I like this comedian - seen him on TV a few times, but I'm not sure his material works in book form.
The basic premise is that he isn't sure if God exists or not, and, by the end of the book, he's still not sure. That's it.
It's actually very funny in places, not least in the attacking of various sacred cows (sorry), just like your typical stand-up routine, but there's too much meandering, too much waffle and not enough background research to constitute a book, IMHO. Though I like the honest soul-searching, at times it isn't clear whether you're reading theology, autobiography or comedy. Probably all three, as the humour tends to appear right in the middle of what otherwise seems to be a serious argument, which is a bit confusing. At the end of something like this, I'd expect a bit of a conclusion, but there isn't one: it just grinds to a halt.
Sorry, Marcus: I like your work, but I think you should stick to stand-up.
Thursday, 15 September 2011
Tuesday, 6 September 2011
Is God still an Englishman? by Cole Moreton
If you enjoy entertaining, state-of-the-nation books with a fair dollop of theology thrown in, this is for you. One man traces his own faith journey from Christian fundementalist to agnostic against the background of the last few decades. If you've trodden a similar path, whether ideologically or chronologically, there'll be much in here that strikes a familiar chord.
Being divided into three parts with Biblical connotations (Creation, Fall, Revelations) sets out the theological agenda, but chapter headings within this have a more secular feel, with many echoing lyrics of popular songs from both church and non-church life of the 1980s: The final countdown, Make way! Make way!, When two tribes go to war etc., which reflects the mix of autobiography and theological comment (backed up by research, naturally) in the book itself. It's a sometimes odd combination of all sorts of ideas and experiences, spanning an eclectic mix of themes, even within chapters.
I found this a fascinating read, not least because it expressed many feelings I have about the Church, but I was left wondering at the end: So what do we do about it? The question in the title is answered, but there needs to be something else detailing the implications of this for the Church and society. A sequel, perhaps?
Being divided into three parts with Biblical connotations (Creation, Fall, Revelations) sets out the theological agenda, but chapter headings within this have a more secular feel, with many echoing lyrics of popular songs from both church and non-church life of the 1980s: The final countdown, Make way! Make way!, When two tribes go to war etc., which reflects the mix of autobiography and theological comment (backed up by research, naturally) in the book itself. It's a sometimes odd combination of all sorts of ideas and experiences, spanning an eclectic mix of themes, even within chapters.
I found this a fascinating read, not least because it expressed many feelings I have about the Church, but I was left wondering at the end: So what do we do about it? The question in the title is answered, but there needs to be something else detailing the implications of this for the Church and society. A sequel, perhaps?
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