a myth worth reading

The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ by Philip Pullman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
(part of: Canongate Myths series)

This is an excellent story, or rather, myth. I loved the creativity and the issues that it raised.

A few of the many moving and insightful quotes that i liked:

"make history the handmaid of posterity and not its governor"- p.99

"Lord, if i thought you were listening, I'd pray for this above all: that any church set up in your name should remain poor, and powerless, and modest. That it should wield no authority except that of love. That it should never cast anyone out. That it should own no property and make no laws. That it should not condemn, but only forgive. That it should be not like a palace with marble walls and polished floors, and guards standing at the door, but like a tree with its roots deep in the soil, that shelters every kind of bird and beast and gives blossom in the spring and shade in the hot sun and fruit in season, and in time gives up its good sound wood for the carpenter; but that sheds many thousands of seeds so that new trees can grow in its place. Does the tree say to the sparrow "Get out, you don't belong here"? Does the tree say to the hungry man "This fruit is not for you"? Does the tree test the loyalty of the beasts before it allows them into the shade?" - p.199

This is a worthy read, i recommend it!

View all my reviews