As I mentioned last week, a surprising number of the books I’ve read in the past year or so that deal with spiritual themes do so while also exploring themes of gender and sexuality. In that post, I explored that trend through the idea of the arena, at how these issues that are so controversial … Continue reading Wisdom IN Literature: All the World Beside on Flexibility and Faith
One of the most compelling, if challenging, teachings from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount is the Beatitude that says, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God” (Matthew 5.9). It’s compelling because it’s a clear New Testament example of God’s desire for peace. It’s challenging, because it’s hard, awkward, and often … Continue reading Wisdom IN Literature: Glorious Exploits and the Galaxy and the Ground Within on Peacemaking
Several of the books I’m bringing to this series this year involve queer themes. This isn’t because of any particular agenda, but because these books often by their very nature deal with faith in a serious way. For these authors or characters, Christianity is not a comfortable old slipper that fits easily on the soul, … Continue reading Wisdom IN Literature: Enlightenment on Wrestling with God and Love
Last Summer, I did a short series that I called “Wisdom in Literature,” about how some of my favourite novels intersect with issues of faith. I thought it would be fun to pick that up again, with some of my favourite recent reads. Today I’m going to talk about a recent Jewish retelling of the … Continue reading Wisdom IN Literature: The Lost Gospel of Lazarus on Wonder and Mystery
An annual ‘best of’ my reading year post has become a tradition for me since 2017 (2017-18, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022). I read some unbelievably great books in 2023, so without further ado. let’s get to the books! (Note, this was originally published on my bookish blog yesterday.) 15. Talking at Night, by Claire Daverley … Continue reading Top 15 Reads of 2023
Matthew Root 