Godless by Pete Hautman is the story of Jason, a teenager and his friends and their flirtations with creating a new religion. Much of the impetus for this action is Jason’s feeling that his father is forcing his Christian vies on Jason. With his sharp wit, his acid tongue and his vivid imagination, Jason creates a new religion called /Chutengodism, which is based on worshipping the local 10 legged water tower. Jason’s ne religion draws in some curious, obsessive and troublesome friends. The results of this adventure are surprising, exciting and at times scary.
Godless portrays a type of teen rebellion that I’m sure many teens have felt and reacted to in their own unique way. Jason gives voice to this rebellion making some good points along the way yet finding that being a leader is fraught with difficulties. This story does not in the end make any moral or philosophical conclusions about the existence of a God or gods, but it does examining the issues from the perspective of a boy who will not be told how he should think or believe on the topic of religion.
Hautman, Pete (2004). Godless. Toronto: Simon Pulse.
