Preview of Jujitsu for Christ Summary:

As suggested above, Jujitsu for Christ is in part a "coming of age" story that follows the intellectual and emotional growth of the central character from the callow naivete of youth to whatever levels of maturity, equilibrium, or wisdom he will attain in the scope of the narrative. This works out most obviously in the character of Roger Wing, who studies martial arts (jujitsu) in high school and about the time of his graduation is converted to Southern Baptist Christianity mainly as a result of his infatuation with Patsy Wingo.

Roger's plan to open a martial arts studio in which he will simultaneously teach his customers to defend themselves and convert them to Christianity is both an important part of the novel's plot and, perhaps, a metaphor for the generally inept and incongruous attempts by society at large to blend religion and worldly concerns into mixtures doomed to...