I don’t think I had ever heard of Frank Skinner, though I gather he’s a popular TV presenter and comedian in the UK. Indeed, I had a moment’s confusion as I thought at first this was Frank Spencer, who is a fictional character on a classic and rather risqué TV sitcom. I wondered what on earth a ‘Comedian’s Prayer Book’ could contain…
It’s not a book I would likely have come across, but one of my sons sent it to me for my recent birthday, so I looked forward to reading it. It’s a fairly thin volume in hardback, and comes with an introduction by the author. He explains that this is not a comedy book using prayer in some of the jokes. Nor is it a prayer book for comedians - he doesn’t think there are many who would be interested.
Indeed, it’s not really a ‘prayer book’ as liturgical folk would imagine one - there are no set prayers, no suggested readings or responses. Instead, it’s a series of prayers which the author claims, more-or-less, to have said, or thought, and is sharing - although he acknowledges that the written word isn’t exactly ideal as a medium. So they’re tidied up, and more coherent than actual spur-of-the-moment random prayers are likely to be.
It’s a fascinating and very honest set of prayers, leaving the author quite vulnerable as he expresses many thoughts and questions that many believers have probably thought but not quite dared to express. Frank Skinner is a practising Roman Catholic, so his tradition is quite formal, with incense and mass; but what he writes can appeal to those of all denominations and confessions.
So, for instance, in the first prayer the author wonders what exactly praise is. He gives examples of praise, and wonders who it benefits: does God need praise, or do we need to praise him for our own sakes? And if we’re not very good at it, which probably applies to most of us, how much does it matter? Should we come up with our own fresh expressions of praise, or is it okay to repeat the ones in traditional prayer books or modern versions of liturgies?
He gets distracted, as one would in a monologue that covers a few pages, as he considers the attributes of God that are most appealing to him - and admits that these don’t include magnificence or omniscience. He wonders how God feels about Eastern religions and ends up by asking for a bit of humility.
This is the style of most of the prayers, and I read just one or two each day for about a week. They’re not laugh-aloud funny, in a comedy style, but certainly light-hearted and very readable. There are some nice turns of phrase with ironies and some self-deprecating low-key humour, and I found them surprisingly thought-provoking. Skinner addresses many issues that don’t really get discussed: who exactly should we address our prayers to, and why? And how do we really feel about the Abraham and Isaac story….?
It’s a book for believers, for those who love God and want to follow Jesus, and who are comfortable being challenged about some of the traditions and concepts that are accepted as doctrine - or dogma - in many churches. I found it a very appealing book, one which I shall probably re-read from time to time, but I suspect that some folk might find it difficult to read, even offensive as so many questions are raised in a light-hearted way. And yet, Frank Skinner remains respectful and authentic, and I hope his questions will encourage those who might have thought the same way but not dared to express it.
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