It was written for Creatrix by an woman who is described as a very liberal Christian Minister. Some day I'd like to talk to her.
I'll admit I'm proud. And am glad Kat Sojurner at Creatrix thought to share it with me.
“Hosanna Sings”
by Todd Vogel
I found this book easy to read and different from any of the other books I have read for Creatrix. It is a story within a story and in this book doing this seems to work.
It presents the story of Martha who writes the story of Hosanna. Both have extraordinary gifts and both are on a profound journey. Throughout the book it is never quite clear if Martha and Hosanna are one and the same or two different people. But that is part of the story. In Martha’s book, Hosanna is the sister of Jesus and a twenty something woman. She is not about healing and has no intention of following the path Jesus took—getting crucified. Yet she seems to be heading toward the same ending—being killed by the mobs. Although she is very different from Jesus, the responses are strikingly similar. Although she is very different from Jesus, her life is strikingly similar.
This book made me laugh out loud and it made me cry. I found myself at times not liking the “God” depicted in the life of Hosanna. The author certainly challenges the stereotypes/religious characterizations of what and who is holy.
This book challenges the notion that an all-powerful God separate and other than each of us. It proposes that “Hosanna”, sister of Jesus, daughter of God, is each one of us. The responsibility and choice on what path to follow is in our hands.
Having said all that I’m not sure I would say I enjoyed this book. I liked Hosanna. She is a very human divinity, much more than Jesus is ever depicted (in Christianity anyway). Publishing just to hear the Christian right howl might be fun (and rather scary). Yet a part of me found the story unsatisfying. Perhaps that simply reflects that part of me I haven’t quite totally let go of that still believes in the all powerful God who will “fix” everything. There is an ease and easiness to that old fable. Following Hosanna’s lead (or the true Jesus or the Goddess) requires study, thought, and owning my responsibilities and gifts. Not an easy or comfortable place to be in this world. Because intellectually I too believe we are all divine. I’m just not sure my heart does.
Having reread these notes a couple of days later, I realized how much of myself is in these notes—much more than I usually put in. I think this book touched me more than I initially thought. Part of it is it’s Christian nature. Yet it is much more than that. I think for Christians who are still seekers, this is a wonderful book. It challenges, it encourages, it comforts, and it discomforts. Not bad for one book. For those of us (Christian or not) who have been critical of Christianity, it is an interesting book to read. For folks on other spiritual paths, I think would also enjoy reading this book. It offers a story that I think is accessible to most.