The Orphean Passages

by Walter Wangerin Jr.

A remarkable weaving of faith, myth, and humanity from award-winning novelist Walter Wangerin Jr. Faith, writes Walter Wangerin, is 'a relationship with the living God enacted in this world.' It is ever-changing and inherently dramatic. The Orphan Passages is Wangerin's compelling story of a Christian pastor's career and the drama of his faith. Interlaced with the classical myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, this daring and unconventional inquiry into Christian experience ranks among the most challenging of Wangerin's works. Wangerin sees in the ancient myth an extraordinary parallel of the twists and turns individuals follow in their journeys of faith. In the author's own present-day Reverend Orpheus, that parallel is vividly played out -- rendering the modern story of one man both universal and timeless. The Orphan Passages asserts the truth of a legend that people of all times have experienced. It has the immediacy of a well-wrought novel, driving readers on to the surprising yet inevitable conclusion.

Genres: Fiction, Theology

308 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

About the author

Walter Wangerin Jr. is widely recognized as one of the most gifted writers writing today on the issues of faith and spirituality. Starting with the renowned Book of the Dun Cow, Wangerin's writing career has encompassed most every genre: fiction, essay, short story, children's story, meditation, and biblical exposition. His writing voice is immediately recognizable, and his fans number in the millions. The author of over forty books, Wangerin has won the National Book Award, New York Times Best Children's Book of the Year Award, and several Gold Medallions, including best-fiction awards for both The Book of God and Paul: A Novel. He lives in Valparaiso, Indiana, where he is Senior Research Professor at Valparaiso University.

Reviews

[Rosie · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the Prologue, Wangerin writes: "In order to comprehend the experience one is living in, he must, by imagination and by intellect, be lifted out of it. He must be given to see it whole; but since he can never wholly gaze upon his own life while he lives it, he gazes upon the life that, in a symbol, comprehends his own....Myth...is such a symbol." Wangerin uses the myth of Orpheus, alongside a fictional account of a modern day Orpheus (a pastor and a sinner like us, based very roughly on Wangerin's own ministry in an inner city church), as well as the Gospel narrative of Christ, to bring us through the six "passages" or stages of "faithing" (faith is a verb, claims Wangerin, since it involves a changing relationship with a dynamic God): 1) Experience and Language; 2) Death and Mourning; 3) Mortification, Supplication; 4) Faith, Conviction, and Not Seeing; 5) Guilt, and the Final Refinement, Dying; 6) Resurrection. These passages all contain something each one of us can relate to, and so Wangerin brings us, through the gift of story, to a place where we can see our lives from the outside and comprehend our experiences. A truly remarkable book, skillfully woven from these three rich narratives as well as Wangerin's own theological reflections. Much to savor and digest. This was my second read of the book in eight years. All I managed to write in summary of it the first time was: "The story of a Christian pastor's career and the drama of his faith interlaced with the classical myth of Orpheus and Eurydice. Faith, says Wangerin, is ever-changing and is thus better seen as a verb: faithing." In the intervening eight years, I've experienced more of the desolation Wangerin talks about, so I can enter into the story more and get more out of it. So I'd mark this one as a "reread every decade" book, the highest acclaim I could give it. It will grow on you.

[Olivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

RIP, Walter – you would have loved Hadestown.

[Cristina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was completely over my head. I'll admit I am not familiar with the story of Orpheas. I read this book anyway. This is not a light read.

[Gina Faith]

One of the best books I've read. A great description of belief.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deep, philosophical/spiritual which gets one thinking deeply