Joshua A Parable For Today Analysis

Joshua’s Message in Joshua: A Parable for Today
In the novel, Joshua: A Parable for Today, by Joseph F. Girzone, the author communicates that Joshua is Jesus risen again through the message he conveys and the miracles he performs. Joshua, a kind but mysterious stranger, moves to the town of Auburn and proceeds to stir up a huge debate simply by sharing his opinion about religion. Joshua does not try and preach against the Church, but he still manages to cause a giant conflict with the Church, despite his simplicity and kind nature. Even though his actions are very similar to those of Jesus, most people do not recognize him, and instead see him as someone attacking the Church. Joshua’s overall message to the people of Auburn is that the Church
He tries to teach the people that religion is not a materialistic thing measured by activities in a Church, but a thing of beauty, that is felt in the mind and spirit. When he is asked about his opinion on the Church, Joshua answers and displays his message in the clearest way possible. “‘Josh,’ Herm asked, ‘what do you think of Church and religion?’ ‘Real religion is in people’s hearts, not in buildings’” (Girzone 43). Joshua does not try and make his idea ambiguous, he wants the people to understand him so that they can easily right their wrong. Even against people who see eye to eye with him, Joshua tries to vocalize his message in the nicest and most comprehensible way possible. When Joshua is maliciously asked why he doesn’t stay in one Church to pray he answers “‘I feel that Jesus loves people, not structures, and his people are not limited to Catholics or Methodists or Presbyterians. Wherever sincere people gather to honor God, God is in their midst, so I feel at home with them, whoever they are’” (Girzone 126). Here, Joshua explains that they should not be so preoccupied with what Church everyone is in, because it is the love of God that counts. Again, even as he is attacked, Joshua tries to put forth his simple and very veracious idea that there is too much emphasis on the clergy and the Church, and that worship is shifting away from true religion. “‘Jesus taught that his apostles
He simply spoke his mind, with no evil intentions, but since his view challenged the oppressive authority of certain Church officials, the Church turn against him. One time, when Joshua explains his message to Father Pat, the priest listens to Joshua and after hearing what Joshua has to say, he understands Joshua’s message and grasps that Joshua has a deep, deep level of religious understanding and enlightenment, and he realizes that people should listen to him, because he is right, and not trying to attack the Church at all. “‘Joshua, sometimes I wonder about you and when you talk like that. I still think there’s more to you than just a woodcarver. Your vision far transcends the merely human mind’” (Girzone 103). As he listens to Joshua, Father Pat is able to fathom what Joshua is saying, and he comes to the conclusion that Joshua is, in fact right, and his message is truthful, yet with no ill-intentions against the clergy. While being interrogated, Joshua shows that he has no dark motive to upheave the Church, he just wants to right what is wrong. Despite this, Joshua is still seen as an immoral heretic out to destroy the Church. As he is inquired by a pastor about his preaching, Joshua tries to explain that he is doing so tranquilly, and only to improve love for God, but the priest refuses to see things sensibly from Joshua’s point of view, and calls