Customer Reviews

The Way Home: Beyond Feminism, Back to Reality

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

As Mary Pride's eldest daughter, I was checking out for fun what people have written about my mother's books here on Amazon. Naturally, I am very proud of my mother, and I think this book is wonderful.

I would like to respond to some of the other reviewers, who have posted suppositions about my mother and her life to support their criticism of The Way Home. First, staying at home is _not_ a 20th-century invention. Quite the opposite, in fact. Yes, women worked hard through the ages, but at _house work._ Who does this particular reviewer think scrubbed the floors, cooked food over a fire, spun, wove and sewed the clothes, etc? This was the women, and they raised the children. Any elementary study of history will tell you this.

To the people who commented on my mother's "hypocrisy" in working and telling other mothers not to: While I was growing up (I am 20 years old now), my mother traveled to two or three conventions a year, this is true. She always took at least one of us kids with her, however; conventions were a learning experience, and never lasted more than a week. She writes and works from our home, and mixes the time with correcting assignments and talking to kids. I cannot tell you how wonderful it has been having her at home. I cannot imagine it any other way.

Big families: To the woman who said that it can hardly be helpful to have older kids help raise the younger, obviously she has never encountered a large family. My older brother spontaneously taught me to read when I was three years old, meaning that by the time I was eight I was reading Isaac Asimov's science fiction. I myself helped teach my younger siblings many subjects, including Latin, so that now when I think about teaching any future children, I know that I _can._ This was profitable for both me and my siblings. Several of my friends from one- or two-kid families cannot even imagine themselves able to be parents!

I grew up in the halo of this book. I don't know even how much of an influence it had. All I know is that, whenever I went with my mother to homeschool conferences, dads and moms would bring up their children and say, "Look! He wouldn't be here if we hadn't read your book!" I am so proud of my mother. I wish everyone would read the real historical accounts and see what has indeed happened to our country. Read Alexis de Tocqueville's "Democracy in America" at least. But begin with this book of my mother's.

I was glad to find a book that offers an alternative to building a career outside the home. It is one thing to say "stay home with your family and be a homemaker" and another to actually define a fulfilling role inside the home. I spent years of schooling preparing to work outside the home, but this is the first book I have read that explains how to be fulfilled while staying in the home. Mary Pride was an engineer before she started a family. She relates to the educated woman who chooses to invest her time and talents into her family instead of a career outside the home. I appreciated the outline that she has for practical ways to do this. I felt like I was inspired to see my role at home as significant and necessary to the well being of my family and friends. Most media tells me that it doesn't make any difference whether you are at home or not. She talks about working from the home and working your career around your family, even if it means putting it on hold for other priorities. I have recommended this book to lots of people who are thinking of staying home with their children, but aren't sure they will be happy staying at home.

Ms. Pride does a good job of illustrating how deceived many Christian women have become by our secular culture and its anti-child attitudes, all in the name of self-fulfillment. This attitude is death to our marriages, our family life, ourselves - the potential of the Christians we could become if we only were willing to listen to the teachings of the Holy Spirit.

However, she does a lousy job of encouraging women who have decided to throw off the world's influences and are facing the sometimes arduous task of swimming upstream in a world that is entirely self-centered, in order to better glorify the Lord. Better to read something like Nancy Wilson's "Praise Her in the Gates" or "Be Fruitful and Multiply" by Nancy Campbell. These authors do more than just condemn - they convict and provide real encouragement (yes! Children can actually be a joy! There can be freedom in following the Lord instead of the crowd!)...even my husband (who is our sole breadwinner and is "quiverfull-minded") was turned off by Ms. Pride's "piss and vinegar" (his words) attitude. The Lord wants us to be more than just slaves to his Word - he wants us to be cheerful givers.

Ms. Pride also has no business giving you her opinion on what she thinks the Bible says you are allowed to do with your own husband, in your own bedroom (re: Chapter 3: "The Joy of Unkinky Sex"). Better to go straight to the Word (see "Song of Songs", The Holy Bible) for THE LORD'S TAKE on what glorifies Him.

I read the rest of the reviews before I read the book, because I had heard of it and wondered what others thought.The reviewers seem pretty clearly divided between "love it" and "hate it"...in case you hadn't noticed. That made me read through it more carefully, because the accusation of poor exegesis is not one to be taken lightly. For the record, the comments on pps 41&42 re: "she shall be saved through childbearing" conclude that Paul is informing women of their role in the church (since he says they are not to be teachers or leaders), NOT that they do not need Christ to be saved. Mary Pride points to 1 Tim. 4:16, which she says is the same grammatical construction, to support this idea, saying that Paul is showing various people addressed in this passage what their roles are.

I think that this book raises some very pertinent questions. I cannot address the topic of poor exegesis with any authority except that of someone who has also read the passages referred to. There may indeed be other interpretations for these passages, but Mary's veiwpoint certainly seemed supportable, even within the context of the rest of scripture, to me. I intend to buy a copy of this book for myself so that I can study it more in depth, and make notes in the margins. Whether she is right or wrong, she certainly raises issues that the Church needs to address. She is very blunt. I like that. Many don't, especially when the person being blunt is telling them that they are wrong.

I highly recommend this book for every Christian who is married or considering marriage. The issues it raises are issues that ought to be wrestled with, and a conclusion come to. We are commanded to know what we believe, and always be ready to give a defense. I noticed that those who didn't like the book claimed her interpretation was flawed, but didn't offer any specifics. This is something that you will have to research, and decide for yourself.

This was a tough book to rate (I waivered between 2 and 3). In some ways it rated a 5-star, because Christian women need to feel that staying home with their children is a noble and worthwhile pursuit. And Pride gave some good material in this realm. But in other ways it deserved a 1-star, because Pride is no theologian or particularly skilled in Biblical exegesis. Yet she makes some pretty strong statements about what the "Bible teaches" (which were at times both out of context and incorrect).

Unfortunately, in our church, this book had the effect of polarizing people. Some took Prides opinions and ideas as if they were direct interpretations from God (not knowing that there were other valid ways to look at many of her scripture references), and they started criticizing and pointing fingers at any women that chose to work. Instead of people expressing their views by saying "the Bible says...", we started hearing people defend their view by saying "Mary Pride says...". And that wasn't healthy.

Decisions like these need to be made by husband and wife together in prayerful consideration of their families well-being. Just as a stay-at-home mom should feel accepted, so should a career women that's doing what she believes God would have her do at this time. We don't want to move from one extreme to another.

Just FYI, my wife stays at home and homeschoolds the kids. I work at a home office and spend much time overseeing the kids as well. We are conservative evangelical Christians.

If you're looking for a good balanced book on this whole issue, then this probably isn't it. I can only conclude that those that rate it 5-star were hungry for something to support their desire to stay at home and feel OK about it (it does accomplish that, but not in an overall good way).

I was 2 years old when this book was written. 25 years later, I find myself appreciating this work as much as anyone else could have in 1985. It is still relevant today, even more so. Although I found a few differences of opinion on minor matters not concerning the subject at hand (mainly differences of doctrine, as I am a Catholic woman), the book is outstanding. Mary gives the entire picture of not only what we, as Christians, must do but why, which is just as important. I can't say enough about it.

This book will be purchased and remain on my bookshelf for a very long time. I will recommend it to every woman I know. It's the best book on feminism that I have read thus far in my own short journey finding "the way home".

...and you know how the rest of the saying goes.

As the church librarian for a conservative evangelical denomination, I was handed this book as a donation to the collection; but after reviewing the text I was unable in good conscience to include it.

Pride's stated objectives are noble, and goodness knows that women today certainly deserve to be encouraged for devotion to their families, a desire to be godly mothers and wives, and for having the courage to do these things when the world at large mocks believers.

However. Her tone from the outset is strident and intolerant of anyone who may feel that God has called her otherwise. Her praise is given to those who have large families--children, children, mo' children. Her scorn is given to any who differ. She flatly condemns any kind of marital sexual relation that would not produce children. Her points are supported with portions of Scripture, yes, but often she has appended or retranslated them. Can't the Word speak for itself?

Our church is filled with many large families, often 5-8 children apiece. However, these are also very affluent families, blessed such that they are able to provide adequately for their children. Other families are smaller, some with no children at all. The body is made up of many different parts, each having its function and no one part exalted above the other, as the Apostle Paul wrote. Determining that role is a matter left to each believer and God.

Sadly, Mary Pride's text indicates that she would not be so respectful.

Well, I only read 4 chapters and was shortly made aware it was not a book for me. Yes she is adamantly against the "feminist" of today, and the book is written in a very factual, hard,point blank way. Not that that necessarily is bad, but one doesn't need to be harsh and graphic to get a point across. It is good factual information, but to many specifics. Yes we need to know the truth, but to what extent? This will be a book liked by many and disliked by some. For women who are very in the firing lines against the feminist movement,etc. this will be right up their alley. For those who want encouragement that they are not "crazy" as the world would say, this is probably not the book for them.

This book is a breath of fresh air. Not only does it comment on homeschooling, but it gives wonderful insight as to how God intended we women to work together with our husbands to create the nearest thing to a heaven on earth. The family is first; before jobs, education, success and any other Gods we tend to put before us. I fould this book spot on. Well done Mary on a beautiful piece of work.

Looking for an eye opener? Read this Ladies!!! Just like the cover says, Back to reality! So very true! Great Job Mary!