The End of Religion - Bruxy Cavey

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⭐ 9.5/10

(Originally written by Joseph)

So this is a book by my best friend, and I decided to finally read it because that's just what best friends do. I was really into Bruxy's stuff about a decade ago or so and I think he really helped me develop my current belief system. I haven't really listened to much of the Meeting House stuff for a while, but decided to get into it again when Bruxy and I became best friends.


I think I was expecting more of what I kinda already knew from back then, and listening to the audiobook I was more just expecting an extended podcast on this specific topic. I think those lowered expectations really set the path for me to be blown away by this book. Truly, I don't know if I actually really learned anything I didn't already know, but for whatever reason this book just landed and helped me internalize things I already knew in my head. He makes this incredibly compelling case that Jesus wasn't starting his own religion, but trying to bring an end to them altogether. This book really spoke to me in terms of starting to realize that I, like most Christians, are just going along with another generic religion, and I realized that while maybe my own rules and rituals are a bit more progressive than others, they are still just that. This is a very big-picture, eye-opening book that I think can be very transformative.


He goes by that classic Chesterton quote that Christianity hasn't be tried and left wanting, it just hasn't been tried. He contrasts Jesus's teachings against other major belief systems, including, well, Christianity, and again I think it's very compelling. It honestly made me love and admire Jesus that much more, placing him in that historical context, emphasizing his place in the biblical narrative. Again this is mostly stuff I've been on board with for over a decade, but having all these radical thoughts in one place really got through to me. I'm not sure it would have the same effect for everyone, and I feel like if I were reading this review I wouldn't want to read it that much, but to me this is a must read.


And I can't emphasize this enough: this book was written by a very close, personal best friend of mine.

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