Good Goats: Healing Our Image of God [Paperback]

Dennis Linn (Author), Sheila Fabricant Linn (Author), Matthew Linn (Author), Francisco Miranda (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1993

A fully illustrated, full-color book that, through a blending of story, scripture and theology, tackles questions of sin, hell, and vengeance in such a way that readers are led to transformation and healing in the midst of a loving, merciful and saving God.

Product Details

• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Paulist Press (January 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0809134632
• ISBN-13: 978-0809134632
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #89,243 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #33 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Catholicism > Roman Catholicism

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Complete with Imprimatur-Life Changing-God already saved you, May 26, 2001

By 

Diane (Chesterton, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Good Goats: Healing Our Image of God (Paperback)

Portrays God as a loving parent. We are told we cannot parent with the philosophy "Do as I say, not as I do", but the God that has been portrayed to us is exactly that type of parent "You forgive, but in the end I won't. Do not punish - that is my job." We have been told God loves us, but we are going to hell if we make a mistake-schizophrenic, right. No matter what your child does, you would not wish hell upon him/her. If you were all loving, powerful and knowing, you would find a way to save your child. This book explains that God has done that. The book quotes Meister Eckhart: "The seed of God is in us. The seed of a pear tree grows into a pear tree...a seed of God grows into God." A MUST READ if you are not convinced God has already won salvation for you. No fear-just live your life with love. You naturally conform to whom you worship-if you worship a loving, forgiving, caring God, you will become a loving, forgiving and caring person. That's how the saints did it; naturally, effortlessly. HOORAY FOR THE LINNS!

37 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good News--God is Love!, August 27, 1999

By 

Kerry Sullivan (Taylor, Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Good Goats: Healing Our Image of God (Paperback)

This book lovingly and insistently reveals the fatal flaws--and the societal dangers--associated with the the all too popular notion among many Christians that God is love, and God is good. . . and yet God will banish most of humankind to eternal damnation.

The book is written from a Roman Catholic perspective, but it also provides a wonderful antidote to the vengeful God of Protestant Fundamentalism.

The book is simple and direct, and it provides solid scriptural and contextual bases for its thesis that God loves each one of us immeasurably and will never give up on any of us. What a concept!

Although the authors' views are well grounded in scripture and are supported by highly respected scholars, they seem to remain largely hidden from mainstream popular Christianity. This will be a wonderful book to share with people who are sincerely struggling with these issues !

27 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Curative Theology, November 24, 1999

By 

S.B. (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Good Goats: Healing Our Image of God (Paperback)

"Good Goats" is a gem of a book. First loaned to me by my spiritual director, it takes on the very reasons people should fuss with God. The Linns argue that the guilt of sin and the fear of hell are two very BAD reasons to give for believing in God - all that does is drive people away. They also grapple lightly but thoughtfully with Anselmian atonement (substitutionary atonement)as understood in today's religious environment, arguing that this theory simply makes no sense if God is indeed Love. Hooray! Excellent book for teaching. Authors are Roman Catholic and it shows, but this Episcopalian found this not to be an obstacle but a blessing in this Ecumenical Age.