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Faith in Fiction: Moses, Man of the Mountain by Zora Neale Hurston

Faith in Fiction will meet on Monday, March 16th to discuss Moses, Man of the Mountain by Zora Neale Hurston. We will discuss the full book at this date, but please come even if you haven’t finished reading it! Location - 803 Cattleya Ct. Louisville, KY 40207

Bonus Materials:

+ A movie screening of Zora Neale Hurston: Claiming a Space documentary at the Crump’s house on Friday, February 27th at 6:30pm. Please RSVP to jcrump@sojournmidtown.com.

+ Claude Atcho writes about Moses, Man of the Mountain in his nonfiction book Reading Black Books: How African American Literature Can Make Our Faith More Whole and Just (Chapter 5). His chapter looks closely at Hurston’s background as an anthropologist and writing through the lens of Black folklore tradition, the participation in and reappropriation of the exodus, and themes of salvation and liberation through the novel, history, and the Bible. You can find a digital version on Libby and Hoopla, and physical copies at LFPL.

“In this 1939 novel based on the familiar story of the Exodus, Zora Neale Hurston blends the Moses of the Old Testament with the Moses of black folklore and song to create a compelling allegory of power, redemption, and faith. Narrated in a mixture of biblical rhetoric, black dialect, and colloquial English, Hurston traces Moses' life from the day he Is launched into the Nile river in a reed basket, to his development as a great magician, to his transformation into the heroic rebel leader, the Great Emancipator. From his dramatic confrontations with Pharaoh to his fragile negotiations with the wary Hebrews, this very human story is told with great humor, passion, and psychological insight--the hallmarks of Hurston as a writer and champion of black culture.” — HarpPeren

Our book discussions aim to equip each member to read and interpret novels thoughtfully from a Christian perspective, and to learn to discuss challenging content graciously.

Mark your calendar for upcoming books:

Earlier Event: March 14
Risograph Zine Workshop
Later Event: April 17
Artist Talk & Music Experience: Wilderness Waiting