Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Wrestling with God

Home
New Visions
Catholic Memoirist Richard Rodriguez on God, Islam, and Finding Faith in the Midst of Darkness

Catholic Memoirist Richard Rodriguez on God, Islam, and Finding Faith in the Midst of Darkness

Last updated on: February 24, 2015 at 12:01 am by Barbara Falconer Newhall

Catholic Memoirist Richard Rodriguez on God, Islam, and Finding Faith in the Midst of Darkness 2015-02-23T13:50:10-08:00 Barbara Falconer Newhall

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Richard Rodriguez signs copies of Darling at the Sagrada bookstore in Oakland, Calif. Photo by Barbara Newhall

By Barbara Falconer Newhall

The occasion was a two-fer book talk by two Catholics. Kaya Oakes would be talking about her Catholicism-to-atheism-and-back-to-Catholicism memoir, Radical Reinvention: An Unlikely Return to the Catholic Church. And Catholic memoirist Richard Rodriguez would be talking about his essay collection, Darling: A Spiritual Autobiography.

Kaya Oakes at the Sagrada bookstore. Photo by Barbara Newhall

Oakes started the conversation with a blunt question to her fellow memoirist: “Why do you believe in God?” she wanted to know.

“Do I believe in God?” Rodriguez paused and thought about it. He didn’t seem to want to answer the question on its own terms. Instead he said, “I feel a commitment to Jesus and the life of Jesus.”

He then proceeded to tell a story about Mother Teresa. During Mother Teresa’s 1987 visit to San Quentin State Prison just north of San Francisco, Rodriguez reported, the diminutive sister addressed a group of painfully respectful death row inmates. “If you want to see the face of God,” she told the men, “look at the prisoner standing next to you.” Then she added, “I see the face of God when I look at you.”

After their talk, Rodriguez, Oakes and their audience strolled the few blocks from Faith Presbyterian Church, where the conversation took place, to the Sagrada Sacred Arts store on Telegraph Avenue for a book signing. There, surrounded by candles, crystals, meditation bells, icons, and, of course, books, Rodriguez signed copies of Darling.

When my turn came to get my book signed and chat with the author, the conversation turned philosophical. Rodriguez looked at me and repeated Mother Teresa’s words, “I see the face of God when I look at you.”

I was touched. I studied Rodriguez’ lovely Mexican American face for a moment and thought to myself, “Yeah. If God had a face, it would look pretty much like that.”

More Pithy Thoughts From Richard Rodriguez

Do I consider myself a gay writer? No, I consider myself a morose writer.

The violence in the world right now tells me that men are afraid of women. It’s the old tyranny of the male, but I think the male is more insecure than ever.

After 9/11 I wanted to go toward Islam. I wanted to know what the energy was.

Not to have read the Qur’an is to be half-educated right now.

America is a religion. As a Christian, I’m not in complete synch with America.

It is possible to be a believer and be in darkness.

When I write, things come to me that I didn’t originate. They just come to me.

Really good writing is sitting in place so that it happens when you are at your desk where you can write it down, and not when you are out jogging.

Everything seems to participate in mystery – the Paris subway, Elvis, Las Vegas. There is nothing you can’t write about, because everything is coated with mystery.

The face of God? Photo by Barbara Newhall

“Darling: A Spiritual Autobiography,” by Richard Rodriguez, Penguin, $16, paper. “Radical Reinvention: An Unlikely Return to the Catholic Church,” by Kaya Oakes, Counterpoint, $15.95, paper.

A version of this story first appeared on www.BarbaraFalconerNewhall.com, where Barbara riffs on life, family, books, writing, and her rocky spiritual journey. Her interfaith book, Wrestling with God: Stories of Doubt and Faith is scheduled for release this season by Patheos Press.

Uncategorized

american secular religion

Previous Post

February 17, 2015

For Lent, Try Giving Up That Old, Outworn Story About Yourself

Next Post

March 3, 2015 They're Atheists, They're Proud, and They've Got a Lot of Cool Bumper Stickers

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Uncategorized

Select a Month January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 September 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

How did the people show honor when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Built an altar Sounded trumpets Laid down palm branches Offered sacrifices