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It’s been a week since the launch of Gretta Vosper’s new book, With Or Without God: Why the Way We Live is More Important than What We Believe. The response has been both amazing and amusing. On the amazing front:

• the book had barely made it to the shelves when HarperCollins sent a note saying it had already decided to do another printing;
• shortly after its release on Tuesday March 18th came the cover article for Maclean’s magazine which included a good chunk about Gretta’s book and her work;
• the Globe & Mail printed Michael Valpy’s “Taking Christ Out Of Christianity“;
• she was interviewed on the Leslie Roberts show;
• both The Current and Tapestry want to feature her;
• the book has broken the top 100 on amazon.ca.

And then there’s the amusing …

There seems to be a subset of the religiously inclined who require no parody; they do such a good job of looking ridiculous all on their own. So, before I offer up some of their finer reactions, I feel compelled to provide something of a disclaimer: “Radicals who critique conservative strands of religious thought understand that the lunatic fringe stands as an embarrassment to thinking conservatives. We understand that most conservatives do not want to be associated with such caricatures.” That said, let’s all enjoy ourselves with some silliness.

First is the online comment section to Michael Valpy’s article in the Globe & Mail:

Gretta Vosper is variously described as the anti–Christ, an idiot, a fringe person, a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a book reviewer, a Buddhist, a Gnostic, personification of the Devil, a heretic & pagan. And I like this one: “That pastor has big expences and lifestyle to finance and therefore an axe to grind.” (We’re talking about a United Church minister, one of the most underpaid positions I know of.) She’s a “new age groupie” which sounds kind of hip. “The lady preacher will have a place reserved for her…unfortunately for her its down on level 6 and not cloud 9.” I see, too, that somebody is praying for her so that she will believe.

According to one person, members of her church (like me) are “militant right wing non–Christ Christians”. One person mentions her alongside Jerry Falwell & Fred Phelps. Ouch. Commenter frederick duquette thinks Gretta is a “wealthy middle-aged woman” (see above) and j boland calls her a “court jestor” and derides her education.

Here’s my favourite: Gretta is an “atheist mole” who has infiltrated the Christian church. Hmmm. Religion as espionage. Somebody with the improbable name of George Carlin took a dig at the membership: “And just how many people attend this silly woman’s ”church”? The word is probably parishioner – no s on the end.” And we are a “bunch of losers.”

NWT Knifer says: “Harper is PM becasue (sic) Christ wants him to be PM and that is why Bush is President. Christ voted for him and so did our Lord!” Some people have difficulty staying on topic.

Valpy’s piece got picked up by The Free Republic with predictable comments following.

• mkleesma says: “lucky for them I’m not God.” Then the commenter gives a clear picture of what that god looks like: “I think this twit and her adherents should be burned for heresy.” Hmmm. Guess I should break out the asbestos underwear.
• Or BenLurkin: “Many preachers thrive on the lost, and they make a lot of money from them.”
• And then Digital Sniper informs us that “[t]he United Church of Canada is where the socialist New Democratic Party sprang from.”
• mikrofon: “She looks too young to be a drug addled, burned–out hippie from the ‘60s. But she sure sounds like it.”
• Again mkleesma: “Her social gospel movement and those of others like her will be one of the great scams of the century approximating the Gore “global warming” hoax.” This may in fact be a compliment.
• thefrankbaum: “I don’t need to read the book to know that it’s a pathetic attempt to discredit what truth is.”

And what about the blogosphere?

From Allen J. Troupe (al007italia.blogspot.com) we have this carefully reasoned opinion: “This Church’s entire doctrine is straight out of Hell. & they are providing people with an express ticket to Hell.”

kmduffy offers a heartfelt: “Let us ask Him to preserve us from the false churches and ministry of this time of deception.” Whatever.

Then there’s Weasel Zippers with this nugget of wisdom that is guaranteed to encourage meaningful dialogue: “You gotta be fucking kidding me, they’re either completely ignorant or a bunch of self-absorbed morons. No God, no Christ and they still consider it Christianity. Words can’t describe how friggen dumb this is….”

CrunchyCon quotes Valpy’s article then goes on a rant: “She’s just playing church. This is a curiosity, a freakshow (“Come one, come all, see the church where they don’t believe in God!”)” And later: “Honestly, what on earth is the point? Wouldn’t you rather go to brunch, or stay at home watching Russert? This squirrelly bunch is like an encounter group, or an episode of Dr. Phil, without the rigor.” He attracts 100 + comments and, to be fair, it’s a smart crowd (i.e. one that actually offers reasons for its claims) and one I’d feel comfortable in even if we did disagree with one another.

Check out the (Ir)Regular Christian. As with CrunchyCon, a reasoned critique. In other words, if I were to test an idea, I could take it to the blogger (Casey Taylor, in this case) and even in disagreement he would still address it on its own terms with a reasoned response.

See also John Stackhouse’s blog. He offers this acknowledgment: “Okay, then. Don’t like orthodoxy? Then say so, and say what you want instead. Vosper does. That’s refreshing candour for you.” He disagrees with her, of course, but at least he’s courteous about it.

And mystical seeker.

Final observations:

• I’ve been amazed, amused and now I’m astonished at the extent to which people feel entitled to pass opinions on a book they haven’t read. That violates the most basic rule of critical thinking.
• Righteous indignation helps sell books. Thank you and the publicity cheque is in the mail.

Related posts:

1. With Or Without God, by Gretta Vosper
2. What Does God Look Like