C.R. Mooney

My children and I are huge Star Wars fans.  I saw this title by Dick Staub recently on Amazon, and had to get it.  Who can resist the parralels between the the world of George Lucas and Christianity, right?

Mr. Staub parallels the Christian walk to many of the truths brought out in the works of George Lucas, answering the questions, “Where are the Jedi Master type of Christians today? And how do I become one?”

One of the biggest truths I got from the book is mentoring.  One does not become a Jedi alone, but by being taken as a padawan (apprentice) of a Jedi Master.  In today’s Christianity, I see very little of this mentoring.  It seems (unfortunately) the younger generation throws out a lot of the older generation’s input under the “not relevant” tag, forgetting how much wisdom can be attained from their guidance.

I enjoyed the writing style which was pretty down to earth, relating a great deal to today’s culture by pulling parallels to the truths with pop culture.

If you’re a friend, you can borrow my copy.  If not, go get a copy.

I like to read a lot of different types of books, and if you know me at all, I like things a bit controversial. When I heard an interview with Ronald Currie Jr, the author of God is Dead, on the Penguin publisher’s podcast, I had to get a copy of the book. Instead of receiving the hardcover I thought I had purchased, I instead received a soft cover ARC. Oh, well.

The premise of God is Dead is that God comes to earth as a Dinka woman and dies when an African village is attacked. When the world finds out, well you can guess a few things that might happen. Preachers turn to drunks, many people just go nuts with nothing left to believe in or live for. The absence of a deity leaves a void and people begin to worship their kids, and others go off the Darwinian “survival of the fittest” deep-end.

God is Dead held my attention quite well and I will have to say that Ron is very talented in description. Since I didn’t receive the Hardcover edition for the eBay store I cannot comment on flow or editing, since they might have changed in the final edition. Something I found intriguing was that several chapters were written in the first person, from different characters. Also, Ron’s political persuasions are littered throughout, and while his thoughts are his own, and this is a work of fiction, Gen. Colin Powell would probably not care for the first chapter or two.

Being a believer in Jesus Christ as Messiah, I was not sure how I would react to a book where God died in it. In the end I came upon an interesting conclusion that surprised me. Life without God, like this book, does not resolve. Without God, there is no hope, no joy, and point to this life other than living, multiplying, and dying.

I give God is Dead three stars out of five.

Peace,

- mooney

We had Christmas at my parent’s house today as they were at my brother’s in Alabama for the actual day. I have long wanted to read the Lord of the Rings trilogy and that is now a possibility. My brother and Dad went in together and got me the 50th Anniversary edition Lord of the Rings.

Wow! What an amazing book. I estimate it takes me a year or two to get through the 1100 plus pages of this monster.

THANKS DAD and MATT!