Sympathy for the devil
THE TESTAMENT OF GIDEON MACK<br>by James Robertson<br>Penguin Books, pp386, ISBN: 978-0-141-02335-9
"The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he did not exist," says 'Verbal' Kint in The Usual Suspects. Gideon Mack, a minister of the Church of Scotland in the small harbour town of Monimaskit spent most of his life and career in "the service of God" fooled by that trick. But that is only part of the picture.
Mack was a professional hypocrite. The man had many blessings in the way many men and women of all churches do. He worked in the community, comforted people going through a rough patch, raised money for charity, the works. His job required him to speak about God all the time but as far as he was concerned that was a background convention about as meaningful as his dog collar.
The point with Gideon Mack is that he did not lose his faith half-way through his ministry, as can happen to any thinking man. He actually entered the presbytery a sceptic because being himself a "son of the manse" he followed his father who had also been a minister.
A job with the Church of Scotland is reasonably secure if you go about your business quietly and keep up the routine.
Gideon was good at that. You also get a chance to contribute to the well-being of fellow men and women, which is a vocation that need not be confused with faith in the existence of some supreme being.
But this novel starts with its ending and we know from the outset that at some point in his career Gideon had some Damascus experience that brought him to the public attention. Gideon declares he met and conversed with the devil when Satan himself saved him from what should have been a fatal fall off a cliff. What is more, the devil turns out to be a nice guy and is being recommended from the pulpit of Monimaskit in an outpouring of honesty as Gideon confesses he has spent his life lying about his belief in God while covering up his adultery with a local parishioner.
This is pretty much a complete plot outline. But this novel, written in the first person as a testament of Gideon Mack before his disappearance and apparent suicide, is far more than a quirky, ironic send-up of priests and their inevitable struggle with their convictions.
The novel is also a profound, sophisticated illustration of the one consideration with which all atheists must spend their lifetimes contending: How stupid they will feel when horned and hoofed Satan, smiling mischievously, opens the hot gates of eternity for them.
The book refers several times to Pascal's coin-tossing principle. If you were to toss heads or tails on whether God existed, it is wise to always bet He does. If you win the bet, you back the right horse which may be convenient on your post-death appointment. If you lose the bet, you and everyone else will never know.
This is the basis of many people's so-called faith. It is an insurance policy taken out against the existence of God. Against this background is the story of Mack who, except for the detail that he is local presbyter of the national church of his country, is an atheist waiting for some divine revelation to prove him wrong.
God does not bother to reveal Himself to Gideon but the devil does and Gideon is grateful. Never happier to be wrong he preaches with conviction what has been revealed to him and receives the Christ treatment of persecution at the hands of conservative Pharisees; the derision from a confused crowd that asks for his crucifixion; and the pathetic sympathy by the few who plead insanity on his behalf but are never prepared to believe he is in substance right about his claims.
I would not say this is a "message" book or even that it is allegorical. It is an experience, heartfelt and well-written. Recommended.
• Mr Delia is a graduate of International Relations and Comparative Politics.
• A review copy of this title was provided by Books Plus of Bisazza Street, Sliema
Mack was a professional hypocrite. The man had many blessings in the way many men and women of all churches do. He worked in the community, comforted people going through a rough patch, raised money for charity, the works. His job required him to speak about God all the time but as far as he was concerned that was a background convention about as meaningful as his dog collar.
The point with Gideon Mack is that he did not lose his faith half-way through his ministry, as can happen to any thinking man. He actually entered the presbytery a sceptic because being himself a "son of the manse" he followed his father who had also been a minister.
A job with the Church of Scotland is reasonably secure if you go about your business quietly and keep up the routine.
Gideon was good at that. You also get a chance to contribute to the well-being of fellow men and women, which is a vocation that need not be confused with faith in the existence of some supreme being.
But this novel starts with its ending and we know from the outset that at some point in his career Gideon had some Damascus experience that brought him to the public attention. Gideon declares he met and conversed with the devil when Satan himself saved him from what should have been a fatal fall off a cliff. What is more, the devil turns out to be a nice guy and is being recommended from the pulpit of Monimaskit in an outpouring of honesty as Gideon confesses he has spent his life lying about his belief in God while covering up his adultery with a local parishioner.
This is pretty much a complete plot outline. But this novel, written in the first person as a testament of Gideon Mack before his disappearance and apparent suicide, is far more than a quirky, ironic send-up of priests and their inevitable struggle with their convictions.
The novel is also a profound, sophisticated illustration of the one consideration with which all atheists must spend their lifetimes contending: How stupid they will feel when horned and hoofed Satan, smiling mischievously, opens the hot gates of eternity for them.
The book refers several times to Pascal's coin-tossing principle. If you were to toss heads or tails on whether God existed, it is wise to always bet He does. If you win the bet, you back the right horse which may be convenient on your post-death appointment. If you lose the bet, you and everyone else will never know.
This is the basis of many people's so-called faith. It is an insurance policy taken out against the existence of God. Against this background is the story of Mack who, except for the detail that he is local presbyter of the national church of his country, is an atheist waiting for some divine revelation to prove him wrong.
God does not bother to reveal Himself to Gideon but the devil does and Gideon is grateful. Never happier to be wrong he preaches with conviction what has been revealed to him and receives the Christ treatment of persecution at the hands of conservative Pharisees; the derision from a confused crowd that asks for his crucifixion; and the pathetic sympathy by the few who plead insanity on his behalf but are never prepared to believe he is in substance right about his claims.
I would not say this is a "message" book or even that it is allegorical. It is an experience, heartfelt and well-written. Recommended.
• Mr Delia is a graduate of International Relations and Comparative Politics.
• A review copy of this title was provided by Books Plus of Bisazza Street, Sliema