Book Review - Taking Religion Seriously, Charles Murray

In the November 21, 2025 issue of THE WEEK magazine, there was a review of a new release, Taking Religion Seriously by Charles Murray, and I was intrigued.

Since my visual impairment precludes reading books in print, I ordered the book from Audible, an app on my phone that my daughter set up for me. It is a wonderful new way to enjoy books, having someone read them to me.

This is a most surprising and engaging book full of personal exploration. It is like a conversation with your most erudite and interesting friend. One of the biggest surprises was early on when the author, who is also the narrator of the audiobook, describes his wife’s search for a religion and her discovery of The Society of Friends! Since I shared this journey, that was very interesting to me. Both Murray and his wife had been raised in other Christian denominations and had, by college, lapsed in any kind of religious practice, as had I. Both end up becoming Quakers.

Murray is an author of several well regarded books, the best known of which was probably The Bell Curve. He takes a far- ranging kaleidoscopic exploration of the of myriad views of religion. He takes the perspective of science, through physics and the Big Bang, philosophy, psychology, history, and he brings us along with him in very accessible prose and a casual, conversational style.

I would say that this book was probably the most interesting and influential book I have read in the last ten years, and I have always been an avid reader. Since my vision decline in the past 5 years, I have been listening to audiobooks every evening.

Some other stimulating books on the contemporary religious experience that I have read recently were written by Lutheran pastor Nadia Bolz Weber, whom I had heard speak in an interview on Fresh Air, an NPR radio program hosted by Terry Gross on WHYY-FM.

Both authors offer a 21st Century experience with religion and I found them invigorating to my own religious practice. Good reads for the upcoming winter months!

Happy Trails

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