Yes, six years later than the previous post, I too read Blue Like Jazz recently. I was intrigued by the subtitle, "Nonreligious thoughts on Christian spirituality."
Now that I have read the book, that subtitle seems a little canny and not quite the way I would have put it. I would shift the emphasis and say it is more like "Spiritual thoughts on Christian teaching," because it is deliberately a spiritually inspirational book which is centered around what believers might call the transforming power of unconditional love. Which, I know, is not exclusively a Christian concept, but nevertheless "the church" is the point of departure from which the author distances himself for its alleged judgmental attitudes and mindlessly repetitive formulaic worship services -- not to mention its alleged Republican partisan posture. And which he uses as a springboard for his basic spiritual insights.
The author also asserts there is more to life than just existing in the material world. But he does himself no good when, in passing, he asserts as example that "scientists don't understand light, light just is," (a close paraphrase). That is an assertion I especially balk at.
But these are small disagreements with a book whose overall narrative is the story of the author's own internal and external spiritual journey, from teen-age guilt and shame to, finally, a more mature spiritual understanding and a constructive posture toward living a positive and productive spiritual life. Along the way the author provides chapters entitled Beginnings, Problems, Faith, Redemption, Grace, Change, Belief, Confession, Community, Money, Worship and others. In many ways the book resembles The Confessions of St. Augustine in its particular topics and spiritual journey. Also along the way, the author describes the views of the world he sees through his own eyes and tells the stories of his interactions with many people who are also seeking meaning in life.
I found the book to be informative and educational and, yes, inspiring too.
It was informative and entertaining to read of the students and environment at Reed College which, according even to the staid Wikipedia description, sounds like a rather free-wheeling place. Informal motto: "Communism, Atheism, Free Love."
It was educational in providing new insights into previously familiar passages from the Bible, especially Paul's paean to love.
And yes it was inspiring to me in its connection of its message to the real world and how one can be a more positive force for good in this world.
