"Why does religion still exist in the twenty-first century? And why do so many people -- even, and especially, those who challenge religion -- continue to argue about the questions it raises? What purpose does it serve in our lives? These questions took on a new urgency for Pagels when she was dealing with unimaginable loss: the death of her young son, followed a year later by the shocking loss of her husband. Here she interweaves her personal story with the work she loves -- illuminating how, for better and worse, religious traditions have shaped how we understand ourselves; how we relate to one another; and, most important, how we get through our most difficult challenges. In the process, Pagels opens up unexpected ways of understanding this stubbornly persistent aspect of our culture."-- Provided by publisher.

Introduction -- Why religion? -- Love and work -- A lifetime -- Going on -- Unimaginable -- Life after death -- Wrestling with the Devil -- Listening to thunder.