Feathered Quill Book Reviews

 #AuthorInterview with Douglas A. King

Today, Feathered Quill reviewer Lily Andrews is talking with Douglas A. King, author of An Innocent World.

FQ: Your book asks big “what if” questions about Adam and Eve. What inspired you to imagine a world where they didn’t eat the forbidden fruit? 

KING: My working with dogs. I realized that I was looking innocence in the face. They carry no grudges. They forgive instantly. I began to imagine an alternative to our existence. If dogs could lead an innocent life, why can’t we?

FQ: You talk about people choosing between an easy life and a hard one. Why do you think God would want us to choose the harder path? 

KING: Like any good parent, God wants His children to develop strong character. And the way to do that is the way He did it, by facing and overcoming the challenges of existence.

FQ: You say dogs helped you understand innocence. What do animals teach us about goodness that people sometimes forget? 

KING: To carry no grudges. It takes a lot for them to stop loving you. I have found that with reading my book over and over, I don’t have grudges for very long. Within a day or two they’re gone. I think, as a result, I’ve become more innocent.

FQ: If someone lives a peaceful and kind life, but never suffers, do you think they can still grow strong in character? 

KING: No, I don’t think so. Look at the rich. They don’t really suffer e.g. they don’t struggle to stay alive. They have everything handed to them. Would you describe them as having strong character?

FQ: You use a lot of logic in your book. Why do you think logic is such a powerful tool when thinking about faith and human nature? 

KING: Everyone has the capacity to be logical, if they choose. I think of logic as a foundational language that all of us have, like mathematics. That’s why I chose it to convey my message.

FQ: You describe two kinds of people: the Innocents and the Guilty. Do you believe most people start off innocent and lose it, or are we born into guilt?

KING: Everyone is tainted with guilt before they are born, simply from having chosen to eat from Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. That is not to say that we are evil when we are born, we need a trigger. That’s where genetics comes in. If you have a particular evil in your family tree and you run into a situation in your life that triggers that evil impulse, you may act it out. I say ‘may’ because it is ultimately up to you whether or not to commit that evil act.

FQ: Your version of an innocent world still includes accidents and disasters. Why did you choose to keep those challenges in that world? 

KING: It’s real life. Whether you live in an Innocent world or a Guilty world, there will still be things that we can’t control. Besides, these provide opportunities for character development, although limited.

FQ: You suggest that evil comes from outside of us, not from within. How do we protect ourselves from that kind of evil in real life? 

KING: Evil doesn’t usually come at us from out of the blue. We are in someway already involved. The trick is to acquire an innocent mind, so that you are not drawn into evil.

FQ: Some readers might struggle with the idea that suffering is necessary to meet God. What would you say to someone who’s going through a really hard time? 

KING: I would empathize with their suffering while not engaging in it. I would say that though it may not seem like it now, your suffering will end, you will come through it, as long as you keep trying. And you will come out of it a better person.

FQ: If young readers could take one big idea from your book, what would you hope it is—and why? 

KING: Using logic, I was able to uncover a lie, a lie so well established that no one thought twice about it. So, if you want to know the truth, let logic rule your life.