I recommend reading Conversations with God: An Uncommon Dialog by Neale Donald Walsch. It presents a pantheist/deist view. Atheists may like it, as you can easily replace the word "god" for the word "universe". Most Christians will find it sacreligious.

I do not agree with the book in it's entirety, but it's major points are things I have always known.

but I believe in taking my life into my own hands...
The book insists that we are free and responsible for ourselves, as I too firmly believe.