3.14159265 and the love of God

A few people have described The life of Pi, the book by Yann Matel as life changing. Certainly there are some amazing insights into life. There is a story within, which I could almost hear Jesus saying in a parable. (or I wish he would have said).
Pi the main character takes up three religions. Hinduism of his family heritage, Christianity and Islam. All three of which he practices actively. By coincidence all three religious teachers meet up. They start arguing about which religion Pi must take up with the exclusion of the others. Pi's parents ask for his choice. In which Pi reply's:

"I Just want to Love God"

All are astounded at his answer, and melt away in silence.
(Strangely for me I had images of Jesus and the woman caught in Adultary, John 8: 1-11)

If we are perusing God with all our 'hearts, and mind'. We will be in for a wild ride. The Amplified bible in Matthew 22:36:

^37-40Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.

I like the how the the amplified uses the word "intelligence". It implies a wrestling with God to pursue him more deeply, with what ever means.

In my post : "The number 42, the meaning for everything", I put forward that liberal theologians may be a stepping stone towards faith. Nathan in his comments put forward that it may also work the other direction "a step toward unbelief on the part of believers".

Yet I see the heading in a more 'liberal' faith as a pursuit of God. An Intellectual honesty, is what I like to think of it.
Just as an atheist can't turn on faith like a tap. I believe it is the same for those who believe in God. You just can't turn that faith off. That is why I'm not particularly worried about a person loosing there faith. I'm more worried in the calling off the pursuit of God.
I've tried to not believe. In many ways it would be easier. But I just keep coming back.

The Number 42, the meaning for everything

I can remember reading the "hitchhikers guide to the galaxy", by Douglas Adams and been amazed at how a computer could after 7.5 million of year compute the "The Answer to the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything" with the answer "42".
I thought that this was hilariously funny. Lttle did I realise latter that Douglas was an atheist. So much so, that Richard Dawkins dedicated his book "The God Delusion" to Adams, using his quote::

"Isn’t it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?"

It seems to me that maybe Adams was having a bit of a go at people who believed with his number "42". I still think it is very funny.

A question which has rattled me this year has been. Is it possible for non-believers, athiest and agnostics to take small steps back into community of faith? Let me explain.
I started thinking about this with the reading of Chaim Potok's, "The Chosen". A question is asked by the main character Reuven Malter who is studying to become an Orthodox Rabbi to his father who is a Jewish academic on modern methods of studying the Talmud. I cannot remember the exact question but it is to do with an acquaintance Abraham Gordon, a well-known author who has been excommunicated by the very Orthodox for his books which question the very foundations of traditional Judaism. Abraham Gordon would be the Christian equivalent to Shelby Spong or Paul Tillich.
Reuven's father answers the question regarding Abraham Gorden saying that, and I paraphrase. Abraham Gordon's writing is important because it helps those who cannot believe, believe. (or it may have been: those who believe stay within their community)
I have many sincere atheist and agnostic friends, who have tried to believe. It is, and I believe them, something which is not just turned on like a tap.