The Diary of A Reluctant Atheist by David Bock

The Diary of A Reluctant Atheist by David Bock

The memoire of an American Rhodes Scholar, The Diary of a Reluctant Atheist tells the story of a young man's journey from atheism to faith through a series of encounters that force him to reconsider his view of the world, religion and the nature of human knowledge. This intellectual journey spans nearly a decade and culminates in an unexpected and dramatic conversion that could have come from the pages of the New Testament.

David Bock was a philosophy major at the University of Utah and a committed atheist determined to find a replacement for religion as the intellectual and moral foundation of modern society. On his way to study at the University of Vienna, he is overtaken by a mysterious sense of longing during a Vespers service in Germany that provokes both desire and disdain for spiritual experience. He continues to have unlikely encounters with religious people over the next two years, goes through a 'dark night of the soul', deeply considers what is involved in a Christian calling and ends up as a 'reluctant' atheist with a new appreciation of religion but limited interest in it for himself.

David's adventure begins a new phase with his selection as a Rhodes Scholar, engagement to Pam and a new focus on the field of economics. Despite his reservations about religious experience, he continues to encounter people who challenge his thinking and prejudices. A narrow escape from serious illness in Africa and a life-threatening accident involving his infant daughter deepen his sense of vulnerability and of life's mysteries.

A late night conversation with a fellow McKinsey associate in Washington DC triggers a new way of thinking about issues of faith and reason and sets the stage for a climactic ending to David's search for the meaning and purpose of life.

David Bock was born and raised in Eastern Idaho. He majored in philosophy as an undergraduate, spending two years at the University of Vienna, and then was a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford University. He graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in philosophy and an MA in economics from Oxford University. Following Oxford, David joined McKinsey & Company, where he worked with customers in Europe, Africa, and the United States. He subsequently spent the next two decades as a World Bank executive in Washington, DC, with responsibility in financial policy and strategy, capital raising, and lending operations.

He then went on to work as a managing director for developing markets corporate finance at a prominent investment bank in London. In the mid-1990s, David returned to the US as a private equity investor, entrepreneur, and financial executive. He now sits on the boards of a number of investment management firms as well as nonprofit organizations. David lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife Pam.