User:Makejesuslie

Make Jesus Lie is a novel written by Paul Loewen of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It is 65,000 words, was written in September of 2008, and is being distributed in an interesting method.

Plot

It tells the story of an abused 17 year-old girl (Ana) who leaves home, only to take up residence in a slum-like neighborhood, living in the ransacked and graffitied shell of a church. There, she vents her frustration at god for the pain she feels, the pain she sees, and the pain the world experiences. In a moment of anger, she decides to put god on trial for the suffering he has inflicted on the world. Gathering evidence through available means, Ana begins to familiarize herself with the residents in the neighborhood. At the same time, she inadvertently and unknowingly begins to act as God's love for the people she's representing in the trial.

The story escalates as Ana begins to get involved in the affairs of members of the neighborhood to a dangerous extent, the trial seems to initiate no response at all from God, and the abuse she suffered in the past turns into something much more lasting. The climax brings to resolution the pain Ana is experiencing and presents an answer to the problem of a 'loving' and 'all-powerful' God in a unique and original way. The story ends with Ana encouraging those present, and the readers, to do all they can to "Make Jesus Lie."

Distribution

Towards the end of the novel, the reader is informed that what they are reading is actually a detailed version of the events leading up to the end of Ana's stay at the church. She is hammering it out on a typewriter in the church in which the story takes place. She distributes it (via photocopies) to the individuals who sent in positive responses to God's loving presence, and encourages them to make photocopies and pass it on if it is a story they feel needs to be told.

In much the same manner, the actual story is being distributed via loose 8.5" x 11" sheets in folders and duotangs, so the individual sheets can be removed and photocopied. It is also available online, by emailing makejesuslie at gmail dot com.