Intelligent and full-fledged anatid apologia

As one follows the global news flow, it is easy to deduce that religion isn’t going away any time soon. If anything, its social, cultural and political importance seems to be on the rise. At the same time, Western people’s personal contact with religion is dwindling. So, for an increasing number of people, any inspection of religion is contingent on crisis-focused news coverage, popular culture that leans on stereotypes, and chance encounters. Religious literacy is declining at the very moment it’s most needed.

The Gloves Come Off by Kaisa and Christoffer Leka is doing its part in responding to this challenge. the work shows a sophisticated understanding of religion and doesn’t settle for superficiality or stereotyping. The protagonist is a profoundly irked duck who doesn’t shy away from ruffling feathers, as he wages a philosophical battle against critics of religion. The duck doesn’t go easy on his invisible interlocutors or his readers. Whether one agrees with the articulate duck or not, the reader is compelled to reflect upon their world view and evaluate their prejudices about religion. This is an entertaining and thought-provoking book that everyone interested in religion and philosophy should pick up.

Juha Meriläinen
Church Historian, Nonfiction Writer,
Docent, University of Helsinki