Please read and message me, if you are interested in participating in this book discussion.
“This was supposed to be the fun book.”
From Live, Laugh, Love: The Secret History of White Christian Women and the World They Made is the latest book by Kristen Kobe Du Mez, author of Jesus and John Wayne.
" Opening in the late nineteenth century, Live Laugh Love traces how New Thought, a movement that championed the power of the mind to shape reality, combined with holiness evangelicalism to create the world inhabited by millions of Christian women. Du Mez introduces us to religious innovators who taught that positivity was the secret to spiritual and material success and reveals how they worked through consumer culture: mommy blogs and romance novels, Hobby Lobby aisles and pastel-scripted wall art. Marketed as empowerment, these products and slogans elevate vulnerability and domesticity, and in the process draw women into systems prone to manipulation and abuse. In this brilliant recasting of modern American Christianity, Du Mez unearths the hidden origins of our reactionary moment."
( from: Kristendumez.com )
This discussion will take place in a private thread according to a schedule, giving about 2 weeks per major section of the book. The reading and discussion schedule will be as follows:
October 3: We will discuss the introduction of the book and some of our own experiences, observations, concerns related to the world of white (American) Christian women as described by Du Mez. We will also discuss Du Mez’s description of this “world”, including the degree to which our own experiences and observations agree with or differ from her description.
October 10: We will begin discussion of Part 1 (Chapters 1-4) .
October 24: We will begin discussion of Part 2A(Chapters 5-7).
November 7: We will begin discussion of Part 2B (Chapters 8-11).
November 21: We will begin discussion of Part 3 (Chapters 12-Conclusion).
December 5: We will try to wrap up thoughts on the book.
Because the topic is specific to women in the church, and the discussion group is of mixed geners, there are a few ground rules.
Although there are individuals discussed in this book who are worthy of criticism, blanket statements about women or men are not welcome. We can talk about specific individuals, trends, patterns and the like.
This discussion is not a place for promoting ANY gender stereotypes or roles, even those dictated by some churches or theologies. Attempts to employ or enforce them will not be tolerated.
Women will not, on the basis of their gender, have to fight for the right to participate or to speak as authoritative voices. If anyone is interested in pushing a counter agenda, this is not the discussion group for them.