By Jim Heffernan
I can’t remember where I saw news of this book, but the title grabbed me. The author is the son of a former Carmelite nun and a former Franciscan friar who renounced their vows and married. He is a comedian and actor who has researched a very fine book. His writing conveys the profound in a clear and breezy style.
I’ve always felt the principle of “love thy neighbor as thyself” over-rode the technicalities some find in the Bible to impose cruelty on anyone they see as “other.” John’s book affirms my view.
Here are some excerpts I liked and are typical about the book.
“I am but a friendly guy on a barstool, tugging on your coat about what’s actually in the Bible. But I promise: What I lack in credentials, I make up for in name-dropping. As a comedian, I’ve long known that taking on toxic Christianity is not a commercially viable subject matter. But like many, I got tired of seeing my parents’ faith used to merge Jesus and meanness.” Page 15
“I wrote this book because I was tired of fundamentalists distorting the Bible, tired of watching the faith of my parents used as cover for meanness. Everyone reading this probably knows someone who’s a captive of toxic Christianity. For many of us, these aren’t faceless crazed zealots and nationalists; they’re our neighbors, coworkers, old friends, family members. We can’t despise them back. We just can’t.” Page 282
“Sometimes, changing your mind about religion is the most spiritual thing you can do. My parents chose love over religion, because love is the only religion that always works.” Page 283
Available at Cloud and Leaf Bookstore, Manzanita and Tillamook County Library 304 Pages, Published September 2025.
As always, discussion welcome at codger817@gmail.com