DD 231-235.999 (Tony) The Road to Guadalupe by Eryk Hanut (232.917 HAN)

A Modern Pilgrimage to the Goddess of the Americas

Having read the dust jacket, I thought that I was in for a quirky, informative read about people who make pilgrimages to shrine dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus. It sounded interesting and a change of pace from the recent books on religion I have been reading for this project. So I cheerfully checked it out.
Then I read the about the author- creator of Rumi meditation cards, married to a expert in mysticism (the fact that he was married to a guy didn't bother me), lives in Vegas. I got a little freaked out. "Oh, great, this is some book about following a New Age cult version of The Virgin Mary", I thought.
But, I stuck to my guns and gave the book a try (after praying to God for protect from demonic forces and cooties, mind you)
Oh, how glad I am I decided to give this book a chance. Unlike the last 3 or 4 books writen by scholars of the Bible, which ended up being a preachy attack about how the Bible is mindless fantasy written by Jewish and Christians looking to assimulate the beliefs and gods of other religions- this book wasn't preachy at all! It's one man's account to visit the shrine of The Tilma of Guadlupe and examines the mystic side (and I caution as a Christian) of Catholicism. Now, granted the author claims that this isn't a "Catholic" practice (and the fact that he state a few times how he hates to oppression of the Catholic Church) and he's right to some degree. However, the worship of saints and places where miracles took place has a history steeped in Catholic practisioners.
It's one of a few reasons why I have issue with the Catholics. As a beleiver, I believe you don't need a preacher to absolve you of sins, I don't beleive that if I was to pray to St. Francis that my cat's paw will be healed, and I do not believe that if a man with a funny hat says "Jump" that I have to ask "How high?" if I do it. (Although, if I find out God likes to wear funny hats- I'll recend my last comment).
I am not alone in these beleives. My wife was raised until around age 9, as a Catholic, and she came to know these practices are wrong in order to be saved by the blood of Christ. I also know that some Catholics are starting to beleive that many practices of the Catholic Church are not Biblical and they are working to change that from within. As an example of this, I cite my wife's grandmother.
But, in terms of a book for entertainment merit, I really enjoyed this. There's even a recipe for eggs in this that I'd love to try. And yes, there are even instructions for a few "spells". Which I read in order to be informed, but I have no intentions of every using.
Erik Hanut seemed to be a fascinating guy and I would love for him to come to our church and even have lunch with him and talk about what he felt about the service in relation to his core beliefs. (Consider this an always open invitation if you are ever in Durham, North Carolina) I really apreciated his open beliefs of others and I really felt reading this book that I wasn't being criticized beleiving that what events I read about are contrary to my own. For that, I thank you Mr. Hanut.

Afterword: And now time for me to be an idiot. Until I recently saw a rerun of the show scrubs, I didn't know if the word Guadalupe was pronounced, Guad- ah- loop or Guad- ah- lou- pay.
Thanks to John C. McGinley (Dr. Perry Cox)- it's the 2nd way.
See, you can even learn from watching sitcoms.