In life there are a few major questions. Among them are, ""What do we gain?"" ""What's new?"" and ""What's the point?"" This book creatively uses the Book of Ecclesiastes--where these questions often pop up--to investigate how we question, what we question, and why we question. Along the way you will encounter some of history's great questioners: Socrates, Soren Kierkegaard, Virginia Woolf, Friedrich Nietzsche, G. K. Chesterton, and others, though they may appear in unexpected ways. Something Beyond Nothing? is an experiment in finding and making meaning that focuses on the unpredictable journey of living with questions. Taking the awkwardness of Ecclesiastes as a cue, Brian Niece's odd book is a mix of storytelling, theological analysis, poetic meditation, philosophical investigation, drama, and biblical interpretation. Herein is nonfiction and fiction--with no clear line between the two--suggesting that our modes of meaning may be as significant as the meaning they lead us to. What's more, if there is something beyond nothing, it may not be quite like what we think we know. And the God we don't yet know may surprise us. ""This is about the elephant book in the Bible: Ecclesiastes. And unlike the message of Ecclesiastes, reading this book is not useless! It's more an exercise of theological play. And when reading it, you may come to some creative discoveries, poetic visions, and useful insights in spite of the vanity!"" --Thomas Jay Oord, Author of The Uncontrolling Love of God ""Socrates, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, and Qoheleth are some of my favorite teachers. The wisdom they dispense is rooted in their very refusal to give you all (or even some!) of the answers. Brian Niece carries on this tradition as he wrestles with that maddening book known as Ecclesiastes. Part philosophy, part theology, and all poetry, Something Beyond Nothing? does the reader a tremendous service by immersing us in the not-so-safe world that is the biblical tradition."" --Tripp York, Author of The End of Captivity? and The Devil Wears Nada Brian Niece is a former pastor, who was a former theatre professional, now playing the role of a theological storyteller and artistic philosopher. With degrees in theology, dramatic Arts, and English, Brian is now a PhD candidate in humanities trying to decide what to be when he grows up. He lives in Jacksonville, Florida, with his wife and three children.
Industry Reviews
“This is about the elephant book in the Bible: Ecclesiastes. And unlike the message of Ecclesiastes, reading this book is not useless! It’s more an exercise of theological play. And when reading it, you may come to some creative discoveries, poetic visions, and useful insights in spite of the vanity!”
—Thomas Jay Oord, Author of The Uncontrolling Love of God
“Socrates, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, and Qoheleth are some of my favorite teachers. The wisdom they dispense is rooted in their very refusal to give you all (or even some!) of the answers. Brian Niece carries on this tradition as he wrestles with that maddening book known as Ecclesiastes. Part philosophy, part theology, and all poetry, Something Beyond Nothing? does the reader a tremendous service by immersing us in the not-so-safe world that is the biblical tradition.”
—Tripp York, Author of The End of Captivity? and The Devil Wears Nada
