It is little surprise that many agnostic novelists are drawn to religion as a theme: it is dramatic, colourful, and it heightens moral dilemmas. Also, it is simply part of life. And the novelist of course seeks to represent a broad spectrum of human life. Many are inspired by George Eliot’s notion that the novel has a quasi-spiritual power to foster “empathy” between human minds, irrespective of their belief-systems. But can a secular novelist legitimately claim to know what belief is like? Let us here reflect on three of today’s best-selling novelists who take on religion.