The Shadow-gloom and Weight of the Sacred

I had originally made a personal goal for 2010 to read only fiction. I used to read a lot of fiction but in recent years most of my reading has been nonfiction, especially history, sociology and theology. I normally read quite a lot, but with being a new parent and still in the process of completing an international relocation, I've been very undisciplined with my reading.

Not only that, but I'm really struggling to stick to my "sola fictiō" commitment. I find the heavy theological stuff so engrossing that I'm really having withdrawal from it. By heavy, I mean N.T. Wright and Luke Timothy Johnson, not Augustine. I suspect a true theologian would find my "heavy" theological reading to be cruise ship material.

I've only completed two fiction books, Rabbit, Run by John Updike (You can read my own opinion of the book by clicking here.)and The Road by Cormac McCarthy. Both books were marvelous. Even though I've had Hemingway's To Have and Have Not listed on the "Reading" section of my blog, I've yet to start it. I am reading Irresistible Revolution by Shane Claiborne, which is kind of a memoir. I'm really enjoying it and I recommend it to anyone who considers themselves a Christian. It isn't book of theological diarrhea; it's just a guy sharing a story of his attempt to make his faith matter in a world in which faith seems increasingly superfluous. Of course, since his books is being published, he's been fairly successful in his pursuit. He's a good writer and he has a good story. At least, I relate to what he writes: a faith--a god--that matters, that makes things right.

I believe in God. It's a real problem for me.