Customer Reviews

Christian Charm Course (teacher)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

When I first laid eyes on the workbook, I fell in love with it. It gives a step-by-step guide into turning our little tomboys into princesses. It is fun to read and all teenage girls love it. Because of the Biblical background to assist in training our young girls, this is a perfect addition to your church library.

This book is truly the most appalling book I have ever seen used in Christian homes and schools. The original copyright date is 1967 but it looks and reads more like 1937. The demands that it makes on young women are ridiculous and totally unfounded spiritually. The book states that a young lady should always have her hands clasped behind her back and never down at her sides. While standing, her feet should not point forward but instead one foot should be behind the other at an angle. While sitting, ankles should be linked together to the side and under the chair. (Which is actually very bad for healthy circulation.) The book is also an aid to eating disorders by emphasizing a girl's look and figure instead of simple healthy eating. A calorie guide is included and all of the ways to take measurements literally from head to toe. It's ridiculous books like this that make Christian women look like idiots and imbeciles to the world instead of vital, dynamic, and strong followers of Christ. There's no way I would ever show it to any of my friends or family because it's an embarrassment. I gave it one star because the information and illustrations are good for a laugh.

I liked this little book inspite of the bad reviews some people gave it. It is just the basics--it is not meant to be a course in cosmetology. Also, it DOES approach things from a Christian viewpoint--there is emphasis on being a godly young woman in spirit as well as the physical--most every other page has some kind of emphasis on biblical behavior. There is nothing old fashioned about godliness, manners, and being well-groomed. You get out of it what you put in it.

My daughters were taught from this book at a Wednesday night class at our church. After seeing how intensely non-Biblical the information being taught was, my husband pulled them out of the class! Him and I agree that our daughters need to grow in the Lord by learning who they are in God's eyes. This book only seems to focus on things that people find important, not what God shows us to be important when reading the Bible. After taking these classes, my daughters were both depressed about what this idiotic book would consider their shortcomings. Things that the Bible doesn't even mention.

This book is a prescription for one of two things:

1. A girl to turn into the kind of person who thinks she's perfect and as such better than everyone else.
2. A girl who ends up with eating disorders and distorted self image because they can't be perfect.

DUMP THIS BOOK! READ WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT WHAT A GODLY WOMAN SHOULD BE!

The lessons provided are biblical, powerful, life changing, and vital in the raising of our young christian girls to be Godly women of God in these last and evil days.

I gave this book a three because I see the middle between a lot of these reviews, and I see the differences in Christian women highlighted in these reviews. As an adult I have learned, the hard way, what many women were taught by this book - beauty, posture, and presense equal power. This power is approved by the world as well as the church and can be used to accomplish a good purpose or a bad one. It is how I see this knowledge being applied that bothers me. Luring and manipulating men, changing your values to achieve a goal - these are mentioned as bad in this book - but the consequences of these actions are rarely aknowledged or explored. This book also helps to create a "better than you" attitude, as charm secrets might be shared with a close friend, but would be used to degrade a girl that was not in your circle. This book includes things your mama should have taught you, but it fails to include some of the most important issues of our day such as sexual purity and how a young man (even a Godly one) will be affected by your charms. While it does address other issues like gossip, communication and conflict resolution - some of the "resolutions" are to break fellowship with other believers if they don't agree with you. The book of proverbs might be a better read - however if you are looking for a course like this one the study of Esther, by Beth Moore - would be far and away more applicable while still giving segway for Mama to address poise, beauty, and table manners.

I think this is a charming book, though I do intend to skip some pages. It's a wonderful reference for some old fashioned etiquette. The character building isn't as complete as some wonderful old books, such as "Beautiful Girlhood" or simply stories such as those from "The King's Daughter". The parts that will be helpful are the ones on everything from introductions to posture. It is an inexpensive and enjoyable supplement to other areas of study for a young girl. The book is worth it even if you simply pick and choose what to go through.

As the previous reviewer said, the character building tips are generic and can be found anywhere else. The clothing and beauty tips are a scream. Some of the advice is ridiculous and offensive--for example, in the "How Feminine Are You?" Quiz, you get points off if your voice is deep and gravelly. And yes, this is really a part of the same book, it just isn't available on the Amazon preview pages. Please, if you have any love and respect for your daughters, DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK. Except maybe for laughs.

I used this book as a fifth grader back many years ago. In a world that is so quickly going downhill, I am glad that this book is staying true to what is good. We are using it in our family with one of my children to instill manners (a lost art), Christian values (a disappearing art), knowledge of how to dress and still be an individual, and other important things that a girl needs to know. So glad this is still in print!

I went through this book when I was a pre-teen and it helped to teach me how to be a lady. Young girls neeeded it then, but if you look around in today's society, they need it more now. This book addresses topics on outward and inward appearances that help young girls learn what is appropriate dress and what isn't. It has a scriptural side to everything taught. I'll be using this book with my daughter to help guide her into womanhood.