The Faith Between Us: A Jew and a Catholic Search for the Meaning of God - Hardcover

Bebergal, Peter; Korb, Scott

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 1596911433 ISBN 13: 9781596911437

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA, 2007

Synopsis

A religious "coming out" story by two young believers―one Catholic and one Jewish, with an introduction by Freakonomics coauthor Stephen J. Dubner.

Scott Korb and Peter Bebergal, two young progressives, share a secret: They believe in God. One is a former wannabe Catholic priest, the other a failed Jewish mystic, and they formed a friendship that's shaped by their common belief. In The Faith Between Us, they engage in a dialogue that ranges widely, from the mundane to the divine. They discuss finding religious meaning in their secular worlds, the moral implications of decisions both personal and political, their different religious cultures, and how their lives have been shaped by the pursuit of an authentic, livable faith. Both a spiritual memoir and an examination of contemporary religion as it's played out in unconventional ways, The Faith Between Us offers an alternative vision of faith in America, one that is equally irreverent and devout, ironic and earnest. For everyone interested in a modern take on keeping faith―and in reclaiming religion from the fundamentalists and literalists who have co-opted it for the right and those on the left who dismiss its redemptive power―The Faith Between Us will be an engaging and thought-provoking read.

About this title

About the Author

Peter Bebergal graduated from Brandeis University and the Harvard Divinity School. His essays, stories, and interviews have appeared in Salon, Nextbook, Beliefnet, the Believer, and the Boston Globe. He is also an editor at Zeek. Peter teaches writing at Simmons College and lives with his wife and son in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Scott Korb received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin and graduate degrees from Union Seminary and Columbia University. He has written for Harper's, Gastronomica, the Revealer, Commonweal, and Killing the Buddha. He lives in Brooklyn.

Review

“Old Jewish joke--woman buys her grown son two ties, he comes to visit her wearing one of them, she takes a look, frowns, says, 'What? You didn't like the other one?' That's how I feel sometimes when I'm reading one side or the other of this wise, warm, and often witty dialogue. Scott Korb and Peter Bebergal have not only illuminated issues of faith, but also literalized the process of friendship. A wonderful book.” ―Ben Greenman, author of A Circle Is a Balloon and Compass Both

“When was the last time two men sat down and wrote about their friendship? This is a beautiful book--frank, open, searching. It is, to be sure, a ‘religious' book, but its great virtue is that it erases the quotation marks around that word and makes religious insight and longing seem, like friendship, a natural part of the world.” ―Jonathan Rosen, author of Joy Comes in the Morning

“Friendship between men is at the heart of this powerful and surprising story. But Peter Bebergal and Scott Korb's The Faith Between Us is also the story of their love affairs with God--entirely unsentimental and utterly passionate affairs that make compelling reading.” ―Sara Miles, author Take This Bread

“This unlikeliest of books--a tag team spiritual autobiography--is a remarkable achievement. It's part Confessions of St. Augustine, part Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, a true story that is both subtle and adventurous. Bebergal and Korb, a Jew and a Catholic, an ex-mystic and a reformed ascetic, transcend the clichés of spiritual memoir to create genuinely unique story of faith evolving. The Faith Between Us is a milestone in the genre of memoir and a crucial reflection on American religion, in all its eccentricity, diversity, and depth.” ―Jeff Sharlet, author of Jesus Plus Nothing and co-author of Killing the Buddha

“This is the book for this moment. In an era of rigid (and false) dichotomies--when one is told to be either a blind believer or a dogmatic atheist--Bebergal and Korb offer a third way, the path of respect, of common sense, of dialogue rather than doctrine.  There are fewer hot topics today than religion, and this book provides an accessible, heartfelt, compelling, and ultimately inspiring message that will speak to many of us, religionists and secularists alike.  If you think deeply and openly, go get a copy right now!” ―Niles Elliot Goldstein, author of Gonzo Judaism and founding rabbi of the New Shul in Manhattan

“Here are two ordinary young men, a Catholic and a Jew, journeying toward God. Lost in a wilderness of their own making, they find their way toward life's better possibilities. Their stories are deeply personal, while describing the raw need for meaning common to us all. The book reminds us that we may continue to seek God even in the noise of our chaotic and scientific age. Scott and Peter's friendship will long remain in my mind as will the complex bravery of this book.” ―Anne Roiphe, author of Up the Sandbox!, Generation without Memory, and 1185 Park Avenue

About this edition

• Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1596911433
• ISBN 13: 9781596911437
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256