Ebook
In a laugh out loud series of misfortunes, Professor Schmoot struggles to find his way as a New Testament professor in a seminary seeking to promote itself as “spiritual but not religious.” Unforgettable characters interact in a sequence of episodes in which postmodern aspirations are confounded by financial and academic deficits.
“Students and friends of Christopher Morse—often the same
people!—have long known that his theological erudition is equally
matched by a brilliant comic wit. In this charming academic
novella, Morse cleverly satirizes the world of seminary education,
offering the reader a delightful plot filled with characters lost
in the cynical power of sin and buoyed by the transforming power of
grace. A book like this that evokes both laughter at the vanity of
human failure and hope for the constancy of human faithfulness is a
tonic for the soul!”
—John E. Thiel, Professor at Fairfield University
“Reminiscent of David Lodge’s satirical takes on
British academic life, Christopher Morse drills relentlessly into
the troubled industry of American theological education. Those who
passed through this system in the ’70s and ’80s will readily
recognize the cast of characters at Star-Cross Seminary, not least
ourselves, as we fumble and bumble on the road to Emmaus.”
—James F. Kay, Princeton Theological Seminary
“In this work of fiction, Christopher Morse
accomplishes a seemingly impossible task: combining theology with
humor. Most readers will occasionally find themselves the target of
his satire, but his humor never resorts to cynicism, and he is
never mean-spirited toward his characters. As profound as it is
humorous, this book will appeal to anyone interested in the state
of the church, theological education, and cultural attitudes toward
religion.”
—Nancy Duff, Associate Professor at Princeton Theological
Seminary
“Crossed wires and cross purposes ensure that life
at Star-Cross Seminary is never dull as the traditional school of
theology transforms itself into a Pan-Pneumatic Spirituality Center.
With deft send-ups of double-speak and institutional incoherence,
Christopher Morse exposes the perils of such a star-crossed
venture.”
—Thomas Miller, Episcopal Priest and
Writer on Religion and the Arts
“Morse’s hilarious new work takes us into the
inner workings of struggling Star-Cross Theological Seminary, a
once staid but now reinvented postmodern institution, where
faculty, administrators, trustees, and students attempt to further
‘the Lord’s work’ while disagreeing every step of the way as to
what this entails. Some potential readers may think the setting too
parochial to be of interest, but don’t make this mistake. This
finely crafted work casts a brilliant and humorous light on modern
society and how our institutions, political, religious, and
otherwise, contort themselves to a place where meaning and facts no
longer have definitional authority.”
—Craig Berggren, Author of a study of The Ethics of Motivational Programs Within Today’s Global
Corporations
Need help?