The author, Maguire, is a lapsed Catholic priest who seeks the distruction of the Gospel in Sacred Choices. His thesis is that Catholicism along with other religious traditions acually endorse the right to contraception and abortion! By twisting historical events and moral theology, he presents his heretical views to advance the culture of death. For those who need convincing just look at the word contraception and its associative meaning. Contra = against or Anti; and Ception = Life or Christ. Put it together contra-ception = Anti-Christ. (This semantic play reveals the meaning behind the practice of contraception). This book's thesis is that the Catholic Church, along with other religious traditions, support contraception, or alternativly the Anti-Christ, or that which is agaist Life.

If religion is about the celebration of Life, how could this ex-priest have the (...) to suggest that religions support anti-life devices and proceedures that end life pre-maturely? The mind boggles . . . there is something darker in this author than what can be gleened from the cover of his book!

This book provides much needed information and is a great contribution in refuting the falsehoods spread by the so-called "Christian" Right. It is a good companion to a wonderful new book titled Real Prophecy Unveiled, by Joseph J. Adamson. Thank God for books like these, because they shed light in a world made dark by "religious" bigotry, hypocrisy, and aggression. They give me faith that the humble and meek shall inherit the earth after all.

While Daniel Maguire is one of the few mirthful scholars of religious thought, his writings have serious import in a world too often darkened by religious crime. Maguire and his sources demonstrate quite vividly that while most of the world's religions have often been involved in horrific and destructive actions, that there was and is a serious and awe inspiring underpining to their formation and purpose. My personal opinion is that there was probably much more fear and trembling than awe and reverence at their core beginnings, but Maquire is more generous in his accessment. Maguire takes us through more than ten of the world's great religious traditions with the help of scholars well versed in their own religious traditions, to demonstrate conclusively that although there is much in religious tradtions to comfort Pro-Life adherents, that there is a line of equally orthodox thought in every religious tradition to support the Pro-Choice view, and that government support of one of these religious views over the other is in conflict with the American ideal of resisting governmental intervention into religious matters. Maguire has an obvious bias toward the Pro-Choice religious position, but he is generous in granting legitimacy to the Pro-Life position as well. However, he unabashedly points out the inconsistancies in the lobbying and advocacy efforts by current avowedly Pro-Life activist's positions on multiple fronts in public policy debates. This is an important book for anyone who takes religious matters seriously. And whether or not one is religious or irreligious, I think that none can deny that religion plays a very big part in both national and international policy debates, and therefor, it behooves us all to take seriously matters of religious thought. Maguire shows us in his first few pages exactly why it is so necessary that we do so. An excellent and thoughtful read and a book which belongs on any thinking person's book shelves. wfh

This book is a wonderful testimony to the way so many women find peace between their faith and one of the hardest decisions they will ever make. I was touched by the stories. As college student who works as an educator for Planned Parenthood, I am around many pro-choice persons who have come to the mistaken belief that Christianity and a pro-choice position are incompatible, or at least that abortion is a sin. I am a proud and practicing Catholic (remember, the Church teaches that ultimately, we must follow our conscience in all matters, and mine is 100% pro-choice - besides, the Church's teaching on abortion has never been declared infallible) and I see no contradiction. But it is interesting that the only side that accuses its opponents of being false Christians is the anti-choice side. What a sad testimony. Having been raised by fundamentalist Baptist parents, I can sympathize with those who oppose abortion; however, I see our humble, loving Lord as standing with the women as they go through such a heartfelt and serious choice. Why can't we agree that there are simply different interpretations of Christianity -and that just because someone disagrees with you doesn't mean that they are inauthentic? The Bible says nothing directly about abortion. But a note of interest: in the Old Testament, the penalty for murder was death (Gen. 9). However, in Exodus 21, we find the situation of two men in a brawl who injure a pregnant woman. If she dies, they are put to death. But if only her fetus dies, they are fined. Now I'm not a biblical inerrantist, but for those that are - how does that square with the statement that Christianity is absolutely opposed to abortion?

This is a much needed book! The author has my Thanks because it helped me to better understand this very difficult and important issue. I think the women's stories in the book needed to be told as there is very little written detailing the experiences from Christian women who have been through an abortion. I'm sure many women are grateful! Also the book has resources of groups from both sides of the issues who are working together on how to lower abortion rates. Ms.Eggebroten is a courageous author to give the women in the book a voice of their very intensly personal and painful experience!

This book is amazing. Anne Eggebroten, whoever she may be, is genius! This book is what every woman who, young or old, white or black, has struggled with the concept of abortion needs! The poignant stories of each woman's experience stay with the reader long after the book is closed. Any man or woman should read this book. It offers a glimpse into the many struggles women go through in the abortion process. Definitely worth a read for those whose religious beliefs clash with their liberal views, or those simply interested in the personal accounts behind a national issue. Buy It! Right Now! You will not regret it and it will be money well spent.

In his introductory remarks, LeGoff promises to situate the evolution of the concept of Purgatory in a broad socio-cultural context, and to show how it influenced and was influenced by developments in society's and individuals' self-understanding in the period ca. 1000-1300. Such a micro-analytic material-ideological hermeneutical exegesis would be, IMO, exciting indeed. Alas, where the connections are made, they are only cursorily asserted or alluded to. Although the topic of the birth of Purgatory, i.e., a certain focused change in medieval Christian cosmography, seems a narrow enough subject to cover in 350 pages, this book gives the feeling of almost being "out of breath" in trying to cover too much territory, so that the depth of engagement with the material is not satisfying.

I'm a Christian parent and have listened to several audiobooks on parenting for my strong-willed children. While some of the concepts in Dobson's book are good old common sense, others do not seem to be effective when parenting a strong-willed child, a child with ADHD or other physical/emotional issues. And of course, the advice on spanking is controversial. If you can spank effectively, that's fine, but the truth is, most of us can't! The idea that you spank a child for discipline purposes only and not as a response to your own anger is purely theory only. How many parents do you see spanking children because they are furious and at their wit's end? Most of us can't do it effectively so there must be a better way! Try listening/reading "Raising Your Spirited Child" or "How to Talk so Kids Will Listen and Listen to So Kids Will Talk". These books will go one step further than Dobson's book and offer alternatives to spanking.

Dr. Dobson does not advocate child abuse in this book or any other book he has written. Corporal punishment is sometimes need to get the attention of a very strong-willed child and should only be used as a last resort. That is just what Dr. Dobson advocates. The words and principles of the bible are used extensivly and exhaustedly in this book and is does indeed reflect the Christian foundations of raising children. Most of the authors cited as an alternative to Dr. Dobson are well known as new-age humanists and radical leftist and socialist authors. Concepts such as personal responsibility and respect for authority are not beliefs they would espouse. In their world view, every human is god and Mother Nature is the supreme being of the universe, these are fast becoming a political religion to those of the secular humanist/socialist/communist new-agers of the day.

I consider this book to be wonderful and would recommend it to any person. It gives you the confidence you lack because of today's worldly views on how they think our children should be raised. Our Bibles teach us the ways to raise our children, recommend reading Proverbs. Mr. Dobson follows this in his book and helps us parents to know that we aren't the only parent's experiencing this. After reading his book I have had great success with my two-year-old son. I don't feel all alone or like I am a failure in being the only mother of a strong-willed child anymore. It's helped me to know this is normal and given me better confidence in setting and sticking with our rules.