The Misunderstood God: The Lies Religion Tells About God [Paperback]

Darin Hufford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2, 2009

THE MISUNDERSTOOD GOD tells the truth about who the Creator is. This book analyzes what religion says about God's heart and personality and measures it up to what God calls Himself: Love. It simplifies a generation's tangled perceptions of God by taking a journey through the sixteen aspects of love described in one of the most well-known Bible passages in the world: 1 Corinthians 13, also known as "the love chapter." So many Christians have been bombarded with confusing teachings and doctrines that their understanding of God resembles a tightly tangled ball of Christmas tree lights. This book takes that twisted mess and replaces it with one soft, warm light of truth that anyone can embrace: God is love.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A good book is a good read. A great book forces you to actually put it down, go away, and digest what you just read because of how it messed with your heart or head. This is a great book!" (Drew Marshall, host of The Drew Marshall Show, Canada's most-listened-to spiritual talk show 2009)

"Be ready to have your spiritual world rocked. Hufford takes us outside the traditional misunderstandings of God and shows us the Father Jesus constantly spoke about." (Wayne Jacobsen, collaborator on The Shack 2009)

About the Author

Darin Hufford is the host of the Into the Wild podcast and the founder and president of the Free Believers Network. He travels and speaks throughout the world on knowing the heart of God. Currently, Darin lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with his wife, Angie, and their five children.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Windblown Media; 1 edition (November 2, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1935170058
• ISBN-13: 978-1935170051
• Product Dimensions: 5.3 x 0.6 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #105,399 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

81 of 83 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars God is Love, or is He? October 13, 2009

By Chad Estes

Format:Paperback

God is Love.

It seems to be a simple thought conveyed in a simple sentence; a skinny diving board of a definition suspended over the greater pool of theology; an entry point for the uneducated. Darin Hufford doesn't agree. He portrays this minimal concept in a whole different light in his book, "The Misunderstood God." Instead of this truth being the jumping off platform to enter the deeper things of knowing God, he sees it as the whole, defining point. He thinks we've been lied to, about God, and about his love, especially for us.

Using the familiar passage in 1st Corinthians commonly referred to as "The Love Chapter," Hufford takes the definitions of love and applies them to God. Though it sounds like a basic, Sunday School lesson, the results are profound and often disturbing. If he is right, some of the common characteristics we have clothed God with are full of holes. Though he doesn't specifically finger any Christian teacher or leader with his correction, he doesn't need to. This isn't a treatise against one specific denomination; it is full-frontal attack on fear-based religion. Though I wished I'd read through his chapters unscathed, I found that many of the thoughts, beliefs and actions he confronts are ones that I've heard, accepted and repeated myself.

With a much appreciated edit from Windblown Media, Hufford's book (which was previously titled "The God's Honest Truth") is nearly half the length, has a friendlier cover, is half the cost, and has some great, new content. Hopefully it will find a new life and be read by a whole lot more people.

A suggestion--I expect this book to be misquoted by others whose opinions and positions are challenged by the content within. Hufford seems to be prepared for this, having faced it with the first printing. I would whole heartedly suggest reading this book yourself and not taking other's opinions of it as fact. You deserve to read this beautiful presentation of the love of God and the God of love.

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Review by Jim Robbins, author and speaker October 20, 2009

By Jim Robbins

Format:Paperback

Our emotional health is directly tied to our view of God. Faulty assumptions about God will sabotage your heart. For that reason, I highly recommend Darin Hufford's new book, "The Misunderstood God - the lies religion tells us about God," because the book so ably exposes those harmful assumptions and invites the reader into a deeper freedom.

The book also has staying power. I found myself reflecting on key portions of the book long after I'd read it. The chapter exposing the myth of "The Angry God" reminded me that, "Love is not easily provoked." And despite what we may have been told, the Holy Spirit is not easily wounded or offended. Our God's heart remains supple and open without the fragile neurosis that plagues most of us. We need him to be strong like that.

This book will help you get that heavy pack of religious assumptions and misunderstandings off your back, because you were never meant to carry that.

37 of 39 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple yet profound! October 19, 2009

By Aida Calder

Format:Paperback

A WONDERFUL BOOK!!

Darin Hufford has in my opinion hit a home run with his newest book. A rewrite of his previous book, "The God's Honest Truth," "The Misunderstood God" is half the size of the original and has been updated with new material. Filled with examples taken from the author's own life, it's simple to read and yet very profound.

We've been told that God is love, yet religion has painted a picture of a god that is the complete opposite of love. As Darin explains, our understanding of love is so upside down that we've actually given Him the personality and characteristics of the devil. Using 1 Corinthians 13 as its foundation, "The Misunderstood God" turns the meaning of love right side up and paints a picture of God that is beautiful and very appealing.

I was originally introduced to Darin's ministry when I read "The God's Honest Truth" several years ago. I was immediately captivated and my life hasn't been the same since. Although I immediately fell in love with the original, this new edition is just as good.

I highly recommend "The Misunderstood God" but I suggest reading it with an open heart and mind. If you let it, it'll blow apart the lies you've been told about God and, like me, I believe you'll never again settle for manmade traditions. Instead, you'll want to know this wonderful God who really is love.

I gave this book a 5 star rating only because I couldn't give it a higher one.