This is another of L'Engle's journal-style pieces of non-fiction. The unifying thread of this book is a discussion of the difference between icons and idols and icons L'Engle has found useful in her life.

According to L'Engle, an icon gives greater insight to God. An icon does not have to come from a religious source. L'Engle gives one example of how penguins became an icon for her during her trip to Antarctica. Seeing the highly social but non-intimate penguin communities gave her insight into the difference between intimacy and community.

An idol does not give insight into God. The idol is worshiped for itself. The danger of icons is that they can become idols if one is not careful. L'Engle gives an example of the Bible as icon or idol. The Bible, if one is a Christian, provides the definitive insight to God. However, if someone ceases to look for God's meaning behind those words (including acknowledging the context and communities where those words were originally given) and instead only pays attention to the literal phrasing of the particular translation they are reading, they have idolized the Bible.

Although L'Engle insists that an icon must provide insight to God, I think that that definition is too limiting. Even outside of a religious context, it is useful to distinguish between something that one admires because it gives insight and something that one worships. The American flag is an icon of the values of the US, but in and of itself it is just a piece of colorful cloth. A wedding ring is symbolic of the promise made in marriage vows, but in and of itself it is just a band of metal. An icon can be a potent reminder of something important, but once the icon become more important that that which is represents, it is an idol.

I picked this one up when I was on a L'Engle kick, and I have to say this isn't one of my favourites. ( )

The marvelous Madeleine L'Engle died in Sept. 2007 at the age of 88. Always one of my favorite authors, the news of her death spurred me to look at some of the books of hers I have not read.

Penguins and Golden Calves is one of her Christian-oriented non-fiction books, none of which I'd read before, in part because I'm not Christian. But I have always found her so wise that I wanted more of her perspective. To her penguins are icons, and icons are something that open a person to the experience of God, while golden calves represent idols, or things which people worship in place of God. Needless to say, she is all for the first and not for the second.

It is a beautiful book, as I expected. To her God is Love, and she deplores any Christianity that doesn't share that message and instead concentrates on who is going to hell.

I would love to share some quotes, but turned the book back into the library without copying any down. Just know that there are some wonderful passages.

Blessed peace, Madeleine L'Engle, and thank you for all the wonder, they mystery, the and the love your words brought into my life. ( )

Madeleine strikes again. I cherish any words that she has ever written and this is no exception. She has an amazing ability to touch on tough matters with such tenderness and humility which is very foreign. She does all this with such respect for words quite unmatched. This book makes the distinction between icons and idols as well as some other subjects while always coming back to the ideas of what icons are. ( )