Wearing God Clothing, laughter, fire, and other overlooked ways of meeting God

Chances are when most readers think of metaphors for God or spirituality in general, the word clothing is probably far down the list. But that's the perspective in this appealing book. The God who Winner writes about is closer to me than my nearest neighbor, she begins. She then goes on to discuss various images of God as well as the social and political consequences of those images. Often these images come from daily life, such as clothing. Clothing, she points out, doesn't just shape identity. It also communicates something about our identity to the people we meet. She makes references to the various preachers and saints and mystics and theologians of tradition, from Thomas Aquinas to the fourth-century preacher John Chrysostom, to mention just a few. In addition, she writes about the very strong connection between the sense of smell and emotion; the bread of life and sustenance; the metaphor of God as a woman in labor; the significance of laughter; and the imagery of God as fire. A thoughtful mediation on God, spirituality, and the fabric of life.--Sawyers, June Copyright 2015 Booklist

Duke Divinity School professor and writer Winner (Still) combines spiritual insight and beautifully descriptive prose as she explores some of the more obscure biblical metaphors for God. This is not a book about God as king, shepherd, father, or judge. Rather, Winner looks at the ways God can be known through the everyday and familiar: a beloved sweater, the smell of a loved one's shirt, morning-glory muffins. Weaving together intimate reflections and scholarship, Winner demonstrates how metaphors can deepen an understanding of God. She is at her best showing how language has political and social consequences. In a chapter about God as smell, she considers the historical connection between smell and virtue and suggests that we might better serve others if we remember that Jesus "was a sometimes homeless man who... surely sometimes stank." Elsewhere, she asserts that the image of God as a laboring woman can remind us of vulnerability in the same way the Crucifixion does. Winner's honest, charming reflections stir the imagination and invite the reader to explore not just the metaphors she has chosen, but the treasure trove the Bible provides. Prayers and quotations promote further contemplation. Agent: Carol Mann, Carol Mann Agency. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.