The Gospel According To Lost

The Gospel According to Lost by Chris Seay is a book I reviewed as part of the Thomas Nelson Publishers Reviewers.

From the Thomas Nelson Publishers website

An epic journey into the deepest mysteries of our faith.
Lost is NOT just a television show. It has become larger than that—a massive story filled with mystery that has garnered over twenty million participants. Some might call them viewers, but one does not just watch Lost, one participates in it. It demands that you dialogue with the story, seeking theories and comparing yourself to characters. Lost breaks all the formulas for television, and in doing so has drawn together millions of people on a shared journey that explores life, faith, history, science, philosophy, hope, and the basic questions of what it means to be human. It is the seemingly infinite ideas, philosophies, and biblical metaphors that make this story so engaging.

The focus on faith and truth is never more clearly explained than in the words of John Locke as he questions Jack Shepherd asking “Why do you find it so hard to believe?” Jack responds quickly “Why do you find it so easy?” But Locke declares “It’s never been easy.” This tension between Faith and Reason drives every episode and story line. Locke summed this up as he explained to Jack “That’s why you and I don’t see eye-to-eye sometimes, because you’re a man of science…Me, well, I’m a man of faith.”

Chapter Topics

• Faith and Reason – The war within?
• Guilt –The single common denominator that binds everyone on the island
• Fate – Do we choose our path, or does fate happen to us?
• Quantum Spirituality – What if everything and everyone is connected?
• Dharma – Is there any truth to be found in Institutional Religion?
• Island Life – If we are made for the garden is it the consumer world that is killing us?
• Salvation – Will it ever come, and will we recognize it when it does?

Chris Seay's fascinating book explores each of these elements in a spinning analysis of faith and metaphor that will attract a multitude of readers who desire to go even deeper into the journey.

What makes this book so great for me is how much I am dying to watch the series again. I had Seasons 3 & 4 on DVD and my husband got me 1, 2, and 5 for Christmas so I am ready to sit down and dive in again.

While I don't believe the writers of Lost intended the biblical references to go as deep as they have for some, Chris Seay has dissected and interrupt the characters and storyline of Lost in a way that makes you think it is a complete bible replica. Many literary pieces can fit into the bible if you want to take the time to compare them.

I appreciate the work that went into this book and Chris has definitely changed the way I am going to re-look at Lost. Chris has broken down the plot and the experiences of the Oceanic survivors in a very interesting way. Is it possible that Hurley is our Patron Saint of Losers or Sayid our Patron Saint of Tormented Humanitarians? Is Lost a story about good and evil? If you are a viewer of Lost than you have seen some of the references yourself. The skeletons the survivors found and buried were named Adam and Eve. There are tons of historical, philosophical and religious allusions, biblical references and scientific insights to keep someone busy for years and I would be interested in knowing how long Chris spent researching Lost. 

Basically in a nutshell, Chris obviously, like most of us, is a fan of one of the best shows ever on television. I look forward to Season 6 coming this February.

If you have never seen Lost you are truly missing out.

If you are a fan of Lost, this is a great book for you.

Disclaimer: I received the book from Thomas Nelson Publishers at no charge for the purpose of reviewing it. I am a member of their blogger review program. http://brb.thomasnelson.com/