Used to Go to Church: Rethinking God on the Frontline of Life's Tragedies

Life can often be brutal, unjust, and fraught with emotional trauma. As a first responder chaplain for over twenty-three years, Nick Vleisides has experienced countless scenes of unbearable grief and pain. When asking the brokenhearted, 'Do you have a faith to help you through?' the response in some form is almost always, 'Well, we used to go to church.'

Blending first-hand accounts of tragedy with opportunity for raw self-examination and reflection, Vleisides delves into the realm of spirituality and belief amid loss and despair. For the 'spiritual but not religious,' who want to pursue God outside the walls of organized religion, Used to Go to Church is an invitation to rethink faith and open up to a life centered on grace, mercy, and love.