Saw this on the Barnes and nobel best seller. Looked like one of those dumb generic horror/thriller stories. Read the back and I was like…. wait…. huh? The italicized question on the back was “Where is god in a world so filled with unspeakable pain.”
I’ve always been interesting in religion and philosophy. I wanted to see how this guy would answer the problem of pain and suffering in the world, while at the same time there being a god.
Basic plot: Guy experiences a tragedy, one day finds a note from god, has an experience and many conversations with god, he returns to his home as a new man with a different outlook. It’s based on a true story.
…..
after reading it….
well….
I was kind of disappointed. It didn’t answer the questions that I wanted it to answer. There were beautiful parts in it, but it didn’t really give true wisdom. Basically it said that you can’t understand god, so don’t try, just realize he’s there and dedicate your life to having a relationship with him.
That’s great and all, but I just got the impression it was setting me up for real answers, not that type of answer.
Also, the main character is not very believable when he’s having his dialogues with god. When he’s talking with the woman god (There are three parts to god, and the woman is one of them), she seems exactly like the oracle from the matrix. I seriously think the author copied her character exactly. Physical descriptions and demeanor.
If anything, the book opened me up to the idea that I can get a book on the bestseller list if it’s better than that (which I don’t think would be exceedingly difficult)
The one good part in the book is when god tells the main character where the killer is… but that kind of goes against the idea of god not interfering… which … doesn’t make sense to me?
SO… overall, it was decent, but I wouldn’t read it again or recommend it unless your already a catholic and not a skeptic. From a literary standpoint, it had very simple prose, easy to understand and follow, made the book go faster, decent amount of thriller ness and anticipation, just not my cup of tea.
Some cool quotes:
“At home in your own skin” –The goal everyone should try to reach me thinks
” Let’s pray that the human race never escapes Earth to spread its iniquity elsewhere.” C.S. Lewis
“You don’t play a game or color a picture with a child to show your superiority. Rather, you choose to limit yourself so as to facilitate and honor that relationship.” (When God talking about why he limited himself to human form as jesus)
“Relationships are never about power and one way to avoid the will to hold power of another is to choose to limit oneself– to serve.”
“Humans are so lost and damaged that to you it is almost incomprehensible that people could work or live together without someone being in charge.”
“First one person, and then a few, and finally even many are easily sacrificed for the good and ongoing existence of that system” — made me think of hitler, jesus was talking about why power and hierarchy and laws prevents true relationships and goodness.
“It’s not the work, but the purpose that makes it special.”
“Oh my soul… be prepared for him who knows how to ask questions.” T.S. Elliot
“Men never do evil so completely and cheerfully as when they do it from religious conviction” Blaise Pascal
“But why do we keep all that crap inside?”
“Because we believe it’s safer there. And, sometimes, when you’re a kid trying to survive, it really is safer there. Then you grow up on the outside, but on the inside you’re still that kid in the dark cave surrounded by monsters, and out of habit you keep adding to your collection. We all collect things we value, you know?”
“The idea behind expectation requires that someone does not know the future or outcome and is trying to control behavior to get the desired result. Humans try to control behavior largely through expectations. I know you and everything about you. Why would I have an expectation other than what I already know?”
“Mack, I don’t want to be the first among a list of values; I want to be at the center of everything. When I live in you, then together we can live through everything that happens to you. Rather than the top of the pyramid, I want to be the center of a mobile, where everything in your life– your friends, your family, occupation, thoughts, activities is connected to me but moves with the wind, in and out back and forth, in an incredible dance of being.”
“Earth has no sorrow that heaven cannot heal.” Thomas Moore
“Faith never knows where it is being led, but it knows and loves the One who is leading” (Oswald Chambers)
That’s it!
The Thought Hole 