My book is called ESCAPE FROM HELL AND THE ALMIGHTY WHITE GUY WITH A BEARD This book is a light-hearted, heavy-handed and devoutly devastating swipe at traditions about how God and son go about their business on planet earth.
Escape from Hell and the Almighty White Guy with a Beard is a radical challenge to the theologians who rely on "a divine wrath" and "an almighty presence" as key metaphors for explaining how God and Son go about their business on planet earth.
It is also a challenge to the theologians who have made mincemeat of Jesus' ministry to the least by turning it into a ministry to the elect. Nothing has robbed the least, or infantilized the elect more, than the threat of hell for every serious sin except that of not treating the least as if they were Jesus.
These are not inconsequential critiques as we enter a cliff-hanging third millenium plagued with religious fundamentalism. Nor could there be a more radical critique of Christian tradition than the subtext of my story: "the incarnation is us."
"Escape" is not about guilt. It is about living as Jesus lived and praying as he prayed: "Thy kingdom come on earth." It is not about guilt. It is about doing the best we can do to bring about the Kingdom on earth with the hand that has been dealt to us. God and Son are not "Guiltmeisters" as has been highly advertised.
It is also a challenge to the theologians who have made mincemeat of Jesus' ministry to the least by turning it into a ministry to the elect. Nothing has robbed the least, or infantilized the elect more, than the threat of hell for every serious sin except that of not treating the least as if they were Jesus.
These are not inconsequential critiques as we enter a cliff-hanging third millenium plagued with religious fundamentalism. Nor could there be a more radical critique of Christian tradition than the subtext of my story: "the incarnation is us."
"Escape" is not about guilt. It is about living as Jesus lived and praying as he prayed: "Thy kingdom come on earth." It is not about guilt. It is about doing the best we can do to bring about the Kingdom on earth with the hand that has been dealt to us. God and Son are not "Guiltmeisters" as has been highly advertised.
About Me
Ordained 1954 in Rome. Doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome. Assistant Chancellor seven years. Pastor five years in Harrisburg, PA. Activist in anti-war and anti-poverty movements ten years. Professor of Religious Studies at the College of Notre Dame, Maryland, twenty years. Married almost 29 years.
2 comments:
Escape From Hell is a great read -
a thought-provoking look at many beliefs of faith
based on fear instilled in childhood. The author examines his extraordinary life with soul-searching honesty and good humor. His tone is that of intimate conversation with friends. The reader gains a deeper
appreciation of the faith that has sustained him on his journey, as well as a stronger commitment to love and service to the "least" in our lives and society.
Thank you, James F. LaCroce
Jim, Your many references to the "stories" of the old testament, and the appreciation of Jesus as an excellent story teller in his parables, has reminded me to reread a favorite book. The Call of Stories by Robert Coles. It was published in "89 and has sat on my bookshelf these odd 20 years waiting for another reading. I have finally begun to do so. Thanks
As author of your memoire, Escape,you will like what Cole quotes from William Carlos Williams:
"...story, yours,mine - is what we all carry with us on this trip we take, and we owe it to each other to respect our stories and learn from them"
Thanks for sharing your story from which I am learning so much. CKM
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