16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Triumph of Grace in the Theology of Robert Farrar Capon, December 9, 2003
This review is from: Genesis, the Movie (Hardcover)
I had the happy opportunity in the early Fall, to be able to sit down and chat with Father Capon for several wonderful hours. Having read at that time, about half of his theological works, I was well versed in Capon's theology and prepared to hear more of what I had come to expect and admire. To my delight and surprise the good Padre regaled me and my best friend John, with much of what is the foundational stuff of Genesis the Movie. The book had not been published at that time, and we had the joy of hearing from the horse's mouth as it were (sorry Father Capon), the germ and kernel of the masterpiece he had just recently finished. In fact, we had the opportunity to hear him read from that manuscript, and also to read for ourselves the brilliant, mind bending work.
This book is Robert's magnum opus! It is a product of prodigious genius, based not only on the brilliance of the author, but also on the minds (and hearts) of Augustine of Hippo and Thomas Aquinas. Capon wraps the book (on the first three chapters of Genesis), around two ancient works of Augustine which deal with that subject matter. He also leans heavily on Aquinas' offerings on the same, and draws from a host of other writers, theologians, preachers and poets from the time of the church Fathers (and Mothers) right up to the 21st Century. But lest the reader feel daunted by these literary heavyweights, don't despair. You'll also find the likes of Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal, James Earl Jones, and a few other folks (I won't give away where you'll find them or what they're doing, but they're there, and it's great fun!). I have the feeling that if Robert watched the Simpsons, Homer might show up there as well.
The most stirring part of Capon's intellect is his love of scripture, and the love he arouses for the Divine Intellect that inspired it. Robert loves the Bible, and his unparalleled mental concordance takes the reader to every nook and cranny of its marvelous story. A primary point of the book is one's approach to scripture. Falling under neither the conservative or liberal label, Robert presents a slant on reading and studying the Bible that will thoroughly rattle the cages of many in both camps. But it is a marvelous approach that frees the reader of Holy Writ to experience exactly what the Divine author had in mind when it was written. Speaking of cage rattling....this book will unsettle any well worn, tattered theological shibboleths anyone brings to the party. It is Capon at his best, in-your-face, pushing every button, humorously, passionately and inspiringly!
Capon is a lover of words, as is God, who is the Word incarnate. He brings new light on the ancient Light that was in the beginning and brings light to everyone in the world. Robert uses words like a gem cutter, taking that which is beautiful in and of itself, and turning it into something more beautiful and compelling. He uses language (English, Latin, Hebrew and Greek to name a few) to point the reader in the direction of the Holy Poet Himself who weaves the story of His love affair with creation from the first three chapters of Genesis right through to the triumphant end of John's Apocalypse.
Robert introduces the reader to the awesome intellect of Augustine as the venerable Bishop of antiquity has great fun with scripture. You finish the book feeling as though you have visited this ancient saint, long gone, and chatted with him about his love for the Ancient of Days. Capon unveils the tie that binds us to the faith of our fathers (and mothers), making their faith not only relevant but indispensable to our own understanding of Jesus and his gospel.
His interpretation of the days of creation, the creation of humankind, the fall of Adam and Eve and the good news encrypted in every part of those stories, will leave you dizzy with amazement, joy and gratitude. Well, for some. For others it will be troubling. Like anything the good father writes, it will make your head hurt as he challenges old thinking, reshapes old paradigms, and burst old balloons of religion and theology. Regardless of where you stand on any of the issues raised in those first three chapters of the Bible, this book will enlighten, encourage and stimulate you. Only the most ardent, dyed-in-the-wool literalist will not find something useful and challenging in this text.
Capon's life work has been a renunciation of the church's framing the gospel in the sill of transactionalism. From start to finish, this books picks out the nits of this teaching, from the classic interpretations of Genesis' opening chapters. From beginning to end, he presents the story of God's dealing with his creation and his humanity, as good news. It starts with Jesus and ends with Jesus. Like no other author, Capon ties together the stories of the Old and New Testaments with the scarlet thread of the cross. There just isn't any bad news to speak of here. God looks at what he makes in His Son and says again, and again, "Good! Very Good!" That is what you get in this classic book, from this classic scholar. It's just plain good! For more reviews on Capon's books and teachings, go to http://www.rl-ministries.org.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Genesis: The Movie is a "must-see.", April 13, 2004
This review is from: Genesis, the Movie (Hardcover)
Robert Farrar Capon's "Genesis: The Movie" comes to us as oxygen just in the nick of time, before stuffy, self-righteous religion asphyxiates us all. Although reading this book challenges us - together we study scripture as scholars and serious students of God's Word - we get to do it in the slightly indulgent, yummy atmosphere of watching a movie, making us feel included and in on the action. This is Robert's effective way of sticking to his vast subject without losing our interest, as he delivers a perfect balance of drama, intellectual intrigue and comic relief - like a great film.
I have read many of Robert's books over the years, and have therefore arrived at an unshakeable understanding of Grace: We are forgiven. I'm happy to report that Genesis never falls off the fulcrum of Grace upon which all of our thoughts, desires and prayers are poised. But it goes deeper: Robert's fearless, cosmic take on the Holy Trinity, enhanced by selected readings of Augustine, Aquinas and other prophets of our modern times, wreaks havoc on the rules and formulas we dispassionately believe we must live by. He pulls our dull, preconceived ideas about God, creation, sin, history and faith right off our shelves in his gently convincing makeover of our philosophies, and brilliantly replaces them with elegant, unsentimental visions of divinity, creation and truth that make us forget why we held on to anything else - or how we thought we could have commented on a movie we'd barely even seen. The end result is a jaw-dropping achievement: frame by tightly-edited frame, image after image, Robert Capon helps us see God's unfathomable love for us - and we can't take our eyes off the page.
The experience of reading "Genesis: The Movie" will delight and heal you no matter what shape you're in when you come to the theater...and will stay with you long after the credits roll.
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