Kindle Edition Amazon Mark A. Cornelius Amazon Mark A. Cornelius Category:  Spirituality Publisher: KDP ISBN-10:  1521513910 Type: Fiction Pages: 232 Copyright: 2009 Price: $0.99 (eBook) Believers and Unbelievers appear to approach philosophical and spiritual discussions as debates―complete with their own individual code language that, when used, creates a defensive position—a Belief Barrier—to be overcome before any meaningful exploration of truth can begin. Believers in God tend to begin religious discussions with a “How can you not see it my way?” mindset. Unbelievers of God tend to approach such discussions with a “How can you believe the way you do?” mindset. This book is simply a conversation between two such people. It is not designed to prove one side right or wrong, but merely to provoke conversation. Without a dialogue, there cannot be a deeper exploration of self in comparison to others. Without interaction, there cannot be a relationship at all. My hope is that Believement―Breaking Through the Belief Barrier inspires you to ask yourself what we all have difficulty understanding of others… “What is my deepest belief―what do I live for above all else?” May your quest for Believement begin here!       Excerpt It is always the simple things that change our lives. And these things never happen when you are looking for them to happen. Life will reveal answers at the pace life wishes to do so. You feel like running, but life is on a stroll. This is how God does things. From Blue like Jazz Donald Miller (Modern American Author 1971 - ) Adam: What a day; I can’t wait to have one of those special bagels with the… what in the world is that ambulance doing in front of the book store? Poor guy, the paramedics are working hard on him, I…that’s weird, do I know him? He looks familiar, but…hard to tell with the oxygen mask on. Damn, that’s gross! He’s a goner; I’ve never seen anyone turn that shade of gray. I hope they don’t have to open him up right out here on the sidewalk. Isn’t that why they make ambulances with doors on the back―so they can actually close the doors? And here I am with a front row seat―I’ve got to get inside fast! Now this is a better smell than out there, that’s for sure! Is a bookstore supposed to smell this good in the morning? I am so glad they put the little bakery in here―what a great combination; breakfast and a good magazine. I think I’ll―shoot, someone took my favorite window seat―oh well, I’ll grab my food and a quick cup of coffee and wait him out. He’ll leave soon enough. Josh: This kid looks really annoyed, I must have taken his favorite table; I don’t think he wants a conversation! That’s the last thing he has to worry about. Quit staring at me you old creep! What is with him? He looks like he’ll be ready for an ambulance soon too. OK, OK, not fair; he’s probably looking through me at the wall menu. Yeah, that’s it; he’s hungry and… no, he’s looking right at me… fine, let’s fix this right now… “Can I help you or something?” “Excuse me?” “I said can I help you? You seem to be a little obsessed with my direction.” “Sorry, no, I was just looking at the ambulance.” “Sure: The ambulance is over your left shoulder, I’m on your right side.” “OK, you got me there; I was looking at both the ambulance and you. No offense, you just look familiar.” “Never met.” “I’m Josh, I come in here on a re…” “Oops, my bad, I should have been more clear: Never met. Don’t want to.” “Right, I apologize.” Wow, kid’s got a brick for a heart―must have had someone really pummel him early on―hope he finds a way to let that frustration go someday [Lord, please look after him and open a way for someone to be able to reach him…] strange thing; I’ve always wanted to be the kind of person who could do that―engage in that kind of sharing, but I’ve never felt comfortable that way, just never was wired for that I guess. I hope someone though, can help that boy, he… “Exactly what are you doing?” “What?” “Yeah, I know; we’re not talking, but before we don’t talk, I have got to know what that is you’re doing―that thing with your hands and that whispering stuff…” “Oh, got me again. I’m, well I’m having a conversation and when I have a conversation, I…I talk a lot with my hands.” “Yeah, but I’m a little confused. Before we started having this non-conversation that we are now having and will soon be ending; we weren’t having a non-conversation at all. That means we weren’t talking―nada; zip. Which begs the question, who exactly were you talking with?” “Oh…my…God.” “Oh my god…this is me leaving.” “You don’t believe in God? Why does that scare you?” “That doesn’t scare me; people who talk to themselves scare me: That would be you scaring me.” “Well, do you believe in God?” “Not enough proof―wait, that’s not good enough. Whatever proof there might be makes whatever god people thought existed…uninteresting. Who cares? There; that should make you evaporate into some spooky green vapor. Poof, go away!”

Insightful & Well Written
Mark A. Cornelius is a unigue writter who has taken something that each and everyone one of us have...(A belief in something, something that we hold true)and he has taken that belief where most of us will never go. A conversation between two people with different beliefs in a civil and thought provoking manner. It is a shame that in real-life this rarely ever happens. This book is a must read for anyone who has a belief. In other words, everyone should read this book.