The book signing church didn’t want you to attend?

The scene in front of Dean Armstrong’s Balboa Island home Saturday afternoon looked like a pleasant get-together with friends, but behind the sun shades and the small talk, there were provocative ideas on the table.

Armstrong’s friend and fellow Balboa resident, Tim Leedom, is the co-editor of “The Book Your Church Doesn’t Want You to Read,” a collection of essays that question the beliefs of religions around the world. At 2 p.m., Leedom gathered with a number of writers featured in the book to sign copies in the front yard.

Despite the book’s many opponents, Leedom was quick to point out he believes in God and his work seeks to question organized religion, not dismiss it entirely.

“A lot of people think this is an anti-religion book, but it’s really not,” he said. “The message is religious literacy and to find out the historical shared stories, because a lot of religions share reverence for the same icons, whether it’s David or Abraham or Ruth.”

— Michael Miller