Quotes by Richard Lischer

I listened impatiently to the wisdom of the ONeills for about twenty minutes until I could take no more (by this time Steve and Susan had me thumbing through the paperback). I slid the book across the desk at them and said, This is so much shit.That was a mistake because the word shit on the lips of a pastor deeply offended their moral sensibilities. Such was the state of things among us. They took grave exception to the word SHIT, while I was expected to remain noddingly neutral toward their adultery. WELL, SHIT, I thought. Without apologizing, I tried to convince them I was merely upset by the prospects of their separation. Gradually, I achieved the clinical tone that they so admired in the ONeills and evidently expected in their country parson.

Once youve caught a glimpse of the cosmos through the back doors of your church, it doesnt seem like such a big deal to suggest to a sweet young couple that they quit sleeping with other people.