Saturday, September 6, 1997

Religion in the media: a look at recent books and magazines

The Dallas Morning News

BOOKS

"Jesus and Buddha," edited by Marcus Borg (Ulysses Press, $19.95). This fascinating little book presents more than 100 examples of parallel sayings of Jesus and Buddha, with introductions by Borg, a leading Jesus scholar, and Jack Kornfield, the author of several books on Buddhism. The parallels involve teachings such as "Love your enemies" and general principles such as the primacy of compassion. In addition, Jesus and the Buddha both had life-transforming experiences at about age 30. Both began renewal movements within their religious traditions. And both were perceived as more than human. At the heart of the parallels lies a mystery, say the authors. How could Jesus, living 500 years after the Buddha and 3,000 miles from India, espouse the same teachings? Some historians believe that Buddhist principles were known in Jesus' day in the Roman Empire. A few even contend that Jesus was trained in Buddhism. But others, such as Borg and Kornfield, say they were drawing from the same universal well of spirit and wisdom. -Deborah Kovach Caldwell

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"The Changing Shape of Protestantism in the South," edited by Marion D. Aldridge and Kevin Lewis (Mercer University Press, $15). This essay collection originates from a conference sponsored by the Center on Religion in the South in Columbia, S.C. Wade Clark Roof, the leading authority on baby boomers and religion, maps out the book's main theme: that pluralism and individualism, already predominant in the rest of American culture, are changing Southern religion. William H. Willimon describes Southern identity as being formed by the region's tragedy surrounding slavery. A black scholar writes that growing poverty, the neo-Pentecostal movement, megachurches and Islam are changing black Southerners. And a female scholar believes that underrepresentation of women in leadership means that women will either insist on a place in church hierarchy or break away. -Deborah Kovach Caldwell

MAGAZINES

Moment (August) has two cover stories on the "Changing Faces of Jewish Adoption." In the first, Conservative Rabbi Michael Gold explains Jewish law regarding the adoption of Gentile children. He draws on his own experience of adopting three children and discusses their conversions. A related article is also a firsthand report by a father who has a child with Down syndrome. Eliezer Goldstock shares his story of the love brought into his family by the child and urges parents to accept such children. -Robert Plocheck

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Newsweek (Aug. 25) has as its cover celebrity of the week the Virgin Mary. "The Meaning of Mary," a report by religion writer Kenneth L. Woodward, is pegged to the international petition drive promoting a new title for her: "Co-Redeemer." Woodward explains how this would be a controversial action stretching the bounds of papal prerogative. The article notes that a recent pontifical commission of Mariologists voted 23-0 against the idea as "opposed to the teaching of Vatican Council II." Along the way, the art-filled eight pages give a history of Marian devotion. Reported reaction includes that of the Rev. George G. Passia, chancellor of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, who calls the idea "heresy in the simplest sense." -Robert Plocheck

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Christianity Today (Aug. 11) brings together three well-known figures to discuss mainline Protestantism's declining numbers. Episcopal Bishop William Frey, Presbyterian minister Roberta Hestenes and Methodist chaplain William H. Willimon are led through an engaging discussion by author Tony Campolo. Every aspect of the phenomenon is viewed, including sexuality and special-interest groups and relations with evangelicals. -Robert Plocheck

REVIEWER'S CHOICE

"What's So Amazing About Grace?" by Philip Yancey (Zondervan, $19.99). When evangelical author Philip Yancey wrote a magazine article called "Why Clinton Isn't the Antichrist," he got angry letters from right-wing Christians - and an invitation to the White House. There, the president said to Yancey and other evangelicals: "I've been in politics long enough to expect criticism and hostility. But I was unprepared for the hatred I get from Christians. Why do Christians hate so much?"

Yancey began to wonder, "Why don't we Christians reflect grace in our lives?" He concluded that the Christian right's political agenda is largely responsible. "In no other arena is the church at greater risk of losing its calling than in the public square," he writes.

In one moving chapter, Yancey describes his years-long friendship with Mel White, a pastor at Cathedral of Hope in Dallas, the world's largest primarily gay congregation. For many years, Yancey knew him as a married man with children and a devoted conservative Christian. Eventually, White told Yancey he was struggling with homosexuality. What followed was Yancey's journey with White as he tried to figure out what to do with his life.

"My friendship with Mel has taught me much about grace," Yancey writes. "I can predict what kind of letters I will receive in reaction to this story. ... Conservatives will lambaste me for coddling a sinner, and liberals will attack me for not endorsing their position. ... I have used this example ... because for me it has been an intense and ongoing test on how grace calls me to treat 'different' people."

With highly readable personal and historical stories, Yancey calls evangelicals to stop acting like moral police and instead act with forgiveness and grace. -Deborah Kovach Caldwell

(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.)

(c) 1997, The Dallas Morning News.

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