Welcome to the Saturday Spotlight, a weekly feature hosted at Tinasbookreviews and highlights indie, unknown, up and rising and debut authors. Basically its all about authors and the books they write. This week I have the pleasure introducing readers to...
W.R Pursche
Planet Jesus
by W.R Pursche
Ever since I was young, I was always fascinated by the question of how people would react if a well known religious figure were to appear again. What would people do? What would they believe? What would he say?
This idea became the genesis of a book that my friend Michael Gabriele and I began, believe it or not, when we were about 12 years old. The memory of the first moon landing was still fresh, and so we hit upon the idea of people one day coming upon Jesus on another planet. We actually wrote a few chapters but as with most dreams of children it was (mostly) forgotten.
Fast forward many years. My interest in dogs led me write Lessons To Live By: The Canine Commandments, which revolves around the concept of how great messages can have a profound impact on the way we live. What would a future message be that draws on the most powerful spiritual teacher? That is the premise of The Eternal Messiah. We were actually amazed to find out that no one had written this story. Don't we all wonder how God will appear in the universe?
We considered, but ultimately rejected, the idea of having Jesus appear today. Too much attention would have to be placed the present state of the world and how Jesus would react to this or that incident or disaster. Instead, we wanted the focus to be on the message, and how people responded. But where can you set the story so that it takes away the distractions of today?
So we went back to the original idea. We set the story on another planet, sometime in the future. We know that a lot of people don't read science fiction, so that part of it is really downplayed; there is nothing really 'science' about it other than the fact that the story takes place in the future. If you like Donita K. Paul, Ted Dekker, Frank Peretti and The Left Behind series you are familiar with the idea of a story in a different time or place.
But how would people react to this "future" Jesus, both those who knew of the Biblical Jesus, as well as those who were witnesses for the first time? And would the message be any different?
This turned out to be the most difficult part of writing the book, and it took us years to come up with a powerful message that is unique, but also one that most Christians (and even non-Christians) would be comfortable with. There is an underlying theme of the power of faith, and this is what affects the characters the most. A faith that provides strength, even if one is surrounded by those who insist on a ‘scientific’ explanation of God: “Who are they who would say that the truth of faith is any less than the truth of evidence?”
Any book with Jesus as a character is sure to invite controversy. It hasn’t been so in the way some books seem to have been written to create controversy by attacking people of faith. But it certainly has created a lot of spirited discussion. Religious leaders and book clubs are using the story to talk about the true role of religion. Many parents have told me it gives them a way to talk about God with their kids in a new and exciting way.
What should a novel do for you as a reader? I would say that it should do more than entertain; it should make you think, consider new things, make you feel. It should impact you in some way, to act differently, to change. I can't claim that my books do all of these things to everyone, but I hope that The Eternal Messiah will demonstrate the underlying power of faith and spirituality.
Wow- that sounds very... interesting... I can say as a believer of Christ it might be a real challenge to dig into a book like this one, but its always great when a book can make you think outside of the "box". Thanks Mr. Pursche for sharing those thoughts and best of luck to your writing career.
GIVEAWAY
I have one copy of The Eternal Messiah to give away. Please just leave a comment. Open to US and Canada residents. Winner will be drawn May 14, 2011.
The Eternal Messiah-
In the distant future, on a planet far from Earth, a religious preacher appears just as war threatens to engulf the galaxy. He brings a compelling message of sacrifice, encouraging the people to break free from their meaningless and lifeless customs. His gospel challenges both the ritualistic religious leaders and an oppressive occupying power. His name is Jesus.
On the other side of the galaxy, Treb Captain Win's research ship is commandeered by the military to undertake a covert mission to find a missing freighter carrying illicit weapons. Along on the mission are two troublesome humans: a shady government official who isn't telling Win the whole story about the mission, and a scientist who has developed a controversial theory about the connection between religion and cultural advancement.
When the search for the weapons leads to K'Turia, Win and his companions are caught between Jesus, the priests, and their enemies. Drawn into an unfolding drama that is eerily familiar to what happened on Earth, they are forced to make a desperate choice: save the galaxy or save Jesus?
Planet Photo Source
Interesting post. I hadn't heard of this one.
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Lovely post!
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