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The Messiah of Morris Avenue
In The Messiah of Morris Avenue , Tony Hendra―the acclaimed satirist and New York Times bestselling author of Father Joe ―poses the would we recognize the messiah if he appeared today? And delivers, in the words of Frank McCourt, “just what the country needs now―a good dose of merriment in the face of crawthumping righteousness.”
In the not so distant future, the tide of righteousness―in the form of executions, barking evangelists, tank-like SUVs, and a movie industry run entirely by the Christian right―has swept the nation. Aside from the non-white, the non-Christian, and the non-wealthy, all are believers.
Among the skeptics is a washed-up journalist named Johnny Greco, who hears of a media-shy young man known as “Jay” roaming through ghettos, healing the sick, and tossing off miracles. Soft-spoken and shabbily dressed, Jay is an unlikely savior for this anxious and intolerant America.
But as he makes his rounds, gathers followers, and makes furious enemies among the righteous powers that be, Johnny finds it harder and harder to doubt him.
In the not so distant future, the tide of righteousness―in the form of executions, barking evangelists, tank-like SUVs, and a movie industry run entirely by the Christian right―has swept the nation. Aside from the non-white, the non-Christian, and the non-wealthy, all are believers.
Among the skeptics is a washed-up journalist named Johnny Greco, who hears of a media-shy young man known as “Jay” roaming through ghettos, healing the sick, and tossing off miracles. Soft-spoken and shabbily dressed, Jay is an unlikely savior for this anxious and intolerant America.
But as he makes his rounds, gathers followers, and makes furious enemies among the righteous powers that be, Johnny finds it harder and harder to doubt him.
245 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
11 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
Tony Hendra
24 books13 followersTony Hendra (born 1941) is an English satirist and writer, who has worked mostly in the United States. Educated at St Albans School (where he was a class-mate of Stephen Hawking) and Cambridge University, he was a member of the Cambridge University Footlights revue in 1962, alongside John Cleese, Graham Chapman and Tim Brooke-Taylor.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
June 1, 2008
A Left Behind for Liberals. Neat concept, but turns out it's too much like Left Behind for conservatives.
May 9, 2011
I liked the idea behind this book. Sadly, that was probably the best part.
April 11, 2015
This was SURPRISINGLY good - insightful, thoughtful, liberal, intuitive, subversive, and probably the first book I've ever read that made me think that someone REALLY has thought about life, the world, and Christianity and tried to figure out how they all fit together. Worth a read.
February 8, 2018
Set in a not-so-far dystopian Christian America, Hendra’s satirical speculations are often plausible, answering why God did not make any Christian theocratic states in history—and would not in the future.
The synopsis is quite a misnomer. It seems to suggest that the setting is in jail.
The story is established upfront to be a Christian satire, so the tone is expectedly preachy. However, even—or especially–secularists could appreciate the story because it speaks honestly of religion. It does not venerate it, rather expose it—not to destroy, but to rescue.
The Catholic bias of Hendra is obvious. For example, the dystopian Christian America is Evangelical. His satire is obviously on Evangelicals alone, and his comments on Catholics are decent. As an Evangelical satirist, I also have biases. However, Hendra does not seem to do justice to the pros and cons of the contrasting faiths. He does not show the good side of Evangelicalism and does not show the bad side of Catholicism.
There are heresies in the novels that both Catholics and Evangelicals anathemize (e.g. “Mother God”). But that is pardonable in a speculative fiction. Theologically illiterate believers, however, could easily be swayed to these. And the theologically literate could easily cringe. But as a Christian fictionist, myself, I believe it is the responsibility of the readers—especially the believers—to know which are heretical.
The plot build up is decently engaging. But as the story progresses in the middle and near ending, it gets boring, which makes it more disappointing because I have been teased expecting an increasing satisfaction. It underdelivers what it built well.
As many bibliophiles would feel, I wanted to finish the story to know whether the ending, at least, redeemed the boring middle. But, like I said, after the first half, the story regresses. So I got to a point where I already lost interest. I am sorry for both myself and the author, because I wanted to like the story. And for me, a good story is a good story as a whole, not a story that just has good parts.
There are always books in a bibliophile’s TBR pile that deserves to be read, so I had to give this one up to give chance to others. And like with other books I did quite not like or totally thought was a waste of time, I do not think the book itself is bad, it just does not work for me personally. But still props to Hendra, he writes decently.
The synopsis is quite a misnomer. It seems to suggest that the setting is in jail.
The story is established upfront to be a Christian satire, so the tone is expectedly preachy. However, even—or especially–secularists could appreciate the story because it speaks honestly of religion. It does not venerate it, rather expose it—not to destroy, but to rescue.
The Catholic bias of Hendra is obvious. For example, the dystopian Christian America is Evangelical. His satire is obviously on Evangelicals alone, and his comments on Catholics are decent. As an Evangelical satirist, I also have biases. However, Hendra does not seem to do justice to the pros and cons of the contrasting faiths. He does not show the good side of Evangelicalism and does not show the bad side of Catholicism.
There are heresies in the novels that both Catholics and Evangelicals anathemize (e.g. “Mother God”). But that is pardonable in a speculative fiction. Theologically illiterate believers, however, could easily be swayed to these. And the theologically literate could easily cringe. But as a Christian fictionist, myself, I believe it is the responsibility of the readers—especially the believers—to know which are heretical.
The plot build up is decently engaging. But as the story progresses in the middle and near ending, it gets boring, which makes it more disappointing because I have been teased expecting an increasing satisfaction. It underdelivers what it built well.
As many bibliophiles would feel, I wanted to finish the story to know whether the ending, at least, redeemed the boring middle. But, like I said, after the first half, the story regresses. So I got to a point where I already lost interest. I am sorry for both myself and the author, because I wanted to like the story. And for me, a good story is a good story as a whole, not a story that just has good parts.
There are always books in a bibliophile’s TBR pile that deserves to be read, so I had to give this one up to give chance to others. And like with other books I did quite not like or totally thought was a waste of time, I do not think the book itself is bad, it just does not work for me personally. But still props to Hendra, he writes decently.
January 18, 2011
This was an intriguing book, one of the most thought-provoking novels I have read in a long time. I wish there was a way to give it at least 4.5 stars, for I thought it was that good. Rather than making comments on the plot or the contents, though, let me just share some of the noteworthy quotes:
“There’s one kind of person capable of certainty and another kind incapable of it. The second kind envies the first. The first doesn’t envy the second; doesn’t even know, in fact, by what right they’re alive. In that arrogant ignorance lies most of human tragedy” (p. 31). (As you might easily guess, the book is a rebuke of fundamentalist thinking in general and fundamentalist Christians in particular.)
In response to a statement by José, the Jesus figure, the narrator asks for clarification: “The worship of God is the beginning of evil?” José replies, “If it makes you have contempt for others: for an enemy, for the poor, for the rich, for the helpless, for the different. It’s not God you’re worshipping, it’s your own pathetic projection of omnipotence. But God is: the enemy, the poor, the rich, the helpless, the different. God is the other. All evil begins with this belief: that another’s existence is less precious than mine” (pp. 90-91). (That last statement is a highly significant one.)
Toward the end, José says, “No human being alive is my enemy. My enemies are poverty, injustice, untreated disease, violence, and greed. Nothing justifies any of these crimes against humanity, especially not my words in the Bible. And none of these enemies of God can be defeated by war. The only war that must be won is the war on war” (p. 169). And then later he says, "Love is the only family value that matters” (p. 192).
While there is some questionable theology in it, still, this novel is very much worth reading, and I recommend it highly.
“There’s one kind of person capable of certainty and another kind incapable of it. The second kind envies the first. The first doesn’t envy the second; doesn’t even know, in fact, by what right they’re alive. In that arrogant ignorance lies most of human tragedy” (p. 31). (As you might easily guess, the book is a rebuke of fundamentalist thinking in general and fundamentalist Christians in particular.)
In response to a statement by José, the Jesus figure, the narrator asks for clarification: “The worship of God is the beginning of evil?” José replies, “If it makes you have contempt for others: for an enemy, for the poor, for the rich, for the helpless, for the different. It’s not God you’re worshipping, it’s your own pathetic projection of omnipotence. But God is: the enemy, the poor, the rich, the helpless, the different. God is the other. All evil begins with this belief: that another’s existence is less precious than mine” (pp. 90-91). (That last statement is a highly significant one.)
Toward the end, José says, “No human being alive is my enemy. My enemies are poverty, injustice, untreated disease, violence, and greed. Nothing justifies any of these crimes against humanity, especially not my words in the Bible. And none of these enemies of God can be defeated by war. The only war that must be won is the war on war” (p. 169). And then later he says, "Love is the only family value that matters” (p. 192).
While there is some questionable theology in it, still, this novel is very much worth reading, and I recommend it highly.
January 29, 2010
If my son-in-law didn't work at an FDNY firehouse near Morris Avenue, I probably would not have bothered to read this book. It would have been a terrible loss. The writing is humorous, character-driven, but works mysteriously into full-blown biblical cross-references. Those of you who have spent some time in the New Testament will find this book really engaging.
We always seem to need someone or something to save our poor sad souls. The author contends that there is no shortage of miraculous spiritual guides abounding, just a shortage of those who can actually see them for what they are.
The author is a past editor of the National Lampoon, so if off-kilter, sarcastic humor is your idea of a good time, dive in. Especially if you don't mind skewering religiousity and self-righteousness in the process. If you've ever been to the Mid-Bronx, this will transport you into a community that is an engine of regeneration and redemption.
We always seem to need someone or something to save our poor sad souls. The author contends that there is no shortage of miraculous spiritual guides abounding, just a shortage of those who can actually see them for what they are.
The author is a past editor of the National Lampoon, so if off-kilter, sarcastic humor is your idea of a good time, dive in. Especially if you don't mind skewering religiousity and self-righteousness in the process. If you've ever been to the Mid-Bronx, this will transport you into a community that is an engine of regeneration and redemption.
May 14, 2009
Apparently, the new Jesus is this Guatemalan kid named Jose who lives in the Bronx and performs various miracles around the neighborhood, all while trying to avoid the public spotlight and the backlash of an avid Christian right. Pretty funny stuff. A little too political but entertaining at the very least.
April 17, 2007
This book is a little too over the top for me. A much better and more inspiring version is the Joshua series. I couldn't even finish the first 100 pages b/c it was too much.
July 26, 2008
Half way through. The idea of what could happen if the religious right continues to gain power and influence is interesting, but it's a little like the text of a graphic novel.
November 7, 2017
Good idea with the modern day 2nd coming, but never really went anywhere with it.
April 9, 2018
Suppose there really were a "Second Coming", an authentic new Messiah, in the midst of a self-righteous, politicized, and commercialized Christianity. It's not an entirely new idea, but Tony Hendra gives it real life. He doesn't stop with the obvious. No, the Messiah does not approve. But there's more to it.
Hendra's Messiah is "Jay" ("Jose" or even "Hay-soos"). But the contrast between Jay and establishment Christianity that left an impression on me was not that the Messiah isn't a well-dressed white guy. It's that his Christianity is simple. It's not an ideology, a way to claim superiority over other people, or a badge of righteousness. It's a way to live moment by moment and a way to treat other people, moment by moment. There's very little of "God said this" or "God said that" -- Jay wants us to treat each other well. He won't use television, movies, or other electronic media to spread his message -- it's spread person to person, face to face, live. "The Revelation," he says, "will not be televised."
Hendra's narrator, Johnny Greco, is an "unbeliever." But what he doesn't quite believe is that Jay is truly the Messiah; what I think he does believe is the simple message that Jay brings. That seems fine with Jay, but the problem is that not everyone reacts that way. They want proof that he is the Messiah. Heal people, perform miracles. Jay heals. But it never ends. That person may have been a plant. Heal somebody else. Prove yourself.
Nothing will be sufficient -- faith is an action, not the consequence of a demonstration of proof. The message is lost. It's not Jay's authenticity, it's just his message that really matters. Do we really need a Messiah to prove himself to us before we can accept that we should treat each other well?
Tony Hendra may not be a familiar name, but he's been around. He played the band manager in Spinal Tap, and he's an accomplished satirist. I haven't mentioned his farcical depictions of Christian leaders and politicians -- but this is a fun read. I sailed through it -- it's written with both humor and substance. It's a good book.
Hendra's Messiah is "Jay" ("Jose" or even "Hay-soos"). But the contrast between Jay and establishment Christianity that left an impression on me was not that the Messiah isn't a well-dressed white guy. It's that his Christianity is simple. It's not an ideology, a way to claim superiority over other people, or a badge of righteousness. It's a way to live moment by moment and a way to treat other people, moment by moment. There's very little of "God said this" or "God said that" -- Jay wants us to treat each other well. He won't use television, movies, or other electronic media to spread his message -- it's spread person to person, face to face, live. "The Revelation," he says, "will not be televised."
Hendra's narrator, Johnny Greco, is an "unbeliever." But what he doesn't quite believe is that Jay is truly the Messiah; what I think he does believe is the simple message that Jay brings. That seems fine with Jay, but the problem is that not everyone reacts that way. They want proof that he is the Messiah. Heal people, perform miracles. Jay heals. But it never ends. That person may have been a plant. Heal somebody else. Prove yourself.
Nothing will be sufficient -- faith is an action, not the consequence of a demonstration of proof. The message is lost. It's not Jay's authenticity, it's just his message that really matters. Do we really need a Messiah to prove himself to us before we can accept that we should treat each other well?
Tony Hendra may not be a familiar name, but he's been around. He played the band manager in Spinal Tap, and he's an accomplished satirist. I haven't mentioned his farcical depictions of Christian leaders and politicians -- but this is a fun read. I sailed through it -- it's written with both humor and substance. It's a good book.
August 3, 2018
I don't entirely agree on Tony Hendra's perspective, but I give it five stars anyways, because the novel is sincere and doesn't give cheap irritating sugar coats (unlike "The Sack"). The story starts off by trying to Christianize Hollywood, which can't be done, because the Prince of Peace does not favor chauvinism. The Reverend failed to see his own hypocrisy.
Its incredible how everything escalates into violence immediately; plans are made to go to war in the name of the Prince of Peace (that's America for yeah), over cheese. Fighting over cheese! My cheese is better than your cheese! Even going so far as giving back the State of Liberty to France (because the USA no longer wants the poor, the hungry, etc., and also hating on France for having better cheese).
Then there is Jose (or Jay). He comes from poverty and his mom's name is Maria (sounds awfully familiar). Also Jose is friends with the unwanted crowd in society (wait I know this story!). He explains that Jesus (when he was Jesus), was not in favor of hostility, and of course since the US is basically the Neo Roman Empire, that did not swing well. Should I even bother to describe the rest?
My only disagreement is really this...Proclaiming the Lord's gender is not easily explained in the Bible. I will refer to the Lord as Him, because of my feelings of the matter. I think of Him in both masculine and feminine (after all men have both X and Y chromosomes), but say Him/He/His, because His Words are masculine to me. I think that what is being referred to here in "The Messiah of Morris Avenue" is the heart. Brains are masculine and hearts are feminine. Wise as a serpent, loving as a child. Then again, wisdom in the Bible, is explained as a form of a woman, so maybe I have that in reverse. Okay, brains are feminine, and hearts are masculine. You know what I can't keep thinking of this without contradicting myself, so we will just leave it.
Its incredible how everything escalates into violence immediately; plans are made to go to war in the name of the Prince of Peace (that's America for yeah), over cheese. Fighting over cheese! My cheese is better than your cheese! Even going so far as giving back the State of Liberty to France (because the USA no longer wants the poor, the hungry, etc., and also hating on France for having better cheese).
Then there is Jose (or Jay). He comes from poverty and his mom's name is Maria (sounds awfully familiar). Also Jose is friends with the unwanted crowd in society (wait I know this story!). He explains that Jesus (when he was Jesus), was not in favor of hostility, and of course since the US is basically the Neo Roman Empire, that did not swing well. Should I even bother to describe the rest?
My only disagreement is really this...Proclaiming the Lord's gender is not easily explained in the Bible. I will refer to the Lord as Him, because of my feelings of the matter. I think of Him in both masculine and feminine (after all men have both X and Y chromosomes), but say Him/He/His, because His Words are masculine to me. I think that what is being referred to here in "The Messiah of Morris Avenue" is the heart. Brains are masculine and hearts are feminine. Wise as a serpent, loving as a child. Then again, wisdom in the Bible, is explained as a form of a woman, so maybe I have that in reverse. Okay, brains are feminine, and hearts are masculine. You know what I can't keep thinking of this without contradicting myself, so we will just leave it.
March 31, 2025
really big fan of the concept. it tackles what’s plaguing modern day politics (especially in the United States) and the weaponization of religion to a political party (as i believe there’s a difference between a political party that has similar views to a religion rather than a political party that’s using religion).
the rest of the book really nosedives. i’m a big fan of the opening few chapters, as it really reminds me of the introductory, dystopian world building to 1984 that i loved so much in that book. once it gets to the main narrative, it feels moreso like an adaptation of the story of Jesus into the modern day rather than a reinvention of it. if you know the story of jesus, you know the story of this book, although i will say that the modern adaptations of the events Jesus went through are very interesting. subsequently, i wish it talked more about the dangers of attaching politics to religion rather than the author’s own religious beliefs (even though i do agree with them).
pretty decent, but i wish it packed more of a punch.
the rest of the book really nosedives. i’m a big fan of the opening few chapters, as it really reminds me of the introductory, dystopian world building to 1984 that i loved so much in that book. once it gets to the main narrative, it feels moreso like an adaptation of the story of Jesus into the modern day rather than a reinvention of it. if you know the story of jesus, you know the story of this book, although i will say that the modern adaptations of the events Jesus went through are very interesting. subsequently, i wish it talked more about the dangers of attaching politics to religion rather than the author’s own religious beliefs (even though i do agree with them).
pretty decent, but i wish it packed more of a punch.
July 25, 2018
Very wierd book, but a story to think about.
December 5, 2025
So promising but turned heavy and hopeless. I thought maybe I should just put it down before the last 5 chapters. I wish I had.
November 24, 2018
I suspect this book, a preachy political tract presented as a novel, has a limited audience. As such its an inventive, well written novel whose underlying themes about religious and political hypocrisy involve and the second coming of the messiah. The ideas are about as blunt as a sledge hammer but nevertheless are likely to be dismissed out of hand by those most in need of understanding then.
This time He is an inner city boy in a semi-theocratic US run by a televangelist. Its pretty well written (jumps a bit) but the story is highly engaging. Dry humor, written from the point of view of a tabloid journalist.
The author paints his messiah as pacifist, consistent, passionate, and kind. Part of what makes the book interesting is the vehicle - it seems to be a means of delivering a world view, probably that of the author. So not only does it delve into politics but also social cohesion and a variety of other associated ills. He describes creation as a blasphemy with evolution being the divine "work of art". Rage and anger "is a great sin". War "is a mutual murder-suicide pact between family members" and "cowards are heroes to God".
He also explores social ills and to some extent their relation to the political issues he brings up - for example materialism as a substitute for social fabric ("people live in hermitages of possessions"), and fostering of shallow relationships that don’t go the distance.
"What’s the answer?"
"Flesh and blood touching flesh and blood. Life touching life. Yours, mine, everybody’s."
Since it was written by Tony Hendra I expected a comedy- this is not though it is dryly humorous. Thought provoking. Complex book worth a couple reads.
This time He is an inner city boy in a semi-theocratic US run by a televangelist. Its pretty well written (jumps a bit) but the story is highly engaging. Dry humor, written from the point of view of a tabloid journalist.
The author paints his messiah as pacifist, consistent, passionate, and kind. Part of what makes the book interesting is the vehicle - it seems to be a means of delivering a world view, probably that of the author. So not only does it delve into politics but also social cohesion and a variety of other associated ills. He describes creation as a blasphemy with evolution being the divine "work of art". Rage and anger "is a great sin". War "is a mutual murder-suicide pact between family members" and "cowards are heroes to God".
He also explores social ills and to some extent their relation to the political issues he brings up - for example materialism as a substitute for social fabric ("people live in hermitages of possessions"), and fostering of shallow relationships that don’t go the distance.
"What’s the answer?"
"Flesh and blood touching flesh and blood. Life touching life. Yours, mine, everybody’s."
Since it was written by Tony Hendra I expected a comedy- this is not though it is dryly humorous. Thought provoking. Complex book worth a couple reads.
September 13, 2008
I confess I only got this book because it bears some similarity to my (almost finished ) novel.
As I began reading it I realized that it had very litle in common and was written totally differently. It also takes place in the future and i thought it was a little too cartoonish I almost was going to stop reading and read the Kite Runner, which barb highly recommended.
But I am glad I didn't stop. it takes place in an America maybe 10 years in the future , and a fundamentalist world view has pretty much, though not completely taken over america. The personalities are extreme, but some of the actual fundamentalist personalities are actually just as bad as what is portrayed here, so my concern may have ben out of naievete, rather than sophistication.
the actual story is about a cynical reporter who has watched America go down the tubes. But he hears about this guy in Jersey that is going around healing people. It becomes quite poignant, and turns into a much richer more nuanced tale as he explores this story and comes to befriend this person. I would almost give it 5 stars but something makes me hesitate.
Of course the book totally caters to my political, social and spiritual beliefs so I don't know how some of my deeply religious friends would take this. I would be interested to know.
Anyway, the story becomes more and more interesting and the dialogue explores some pretty pressing issues that are going on now.
As I began reading it I realized that it had very litle in common and was written totally differently. It also takes place in the future and i thought it was a little too cartoonish I almost was going to stop reading and read the Kite Runner, which barb highly recommended.
But I am glad I didn't stop. it takes place in an America maybe 10 years in the future , and a fundamentalist world view has pretty much, though not completely taken over america. The personalities are extreme, but some of the actual fundamentalist personalities are actually just as bad as what is portrayed here, so my concern may have ben out of naievete, rather than sophistication.
the actual story is about a cynical reporter who has watched America go down the tubes. But he hears about this guy in Jersey that is going around healing people. It becomes quite poignant, and turns into a much richer more nuanced tale as he explores this story and comes to befriend this person. I would almost give it 5 stars but something makes me hesitate.
Of course the book totally caters to my political, social and spiritual beliefs so I don't know how some of my deeply religious friends would take this. I would be interested to know.
Anyway, the story becomes more and more interesting and the dialogue explores some pretty pressing issues that are going on now.
August 9, 2011
WOW!! I have lent this book out to friends, because I think those in the Church definitely need a book like this. Hendra is not a "Christian", but nonetheless the love for Christ he shows in this book is astounding. He points out how beautiful Christ is for those of us who do follow Him, and also makes Jesus a person that even a non-believer would want to follow (I sense Hendra in this category). It's a recapitulation of the Jesus story in a modern context but also a very thought-provoking critique of modern Christianity and how its lost sight of the person we are supposed to be following.
Weaving together the story of a reporter on a mission to find out if a"Messiah" he keeps hearing about is legit, the reporter is astounded at what he finds, and frankly so is the reader. Why is the government who is supposed to be Christian persecuting this man? Why are people so upset with his message? Why does his mother fear for his life? Why do his disciples come from such sketchy backgrounds (what a minute weren't the original disciples from not so a high a background themselves?)... I definitely recommend this book. Though Hendra doesn't have all the theology down pact... nonetheless it's a great book. Thanks Hendra for helping me see clearly once again the kind of Messiah who lived in flesh and blood and who I desire to follow!
Weaving together the story of a reporter on a mission to find out if a"Messiah" he keeps hearing about is legit, the reporter is astounded at what he finds, and frankly so is the reader. Why is the government who is supposed to be Christian persecuting this man? Why are people so upset with his message? Why does his mother fear for his life? Why do his disciples come from such sketchy backgrounds (what a minute weren't the original disciples from not so a high a background themselves?)... I definitely recommend this book. Though Hendra doesn't have all the theology down pact... nonetheless it's a great book. Thanks Hendra for helping me see clearly once again the kind of Messiah who lived in flesh and blood and who I desire to follow!
November 19, 2010
Liked the idea better than the execution. I think he could have developed plot and characters more, but I give him credit for writing about Jesus when he had to know that critics and their ilk would not take him seriously given that kind of subject matter. Some quotes I liked:
"Screens of every kind kill meaning for those on them and for those watching them. People must talk to people; lives must touch lives. The Revelation will not be televised."
"Modern loneliness is physical as well as spiritual. People live in hermitages of possession. You need great strength to be a hermit, to discover God alone. The vast majority of people find God through community. But the communities Jesus took for granted--the tribe, the village, the market town--are gone. People buy pathetic substitutes for community--sound waves in a speaker, particles bombarding a screen--all pretending to be friends or the folks next door. The vacuum they leave when the screen goes dark, when the recording ends, is filled with a loneliness worse than ever before."
"Screens of every kind kill meaning for those on them and for those watching them. People must talk to people; lives must touch lives. The Revelation will not be televised."
"Modern loneliness is physical as well as spiritual. People live in hermitages of possession. You need great strength to be a hermit, to discover God alone. The vast majority of people find God through community. But the communities Jesus took for granted--the tribe, the village, the market town--are gone. People buy pathetic substitutes for community--sound waves in a speaker, particles bombarding a screen--all pretending to be friends or the folks next door. The vacuum they leave when the screen goes dark, when the recording ends, is filled with a loneliness worse than ever before."
April 9, 2016
If nothing else, this is an effecting book. There are many moments of stopping and reflecting on Hendra's retelling and reworking of the Jesus story. He's done a great job. I'm having trouble trying to figure out whether it comes across as sanctimonious to someone who isn't already on the side of the perspective it offers (which I am). That aside, I'm really glad to have read it. It articulates foundational tenets of my faith in grounded ways. Believable ones, even. I especially appreciate Hendra's take on the Judas character; I've felt for a long time that Judas has been miscast as a pure villain. An enthusiastic supporter who overplays the hand of a teacher he loves but fundamentally misunderstands makes much more sense to me, as it seems to for Hendra.
This books sits very comfortably alongside The Shack - it tells the story we know in a different way and has a lot of value to add to the conversation.
This books sits very comfortably alongside The Shack - it tells the story we know in a different way and has a lot of value to add to the conversation.
October 23, 2010
Skimmed it again (read it once for me, once when first assigned it to students, and skimmed twice now for later classes). Still find the near-future dystopian critique of an Evangelical future U.S. uncomfortably disturbing, the Jay/Jose character engaging, the Greco (Judas) character a little too much like me for comfort, and the ending both echoing the Biblical account of Jesus and surprising anyway.
It's an interesting mix of old and new theology. I was reminded of this in the class discussion this week, when doctrines of major sections of Christianity (now and in the past) were labeled by students as "New Age" or "not Christian." Well, not the kind of Christian that is dominant in the U.S. today...the kind that Hendra seems to think may lead to the dystopia he describes...but "not Christian"? Really?
It's an interesting mix of old and new theology. I was reminded of this in the class discussion this week, when doctrines of major sections of Christianity (now and in the past) were labeled by students as "New Age" or "not Christian." Well, not the kind of Christian that is dominant in the U.S. today...the kind that Hendra seems to think may lead to the dystopia he describes...but "not Christian"? Really?
September 7, 2007
So, this is a satire about the second coming of Christ.
It takes a different perspective on things, though.
Instead of our country neglecting religion and trying to push it out of the lives of the citizens (like it seems to be doing at this point in time), religion (Christianity) is practically running America. Also, Jesus comes back as Jose, a Latino guy from (I want to say) the Bronx. It's much like when Christ first came to Earth, only this time, he came to reform Christianity. It's got a lot of Biblical references, but also some definate differences between the Christian Faith and what Jay (Jose, you sillies) teaches; like portraying one part of God as a Mother.
It takes a different perspective on things, though.
Instead of our country neglecting religion and trying to push it out of the lives of the citizens (like it seems to be doing at this point in time), religion (Christianity) is practically running America. Also, Jesus comes back as Jose, a Latino guy from (I want to say) the Bronx. It's much like when Christ first came to Earth, only this time, he came to reform Christianity. It's got a lot of Biblical references, but also some definate differences between the Christian Faith and what Jay (Jose, you sillies) teaches; like portraying one part of God as a Mother.
May 7, 2012
When I fly, I bury myself in books. I don't want to talk, I just want to get there. When I got on my last flight, the man sitting next to me asked "What are you reading?" and we talked all the way home. We exchanged interesting books we had read recently, and this was his recommendation.
What I liked about the book was what I believe to be a very real understanding of what Jesus said and what he meant when he said it. What I didn't like was that the book was very thin in terms of character and character development, and the plotting was minimal. Hendra has a message to deliver, and the message comes through. The delivery could use more attention.
What I liked about the book was what I believe to be a very real understanding of what Jesus said and what he meant when he said it. What I didn't like was that the book was very thin in terms of character and character development, and the plotting was minimal. Hendra has a message to deliver, and the message comes through. The delivery could use more attention.
December 29, 2009
I enjoyed this book, but had a hard time concentrating on it. I don't know if it was the book, or me. It's about Jesus coming back as a Hispanic laborer. He corrects all the wrongs Christianity has done and clears up misconceptions of the Bible. Interesting concept, but I'm just not sure what I got out of it was worth all the work I put in it. Also interesting concept about the Trinity being the ultimate nuclear family.
July 31, 2012
So Fundamentalism has flourished to such an extent that the Hollywood sign now reads Holywood. Hendra takes the slide of the teaparty, and value based politics to the bottom of the slippery slope..following those of what the extremes could go to. In this dystopic vision, enters Jay. He is a latino, poor embodiment of the son of God. It's a put your money where your mouth is type of satire about Christianity is and what it could be. Very interesting and disturbing read.
April 4, 2014
I always enjoyed Tony Hendra's writing in the National Lampoon and thought I'd try this book when I came across it. I was really glad I did. The story follows fundamentalist religion's path if it was allowed to take over almost aspects of government, entertainment and our lives. He tells a really truthful story of how things would go if Jesus came back today or in the near future. It is all pretty scary. It is dark humor at its best. I highly recommend this book.
April 21, 2008
Picked this book up completely by chance. I was in a dinky store that sold mostly home appliances and other knick knacks when I saw this on the small bookshelf they had in the back. I liked the cover, so I picked it up not knowing what to expect. I really enjoyed reading this book, it was a refreshing new take on a really great story.
July 17, 2009
The satire of a modern America run by a theocratic government makes for a good setting for anyone to enjoy, and if you are religious, you will find the new appearance of Jesus (with contemporary language and new miracles that mirror the old) fascinating.
September 10, 2009
Wow. Why do comedians write some of the most moving stuff? It doesn't have that extra oomph to put it over the edge into five-star territory, but Hendra's compassion, humanity and sympathy are what make this anti-fundamentalist passion play work.
October 20, 2010
All in all a very well done short novel. Hendra's narrative of titular messiah was a bit heavy-handed for my taste at times, but his vision of the fundamentalist theocratic dystopia that is just around the corner feels too dead-on for comfort.
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