"But the Sparrow Still Falls" - A Review of The Sparrow

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


My relationship with religion - specifically, Roman Catholicism as practiced in the Philippines - is a little complicated. Most of the time, I am ill at ease with it: Christianity, after all, is a very misogynistic religion, and in the years since I I graduated from high school I have decided that I want to have as little truck as possible with a religion that punishes me for having breasts and a uterus. There is also the heavily homophobic slant as well, which I dislike not for my sake, but for the sake of my friends. Nor does it help that the Church interferes with politics in this country, sometimes directly, but often indirectly through politicians and interest groups, who block everything from better sex-ed and access to contraceptives to a divorce bill under the guise of religious piety. And do not get me started on the false sanctimony of certain individuals, who like to pretend they are superior to everyone else just because they attend Mass on a regular basis, but in fact are some of the most deeply unlikable people anyone could ever have the unfortunate privilege of knowing.

And yet, despite all of that, I am regularly drawn to it, as well. The history of Christianity fascinates me to no end, as does the art produced under its influence. And though there is plenty about Christianity’s approach to the world that I do not like, the philosophies it has produced and continues to espouse are still interesting. Given Christianity’s global reach and its pervasive presence in Western history and culture (and therefore, thanks to colonialism, in other histories and cultures as well), having some knowledge and experience of it, even if I no longer practice it, is handy because of the kind of insight such knowledge and experience provide.

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