How Would Jesus Vote? An Interview With the Author of The Tumultuous Times of Jesus in the 21st Century

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Sara S. Nichols

Democratic party environmental caucus chair, political consultant and poet Luke Breit is the author of The Tumultuous Times of Jesus in the 21st Century--a novel in which Jesus Christ returns as a wine-drinking, pot-smoking yet spiritually powerful (and politically connected) hippie. By hanging out with Mark, a California political consultant running a primary campaign for a Democrat for Assembly, He discovers what the fundamentalist Christians are doing in His name politically. Naturally His only logical response is to take a road trip with Mark and his gorgeous ex-hooker girlfriend across the country and to join the inner circle of (a female latina) Democratic candidate for President.

I caught up with Luke at a coffee house in mid-town Sacramento to discuss his book. When I arrived, he was sitting in a crisp white oxford, working away on his laptop—clearly at home in the Naked Lounge.

I liked the book. It’s a good read, especially for liberal politics buffs—and I’m a sweet sucker for the teachings and story of Jesus the Christ (as opposed to what has been done in His name). Jesus is outraged at the idea of gay-bashing in His name. I loved the idea of Jesus as a real person walking amongst the unreal (i.e., political consultants). I loved the way Jesus would be walking about interacting with regular people, many of them not Christians, without any spiritual beliefs and suddenly they would know that he was the Christ.