Recommended reading

The best sentence I have read today -- and I have read a lot of them -- might be this one: "Attempts to convey the ineffable often come across as kind of effed up."

The sentence was written by Fred Clark over at slacktivist, and he's an editor, so he should know. He's posted a new installment to his ongoing exegesis of the "Left Behind" series and it's, as always, fascinating. This particular post talks about stories of religious conversion ("testimonies"), which have always struck me as bizarre and disturbing -- much like the stories of what brought someone into recovery whatever 12-step group they participate in.

I mean, I'm all in favor of redemption & everything, but it seems kind of a private matter to me, and I don't really understand this need to share. But then again, I'm a heathen, and I'm not in recovery.

I read all but the last of the "Left Behind" books; my co-workers were passing them around a while back and I was curious, and then horrified. I don't recommend reading the books, but I highly recommend taking a look at Fred's commentary for those who are interested. He offers both literary observations and critical analysis from an evangelical christian perspective. [The series is archived here.]