Penguins and Golden Calves
Subtitle: Icons and Idols in Antarctica and Other Unexpected Places
Contributors: Leif Enger (Foreword)
Publisher: Shaw
Published: February 18, 2003
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 187
ISBN-13: 9780877886310
Subjects: Christian worship; Personal Christian testimony & popular inspirational works; Spirituality - General; Icons; Christian Life; Worship; Religion - Classic Works; Spiritual life; Religion; Idols and images; Christianity - Literature & the Arts; General; L'Engle, Madeleine; Religion / Spirituality; Christianity; Christian Life - General
Description: Despite protests and warnings from friends and family, author Madeleine L’Engle, at the age of seventy-four, embarked on a rafting trip to Antarctica. Her journey through the startling beauty of the continent led her to write Penguins and Golden Calves, a captivating discussion of how opening oneself up to icons, or everyday “windows to God,” leads to the development of a rich and deeply spiritual faith. Here, L’Engle explains how ordinary things such as family, words, the Bible, heaven, and even penguins can become such windows. She also shows how such a window becomes an idol–a penguin becomes a “golden calf”–when we see it as a reflection of itself instead of God. With delightful language, insightful metaphor, and personal stories, L’Engle brings readers to a deeper understanding of themselves, their faith, and the presence of God in their daily lives.