Book Review - Pigs in the Pulpit by J.Michael Wittman

I will admit that when I read the title Pigs in the Pulpit, I knew I had to read this book. Ironically, being anti-religion, I love to read books on religions. I think it is more my love of the human condition and what motivates people than the study of any religion in particular. Plus it always disappoints me that any given religion thinks that theirs is the only way and that those who don’t follow are doomed, yet at the same time fascinates me that almost all religions when broken down to their fundamental core are the same. I was raised Southern Baptist in an affluent environment and even at a young age, the main theme was go to church showing off your best clothes, etc, while smiling and acting “Christian” during those few hours every Sunday and/or Wednesday in an effort to convince yourself and the world what a wonderful pious person you are and then as soon as you walk out the door you talk about others behind their backs and go right on with your sinful and unchristian behavior until next week, after all, you have put in your few hours of show and given money and that is all you need to do to make it to heaven. I’m not saying all religious people are this way, just that in my experience from the age of toddler on, that is mostly what I encounter in religious environments of any denomination. It seems easier for most to blindly follow what fallible “religious leaders”, often men, say than to establish their own relationship with God. You see in my studies, since it’s beginning, religion has always been man-made and designed to give certain men and groups power over others. This is why I follow God not man. But enough of my views on religion, let’s get back to Pigs in the Pulpit.


J. Michael Wittman takes us on a journey through his life: through his addiction, his discovery and acceptance of God, through his joys and sorrows of those journeys. His story is open and brutally honest. He doesn’t gloss over his own role and uncertainties in his journey. In this book, he is almost self-depreciating. He is harder on himself than on those who trespass against him. In these pages you see a true Christian, not one who puts on Christianity like a fancy suit jacket. Oh you will see that type of “Christian” in this book also. While reading this a thought came to my mind, “why do the good always seem to get walked on and taken advantage of by the wicked?”. Unfortunately this book, shows us that we sometimes bring it on ourselves. While you almost instantly relate to Michael, there are times when he does things, being the good person that he truly is, that you just want to scream at him. There are times in quest to be a good Christian and person that he lets people take advantage of him. The wonderful thing about his story is that even when you want to scream at him to have more of a backbone, you want to stand beside him and let him know things will be alright and that you admire his faith in the face of adversity. In many ways Michael is a role model of what a person of face is supposed to represent. Michael and his family put their faith in God. They don’t give up on God or their faith even when they have doubts. Personally, I want to write about what a evil scumbag, Jason Bower is. I want to tell the reader all the sick ways he uses people in the name of God. But that is not what Michael would do. Even when he is telling you the bad things being done, he does so in a way that is accepting and forgiving. He shows us how to be a better person. His story is our story and that is what makes this book compelling and worth reading. Whether you agree with his choices or not you understand them because he opens his soul to the reader. This is not an easy thing for us to do, but it is this bearing of his soul that compels you to read page after page. It is what makes you admire him. Yes the book is the story of corruption in religion but it’s so much more than that. It’s a story of faith and believing in something bigger than yourself and trusting the path that leads you on. I highly recommend this book and give it five out of five prayers.

This book was provided in eBook form from the author and one lucky commenter will receive a copy.