A SIMPLE FOUNDATION

Heitz urges a return to the basics of faith in this nonfiction book.

As a former Roman Catholic and an altar boy, the author recalls his desire to follow the nuanced rules of his denomination, which at the time deemed attending Protestant church services or missing Sunday Mass as sins. While maintaining his belief in a Christian God, Heitz found this emphasis on complex religious statutes more of a barrier that separated him from God than a path that led to a meaningful spiritual relationship with his creator. After exploring other denominations, he found that many had their own sets of rules that “leave people confused and often lead us away from the original teaching of Jesus.” In this concise handbook to a more simplified, authentic approach to faith, the author offers five guiding principles that break away from hierarchies and regulations to refocus on Christianity’s core values. Tellingly, the first principle (“Simplify for God”) urges Christians to follow Jesus’s example in keeping “things simple enough for anyone to understand.” Other principles remind the faithful to remain thankful to God, to trust in and listen to God, and to “Act for God” by loving their neighbors. At just under 100 pages, this is an intentionally easy and accessible book, with straightforward text offset by inspirational Bible verses and full-color images. Designed for individual reading or small group discussion, the guide offers sample prayers and reflective questions that call on readers to think of ways to put their faith into action. Heitz balances his theological commentary with practical tips on how to deepen one’s faith, such as having morning “coffee with the Holy Spirit” or keeping a prayer book beside daily medications as a way to habitualize an active prayer life. While critical of Catholicism, the book is otherwise ecumenical, calling on Christians to shed their denominational rivalries for a more unified, simplified faith.

An engaging primer on the fundamentals of Christianity.