Quite a few times lately I've found myself discussing the popular, media-expanded view of religion that most people don't believe in, and explaining to people that I don't believe in it either, and it has precious little to do with good theology. I share Richard Dawkins' opinion that fundamentalist, brainless religion is unbelievable, and in some cases dangerous.  But I'm not an atheist, and I do like good theology. Believable, testable, reasonable, contingent, correctable, beautiful theology. It's the same as science really. There's good theology and bad theology, just as there's good science and bad science.

Speaking of which, this has to be one of the books of the year – funny, informed, irreverent and heartening.