A philosophy of presence, clarity, and living without a script.
The God Illusion: Primitive: Care, Cruelty, Religion, & Reason in the Human Animal
Welcome to **The God Illusion**, a thought-provoking blog series that explores the arguments against the existence of God and the claims of Christianity. This category is born from my personal journey—nearly 60 years as a devout Southern Baptist—before embarking on a path of questioning and critical thinking that led me to abandon my faith. Through these posts, I aim to share articles, YouTube videos, book summaries, and other resources that critically examine the evidence for the Christian God and other supernatural beings.
Writer, observer, and student of presence. After decades as a CPA, attorney, and believer in inherited purpose, I now live a quieter life built around clarity, simplicity, and the freedom to begin again.
I write both nonfiction and fiction:
The Pencil-Driven Life, a memoir and daily practice of awareness, and the Boaz, Alabama novels—character-driven stories rooted in the complexities of ordinary life.
I live on seventy acres we call Oak Hollow, where my wife and I care for seven rescued dogs and build small, intentional spaces that reflect the same philosophy I write about. Oak Hollow Cabins is in the development stage (opening March 1, 2026), and is—now and always—a lived expression of presence: cabins, trails, and quiet places shaped by the land itself.
My background as a Fictionary Certified StoryCoach Editor still informs how I understand story, though I no longer offer coaching. Instead, I share reflections through The Pencil’s Edge and @thepencildrivenlife, exploring what it means to live lightly, honestly, and without a script.
Whether I’m writing, building, or walking the land, my work is rooted in one simple truth:
Life becomes clearer when we stop trying to control the story and start paying attention to the moment we’re in.
View all posts by Richard L. Fricks
The Pencil Driven Life 