05.02.08
This Award Is My God Now
Like Kathy Griffin, I won an unexpected award!
Outreach Magazine — a magazine “designed to inspire, challenge and equip churches to connect with their communities and show the love of God to people both locally and globally” — just announced the winners of its annual Resource of the Year Awards.
Guess which book was named “Leadership Training Resource of the Year”?!
*Hemant dances*
“In a year where several angry atheists were loud and proud in bookstores, Mehta’s gentle approach and desire to listen to Christians was remarkable.” — Outreach Magazine
Other books that were in the running?
- They Like Jesus But Not the Church: Insights From Emerging Generations by Dan Kimball (Zondervan)
- The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating the Missional Church by Alan Hirsch (Baker)
- 11 Innovations in the Local Church: How Today’s Leaders Can Learn, Discern and Move Into the Future by Elmer L. Towns, Ed Stetzer and Warren Bird (Regal)
- Building a Healthy Multi-Ethnic Church: Mandate, Commitments and Practices of a Diverse Congregation by Mark DeYmaz (Jossey-Bass/Wiley)
That’s right.
My book got an award that Richard Dawkins did not.
Maybe next year, Richard. Maybe next year…
The magazine hasn’t linked to the full list of winners yet, but you can see the cover of the latest issue on their website…:
Outreach ran a very nice article about the book last year.
It was accompanied by the coolest image ever.
Technorati Tags: atheist, atheism, irony, Christian
Popularity: 1% [?]
TXatheist said,
May 2, 2008 at 8:12 am
Congratulations Hemant.
MonolithTMA said,
May 2, 2008 at 8:14 am
Awesome! Congrats!
John said,
May 2, 2008 at 8:29 am
Hey, congrats dude.
grazatt said,
May 2, 2008 at 8:34 am
I would not be too proud of that award if I were you. Do you realize those other winners are books designed to help and encourage Christians to proselytize?
Pedro Timóteo said,
May 2, 2008 at 9:13 am
Congrats, Hemant.
However, I find it disgusting that they continue to accuse the “new atheists” of being “angry”, “shrill”, and other lies. I’ve even seen some atheists claiming that about Dawkins & co. Have they even read those books? Or heard those guys talking?
writerdd said,
May 2, 2008 at 9:35 am
Congratulations, very cool!
Pedro, of course they haven’t. No-one who’s heard Dawkins speak in public could accuse him of being shrill. I’ve never seen such a mild-mannered author. Geez.
They applaud Hemant for being willing to listen to Christians; but I have to wonder how much they are actually willing to listen to atheists.
More work needs to be done to get people talking to each other instead of at each other. The US is so polarized now, it totally sucks.
HM said,
May 2, 2008 at 9:41 am
That picture is hilariously awesome. Hemant Mehta: Indian Anime Atheist Superhero. Better snap up those licensing rights pronto.
Kate said,
May 2, 2008 at 9:50 am
Yaaaaaaaaay, Hemant!!!! That book was kickass. It started Erik and I on our reading tour and was a great catalyst in (productive) religious conversations. So yay!!!
Stacy said,
May 2, 2008 at 10:54 am
Squeeee! I have a signed copy… *happy dances around kitchen like a 12 year old* Thank you Hemant! Im half way through now and can’t wait to blog about it!
PS my blog is gone from its original location because it was found by some members of my community and passed around as proof I am a horrible human being. I will be relocating it, and being more careful about my identity next time! what a shame hateful people have to slander us Athiests around small towns just because we vent on the internet because we can’t vent in public forums. Scary world we live in.
Evolved Rationalist said,
May 2, 2008 at 11:15 am
Congratulations Hemant!
Hemant Mehta said,
May 2, 2008 at 12:34 pm
Yes, they could use the book (and the others on the list) to help Christians spread their faith. But I’m hopeful that they’ll use it to teach Christians how to interact with atheists. Hell, if they wanted, they could use a Christopher Hitchens book and talk about how to respond to the claims that atheists make. I don’t have control over that. But I’d much rather they use *my* book than others they could be using….
David D.G. said,
May 2, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Mad props, Hemant! Congratulations on your award!
~David D.G.
the Shaggy said,
May 2, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Hemant, that was a great interview, and a well-deserved award for the work you do.
That interview especially reminded me why I have so much respect for you. If anyone has the ability to spread the idea of believers rationally challenging their own faith, it would be you. Dawkins and Hitchens face the brunt of anger and argument from Christians, you slide in a buy them a drink.
I need to buy your book.
the Shaggy said,
May 2, 2008 at 3:23 pm
(And not “buy them a drink” in a creepy, subversive way, but in the “I buy a drink so we can sit and chat like friends” kind of way)
Hitek said,
May 2, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Congrats!
Brenda Maxwell said,
May 2, 2008 at 4:19 pm
Congratulations! That is just the first of many awards to come!
Aquaria said,
May 2, 2008 at 5:50 pm
I suppose if you like an award like that, then more power to you, but “angry atheists?” Rather similar to “uppity negro.” Same mentalities saying it for the same reasons, truth be known.
Karen said,
May 2, 2008 at 6:13 pm
All right, Hemant! That’s so cool.
That’s terrible, Stacy. I’m so sorry to hear it.
This is why many atheists are rightfully worried about coming out of the closet.
Linda said,
May 2, 2008 at 9:45 pm
Congratulations, Hemant!
well deserved!
Susan said,
May 3, 2008 at 9:12 am
Congratulations, Hemnant! This is great news!
Maria said,
May 6, 2008 at 1:46 am
congrats!
Friendly Atheist » I Have the Power to Disappoint! said,
May 8, 2008 at 8:52 pm
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