The Second Coming — John Dalmas

A MAN OF MYSTERY MIGHT BE THE WORLD'S LAST HOPE -- IF HE COULD STAY ALIVE

There is a Hindu belief that when humanity slides into decay, threatening us with a return to barbarism, God comes among us as a human, to jump-start us.

Two thousand years ago the Roman Empire ruled western civilization. It improved engineering, administration, even the law, and provided relative peace. But it was more than powerful. It was corrupt, brutal, and greedy. Thus the Infinite Soul incarnated among a Semitic people suited by location and monotheism to the needs of humankind and its future.

Now, 2,000 years later, we're ripe for a second coming. But this is the media age . . . and the time of the terrorist. Thus instead of a Nazarene carpenter, the vessel of the infinite soul is a black Canadian software genius. And instead of fishermen, shepherds, and laborers, he surrounds himself with management mavens, media consultants, security specialists ...

And, unavoidably, enemies, because what he says is not what the zealots want to hear.

This is not a harsh story, despite conspiracies, hatred and violence. It is rich in characters, beautiful and ugly, described with compassion and humor. It is largely through them that Dolmas tells this story of love, reluctance, anger ... and the Infinite Soul.