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Looking for God within the Kingdom of Religious Confusion is a VERY well-written novel by AW Schade. There has always been a need for novels of this sort that explore the differences and similarities among religious faiths, but at this particular juncture in our history this book is extremely timely.
While most of us are perplexed by world incidents - the terrorist attacks and threats, the seemingly interminable schism between Israel and Palestine, the fractured portions of Islam that are eroding the countries of Iraq and Afghanistan in civil wars, the splintering of the Catholic Church in various areas of the globe, the Fundamentalist versus the Liberal Christian dichotomy that divide the US - there are few solid answers as to why ‘religions’ that purport to respond to the wishes of the same God/Allah/Yahweh can wreak havoc on fellowmen.
Is the Supreme Being a source of love and peace or a source of wrath?
Schade approaches this question with a novel: Jacob is a single Catholic father who, after enduring the atrocities of the Vietnam War, witnesses the brutal, accidental death of his only daughter.
In anguish he sets out to find God and to search for the reasons of the cruelties he is witnessing. Jacob enters through the Gateway of Abraham to the mythical Kingdom of Religious Confusion, a place with many paths to take, each named after religious groups or sects. He has enlightened conversations with a Catholic priest, a series of Protestants including a Mormon practitioner, a Lutheran minister, various clergy from the Junction of Majority (Baptist, Anglican, Methodist, Disciples of Christ, etc), an atheist, a Muslim educator, and a Jewish Rabbi.
Each of the interviews reveals insights to the various religions, tying the similarities to the differences in a manner that makes the kernel beliefs clearly understandable.
Jacob wants one-on-one proof that God exists and each of the generous learned people he meets can only go so far in making the concept of ‘faith’ credible for Jacob. After hearing from all the resources Jacob finds his own answers within himself. And for those whose background in religious training is scant, Jacob’s journey is enlightening. Schade offers the tenets of these Western religions in a sound, instructive manner.
After his struggle with all of the new information he has gleaned, he offers (through Jacob) the following: ‘If, however, I have chosen the incorrect paths to follow, I believe a loving God knows the chaos I am trying to reconcile, and the ease in which a seeker can lose his way. I believe if I should travel the wrong path, God will know my journey has been in a righteous direction, not perfect by a long shot, and accept me for trying.’
This is a wise little book that not only a fascinating read, but also a resource for those who wish to understand the different religions of the world. Schade writes with fluid prose and with careful concern for his reader’s database. We can only hope Schade’s next similar and much needed book will embrace the Eastern religions, as he has proven himself a fine teacher as well as a fine writer.
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