Perfidious Proverbs and Other Poems: A Satirical Look at the Bible (Gateway Bookshelf)
by Philip Appleman |
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Price: $14.00 $12.60
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Edition: Paperback
Publisher: Humanity Books (2011-07-26)
ISBN-10/ISBN-13: 1616143851 / 9781616143855
Amazon.com Sales Rank: 429269
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"When they hunger and thirst, and I send down a famine,
When they pray for the sun, and I drown them with rain,
And they beg me for reasons, my only reply is:
I never apologize, never explain." —God's Grandeur
In this collection of satirical poems, renowned poet Philip Appleman homes in on the inconsistencies and downright perversities of what passes in our culture as "Holy Writ." Turning to satire, with its long and distinguished record of exposing folly and bringing enlightenment through humor, Appleman leaves no doubt that primitive religion posing as eternal truth is just the sort of folly that satire is meant to correct.
Appleman lets his poetic imagination roam widely, as he takes on the roles of Eve, Noah, Sarah, Jonah, David, Mary, Jesus, Judas, and even the biblical Jehovah Himself, ("I never apologize, never explain."). We also hear from priests, televangelists, and faith healers, as well as some sensible contemporaries, commenting on what it means to live a life of reason.
At the conclusion to the introduction, Appleman says: "Intelligent and well-meaning people have argued for centuries against the fatal attraction of foolishness, but their efforts have been largely unproductive, partly because many people seem impervious to rational discussion. So perhaps satire is our most effective way of lighting candles in the darkness and communicating effectively to those who are immune to reason. That is, at any rate, the hope, and the rationale, of this book."
In this age of suicide bombers and resurgent fundamentalism, we need these lighted candles like never before.
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