Darling
Book Description
In this deeply personal memoir, Richard Rodriguez embarks on a profound spiritual journey that spans continents and faiths, wrestling with the complexities of belief in our modern world. As a gay Catholic writer, Rodriguez finds himself in the paradoxical position of loving the very desert religions that reject his identity, creating a tension that drives his exploration of faith, belonging, and divine connection.
Rodriguez weaves together seemingly disparate threads, moving from the ancient streets of Jerusalem to the innovation hubs of Silicon Valley, drawing connections between figures as varied as Moses and Liberace, Lance Armstrong and Mother Teresa. His narrative examines the troubling rise of religious violence alongside growing Western atheism, questioning what it means to maintain faith in an increasingly secular and divided world.
At the heart of this spiritual tapestry lies Rodriguez's relationship with the God of the desert, the same deity claimed by Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He explores how this shared divine heritage connects these three faiths while acknowledging the terrorists who commit violence in God's name. Throughout his journey, Rodriguez pays particular attention to the women who shaped his spiritual development, recognizing their crucial role in the future of desert religions.
This memoir offers readers a nuanced meditation on faith, identity, and the search for divine truth in a complex world where personal authenticity and religious tradition often collide.
Who Is This For?
📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~7 hours)
📄 Length: 235 pages
What You'll Discover
- ✓ Explore Christian pilgrims and pilgrimages
- ✓ Explore Catholic church, biography
- ✓ Explore United states, religion
- ✓ Explore Religious aspects
- ✓ Explore Christian biography
- ✓ Explore Catholic Church
- ✓ Explore Homosexuality
- ✓ Explore Gays' writings, American
