Books
Review

The Terrible Speed of Mercy

A Spiritual Biography of Flannery O’Connor

Sinners and freaks populate the novels and short stories of Flannery O’Connor, making for disturbing reading. Her characters, drawn largely from the rural Georgia culture of her upbringing and sadly-abbreviated adulthood, do beastly things to one another—up to and including violent murder. Where’s the “Christian” significance in all this? Biographer Jonathan Rogers, walking us chronologically through O’Connor’s life and literary career, shows that rays of grace indeed pierce through the terrifying imagery. Confronted with scenes of scandalous evil from everyday life, we confront the scandalous, cruciform shape of gospel reality itself.

The Terrible Speed of Mercy: A Spiritual Biography of Flannery O'Connor

The Terrible Speed of Mercy: A Spiritual Biography of Flannery O'Connor

Thomas Nelson

208 pages

$12.47

Also in this issue

The CT archives are a rich treasure of biblical wisdom and insight from our past. Some things we would say differently today, and some stances we've changed. But overall, we're amazed at how relevant so much of this content is. We trust that you'll find it a helpful resource.

Cover Story

Incredible Journeys: What to Make of Visits to Heaven

My Top 5 Books on Israel & Palestine

Review

Rest Works

This American Christian Life

Do American Christians Need the Message of Grace or a Call to Holiness?

Excerpt

Why Everyone Needs Theology

Why Jonathan Bock Wants More Christians in the Arts

The Relentless Passion of Francis Chan

News

African Pastors Lead Crusade for Circumcision

Review

Home Away from Home

Genocide in Shades of Pink

Why 'Mere Christianity' Should Have Bombed

Three Is the Loveliest Number

Misreading the Magnificat

Created to Make Homes

News

Should Churches Discourage Belief in Santa Claus?

Breast-feeding in the Back Pew

Editorial

Subverting the Taliban

The End of Nominal Protestantism

Was the Real St. Nick Better than Santa Claus?

News

State-Sponsored Pilgrimages Under Review in Nigeria

News

Exodus International Fragments Over Focus

News

After D'Souza's Departure, The King's College Seeks Doctrine Over Politics

Team of Champions

News

Quotation Marks

Review

The White Umbrella

Review

Brigham Young

A Veggie Good Time

Wilson's Bookmarks

Letters to the Editor

News

Go Figure

News

Gleanings

View issue

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US Missionary Pilot Kidnapped in Niger

Local Nigerien missionaries are shocked and saddened; foreign workers there provide training, aid, and encouragement.

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JD Vance’s Interfaith Marriage, Fighting in Nigeria, Nick Fuentes Interview

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Who Are the Ismaili Muslims?

The history of this small Shiite sect includes assassinations, persecution, and periods of adherence to pluralism.

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“It is very scary out there. … But the Holy Spirit reminds [me] that ‘for when I am weak, then I am strong.’”

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Trump’s Refugee Policy ‘Is Slamming the Door on Persecuted Christians’

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