The Ghost of Perfection : Searching for Humanity by Joseph Haward

The Ghost of Perfection : Searching for Humanity by Joseph Haward

Not a review, just an initial reaction.

I enjoyed this book. It made me think. Joseph Haward honestly admits that it is a distillate and blending of the works of others ( e.g. Girard, Ellul, Gregory of Nyssa ). I was out of my depth quite often in this book paying the price for my lack of knowledge of the Eastern Patriarchs and contemporary film despite explanations in the text. At times I struggled with the words used; but I gained valuable insights from this book the aim of which was to find “what it means to be human in light of the person of Jesus”. I would recommend any thoughtful Christian to read this book because of the importance of the theme and the essential pearls to be found with in, even if like me you are not a professional theologian.

The subtitle of the book is “Searching for Humanity”. I learnt more about what harms our humanity than what it means to be human. The search for the ills inflicted on humanity is a praiseworthy aim and the author gives critiques of two entities that have the potential to drain us of our humanity ; some forms of evangelicalism and consumerism. Sadly the former has been heavily influenced by the latter. Both seek perfection and both are disappointed but do not know it.

Out of this careful thinking are born precious insights. Haward's analyses of Triumphalism, a Fix it God,and violence are invaluable. He has set so many hounds running . More books are called for “ True humanity revealed by Divinity”( a commentary on the Gospels) to name but one. He has been so careful not to write a self help manual or create new rules of behaviour that he has avoided spelling out any practical implications of his thinking. Another book perhaps “Laying the Ghost of Perfection “?

Peter M. Grinham 29.9.2017