WHAT WOULD I BELIEVE IF I DIDN'T BELIEVE ANYTHING？A HANDBOOK FOR SPIRITUAL ORPHANS

What Would I Believe if I Didn't Believe Anything? is a guidebook for spiritual orphans that shows how they can "doubt their way home" by embracing their doubts and asking the hard questions as a meaningful path toward genuine faith. The author helps readers value their own questions and learn to talk about spiritual matters in fresh, non-religious language. Rather than handing down doctrines "from above," Groff invites readers to look at life "from below," exploringexperiences of daily living. He helps the reader to find the grace in the grit of everyday life, seeking analogies of faith in film and literature, psychology and science, poetry and arts, music and sports. Drawing primarily from the well of his Christian experience, Groff also incorporates insights from the world's primal myths and major religions.

Fifty reflection exercises make it ideal for group use with journeyers of varied backgrounds for campuses, prisons, communal residences, religious communities and work places.

Kent Ira Groff, a writer, poet, speaker, and spiritual guide, describes his work as one beggar showing other beggars where to find bread. He is founding mentor of Oasis Ministries for Spiritual Development in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, and adjunct professor at Lancaster Theological Seminary.

List of Reflection Exercises.

Acknowledgments.

Orientation: Global Orphans.

Conversations with Seekers: Genuine Experiences, Worthy Questions.

THE GIFT IN THE GRIT: Losing Your Religion to Find Your Faith.

1. Being Agnostic Cracks the Door to Truth.

2. Big Barriers to Believing.

3. Hide and Seek in Stuff.

4. The “Vulgar” Bible.

5. Yearning Your Way Home: Holy Worldly Paths.

6. Thinking Your Way Home: Postmodern Clues for Primodern Faith.

7. Sweating Your Way Home: Body Language.

WONDER HAPPENS: Surprise! Surprise.

8. Dreams, Daydreams, and Discovery.

9. Serendipity! Surprise Hunger for “Soul Talk”.

10. Shock. 9/11 and Traumatic Surprise.

11. You Are Dust. You Are Stars! Two Keys.

12. Insight Is Not Transferable.

MYSTERY: Inklings of Transformation.

13. The Murder of Mystery.

14. “You Should See Mt. St. Helens Now!”

15. The Matrix: Through Anger to Forgiveness to Freedom.

16. Beauty: Johann, Vincent, and Jazz.

17. Gesture: Gandhi, Rosa, and Soulforce.

18. Emptiness: Prozac Days and Dark Nights.

19. Sex, Mysticism, and Work.

HOW SHALL WE THEN LIVE? Having Fun Doing Good.

20. Playful Projects for Serious Purposes.

21. Live as If You Had a Thousand Years to Live, Live as If You Must Die Tomorrow.

22. Chocolát and Spider-Man: Passionate Gratitude.

23. Listen to Love, to Love: Contemplate Truth, Act Truthfully.

24. Singling in Community.

25. Dancing Your Way Home Again: Sankofa.

Debriefing and Homework: Chop Wood and Carry Water.

P.S. For Once or Maybe Christians: How Big Is Your Jesus?

Resource One: Guidelines for Group Gatherings.

Resource Two: Personal Meditative Reading.

Resource Three: Group Meditative Reading.

Resource Four: Faith Finding, Faith Sharing.

Resource Five: “O For So Short a Time”.

Notes.

Bibliography.

The Author.

Credits.