Kirkus Reviews QR Code
CHRIST IS GOD'S MIDDLE NAME by Edward S. & Elizabeth H. Fox

CHRIST IS GOD'S MIDDLE NAME

By

Pub Date: Feb. 12th, 1970
Publisher: Doubleday

Although quite obviously rigged for adult consumption and instruction, these edited interviews with children concerning (Christian, Protestant) religion are occasionally revealing and do point up innate paradoxes. There is all the expected, delightful coping with sophisticated theology and derivative linguistics: the Ghost's first name is ""Holy""; Jesus can fly (""Ascend to Heaven""); a child asserts she can't be made in God's image because ""He's a man and I'm a girl""; and the child who is afraid of God because ""He's so smart."" Most interviews include leading questions and answers as to why the child feels as he dries (from rooting out the God-loving parent to the one who mentions God by way of ""Goddamn""). Still, in spite of the heavy hand of psychologically oriented educative mission there is an occasionally bracing view of childhood's green pastures.