# Identify a novel -- Jesus returns as a black woman **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 24, 2013, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-a-novel-jesus-returns-as-a-black-woman/656557 "2013-04-24T01:44:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-a-novel-jesus-returns-as-a-black-woman/656557/1 "2013-04-24T01:44:12Z")
I recall this very sketcy premise as being the basis for a novel (or perhaps a short story) back in the mid-90s, or so. I think the apostle Peter also returned with Jesus. Perhaps it was set in the deep South, maybe in the 50s. Anyone? Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-a-novel-jesus-returns-as-a-black-woman/656557/2 "2013-04-24T15:10:33Z")
Not the one you were looking for, but your posting reminded me of [Only Begotten Daughter](http://www.amazon.com/Only-Begotten-Daughter-Harvest-Book/dp/0156002434/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top), by James Morrow which was a very strange and depressing tale. ---
**Author:** ![OtisCampbellWasRight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d78d45/32.png) [@OtisCampbellWasRight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtisCampbellWasRight)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-a-novel-jesus-returns-as-a-black-woman/656557/3 "2013-04-24T17:14:50Z")
“The Shack” has God as an Aunt Jemima-esque black woman. Could this be what you remember? ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-a-novel-jesus-returns-as-a-black-woman/656557/4 "2013-04-24T17:17:49Z")
I think you’re thinking about the TV show _Good Times_. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-a-novel-jesus-returns-as-a-black-woman/656557/5 "2013-04-24T17:28:49Z")
The first thing that came to me was [The Shack](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shack#Plot) also. > [@](#): > > God the Father takes the form of an African American woman who calls herself Elousia and Papa But other than a supreme being coming in African American form; it’s not really what you’re looking for. ---
**Author:** ![OtisCampbellWasRight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d78d45/32.png) [@OtisCampbellWasRight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtisCampbellWasRight)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-a-novel-jesus-returns-as-a-black-woman/656557/6 "2013-04-24T17:47:36Z")
> [@Enright3](#): > > The first thing that came to me was [The Shack](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shack#Plot) also. > > But other than a supreme being coming in African American form; it’s not really what you’re looking for. Minor hijack, but what did you think of this book? Blew me away. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Rhosis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sir\_Rhosis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Rhosis)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2013, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-a-novel-jesus-returns-as-a-black-woman/656557/7 "2013-04-24T22:27:51Z")
The Shack is not it; but it is what reminded me of it. My wife read the latter, and it made me recall the one from the mid-90s or so. I believe The Shack was around 2007, so its much too late. I never read the one I’m looking for; I just recall hearing of it. No more details than what I gave earlier. But I’m positive it was Jesus and St. Peter who returned. Thanks, anyway. Googling lead me nowhere. Sir Rhosis ---
**Author:** ![chinchalinchin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b9bd4f/32.png) [@chinchalinchin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chinchalinchin)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2013, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-a-novel-jesus-returns-as-a-black-woman/656557/8 "2013-04-25T19:21:24Z")
God is Dead by Ron Currie Jr., maybe? Jesus comes back as a black women who wanders through Somalia, distributing grain, but is killed by a U.S. missile strike. Edit: Nevermind. That was 2008. ---
**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-a-novel-jesus-returns-as-a-black-woman/656557/9 "2013-04-25T20:02:13Z")
Oh, No, Thou Didn’t! ---
**Author:** ![papergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@papergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/papergirl)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-a-novel-jesus-returns-as-a-black-woman/656557/10 "2013-04-25T21:36:23Z")
Hmmm…seems like short story _Bucky Goes to Church_ had a similar plot. I don’t recall it all that well, but it was in an anthology, **Metahorror**. Bucky goes and shoots up a church and meets God, who I believe was a black woman. ---
**Author:** ![OtisCampbellWasRight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/d78d45/32.png) [@OtisCampbellWasRight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtisCampbellWasRight)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2013, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-a-novel-jesus-returns-as-a-black-woman/656557/11 "2013-04-26T11:42:33Z")
> [@enomaj](#): > > Oh, No, Thou Didn’t! Winner! Thread ova. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_A.Robrin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sam_a.robrin/32/14497_2.png) [@Sam\_A.Robrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_A.Robrin)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2013, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/identify-a-novel-jesus-returns-as-a-black-woman/656557/12 "2013-04-27T02:23:51Z")
A. J. Langguth wrote a novel called _Jesus Christs_, in which Jesus comes back in all manner of unexpected forms. Could you be recalling a segment of that?