She very much reminds me of Chesterton -- showing Christianity in a new and deep and rich and imaginative way. Quite honestly, stuff like this could basically be described as a reiteration of the introduction to The Everlasting Man:
America is far from spiritually monolithic, but the vast backdrop of our culture is Christian, and for most of us it is the earliest faith we know. The "idea of the God-man" is not strange or scandalous, because it first swam in milk and butter on the top of our oatmeal decades ago. At that age, many things were strange, though most were more immediately palpable. A God-filled baby in a pile of straw was a pleasant image, but somewhat theoretical compared with the heartstopping exhilaration of a visit from Santa Claus. The way a thunderstorm ripped the night sky, the hurtling power of the automobile Daddy drove so bravely, the rapture of ice cream–how could the distant Incarnation compete with those?
We grew up with the Jesus story, until we outgrew it. The last day we walked out of Sunday School may be the last day we seriously engaged this faith. Thus the average person’s conception of the Christian faith is a child’s conception, still hobbled by a child’s perspective and presumptions. We were fed the oatmeal version of Christianity, boiled down to what a child could comprehend, and to many it never occurs that there might be something more to know. The other great faiths of the world we encounter as adults, and can perceive their depth and complexity. We cease thinking about Christianity when we are children, and so fail to glimpse the power and passion that has inspired poets and martyrs and theologians for millennia. There is ample material here to ponder for a lifetime. The problem is, we think we already know it all. (link)
And she can write intelligently, awarely, compassionately, and with conviction about such things as abortion. So much so that both pro-lifers and pro-choicers recommend her books.
She's apparently managing to do the same thing with the topic of homosexuality, too. And gender-neutral Bible translations. And other super-hot-topic cultural issues that normally end up with both sides screaming at one another and reaching for machetes.
And I'm also very happy to find someone talking about politics and Christianity like this.
She has one of the absolute best ears to today's culture that I've come across. And she's not afraid to wrestle with hard things honestly -- acknowledging her own doubts on matters; recognizing oversights or wrongs done by those on the "right" side (as it were). Honesty is a good thing. With a good deal of experience and humility mixed in.
Yeah, and she's Eastern Orthodox. (And, no, I'm not joining the Whitley Theological Angst party over it. ;))
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