When Life and Beliefs Collide

Rating:
Summary: A MUST READ
Review: I am teaching a women's leadership class at my church this fall. The course parallels the men's class covering the Westminster Confession. I chose this book to supplement the women's reading. I found the book to be inspiring. It says everything I have always believed about women learning theology. I wanted the women I instruct to have a vision for what strong women in the church look like and this book helps to affirm and paint that picture. I believe that women need to be encouraged to find their place within the Body of Christ alongside men. This book tells the truth about women and their roles with such love, grace, and humbleness. You have inspired our class each week and you affirm my calling as a Christian whenever I re-read your book. It has meant so much to us.

Rating:
Summary: Moving, compelling, must-read
Review: I read this book in one day and now that I've finished, I'm sending two copies to friends. At times I was moved to tears. Not only does the author make an air-tight case for the importance of women knowing theology, but as a compelling story teller she re-introduces Mary of Bethany in a way that left me whispering, "wow." Also, her study of the word "helper" (Genesis 1) was outstanding and very relevant to modern marriages. Who would have guessed that the biblical writers used so many military metaphors in describing the ideal wife?

Rating:
Summary: A Greater Challenge for Women
Review: In her cogent analysis of women's roles in the church, Carolyn Custis James challenges two views often posited by evangelicals: that a woman's role ultimate role in life is as wife and mother and that a woman's study of theology should be at best superficial. In *When Life and Beliefs Collide* James articulates her points forcefully and helps women who often feel isolated in the evangelical church because of such circumstances as marital statuts or intellectual inclination to realize fuller potential within the Christian community. James relies on Scripture, focusing particularly on Mary of Bethany, to emphasize that the study of theology is important to all believers. The author shows vividly that Jesus directed a great deal of his theological teaching toward women. Contemporary women should, therefore, ardently pursue theological studies which lead to a greater knowledge of God. *When Life and Beliefs Collide* has many strengths. It is thoughtful and scholarly; the writng style is crisp and graceful. James succeeds where many authors of works written for Christian woman fail because she has not produced a piece of shallow, sentimental fluff.

Rating:
Summary: A fabulous book that should be doing much better
Review: It is a sad reflection on the state of the Christian book market that a truly fabulous book like this is at no.30,000 whereas a lot of touchy-feely tosh is selling like hot cakes. This is the kind of Christian book that Christians in the USA ought to be reading - so why not give it a boost in the ratings by buying 10 copies each and giving one to your pastor and to all your friends. Maybe they will then do the same and this will get the top 100 slot that it deserves.

Rating:
Summary: Get a hold of this book today!
Review: James has created a vibrant work that incorporates excellent theology with compelling narrative. Employing both the Bible and modern stories, this work grasps the essential tensions of the Christian life. Her explorations of the Biblical Mary and the role of modern women in today's church are particularly insightful. I have already asked some of my university students to read and review this book and the results have been wonderful. Not only is James an excellent theologian, she is the kind of theologian the church truly needs: one that can write in an accessible and enjoyable way that all can understand.

Rating:
Summary: Get a hold of this book today!
Review: James has created a vibrant work that incorporates excellent theology with compelling narrative. Employing both the Bible and modern stories, this work grasps the essential tensions of the Christian life. Her explorations of the Biblical Mary and the role of modern women in today's church are particularly insightful. I have already asked some of my university students to read and review this book and the results have been wonderful. Not only is James an excellent theologian, she is the kind of theologian the church truly needs: one that can write in an accessible and enjoyable way that all can understand.

Rating:
Summary: A word that women *and* men need to hear
Review: Reading Carolyn James' book was a watershed experience for me. If I had any doubts about the pride and joy God takes in His daughters, if I had any misgivings about His love for me or His plan for me, if I had any concerns about whether the pursuit of a deeper, better theology is an appropriate priority for me, "When Life and Beliefs Collide" has addressed them all. Founding her observations on the bedrock truths of the Bible, Carolyn James builds a strong case for the importance of good theology--knowing God rightly, and knowing Him better--for *all* women, whether we see ourselves as a "Mary" or a "Martha." This book brings a word of comfort, confidence, and clarity to Christian women who want to know and serve the Lord better. And the applications and implications of this book reach beyond the concerns of women to embrace *every* follower of Christ. If you are somebody's daughter, or if you have a daughter, or if you're married to somebody's daughter, or if you hope to marry somebody's daughter, then this book is for you.

Rating:
Summary: JI Packer was right to endorse this brilliant book
Review: Sometimes JI Packer is too generous in his many endorsements. But in the case of this outstanding, brilliantly well written and insightful book, his glowing endorsement is on the money. It is a book that will change the lives of Christian women everywhere: but only if enough read it! Buy as many copies as possible to give to every woman in your church, their husbands and the pastor and maybe this outstanding tome will get the success that it so richly deserves.

Rating:
Summary: Learning, Weeping, and Worshipping
Review: The three portraits of Mary: sitting at the feet of Jesus to listen and to learn, weeping at the feet of Jesus in sorrow, suffering and disappointment and anointing the feet of Jesus from a deep knowledge of His Gospel reveals the fact that women as well as men need to know God and that knowledge or "theology" does make a differnece in one's life. Carolyn Custis James has stated that fact and has taken us deeper in the knowledge of God through the experiences of Mary and Martha. She has shown with great emphasis the NEED to know and believe God through the study of His Word and that this knowledge should not be limited in its scope or to its gender. It is very well written, easy to understnd and follow and a joy to read. I highly reccommend it!!

Rating:
Summary: This is one of the best Christian books in YEARS
Review: This is one of the best Christian books in YEARS! Every member of the congregation ought to read this book - Carolyn James answers the key questions in a way that has not been seen in Christian publishing for far too long.