I just finished ‘To Rise Again at a Decent Hour’ by Joshua Harris, which is a fast read, sometimes compelling, sometimes funny and often thought provoking. It is not, however, a fair portrait of an atheist as it plays to the simplistic negative stereotypes often attributed by the religious right.
The story is told from the first person and becomes a portrait of a discontent dentist trying to make sense of his life. His past is full of disappointing attachments to women, failed dreams and the suicide of a parent. His present become consumed by an unknown person who writes postings on twitter and other social media using his name without permission. The insights he eventually gains are the direct result of these unnerving postings as they lead him on a journey to examine his understanding of religion and history.
I don’t like this book for one reason. The main character, who is unhappy and disconnected from almost everyone around him, is also an atheist. It seems to me that it is completely unfair to cast atheism as a personality disorder, while other characters who are religious or simply agnostic are given cheerful personalities and are from happy families. For all the thoughtfulness in this book, this over-riding characterization negates any meaning the story may hold.
The writing is clever, and the story is both witty and interesting. It is worth reading. But please don’t buy into this impoverished stereotype.