My first thoughts about our summer read actually begin by way of confession. I did not want to read this book. My apprehension had a lot to do with my own ignorance of what was between the covers of the book. I suppose what I am confessing is my own guilt of judging a book by its' cover, or better yet its title. Fortunately, we can all overcome our ignorance. I have now only read the introduction but am really impressed by how reading Chapter 34 of Genesis that the author was driven to read more. As he concludes the introduction I imagine his words could have come from the founders of the reformation.
"My goal was simple. I wanted to find out what happens when an ignorant person actually reads the book on which his religion is based. I was in the same position as many other lazy but faithful people (Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus). I loved Judaism; I loved (most of) the lessons it had taught me about how to live in the world; and yet I realized I was ignorant about its foundation, its essential document."
Ok, so maybe John Calvin didn't write like this, but the idea of the followers of a religion actually being familiar with their founding document(s) would.
I am looking forward to our summer journey through this book.
-Mark
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