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God's Radar
When her middle-aged parents become born-again Christians, fifteen-year-old Roxie is drawn toward joining them, but finds herself also attracted to her boyfriend's good-hearted, free-spirited way of looking at things
- GenresAmerican
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1983
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 16, 2016
Very slow moving plot with totally unresolved ending. Most authentic evangelical voice I've ever seen in secular book. Christians are really nice people (although some fathers are abusive), but very controlling. Lots of subtle pressure. Implies that a little underage drinking is no big deal in the real world. "learning your lesson" at 15 is wise. It was the end before I figured out for sure this was not a Christian book. There are no clear bad guys, just weak conformists.
September 1, 2019
My journal from 1985 says I liked this in some ways but that it "bugged" me.
September 26, 2021
I read this in the early 1980s, and I don't wish to reread it, so this is based on my memories from back then. I forget the name of the main character, a high-school girl who moves with her parents to a medium-sized city in Virginia (I think). They get caught up in a megachurch, probably inspired by Jerry Falwell's ministry. The older sister is off to college.
This church is meant to be evil -- controlling and manipulative. Nobody seems to have the knowledge or strength of character to oppose it. Opposition is limited to a boyfriend's free spirit, partying, and underage alcohol drinking.
The MC makes a friend her age from her church, and even goes to a summer camp as a daytime counselor with the friend. A young girl camper tells her about movies shown them in the evening -- horrifying nightmare-fuel movies, perhaps about what happens to the unsaved. This is even though they're not supposed to go to movies. The friend reassures her that it's okay because, having been born again, they understand that it will never happen to them.
Her friend tries to get her to abandon records that she likes (rock music, etc.) and keeps hoping that she will become born again. She initially goes to the public school, but something persuades the parents to the private church school that the friend attends.
The family may have lost the older sister. A visit home for (probably) Thanksgiving puts her in conflict with a Church lady:
Church lady: (Cites the Bible about something, such as wife's submission, wife doing housework in the family.)
Sister: The Bible was written by men.
Church lady: The Bible was written by God. Every word of it!
Sister: (Lost for words)
Sister refuses to come home for Christmas.
I very much relate to Sister's being lost for words. I only think of appropriate responses long after I need it. "Where the heck did you ever get that idea?" "You've been taught that by humans." "Heck no, it's written by men."
(The read date is a very rough guess of the year.)
This church is meant to be evil -- controlling and manipulative. Nobody seems to have the knowledge or strength of character to oppose it. Opposition is limited to a boyfriend's free spirit, partying, and underage alcohol drinking.
The MC makes a friend her age from her church, and even goes to a summer camp as a daytime counselor with the friend. A young girl camper tells her about movies shown them in the evening -- horrifying nightmare-fuel movies, perhaps about what happens to the unsaved. This is even though they're not supposed to go to movies. The friend reassures her that it's okay because, having been born again, they understand that it will never happen to them.
Her friend tries to get her to abandon records that she likes (rock music, etc.) and keeps hoping that she will become born again. She initially goes to the public school, but something persuades the parents to the private church school that the friend attends.
The family may have lost the older sister. A visit home for (probably) Thanksgiving puts her in conflict with a Church lady:
Church lady: (Cites the Bible about something, such as wife's submission, wife doing housework in the family.)
Sister: The Bible was written by men.
Church lady: The Bible was written by God. Every word of it!
Sister: (Lost for words)
Sister refuses to come home for Christmas.
I very much relate to Sister's being lost for words. I only think of appropriate responses long after I need it. "Where the heck did you ever get that idea?" "You've been taught that by humans." "Heck no, it's written by men."
(The read date is a very rough guess of the year.)
June 11, 2012
This was so much better back when I first read it
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews