Review of "Sex, Lies & Religion" by Randy Elrod
344833
I just finished Randy Elrod's book "Sex, Lies & Religion". It is one of the most refreshing books I have read in a long time. If you struggle with the physical act or the topic of `Sex', this book is for you.

I have been a Christian for 19 years, five years ago I fell in Love with God, and have been on quite the romantic journey since. Three years ago I started wrestling with the thought that the marriage bed is the most pure example of God's longing for intimacy with me. Doesn't the Scripture teach us that the long awaited return of Christ is a wedding celebration? What is the one thing that actually consummates the marriage? Can what takes place in my marriage bed with my wife really be what God longs for with me?

In "Sex Lies & Religion", Randy exposes long adhered to religious lies regarding our sexuality, and takes us down a path to freedom, a road that will lead to our marriage bed being the most intimate place we can experience God. This book has helped me get the upper hand as I have wrestled with God's desire for intimacy with us. It is a beautiful and tasteful look at our sexuality, and if nothing else will get you to at least talk about sex in a healthy way. (God knows we need to do that more as Christians!)

"Have you ever had an experience with God that was so amazing it exceeded your wildest and most fulfilling sexual moment?"

Why is it that the most intense pleasurable thing we can experience is so far detached from God in our thoughts/hearts/spirits? Can we really experience God in a way that is better then sex? Does God really want to have that kind of intimacy with us? "Sex Lies & Religion" will take you on a journey to find the answers. It truly is one of the few books I recommend you read!

Disclosure of Material Connection:
I received this book free from cre:ate 2.0 Publishing to read and post a review on my site. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...]
"Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
971808
Some science types criticize the religious fundamentals for taking things on faith ... if you can't PROVE it, it doesn't exist.  All scientific fact is either proven fact, or logical deductions based on a series of proven facts.  EXCEPT ... not all "facts" are yet known, and when a new discovery casts doubt on a proven "fact", then everyone has to scramble to RE-PROVE their "facts".

Preeti Gupta recognizes all aspects of this dichotomy.  Her first book, "I'll Put 3 Chips on G-d, just in case there is one" attempts to look at spirituality in a scientific way.  BUT ... she also takes some liberties, making some logical assumptions and leaps of faith (if you will) to make her presentation.  Accurate?  Perhaps.  Good luck proving it or disproving it.  Of course, the same is true for any of the traditional organized religions.

Of course, it doesn't matter ... Ms. Gupta is not trying to convert you to either an established religion nor starting one for you to join.  Rather, she is attempting to clearly lay out HER concepts of spirituality and morality in a clear & concise (assuming 300 pages qualifies as "concise").

Further, the author cites real-life examples drawn from her own experiences. While I've never met Ms. Gupta, and only shared a couple of emails with her, I really feel like I know something about her after reading this book based on her openness and (I hope) honesty.  FURTHER, her sense of humor appeals to me, so that a topic that would be incredibly dry in the wrong hands comes off as a page-turner in her gifted hands.

I'd like to rank this at 4 1/2 stars, but since I don't have the option of 1/2 stars, I've decided to elevate it to my 5-star status, 'cause the book earned it.

DISCLOSURE: I received an electronic version of this book free of charge from the author in return for my writing an honest review and being willing to discuss it with her afterwards.  While I'm sure she would have liked a favorable review, no attempts were made to influence that opinion other than writing a decent book!
1477359
What an awesome book this is!  It tells the story of Kevin Roose who spent a year at Liberty University, an Evangelical Christian college.  He covers all the bases.  There are a lot of funny moments in this book, but what you believe will also be challenged in this book.  Kevin says it all out and you may agree or disagree with his opinion.  That's what is so good about this book.  You will also meet his fellow classmates and learn about their beliefs too.

I really enjoyed this book a lot!  No matter your religious belief, I think you will enjoy this book as well and get something out of it!!  Super job, Kevin, thanks for sharing your experience.
1288440
The job of the artist is to tell a larger, often abstract, truth by distorting physical reality, i.e., by telling a lie. Viewing religion as great literary and performance art enhances, rather than diminishes, its relevance and its message. One can indeed observe and live by the noblest teachings of Christianity without sheepishly accepting that the universe was created in a timespan of six rotations of today's Earth, that Jesus got half his DNA from some nonphysical source, or that one's particular sect alone is the One True Religion.
I particularly like Elliot's position that the planet is for us to nurture, rather than to subdue. The English phrase, "have dominion over," has been misinterpreted far too long. We are indeed a part of Creation, not apart from it.
I recommend this important little book to a wide audience. In particular, I hope it will help open up discussions among people with widely divergent religious views.
2667826
Wow, Elrica, hate much???  You haven't even read the book, by your own admission, & already you run over here to try & discourage prospective buyers.  It's pretty obvious where your type is coming from ... the Kelly & Ruben boards, as usual.  Amazon, watch out, you can expect a whole bunch of 1-Star ratings from jealous fans of other "Idols."  I have read the book in its abridged form selling now at Christian bookstores & everyone in the shop was raving about it.  It's been a long time since a celebrity has been so brutally honest with the details of his life so early in his career.  Clay's experiences with a violent, alcoholic & disinterested birth father, a strictly religious mother & a hard-nosed military step-dad & his ability to emerge as a level-headed, positive & upbeat young man with a burning faith in his Creator & in the inherent goodness & generosity of mankind is extremely inspiring to all but the hardest of hearts.  I highly recommend this lovely book to Christians everywhere.  But please don't be put off by the "inspirational" moniker - this is a story that all young people of middle school age & beyond should read, no matter their religious beliefs.  And plenty of adults will gain insight into their own life experiences as well by the example Clay has set in learning from his misfortunes & mistakes.  If Clay Aiken isn't a fine role model for the youth of this day & age, then no one is.
2613691
This book only affirmed what I've suspected most of my adult American Christian life: mainly that it's all bull and I praise the author for having the balls for stepping forward and admitting it. I've read most books Bart Ehrman has written on the subject of Jesus Christ and Christianity and recommend every single of them if you really want to know the "truth" about America's seemingly favorite religion. I have to warn you that reading this book is like taking the "red" pill from the movie The Matrix. Essentially you will never look at Christianity, or Jesus Christ the same again. Yea, I know, the truth hurts -- or in this case, the lack thereof.
3872931
The truth about religion needs to be revealed and Bart Ehrman's knowledge of Christianity is of great value to anyone who wants to know the real truth. I have read several of his books and they are all very informative. Myself a minister for over forty years, I had many questions and Bart Ehrman helped me find the answer to many of them. Thanks Mr Ehrman.
802907
The Sober Truth
Thank you! I really enjoyed this book. Oh, I've seen A.A. work. I've also seen it not work. And even when it works I'm sometimes left scratching my head wondering if seven demons haven't passed through the waterless places to set up house where previously there was one.
This book answers a lot of questions, and confirms some suspicions I have had, about the negative effects of A.A.
I won't fault the authors for a negative critique of the religious aspect of A.A. But as a pastor this has often been my greatest concern with the program. It's dogma. The authors say it is essentially Christian. I would argue that it is not. It at best represents one branch of Christianity, and it isn't a branch I have ever been very fond of. Ultimately I think the close relationship "Christianity" has had with A.A. has given many a negative view of Christianity. Or to put it another way, has made many feel unwelcome in church because of their failures at being sober. It was concerns like this that led men like Bo Giertz, (an influential Swedish theologian and author of books such as "The Hammer of God") to break with the Oxford Movement. All this to say, that perhaps even "religious" people should take time to investigate these religious principles a bit more closely before endorsing them.
I also found that the definition of success in breaking addiction of "being able to drink in such a manner that was no longer harmful" is perhaps a better one than making a person think if they have a beer they have lost their sobriety and may as well have fifty. That always seemed to me a bit like setting a man up for failure.
Yes. A.A. works for some people. And it's really good to see it working for some. Especially when alcoholism can be so destructive in a person's life and the life of those they love. But it would be nice if it wasn't billed as the only treatment method, so that others might have more inclination to try other routes if A.A. isn't what works for them.
480752
The Eldredge's are back with a new book! Love & War by John and Stasi Eldredge is a fantastic book about marriage. In their humorous, insightful and unique way, this couple opens up about their own marriage and delves into the mystery that is marriage. It is about the journey of marriage, including individual brokenness, More Than Just Roommates, How to Have a Really Good Fight, Learning to Love, Sharing the Adventure, and of course, The Chapter on Sex.

Love & War is refreshingly honest and open, with plenty of references to scripture, and again including scenes or lines from popular movies. I knew it would be a great book when I read in the very first chapter:

This should have been our announcement in the Sunday paper wedding column:

Will Anyone Ever Love Me? was joined in marriage to I Will Never Need Anyone last week. The groom, Mr. Insecure Perfectionist, wedded his bride Miss I Know I'm a Disappointment at the Congregational Church. The lovely train wreck has taken up residence in Monrovia. A public reception and private disaster are soon to follow.

This book should be read by all who are married, have been married or hope to get married!

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.
3637644
There are so many "religions" out there to choose from, I use that term loosely.  Before I became a Christian I was very curious about all these religions as I was looking for a place to land.  This book really solidifies my Christian faith and can help those who are lost understand where these other religions fail us.

Hollywood seems to be a breeding ground for all these, for lack of a better term, whacky religions.  Religions of the Stars by Richard Abanes covers religions such as Mormonism, Scientology (that is a very interesting chapter), Kabbalah, Buddhism, the church of Oprah (another very interesting chapter), and the Occult.  I did not get the impression that the author's purpose of this book was to bash these other religions.  It was his purpose to inform and educate Christians so when we are confronted by religions other than our own, we can be prepared to be a witness for Christ.  He uses many facts and quotes from followers of these religions to support what he is saying.

Religions of the Stars simplifies these, at times, complicated religions and explains their beliefs in detail.  I really appreciate this book and enjoyed reading it.  I highly recommend it not just to Christians, but also for anyone who is curious.  This book is straightforward, honest and very well written.

After my lengthy quest for the truth led me to finding Christ, I have a new appreciation for my faith and I am grateful I did not choose to follow these other religions that tend to confuse and mislead.
2222394
Under the Banner of Heaven is a well written book.  I highly recommend it to anyone, whether they are a member of the LDS church, FLDS church, or not.  Krakauer shows very ably that there is an uneasy and uncomfortable connection between mainstream Mormonism and fundamentalist pseudo-Mormon sects.  The connection is the blighted and often misrepresented history of the LDS church.

Regular rank-and-file members of the LDS church are aghast at the FLDS practices that regularly get paraded in the public eye--incest, polygyny, child abuse, etc.  However, when one views the history of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one sees that there is a very logical connection between the practices of the early LDS church and those of the fundamentalists today.

The reader learns of the horrible 1984 Lafferty murders and the perpetrators' bizarre reasons for doing so horrible a deed.  The reason fundamentalists survive (and some would say thrive) is that they have lots of children who are reared in that belief system.  If you've never been exposed to another way of thinking about the world, then you'll hold tightly to the beliefs and practices with which you're brought up.

This is an excellent attempt to show the connection between early Mormon practices and fundamentalist behaviors.  The dangers of many fundamentalist belief systems, implies the author, are the same as those accurately chronicled in this fascinating nonfiction work.  Highly recommended!
1171860
Rodney Stark is an author with strong Christian convictions. In having such convictions you will find that his writings seek to illuminate truths and flush out dishonest rhetoric. If you are looking to lean about the world under the contest of truth, make sure you read not only How the West Won, but his other material as well. I am about a quarter into the book and can't put it down. This book is rich in histories forgotten and discarded by the liberal left. If you buy this book you will not be sorry; it is a delight. Thank you, Rodney Starks, for breathing new life into what so many in modernity dismiss, but is it ultimately the dismissal of objective true that is working to the demise of America and the Western World. God bless, Christian Warriors!  Merry Christmas!!
2498589
An excellent book from an author who is seeking TRUTH! A great example of writing without the typical religious manipulations involved. He brings it all back to Christ/God. Just as it should be. Masculinity is not a short haircut and a suit, and femininity is not long hair , make up , and a knee hiding dress. Great book, I love it.
1471596
While I don't always agree with his politics, Glenn Beck has written or co-written some excellent books esp in his Control Series for which this is a part of.

I happen to have checked this book out from my local library a week before the terrorist attack in San Bernardo, & just start reading it for the 1st time days afterwards. This is a great book, exposing the truth about this religion that's not being allowed due to PC. It also explores several myths about Islam-from it being a peacefully religion (Islam means submission in Arabic-which doesn't sound peaceful to this reviewer) to being respectful towards women & religion minorities. Both not true in areas of the world where Islam is the main religion. The book also talks about the long-termed plan by groups like ISIS & the Muslim Brotherhood to force everyone worldwide to live under Islamic rule with Sharia law since in Islam there's no separation of religion & state like there is in the Judeo-Christian world.

At around 260 pages, this is quick, well written & researched book, as are most of the other books Beck has written. Hopefully the tragic indecent in San Bernardo will wake up more Americans to the danger Islamism has towards our freedom.
1758094
This was my first Kindle novel, bought as an Amazon deal one day. It turned out to be quite a bit better than I'd expected it to be. Good characters, interesting story line, several good twists in the story. I'll be buying some more of the Detective Jackson stories.
My only complaint was a "fact" presented around page 125 or so, as a given, known and accepted fact, which is actually totally false. Though, to be fair, it is a view most members of the public believe to be true and the media seems to encourage. Specifically, the author makes as a factual statement that sex offenders have the highest recidivism rate of all classes of criminals.
She should have researched this point, instead of taking popular viewpoint as fact. Because in actual fact, with the exception of murderers (for obvious reasons) per the Department of Justice's statistics, and a massive metastudy conducted by DOJ back in 2002 or 2003, sex offenders actually have the LOWEST recidivism rate of all classes of criminals. In fact, per DOJ, the recidivism rate of sex offenders is less than 5% (so less than 1 in 20 will ever reoffend as a sex offender). The rate is somewhat higher when looking at ALL crimes, but that is believed to be caused by sex offenders being shunned, ostracized and otherwise denied the chance to survive in society after doing their time. That is, the recidivism rate is driven upwards by sex offenders being subsequently arrested for a drug offense or theft or some other crime, but not a sex crime. Indeed, there was even an extensive study done by North Carolina which found a recidivism rate of less than 1%!

But beyond this one mistake, the book was quite enjoyable! I'll read more of the author's books!
943307
A Faith Raising Book
Randy Clark, and the other ministers whom he associates with, take a lot of grief (grief is probably to light of a word) from other groups of Christians. Clark has had accusations of heresy, an over emphasis on emotional response, and a general disregard for doctrinal protocol. From what Ive read of his work and his sermons Ive listened to these accusations are completely unfounded. Clarks most recent book, There Is More, is a wonderful example of Clarks passion and devotion to God.
In There Is More Clark encourages readers to completely trust that God is who He says He is, and to faith that God will do what He said He would do. The book is full of Biblical truth, first hand accounts, and an extremely interesting look at the History of the Church from the time after the Apostles. Many people will argue that God suddenly ceased being capable of the miraculously after the time of the Apostles a belief that is absolutely unbiblical and goes against the belief, and practice, of the early Church fathers including Luther, Augustine, and others.
The truth is God has more for His people than what many of us are currently living. And this well written book from Randy Clark encourages believers to trust our mighty God to continue to do His mighty works. This book will inform, inspire, challenge, and help your faith grow.
I received this book from Chosen Publishing (a division of Baker Publishing Group) for the purpose of an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own.
2248447
This is a well written and wonderfully delightful book. Unlike many of the writings of Dennett and others, which are great volumes to be sure, this book shows the tremendous harm religion has done and continues to do to us collectively and individually. One need only look at his own life to see the truth to what the author says. I could hardly put the book down. It is a must-read for the humanist or atheist and wouldn't hurt those infected by the virus.

Highly recommended.

- Susanna K. Hutcheson