tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390111.post3353682440748136834..comments2023-11-29T06:11:58.408-06:00Comments on Meatloaf and a Rosary: Coming Clean: An Unconventional Book Review of a Christian Book By a Non-Christian ReaderLori Arnoldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05600443590399882818noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390111.post-76851868518043601282016-03-21T13:51:06.153-05:002016-03-21T13:51:06.153-05:00Thank you, Heather! I'm off to read your blog ...Thank you, Heather! I'm off to read your blog now. :)Lori Arnoldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05600443590399882818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390111.post-64072666502740982762016-03-21T13:50:35.501-05:002016-03-21T13:50:35.501-05:00Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment, ...Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment, Sally! I think it's wonderful that you work with those battling addictions. Having been in close ties with Teen Challenge for many years, I know how much it's needed! Lori Arnoldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05600443590399882818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390111.post-37683885483185774202016-03-19T17:21:12.888-05:002016-03-19T17:21:12.888-05:00I came to this through Seth's FB page. What a ...I came to this through Seth's FB page. What a lovely reflection, and a reminder to me that usually the things that scare us are the things we need to do. I think those of us on that other path, the not-atheist one, kinda wonder how we managed to stay on it. I wrote about that a bit here, in "The Land of the Once-Christians." Not that I need to advertise my blog, but I just want you to know I hear you and am asking the same questions :) http://www.heathercaliri.com/2015/03/23/what-does-it-mean-to-be-once-christian/Heather Calirihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17723376490132036069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390111.post-14615791519412696522016-03-19T12:21:25.683-05:002016-03-19T12:21:25.683-05:00Terrific write-up, Lori. I really enjoyed Seth'...Terrific write-up, Lori. I really enjoyed Seth's book, too. I'm Christian. But, I ran from God for 35 years. I still remember the darkness of it. Today, it's "churchianity" that I'm running from.But, my husband and I have a wonderful ministry into the lives of those crushed under the seduction of drugs and alcohol; it's one God handed to us because we were "those people" once and the lies believed are numerous and scary. The destruction is even greater.<br /><br />One thing the church does well today is create confusion, pain, and hurt. I'm so sorry you experienced it. We're just hoping off a bad ride ourselves. But, God! Hurt people hurt people. I think that's why the God of the Word keeps telling us to look up and not to the left or the right. Peace. -SallyStable Road Homesteadhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06568260472524756894noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390111.post-64409512764954611542015-11-30T21:06:07.569-06:002015-11-30T21:06:07.569-06:00Thanks for your comment. I hope you find peace for...Thanks for your comment. I hope you find peace for your broken soul. Deconversion was an excruciating experience for me, but in the end there is peace - whichever way you end up.<br /><br />(Have you read my book?)Lori Arnoldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05600443590399882818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390111.post-28692498859285226902015-11-30T21:04:15.737-06:002015-11-30T21:04:15.737-06:00Ruthie, you'll LOVE it. :) It's so raw and...Ruthie, you'll LOVE it. :) It's so raw and so honest.Lori Arnoldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05600443590399882818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390111.post-68073348870637272472015-11-30T21:03:52.162-06:002015-11-30T21:03:52.162-06:00Thank you so much for your comment! I'm glad I...Thank you so much for your comment! I'm glad I've been able to encourage you. I hope you stick around!! Lori Arnoldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05600443590399882818noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390111.post-14653874633680207682015-11-30T17:56:24.192-06:002015-11-30T17:56:24.192-06:00WOW. So well written, honest, moving. Thank you so...WOW. So well written, honest, moving. Thank you so much for daring reading that book and writing on your experience. It was really inspiring to me! I'm currently studying my own path of deconversion and reading stories like yours if food for my broken soul.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390111.post-34251981902554987592015-11-28T22:14:31.869-06:002015-11-28T22:14:31.869-06:00I ordered this book from Amazon. I am hoping to g...I ordered this book from Amazon. I am hoping to give it to someone I love who (I think) is battling addictions because of a perceived need to escape life. I plan to read it first. Ruthiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02530688574636829317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5390111.post-52454848395464530032015-11-28T19:59:03.639-06:002015-11-28T19:59:03.639-06:00I have been following your blog for a few months n...I have been following your blog for a few months now, having myself deconverted about 8 months ago. Wow I am with you 100% on this one, I want to say amen to your genuine recognition of the complexity of different "faith" experiences. It is written in such a respectful and thoughtful way. A catalyzer of my deconversion is that I am finishing my training as pediatrician - I have accompagnied so many families through the hardest times, including very poor prognosis and death. We all know that suffering is all over the world, but it is always a unique experience to be a first row "spectator". In my case, what was the most decisive was not in fact the question of the suffering in itself - but witnessing the most beautiful ways every parent loved their child, no matter their religion, faith or lack of. A lot of the time it did not really matter in that moment, but love was the common denominator. I still feel blasphemous saying this - but it did make the love of the gospel dim down in my view. Certainly its content would be more distressing than helpful to these families... this is when I realized I did not believe in God as the loving father anymore. Even though I don't understand it, like you I have to recognize that for many people faith remains a secure place to experience and give love. My experiences don't have more values than theirs and I am sure we can all learn from each other (even when it exposes scars!) Thank you for your great writing, and may you know that today you encouraged someone by the gift of having lived and meditated on a similar road. moihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07330701498190110023noreply@blogger.com