OnTheBrink Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 I read this whole thing, thought, "wow, good review of the book!" then realized it was written by a man, and liked the review even more! (to avoid any confusion, I'm NOT a Pearl fan) http://www.challies.com/book-reviews/created-to-be-his-help-meet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cricket Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 Ugh! I've never read that book or read an excerpts from it until now. Simply awful. And I know people who like their books. I can't see how any of that would be encouraging to a woman. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
********* Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 That's a REALLY good review. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soror Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 :ack2::ack2::ack2: I should leave it at that. I had to counsel a friend after reading that book, when she was having a mini break down that she was bothered when her husband was a jerk, as of course it was her fault. It reads more like a guide of how to be a good abused spouse. How to turn your spouse to turn into a controlling jerk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumpyTheFrog Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 Here's another review of the book. I don't consider either of the Pearls to be good role models. They are incredibly critical and judgmental of everyone, including fellow Christians. The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. Their arrogance, lack of mercy, impatience, and harshness are not fruits of the spirit and are poor examples of how we should treat others, especially our spouses. I read the book about six years ago. It advocates continuing to stay married to a man that molests your children. They say to have him arrested and then stay married while he's in jail. Then you're supposed to welcome him back and go back to being his fawning servant who's only ever allowed to be happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 Very good review. I have Tim Challies' blog in my reader, but I don't catch ever post. I like his point of view. Thanks for posting this! (I was never in danger of buying or recommending any of the Pearl's material anyway, but still glad to see this.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I.Dup. Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 It reads more like a guide of how to be a good abused spouse. How to turn your spouse to turn into a controlling jerk. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marbel Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 It so bothers me that people read it and think that all Christians are like them, or that they live the way Christians are supposed to live. It's such an incorrect view. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southcarolinamom Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 Yikes! I will run screaming into the night if I get near one of those books at the bookstore! :tongue_smilie: I also thought Tim gave an excellent review. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mom2scouts Posted July 16, 2012 Share Posted July 16, 2012 :ack2::ack2::ack2::ack2::ack2::ack2: <<That's how I feel every time I read anything about the Pearls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmeraldGirl Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 Thank you for posting this review. Someone, who I deeply respect as a Godly wife and mother, gave me the book a few years ago and encouraged me to read it. Something was definitely "off" but I am not good at articulating or coming up with Biblical responses. Lacking fruit of the spirit is a great summary for what is sorely lacking. I hope to catch his next installment of where the book doesn't not follow the scriptures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tohru Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 I'm probably going to be bashed, but I have to speak up. That book saved my marriage, as well as several other women I know that are not Christian. I am NOT a Pearl fan. I do not agree with them. I read the book as a critic and found some of the things she wrote did resonate with me as true. As with almost everything, take what you can use and toss the rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mergath Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 I'm probably going to be bashed, but I have to speak up. That book saved my marriage, as well as several other women I know that are not Christian. I am NOT a Pearl fan. I do not agree with them. I read the book as a critic and found some of the things she wrote did resonate with me as true. As with almost everything, take what you can use and toss the rest. With the Pearls, I think the venom you'd absorb through contact with their twisted and sadistic beliefs would far outweigh any good you could take away. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sue G in PA Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 What's worse is "Preparing to Be His Helpmeet" for young girls. Had a neighbor give a copy to my daughter (behind my back, KNOWING I disliked and disagreed with the Pearls). Out of curiosity, I read it...and almost threw up. No WAY will MY child read all about how it's her fault if her husband becomes abusive. I'm thrilled to hear a positive story come from reading their material (any marriage saved is a victory for the Kingdom)...just don't think it is the "norm". We need to pray for the Pearls. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 Wow, that was an excellent review. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewellsmommy Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 I had never heard of this book before. Those excerpts were unbelievable! I just can't imagine that sort of trash being given to susceptible young women. :glare: I do not usually take such strong opinions on these type of matters, but it made me so mad to read the examples in that review. Even if every other opinion or advice in that book was golden, I can't fathom that book being worth the damage those statements pose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 With the Pearls, I think the venom you'd absorb through contact with their twisted and sadistic beliefs would far outweigh any good you could take away. :iagree: :iagree: :iagree: I can find absolutely no redeeming value in anything involving the Pearls. They are complete lunatics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaBirdX7 Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 A couple months ago a Created to Be His Helpmeet small group study was announced at my church. The pastor's wife was going to lead it. I haven't been back since the announcement. The study was cancelled right away because of opposition from some mature ladies. I talked to one of the those ladies, she said, we need you, stay and fight. One of the elders called a week or so ago, the Pearl stuff won't go anywhere, people tried it once before. Stay. I thought about it. Two day ago I found out that the book was in so much demand that they decided to go ahead with the study. I want to picket the book study. I want to sent the review to everyone in the church. I feel like a drama queen but the Pearls are my line in the sand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 That book saved my marraige, as well as several other women I know that are not Christian. QUOTE] Would they like to share? I can't imagine how, but I am truly interested. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LibraryLover Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 (edited) I read this whole thing, thought, "wow, good review of the book!" then realized it was written by a man, and liked the review even more! (to avoid any confusion, I'm NOT a Pearl fan) http://www.challies.com/book-reviews/created-to-be-his-help-meet Porn. I know it when I see it. :tongue_smilie: Certainly Jesus would not have considered his message of love & acceptance ending up in such muck and crap. Edited July 19, 2012 by LibraryLover Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lang Syne Boardie Posted July 17, 2012 Share Posted July 17, 2012 That book saved my marraige, as well as several other women I know that are not Christian. QUOTE] Would they like to share? I can't imagine how, but I am truly interested. I don't know these women, but I do know this: Awhile back, Karen "Spunky" Braun of spunkyhomeschool.blogspot.com wrote a series reviewing CTBHHM. It was excellent, and can be easily found on her blog still. At that time she also did a series of podcasts on the topic with Karen Campbell of thatmom.com. Also excellent, and can easily be found on Karen's thatmom site. In those interviews, Spunky shared the communication she'd received from Rebekah Anast, Debi Pearl's daughter. Rebekah told her that the problems she (Spunky) had with the book were probably theological, but that her mother had written the book with the idea that even a person who wasn't a Christian could still apply the principles and have a heavenly marriage. Spunky said that she totally agrees that the Pearls' theology is not orthodox, so it's true their beliefs that they base their teaching on are indeed the problem, but she wondered how a person claiming to be a Christian expects a non-believer to apply 'godly' principles from a book to bring about, by herself, a "heavenly" marriage. The idea seems to be that if a woman will act like a subservient (and slightly stupid) s*x kitten her man will never be tempted or emasculated and she will therefore consider herself to be happily married. Or something like that. To be clear, Rebekah Anast did NOT say what I just typed in this paragraph, but once you remove the religious talk from the book the rest of the advice is pretty much along those lines. It's all in the blog posts and interviews. I'm sorry I'm too tired and lazy to go find all the links. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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