A Philosopher Looks at the Religious Life by Zena Hitz is an interesting, and at times annoying, read that certainly offers some insight into how one person views the religious life.

Using her personal experience at attempting to live such a religious life but backing out before making a full commitment, as well as citing numerous sources from saints to philosophers, we are given a view that generates a lot of thought and reflection. That is the positive, and it far outweighs what made parts of the book annoying for me.

Part of "the religious life," for many, is having a sense of certainty about your religious beliefs. Not simply a "this is what I believe" but a "this is how it is and how the afterlife is." It is this latter camp Hitz falls into, which will be a positive for those readers who feel as she does about the Christian faith, and an annoyance for those such as myself who don't believe such things, and absolutely questions those who speak of their beliefs as facts. Thus, for me, Hitz is an unreliable writer. For many, she will be speaking "The Truth."

No matter where you are on the belief spectrum, there is a lot to consider here. It isn't, or at least doesn't have to be, about a specific religion or, more appealing than religions, theology. It can simply be about learning some of the ways of approaching life, whether you believe in a mystical afterlife with some deity or not.

I would recommend this to readers who like to think about how others approach the big issues in life and the world, take what fits for you, then move on. Those who subscribe to the Christian mythology will like it even more.

Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley. ( )