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Do You Believe?: Conversations on God and Religion    by Antonio Monda Amazon.com order for
Do You Believe?
by Antonio Monda
Order:  USA  Can
Vintage, 2007 (2007)
Softcover, e-Book
* * *   Reviewed by Jessica Weaver

Antonio Monda is a devout Roman Catholic. He also lives in New York City and is friends with many Hollywood filmmakers and famous authors, people who play with themes of religion but may never enter a church, synagogue, or mosque. His deep interest in his friends' and colleagues' attitudes about religion led him to write Do You Believe? Entrancing from page one, the tome is a collection of the author's interviews with well known personalities including Toni Morrison, Martin Scorcese, Elie Wiesel, and Jane Fonda. His interviewees come from different countries, different backgrounds, and different fields of study.

Although the persons interviewed for this study do not represent the general American populace (which Monda refers to in his introduction - only 40% of those in the book claim faith in God while 90% of Americans do), each interview provides a wonderful insight into ideas that are widespread throughout the country. Monda focuses on a few main questions - Do you believe in God?; What is your image of God?; What was your religious upbringing?; What do you think about the afterlife? These questions spark conversations that are both fascinating and diverse.

As a Protestant Christian who does believe in organized religion, the conversations in this book challenged, informed, and infuriated me, sometimes all at once! Do You Believe? opened my eyes to cultural Christianity and Judaism in America and the challenges to the Church that are present in our country. This short collection is easy-to-read yet full of intellectual dialogue that will cause you to think if nothing else. I haven't been so intrigued by a book since college, and intend to buy a copy of Do You Believe? for many of my friends and relatives for Christmas.

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