[Hac-announce] April 2019 Book Discussion: "Barabbas" by Par Lagerkvist

[kvngough at aol.com]

 Our book for April is Barabbas by Swedish author Par Lagerkvist. The discussion will take place Saturday, April 20, 2019 at 2 pm in the library of the Unitarian Society of New Haven at 700 Hartford Turnpike, Hamden.(Please note: Starting in May, the time will change from 2 pm to 2:30 pm.)  From Wikipedia: [The 1950 novel] tells a version of the life ofBarabbas, the man whom the Bible relates was released instead of Jesus. [Barabbasis] skeptical about the Holiness of Jesus, but he is also fascinated by hissacrifice. He seeks out different followers of Jesus in trying to understand him,but finds that their exalted views of Jesus do not match his down-to-earthobservation... More important, since Barabbas has never been the recipient oflove…, he finds that he is unable to understand love and, hence, unable tounderstand the Christian faith. He says that he "wants to believe,"but for Barabbas, understanding is a prerequisite for belief, so he is unableto.


 
The novel is built on antithesis: Jesus dies first among the threecrucified – Barabbas dies last. Jesus dies among several of his friends –Barabbas dies alone. Jesus talks to God – Barabbas talks to the darkness. Thenovel starts with Jesus' crucifixion and ends with Barabbas' crucifixion in Rome.  "As a parable, Barabbas is open to manyinterpretations. As a picture of a human soul, with or without parable, it ismoving and convincing."  – Time
 
Light snacks will be served.    
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