The Gospel According to Lost [Paperback]

Chris Seay (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 29, 2009

An epic journey into the deepest mysteries of our faith.

Lost is NOT just a television show. It has become larger than that-a massive story filled with mystery that has garnered over twenty million participants. Some might call them viewers, but one does not just watch Lost, one participates in it. It demands that you dialogue with the story, seeking theories and comparing yourself to characters. Lost breaks all the formulas for television, and in doing so has drawn together millions of people on a shared journey that explores life, faith, history, science, philosophy, hope, and the basic questions of what it means to be human. It is the seemingly infinite ideas, philosophies, and biblical metaphors that make this story so engaging.

The focus on faith and truth is never more clearly explained than in the words of John Locke as he questions Jack Shepherd asking "Why do you find it so hard to believe?" Jack responds quickly "Why do you find it so easy?" But Locke declares "It's never been easy." This tension between Faith and Reason drives every episode and story line. Locke summed this up as he explained to Jack "That's why you and I don't see eye‐to‐eye sometimes, because you're a man of science…Me, well, I'm a man of faith."

Chapter Topics

• Faith and Reason - The war within?
• Guilt -The single common denominator that binds everyone on the island
• Fate - Do we choose our path, or does fate happen to us?
• Quantum Spirituality - What if everything and everyone is connected?
• Dharma - Is there any truth to be found in Institutional Religion?
• Island Life - If we are made for the garden is it the consumer world that is killing us?
• Salvation - Will it ever come, and will we recognize it when it does?

Chris Seay's fascinating book explores each of these elements in a spinning analysis of faith and metaphor that will attract a multitude of readers who desire to go even deeper into the journey.

Product Details

• Paperback: 236 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (December 29, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849920728
• ISBN-13: 978-0849920721
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (190 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #402,732 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Chris Seay is a church planter, pastor, president of Ecclesia Bible Society, and internationally acclaimed speaker. His six previous books include The Gospel According to Lost, The Gospel According to Tony Soprano, and Faith of My Fathers.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Worthwhile Look at LOST's Spiritual Themes, June 13, 2010

By 

Roger N. Overton (La Mirada, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gospel According to Lost (Paperback)

(What's this?)

From the very beginning LOST was a complex show. Amongst its many layers of story telling were themes related to religion such as faith, destiny, spirituality and sin. One of the great things about the show is that it did not shy away from these topics, but voiced opposing viewpoints directly through skillfully written dialogue. LOST provided ample material to speculate about these themes and The Gospel According to LOST by Chris Seay begins to do just that.

The simplest way to summarize the book is that it explores the spiritual themes of LOST. It does so in the same way LOST does: through it's characters. Twelve of its seventeen chapters are character specific. The other five chapters provide background and set-up the topics that follow them. Most of the material simply explores critical plot points throughout the characters' lives. However, there are some more interesting points of exegesis. For example, the chapter on Eko looks at the various Bible verses inscribed on Eko's stick and considers what they might mean for the plot of the show.

I have two criticisms of the book. The first is that it was published before the final season aired. Probably the best explanation for this is that the book is far more likely to be successful while the show is running than after it ends. But the premature timetable necessarily limits how far the author can go in his reflections. The other problem I have is with the title, The Gospel According to LOST. LOST's "gospel" was never really elucidated, and my guess is that the title turns away readers who would otherwise find the book insightful. It sounds like one of the hokey religious books that reads religion into everything. Seay does a good job of avoiding that sort of hazard.

The Gospel According to LOST is a worthwhile read for any fan. If you care about the characters and the nuances of LOST's narrative, this book will definitely interest you. Chris Seay is a pastor, and he doesn't shy away from being pastoral, but he also doesn't try to shove anything down anyone's throats. This book is a great way to delve a little deeper into the many complexities that constitute LOST.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Bible, and Lost, February 22, 2010

By 

Chad H. Milec - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gospel According to Lost (Paperback)

A Review of 'The Gospel According To Lost' by Chris Seay
It took me a while to finish this book. I was able to put it down, and come back to it after periods of time. Each chapter is separate from the others, which is good, because some of the content was deep.
I came to this book as a fan of the show, Lost. If you are not a fan, some of the content will be hard to follow. It is a very interesting book. Chris does a great job of tying things from the show to the Bible.
Although I think some of the content may be hard to understand or see in the show, I think this is a good book, and I would recommend it.

I am a member of Thomas Nelson's Book Review Blogger's Program, which can be found at [...]

Thank you, and enjoy.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An Exploration of a Hit Show, February 16, 2010

By 

Michael Hickerson (Smyrna, TN) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gospel According to Lost (Paperback)

(What's this?)

Exploring the Biblical and spiritual themes of pop culture phenomenons is nothing new. We've had a Biblical look at Peanuts, the Simpsons and 24 and well as a previous book that looked at the deeper issues of what we can find in ABC's "Lost."

"The Gospel According to Lost" is another exploration of the values and characters exhibited by the hit series but unlike the book "What Can Be Found in Lost" the book feels a deeper and more thought out. Both are good and will give fans and Christians new insights into the show and its characters, all while creating a desire to go back to the source material for greater refection and study. In this case, you may find yourself wanting to dust off those old "Lost" DVDs and your Bible to examine some of the questions and issues raised by this book and the series.

Written heading into the final season of the show, the book offers some intriguing insights into the past and future of the show.