This is a ‘secular’ book from a secular publisher, but it is written by an ordained minister from Texas. As such, it intends not to replace or make fun of the parables, but to satirise political correctness and any attempts to domesticate Jesus’ parables and rule them out as irrelevant for today.

Walker’s message is that the parables are still applicable to readers 2000 years removed from Jesus’ original audience. We are also gently reminded that Jesus was a controversial character in his own time, not so worried about political correctness as we are.

Some of the writing is a little laboured, as Walker works hard to fit everything into the politically correct mode he is parodying. Basically, this is an entertaining book that is an easy read – the sort of book that can be left lying on the coffee table to engage casual readers, and perhaps even to point them back to the originals.