The Violent Faith of Cormac McCarthy

[@Pseudo_Boethius]

"IN REAL LIFE THOSE THINGS AREN'T TRUE." That is the most intelligent thing I've heard someone say on KZbin in a long time. She is absolutely correct, Cormac is doing us a service by making us look at true evil. That's exactly what I've gotten from his novels, and the movie "No Country For Old Men." Yes, reading Cormac McCarthy will deepen your faith in surprising ways.

[@kamilziemian995]

As a Christian, I still feel that you should stay away from Cormac McCarthy novels. They focus on evil seems to be very out of balance, to the point of denning any possibility of God's grace.

[@Pseudo_Boethius]

@@kamilziemian995 - An excellent point.

[@johnshannon9656]

I think I have to say that he is the greatest American novelist. I have read a shit-ton of literature and I don't know of anyone, except maybe James Joyce, at a lower level, who has ever mixed it up so well, especially in his post- "Blood Meridian" work. "Child of God" is nothing like "The Road". "The Road" is nothing like "The Sunset Limited". "No Country for Old Mean" is nothing like "The Passenger". "Stella Maris" is nothing like "Blood Meridian". Just a truly versatile artist.

[@happygucci5094]

Look at what Zizek through Hegel talks about a Suffering God… it doesn’t sound weird at all- it’s been philosophically and theological metaphysical lineage that has grappled with this idea:

[@kamilziemian995]

Jane Clark Scharl, my opinion as Catholic, seems very deficient from theological point of view. I think she should read Saint Augustine "City of God", at least first few books, if she didn't do it already.

[@johnshannon9656]

No, just read "Confessions".

[@kamilziemian995]

@@johnshannon9656 I read "Confessions" and "City of God" is much more important book. If you can't read both, read the "City of God".

[@kamilziemian995]

After hearing this podcast, I still don't think that any Christian should read McCarthy's novel. The seems be absent of grace in them.

[@countdublevay7327]

The body has many parts. Arms, stomachs, throats and thumbs. The only thing a body DOES NOT have is a head. What's useful for a pancreas may not be for a knee cap or shoulder blade. There are many parts to the body of Christ.

[@kamilziemian995]

@@countdublevay7327 I don't understand your words.

[@countdublevay7327]

@@kamilziemian995 The body of Christ has different parts. Each part has different uses and uses different material to perform its function. Some parts of the body may use McCarthy to do its work. Some parts may use Ayn Rand. Some parts use John Piper. What part are you? There isnt a wrong answer as long as it's the correct one. Know thyself. Recognize your tribe. My mother (in anger) once told me i was the assh0le of the body. Even if THAT is true, i accept...as long as im part of the same body, i dont care. Is that more clear?

[@johnshannon9656]

@@countdublevay7327 Very good observation. In a way, CM writes sympathetic to Christianity. Jesus dived down into the utter muck to heal and uplift. CM is recognizing the muck but he is always showing characters who resist the muck, like the kid in "Blood Meridian". To say that the body does not have a head is profound but a hard pill to swallow. Adam and Eve were expelled because of the "head" - the polarity of rational thinking. And, as a Christian, there is absolutely no literature that shouldn't be read. None. Do you think the Lord fears any artistry? The Lord encourages artistry, because it is a sword against deception.

[@countdublevay7327]

@@johnshannon9656 i might ought start with : Very much more familiar to Jesus than to CM. NOT familiar to CM even to be aware of how the kid went about "resisting the muck" or if there even might be other examples in other books of CMs that better show your analysis. i can say : i as a christian (and please note christian as a different thing from Christian) that i don't hold your same beliefs toward Adam and Eve and "polarity of rational thinking" getting them removed. You asked a if the Lord (you might have typed The Lord) "fears any artistry". i want to answer that. The root word of artificial is ART. Artificial is not real. Art is not real. The painting of the tree is not the tree. If you mean Jesus when you mention the lord, then....no. Jesus doesn't fear art. If we are talking Jesuss father in heaven....i have no doubt God fears art. i believe He is disgusted by ALL art. Anything fake. Anything artificial. Even by the mode of communication i use to send you this response. The body. The head. Perhaps i lead you to believe the body would/does not have a head. The head of the body is Jesus. It's metaphoric, figurative, literal, inside of time and outside of time at the same time for all time. But yeah. Jesus is the head of the body. i like the saying, "The neck turns the head". Peace to you.