Customer Reviews

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GOD LET'S BE HONEST

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

A leader with the Southern Baptist dares to step up to the pulpit and speak out... and say what most America's believe: God is beyond dogma, doctrine and church sturctures. Ultimately, this book pull back the curtain of OZ and says honestly that life can be painful and that the church (especially most fundamental churches) and their dogma and doctrine are not addressing the pain. Church talk and the clergy's whistles and bells are yesterday side show but today's world needs HONEST GOD TALK.

R.K. Godsey does a fine job breaking free of trite theology and tells it like it is... 1. Christian faith is about finding a new center from which to see and understand our world, 2. Honest confession will sometimes lead to genuine doubt and doubt is the growing edge of faith. 3. All of our speaking of God is metaphor, we can not get our mental arms around God. 4. Dead language is usually the first symptom of dead religion. 5.No one has final answers. No finite person or institution has absolute answers. When we set forth our belief as the only right belief, we are wrong. 6. To ascribe infallibility to the written world of the Bible is wrong. God is still alive and speaking and God's word is not captive to history. 7. The elevation of the church as the absolute source of belief is a mistake... however, the church, as the community of faith remains critical and indispensable as a resource to our life of faith. We are never faithful alone.."

THIS BRAVE BAPTIST stands out among his colleagues and has the faith and fiber to speak Honestly the truth... that no group has a franchise on God. His book is both pensive and powerfully liberating to those who risk the reading. Really, when all is said and done "The HONEST TRUTH is that God cannot be possessed. God remains beyond us."

I read this book when it first came out, and was quite pleased. Kirby did not allow the current fanaticism of the SBC fundamentalists stop what he felt in his heart, mind and soul to be true (or what could be true). If nothing else, this book is symbolic of the courage one man and a prestigious Southern Baptist rooted University has against a tide of "theological correctness" from within the same denomination. It is helpful for Baptists in being honest with those questions you're "not supposed to ask" regarding faith. Although not specifically geared towards Southern Baptists, I think members of this denomination who dare to read it will find it enlightening.

Godsey's book was the first of his writings I've read. I found the book to be a welcome friend in a hostile world of conservative-fundamentalist religiosity. He dealt with real issues of theology in a pragmatic way, and the reader must remember that Godsey prefaces his book with the statement that he does not expect full agreement from his readers. This reader gives him 5 stars as I am in agreement with his theory of atonement and views of universal redemption; this reader gives Godsey five stars for his honesty, though disagreeing with interpretations which come close to Arianism. The complete, unadulterated truth is found in God alone; but our human "wonderings" and musings are a necessity on a journey toward discovering that truth. Thank you, Dr. Godsey, for offering the readers an honest and authentic account of your pilgrimage thus far.

Although this book is written with practicing Christians in mind, the open-minded approach by the author makes it useful reading for persons of other faiths. The author does not believe that Christians know the only route to a relationship with God. I have shared this book with persons who were turned off by religious fundamentalists, and who found in Godsey's writing an interpretation of Christianity they could embrace. Reading this book reinforced a belief that God still inspires gifted writers.

"When We Talk about God... Let's be Honest" by Dr. R. Kirby Godsey is a MUST read for any serious Bible student. Reports of controversial content coupled with speculation that Dr. Godsey might lose his job as the President of Mercer University because of his theological views led me to read the book. While the latter is probably just idle gossip, the book does embrace some strange concepts. I originally thought it would be a quick read. I found out differently. Dr. Godsey's ability to bear his soul in such a profound way captivated my attention and fed my insatiable curiosity. I am not one to believe everything I read. In fact, I do not necessarily agree with some of what he explains. Although, Dr. Godsey does explain difficult concepts very clearly. Two suggestions to the reader: 1) Do not read fragments of the book and hold that to be Dr. Godsey's view on any subject. As in the Bible, you really must read from beginning to end to capture the full meaning of what he is saying. At first glance, some points will scare the average Christian. In the end, Dr. Godsey's central truths are well developed and clearly explained. 2) Do not fear that you will lose your soul if you read this book. The Lord instructed that we study to show ourselves approved. I believe this book is worth of study. //garry d. hamm/

Godsey's book, as other reviewers have noted, is not just for Baptists and will probably appeal much more to Episcopalians, Presbyterians (like me), Methodists, Unitarians, Quakers and even agnostics than to his Baptist brethren, who have already come close to burning him for heresy.

It is a book that simply states in understandable language what it means to be "Christian" in a new millennium.

It is a slender volume and quite readable, but if you are busy, I can sum it up for you. Godsey says: "Love God. Love your neighbor."

Sound familiar?

If you call yourself a Christian, you MUST read this book. If you believe in God, you MUST read this book. While not a new book, it is for me the single most influential book on Christianity that I have ever read. Not only well-written, but also well thought-out, this book will hold your interest while reading it; after you have finished reading it, you will want to read it again because it is so thought-provoking. Thank you, Dr. Godsey.

This book tackles some tough issues related to God and matters of faith. As I read it kept sounding like the book that I always wanted to write. It is obvious that his views are the result of serious introspection and engagement. It is a book for people who are not afraid to use their minds where religion and spirituality is concerned

I have been concerned for numerous years over the swing toward funcdamentalism in the Christian Church. An unfortunate byproduct of that movement has been the deification of the Bible. Godsey's book helps Christians who seek to better know and understand the grace and love of God to move beyond the boundaries that organized religion tends to place on things eternal. The respectful nature of his writing suggests that he knows he is challenging Christians to step outside the box and think independently. I especially like the fact that he avoids dogma, but simply states what he perceives to be true about God. As I read this book I felt that he was sensitive to my belief system. I find myself regularly referring to Godsey's ideas as I try to grow in my own theology.

I enjoyed this book very much. The preface describes my own experience very closely, and I look back on 86 years of progress, with more yet to come. With three graduate degrees, including one from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Back When...)and a Ph.D. in Chemistry, together with 27 years of teaching and administration at Baptist Colleges, my view of Christianity has become not only more honest, but much more satisfying. I found little new to me in this book, but a powerful fellowship along a road that I also have walked. I anticipate reading his next book.