Tutu: God Has A Dream

by Gunther Simmermacher · March 15, 2004

GOD HAS A DREAM: A Vision of Hope for Our Time. By Desmond Tutu. Random House, Parktown. 2004. 134pp.

Reviewed by Gunther Simmermacher

God loves us, and we have the power to return that love. This is the message of Anglican Archbishop emeritus Desmond Tutu in his first inspirational book, God Has A Dream.

Throughout Tutu refers to his own experiences: as a husband and father, as a cleric, as a black man under apartheid, as a political leader, as chairman of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission, as a person.

With his typical enthusiasm, he demonstrates why he has a deep hope in humanity, in the transfigurative potential of our condition. Such is Gods love for us, Tutu writes, that by his grace redemption is possible even for those who dont believe in him.

Tutu takes aim at all sorts of injustices: racism, sexism, homophobia, poverty. His answer lies in the African concept of ubuntu, whereby humans are human only through other humans. Thus ubuntu ought to be our response to Gods infinite and unconditional love for us.

Tutu explains this love: “God loves you not because we are lovable. No, we are lovable precisely because God loves us.” For us to accept that love, Tutu argues, we must be capable of loving ourselves and others. Society, through the pursuit of status and through prejudice, has conditioned many people to hate themselves, and to spread this hatred to others.

This is how many people become alienated from our loving God. “One of the most blasphemous consequences of injustice and prejudice is that it can make a child of God doubt that he or she is a child of God. But no one is a stepchild of God.”

However, the benefits of that unconditional love should not be unilateral. God needs us to execute his plans for us. Tutu cites Mary as an example of one who accepted his call to be an agent for Gods plan, for the good of humanity.

In this book Tutu employs his trademark folksy and engaging style. This works wonderfully when he explains complicated theological concepts in a simple yet persuasive manner.

Anyone who has ever struggled to explain the theology of free will to a sceptic will know the pitfalls of doing so. Tutu covers these pitfalls. Herein lies the beauty of this book. It articulates in deceptively simple terms the complex relationship of God and humanity.

The more sophisticated reader may scoff at Tutus unbridled and uncomplicated enthusiasm. And the sceptic may dismiss the supposed naivite of Tutus faith. Both would be wrong. This is a deceptively profound work that succeeds admirably in its objective: to illuminate Gods love for us, and show us ways to return that love.