| Arts & media reviews 03/24/2001 Reviewer's choice
The Challenge of Jesus: Rediscovering Who Jesus Was and Is
by N. T. Wright
(InterVarsity Press, 204 pages, $14.99)
Who was Jesus, really?
N.T. Wright, canon theologian of Westminster Abbey, has begun to answer that question. Here he continues to do so in the most accessible way, striving to hear Jesus in his historical context. Many people are insisting that they don't need to hear what he has to report. Naturally, hot names from the Jesus Seminar write scowls at him (Marcus Borg being a notable exception). After all, Dr. Wright has thoroughly challenged their worldview.
But what is odd is that his name is not better known among evangelicals, to whom this book is especially addressed. As one correspondent told me, speaking of pastors and teachers in the conservative Reformed tradition: They don't much care about the Gospels; if they want to preach through one of them, they have the popular commentaries of the 19th-century evangelical Anglican J.C. Ryle, and that is more than enough in their eyes.
It is not enough for Dr. Wright. Often portrayed as the defender of a "traditional" view of the Gospels and of the historical Jesus, he may nevertheless strike many evangelicals as not traditional enough. Conservatives often lampoon the "liberal" conception of Jesus as "merely a great moral teacher." But Dr. Wright presents a vision that points out rather starkly the inadequacy and cartoonishness of the corresponding conception of Jesus as a roving systematic theologian in ancient Palestine.
Instead, Dr. Wright notes that Jesus can be understood only in the political environment of his day: forcefully declaring the coming kingdom despite the risks from the Romans and their allies in the priesthood and elsewhere, yet uncompomisingly opposed to the insurrectionist zealotry promoted by the Pharisees. Jesus preached that God's kingdom would be revealed through taking up one's cross.
Then he proved it.
(The lectures on which much of The Challenge of Jesus is based can be heard on the Internet at www.gospelcom.net/iv/grad/fcsow/schedule.html.) M.H.
Books
Why Atheism?
by George H. Smith
(Prometheus Books, 250 pages, $19)
The author, who refers to himself as a former Christian, argues that atheism is too often dismissed without serious consideration. Many people who believe in God, he writes, haven't explored why they believe. Mr. Smith calls on people of faith to respect the views of atheists and not try to heavy-handedly convert them. If a believer wants to share his faith with an atheist, Mr. Smith writes, he should justify his views with sound arguments – not emotion. "And should the Christian be unwilling or unable to defend his belief, I will urge him to embrace the more reasonable alternative of atheism." Mr. Smith cites the writings of philosophers from Plato to Thomas Hobbes to support his points. Believers might be challenged, but not put off, by the book. As the author writes, "According to the Greeks, if we hold a belief uncritically, accepting it because this is how we have been taught, or because we are too lazy or too timid to analyze it ... then our beliefs are mere opinion, not true knowledge." E.H.
Voices of the Saints: A Year of Readings
by Bert Ghezzi
(Doubleday, 791 pages, $29.95)
Books on saints tend to come in one of two forms. They're either overly pious, making the saints seem larger than life. Or they're flippant, tongue-in-cheek affairs that focus on which saint is the patron of this or that. Mr. Ghezzi has found the perfect middle ground. This book is meant to be used as a day-by-day devotional and includes prayers written by the saints. But it's also a compelling history of some of the best and least known in the Who's Who of Holiness. Take Henry Suso. Mr. Ghezzi says that anyone who has endured dryness at prayer will find relief in St. Henry's story. He suffered depression and doubt during his mystical pursuit of God. He was also accused (and later found innocent) of theft, poisoning and heresy (which might explain the depression). This book is full of richly woven tales told with warmth and humor. The humanity of the saints shines through in their search to practice their faith. If you like reading about saints, you can't go wrong here. It's one of the best-written compilations around. S.H.A.
Music
Rejoice!
by Sisters in Song
(OCP, 58 minutes)
This joyful compilation of 15 songs is well-executed by an all-star cast of 80 singing nuns from 28 states. You'll hear a bit of Latin ("Laudate, Laudate Dominum"), some Spanish ("Somos El Cuerpo De Cristo") and of course English ("I Rejoiced"). You'll also hear traditional hymns and contemporary liturgical music. The sisters' classically trained voices are more sophisticated and serious than what you heard in Whoopi Goldberg's Sister Act movie. This recording benefits retiring men and women in religious communities. The downside is the poor production quality. And that's too bad because the arrangements are splendid and the sisters' singing is cause for rejoicing. Call 1-877-596-1653. S.H.A.
Transparent
by LaRue
(Reunion, 48 minutes)
Teen acts are getting old. LaRue's different, though. To begin with, this brother-and-sister duo – 19-year-old Phillip and 17-year-old Natalie – write their own songs. And with Transparent, the follow-up to their critically acclaimed, self-titled debut, they show that they've matured. It seems they want their generation to do the same. "Wake Up," an energetic tune, beckons teens to open their eyes to what's happening around them. They combine beautifully on "Brianna's Song," a touching and inspiring testimony about their younger sister who has cerebral palsy. Much is expected of LaRue because they've shown such promise. In Transparent, much is delivered. B.D.
Joyride
by Bryan Duncan
(Diadem, 45 minutes)
Bryan Duncan makes it clear what his new album on a new label is about from the opening track. "I'd Like to Thank You Jesus" is a big song – backed by a big choir and big supporting vocals, including Darwin Hobbs – with a simple intention: thanks. Mr. Duncan, who has one of the best voices in the business, employs the help of other artists such as Donnie McClurkin and Ashley Cleveland. The result is a down-home, soulful album that's upbeat and fun. "Maybe I'm Amazed" is a remake of Paul McCartney's hit and trails off into "Amazing Grace." It works quite nicely. "Clap Your Hands," a duet with Ms. Cleveland, is another standout. The entire album will get you clapping. B.D.
Web site of the week
csep.iit.edu/codes/
The Hippocratic Oath for physicians is probably the best-known professional code of ethics in the world. But hundreds of other professions and organizations, from the Covenant of the Goddess to the Institute of Food Technologists, have codes of their own. The Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions at the Illinois Institute of Technology has catalogued and indexed many of these codes. The Canadian Soccer Association, for instance, has a code of ethics for its referees. One rule: A referee may "not publicly criticize other referees or any soccer association, nor shall s/he make any statements to the media related to any game in which s/he was involved." J.W.
Contributors are Susan Hogan/Albach, Berta Delgado, Mark Horne, Ed Housewright and Jeffrey Weiss
|
