Book Nook: What if Jesus Were a Coach?

 Texas Life Coach Michael Taylor has thrown a lifeline to individuals looking to kickstart their spiritual journeys and self-discovery in his new book, What if Jesus Were a Coach?

“There are many people who are hesitant to pursue their spiritual journeys because of strict religious doctrines surrounding Christianity that don’t coincide with their personal views,” Taylor said.

Data released from the Pew Research Center supports Taylor’s position, with surveys showing that the number of religious “nones” has grown by nearly 30 million over the past decade.

 

Touted as a refreshing take on spirituality and religion, What if Jesus Were a Coach? aims to inspire readers to find their own truth about God. The author shares his personal experiences and delves into the teachings of Jesus to help readers realize that there is more to spirituality than rules and restrictions.

 

A former Atheist, Taylor once had an aversion to organized religion until he undertook extensive research about world religions to determine if God existed or not.

 

“My research ultimately led me to my own ‘truth’ about God, which has allowed me to create an intimacy and connection to a power greater than myself,” he said. “In this book, I share my experiences and how I was able to do that.”

I had a chance to see a copy of this book. I found it interesting. Like many faith-related books, I didn't agree with everything in the book, but it was intriguing to learn more about the author's journey and faith story. I like the idea of Jesus as a coach, and of thinking outside the box when we're thinking about who God is. If you're interested in reading the faith stories of others, this could be a good book for you.

 

You can learn more in this interview.

Why did you write the book?

From a very young age I had a lot of questions about God that no one could answer. From my perspective, God simply didn’t make sense to me. No matter how hard I tried to believe in God, I simply could not accept the things I was taught through organized religion. As a result, I became an Atheist. After being an Atheist for several years I decided to research different religions, and in doing so, I was able to find my own truth about God which allowed me to develop an intimacy and connection to the God of my understanding that defies description.

I wrote What If Jesus Were A Coach to share my journey of finding my truth about God in hopes that the reader will begin their own journey to find their own truth. Words can not come close to describing the incredible feeling of unconditional love I experience as a result of my connection to God, and I would love everyone to have that same experience and feeling that I have. I have come to know that God is literally love and we should all have the opportunity to feel that love and share it with the world.

In the beginning of the book, you talk about the God of Spinoza - why can this be an important concept for people as they search for answers to who God is?

A lot of people see God as this old white guy in the sky who is taking notes of their lives and judging them for everything they do. Therefore, they see God as a “who” and they believe God is just like human beings, with human emotions. The God of Spinoza sees God as a “what”. In other words, God is the Divine energy and intelligence that created and is still creating this amazing Universe we live in. This intelligence is within each of us and it is up to us to not look outside of ourselves to find it, but to look within our own hearts and minds to find it. That is the reason Jesus said; “seek ye first the kingdom of God and all things will be given unto you.” He then said, “the kingdom of God is within you.” The God of Spinoza challenges us to find the kingdom of God within ourselves.

What do you hope people will take away from this book, regardless of their religious background?

First and foremost I want readers to know that God is real. In order to develop and intimacy and connection to the love of God, a person must be willing to find their own truth about God. This means they must be willing to challenge their beliefs about God and be willing to change their beliefs which can be extremely difficult. It’s important to understand there are many paths to God and a person must be willing to find the path that is right for them. It’s also important to make a distinction between religion and spirituality. You can be spiritual without being religious by understanding God is pure love and you do not need religious dogma or doctrine to experience the unconditional love of God.

 

Coach Michael Taylor is an entrepreneur, author (10 books), motivational speaker, podcaster, and radio and TV show host who has dedicated his life to empowering men and women to reach their full potential by transforming their lives from the inside out. He knows first-hand how to overcome adversity and build a rewarding and fulfilling life, and he is sharing his knowledge and wisdom with others to support them in creating the life of their dreams.

 

To learn more, visit www.jesuswasacoach.com or www.coachmichaeltaylor.com; or connect with Taylor on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn at @coachmichaeltaylor; or on Twitter at @coachmichaelt.