Penguins and Golden Calves
Icons and Idols in Antarctica and Other Unexpected Places
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5.0 • 1 Rating
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- $6.99
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
Despite protests and warnings from friends and family, author Madeleine L’Engle, at the age of seventy-four, embarked on a rafting trip to Antarctica. Her journey through the startling beauty of the continent led her to write Penguins and Golden Calves, a captivating discussion of how opening oneself up to icons, or everyday “windows to God,” leads to the development of a rich and deeply spiritual faith.
Here, L’Engle explains how ordinary things such as family, words, the Bible, heaven, and even penguins can become such windows. She also shows how such a window becomes an idol–a penguin becomes a “golden calf”–when we see it as a reflection of itself instead of God.
With delightful language, insightful metaphor, and personal stories, L’Engle brings readers to a deeper understanding of themselves, their faith, and the presence of God in their daily lives.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
According to these latest musings from L'Engle, rock hopper penguins, family values, holy days and actresses have something in common. Each can become an icon or an idol. A trip to the Antarctic and an opportunity to observe playful penguins in their natural setting triggered a stream of reflections about vulnerability and intimacy, icons and idols by this prolific author. Icons, for L'Engle, are not little pictures on computer screens but, rather, anything that becomes an "open window to God." The penguins, joyous in their ancient, ice-bound world, open L'Engle's eyes to the majesty and glory of creation. Reflecting on other icons in her life, she notes the danger of turning icons into idols, that is, of making gods of things that merely point to God. Discussing how false expectations can lead to idolatry, the author examines such diverse subjects as families and values, the desacralization of Halloween and schoolgirl crushes. L'Engle enthusiasts will welcome this new addition to their bookshelves.
