Andy Bernstein in his new novel "Heart of a Pagan" gives us this Greek conception of a pious man. Like the Greeks, this man doesn't prostrate himself before gods representing the meek and humble, he seeks his reverence and veneration on the sweaty floor of a basketball gym in front of 2,500 people all yelling his name "Swoop! Swoop! Swoop!"

Swoop, like the pagan Ancient Greeks, turns his highest ideals -- courage, dedication, heroism-- into objects that should be worshipped and  exalted. When Swoop decides to play basketball at a small college in a Christian town the conflict of the novel begins, because as Swoop is fond of saying to these Christians "True services are at the gym."

Read this book to see how a truly reverent man can be a complete atheist, yet still pay his highest ideals the reverence due a god.

- Lee Sandstead