a topic I'm glad teenaged readers will get the opportunity to consider and explore.

For ages 13 and above. No graphic content of any kind.