Oh God, Where Art Thou?

Follow the author's odyssey of the mind in his endless search for God and meaning in life, as well as his plea for moral action in the uncertainty, discord, and chaos of a world that appears callous and cruel and is prone to political exploitation of vulnerable people, cultures, and countries of our shared planet. Although the manuscript views organized religion, religious hypocrisy, and social injustice through a microscope, this book is spiritual and life-affirming while recognizing the inherent impermanence of the universe and humanity's collective and individual imprint. You can read short stories with a nontraditional take on John the Baptist and Jesus; shorter poems dealing with Tourette syndrome, aging, and suicide; religious conformity and hypocrisy in the context of finding a moral compass that guides humans down a path of right actions, responsibility, and compassion in a philosophical essay; and a substantial poem that unfolds a panoramic social and political critic of the American experiment through the dialogue of a dreaming man in successive encounters with Crowfoot, Black Elk, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Theodore and Franklin Roosevelt, Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, Christ, and the Buddha.

""How do you find hope while embracing the concept that hope and history are illusions and only the now is the essence? How do you find God when there is so much conflicting evidence? Guided with a steadfast personal moral compass, McCollum takes us on a remarkable path to find answers through the vastness of religious doctrine, scientific theory, and recognized philosophical thought. Beginning with a dream landscape in which the author culls guidance from great thinkers of history, Oh God, Where Art Thou? concludes with a deftly woven tapestry of theoretical journey mixed with modern-day travelogue. It is accomplished with humility, honesty, and ultimately with hope.""
--Jana Millstone, Artist

""In the lyrical style of the great epic poets, James McCollum explores the enduring questions of faith and meaning, with gentle but pointed references to today's political struggles in the US. His juxtaposition of ancient history with modern challenges provides thoughtful and interesting perspective. A delightful read!""
--Jean Boal, Millersville University

James McCollum is a retired higher education executive with experience in Ohio and Pennsylvania public universities, as well as a former university attorney, higher education association CEO, interim vice president for student affairs, acting university president, presidential chief of staff, and adjunct faculty member. Oh God, Where Art Thou: The Great Conundrum is his first book.