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The Gospel According to Condo Don

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This modern parable of good vs. evil tells of Christ's Second Coming into a world far worse than it was at his first inception. Our Savior is born on the #4 bus, between 3rd and Pico, in the ghettoes of Los Angeles. His mother is Marva, a virginal teenage black girl. The father who raises Jesus as is own, Carlos Ortiz, is a kindly Mexican immigrant who loves Marva unconditionally.

Marva and Carlos raise the Son of God in an LA ghetto more suitable as a crumbling habitat for vermin than humans. Their world is a war zone of drugs, violent crime, and poverty set in squalid living conditions. Despite the poverty and hopeless
surroundings, Jesus thrives and grows into a healthy young man.

Christ's earthly ministry is witnessed first hand by an alcoholic homeless man, Donald Thaddeus Stearns III, lately known as Condo Don. Stearns has never been able to measure up to family expectations or his name. He's failed at everything in life except drowning in alcohol, wallowing in self-pity, and constructing shelters for his homeless compadres. His nickname is Condo Don, a name he can live up to. Condo Don near death on a park bench when Jesus finds and heals him with a touch. The homeless builder of shelters becomes Christ's witness and faithful companion, helping spread the word to anyone who will listen. With Condo Don at his side Christ lives the dehumanizing life of a homeless man, seeing the world as it has
become.

Man has not changed in the 2000 years since Christ's first coming. His heart is broken by what he sees around him. The world is connected by technology now and the very rich have power that reaches across continents and oceans. Churches that bear his name are symbols of callous indifference to the plight of the poor and exist in a state of ethical and moral decay. Evil evangelists have become far greedier than the
moneychangers at the Temple in Jerusalem. Politicians around the world rake in whatever spoils they can from demoralized citizens. Only the rich receive justice in the legal system. Where the law is concerned, poor people have become the modern day equivalent of early Christians pitted against lions or heavily armed gladiators with rich citizens and politicians gleefully looking on. One person and one healing at a time, Jesus tackles his earthly mission to spread the word of God and save humanity. As the crowds grow, so does the danger to Jesus and Condo Don. But evil principalities and powers are impotent against God's plan for Jesus, Condo Don, and a world full of people needing hope.

Fred Dungan makes this parable believable. His writing style is strong, the characters realistic. If Jesus came back to live amongst us today, he would find exactly what Dungan depicts in this book. The Son of God would weep to see humanity's behavior, and rage at the changes in his church. Whether you believe in Christ's Second Coming or not, this book is a cautionary tale that every one should read.

This book cuts right to the chase and pulls no punches. Although it's a horribly mixed metaphor, this statement is also completely true. The Gospel According to Condo Don is all at once a series of spiritual lessons that neither condescend nor condemn, an unapologetic portrayal of the best and worst things about modern society, and a hilarious exposé of the parodies that pass for government agencies. And scattered throughout are subtly beautiful passages and scenes that are as poetic as any to be found in the greatest works of literature.

Fred Dungan has to be the most fearless author I've ever read. The only place he takes on bigger foes than he does in this book is on his own website, which I highly recommend--but only if you have at least an entire day to spend reading.