This book is a celebration of life and the call to integrity: the call to look honestly at the old models and images, to reject them and to choose not atheism but a model that leads us into the mystery at the heart of our existence. ~ Pamela Ellis, Women, word, spirit (Catholic Women's Network)

There is a lot in this book to spark useful discussion by theists and atheists and everyone in between. ~ HW, Open Christianity Newsletter

Michael Hampson has written a compelling book, challenging Christians and atheists alike. He presents a deeply authentic spirituality which reaches into the profound mystery at the centre of Christian faith. He writes with feeling and intelligence, daring both conservative and liberal believers to move beyond projecting our human insecurities on to that mystery. Hampson offers an exciting read which encourages thinking people to rediscover a spirituality that connects the tradition with their experience. ~ Rt Revd Laurie Green, Bishop of Bradwell

Writing with an admirable lucidity and following a tight line of argument, Michael Hampson outlines a credible Christian theology for the twenty-first century. Critical at times of both evangelical and catholic traditions, of both liberal and conservative thinking, he seeks to make faith accessible to those for whom established forms of belief have become inappropriate in the present-day context. ~ Canon David Peacock, Former Pro-Rector, University of Surrey Roehampton

Western Christianity is at a major impasse, and this book gives you the major reasons why. As long as we have a punitive, petty God, whose love is entirely conditional, how can we expect history to be any different? Thank you, Michael Hampson! ~ Fr Richard Rohr OFM, author of \" Everything Belongs: The Gift of Contemplative Prayer \"

In God without God, Michael Hampson addresses what has become the central religious challenge of our time for all those who regard themselves as the moderate majority: asserting a faith which is both rational and spiritually challenging, in tune with its historical and theological roots and yet able to address the circumstances of our own day. ~ Fr Simon Hobbs, Grosvenor Chapel, London

A heartfelt plea for a more humanistic approach to religious belief and practice. Hampson deserves credit for speaking out against the growing authoritarianism in church-governing circles, and both believers and atheists will profit from considering his thought-provoking arguments. ~ Stuart Sim, Professor of Critical Theory, University of Sunderland, author of 'Empires of Belief'

A challenging and inspiring enquiry into what may lie behind Western Christianity. "God without God" seeks to penetrate the mystery at the heart of faith and provides plenty of nourishment for theist and atheist alike. ~ Revd Canon Giles Goddard, Chair of Inclusive Church

Michael Hampson has managed to articulate what many ordinary Christians in this country have long felt and believed, as they have sought to respond day by day to a loving God - in their everyday lives, and in their Christian communities. ~ Christopher Rowland, Dean Ireland Professor of the Exegesis of Holy Scripture, Queen's College, Oxford

God without God is an ambitious book, and none the worse for that. It is well-written, in language that is generally non-technical but clear and accessible, and in an attractive style which is occasionally aphoristic... Strongly recommended. ~ Fr Brian O'Higgins, RC Diocese of Brentwood

A heartfelt plea from within the Anglican tradition for a more humanistic, less fundamentalist, approach to religious belief and practice. Hampson deserves credit for speaking out against the growing authoritarianism in church-governing circles, and both believers and atheists will profit from considering his thought-provoking arguments. ~ Stuart Sim, Professor of Critical Theory, University of Sunderland, author of 'Empires of Belief'

Challenging and inspiring ... seeks to penetrate the mystery at the heart of faith ... provides plenty of nourishment for theist and atheist alike. ~ Revd Canon Giles Goddard, Chair of Inclusive Church

A credible Christian theology for the twenty-first century. ~ Canon David Peacock, Former Pro-Rector, University of Surrey Roehampton

God without God is an ambitious book, and none the worse for that. It is well-written, in language that is generally non-technical but clear and accessible, and in an attractive style which is occasionally aphoristic. For me one good test of a book of this kind is whether I want to read on: in fact I couldn't put it down. Strongly recommended. ~ Fr Brian O'Higgins, RC Diocese of Brentwood

This is a moving account of a personal attempt to make sense of the Christian tradition in a rapidly changing social context. Hampson seeks to be faithful both to the biblical witness and Christian experience in order to help readers listen carefully to what the Spirit might be saying to the churches. ~ Revd Alan Le Grys, Religion and Society, University of Kent

In God without God, Michael Hampson addresses what has become the central religious challenge of our time for all those who regard themselves as the moderate majority: asserting a faith which is both rational and spiritually challenging, in tune with its historical and theological roots and yet able to address the circumstances of our own day. To that extent he has written his own Apologia, setting out a basis for faith grounded in an interpretation of scripture and the creeds and the sacramental life of the church. This is a very personal account of faith, and a surprisingly conservative one. His confidence that this faith is relevant and neccessary for human life and growth shines out of the book. For all those who are bewildered by the many currents of faith claiming to be the only possible one, whether liberal or conservative, and against a backdrop of assertive atheism, this is a very good guide through the essential elements of contemporary Christianity. His concentration on the new Catholic catechism and his seeming endorsement of the Catholic Church needn‘t put people of other traditions off. He criticises the Catholic Church’s present stance on many ethical issues. His attempt to find a line which stands up to intellectual scrutiny whilst providing a viable spiritual path (which he sees classic liberalism as having failed to do) is an important and valuable contribution to the current religious debate. ~ Fr Simon Hobbs, Grosvenor Chapel, London

I found it helpful in pointing a way towards which I might be better able to communicate with those who profess atheism, but nevertheless experience the underlying spirituality of life experiences. We are not in opposing camps inhabiting opposite extremes of the religious spectrum but rather spiritual bedfellows. full review at www.nufonline.org.uk ~ Joan Wilkinson, National Unitarian Fellowship

The book is thoughtful and well-written. It will be of most interest to people whose own journey through life to some extent mirrors that of its author. ~ Dorothy Bugloss, Universalist, Journal of the Quaker Universalist Group

...It has been an enlightening read and good to feel I understand a little better what those on the liberal wings of other religious traditions are thinking and feeling and where we can learn from each other and how we might communicate something of our faiths with those in the spiritual market place who profess atheism. More than that I found it helpful in pointing a way towards which I might be better able to communicate with those who profess atheism, but nevertheless experience the underlying spirituality of life experiences. We are not in opposing camps inhabiting opposite extremes of the religious spectrum but rather spiritual bedfellows. It is impossible to know what one is ignorant of until being enlightened and no one is outside the bounds of their own puritanical opinions. As Unitarians we often like to think of what we can teach the other traditions from our liberal outlook. In this case I am pleased to have been attracted to the book by its title as I feel just a little bit closer to other liberals, from the Catholic tradition in this instance, and am pleased to know that if we really read and listen to what other liberals have to say we put ourselves in a better position understand with compassion what it is to be human and to be religious, spiritual beings. ~ Joan Wilkinson, National Unitarian Fellowship Newsletter

Commendations by Professor Bruce Ledewitz, author of 'Hallowed Secularism' From private correspondence, but he has given permission to quote: What a truly marvelous book. Your liberal anglican/catholic faith has so much more depth than the liberal Protestant stuff I usually see and hear. Neither an apology nor a defense but a translation of the tradition and an appeal to its best. A formal commendation (but it's trying too hard...): God Without God is liberal Christianity with depth and bite. Not the pabulum that is usually offered up. Michael Hampson has written neither an apology nor a defense, but a translation for the modern age that appeals to the best of the tradition. From his blog: I have been accused of not taking liberal religion seriously. It is true that I have found liberal religion passionless, vague, politicized and without transformative hope. That is why I am delighted to have finally read Michael Hampson’s book, God Without God. I strongly recommend it to those Christians who have despaired of their tradition. The book begins with a chapter on God that establishes Hampson as metaphysically modern. Secularists who read him will find no defense of the impossible or improbable. But they will find mystery. The rest of the book is a serious, but accessible, study of Christian thought: Ethics, Bible, Creed, Prayer, Community and Eros. Hampson is both more radical than almost anyone else and at the same time curiously traditional. In his hands, the revolution that Jesus represented comes to life again. And it happens at the level of thought, not feeling. For those looking for intelligence in religion, this is the book. http://www.hallowedsecularism.org/2008/08/thinkers-in-new-secularism-michael.html ~ Professor Bruce Ledewitz, author of 'Hallowed Secularism'