Against the Grain: Unconventional Wisdom from Ecclesiastes

The skepticism, questioning, weariness, and outbursts in the book of Ecclesiastes make organized religion uncomfortable. For this reason, Ecclesiastes is often overlooked or ignored. But in doing this, we miss an important message found in this unusual voice in scripture. Ecclesiastes gives us permission to ask the questions surrounding our understanding and knowledge of God. But then it takes us further by challenging us to affirm the goodness of creation, to preserve the awe of God, and to see questioning and weariness as gifts from God. Writing in accessible language and in a straightforward manner, Waddle mixes contemporary reflections with insightful scholarship on Ecclesiastes and its meaning for us today, especially around the topics of wisdom, humility, and gratitude. Twelve chapters parallel the twelve chapters in the biblical text. In essence,