Frank Schaeffer & KtB in NYC on November 5th
Nobody knows better than Frank Schaeffer what he’s up against. Together with his father Francis, he was one of the architects of the modern conservative evangelical movement, and he has lived to tell the tale. On November 5th at Lolita Bar in New York City, he will read from his new book, Patience with God, a celebration of the wide middle ground between fundamentalist religion and the new strident atheism, in an evening sponsored by Killing the Buddha.
As someone who has known personally some of the last half-century’s greatest religious power brokers, Schaeffer pulls no punches. “He names names but is an equal opportunity assailant,” writes Donna Chavez in her review of Patience with God in Booklist. The book, published by Da Capo, appears on shelves this month. You can read an excerpt from it here on KtB: “Spaceship Jesus Will Come Back and Whisk Us Away.”
Before and after the reading, join us for drinks and Buddha-killing mingling.
Here are the details:
Thursday, November 5th, 2009
6:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Lolita Bar
266 Broome Street, New York, NY
Tell us you’re coming via Facebook.
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October 25th, 2009 at 10:36 am
I applaud your site’s spirit of investigation, melded with wry humor. Well done, on that level.
I would like to share my opinion that ‘killing the Buddha’, though explained as rooted in an esoteric Zen concept, is an unfortunate banner for a site which intends to educate, stimulate and challenge in a modern America, chin-deep in firearms and engaged in two aggressive wars against people of violent, irrationally religious fervor.
To many of us, the Buddha represents a model of a human, non-violent, compassionate life. It strikes me as rather strange that, of all the religious figures in history, you have chosen to use the Buddha concept in this way, perhaps in a quest for getting attention in a ‘gangstah’ pop culture.
I would not assume that you are inured to violence in our society, but I would question whether the combination of the obscurity of the Zen reference and the use of it as a headline best suit a serious and civilized discussion of religion in these perilous times. Religion is killing people right now. I, for one, do not wish to engage religious discussion on that level.
October 25th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Paul, I’m glad you like the site. Unfortunately our outreach to “gangsta” culture has been almost an utter failure. For some strange reason most of the people who come around here seem to be wimpy peaceniks like you and me.
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:28 am
Maybe the Gangsta reference was off, but I have always been put off by “Killing the Buddha” as well, even thought I get the reference, and Paul’s post started to put a finger on my discomfort. “KtB” doesn’t stand for the site very well, in my opinion.
November 2nd, 2009 at 10:39 pm
If it doesn’t, then I suspect it is a testament against our recent editorial work—”Killing the Buddha” is supposed to put you off.