What will happen if God incarnates as a man and starts living with us?
Of course, we will kill him and then worship him. Gods cannot be easy to live
with though they may be great if kept at a safe distance. Richard Bach’s 1977
novel, Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah is about
God’s incarnation in contemporary America. Donald Shimoda is God’s name.
Both Donald the messiah and Richard the narrator are engaged in the same
profession of flying people in their small planes for a fare. Donald resigned
as the messiah with God’s permission. Unlike the Biblical God who demanded the
Christ’s crucifixion, Donald’s God tells him to do whatever he likes. “Not my
will, but thine be done for what is thy will is mine for thee,” the voice on
the hilltop tells Donald. “Go thy way as other men, and be thou happy on the
earth.”
Thus Donald takes up the job of flying people. But you can’t hide your
real self for too long. It becomes clear to people that Donald is not just
another ordinary human being. The little girl who had a terrible fear of
heights is taken for a flight by Donald. The man on the wheelchair who couldn’t
take a step by himself also walks to his seat in the plane when Donald tells
him, “Come on, let’s go.”
Donald is interviewed at the Jeff Sykes radio talk show and the right-wing
listeners are agitated by his views on human freedom. Religions are inherently
about controlling human freedom. What are religions without commandments and
other restrictions? Donald advocates freedom, absolute freedom. But he does not
impose his views on anyone. In fact, he doesn’t teach anything anywhere. He is
answering questions that are being put to him in the radio show. That’s all. He
is not bothered whether you accept his views or not. You are free to do what
you want.
People don’t want teachings. They want miracles. Donald knew that.
People don’t care about your truths and teachings. They just want miracles.
Miracles. Heal their diseases. Change their water into wine. Entertain them by
walking from New York to London on the ocean. Pull gold coins out from nowhere.
They will love those tricks. But they won’t care for what you really want them
to: internalise your message.
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| A page from the novel |
And what if they start taking your words seriously? They won’t like you.
They will hate you positively. They will crucify you. They will shoot you. They
will lynch you. And then, maybe, worship you.
Richard Bach is not a literary writer. You won’t find any student of
literature doing research on his books. His books won’t be prescribed by
universities. Yet Illusions deserves to be read for one reason: he
forces us to take a look at our religious views and beliefs. What do they mean?
What does your religion mean to you? Does it liberate you or enslave
you? Does it make you a nobler human being or a belligerent creature worse than
the animals? What does your God mean to you? These are questions that need be
raised again and again, especially in a world where there are too many
religions and too little compassion.
 |
| A page from the novel |
PS. By coincidence, today is Good
Friday, commemoration of the martyrdom of a messiah. Jesus was
crucified for the same reasons as Donald Shimoda was shot dead: liberating or
trying to liberate people from enslaving canons and rubrics. The essence of
Jesus’ teachings is love. Where there is love, commandments and rituals are
redundant. You can break the rules for the sake of love and compassion, Jesus
taught. The priests of Judaism couldn’t accept that because that would erode
their power over the people. So they decided that Jesus had to die. This would
be the fate of any god who incarnates among men at any time. Will god dare to
descend among today’s people?
PPS. This is part of a series being written for the #BlogchatterA2Z
Challenge. The previous parts are:
Tomorrow: Jude the Obscure
Good thoughts for the day
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteSeems to be an interesting take on the concept of religion and God. Good to remember the essence of the life of Jesus on this day.
ReplyDeleteThe book sold millions of copies in 70s and 80s. I read it first as a student.
DeleteThis is another one I haven't read. I'm not a religious person but it doesn't mean I don't believe in God.
ReplyDeleteNonetheless that on line caught me...People don't want your teachings. They want their water changed to wine. I've got hooked to it. And it's making me think a lot. Because just the other day while having a conversation about the existence of God, I did say that as long as the doctors don't come up with something we need His miracle. I'm just wondering.
Faith has its merits and advantages. But it's also a terror. I stop one step this side of it.
DeleteLet alone God incarnating even if a man is more idealistic we tend to idolize to isolate and dehumanize him by building temples and placing statues so God cannot expect much from the Judas called mankind.
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed true that people are afraid of freedom and the responsibility that comes with it. Most people are interested in religion sdo that they can bind themselves with chains of comfort.
ReplyDeleteThat's why Marx called religion the opium of the masses.
DeleteI love Richard Bach's books.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing & reminding about Illusions.
Bach inspires.
DeleteA book that raises questions about religion and god will always interest me. Will check this out. :)
ReplyDeleteDo. That's all I can say.
Delete"People don’t want teachings. They want miracles. Donald knew that. People don’t care about your truths and teachings. They just want miracles. Miracles. Heal their diseases. Change their water into wine. Entertain them by walking from New York to London on the ocean. Pull gold coins out from nowhere. They will love those tricks. But they won’t care for what you really want them to: internalise your message."
ReplyDeleteSo very true.... And I also wonder if it was today.. Would God like to come down and live a life like man?
Will add this book too to my reading list!
I wish god came once again. Sambhavami yuge yuge.
DeleteI have this book lying on my shelf and I tried reading it not once but twice. And gave it up. This time round I think I will read it up. I agree with the line People want got for miracles not for his teachings!
ReplyDeleteI have read it three times.
DeleteYour book recommendations are very interesting, and so are your reviews of them. Another great pick. I don't think much about God and religion. For me, it is just about faith and hope. Prayer gives me strength to carry on in difficult times, and gratitude keeps me happy in good times. Its been good this way!
ReplyDeleteAs long as our religion or faith keeps our conscience clear, it's good.
DeleteI have read Richard Bach's Jonathan Livingston Seagull but not this one. Reminded me of Bruce Almighty! Adding Illusions to my TBR. Thanks for recommending it!
ReplyDeleteYou'll love it if you found Jonathan interesting.
DeleteThis is what I think is called brain-expanding. The idea that if God were to incarnate today, he'd be killed is depressing, but also realistic in a weird sense. The bit about people only wanting miracles is true too.
ReplyDeleteI've heard Bach's name a few times, but I've never read his work. Maybe I should.
Fantastic post. Thanks for this.
Best wishes for the rest of the A2Z. :)
Glad you found it interesting. Welcome to this space.
DeleteLife itself is an illusion. When we live and love without any fear and with freedom of choice, life is worth lived!
ReplyDeleteIs that really possible? To what extent?
Delete