The random threads

Here, as always, is the thread to post all your comments and thoughts that don't fit anywhere else.

Biff

Biff's speaking voice, worldview, and penchant for taking credit for major inventions are engaging characteristics that help keep us turning more than 400 pages. But when all is said and done, do you like Biff? Would you want to be friend with him? He seems to have some very negative character traits. He is misogynistic, referring to many women in the book (aside from the Magdalene) as a "shrieking harpy" or besought with demons. He lazes around and sends the other disciples off to do tasks. He has an overactive punching reflex. But he's utterly devoted to Joshua. So: is he the best man at your wedding, or is he the guy you put in your bridal party in order to keep an eye on him?

The Bible in "Lamb"

I was not raised in any particular religious tradition and have never studied the Bible. Despite that, I could recognize reframings of familiar events from Jesus' life as they are recounted in the scriptures. What struck me is the way Moore almost glossed over the major events that we are so familiar with today--for example, the Sermon on the Mount. He seems to be saying that it was the everyday learning and the everyday acts of compassion that made Jesus/Joshua who he was.

The passages that resonated most with me described Joshua's healings, especially the ones that occurred when nobody else was watching.

"Lamb" describes the maturation and coming of age of Jesus Christ. As characterized by Moore, what kind of Jesus does Joshua become? Is he the Jesus you were raised to believe in, or have come to believe in (if in fact you do believe in him at all)? Is this interpretation an old-fashioned or a modern one?

Sex in "Lamb"

Biff has sex. LOTS of sex. So much sex that I began to wonder if Moore included it as part of a larger narrative or characterization purpose, rather than simply for laughs. Was he successful playing [raunchy!] sex for laughs in biblically-based tales? Or did it distract from the story?

FINALLY getting around to this

For the two or three of us that probably managed to read "Lamb," here are some points for discussion. As for me, I really enjoyed this book. My brother has been recommending it to me for years and I'm glad to have finally read it.

An irreverent treatment of Jesus Christ's adolescence and early adulthood can be a really iffy subject. If you Google the book, an equal number of glowing reviews and raging attacks on Moore's character and values pop up. So my first question is: what was your gut reaction to this book? Did you love it? Did you hate it? Do you think Moore was exploiting the polarizing effect the topic might have on readers? Did it change the way you think about Jesus, Christianity, and your faith? Would you recommend this book to somebody else, and why?