Do You Hear What I Hear? Religious Calling, the Priesthood, and My Father

Rating:
Summary: An Unexpected Pleasure
Review: I grew up Episcopalian and have only recently "returned" to the church after many years away -- it just felt like something was missing in my life and I didn't realize what that something was until I attended a service and heard the liturgy again. I guess I'm a typical liberal (voted for Howard Dean, listen to NPR) but I've always been frustrated with the lack of community on the Left and the moral superiority may liberals seem to feel about anyone who votes for the other guy or drives an SUV or - worst of all - believes in God. I know this is a generalization but watching both Dean and Kerry squirm every time the word "God" was mentioned during the debates was a major disappointment to anyone who shares their values *and* goes to church.

Proctor's "Do You Hear What I Hear?" is the first book I've read about religion by a non-believer that manages to get deep inside the question of what belief is and what it means to our lives. I especially direct readers to the section at the end of the book called "Polemics": it's a fierce indictment of politicans who play God with others' lives without having passed anything like the test that the average person goes through who feels called to the Episcopal priesthood. If Kerry had talked like this in the campaign he might be the President now!

Are you listening, Howard Dean?