The Unauthorized Guide to Choosing a Church [Paperback]

Carmen Renee Berry (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 2003

This wise and humorous book introduces readers to each major Christian denomination, empowering them to make an informed decision when choosing a church.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Berry, who recently started going to church after a long absence, attempts in this book to make finding a church easier for those who don't know where to begin. Whether this attempt is successful is an open question, but any failure to give truly helpful information to church-seekers is more than compensated for in her fascinating and accessible account of church history. Without getting bogged down in jargon or details, Berry (girlfriends; Daddies and Daughters) helps readers understand how Christendom began as one church and became what it is today. Her stories of the political intrigue behind the various schisms, and her candid descriptions of the lives of important Christians, actually make church history fun to read. Regrettably, though, in an era in which different branches of the faith regularly borrow practices and traditions from each other, the book offers little of substantive value for those wondering if the church down the street is their cup of tea. While her generalizations will provide some basic help for the uninitiated, Berry does not provide enough concrete information about how a given congregation will dress, behave or worship, preferring instead to emphasize the need for readers to call ahead if they have questions. Despite this problem and other minor foibles-such as distracting, overly long sidebars-this book is a must-read for anyone seeking a lucid, comprehensive primer on the history of the Christian church and faith.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Carmen Renee Berry is the best-selling author of Girlfriends, When Helping You is Hurting Me, and Daddies and Daughters. She has traveled extensively, speaking and leading seminars on relationships and mental health. She has appeared on Oprah, CNN, and countless other radio and television programs.

Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Brazos Press (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587430363
• ISBN-13: 978-1587430367
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,364,467 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best faith guides I've seen..., August 27, 2003

By 

Java Wench "javawench" (Columbia, SC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Unauthorized Guide to Choosing a Church (Paperback)

This book has proved to be a treasure to me. I'm a journalist who writes frequently about religion and the way that Berry sorts out, defines and describes the nuances of different styles of Christian worship is terrific! Raised in the Nazarene faith, Berry has grown into the kind of seeking Christian who is able to write clearly and without bias about different aspects of Christian experience. Her descriptions of the differences between "Catholic," "Congregational" and "Wesleyan" churches, for instance, are dead on. She spices up her history with a lot of humor...her portrayal of John Knox is great "I believe he can be best understood as a Scotsman first, and then as a Protestant..." After reading this book, for the first time in my life I feel I really understand the difference between things like "African Methodist Episcopal, "AME Zion," "CME," what makes a church a "holiness" church, what it really means to be "Baptist" as opposed to other Protestant experiences. She offers great tips and perspectives on what you'll experience by attending worship at different churches. This book is ideal for anybody who is searching for a Christian church, researching different Christian denominations, may be looking to return to the Christian fold or just simply wants to understand more about their own faith. One of the few indispensable research books that's also just plain fun to read!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and Informative, April 16, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: The Unauthorized Guide to Choosing a Church (Paperback)

Having just left a difficult church situation, I found this book fascinating. Berry is well-researched and quite literate in the ups and downs of committing to any particular church or denomination. Her sense of humor lends lightheartedness to a subject that has too often been overshadowed by scandals and misunderstandings. If you're looking for information and guidance on choosing a church without having to wade through the author's individual preferences, this is the book for you!

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical for Lots of Reasons, July 17, 2003

By 

L. M. (Pasadena, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Unauthorized Guide to Choosing a Church (Paperback)

Ms. Berry's book does just what it sets out to do. As a graduate of a seminary with a degree in theology, I wish I'd had much of the information she included in her exploration of various denominations and church history. She takes what scores of theologians spend oodles of time writing volumes on and distills it to the essentials. If you're a "born-again" Christian looking to understand more about many denominations, this book is great. Just remember that the intent of this book is NOT to convert souls, but rather to explain how denominations came to be, and what they basically look like as a result. I would highly recommend this book to anyone either looking for a church, trying to help someone understand the nuances between churches, or simply trying to make sense of the cumbersome topic of church history. I'm proud of Ms. Berry's ability to take a topic like this and make it accessible to everyone.