Local author wants feedback about book on faith

Batavia author Christopher Cudworth is seeking feedback from readers on his new book about faith, "The Genesis Fix: A Repair Manual for Faith in the Modern Age."

Cudworth will begin the process by making a presentation on his book from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Batavia Public Library on Route 31, about a block south of Wilson Street.

The first 25 Participants will be given complimentary copies of his book and will be asked to read it in the next two weeks. They will then be asked to return for a "critical analysis" session from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. March 6 at the Batavia library. Participants at this session will be able to offer feedback directly to Cudworth.

According to Cudworth, his 158-page, nonfiction work addresses the impact of biblical literalism on politics, culture and the environment.

Cudworth said he will refine the book in subsequent editions after the March 6 session, if he sees fit.

"These sessions are actually part of my writing the book," he said. "It's like when a band goes on tour with new material. They want to find out from their audience how the songs work.

"I want to find out if the book's tone matches with how the readers are able to comprehend it," he said. "I also want to find out what people are picking up regarding the message and the focus of the book. Writing any book about Scripture is a significant challenge. Elaborating on Scripture can make it more complex."

Cudworth says asking for feedback is a "hard copy mimic of the social media," such as when readers can instantly comment on news articles on the Web.

"The Genesis Fix" offers practical solutions and hope, Cudworth says.

"Its principle goal is reconciliation of modern rationality to ancient wisdom," he said in a prepared statement.

"I think that if people find this book challenges their comprehension of faith and some of its political and social alliances, it also provides them tools to bring the Bible into a modern context without creating a false competition with science and modern knowledge."

Cudworth is a freelance writer, an artist and illustrator, and a former news editorial writer who also worked in marketing at the Daily Herald. He got the idea for his book after he read his essay on biblical interpretations and the environment to a faith-based environmentalist group in the late 1990s.

"I got a very positive response," he said. "They hadn't heard some of my points about the environment before."

For details, contact Cudworth at (630) 621-8520 or mail@naturesymbol.com.

The book is available through his Web site, www.naturesymbol.com.

Meditation for Lent

The Rev. Jonathan Foster will present "The Cross: God's Foolishness" from 9 a.m. to noon March 1 at St. Patrick's Church, 6N491 Crane Road, St. Charles.

The free event, sponsored by the Fox Valley Fraternity of Secular Franciscans. includes breakfast and will end with the Eucharist for the liturgy of the day.

The program will consist of a meditation on the cross drawn from the writings of St. Paul, and a further reflection on the cross as the central focus of Christian spirituality, and therefore of Franciscan spirituality.

Foster is spiritual director to the Fox Valley Fraternity and on the staff of Mayslake Ministries in Westmont.

Reservations are due by Feb. 27. Call Chris Bruhnke at (847) 741-7003 or Alice Zoda at (630) 513-7817.

ngier@dailyherald.com