Former atheist writes philosophical novel after turning to God
A RAGING atheist turned man of God explores humanity's quest for meaning in his debut novel.
Dr Craig Shrosbree, an aesthetic dental practitioner at the Rejuvadent clinic in Grimsby, began writing The View From The Top after finding Christianity during a holiday to Israel 12 years ago.
The book, which Craig describes as a "philosophical novel", was snapped up by an American publisher and has already gone on sale in the US, Australia and New Zealand, as well as online.
And, as part of the book's UK launch, Craig delivered a talk at Waltham Windmill Golf Club describing the inspiration for his novel.
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The 51-year-old married father of three, who lives in North Thoresby, told the audience how he had left his native South Africa in 1998 in search of a fresh start, after his life as a "narcissistic hedonist" had failed to bring him fulfillment.
Despite earning "obscene amounts of money" after building up one of the largest dental practices in his home country, Craig became "bored and frustrated and realised money was not enough."
He said coming to Grimsby, where he took up his current job, was the best decision he ever made "professionally and emotionally."
But it was whilst on a scuba diving holiday to Israel in 2000 that Craig's life changed forever.
Describing his visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, he said: "There were pilgrims kneeling and crying around this stone and as a hardened atheist I thought they were all mad. But then in a split second I had the most powerful encounter with a tangible presence of God."
On his return to Grimsby, Craig immersed himself in the works of the great philosophers, which provided a great source of inspiration for his own writing.
But he insists that his novel is accessible to the general reader and "not a heavy philosophical book at all."
The View From The Top follows the main character Matthau in his quest to find meaning and fulfillment in an often vacuous and celebrity-filled world.
Craig said: "Everybody is trying to find meaning in life and I'm trying to show that the modern world view is inadequate. The most asked question according to Google is 'What is the meaning of life?' and my book tries to address that in a very small way."
Since writing The View From The Top, Craig has completed four other books, which he is also hoping to have published.
He rises at 4am every morning to start writing, which he describes as the "most fulfilling experience of my life."
He added: "I've got four other books totally completed and I'm onto my fifth one.
They are all philosophical novels trying to understand people's quest for meaning."
For more information visit http://theviewfromthetop.tateauthor.com
Comments
by MalcomsMate
Friday, September 14 2012, 8:13PM
“Philosophy, my good man.”
by TheWrangler
Friday, September 14 2012, 8:01AM
“What are you talking about?”
by MalcomsMate
Thursday, September 13 2012, 9:05PM
“Nietzsche got it spot on. If you know not to what I refer, type ''God is dead'' into a searchy-thing, then use the wits your parents bequested you, to work out what I mean.
Please, though, don't rely on WikiPaedophilia, as much of it is pants.
Malcolm, Immingham”
by RalphKingg
Thursday, September 13 2012, 4:57PM
“Yes, Wrangler , I did see Sacks last night.
I have a lot of time for the Chief Rabbi, and I am agreat admirer of Richard Dawkin's scientific writing.
The programme was a masterclass in how to reach agreement on areas of common ground.
Lord Sacks summed up the encounter with Richard Dawkins by saying, Science asks about life and tries to explain how it is, whereas religion asks about the purpose of life and how things ought to be.
If both 'sides' stuck to that 'divison of labour' as the Rabbi put it, then there would be no dispute between the two. But unfortunately religion tries to use science to prove that God is the creator and science is increasingly used to control how we live our lives. That's the conflict they didn't address.”
by TheWrangler
Thursday, September 13 2012, 12:28PM
“Emjay, I think yoour feeling of dejavue is to be expected, afeterall, there are only a handfull of us sado no-lifes that repeatedly post on this pointless forum for no explicable reason other than for the most part because:
1. We are very opinionated.
2. Very set in our ways.
3. Very resistant to change.
4. ....We are very opinionated.
5. We may be under some delusion that a) people actually care b) it will make a difference and this might change someones opinion c) someone important might be listening.
6. We are very opinionated (did I say that already?).
So inevitably, "here we go again", is standard state of play!
Did anyone see that thing with Sacks last night?”
by Emjay24
Thursday, September 13 2012, 10:21AM
“Apologies to TheWrangler et al if I didn't express myself well enough. Yes, I totally agree "a patently religious story" will obviously attract comments about religion. That's good, to be expected, and welcomed. However, my comment was about the fact that these comments on religious stories often appear to be slightly repetitive in that they cover the same old cynicism about faith each time (though of course it may be me that's wrong in my perceptions here). Perhaps I ought to read the comments less often then I won't have that 'same old, same old' feeling.......?”
by high_maint
Wednesday, September 12 2012, 4:45PM
“I think it sounds really interesting and will definitely be purchasing a copy. I also need a dentist and he sounds like a nice chap...”
by ImmArthur
Wednesday, September 12 2012, 4:18PM
“Wrangler,
Weak and feeble though your 'Gospel truth' pun is, it still made me laugh out loud. Must be having one of those days.
Ah, what a Revelation!
Arthur, Immingham”
by TheWrangler
Wednesday, September 12 2012, 4:07PM
“*Emjay (sorry gave you an extra 'a')”
by TheWrangler
Wednesday, September 12 2012, 4:04PM
“Emajay, What do you think the story is about, if it is not about an man who found religion and who has written a book explaining (a little bit of) the meaning of life?
Did I miss something in Comprehension 101?
If you put up a patently religious story, then you will get a comments against the thread that are representative of the contents of the story!
...and thats the Gospel truth!”