Cheyanne > Recent Status Updates

I've been itching to read a series that has me glued to the page the way it used to be when I was a kid. Nothing quite caught my interest until I saw the Wheel of Time series and heard it was a massive, well-rated book series. When I checked this book out of the library, the librarian joked that I was still young enough to start the series because it would take me years. 150 pages in, and I'm looking forward to it.

In Chapter 2, I find it interesting that Beyak shares the stories of a woman whose ex-husband murders their son, and a woman whose husband murders her, yet still shares the Benedictine monk's assertion that divorce is wrong. Why? Because it "degrades and disrespects God's image in themselves and others, like premarital sex, adultery... pornography, and homosexuality". I feel like murder is pretty disrespectful...

I'll be reading this with caution, as Beyak writes on page 10:

"He insinuates I might be some kind of a wacko-feminist. I laugh and assure him that I am a devoted believer in God, just like he is. I tell him that I'm definitely not a feminist."

Attempting to finish this book again, and my opinion on the author has not changed. In the most recent chapter, he asserted that all "true" artists are secretly serving God, and their art points to God whether they want it to or not. If your art does not glorify God, you are not living up to your potential, your purpose, your calling as an artist. Yikes.

I had to pause reading this for a few months because this man made me so angry. He's sexist, racist, violent, and arrogant as hell. Literally only finishing this book so I know my enemy better.

I think I may thoroughly be on my way down to "Our Father Below" 😂

I read the beginning of this book years ago when I was still a Christian and I thought it was profound. Reading it again now, it so far largely relies on a belief that all humans are stupid and mean, and that those who aren't Christian are in a constant state of despair and horror. Also, he cites a woman's body as a source of lustful, sinful thoughts for a Christian man, so I'm struggling to be a fan at this point.

"Sometimes, into the lives of women who seem to be successfully fulfilling the standards of the surrounding society, depression may come as a settling embrace. It may come to a woman who is terrified that there will be nothing there, inside, if she allows herself time to rest, to separate from her extraverted hyperactivity in the outer world."

I only get to spend about 15 minutes reading this during my lunch break, but it's enjoyable so far. It has that whimsical, rambling style that I love because it's like reading my ADHD brain.

"Scientists are a friendly, atheistic, hard-working, beer-drinking lot whose minds are preoccupied with sex, chess and baseball when they are not preoccupied with science."

Today I learned that non-Christians only do good things for "personal, selfish reasons" or "because of social pressure" and that they never struggle with the urge to do bad things! Wow! (Wtf?)

Still no feminine pronouns... apparently only men are Christians?

An interesting blend of Western scientific methods with traditional herbalism. There are chemical composition charts and molecular diagrams, Randomized Controlled Trial results, historical background, and precise dosing information. I just finished reading about Aloe Vera and learned a lot!

Well, there's a redneck, white boy Jesus on the cover and every pronoun has been masculine so far, while focusing almost exclusively on how sinful humanity is, so I really don't have much hope for this book. What can I say? I read the shitty books so you don't have to.

I learned a new term from Kidd, called panentheism: the belief that the Divine is in creation and transcends creation both. I think it best describes how I currently see the world and it's so affirming to know other people believe that too.

Absolutely, totally, and completely in love with this book. I've already ordered a copy for myself so I can read it over and over and remind myself of how valuable the Feminine is.