From: stucki@retina.cis.ohio-state.edu (David J Stucki)
Subject: Re: Madeleine L'Engle question
Originator: stucki@retina.cis.ohio-state.edu
Organization: Ohio State University Computer and Information Science
	<1992Jul27.020112.3683@techbook.com>
	<1992Jul29.014713.9884@ucsu.Colorado.EDU>
	<1992Jul29.131711.2115@cbnews.cb.att.com>
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 17:57:32 GMT

In article <1992Jul29.131711.2115@cbnews.cb.att.com> ajw@cbnews.cb.att.com (andrew.j.whitman) writes:

   In article <1992Jul29.014713.9884@ucsu.Colorado.EDU> hill@spot.Colorado.EDU (Michael Hill) writes:

   >Speaking of Madeleine L'Engle, here's a question I've never been able to
   >find the answer to.  Why have I heard so much that she was Christian, or
   >that her books were?  When I read "A Wrinkle in Time", the only thing I
   >was able to find was a statement that Buddha, Mohammed, Christ, et al.
   >were 'great shining lights of humanity' or something like that.  Certainly
   >not the message Christ preached!  (Not in the NIV, anyway.  :^)  )
   >
   >Any takers?

   Madeleine L'Engle is a member of the Episcopal Church.

   She's not an evangelical, and I am, so I have problems with some of
   her theology.  But I'd encourage you, if at all possible, to not let
   that get in the way of the superb writing and the striking insights
   that she can provide.

Well, she wasn't. In the last several years she has developed a friendship
with Wheaton College (in Illinois), where they now house a L'Engle special
collection, and has said that Wheaton has made an evangelical out of her.
I have seen her speak there several times--usually she is really good to
listen to, but there was one lecture that wasn't up to par. If you have a
chance to see her it's worth it, but see her more than once in case you
get her on a bad day.

   Does anyone else here know and like these folks?  Or have any
   similar recommendations for Christian fiction and/or poetry?
   Don't tell me about Lewis, Tolkien, Williams, Peretti, Lawhead, et 
   al.  That's okay, but I'm looking for something besides tracts
   disguised as fantasy novels (no, that doesn't really apply to
   C.S., J.R.R., and Charles, but Peretti and Lawhead bore me to
   tears).  Just to help you out some, the contemporary writers that
   I esteem most highly are Dillard, O'Connor, John Updike, Gabriel
   Garcia Marquez, Milan Kundera, Thomas Pynchon, and Graham Green.  
   Anybody willing to recommend something else along those lines?

I really like (both fiction and non-fiction, like L'Engle) Frederick
Buechner. I would start with The Book of Bebb (fiction) or Peculiar
Treasures (devotional). You could also try Walker Percy, Chaim Potok,
and Stephen R. Donaldson. Potok is Jewish but his novels have
conservative religious overtones that made me think of him in this
category. 


   Andy Whitman
   AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus, Ohio
   att!cblpn!ajw  or
   ajw@cblpn.att.com

dave...

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Newsgroups: rec.music.christian