Tabac
11-03-2003, 02:13 AM
This book, subtitled "The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal", is an amusing romp, and I believe that no disrespect is intended on the part of the author. Biff reveals to us many things about the time of the early life of Joshua, including the angel who was the inspiration for dumb blonde jokes, the first latte, the first “These-two-Jews-walked-into-a-bar” joke, the first vision of Mary; this all occurs on their trip of several years along the Silk Road to find Gaspar, Balthasar and Melchior so that Joshua can learn about the Eastern religions and how to be a Messiah. While Biff is educated, first-hand, in the Kama Sutra, the reader is educated as to the origin of the Shroud of Turin. In the Epilogue, Moore says: “This story is not and never was meant to challenge anyone’s faith; however, if one’s faith can be shaken by stories in a humorous novel, one may have a bit more praying to do”. I totally agree.