Product Description

The most important book on religion this year, perhaps this decade. -- The Literary Spirituality Review

In this multiple award-winning and bestselling diagnosis of the contemporary American spirit, David James Duncan suggests that the de facto political party embodied by the so-called Christian Right has turned worship into a self-righteous betrayal of the words and example of the very Jesus it claims to praise. In a bracing and often hilarious response to this trend, God Laughs & Plays offers churchless sermons, stories, memoir, conversations, and cosmological reflections that scorn riches and embrace the poor; bless peacemakers, not war-makers; celebrate creation, diversity, empathy, playfulness and beauty; and insist that Divine Mystery is indeed mysterious and compassion is literally compassionate. The spiritual kingdom described by Jesus, this unusual book reminds us, is located not "in the Sky" or beyond a disastrous future, but within us, to be sought and embodied in the here and now.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #157059 in Books
• Published on: 2007-02-01
• Released on: 2007-01-31
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 264 pages

Review
Duncan writes that "the great religious traditions stand in need of a...compassion rebellion against the 'certainties - of cocksure zealots." In this essay collection on the wonder and universality of human spirituality, he directs his most withering fire against the biblical literalists and their neoconservative allies who currently dominate American politics. In place of their idolatrous worship of the words of the Bible, Duncan asks of the fundamentalists if "there is anything truly imitative of Jesus, anything compassionate, self-abnegating, empathetic, forgiving in their assaults on religious and cultural diversity, [or the] ecosystem...." --Library Journal, June 01, 2006

Majestic, rib-tickling, and timeless....These churchless homilies are the gift of innocence wrapped in wisdom, crafted by a superb writer. --Paul Hawken, Blessed Unrest

This is the book for everyone who is allergic to what often passes for Chistianity, but attracted to Jesus...beautifully written, as always with Mr. Duncan, but also wonderfully, humorously, deeply felt. --Bill McKibben, The End of Nature

From the Publisher
"Hilarious, enraged, articulate, eloquent, and passionate in ways that will make you gape. Duncan is one of the finest writers of spiritually minded essays in these United States, period. Trust me, this is a book that matters." - Brian Doyle, Christian Century Magazine, Feb. 2007

From the Inside Flap
"I WAS BORN A CHOSEN PERSON, though this state of affairs was not of my choosing."

Award-winning essayist and novelist David James Duncan focuses on the conflation of neoconservative politics and apocalyptic evangelical fundamentalism.

In God Laughs and Plays, Duncan argues that the de facto political party embodied by the so-called Christian Right has turned worship into a self-righteous betrayal of the words and example of the very Jesus it claims to praise. In reply, Duncan offers a thought-provoking collection of "churchless sermons," stories, memoir, and conversations - all united by the contention that the way of life preached and embodied by Jesus is apolitical and should be free of media machinery.

While reminding us that the true Christian ethos scorns riches and embraces the poor; blesses peacemakers, not war maker; and asks us to love and serve neighbors and "do good" even unto enemies, Duncan also goes a step further: he offers a poignant, playful, yet inspiring glimpse into a profound new cosmology that can help humanity manage the epochal challenges of a fast-globalizing and ecologically compromised world.

Customer Reviews

Breaking free from some fundamentalist chains
I actually believe that Jesus died and then came back to life. I always assumed this made me a fundamentalist Christian. However, the kind of fundamentalism that Duncan addresses in this book is much scarier than anything I have encountered at church. Yes, I have been and am recovering from some extreme forms of legalism that aren't part of the message of Jesus. But I maintain hope that most churches in America (protestant or Catholic) are purer than the extreme that Duncan is confronting in this book.
God Laughs and Plays has helped me think about a lot of things in new ways, which is the highest compliment I think I can give a book. It has helped me break away from the 1+1=2 theory of "salvation", or the idea that being "saved" is merely a reference to the location of your soul after you die. Duncan points out that the heart of Christianity has always been one of loving and doing good to those who hate you, not the relatively heartless and certainly joyless "I prayed a prayer and asked Jesus to come into my heart and therefore I'm going to heaven" I've heard a million times. Praying that prayer means nothing in and of itself. Even if it's heartfelt. Being Jesus to everyone you meet by loving them in a nonjudgmental way and helping them with their needs makes a Christian far more a Christian than the one who merely prayed the "sinner's prayer." The mathematical version of salvation is much easier. I prayed the prayer; therefore I'm going to heaven. Even legalism is easy, really. I can restrain myself from doing a bunch of things on a list if I try hard enough. Really loving, really purging anger and hatred from my heart and life is much more valuable but much more difficult than following a list of rules. The world needs more David James Duncans, but it also needs more Christians who are willing to read a book that might not show up in their local "Christian Bookstore."

Interesting, but not Duncan's best work
I should start by saying that David James Duncan is one of my favorite authors. I have read everything he's written, even taking the time to find back-issues of the Sun to read some of his more obscure essays. I find him inspiring, insightful, and generally a master of prose. On the time I had the opportunity to meet Duncan, I found him as likable in person as he is on the page.

That said, I have been disappointed in this latest collection of essays. The first problem I found is that the majority of these pieces have appeared elsewhere. While it is convenient to have them grouped together, I found the book to be a bit short on original work.

The second disappointment I faced is that while I agree with nearly all the sentiments Duncan puts forth, I find most of the book to be too didactic. Duncan's "sermons" in his past work have always been effective because, like all good sermons, they imparted their ideals through stories. God Laughs and Plays is more of a rant than a story. Even if, like me, you agree with the purpose of the rant, it lacks the essential "Duncan'ness" that his readers expect.

That said, there are some true previously unpublished gems in this work. When I heard Duncan talk, he recounted the story of how fly-fisherman aren't haters of fish, but really mayfly preservationists. It is a beautiful and clever anecdote, and I'm glad it's finally made it into print.

God Laughs & Plays falls a bit outside of what his fans have come to expect, and leads Duncan into a genre where he hasn't quite become an expert. But, for lovers of Duncan, and those interested in the politics of fundamentalism, it contains enough gems to justify a read.

Maybe The Best Book I Have Read, Seriously
God Laughs & Plays by David James Duncan is one of the most extraordinary books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. And I was an English Literature major in college and graduate school, which means I have read a lot of books. A friend recommended this book to me. She said it was something very special. I bought a copy and read it. After I finished it, I read it again.

From the first I was struck by the stucture of the book. There are formal essays to be sure, but then there are excerpts from correspondence with friends, parts of interviews, an incredible short piece of fiction, and other unexpected inclusions. In most cases, this might be seen as an awkward assortment, but in this case I came to the conclusion on my first reading that it was not only a lot of fun to read but wholly intentional as a counterpoint to the rigidity of literalistically minded "Christians". Authentic wisdom, for Duncan, can be found all around us and in the most unexpected places. So can beauty and the divine. This is essentially a gnostic or mystical perspective on the nature of God and life, one which Duncan readily champions (in fact embodies!). As such the variety of material Duncan weaves together not only reinforces his at times fierce assault on literalists, but it also breaks new ground, I think, in terms of literary genres.

Make no mistake about it. This book is revolutionary stuff. Both in terms of countering the dominant religion/politics "conflation," but also with regard to modern literature.

I agree with the introductory text on the book's cover flaps and in Laurie Lane-Zucker's fascinating forward to the book that humans need a new way of seeing the world in order to deal with the "epochal"challenges of global warming and globalization. Rather than simply describing that need, however, this book does something immeasurably profound: it manifests it on many levels.

Upon reading this book the second time, I came to the conclusion that Duncan is an incomparable genius. This genius is reflected in some very human and appealing traits: his humor (which is cathartic), his humility, his passion for life and living, his outrage at injustice and corruption, and finally, his great and healing love for people, nature, and the good.

I think that this may become considered over time a seminal work. It is easily one of the best books I have ever read.