On Being

Russell's Unacknowledged Predecessors

(February 2, 2009)

I was disappointed that neither Ms. Russell nor Ms. Tippett mentioned C.S. Lewis's theological science fiction trilogy — Out of the Silent Planet, Perelandra, and That Hideous Strength — nor Ursula LeGuin's superb anthropologically informed science fiction novels. Tippett and her guest seemed to collude in creating the impression that Ms. Russell was the first author ever to venture into this area.

On Ms. Tippet's part this seemed to indicate ignorance, and on Ms. Russell's an unbecoming lack of humility and gratitude to her predecessors. Lewis and LeGuin are immeasurably better writers than Russell and present their ideas with a less heavy hand. The interview wasn't devoid of worthwhile content, but the overall tone was fatuous and, on the author's part, self-congratulatory.

Sarah Getty
Bedford, MA 

Controlling Your Characters

(February 2, 2009)

I was intrigued by the idea of the novelist as God — or God as a novelist. I am a novelist (2 in print )who deals with spiritual issues (and an Episcopal priest and former history professor). My sweep has been much smaller than Russell's and my characters more ordinary. But I am always struck by how little ultimate control I have over the directions of their lives. They originate in my imagination and then have lives of their own.

Gordon McBride
Tucson, AZ  (Listens to On Being OnDemand)

Stirring Unmoved Rocks

(February 1, 2009)

I think God is so generous that He allows us to see Him in the way that we can understand. For each individual God is a different God, but in actuality all these are the same God. We cannot understand Him, nor can we come to know Him on His level. We cannot define Him.

I think Mary Doria Russell says this. Her talk was truly mind-expanding as well as fascinating and interesting. She stirred up some long unmoved rocks in my mind and the new light there is helping to germinate long covered and forgotten seeds of reverence and awe. Thank you for making this experience possible for me.

Joann Tilton
San Antonio, Texas (KSTX, 89.1 FM)

Bottom of the Barrel

(February 1, 2009)

I listen to On Being at 7:00 am every Sunday while doing my exercise and before going to church. This morning was the first time I wanted to turn off the radio. It seems Krista is running out of good material and was scraping the bottom of the barrel this morning with Mary D. Russell. Both ladies seemed to have a great fun doing the interview, but it was a complete waste of time. I should have gotten off my treadmill to turn off the drivel!

Hank Lucas
Plantsville, Connecticut (Listens to SOF Podcast)

Enlightening

(February 1, 2009)

Thank you for the wonderful program interviewing Mary Doria Russell. I can't think when I have heard something so profoundly interesting and enlightening on either radio or television in a long time. Now I plan to read all of her books!

Elsi Vacano
Shoreline, Washington (KXOT, 91.7 FM)

Being Can Get You Killed

(February 1, 2009)

Rearing children almost requires that one choose communities that transmit cultural, ethical, and spiritual values with which one does not violently disagree. This certainly drove me to re-engage in spiritual and ethical dialogue within a faith community. Engagement enabled my family to round out my children's training and sense of belonging to a larger, child-friendly community.

When I became a part of an Armenian family, I also became intrigued by how being Armenian and Christian could get you killed. The epic stories of family members, especially two grandmothers fleeing on very distinct paths from certain degradation and death were some of the great survival stories my children inherited. The varied stories of survival — of the spirit, if not the flesh — in the face of overwhelming peril not just the chilling fact of the human potential to perpetrate holocausts that makes holocaust stories so compelling. I look forward to reading your novel.

Sue Ellen Lewis
New Orleans, Louisiana (Listens to SOF Podcast)

A Second Reading

(February 1, 2009)

One of the most fascinating books I've ever read. I initially read The Sparrow and Children of God nearly ten years ago. Finding a copy in a used book store, I was inspired to read both again. Enjoyed the second reading ever bit as much as the first. Stumbled on your radio program and really picked up on your interview with Ms. Russell.

Bill Lafont
Jackson, Tennessee (WKNO, 91.1 FM)

Rush to the Library

(February 1, 2009)

Only to say "thank you" for introducing this delightful, deeply thoughtful and joyful writer to me. If I hurry, I may be able to get one of her books at the library today. I enjoy your radio program; it is one of the best on KNOW.

Linda Littrell
St. Paul, Minnesota (KNOW, 91.1 FM)

Fine Questioning

(February 1, 2009)

Thank you Krista. You bring out the best in everyone! I appreciate the way you question people on your program. This morning's program was very interesting and I intend to purchase one of Ms. Russell's books and learn more about her ideas and thoughts. Many thanks and all the best!

Maria Grigonis
Feasterville, Pennsylvania (WHYY, 90.9 FM)

Music Piece

(February 1, 2009)

This was a most wonderful program, and I have ordered The Sparrow from the public library. I would like to know the name of the violin concerto that ended the program. You do not have it on your list of music. It is a snippet of music that I love but can't put my finger on as to title. It seems to me that I have heard Joshua Bell play it and perhaps it is Brahms. I do know it is a composer that I don't generally embrace and perhaps the snippet you played is the only part of the piece I like. Keep up the good work.

Cecile Click Yamamaoto
Indianapolis, Indiana (WFYI, 90.1 FM)

More Grist

(February 1, 2009)

I really enjoyed today's interview with Mary Doria Russell. I'm a lifelong atheist, but listen to your show faithfully. I always struggle with the question: how can it be so obvious to me that God's not there, but so many intelligent people believe the opposite? Mary provided more grist in that area than any of your other guests.

Dennis Tibbetts
Columbus, Indiana (WFYI, 90.1 FM)

God Also Sees...

(February 1, 2009)

...the raccoon who finds the recently fallen sparrow and is able to feed her young.

For me, God is everything, everyone, everywhere. God is more or less in some places, but we are all one. And, as a tail-disadvantaged ape, I am only part of the All and therefore cannot have perfect knowledge and am therefore always wrong, and a liar.

Scott Simpson
Jericho, Vermont (WVPS, 107.9 FM)

God Is Micromanaging

(February 1, 2009)

I am listening now and wanted to inject in the conversation on your question about micromanager. (You do a nice job of interviewing your guests.) She said if I believed God was micromanaging then "Why isn't He intervening to save our environment?" Wouldn't the efforts that go on on behalf of the environment in people an indication that God was intervening? In my recycling bag for paper to the giant legislative efforts (current stimulus bill and Al Gore's efforts) indicate God being active to me.

Bob Dillingham
Carmel, Indiana (WFYI, 90.1 FM)

Loss in the Christian belief of Creation

(February 1, 2009)

The Christian belief in creation was a novel part of Christianity when God became man 2000+ years ago. At that time the prevailing philosophical and religious cosmologies (world-views) all understood the world to be eternal with God/gods being another being, albeit a greater and more powerful one(s) than all other creatures. With what is revealed by God, starting with revelations to Abraham all the way to God's own entering into creation, is that God is the creator of all that exists.

From all eternity God existed and the world did not. God did not have to create; this world does not exist necessarily. Creation was a free act of God (which makes it a bit mysterious, but points to God's love when we look at all his actions in human history in which he takes initiative). Creation was ex nihilo, out of nothing, and it is continual, meaning that at every moment God is giving the world its existence, and if for one moment God stopped everything would cease to exist. Thus when we say God is a creator and we are creators we do so only by way of analogy, meaning while there is a real similarity, there is an ever greater and more radical difference.

When we create, we merely use the tools (materials) and rationality (our intellect) that we have been given by God to develop creation that already exists. When God creates there is no pre-existing matter like some neo-Platonists hold, or many Mormons hold today. To claim as much would not be the Christian view of creation and the correct understanding of the relationship of God to the world as revealed to us by God. (For a great but concise discussion of this see Robert Sokolowski's The God of Faith and Reason where he discusses this using the term "Christian Distinction.") Thus a Christian could not say (without being self-contradictory, and thus absurd) that we created God. Certainly you could say that we have created gods throughout history (many idols and false gods, this much is true, conceptually, since they have no real existence in and of themselves).

I can no more create a god giving this god existence in reality than I can create a grown man right now with my imagination and intellect. Certainly he exists in my thought, but not in reality. The case is different when it comes to man's dependence on God. According to the Christian belief stated in the earliest of creedal statements that define what God revealed to us and was used to bring new catechumens into the mysteries of faith, "I believe in God, creator of heaven and earth." All creatures, human and otherwise, depend at every moment on the gift of existence from God.

Adam Pasternack
Columbus, Ohio (WOSU, 89.7 FM)

God as a Character

(January 31, 2009)

So much to ponder in this program. The fall of the sparrow and its implications for the "will of God" was particularly thought-provoking. In fact, when I read The Sparrow several years ago, it was that very idea that spun me out into three weeks of thought, questioning, processing that helped me take a huge step in forming a more nuanced, complex understanding of the nature of God and what it does and doesn't mean to be omnipotent.

I also found very nourishing Krista and Russell's discussion of God as a character in his own story who forgets, loses his temper, makes course corrections, etc. For others who find this approach to God interesting, I'd recommend the two books Jack Miles wrote, God: A Biography (about God in the Old Testament/Tanakh) and Christ: A Crisis in the Life of God (about God in the New Testament).

Thanks again, SoF. I've spent a big chunk of a Saturday with you folks again (listening to both the cut and uncut versions) and, as usual, it was time well spent.

Cam Mannino
Oakland, Michigan (WUOM, 91.7 FM)

Drawn Out and Forgettable

(January 31, 2009)

OK, novelist as god at least has a certain metaphorical validity. God as Mrs. Rabbit, suburban housewife, wringing her hands over teenage children running around with the local crowd may have had some comic potential, but as a spiritual study aid, it leaves one feeling this side of elation. I guess the only thing left more boring and useless and post post-modern is an e-mail about it. Remind me not to bother to download the two hours of what already seems too drawn out and forgettable.

Isa Kocher
DeBruce, New York (WNYC, 93.9 FM)

Comparing Books

(January 29, 2009)

I read The Sparrow and Children of God several years ago as did my husband. We were so haunted by it, yet enthralled. We still recall the stories and bring them up in conversation. Especially the food — abundance or lack of — and survival that yields over population versus zero population, well there are just too many topics to cover in this short message. Another author you may want to visit is Daniel Quinn — he wrote Ishmael and My Ishmael. We read these prior to The Sparrow but have had many invigorating conversations comparing the two authors and their ideas. We recommend all four of these books to friends that embrace great thought-provoking literary sustenance and good conversation. Thank you for all you bring to your listening audience.

Karen Nielsen
Balsam Lake, Wisconsin (KNOW, 91.1 FM)