Amazing Grace: A Vocabulary Of Faith

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Summary: Kathleen Norris is that very wise sister we all wish we had.
Review: Kathleen Norris is one of the great intellectuals of our time. She possesses keen insight and remarkable compassion. She gently leads her readers through the traumas of life and religion into a gentle and peaceful reconciliation with God. I love this woman.

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Summary: Not a "comfortable" book, a good book
Review: In Amazing Grace, Kathleen Norris challenges her readers to take the Christian faith seriously, just as the she has struggled to do. Her book affirms a call I am receiving, at 26, to embrace my tradition. There is exclusivism, I am realizing, in embracing a religious tradition. This is what makes traditions different--they don't agree on certain points. "Amazing Grace" takes as a point of departure the particularities of the Christian tradition expressed in the language of faith. Norris challenges Christians to find meaning in this vocabulary, even in its exclusiveness, which is, as she knows from experience, not an easy thing to do. If you are interested in a thoughtful, intelligent, and poetic interpretation of what makes Christianity a living religion, this book will be a blessing along your journey.

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Summary: A skillful blend of searching doubt and growing faith.
Review: The author takes classic Christian words like "faith" and "grace" and "conversion" and weaves them into vignettes of her own life as a poet, lecturer, and resident of a small Dakota town. She models a post-modern spiritual journey of taking a faith-tradition seriously, but in an exploratory fashion, interacting out of one's own personal integrity. As in her other books, Norris' metaphor laden prose, and ability to capture in a short phrase or paragraph a conversation or insight is a pleasure to read. Short sections make for meditative reading.

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Summary: Thought provoking and helpful, with a narrow point of view
Review: I enjoyed reading this book, and many of the topics were well explained in a way easily understood. I especially liked the simplicity of the definition of the Antichrist. I did not, however, appreciate the remark inferring that Republicans only pray for material things and do not help their fellow beings. Some of us actually do pray for others, help out in soup kitchens, donate to the poor and live a Christ-like life outside of our weekly church visits. Republicans do this things, as do many non-Christians. Is this a surprize, Ms. Norris?

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Summary: doesn't live up to the promise of the premise
Review: When I first heard about "Amazing Grace," I was excited to read what I thought to be another person's thoughtful examination of and meditation upon some of the concepts and language that are used in the Christian tradition and that often block the light of the essence of that tradition. What I found was a series of essays, enough to make a book, that felt as if they were dashed off with some thought, but none of the depth or profundity or clarity of thought that I had hoped to find. The title promises excellence, but the book does not deliver.

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Summary: Beautiful prose - with an intolerant undertone
Review: Ms. Norris's prose is very well-written. However, this book has an intolerant edge, regarding those who do not choose Christianity as their primary focus for worship, especially those who seek other traditions as adults. Sloppy thinking also appears - the logical corollary to her (somewhat condescending) comment suggesting that those from Christian backgrounds "sit with the idea for awhile [of returning] to their traditions" is itself a contradiction to the Christian faith,and many others (including many American Buddhist temples!), who welcome those who are interested in learning their traditions. Also, if we all took her advice and "just said" things we disagree with, i.e. the Creed, what would be the impetus for reform? Finally, the term "Pollyanna witches" is insulting at best. Many of these stories have an anecdotal feel to them - one wonders how much research did Ms. Norris actually do on these other faiths? I very much enjoyed "Dakota," but these comments ruined the book for me.

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Summary: This writer has changed lives.
Review: I used this book (that I purchased for our Presbyterian church library) in our adult class this morning and got wonderful response from everyone. They loved the description of Norris's faith that was "dormant for so long". This book will be read by many of us as we seek to live the words of faith. The previous reviewer who cites page 15 needs to re-read the context, I think. She didn't say that those listed were evil but that people say that. This book is one for the faithful and those of us working on our faith. And with grace we grow closer to God with the wonderful words of Kathleen Norris.

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Summary: Page 15 is outrageous and irrisponsible on The Clintons.
Review: I enjoyed most of the contents of the book and found it in line with a mature Christians view and I would have given it 5 stars but for the remark that could be contrued as many seemingly innocent things have and cause harm to people. I would not like someone to say such a thing about me. How about you Kathleen Norris?

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Summary: stories where grace is given and received in the church
Review: In Amazing Grace, I find stories of people who experience God's grace. The setting is not of people who have gone away to find themselves, but of people in the rough and tumble of real lives, in real churches, with real struggles, and real people, ever mindful of their own faults and fears. In a world where we are often asked to be perfect, to be self-sufficient, and to 'stand on our own two feet', Norris presents a world where we are asked to recognize Christ as being actively present on our worshipping communities, and that the church is a place to give and recieve grace. I rather liked, and was challenged by, this book that was written by a "Christian, then, but one of many, another church-going fool."

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Summary: A beautiful book, but 1 gentle point to make regarding it:
Review: unlike "Dakota" & "Cloister Walk", this book does contain a few soft put-downs of those of us who have, in our own journey, decided to follow an other than Christian path. It's not strident, or even critical - but it is jarring if in her previous books you sensed support for all spiritual seekers, other than Christians. I do recommend all 3 of her books, but this one does have a slightly different attitude. Those of you interested in Benedictine spirituality: Amazon.com carries Joan Chittister's wonderful commentary on the Benedictine Rule.