In this strikingly original work, Stephen Moore considers God's male bodies--the body of Yahweh in the Hebrew Bible, and the Father of Jesus Christ, and Jesus himself in the New Testament--and our obsessive earthly quest for a perfect human form. God's Gym is about divinity, physical pain, and the visions of male perfectability. Weaving together his obsession with human anatomy and dissection, an interest in the technologies of torture, the cult of physical culture, and an expert knowledge of biblical criticism, Moore explains the male narcissism at the heart of the biblical God. God's Gym is an intensely personal book, brimming with our culture's phobias and fascinations about male perfectability.

In this strikingly original work, Stephen Moore considers God's male bodies--the body of Yahweh in the Hebrew Bible, and the Father of Jesus Christ, and Jesus himself in the New Testament--and our obsessive earthly quest for a perfect human form. God's Gym is about divinity, physical pain, and the visions of male perfectability. Weaving together his obsession with human anatomy and dissection, an interest in the technologies of torture, the cult of physical culture, and an expert knowledge of biblical criticism, Moore explains the male narcissism at the heart of the biblical God. God's Gym is an intensely personal book, brimming with our culture's phobias and fascinations about male perfectability.

In God's Gym, the celebrated author John Edgar Wideman offers stories that pulse with emotional electricity. The ten pieces here explore strength, both physical and spiritual. The collection opens with a man paying tribute to the quiet fortitude of his mother, a woman who "should wear a T-shirt: God's Gym." In the stories that follow, Wideman delivers powerful riffs on family and fate, basketball and belief. His mesmerizing prose features guest appearances by cultural luminaries as diverse as the Harlem Globetrotters, Frantz Fanon, Thelonious Monk, and Marilyn Monroe. As always, Wideman astounds with writing that moves from the intimate to the political, from shock to transcendence.

Publisher Description

December 22, 2000, is a day of odd confluences for Joop Koopman that eventually sweep him up in an uncontrollable destiny.

In this strikingly original work, Stephen Moore considers God's male bodies--the body of Yahweh in the Hebrew Bible, and the Father of Jesus Christ, and Jesus himself in the New Testament--and our obsessive earthly quest for a perfect human form. God's Gym is about divinity, physical pain, and the visions of male perfectability. Weaving together his obsession with human anatomy and dissection, an interest in the technologies of torture, the cult of physical culture, and an expert knowledge of biblical criticism, Moore explains the male narcissism at the heart of the biblical God. God's Gym is an intensely personal book, brimming with our culture's phobias and fascinations about male perfectability.

The title suggests several things to the reader. The two words, SPIRITUAL AND CONDITIONING, are words that most people don't get too excited about, regardless of age or religious persuasion. Although, I believe that most would acknowledge both are important. What could be more important than a combination of sound physical and spiritual conditioning? Everybody realizes that both require personal initiative. Easier said than done? That's obvious, concerning the overall physical condition of the majority of Americans. Undeniably, our deplorable physically unfit condition, and subsequent problems, is well documented. Likewise, it appears the majority of nominal Christians are spiritually unfit, choosing to remain "babes-in-Christ", often times for years, suffering adverse consequences. Why? The lack of disciplined spiritual conditioning, growth and maturity, and the initiative to resolve. Granted, not easy, as it requires work, effort and discipline. Now enters, "Excuses", quenching any initial desires to get fit! Knowingly, choosing unfit over fit is a debilitating choice over the desire to become healthier, happier and stronger physically and spiritually. This book is not intended to be an indictment of the Christian populace, only a bona fide remedy to rectify this predicament. It follows God's directives. Unabashed honesty with self will necessitate appropriate action. Suffice it to say, God highly advocates spiritual conditioning over the physical (1Timothy 4:7-9). Physical workouts have some benefit, but a disciplined spiritual conditioning program makes you fit for all things, all the time, especially for the present difficult days, and the coming turbulent times. Thank God for his revealing Word, and powerful, comforting Holy Spirit, who strengthens you and I to stand steadfast when others, quit. Take this to heart and let it become your constant motivation to get into and stay in top spiritual shape. Come along with me in this disciplined program and enjoy permanant benefits and rewards. Today is your time to make it happen.