Sunday, May 21, 2006

Blue Like Jazz


This is not typical Christian literature. He calls himself a "realist" and basically just writes about his day to day life. He also challenges a lot of fundamentalist Christian behavior (which should be challenged) and makes it plain that he thinks liberals can be Christians too (an idea very close to my heart). He also says things that a normal "Christian writer" wouldn't say, like that Powell's bookstore is a church for him, and that he gets "fed" at Reed University which is one of the most anti-Christian campuses in the US. I really identified with the way he wanted to apologize for a lot of so called "Christian" behavior that has not been very Christian at all. Also I loved his passion for Christ and his sense of social responsibility to LOVE. Anyway, I recommend this to anybody who is curious about a new, loving kind of Christian movement. Besides being very insightful it is just a good read. Here is a funny passage I liked:
"Here's a tip I've never used: I understand you can learn a great deal about girldom by reading Pride and Predjudice, and I own a copy, but have never read it. I tried. It was given to me by a girl with a little note inside that read: What is in this book is the heart of a woman. I am sure the heart of a woman is pure and lovely, but the first chapter of said heart is hopelessly boring. Nobody dies at all. I keep the book on my shelf because girls come into my room, sit on my couch and eye the books on the adjacent shelf. You have a copy of Pride and Prejudice, they exclaim in a gentle sigh and smile. Yes, I say. Yes I do."

1 comment:

aj burke said...

Funny! I like jokes about Austen. Maybe I will pick this up next if I ever manage to read the 'God and Politics' book you sent me! ;-(