Health, Money, and Love . . . And Why We Don’t Enjoy Them

Description

This is a print on demand book and is therefore non- returnable. In this deliciously twisting, engaging, multi- genre narrative, Robert Farrar Capon explores three areas of life that concern us all — health, money, and love — pokes fun of the religions we make of them, and trumpets the radical gospel of grace, the only alternative that can free us to be truly happy.
Using a variety of styles — movie script, dialogue, parable, letter, and, of course, his typically sparkling prose — Capon discusses religion and happiness in the light of "holy luck," the notion that God uses chance as his normal device for running the world and establishing his relationship with us. He argues that in espousing false religions such as health, money, and love in our pursuit of happiness, we reject God's holy luck for the illusion of our own control. "Happiness," he asserts, "lies in our ability to accept everything that happens and then either enjoy it gratefully or reconcile it patiently. We may not be able to control all of the things that happen outside us, but since we are in control of both our gratitude and our patience, there is always and in every circumstance a path open to the happiness that God already has over everything."
Capon proceeds to explore and interweave the topics of childhood, romance, work, play, exercise and eating habits, aging, and death within his twin themes of religion and happiness. Blending his own experiences with ideas from a wide range of authorities, including Augustine, Dame Julian of Norwich, Meister Eckhart, Chesterton, and Charles Williams, he challenges us to rethink our conception of God, our values, and our entire lives.
Full of provocative insights, Health, Money, and Love will surely attract, stir, and delight a wide readership. Library Journal "Robert Capon, a maverick writer who explains traditional Christian teaching with freshness and unexpected insights, uses a mixture of genres to reveal how deeply the pursuit of health, money, and love has become a religious force shaping our lives and depriving us of deeper satisfactions. He then reveals how . . . genuine Christianity is a lot more fun — pointing, as it does, toward a God who creates in play and in love and who uses luck, suffering, and human involvement to create wonderful, serendipitous world. Highly recommended."
William H. Willimon "Here he goes again! Applying his sharp justification-by-faith scalpel to overblown ‘religion.' Robert Capon cuts to the heart of the gospel. Here is theology as fun — outrageous, irreverent, fun in the service of gospel truth."
Lutheran Partners "A deliciously delightful work by an inventive and entertaining author. . . Capon sings of God's radical grace which is the alternative for true happiness. Capon is a gem, uncut, but still brilliant, and this work continues to both delight and inspire!" Robert Farrar Capon (1925-2013) was an Episcopal priest and the author of many popular books, including The Supper of the Lamb.