≡ PDF Free The Unauthorized Guide to Choosing a Church Carmen Renee Berry 9781587430367 Books

The Unauthorized Guide to Choosing a Church Carmen Renee Berry 9781587430367 Books

Download As PDF : The Unauthorized Guide to Choosing a Church Carmen Renee Berry 9781587430367 Books

The Unauthorized Guide to Choosing a Church Carmen Renee Berry 9781587430367 Books

This author puts together some useful differences between denominations and lots of stats and numbers. However, her history is very inaccurate and not based on any historical data. It is as if she heard a campfire story about so-and-so and included this inaccurate fable in this book without ever checking to see if the story were true. Unfortunately, she completely misrepresents historical figures to the point of getting their stories backwards. She also embellishes and paints false pictures of religious figures.

Example: Pg 179: But a lot of people are smart and they don't have a number of denominations built on their ideas. ... I believe a second reason for his influence can be attributed to a less-than-desirable personality trait. Simply stated: John Calvin was controlling. .... Calvin enthusiastically imposed his view onto other people's lives. Even though he never held a public office, he gained control over unruly citizens. .... He even tossed out Protestant groups who disagreed with him, such as the more radical Anabaptists. Some say he went a bit overboard (I might agree) when he tried to orchestrate nearly ever aspect of daily life. he had no trouble having a city magistrate enforce "Christian" behavior, banning plays, and trying to get the taverns in town to distribute religious literature and have group psalm-sings over their ale.

- "John Calvin was controlling" is a subjective opinion with which many would disagree and has no place in a book that claims to provide facts. The author doesn't give one fact or instance to back this slanderous statement. It is pure opinion. It is certain someone thinks the author, you and me all "controlling" at times. This is poor scholarship. Calvin is innocent until proven guilty.
- "Calvin imposed his view onto other people's lives" - again opinion with which many would disagree. Calvin only had a much control as a pastor has over his own flock. As the author points out, Calvin never held a public office and so had no ability to "gain control" over the people or make laws. The author provides no evidence of such claims, so we should presume John Calvin innocent until proven guilty.
- "Calvin tossed out the Anabaptists" - Calvin was a pastor and held no public office. He didn't have the power to toss out the Anabaptists or prevent himself from being tossed out (as happened once). Only the city officials of Geneva could banned Anabaptists and during their day, Geneva was considered one of the most tolerant places for the Anabaptists, who were banned and executed in many other countries and cities for their false teachings and riotous behavior. From history, we know most of the early Anabaptists were not a peaceful people but cause many rebellions and killed many people.
- "he tried to orchestrate nearly ever aspect of daily life" As Christians, we believe God commands every aspect of our lives, not John Calvin. There is nothing improper or controlling about God's commands over our lives. He is our Lord, we love Him and we wish to become more and more Christlike. The author provides no evidence to back up her claims, so again, Calvin is innocent until proven guilty. One author's uninformed opinion doesn't count.
- "having a city magistrate enforce "Christian" behavior, banning plays, and trying to get the taverns in town to distribute religious literature and have group psalm-sings over their ale." It is said that John Calvin did enjoy theatre, so this claim must be researched from a credible source. And again, we must remember that Geneva was run by city officials and not the pastor, who was a hired city employee.


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The Unauthorized Guide to Choosing a Church Carmen Renee Berry 9781587430367 Books Reviews

I wish there were more books like this an accessible, mostly nonjudgmental approach to the differences between the Christian denominations in America today. In a style similar to the For Dummies and Complete Idiots series, Berry provides the history of each denomination and various offshoots, plus principle beliefs, worship styles, and what to expect if you visit. However the book needed more careful editing and fact-checking (the last section is particularly sloppy), and it seems odd to completely leave out Quakers, Mormons, and Unitarians. I understand her point in excluding the Unitarians (and can guess why she never once mentions the Mormons), but you'd think she'd want to add a few more details for the sake of contrast and completeness. Otherwise, this is a great starting point for the curious church-seeker, or anyone like me who is fascinated by the shades of belief and interpretation among Christians.
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!
Although this has much info on various Christian confessional bodies, the author's consistent take on finding the "truth" is always made to be a minor issue, and the seeker's tastes and "felt needs" become the major issue, thus only the two stars.

I urge people first to find the church where 100% of God's Word is taught and preached truthfully, then when they find such there can be a search for the other things. Thus, following Biblical admonition in this as Jesus states in Matthew 633 "Seek you first the kingdom of God and His righteousness".

Know that this irritates and frustrates and even angers postmodern types, but this will only place them in confessional groupings where they only think they are getting it right.

It is confusing and troubling to have to search so many alternatives that say that "speak the truth for God." Discernment here is what is called for, cf. Hebrews 511-14 and Acts 1711.

Included are some nice outlines of confessional beliefs including my own, LCMS. However, the recommended resources for followup are not that good. I would recommend others as starting point.

What are all these comments about not including "non-Christian" groups, e.g. Mormons, Islam, etc. The author clearly states this is not the scope of this book.

Mediocre and dangerous guide if one is seeking to affiliate with God's truth.
This author puts together some useful differences between denominations and lots of stats and numbers. However, her history is very inaccurate and not based on any historical data. It is as if she heard a campfire story about so-and-so and included this inaccurate fable in this book without ever checking to see if the story were true. Unfortunately, she completely misrepresents historical figures to the point of getting their stories backwards. She also embellishes and paints false pictures of religious figures.

Example Pg 179 But a lot of people are smart and they don't have a number of denominations built on their ideas. ... I believe a second reason for his influence can be attributed to a less-than-desirable personality trait. Simply stated John Calvin was controlling. .... Calvin enthusiastically imposed his view onto other people's lives. Even though he never held a public office, he gained control over unruly citizens. .... He even tossed out Protestant groups who disagreed with him, such as the more radical Anabaptists. Some say he went a bit overboard (I might agree) when he tried to orchestrate nearly ever aspect of daily life. he had no trouble having a city magistrate enforce "Christian" behavior, banning plays, and trying to get the taverns in town to distribute religious literature and have group psalm-sings over their ale.

- "John Calvin was controlling" is a subjective opinion with which many would disagree and has no place in a book that claims to provide facts. The author doesn't give one fact or instance to back this slanderous statement. It is pure opinion. It is certain someone thinks the author, you and me all "controlling" at times. This is poor scholarship. Calvin is innocent until proven guilty.
- "Calvin imposed his view onto other people's lives" - again opinion with which many would disagree. Calvin only had a much control as a pastor has over his own flock. As the author points out, Calvin never held a public office and so had no ability to "gain control" over the people or make laws. The author provides no evidence of such claims, so we should presume John Calvin innocent until proven guilty.
- "Calvin tossed out the Anabaptists" - Calvin was a pastor and held no public office. He didn't have the power to toss out the Anabaptists or prevent himself from being tossed out (as happened once). Only the city officials of Geneva could banned Anabaptists and during their day, Geneva was considered one of the most tolerant places for the Anabaptists, who were banned and executed in many other countries and cities for their false teachings and riotous behavior. From history, we know most of the early Anabaptists were not a peaceful people but cause many rebellions and killed many people.
- "he tried to orchestrate nearly ever aspect of daily life" As Christians, we believe God commands every aspect of our lives, not John Calvin. There is nothing improper or controlling about God's commands over our lives. He is our Lord, we love Him and we wish to become more and more Christlike. The author provides no evidence to back up her claims, so again, Calvin is innocent until proven guilty. One author's uninformed opinion doesn't count.
- "having a city magistrate enforce "Christian" behavior, banning plays, and trying to get the taverns in town to distribute religious literature and have group psalm-sings over their ale." It is said that John Calvin did enjoy theatre, so this claim must be researched from a credible source. And again, we must remember that Geneva was run by city officials and not the pastor, who was a hired city employee.