The Event Club
As I reported last Tuesday, Mick LaSalle published the seventh chapter of The Event.
I’m wondering what you all think about it – C.P. wrote that he considered it to be a bit far-fetched. My answer to that is that you have to look at the Bible and see what the Bible has to say about the end of time, about the beast, and about what changes he will push through.
In my opinion, it becomes more and more interesting to read about how East uses the ideas of some members of the Christian Right to fool them and to push through a very un-Christian agenda.
It is also interesting to pay some attention to the goals vs. means. Some people seem to focus too much on the means, or, perhaps better said, on the subgoals, instead of on the ultimate goals. Do you agree? Could it be said that some people, some Christians (in The Event) seem to assume that when a means is acceptable, the goal is most likely as well? Or is the real problem that they mistake means for goals? Or both?
Are there other things you all noticed that you consider to be worth mentioning?
opinions powered by SendLove.to
10 Responses to “The Event Club”
I agree with the second part. This ties in with a comment I made under Joe’s post Inside the Religious Right; it’s hard to disassociate yourself from a group with which you have a great deal of common goals, even if you disagree with their means.
I find myself unable to suspend disbelief in reading The Event. I’ve already commented on my criticisms of it, so I won’t rehash, but this chapter points to something that makes it unrealistic in my mind. I think the degree to which religious groups would put aside their own primary goals and their own autonomy in order to advance a legislative agenda is being GREATLY exaggerated. Religious groups are fractious even among themselves, unable to forge compromises on their beliefs even to work with other Christians toward common goals. No way are they going to agree to come under an umbrella religion AND one that is controlled by the state, no matter what perceived gains toward acheiving their goals. The only possible explanation for this occurring in the story would be if there was a supernatural influence of the Beast (East) in drawing them toward this decision, but again, I just don’t find that the overall writing is allowing me to suspend disbelief to entertain that.
Look at the post that I referenced (Inside the Religious Right) for evidence that the RR is not that gullible. Many people have become drawn into the political world because they hear political leaders expressing goals which seem compelling to a Christian. But there are many, many examples of people like Good Will Hunting who eventually realize that God doesn’t call us to legislate morality, but instead to live a moral life and bring Christ’s light into the world. We can’t help but have that morality inform our political opinions, and there will continue to be politicians who wish to exploit that, but we should give more credit to Christians than to think that they’re not going to wake up to the exploitation and put the focus back where it belongs.
C.S. you have a good point but I cannot help but to be reminded of when I watched the matrix in the cinema and… at a certain moment someone said “that’s not possible!”
I mean…
Come on?
Great points, C. That’s one of the sticking points I kind of have too. But at the same time remember that one post about Obama declaring his candidacy and those call-in examples that were posted on here from C-Span…THOSE are the people who vote and it appears they can be easily suckered into believing and doing ANYTHING so I don’t put a scenario like The Event past anyone, as far fetched as it may be.
That said, just because its far fetched in places doesn’t make it a great read and story. For example, one of my favorite book series of all time is the Area 51 series by Robert Doherty. The premise of the book is that humans were genetically engineered by aliens to fight on the front lines of an interstellar war and have been involved in human development and history for 10,000+ years and the story about how a small band of humans based at Area 51 uncover the secrets of this and fight to free humanity from the alien factions fighting behind the scenes (the Airlia – Commander Artad vs. Commander Aspasia and both of them vs. the Swarm). Now THAT is far fetched, but that doesn’t make it NOT a great read, it’s a fantastic one.
I said this yesterday and also hinted to it a week earlier…you have to read it without any preconceived notions in terms of what current events are constantly in the news/blogs although you should understand that the current events of today are in part the basis of this book. Yesterday, the reason why I believe the book went sort of stagnant the last chapter is because I’m well versed in the Book of Revelation (that and the Books of Maccabees are my favorite ones along w/ the Gospel of John) so I know how the “end times” are supposed to transpire…I’ve read a lot of conspiracy theory stuff that alludes to the same end times, one world government, etc so I know about the conspiracy theory angle (not that I believe all of it, but it was good reading I’ll tell you that), AND reading the Forsyth book Icon, B.East is more in resemblance to Russian Presidential candidate in the book Komarov than GWB. But these are my takes on the book. It’s great fiction and should be seen as nothing more, even though there is somewhat too leftist of a slant and does some right bashing, but that’s just me. I see beyond the superficial when I read and look for the greater meaning of what message is being conveyed by the author.
Michael, that’s a very shrewd observation about chapter 7. East is mouthing platitudes when his real goal seems to be anything but religious — it’s to destroy religion. I was very impressed by this chapter, by its interweaving of two threads culminating in their coming together in a brilliant climax (the Pope scene). I also like that the Pope is John XXIV, which gives you an idea of where LaSalle is coming down ideologically. The point of view emerging here is more liberal Christian than secular humanist, though right-wing loonies will call it leftist, atheistic and secular. And Sadie is a terrific character. Bring on chapter eight.
Sadie is my favorite character in the book, to be honest.
Thank you Eddie.
Yes I agree. I’m quite sure, btw, that you’re right about where Mick’s coming from ideologically, but one should be careful to draw such conclusions generally (imo).
I agree on Sadie: she’s my favorite character as well.
…which is why I’m taking the approach I am to this book…
Yes I agree with your approach C.P. That’s how I am approaching it as well.
And… when there is a lesson, use it as a mirror on yourself. Not per definition on others.
It’s a measure of how good the last two chapters have been that they’ve effectively silenced that bad-poetry guy, who had such silly things to say about the first chapters. If he’s seen the light, there’s hope for everybody.
“Look at the post that I referenced (Inside the Religious Right) for evidence that the RR is not that gullible.”
While not all the RR is that gullible, we actually we have an ongoing poll for that number. Presidential approval rating….