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- BOOK REVIEW:
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This Side of Jordan
Reviewed by Diana Pederson
BellaOnline's Christian Literature Editor
Kassel is writing a
series of novels depicting the effect of controversial
issues on Christians. As the story opens, two people have
been found dead at the scene of an upcoming dramatic
festival. The play was to depict the history of the
valley.
There are many colorful
characters including an elderly Catholic priest, nuns,
and the local Catholic church's musical director. Others
include a college professor who agrees to direct the
play. Today's society faces many controversial issues.
The morality of Hollywood is among those issues. The
actors and actresses represent all the problems commonly
associated with theater companies. Unfortunately, they
also reflect the moral code and lifestyle of these
people. The other controversial issue is how the local
priest deals with the homosexuality of Peter. Peter's
lack of being "gay" about his feelings as a refreshing
change from those who would have us believe that
homosexuals are not suffering inner conflict because of
this lifestyle choice.
Recommendation
This book does an
outstanding job of addressing issues in today's Catholic
Church. The characters are real and definitely not
perfect. Although I am not Catholic, and didn't
understand all the aspects of the Catholic religious
beliefs as they appeared, I do feel this book addressed
the issue of homosexuality without caving in to the gay
agenda of forcing everyone to accept their lifestyle as
being a real alternative to heterosexuality as God
intended us to be! Those reading this novel will gain a
new perspective on this issue.
- Reprinted from BELLA
ONLINE
- Copyright © 2005,
Diane Pederson
- http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art18113.asp
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