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csd17's review
4.0
I really really do read more than religious non-fiction. This was assigned for a directed readings class I'm in and it does a nice job straddling lines. I love the scholarship that was obviously involved in the creation.
But I still like Chesterton and Lewis better (as far as original thought is concerned). But this was well worth the 4 stars.
But I still like Chesterton and Lewis better (as far as original thought is concerned). But this was well worth the 4 stars.
shortcourt's review
4.0
There were some beautiful and eye-opening chapters in this book. Others were just okay. I like the perspective the authors give on religion and faith in the LDS church; it’s one that you don’t always hear a lot and I think a more open discussion on doubt and what it means to be a believer would be very helpful within the community. At times I felt like this book was over-saturated with quotes from other writers and my eyes started to glaze over a bit in places but I liked it overall!
emilym88's review
5.0
Although I am not currently going through my own crisis of faith, this was a helpful book to better understand the people around me who are. I also found some sections of this book such beautiful explanations of what I believe, just explained in a way I hadn't quite thought of before. I loved the way Givens talks about worship, and how in the Bible worship is talked about as an offering, not just about the idea of "getting something out of church" (although I still believe that's possible—it's just an attitude shift). I also loved the sections on how building relationships in this life is really the pattern for how we build relationships with God, as well as the purpose and role of suffering in our lives. This is a book I want to read over and over as I go through different phases of my life. I found it really powerful.
cashmama1's review
5.0
I really loved this book full of insights into how to make sense of living the gospel of Christ within an imperfect church with imperfect leaders, after being offended, and after feeling like your prayers aren’t being answered. The message comes down to choosing to believe, acting as if you believe, and the belief and sometimes knowledge will follow.
I enjoyed all of his supporting quotes from great literature and philosophers and his emphasis on the private life of discipleship, outside of church attendance.
I enjoyed all of his supporting quotes from great literature and philosophers and his emphasis on the private life of discipleship, outside of church attendance.
lakasmoose's review
3.0
There was some really great stuff in this book, but there was also a lot of stuff that was kinda confusing. I'm going to blame that on the authors' use of really big and unpronouncable words AND their love of long and wordy sentences :)
I just felt like what they were trying to convey didn't always... come through... so it was hard to follow their train of thought at times.
<3
'To be a witness... means to live in such a way that one's life would not make sense if God did not exist.'
- Cardinal Emmanuel Suhard
'Instead of explaining our suffering, God shares it.'
- Nicholas Wolterstorff
... the body of Christ needs its full complement of members - the devout, the wayward, the uncomfortable, the struggling.
God specifically... called weak vessels (prophets and apostles) so we wouldn't place our faith in their strength or power, but in [His].
'Where can you taste the joy of obeying, unless He bids you do something for which His bidding is the only reason?'
- C. S. Lewis
This. Right here...
'The gospel... causes men and women to reveal that which would have slept in their dispositions until they dropped into their graves. The plan by which the Lord leads this people makes them reveal their thoughts and intents, and brings out every trait of disposition lurking in their [beings].'
- Brigham Young
This perspective represents a fundamental reorientation in attitude toward life's incompleteness. The patterns of meaning only dimly perceived, the inspiration only partially (or negligibly) felt, may not be God's indifference after all - or our spiritual failing. It may be the most potent form of the question most worth posing: What will you do now?
That question can be daunting, discouraging... or it can be liberating.
'... She often felt herself - struggling against terrific odds to maintain her courage; to say: "But this is what I see; this is what I see," and so to clasp some... remnant of her vision... which a thousand faces did their best to pluck from her.'
- Virginia Woolf
I LOVE this...
'It is not like a child that I believe in Christ and profess faith in Him, but rather, my hosanna has come through the great crucible of doubt.'
- Fyodor Dostoevsky
I just felt like what they were trying to convey didn't always... come through... so it was hard to follow their train of thought at times.
<3
'To be a witness... means to live in such a way that one's life would not make sense if God did not exist.'
- Cardinal Emmanuel Suhard
'Instead of explaining our suffering, God shares it.'
- Nicholas Wolterstorff
... the body of Christ needs its full complement of members - the devout, the wayward, the uncomfortable, the struggling.
God specifically... called weak vessels (prophets and apostles) so we wouldn't place our faith in their strength or power, but in [His].
'Where can you taste the joy of obeying, unless He bids you do something for which His bidding is the only reason?'
- C. S. Lewis
This. Right here...
'The gospel... causes men and women to reveal that which would have slept in their dispositions until they dropped into their graves. The plan by which the Lord leads this people makes them reveal their thoughts and intents, and brings out every trait of disposition lurking in their [beings].'
- Brigham Young
This perspective represents a fundamental reorientation in attitude toward life's incompleteness. The patterns of meaning only dimly perceived, the inspiration only partially (or negligibly) felt, may not be God's indifference after all - or our spiritual failing. It may be the most potent form of the question most worth posing: What will you do now?
That question can be daunting, discouraging... or it can be liberating.
'... She often felt herself - struggling against terrific odds to maintain her courage; to say: "But this is what I see; this is what I see," and so to clasp some... remnant of her vision... which a thousand faces did their best to pluck from her.'
- Virginia Woolf
I LOVE this...
'It is not like a child that I believe in Christ and profess faith in Him, but rather, my hosanna has come through the great crucible of doubt.'
- Fyodor Dostoevsky
bibliophage's review
I think about this book often, probably weekly. Lots of thoughtful insights here that are helpful for those striving for a faithful and positive experience within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I'm returning to my review here because I was just talking about this book with a friend. I wish I hadn't packed away my copy when I moved, I would like to pick it up again. This book is worth several reads across time.
I'm returning to my review here because I was just talking about this book with a friend. I wish I hadn't packed away my copy when I moved, I would like to pick it up again. This book is worth several reads across time.
sphynxreads's review
3.0
This was my first time reading/listening to a Givens book and only my third time listening to an audiobook. I have also only recently read Patrick Q. Mason's book Planted which tackles a similar topic. These things I believe have influenced my thoughts on The Crucible of Doubt.
A friend of mine told me that the Givens' books value "style over substance". About a quarter of the way in I realized what he meant. There were parts that I thought were unnecessarily long amd wordy (though perhaps they only felt long because I was listening rather than reading). And since Planted's discussion on faith and doubt is very similar, I felt that this book had very little to offer me, at least in terms of a new perspective. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the experiences and perspectives that were shared from people both from history long past and modern times.
Not my favorite faith-based book and I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, but it was a decent read.
A friend of mine told me that the Givens' books value "style over substance". About a quarter of the way in I realized what he meant. There were parts that I thought were unnecessarily long amd wordy (though perhaps they only felt long because I was listening rather than reading). And since Planted's discussion on faith and doubt is very similar, I felt that this book had very little to offer me, at least in terms of a new perspective. That said, I thoroughly enjoyed the experiences and perspectives that were shared from people both from history long past and modern times.
Not my favorite faith-based book and I wouldn't necessarily recommend it, but it was a decent read.
kylita's review
4.0
I am always in love with the words Terryl Givens writes. It is like reading poetry. I didn't love this book as much as The God Who Weeps, but I do think it assisted my own search in finding my beliefs.
It was insightful and brought me to put the book down many times just to think! What more could you ask for from a book?
It was insightful and brought me to put the book down many times just to think! What more could you ask for from a book?