Reviews for Prayers for Animals

The average rating for Prayers for Animals based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2011-01-19 00:00:00 Willa Distasi The time has come for people to re-examine what it really means to be a "man". How we understand "manhood" influences every aspect of our life, including our theology. A big majority of men have statistically been found to be unable to establish close relationships with other men. Many men do not know how to be vulnerable and to connect intimately, including myself. Thinking in dualism tends to be one of the major problems in our thinking system. Reality is more complex than a computer-like "either-or", "yes or no". Even though we consciously know that Jesus is fully incarnated human, but we tend to shy away from the fact that all human beings are sexual beings, including Jesus. It's the time to face the fact that the church composed of sexual beings. The confusion of sexuality and alienation from true masculinity have been rampant among churches, across all age groups, but the church has constantly been neglecting this issue. The word "sin" means "missing the mark". Any condition falling short of the divinely intended sexuality is "missing the mark", that is to say, committing sexual sins. Many Christians understanding of sexuality ONLY stays at levels like "Christians should not have pre-marital sex" or "Christians should not approve homosexuality". These are not only debatable but also inadequate. Christians need to embrace the fullness of God's gift of sexuality to hit "the mark". Thousands of years of church tradition has taught us a lot of SHOULDNT's. Now has come a time for us to re-revolutionize and come up with more SHOULD's.

Review # 2 was written on 2013-03-16 00:00:00 Wouter Schuddebuers This is a book that sat on my shelf for years, but only know has been read. Written in 1988, I wondered if it would have anything to say to readers in 2014. Indeed, it does! Nelson moves beyond the recent trends towards androgyny and speaks forcefully for a reclaimed sense of true masculinity. For anyone (particularly women) who ever really wanted to understand how men think and feel sexually, this is a great read. Lots of honest insights about strengths and insecurities, and the basis for many of them. One of the greatest challenges of recovering a sense of male sexuality and spirituality is the pervading fear of homosexuality. While there has been growth in understanding and acceptance in recent years, it continues to be a huge barrier. Nelson does a nice job of addressing these concerns and offering a healthier vision of male sexuality. I found particular fascination in his chapter addressing the development of male sexuality as it relates to the incarnation of the divine in Jesus. Only in hindsight do I see his insights about the Renaissance, and how Jesus, and men in general, are portrayed sexually. He also has a great discussion about the phallic influence historically, and the need to incorporate the phallic image with the penis, and how they combine to reflect an integrated male sexuality. Some of the conclusions Nelson draws may make readers a bit uncomfortable - particular when it comes to the spiritual understandings of male sexuality. Clearly left-of-center theologically, those from a more fundamentalist perspective will have a very difficult time reading this book. But Nelson has very valid insights to share, and I highly commend this book to any who are serious about reflection upon issues of sexuality and spirituality. Although written close to 25 years ago, it speaks clearly and profoundly to men today.