godless by Pete Hautman



godless by Pete Hautman






"How do you know it's not true if you don't believe in it?"
-Pete Hautman, godless, Pg.192










Summary:  Jason Bock is a bored 15 year old boy that decides to make up his own religion to fill some time.  His religion is created around his town’s water tower; the idea that you must have water for life.  Soon he has a following and things get complicated.  He must keep everyone in his group happy and keep himself firmly entrenced as the leader.  A group swim in their “holy” water tower, adds his parents into the mix of creating and defending his actions and his beliefs.  Jason knows what he does not believe in but what he is searching for is what he does believe.

Themes:  Religion, Generational differences, Family, Friendship, Peer group dynamics

Grade Level:  8^th grade and up

Possible Student Reaction:  Students will completely relate to Jason’s questioning of his parent’s beliefs.  They will also relate to the parent’s desperate attempts to persuade Jason that they are right.  Though it may not always be about religion, any stupid stunt can cause everything to come to a head between parents and teenagers, most teens have experienced this. Understanding they are not alone in being misunderstood can be reassuring.      

Analysis:  Is this book about being godless?  I think it is all about whose point of view you are using.  Jason’s parents think he is godless because he does not believe in their God but the book is not all about the arguement in believing in religion.  It is about a teenager having the freedom to ask the questions and expecting honest answers and understanding.  The ability to ask questions is very important in every aspect of a teen's life. And they want to be heard when they do. There is also the element at play in godless, possiblity of being engulfed by an idea and going too far with it, learning the ability to say no to peer pressure: makes the reader stop to think: If everyone jumps into the water tower, would you?

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Discussion Questions

In the opening chapter of Godless, Jason Bock describes himself in terms of his appearance, his intellect, and his friendships. Based on his description, do you think you would be a friend to Jason? Do you consider Jason's view of himself positive, negative, or otherwise?

In chapter fourteen, Jason observes that leading a "growing religion" requires "too much politics. In other words, you have to lie a lot." What role does lying play in the evolution of Jason's religion? Do you think leadership-religious or otherwise-requires lying? Why do you think Jason makes this comment?

In chapter seventeen, the members of Jason's new religion gather to climb the water tower. What happens to Shin when he attempts the climb? What happens when the remaining members enter the water in chapter eighteen? With what frightening event does the gathering conclude?

Why does Jason follow Shin to the water tower in chapter twenty-seven? What frightening and certain-to-be-punished action does Jason choose to take? How does Shin get out of the tank?

In the final pages of the novel, Jason expresses his envy for anyone with any kind of faith. Are there words other than "envy" that could be used to describe the sentiment Jason feels? What does it mean to have a religion but no faith? Can you have faith without a religion?

These questions were found at All About Adolescent Literacy.

"A Few Thoughts, In No Particular Order" from Pete Hautman at his website: http://www.petehautman.com/

 

"What sort of book is Godless? It's coming-of-age story, a comedy, a tragedy, a drama, an adventure. I've been told that the title makes it sound like a scary, violent tale about someone or something evil. It is not. My intention was never to equate godlessness with evil. They are not the same thing at all. I was thinking of the temporary godlessness that descends upon a person who is actively searching for his or her faith. Maybe I should have called it "Churchless."

Godless is neither pro- nor anti-religion. The main character. Jason Bock, is Roman Catholic, but he could as easily be Protestant, Jewish, or Muslim.

Godless is not about God. It doesn't weigh in on the existence or nature of a Supreme Being. It is not about which religion is the truest, or the best. It's about how people--teenagers in particular--deal with the questions that arise when their faith has been shaken.

If you strip away the whole religion thing, Godless is about a big fat nerdy kid named Jason Bock who has an excess of smarts and imagination, and his relationship with his even nerdier snail-collecting best friend Shin.

Godless is about the power of ideas--Jason conceives the Chutengodian religion, he sets it in motion, but he is unprepared for the consequences. This is a latch-key teenage moment--our first conscious realization that the expression of our own beliefs can have a huge impact on the beliefs of others--especially our friends. It's about discovering personal power, and the heady experience of plying it."