Nickel and Dimed—On (Not) Getting By in America
By: Barbara Ehrenreich (p. 67-69)
But before anything interesting can happen, the preaching commences. A man in shirtsleeves tells us what a marvelous book the Bible is and bemoans the fact that people buy so many inferior books when you really need just the one…
Next a Mexican American fellow takes over the mike, shuts his eyes tight, and delivers a rapid-fire summary of our debt to the crucified Christ. Then it’s an older white guy attacking “this wicked city” for its heretically inadequate contribution of souls to the revival—which costs money, you know, this tent didn’t just put itself up. We’re talking overhead, he goes on, not someone making money for themselves, and when you consider what Jesus gave so that we could enjoy eternal life with him in heaven…
The preaching goes on, interrupted with dutiful “amens.” It would be nice if someone would read this sad-eyed crowd the Sermon on the Mount, accompanied by a rousing commentary on income inequality and the need for a hike in the minimum wage. But Jesus makes his appearance here only as a corpse; the living man, the wine-guzzling vagrant and precocious socialist, is never once mentioned, nor anything he ever had to say. Christ crucified rules, and it may be that the true business of modern Christianity is to crucify him again and again so that he can never get a word out of his mouth…
By: Barbara Ehrenreich (p. 67-69)
But before anything interesting can happen, the preaching commences. A man in shirtsleeves tells us what a marvelous book the Bible is and bemoans the fact that people buy so many inferior books when you really need just the one…
Next a Mexican American fellow takes over the mike, shuts his eyes tight, and delivers a rapid-fire summary of our debt to the crucified Christ. Then it’s an older white guy attacking “this wicked city” for its heretically inadequate contribution of souls to the revival—which costs money, you know, this tent didn’t just put itself up. We’re talking overhead, he goes on, not someone making money for themselves, and when you consider what Jesus gave so that we could enjoy eternal life with him in heaven…
The preaching goes on, interrupted with dutiful “amens.” It would be nice if someone would read this sad-eyed crowd the Sermon on the Mount, accompanied by a rousing commentary on income inequality and the need for a hike in the minimum wage. But Jesus makes his appearance here only as a corpse; the living man, the wine-guzzling vagrant and precocious socialist, is never once mentioned, nor anything he ever had to say. Christ crucified rules, and it may be that the true business of modern Christianity is to crucify him again and again so that he can never get a word out of his mouth…
4 comments:
This book may prove to be the "Black Like Me" of this generation. In the 60s John Howard Griffin took some medication which made him appear to be black. Then he experienced some amazing prejudice. It is very inexpensive on Amazon.
hey jeff...i love! this & have been _meaning_ to read this book for quite awhile. :) thanks for the reminder.
a living, breathing jesus is very threatening to most christians. it seems it's so much easier to worship a dead revolutionary than to live as he did.
"blessed are the peacemakers..."
(oops...i meant to sign it...this is dana w.)
Thanks for the comments. I've heard of "Black Like Me," but I've never read it. Looks like I should.
And yes, Jesus is threatening to me. My selfishness is crazy strong. I feel it the most when I'm trying to be generous. The dog doesn't feel his chain until he tries to walk away.
"Papa John, who are you?" the crowd whispers.
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