Faith: Stories: Short Fiction On The Varieties And Vagaries Of Faith Download Free (EPUB, PDF)
Expanding the conversation begun in God: Stories, this important gathering of writers explores the diverse world of faith in all its guises: Islamic, Buddhist, Hindu, Quaker, and Confucian beliefs, as well as Jewish and Christian ones. From James A. Michener to Gabriel Garcia Marquez, from Amy Tan to Hanif Kureishi, Faith: Stories investigates the boundaries of faith and ritual in everyday life. In one story, a one-eyed Chinese child learns that all heavens are not the same. In another, a wealthy moneylender finds a relic of the Prophet Muhammad and decides to keep it instead of returning it to its shrine. In a third, a father whose son begins to blindly preach the Koran becomes engaged in a fanaticism of his own. With subtlety and surprise, wit and candor, these stories explore issues of faith such as sacrifice, superstition, myth, and disbelief. Together they form an illuminating prism of the religious experience in today's world.
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Mariner Books (November 15, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0618378243
ISBN-13: 978-0618378241
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.6 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #267,032 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #2 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Religious & Inspirational > Short Stories & Anthologies > Anthologies #607 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Genre Fiction > Religious & Inspirational > Historical #2000 in Books > Literature & Fiction > Short Stories & Anthologies > Anthologies
This collection of mostly contemporary short fiction, similar to Curtis's earlier collection ("God: Stories"), is a ready made adult sunday school class on the subject of faith and doubt in literature. It is international in its scope and inter-denominational in its selections. Some of the selected writers are Christian; most are not. Each story illuminates some aspect of faith in a non-didactic way. These are NOT a series of inspirational "feel good" stories about God. They are instead a collection of thought provoking, very well written stories by major writers that probe one of the fundamental ironies of belief in God: that reasonable doubt is a necessary component. For other collections of short stories along these lines, also try "The Celestial Omnibus."
Curtis has two anthologies, one more recent than the other, and accommodating the objections that the first was too centered on the Judeo-Christian tradition(s). I can't recall as I write my review which was which (the other is called "God: Stories")--but together they make a good pair for anyone who wants to read and think about the relationship between the human and the divine. I also recommend supplementing them with a third anthology, _A Celestial Omnibus: Short Fiction on Faith_, which is more diverse still.
C. Michael Curtis's deft editorial hand has assembled a collection that demands intelligence of the reader and then rewards him/her with a sense of lasting fulfillment. A far cry from ideology or pop psychology. (I agree with everything the previous reviewer expressed.)
Excellent reading for individuals or with friends! We are using this book in a church study group, and the stories always generate lively discussion.
The short stories are good for small groups and conversations. Some are very good and others not so much. Our church group used it for inbetweenour novel time.
Good summer time Sunday school discussion material.
Needed this book for a class I am taking. Cost a buck so you can't get any better than that!!
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