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Dig Into Big Ideas at Commons

Lending Library List

The Commons Lending Library Book Club has been going strong for over two years. Every month, a diverse group of people come together to discuss a book from the lending library and talk about what it means to the readers personally and communally. Here are some of the favourite books we read together this year and what we liked about each.

Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation
By Kristin Kobes Du Mez

I liked this book because so many of the people the author uses to make her case were names I recognized. Having lived through some of the events referenced in the book, it was good to see this history from the author's perspective, whether you agree with her or not. It is good to look back and see history through another's perspective to reexamine your life going forward and adjust as needed.
-Review by Judith Snider, Lending Library Group Member

The Making of Biblical Womanhood: How the Subjugation of Women Became Gospel Truth
By Beth Barr

This book walks us through the outstanding figures, clergy, and laywomen who made their mark on the history of the Western Church, showing us the backlash women faced in taking leadership roles and gaining independence. This is an excellent book for anyone who wants to know how we got here.
-Review by Rowan Wiebe, Lending Library Group Member

Rescuing Jesus: How People of Color, Women, and Queer Christians are Reclaiming Evangelicalism
By Deborah Jian Lee

This insightful book helps us to understand scripture from a diverse array of people. Lee offers us the emotional journeys of individuals which spur us on to rescue our own understanding of progressive evangelicalism.
-Review by Lilli Meloche, Lending Library Group Member

Shalom and the Community of Creation: An Indigenous Vision
By Randy Woodley

Woodley interweaves Indigenous thought and Christian theology to inform our understanding of shalom. He encourages us to think of shalom as a way of living and embodying peace within the communities and the created world around us. Woodley calls this the “Harmony Way.” He points out the obstacles we face to being good stewards and neighbours in a world of shared spaces.
-Review by Larissa Amour, Lending Library Group Leader

Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God: The Scandalous Truth of the Very Good News
By Brian Zahnd

It was so encouraging to read Brian Zahnd's take on ideas like pacifism in a more mainstream Christian environment. That kind of thing doesn't really get talked about too much in my experiences of church.
-Review by Jonathan Petkau, Lending Library Group Member

Interested in reading these titles?

You can borrow a copy of these books from our lending library, located inside the doors facing Kensington Road of our Kensington Parish.