Customer Reviews

God Laughs & Plays; Churchless Sermons in Response to the Preachments of the Fundamentalist Right

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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."

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.

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.

With a thorough understanding of the spirit of religion, and a strong background in Christian, spiritual, and other historical sources, Duncan proceeds to disassemble the modern fundamentalist movement.

Shining a light on the hypocracy of those who seek power, money, and attention in the name of God, Duncan defies the "Christian Right" by exposing them to The Bible -- not cherry-picked passages, but the essence of Jesus' teachings and examples.

This book is more healing than vicious. Duncan does his best to love his enemies, even if he is outraged by their actions. But still it might be strong enough to convert even a thoughtful fundamentalist back into the fold of true Christianity -- and against the neo-con politicians and power-seekers who would steal its banner for their own selfish ends.

I don't know how to fully describe this book, or how to do justice to how wonderful it is. David James Duncan is a master writer, an incredible storyteller, and one of the best commentators of our times I have read.

How often do you have the experience of reading a book that is as timely as it is timeless? Duncan pulls off this trick effortlessly. "Chapters like When Compassion Becomes Dissent" and "What Fundamentalists Need for their Salvation" are the best I have read on fundamentalism and politics in America and on how that combination has devastated our country, other countries, and much else.

Chapters such as "Wonder, Yogi, Gladly" and "De-bore-HA!" are downright hilarious and very moving.

Then you have chapters like "Romeo Shows Jamie the Door," which is one of the most astonishing and moving meditations on death that you will ever read. I wonder if there is a human on the planet who can get through it without weeping - mesmerizing writing. And "Assailed," the concluding chapter, which is simply the best, most mind-expanding essay on cosmology I have ever read.

Get the sense I like this book? It is a masterpiece. Pure and simple. Buy it. Treasure it. Share it.

This book is a series of essays and short stories that showcase an excellent writer's passions for nature and the environment, and against fundamentalist religions. It contains the author's first story (written in first grade, with his adult commentary), and perhaps the finest short story I've ever read about how the death of his dog briefly showed him the door to heaven. The essays are a mixture of inclusive spirituality and pro-environment politics. Some will embrace him, and others reject his politics. But read the two short stories if nothing else - pure poetry in prose format.

Duncan takes God out of denominational straight jackets by emphasizing God's all encompassing nature. "Church" for Duncan is fly fishing for salmon and trout. His love of nature provides the metaphors supporting the Christian message of resurrection. But Duncan's broad base of knowledge of other religions allows him to see the common aspects of all spiritual journeys. An excellent writer, Duncan is able to articulate his deep spirituality.

If the reader is locked into a particular denominational belief system and political agenda, you'll be in for a wild ride.

For those of you familiar with David Duncan, who've been waiting for his next novel for the past decade and a half, this is another appetizer in the strain of "River Teeth" and "My Story As Told By Water."

Yes. This is a political book by David James Duncan.

Duncan waxes angrily eloquent about current American events in this small quaint, quilt of a book. He nearly always sticks to opinion, leaving sustained argument to others. It should be noted that this book is, as he calls it, "an occasional book." It's sort of pieced together to make a whole. At moments he is bursting with anger, others with love, sometimes he is bursting with both emotions at once. It is paradoxical. This book is opinionated and drives those opinions mainly on good writing and emotion.

Further, and much more truly, it is a spiritual book. Perhaps the one foundation of this book as spiritual is set in the Kierkegaardian conceits in regards to reverencing the Catholic monastic life, sometimes at cost to Protestant exegesis of the Bible, though never in full-on war with it.

If you love David James Duncan, are primarily an emotional individual, and agree with the premise of his statements then you will love this book. If you are none of the above, or only one of the above, you will have some problems soaking in the meat of his undeniably superb creative writing.

Too often the thought of critically thinking about religion is equated with blasphemy. David James Duncan provides a healthy environment to think, question and explore the cherished traditions of Christianity and opens the mind to walk in spiritual inquiry inclusive of other religious journeys.

The author successfully portrays his deep desire to know "The God", but isn't limited by the playing field deemed "appropriate" by Evangelical dogma.

If Evangelical dogma is your boundary for spiritual meaning then you might not want to read this book. However, I recommend that you do because you might expand your experience of knowing God, and learn to seek him - life - love - supreme power - more actively and earnestly.

I don't agree with some of his positions, but what makes the book effective is that you know from the beginning of the first chapter that you're not excluded from the exploratory journey of experiencing truth just because you disagree. A novel concept for dogmatic literalists.

I have never written a glowing review of a book I am only halfway through reading, but I feel the need to let everyone know what a special book this is. Rarely do I come across a book so well written, thoughtful and thought provoking that I find myself talking about it to almost all I meet. The subject matter goes well beyond the narrow "answer" to Christian fundamentalism into the realm of true spirituality and personal integrity. I highly recommend this book to everyone especially those searching for true Chrisitanity in this pseudo-Christian country.