I made a mistake – When I saw the title of this book, I thought it would be a frontal attack on all the politicians and political pundits who shout “Fake News!” at any idea they want to discredit and shout down without offering any evidence or rational justification to the contrary.

What I found was a wonderfully written, well reasoned and spiritually grounded book which walks us through a number of “-isms” and phobias that not only haunt our world and destroy people and relationships but have used misreadings and misunderstandings and downright perversions of scripture to do so.

Can I say “AMEN, Sister!”

The Rev. Elizabeth Geitz brings her skills at writing and biblical insight/proclamation to bear on sexism, racism, anti-semitism, xenophobia and heterosexism. Additionally, the 101 meditations in the book give well-founded insight into the use of feminine imagery in the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures to describe God as well as a chapter on women leaders in the Bible.

I am aware that some will think any suggestion of “feminine imagery” for God is something out of “paganism” and/or new-ageism and will turn their backs on this book. That misunderstanding is unfortunate given Rev Geitz’s grounding of each meditation in Scripture. Each meditation begins with a brief Scripture passage and ends most often with questions or suggestions that help the reader to further engage the Scripture for themselves.

Rev Geitz has also done her readers a great service by offering a “Reader’s Guide” in this book. Many times a publisher will offer a study guide to a book in a separate volume at an additional price. Not so here. She offers suggestions on how the reader can sit with a meditation, savor it, and rather than just end with reading her words take it more deeply into their thoughts, prayers, and lives. She also addresses how the book might be approached in a book group or study group. On top of that she suggests, “For faith leaders of all traditions, the index in the back can be useful for sermon preparation.” If only so! Preachers – Are you listening?

This book offers 101 brief meditations thats lead one past “Fake News” built on misreadings of Scripture to liberating news that is redemptive and life-enriching. Too much praise? After having read this book, I don’t think so.

charles
{ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est}

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR,Part 255.

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