Some comments received for these novels on the murderous intrigue of interreligious politics between Jews, Catholics and Muslims
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Tags: Allah, Bible, Catholic, Child Abuse, Christianity, Church, Faith, God, Interreligious Dialogue, Islam, Israel, Jesus, Jews, Judaism, Muhammad, Muslims, News, Palestine, Politics, Qu'ran, Religion, Spirituality, Terrorism, Theology, Vatican, Zionism
This entry was posted on 2008 April 13 at 5:34 pm and is filed under 1. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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2008 April 2 at 8:11 pm
I apologize for being thick, but what is meant by a countdown?
On a side note, thank you for all that you have given to furthering my understanding of all the prolific topics you have covered in Book 1 of the Trilogy. I have truly appreciated your insight and teaching. I have never followed a blog where I have felt so motivated to research and look up topics, people, historical events, etc. I look forward to Book 2.
Thank you again Father.
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[[ Thanks, ketm,
Could be a countdown to sarting Book 2...
Could be a countdown to shutting it down...
Could be a countdown to taking a break...
Could be a countdown to doing things differently...
Could be a countdown to not taking myself seriously...
Could be a countdown to moving it up a notch...
Could be a countdown to ... well... its a question!
I'm taking suggestions...
Could be a countdown to ___________________ .
Thanks for your kind remarks. Your reaction to Book 1 is a great encouragement. Yet, I'm thinking it is I who am thick. I say this because I know what I want to say, but what I mean and how that comes across is not necessarily the same thing, which is a reflection on me, not on any reader (especially in a recent exchange). I have to think and pray about all this, hopefully with the result, in God's good grace, of being able to get out of the way of what needs to be said so that what needs to be said will be heard, instead of just me being heard (which is not helpful to anyone anywhere). Could be, then, a countdown to ... more reality, more clearly seen! That's my hope, anyway. But, along with that hope...
I'm still taking suggestions...
Could be a countdown to ___________________ .
It's just that Book 1 was, so to speak, milk, and Book 2 moves on to the solid food. You got the milk bit well. I'm not sure if many others did... At least there wasn't too much reaction (though that may be normal with this kind of thing). Yet, I'm thinking that if I can't express myself well for the easier bit, having to depend on the indulgence of the reader to make up for my lack, I might lose some who rightly feel insulted, especially when it comes down to moving on to meat, so to speak.
Anyway, that's my problem.
Sorry to burden you with it!
Cheers! -- Fr Renzo di Lorenzo ]]
2008 April 2 at 10:35 pm
Well, I for one vote that you continue. Of course, that opinion is obvious due to my previous comment. And it is not entirely fair since I don’t have to do the work of it. Time constraints can be very pressing and blogs (and writing books) take up a lot of a person’s time and energy.
But with regard to the author and his work, I will state what I stated back when you started this blog: I am not one to tell someone how to express themselves in the written word. Nor am I one to like critiquing what is a labor or love (or compulsion) on the part of the author and the personal experience that exists between that person and their work. I can’t help but think of Flannery O’Connor. She was a very talented writer of fiction and often wrote in isolation, both due to her location and her health. But she wrote with an eye to Catholicism, but I could have never guessed that without her assistance in interpreting her. On their own merits, her short stories could be quite grotesque. But she chose to clarify for her audience her purpose and point, and is generally seen as a pretty popular and respected writer.
You have not left us entirely in a vacuum in our attempts to understand your message, lessons, and larger political point. You have singled out histories and biographies that are not commonly known. Those have great import on today, even though I did not know them before. That is worthy.
As for the textual portions of your book, I will admit it is what I have the hardest time understanding. But it is also those portions that have made me think, examine and seek information about the most. That type of challenge is not usually found in fiction. And I for one have benefited from it.
Truth can be burdensome. My prayers are with you.
Thank you Father, regardless of your choice.
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[[ Thanks, ketm, especially for the prayers. I hope they lead me to God's will!
But, don't leave me hanging... By "textual potions" do you mean AEternus ille caelestium (which is not over by any means!), or the sometimes overly heavy dialogues, or the the author's omniscient interventions in the story, as another reader pointed out, or the rather lengthy notes for one of the sessions of the Inquisition, or all the above, or...? -- Let me know!
P.S. I had a look at Wikipedia about the grotesque business: She complained, saying, "Anything that comes out of the South is going to be called grotesque by the northern reader, unless it is grotesque, in which case it is going to be called realistic" (Mystery and Manners: Occasional Prose 40). Anyway, yes, plenty of grotesque, but there's plenty of that kind of reality around, as groteque as, say, Christ being on the cross and while being mocked by the priests. Being a priest, I've got to get a grasp of what is happening on Calvary during every moment we live in Him. Of course, we all need to be before Him with great reverence and thanksgiving.
-- Fr Renzo di Lorenzo ]]
2008 April 3 at 12:06 am
AEternus ille caelestium, is not really that difficult to understand (at least the translated portions). I have found that a lot of the history of the Bible is a portion of the “research” I have endeavored to find out about. (Most of my information has been gleaned from New Advent online since I have very limited access to resources.) I knew nothing about the Council of Trent. And I have found it very interesting (and relevant.)
But the portions that I have struggled with are the dialogues. They represent the reasoned process of why the Church teaches what She teaches. It is not arbitrary why Church doctrine is what it is, but no one has ever broken it down for me in a format that I could understand. Now, I am not sure I have absorbed all that you have expressed in the dialogue portions, but I have had true moments of enlightenment. I don’t mean that is some sappy way. I mean the moth would finally hit the light bulb in my head and I could say “Oh. That makes sense. I think I get it.” Though I am sad to say, that did not always happen. Not that I could counter your point or argument, but I simply don’t entirely understand.
The notes for understanding have been helpful, since much of what you reference is not known by me, so I have only benefited from any clarifications you have given.
I don’t have a problem with omniscient intervention. I also don’t have a problem with a work of fiction that mixes 3rd person limited and 3rd person omniscient. If someone has a problem with it, maybe they are a literary purist. Or maybe that just felt it read awkwardly. Either way, that is tweakable as you see fit.
The most intense portion of this book, to me, is the dialogue. If you want something that was a frustration, it was the way you would have a character say something and just when they would get the the portion that would probably have stated their point bluntly, you would end with an ellipse and have another character take another tact. Sometimes to counter, sometimes to agree. But the portion that would have logically been where the ellipse is would leave me hanging. Now I know I am supposed to use my own brain and try to understand and draw my own conclusions, but frankly, I’m not that bright. Did it lend itself to a more interesting read? Yes. Did I find it frustrating? Yes. I have chocked that up to my own personal problem.
For what I saw as the most moving portions of the story, I would have to say Don Hash. His moment of realizing that his heart was of stone and when it changed to flesh was very moving. And the preaching of Father Alexamenos in front of the brothel in Haiti. The thirst for truth and redemption of his audience and his excellent way of expressing the profound love God has for each of them was well presented and expressed. Actually, almost everything Alexamenos said was very well done. He seemed larger than life, but I don’t think so.
I hope anything I have to say is helpful to you. I really have enjoyed reading the Trilogy and cannot completely explain how much I have taken from it.
Thank you.
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[[ Thanks, again, ketm, much for me to think about.
God bless. -- Fr Renzo di Lorenzo ]]
2008 April 3 at 4:45 pm
I for one am eagerly awaiting Book 2!
Thanks, and may God bless you Father.
2008 April 4 at 10:22 am
I have received positive comments on your comments, ketm.
2008 April 7 at 8:56 pm
It seems that I have fallen into quite a tale here. Please permit me to say that I haven’t read the orignal posts because as you said, it must have broken something in the server at WordPress- but from the lead on the post of the day in religion, it sounds absolutely inviting.
The best part now (until) the server is fixed, is reading all of this discusion and sensing ” oh my gosh, here is someone else trying to express something that is burning inside of his being, and talking about the frustration that I know too, all too well.”
I’m hooked- bring on the trilogy. -e4unity
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[[ Thanks, "E"! Never mind me chopping everyone's name these days. It's getting a bit hot. I'm thinking of going back and doing the same for others. I don't want anyone getting hurt! There have been warnings... but only because some are not reading the Trilogy, but only one or two posts! You're right about the burning bit, hopefully that will remain on the inside only! God bless you, friend.
-- Fr Renzo di Lorenzo ]]