Joe Wenke

Atheists, heathens, believers in Asgard, and others may find this book funny. Biblical literalists will not. Fair warning.

I remember sitting in Catholic school, seventh grade or so, and learning about free will. The whole concept puzzled me. I remember asking "Doesn't God know our fate before we were even born?"
"Ah, but you have free will and can change behavior and go to heaven."
"So I can surprise God?"
"No, God knows everything."
"So God knows my free will choices before I make them?"

I never got a good answer. I originally thought of it as something un-understandable, like imagining the edge of the universe, where it is and what is beyond it. That kept me awake at night thinking more than free will. As I got older I started noticing things that did not make sense and really couldn't continue on that path.

Wenke has seen the same dilemmas and instead of quietly walking away he plays his role as a self-described "Social Arsonist" and goes on the offensive with humor and sometimes sarcasm to make his point.

He uses the Bible and makes his case. In more cases than not God seems to be a fan of Rube Goldberg machines. Instead of using godly power to change things, he goes about it in a very roundabout method. God could have just had the Israelites walk out of Egypt instead of the plagues and parting of the Red Sea. He must have know that the theatrics would not have helped consolidate his chosen people. He had to know about the Golden Calf and the unfaithfulness his people demonstrated...repeatedly. God seemed to be present on a regular basis back then. He talked to Moses almost daily, now he just talks to Michelle Bachmann and that's not doing her much good.

Other small issues are brought up like what happened to Joseph? Jesus's foster father is barely mentioned and not mentioned at all after "finding Jesus at the Temple." He is not mention at the wedding feast or any other time Jesus is with his mother. Mark never mentions him and John only mentions him in passing. What about heaven? It never existed as a place for people until Jesus's time. Previously people went to Sheol, a dull grey place where all the dead went to whether they lived good or bad lives.

Most people know that the God of the Old Testament seems kinder and gentler in the New Testament. Satan also changed too. He was sly, clever, and hung out with God in Old Testament like in the story of Job. In the New Testament, Satan is pretty stupid. He tries to tempt Jesus with the Earth. I mean, Jesus' father made the earth, who's earth is it really, Satan?

Wenke is a bit hard on the Holy Spirit, almost making it seem like the Aquaman of the Trinity. But, he does hold a soft spot for Jesus:

Thank you, Jesus, for hanging out with shady people. Shady people are the best company.
...
Thank you, Jesus, for advocating the Golden Rule,
Thank you, Jesus, for saying, "Blessed are the peacemakers
...
Thank you, Jesus, for expecting nothing in return.

Jesus cried at the death of Lazarus, a very human experience especially since he raised him from the dead shortly after that.

To be fair, Wenke is not balanced in his writing, but that is to be expected. You would not expect a Christian to give a glowing review to Islam or Hinduism. This is a book that delivers what is expected and does so with humor and sarcasm. Wenke does not give an emotional argument but looks at what is written and comments on it from an outsider's view. It is not for everyone, but it does hit its target audience dead on.

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Looking for Potholes: Poems by Joe Wenke is his second collection of published poetry. Wenke, an outspoken and articulate LGBT rights activist, is the owner and managing partner of Xperience with a focus on LBGT rights and promoting freedom and equality for all people. Wenke received his M.A. in English from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in English from the University of Connecticut.

I first read Wenke last year when I received a copy of Papal Bull: An Ex-Catholic Calls Out the Catholic Church. I like his writing and as a former Catholic I liked the message too. I was thrilled when I received a copy of Looking for Potholes. The first poem, "I don't Have to Be Right," right me right from the start. It just happened the day I picked up this book was the anniversary of a close friend's suicide and the poem certainly hit what I was feeling. "Withdrawl" gives a look into an introvert's world. In "Swerve" I first noticed a move to what I could only think of as Dr. Seuss type rhyming:

I move through the dark,
doing the math,
taking the path
of least resistance,
knowing the odds,
ignoring the gods,

At first this rhyming seemed a bit on the "cutesy" side of poetry. The more I read, however, it did carry a deeper message and the rhymes created interest or pattern like the beat in a song. Some poems reflect on other people and society. It is not always in a positive light. At times, Wenke lets loose at others in a way we wish we could in life. He turns inward too. "Trapped" and "Some Place" look inside individual feelings, fears, and emotions.

I like the beginning of "My Prayer":

Dear Devil,
please make me thinner,
If you do,
I promise to become a better sinner.
I'm pretty bad already,
but I know I can do better.

Looking for Potholes is a short collection of poetry. It was not what I was expecting after reading some of Wenke's other books. I enjoyed and appreciated this collection more than his other works also. Instead of "attacking" religion, which usually brings grief to the reviewer too, he looks at human nature and the human experience. Wenke looks at the part of being human that is not usually written about. It is not all flowers and rainbows in the real world. People have problems. People have faults. The simple lines and simple rhymes help bring these thoughts to the forefront. Wenke uses simple methods to bring up complex issues. What I took as a bit childish early on turned out to be quite a bit deeper than my initial thoughts. Very well done and cleverly done.



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Papal Bull: An Ex-Catholic Calls Out the Catholic Church by Dr. Joe Wenke is shows a side of the Catholic Church that few know about. Wenke is the oldest of eleven children from a strict Catholic family from Philadelphia. He received his BA in English from Notre Dame, a MA in English from Penn State, and his PhD in English from the University of Connecticut. Wenke previous book is You Have to Be Kidding: The Cultural Arsonist's Satirical Reading of the Bible.

A word of warning: This book is not for everyone. Some will find it very offensive. But get real. Papal Bull is a play on Papal Bulla. Bulla being the seal used on a formal announcement of policy from the pope. They are commonly know as “bulls.” A Papal Bull by Alexander VI divided South America between Portugal and Spain (Alexander was from Spain, so you know who got the better deal). Secondly, the cover art features a transsexual dressed as the pope. That sets the tone for the book. For some reason, I kept falling into a George Carlin voice as I read the book.

In his preface, I could relate to many points Wenke makes about growing up Catholic. Large families and not enough room to live in. Public schools were not acceptable and although not well off there was always money to go to Catholic school. (I had to get a paper route to pay my way through school, even though I would have preferred J.B. Hart and South High). Of course there were the nuns and their system of discipline. I could also relate to the quality of the education. I don't think we ever got through a single text book in the five years I went to Catholic school. We did get in plenty of prayer time, church time, preparation for the sacraments. It seemed like I lived a parallel life with the author.

Wenke shows that there is quite a bit of Bull in the Catholic church. He takes a realistic look at the history of the church from the crusades to the popes and anti-popes. The first thirty-five popes became saints including the anti-pope Hippolytus. The church has a long history of saints, both real and imagined. There is a whole section of events and people called “According to Tradition ….Legend has it.”

Doctrine is examined. Wenke has some questions for God come judgment day. Why does God need to be constantly worshiped? There is no such thing as freewill if God is omnipotent, so any personal failings are are God's fault not yours. God knew your whole life path before you or even the universe existed. Why are we held bound to Adam and Eve's sin (mostly Eve's fault according to the church) until a priest pours water on us and says magical words. What about a baby who dies before being baptized? Purgatory is invented for that and for people who need to get punished a bit before going to heaven. There is also the story of Joey and a baloney sandwich and a partial lists of common sins that will bar your way to heaven.

If you are a former Catholic you will probably love this book especially if you were brought up in the latter half of the twentieth century. The satire is heavy. You'll laugh and probably say “Huh!?!” several times through this book. Although Wenke offers his personal opinions on the Church, the historical information is documented. For some this will be a fun read, for others eye-opening, and yet still for others kindling. I enjoyed the book and am a little sad that George Carlin isn't around to read the the audiobook version.



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Hidden within this book are some serious and valid comments about the Catholic Church; it has the basic raw material for a very good book. Unfortunately, the writer is not a sufficiently talented author to pull together the scraps of material he does have into a well-flowing piece of work, nor does he have sufficient raw material to fill a book yet - there is much repetition, and constant requests for people to get in touch with him to help him answer all the questions he has.

It's a shame this book is not better-written, because the serious points made are lost in bad writing and bad humour. I've given it a single star solely for raising my awareness and making me look for other, more in-depth, works.… (plus d'informations)