Saturday, September 27, 1997

Religion in the media: a look at recent books, music and software

The Dallas Morning News

"How Good Do We Have to Be?" by Harold S. Kushner (Back Bay, $10.95). This new book by the author of that comforting best seller, "When Bad Things Happen to Good People," is for people experiencing guilt and disappointment. And his message is as comforting as before: God doesn't stop loving us every time we do something wrong, and we shouldn't stop loving ourselves and one another for being less than perfect. Rabbi Kushner contends that the story of Adam and Eve has tangled Jews and Christians in a knot of unnecessary guilt. He believes that the story represents not the consequences of disobeying God, but the result of evolving from animals to humans. And he believes that eating from the Tree of Knowledge was an act of bravery, not sin. To be whole, he writes, we must rise above the fear that we will be rejected for not being perfect. -Deborah Kovach Caldwell

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"The Promise of Winter," by Martin Marty and Micah Marty (Eerdmans, $16). Martin Marty, the most influential interpreter of religion in America, has teamed up with his photographer son, Micah, to produce their third book together, this one a lovely paperback of winter photographs paired with meditations. Each page begins with a psalm text, continues with an example of hope that helps people live through winter, or through low periods, and ends with a prayer. The black-and-white photographs, of snow tracks, bare trees, icicles and cemeteries, evoke stillness and stark beauty. My only quibble is that the photos are not titled or described in any detail. I would have liked to know where they were taken and maybe a little more about the scenes. The authors suggest that readers use the book for daily meditation or read the whole thing on a long flight. And, they say, the 47 pairings of text and photos are perfect for use during Lent, climaxing with an Easter meditation. -Deborah Kovach Caldwell

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MUSIC

This Bright Hour, by Fernando Ortega (Myrrh, 55 minutes). This tender, subtle collection is augmented by the inclusion of a couple of traditional hymns. All are heartfelt songs of praise or spiritual longing rendered in an acoustic setting recalling early James Taylor. Particularly moving is "If You Were Mine," written to a child whom Ortega and his wife tried unsuccessfully to adopt. "Angel Fire" also speaks of distance and longing. Ortega avoids easy answers, adding depth to sensitivity. -Christopher Ave

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Sunday Drive, by Sunday Drive (Brentwood, 36 minutes). Sunday Drive is one of those "new" bands that has been around, in one form or another, for 20 years. Having sung for churches, youth groups and at rallies with popular speaker Josh McDowell, Sunday Drive finally scored a record contract last year. The sound is middle-of-the-road rock with scattered ballads, something akin to Hootie & the Blowfish. Highlights include the first single, "God is Believable," featuring a catchy chorus and production that revolves around a crunchy guitar lick. "For Tomorrow" discusses communication in a milieu of airy harmonies drenched in silvery guitar. -Christopher Ave

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Lounge Freak, by John Jonethis (Essential, 42 minutes). Ever wanted to hear dc Talk's "Jesus Freak" or Jars of Clay's "Flood" performed in a lounge act, a la Bill Murray? Maybe not, but this collection of Christian rock hits translated into lounge music is a hoot. Jonethis, a former lounge singer at Nashville's Hermitage Hotel, imbues each song with just enough sincerity to make it listenable. But you can almost hear the smile in his voice. This record would be perfect at a party. Enjoyable on its own merits, but a conversation piece nonetheless. -Christopher Ave

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SOFTWARE

'Bible Illustrator 2.0," CD-ROM for Windows, $29; or this software can be downloaded from the Parsons Technology Web site. (Parsons Technology, 1-800-644-6344, www.parsonstech.com.) Pastors, teachers, public speakers or even those who just like to have the right story, quotation or anecdote at their fingertips will find this a tremendous resource, with more than 2,500 illustrations. The database can be searched by topic, Bible verse, Thompson Chain-Reference Bible, number, word or phrase and can accommodate wild-card characters and boolean searches. Enhanced searching lets the user find illustrations based on other criteria such as whether the illustration has been used, modified, etc. Separate databases can be created to store illustrations added by the user, and the database can be expanded via an annual subscription service that provides 90 new illustrations each quarter. The deluxe version of the software ($69) includes Illustrations Unlimited, "Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World" and "The Complete Book of Zingers, Practical Proverbs & Wacky Wit." -Laurel Laurentz

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"The Story of Creation," CD-ROM for Windows; also available for Macintosh; $19, Little Ark Interactive (A Random House/Broderbund Co., distributed by Parsons Technology, 1-800-973-5111.) This interactive software will be as engaging to adults as it is to children. It reinforces Bible messages, loosely but faithfully based on the Genesis story. The animation is delightful; the music is catchy. A child narrator reads the stories. Or the user can explore the scenes himself. The cartoon characterizations transcend stereotype. Our favorite was the bald eagle that does a short James Brown-style song and dance. The software has been approved by a multidenominational panel of advisers. -Laurel Laurentz

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(Writers are staff members of The Dallas Morning News. Write to them in care of: the Religion Section, Dallas Morning News, Communications Center, P.O. Box 655237, Dallas, Texas 75265.)