This is where, in my view, the book really gets interesting.

Almost too interesting.

In fact, I found it hard to re-read the chapters coming up.

I mean that literally.

A swirl of feelings fogged the page.  I relived the events, relived what I had been told, relived what I was asked to do, what absurd mantle was being placed on my shoulders.

The disturbance is not just retrospective.  I am now about to share these things publicly for the first time.  I think now, as I did then:  Surely not, Lord.  You can’t mean that!  What will people say?  What will they think?

I will be told things that deeply disturbed me, and may disturb you.

I will be given a much bigger assignment than I ever imagined, much bigger than I could possibly welcome.  You may think, as I did, surely not!

If so, just stay calm and set your concerns aside for the moment.  The first step to understanding something new or unusual is to “suspend disbelief” at the beginning.  You have to take it in, as best you can, on its own terms.  You need to try to see how it might make sense, how it might fit in as an extension or modification of your current beliefs.  Critical evaluation can be put off.  There will be plenty of time for that later.

On the other hand, you may be more open than a life-long agnostic and temperamental skeptic like me.  Either way, I will be happy to have you as my companion on this journey.  None of us should have to travel alone.

________

God: An Autobiography, As Told to a Philosopher – is the true story of a philosopher’s conversations with God. Dr. Jerry L. Martin, a lifelong agnostic. Dr. Martin served as head of the National Endowment for the Humanities and the University of Colorado philosophy department, is the founding chairman of the Theology Without Walls group at AAR, and editor of Theology Without Walls: The Transreligious Imperative. Dr. Martin’s work has prepared him to become a serious reporter of God’s narrative, experiences, evolution, autobiography and sparks of wisdom. In addition to scholarly publications, Dr. Martin has testified before Congress on educational policy, appeared on “World News Tonight,” and other television news programs