God Laughs & Plays: Churchless Sermons in Response to the Preachments of the Fundamentalist Right - Hardcover

David James Duncan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0977717003 ISBN 13: 9780977717002

Publisher: Triad Books, 2006

Synopsis

In God Laughs & Plays, Duncan argues that the de facto political party embodied by the so-called "Christian Right" has turned worship into a self-righteous betrayal of the words and example of the very Jesus it claims to praise. In opposition, Duncan offers a thought-provoking collection of "churchless sermons," stories, memoir, and conversations--all united by the contention that the way of life preached and embodied by Jesus is apolitical and should be free of media machinery. While reminding us that the true Christian ethos scorns riches and embraces the poor; blesses peacemakers, not war-makers; and asks us to love and serve neighbors and "do good" even unto enemies, Duncan also goes a step further: he offers a poignant and inspiring glimpse into a profound new cosmology that can help humanity manage the epochal challenges of a fast globalizing and ecologically challenged world.

About this title

From the Publisher:

"Majestic, rib-tickling, and timeless....These churchless homilies are the gift of innocence wrapped in wisdom, crafted by a superb writer." - "Paul Hawken, Blessed Unrest Review
"The world's future depends on this consciousness and you will find it shining forth from every page in this book." - Brother David Steindl-Rast, Benedictine Monk Review
"This is the book for everyone who is allergic to what often passes for Chistianity, but attracted to Jesus...beautifully written, as always with Mr. Duncan, but also wonderfully, humorously, deeply felt." - Bill McKibben, The End of Nature Review
"If the essence of religion is to bind together, David James Duncan's wise, eloquent, and humorous churchless sermons are deeply religious. God, I think, likes them too." - David Orr, Last Refuge

From the Inside Flap:

"I WAS BORN A CHOSEN PERSON, though this state of affairs was not of my choosing."

Award-winning essayist and novelist David James Duncan focuses on the conflation of neoconservative politics and apocalyptic evangelical fundamentalism.

In God Laughs and Plays, Duncan argues that the de facto political party embodied by the so-called Christian Right has turned worship into a self-righteous betrayal of the words and example of the very Jesus it claims to praise. In reply, Duncan offers a thought-provoking collection of "churchless sermons," stories, memoir, and conversations - all united by the contention that the way of life preached and embodied by Jesus is apolitical and should be free of media machinery.

While reminding us that the true Christian ethos scorns riches and embraces the poor; blesses peacemakers, not war maker; and asks us to love and serve neighbors and "do good" even unto enemies, Duncan also goes a step further: he offers a poignant, playful, yet inspiring glimpse into a profound new cosmology that can help humanity manage the epochal challenges of a fast-globalizing and ecologically compromised world.

About this edition

• Publisher: Triad Books
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0977717003
• ISBN 13: 9780977717002
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 264