The His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman has done more than raise a few religious eyebrows, especially around the time that the first book, The Golden Compass, was being released as a movie. Though I doubt very many of the fervently religious actually read the books after they were denounced by several Christians (and after hearing the author’s views on God and religion), I firmly believe that there is valuable insight to be gained from reading the His Dark Materials series. I will warn you, however, that my reason contains a big spoiler, so go away if you don’t want to know.

The Golden Compass

Okay, some of you are still here. The beginning premise of the series is that the world in which Lyra Belacqua lives is one that is run by the religious organization, The Magisterium, an organization that is quickly recognizable to many readers as an allegorical representation of church or religion. The Magisterium is revealed throughout the series as being anti-change, anti-free-will, and anti-sexuality. For some reason, despite what may seem like an obvious similarity in agendas, established religion has had a strong negative reaction to this series. Which I think is a shame because religion is missing out on a chance for real understanding.

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The End of Religion: Encountering the Subversive Spirituality of Jesus

The End of Religion: Encountering the Subversive Spirituality of Jesus by Bruxy Cavey

The End of Religion Description

In The End of Religion, Bruxy Cavey shares that relationship has no room for religion. Believers and seekers alike will discover anew the wondrous promise found in our savior. And Christ’s eternal call to walk in love and freedom will resonate with readers of all ages and denominations.
From the Back Cover

Was Jesus of Nazareth an irreligious agitator? Was his message more radical than we’ve been led to believe? Has the Christian religion missed the point?

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I recently read Dr. Leman’s book, Sheet Music, as part of what I am terming a “home pre-marital counseling” course. That basically means that my fiancé and I are reading books and working through questions with each other, and to some degree our parents as well (though this has been tricky with relations between our families being what they are, but that’s another conversation). This book had a good basic principle—that sex is an important part of a good, healthy marriage relationship—but I disagreed with some of his other major implied or unstated assumptions. I feel that this book still has much to offer to many conservative Christian couples, but for those whose theology and lifestyle is much less conservative, especially those of the younger generations, this book may leave some to be desired. Following is a link for the full book review.

http://ginormasource.com/books/sheet-music-dr-kevin-leman-book-review