[lbo-talk] Leninists find Jesus

[Dwayne Monroe]

I'm surprised, and somewhat disappointed, that no one (including Goff,
it seems -- I searched his site) mentioned Zizek's extensive work on
the topic of Christianity as a revolutionary force.

In fact, Zizek has devoted three books (so far) to this topic:

The Puppet and the Dwarf: The Perverse Core of Christianity

<http://www.amazon.com/Puppet-Dwarf-Perverse-Christianity-Circuits/dp/0262740257/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233249267&sr=1-1>

On Belief

<http://www.amazon.com/Belief-Thinking-Action-SLAVOJ-ZIZEK/dp/0415255325/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233249294&sr=1-1>

The Fragile Absolute: or, Why is the Christian Legacy Worth Fighting For?

<http://www.amazon.com/Fragile-Absolute-Christian-Legacy-Fighting/dp/1859847706/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233249323&sr=1-1>

And hell, let me plug my own brief contribution:

"Jesus Against Empire: Wright and Obama Reconsidered"

<http://mailman.lbo-talk.org/2008/2008-May/007671.html>

While reviewing some of Goff's stuff I was reminded of the experience
of reading (Brit physicist, deceased) David Bohm's Thought as A
System:

Thought as a System

<http://www.amazon.com/Thought-as-System-David-Bohm/dp/0415119804/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233249031&sr=8-2>

For anyone familiar with Buddhist metaphysics, built upon the concept
of dependent origination, Bohm's book was a frustrating read.

After only a few pages it was clear  that the 'system' Bohm struggled
to detail had already been thoroughly mapped centuries ago by Buddhist
thinkers (it's entirely unnecessary to be a Buddhist to appreciate the
subtlety of a lot of Buddhist thought regarding human behavior.  I
recommend the Vissudhimagga for a comprehensive treatment.)

Getting back to Goff...

As a person who grew up in the Christian tradition (the Protestant
tradition in which, unlike Holy Mother Catholicism, you're obliged to
read the Bible from cover to cover, committing long passages to memory
"study to show thyself approved..." 2 Tim. 2:15 instructs) -- and who
kept an appreciation for the experience's positive social and
intellectual aspects while jettisoning the supernatural -- I'm
gob-smacked by people who travel in the opposite direction.


>From politically minded atheism (or maybe agnosticism) to a confused
kind of faith which, due to its late arrival, tends to be burn extra
bright is not my idea of progress.

.d.