I abandoned Protestant Christian fundamentalism many years ago for Greek Orthodoxy. I converted because the Orthodox tradition embraces paradox and mystery. For someone raised in a strict Calvinist home, relief from absolutist certainty was most welcome.So it should also not confuse folks that he is co-Author of such horror as: Why My Sister Wasn't Raptured
But Christian fundamentalism has not abandoned me. It's come back to haunt me in both liberal and conservative forms. I find myself a minor lightning rod in the culture wars: apparently, I haven't chosen sides well enough.
You see, I write novels and nonfiction for a living. My novels describe a boy growing up in Switzerland as the son of American Calvinist missionaries. In these books, I take what I hope is an empathetically amusing insider's look at what it's like to grow up in a home run by zealots who make it their life's work to separate themselves from the World.
My most recent nonfiction work, "Keeping Faith, A Father-Son Story About Love and The United States Marine Corps," I co-wrote with my son John. It's about the aftermath of his 1999 decision to join the U.S. Marine Corps.
[ cf Fundamentalists to the Right, Fundamentalists to the Left
What my hate mail tells me about Christian factions today. ]
A teenage boy from a fundamentalist family, aghast to discover his sister dancing, wonders if he and she have been Left Behind. and co-authored AWOL: The Unexcused Absence of America's Upper Classes from Military Service -- and How It Hurts Our Country (with Kathy Roth-Douquet) and as such, well....
Just because Radial Left Wing Extremists Dope Smoking God Hating America Bashing Draft Dodging Perverts such as Senator McCain get a front cover note: I commend their wisdom and patriotism to all americans" should not be the only Nail In The Coffin that these are DANGEROUS PEOPLE who are not on the american side in the Holy Crusade Against All Monsters EVERYWHERE!!!
Clearly we must Unleash the Karl Rove Armoured Flying Saucers, and their Most Holy Prayer Warriors, on these Godless Types who are such evil doing evil doers!!!! Clearly they must be forced back into the Fold and Obliged to vote BushCheney2008, or the Terrorists Win!!!
