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And there's more
You are in: surefish > faith > Books of the Month Date: 25 September, 2008
The nights are drawing in and half term is fast approaching. Even though Greenbelt seems a long way off, two books have come out by speakers at this year’s festival that both grip, fascinate and revive flagging spirits. And one, possibly, for next year’s festival. By Charlotte Haines LyonClick on the title of the book to buy a copy from amazon.co.uk and part of the sale will go to Christian AidJohn What did the apostle John do the day before he wrote the gospel? This is the question that Niall Williams asked himself before setting out to write this intriguing and beautiful book. John, at the end of a long blind old age, is still desperately waiting for the second coming of his beloved Jesus. In exile he leads a group of disciples and teaches them about his friend and master, and the meaning of love. The banishment ends and the Christians return to Ephesus to proclaim the gospel. I have to confess to nearly abandoning the book during the first chapter due to its strange slowness. The language is unusual in its stilting lyricism but is largely successful in William's bid for congruity. Submission Patience and eventual submission to the form was rewarded though. I became transfixed by the man, his journey and the toils of his disciples. Would ex-disciple and self proclaimed messiah Matthias lure and deceive John’s faithful Papias? Would John die bitter and disappointed before the second coming? How would Ephesus comprehend these Christians who had nothing to offer but love and plague? Most gripping of all however was the question of whether Bloomsbury of Harry Potter fame would publisher a pretty much orthodox Christian tale. Surely there would be some bizarre twist? Williams’s achievement is to make John’s life story utterly compelling regardless of the faith of the reader. A tender love story in which all aspects of humanity are explored is the perfect antidote to autumnal malaise.
Back in my more holy days I was a huge fan of the Schaeffer dynasty and was somewhat intoxicated when I read Edith Schaeffer's books. They were the founders of a Christian community, L'Abri where theological debate was rigorous and all were welcome and loved. “This was real Christianity,” I thought. The L'Abri project seemed to be a heady cocktail of inspirational radicalism, and Christianity. How sobering then to read of an abusive marriage, devouring depression, communal politics, family infighting, not to mention the rampant teenager Frank who married his pregnant girlfriend. How shocking to discover that they were human after all. Candid Schaeffer's wonderfully candid memoirs reveal all and could possibly be accused of being salacious. However, the whole point of his confessions is to show just what lies are lived by our supposedly great leaders. What is most disturbing though is how he and his father amongst others did in all senses sit at the right hand of so many American presidents. It is these revelations of just how much the Christian right has dominated and polarised US politics that made me realise just how naive I am. As the brackets in the title indicate, Schaeffer has not written a bitter tale of apostasy but rather a critique of the excesses of some Christianity with a nod to a quieter more integral faith.
In an age where Multiculturalism is a watchword we have become used to interfaith dialogue especially between Christians, Jews and Muslims. However, it is rare to hear about Paganism let alone have meaningful dialogue about it. All too often it is dismissed as either dangerous or a bit hippy dippy. Lion should be congratulated on publishing this fascinating dialogue. Philip Johnson, founder of a Christian ministry concerned with other religions and Gus diZerega, a Third Degree Wiccan Gardnerian Elder should be applauded for their efforts. They do not seek to convert each other yet stand steadfastly to what they believe and how they live their religious lives. They both illuminate their religions in fresh and interesting ways whilst simultaneously providing a brilliant example of interfaith work. Please Greenbelt could you invite them next year?
Click on the title of the book to buy a copy from amazon.co.uk and part of the sale will go to Christian Aid
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Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One for the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right, and Lived to Take All (or Almost All) of it Back
Beyond the Burning Times: A Pagan and Christian in Dialogue
