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adrianlwaller's Reviews (984)
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review here.
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As a former Bible college student and person of faith, I felt, going into this book, that I had a decent grasp on the underlying assumptions necessary for an understanding of positive, fruitful intrafaith and interfaith dialogue. What I lacked, though, and was given a primer on by reading this book, was a proper understanding of the nuances and details which make healthy intrafaith dialogue possible.
I think the book is summarized well with Strouse's own words:
"Can we deal with our identity crisis in such a way that we are confident enough to welcome those with different identities without giving up our own?"
Strouse explores different ways she and others have navigated this identity crisis, and throughout the book provides resources for the reader, including discussion questions and external references. She even includes a guide for church leaders to help implement these conversations in their own congregations!
While that particular section wasn't helpful to me as a layperson, I did appreciate the wealth of source material that the author pointed to, and I was glad to add a long list of "to read" books as a result of finishing this book. I can't put my finger on why this book didn't quite reach "5 stars," but it's a book that should be worth your time if you have interest in matters of faith and in making our world a better, more loving, tolerable place.
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As a former Bible college student and person of faith, I felt, going into this book, that I had a decent grasp on the underlying assumptions necessary for an understanding of positive, fruitful intrafaith and interfaith dialogue. What I lacked, though, and was given a primer on by reading this book, was a proper understanding of the nuances and details which make healthy intrafaith dialogue possible.
I think the book is summarized well with Strouse's own words:
"Can we deal with our identity crisis in such a way that we are confident enough to welcome those with different identities without giving up our own?"
Strouse explores different ways she and others have navigated this identity crisis, and throughout the book provides resources for the reader, including discussion questions and external references. She even includes a guide for church leaders to help implement these conversations in their own congregations!
While that particular section wasn't helpful to me as a layperson, I did appreciate the wealth of source material that the author pointed to, and I was glad to add a long list of "to read" books as a result of finishing this book. I can't put my finger on why this book didn't quite reach "5 stars," but it's a book that should be worth your time if you have interest in matters of faith and in making our world a better, more loving, tolerable place.
Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review here.
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This was a frustrating book to experience. Of the 166 pages, about 30 were riveting, and made me want to keep reading. The other 130+ pages felt... half-baked. I spent most of my time reading trying to remember who each of the characters were (this is something I always struggle with), because while they’re explained, they aren’t given much beyond initial introductions, to help them stick in your mind (there are, of course, a few exceptions).
I don’t really have much else to say on this, though I hope the author continues to develop + hone their craft. The ingredients were all there; I just wish this book had been left in the oven a little longer.
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This was a frustrating book to experience. Of the 166 pages, about 30 were riveting, and made me want to keep reading. The other 130+ pages felt... half-baked. I spent most of my time reading trying to remember who each of the characters were (this is something I always struggle with), because while they’re explained, they aren’t given much beyond initial introductions, to help them stick in your mind (there are, of course, a few exceptions).
I don’t really have much else to say on this, though I hope the author continues to develop + hone their craft. The ingredients were all there; I just wish this book had been left in the oven a little longer.
