"Welcome to the Faith Club. We're three mothers from three faiths -- Islam, Christianity, and Judaism -- who got together to write a picture...
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Apr 12, 2008
Karen
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I'm struggling with the stars for this one....3 or 4, 4 or 3? I'm going with 4 because I simply could not put the book down and read it in one sitting last night. If that's not the sign of a good book, I don't know what is.
In the wake of 9/11, three women of three different faiths come together to discuss their religions, peel away the differences, and celebrate the commonalities. I think what made this book so readable and enjoyable for me is that all three women represent the li More...
In the wake of 9/11, three women of three different faiths come together to discuss their religions, peel away the differences, and celebrate the commonalities. I think what made this book so readable and enjoyable for me is that all three women represent the li More...
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May 25, 2008
Yosafbridg
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"A Muslim, a Christian, and a Jew walk into a room..."
Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver, and Pricilla Warner were virtual strangers brought together by their mutual desire to write a picture book for their children which would highlight the connections between the three Abrahamic faiths. Their talks soon led to more misunderstandings than connections so they decided to further investigate their own stereotypes and preconceptions. They continued their meetings recording each one More...
Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver, and Pricilla Warner were virtual strangers brought together by their mutual desire to write a picture book for their children which would highlight the connections between the three Abrahamic faiths. Their talks soon led to more misunderstandings than connections so they decided to further investigate their own stereotypes and preconceptions. They continued their meetings recording each one More...
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Aug 06, 2008
Lisa
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Not a crushing heavy read captivating so far.
Finished this journey. I firmly believe that we all need to be having interfaith conversations with others to irradicate prejudice and learn to live in harmony. I was itching to call a faith club meeting by the end of the book and drive up and chat with these ladies, but the whole idea was that you have to own a discussion like that and grow with it. I love that all three were challenged to learn more about their own faiths in order to More...
Finished this journey. I firmly believe that we all need to be having interfaith conversations with others to irradicate prejudice and learn to live in harmony. I was itching to call a faith club meeting by the end of the book and drive up and chat with these ladies, but the whole idea was that you have to own a discussion like that and grow with it. I love that all three were challenged to learn more about their own faiths in order to More...
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Feb 11, 2008
Graham
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This book was a gift to me from my mother. She has read it. My sister has read it. And now me.
Religion is an interesting and tricky thing in New York City, especially when you're from the South where everyone goes to church and pretty much considers themselves Christian (Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, etc...). I consider myself very open-minded when it comes to religion and people's spiritual preferences, but The Faith Club certainly made me unearth some of the More...
Religion is an interesting and tricky thing in New York City, especially when you're from the South where everyone goes to church and pretty much considers themselves Christian (Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, etc...). I consider myself very open-minded when it comes to religion and people's spiritual preferences, but The Faith Club certainly made me unearth some of the More...
May 08, 2007
Andrea
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I have put off writing about this book, not because it wasn’t interesting to read, but I just don’t know what to say about it. It’s bascially set up as a conversation between three women of different faiths (Islam, Christianity and Judaism, respectively to their position as authors), as they break down prejudices and develop friendships in spite of their differences. It was definitely informative, especially on issues surrounding the Israeli/Palestinian conflict (about which I’ve realized I know
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Jul 31, 2008
Bonniemk
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I loved this type of religious/spiritual dialogue. I do not agree with the position that it was a diluting or watering down of respective religions. We all come from the Abrahamic line so why not explore the relationships and bridge the misunderstandings? Yes our beliefs may differ, especially with regards to Christ's divinity, but an understanding of another's belief and culture is enriching and need not be devisive to our own faith. There is so much to learn and understand in eachother. It
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Nov 24, 2008
Gwenda
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As I read through this book, I was quite frequently upset with these three women and the way they approached their religions. None of them were particularly converted to their faith in the first place; the Jewish woman really only knew the social aspects of being a Jew and not the religious ones; the Muslim woman did not accept many aspects of her religion; the Christian woman seemed most converted (she had changed from being a Catholic to being an Episcopalian because she felt the Catholic chu
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May 05, 2008
Chadijah
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As a Muslim living in the Western world, I could totally relate to Ranya Idliby, the Palestinian Muslim woman representing the Muslim voice in this book. And, amazingly, she could utter a calm, reasonable, and relaxing voice, even though as a displaced Palestinian she had experienced the biggest impact of the harsh religious-political conflicts. And as she made the spiritual journey through this interfaith dialogue, I felt also enlightened by the outlook of her Christian and Judaism friends. As
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Jul 13, 2008
Anne
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This book is very interesting, but it's not a quick, easy read as there is no plot. You are basically just reading the thoughts and conversations of three women as they work to discover what their religion means to them and what they think about others' religions.
I would really like to be involved in a book discussion with some other people while reading this book as there is a lot of things (history) that I don't understand. (Yeah, I wasn't into Social Studies and History when in school a More...
I would really like to be involved in a book discussion with some other people while reading this book as there is a lot of things (history) that I don't understand. (Yeah, I wasn't into Social Studies and History when in school a More...
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Aug 23, 2008
Sandy
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Sounding a bit like a bad joke--a Jew, a Muslim and a Christian sit down to talk about faith--this book was actually pretty good. Three women of different faiths wanted to write a children's book in the wake of 9/11. But it turns out that they didn't understand each other's faiths and didn't really trust each other. Probably not the best start for a book project.
So they spent the next couple of years talking about different questions of faith--learning, growing, and, yes, ocassionally More...
So they spent the next couple of years talking about different questions of faith--learning, growing, and, yes, ocassionally More...
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Oct 02, 2007
Aimee
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See, the thing is... I loved this book because the three of them were able to discuss the differences in their religions, in their cultures and ways of thinking and approaches to life which were very DIFFERENT, but fundamentally based on similar teachings as 'people of the book,' and to face their prejudice and their fear and their criticism of themselves and others and STILL REMAIN FRIENDS!!!!!!!! Isn't that awesome? Those who know me may balk at the idea, but the book was truly beautiful to me
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Jan 05, 2008
Jeanne
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I began reading this book after spending a semester exploring the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with my students. I am currently a bit over half way through the book. It has provided the personal continuation and exploration that I needed following our studies. The book is written as a shifting three-person memoir based on the women's meetings, offering individual perspectives on their encounters and explorations of their faith. In some ways, I fear I am reading the book too quickly; many que
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Nov 24, 2008
Karma
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What an experience reading this book was. This book is the journey three women took in creatin a Faith Club; adddressing the differences and similarities in their three faiths. Feeling like I was intimately involved in the religious journey of these three women; yet experiencing my own simultaneously. Mostly this book reaffirmed a belief I have held most of my adult life - all major religions have God's word and that God is my Father who loves me and all of his children. This book forced me
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Oct 19, 2011
Therese
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Read for book club (5/2011). With this one the title says it "A Muslim, A Christian, A Jew--Three Women Search for Understanding." That is the book in a nutshell. I found it very interesting and definitely both learned a good deal and could identify with each woman in different ways. I think in absence of women of different faiths that one can chat candidly with, the book is a fun substitute. They talk about their doubts, the strengths and weaknesses they perceive in each others r
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Jul 19, 2011
Erika
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An interesting and pleasant read. The authors are likeable, although some readers might be a little annoyed by the fact that they seem to have very comfortable wealthy New York lives and plenty of leisure time to pursue the hobby of faith exploration. Great section at the back of the book with guidance for starting a faith club for those interested, and questions that would come in handy to guide a book club discussion.
People coming to the book with strong religious convictions o More...
People coming to the book with strong religious convictions o More...
Apr 01, 2011
pianogal
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This book left me with a bad taste in my mouth. It seemed like a very strong Christian woman got together with a searching Muslim and a lapsed Jew. Instead of her pulling them stronger into their faiths (not converting just supporting), and showing them see how to be (in their respective faiths) by example, they seemed to pull her out of hers.
It shocked me that the Jewish woman didn't know the phrase "chosen people." Seriously, you went to Hebrew Day School and never hear More...
It shocked me that the Jewish woman didn't know the phrase "chosen people." Seriously, you went to Hebrew Day School and never hear More...
Mar 02, 2011
Jennifer
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It took me a few years, but I finally made time to read The Faith Club written by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver and Priscilla Warner. Just a few pages in, I found myself wondering why I’d put this off for so long.
In the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, three women — a Muslim, a Christian, and a Jew — began meeting in hopes of writing a children’s book that would explain the intersection of their faiths, but they first had to honestly understand and appreciate each other’s points More...
In the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, three women — a Muslim, a Christian, and a Jew — began meeting in hopes of writing a children’s book that would explain the intersection of their faiths, but they first had to honestly understand and appreciate each other’s points More...
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May 26, 2010
Nancy
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My daughter is out of town for the summer and I am housing her many, many books. Luckily for me, we have similar (but not identical) interests, so the storage fee I am charging is...well, I get to read all her books. The Faith Club is one of hers - a journal of three women (Christian Suzanne, Jewish Priscilla and Muslim Ranya) who form a "faith club" to understand each others' faiths better, and to see if they can discover ways in which those faiths intersect and teach truths that se
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May 15, 2010
Charlotte
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After visiting the web site for The Faith Club at http://www.thefaithclub.com/ I clicked on the hyperlink on that site to take me to an interview on the Diane Rehm Show. I was glad to hear that I had been pronouncing Ranya's first name correctly - or at least the way Diane pronounces it. I had been pronouncing Muslim very much like muslin (the cloth people used to use on the back of quilts) until I bumped into a tv show where I heard it pronounced Mooslum. I then tried to switch to that w
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Dec 15, 2009
Kristie
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Mom, thanks for sending me the book. :)
When I taught high school English, I tried to have class discussions about the books we read. The boys would have a hot debate by arguing and sometimes even yelling to make their points. They wanted to "win." The girls, on the other hand, were eager to agree. They would rarely challenge another girl on a point and they would try as hard as they could to find "common ground."
I think a similar problem occurs in More...
When I taught high school English, I tried to have class discussions about the books we read. The boys would have a hot debate by arguing and sometimes even yelling to make their points. They wanted to "win." The girls, on the other hand, were eager to agree. They would rarely challenge another girl on a point and they would try as hard as they could to find "common ground."
I think a similar problem occurs in More...
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Jun 11, 2009
EJ
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Dec 31, 2011
Harmonybites
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In the wake of 9/11, Ranya Idliby, a Muslim American of Palestinian descent was inspired by a passage in the Koran about Muhammad's Night Flight to write a children's interfaith book about the commonalities between Judaism, Christianity and Islam. She recruits two other mothers in the New York City area to help her write the book, Priscilla, a Reform Jew, and Suzanne, a Episcopalian Christian who was raised a Catholic. They find that before they can find common ground, they have to work through
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Oct 16, 2010
Sarah
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This was a really interesting read...
Three women from three different faiths get together to talk about their respective beliefs. It was informative, because I learned things about some of them that I didn't know. The overall message; that they all pray to the same god, and all have the same BASIC beliefs was a good one, but one I already knew. As an atheist, it's really annoying to watch religions bicker with one another, so that part of the book was refreshing. I especially liked t More...
Three women from three different faiths get together to talk about their respective beliefs. It was informative, because I learned things about some of them that I didn't know. The overall message; that they all pray to the same god, and all have the same BASIC beliefs was a good one, but one I already knew. As an atheist, it's really annoying to watch religions bicker with one another, so that part of the book was refreshing. I especially liked t More...
Aug 30, 2010
Laura
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I left this book thinking...I'm glad for these three women that they developed a friendship founded on interesting, courageous conversations. I appreciate the honesty of these authors in attempting to self-examine the stereotypes they individually hold and apply to others.
However, as a reader, the premise of the book would be more interesting if the three conversationalists held strong, traditional beliefs in their respective religions. These authors promote instead a 'universalist More...
However, as a reader, the premise of the book would be more interesting if the three conversationalists held strong, traditional beliefs in their respective religions. These authors promote instead a 'universalist More...
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Jan 03, 2012
Linda
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After 9/11, Idliby, an American Muslim, searched for ways to answer her children’s questions about Islam. She conceived the idea of writing a children’s book about the differences and similarities between Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, and found two other mothers who were interested in the project. As the women of the three different faiths began to meet and talk, it became clear that each had prejudices and misconceptions about the other faiths, and the Faith Club was born. For over a
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Jul 11, 2011
Dana
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I just finished reading this book and it has really made me think. A lot. I personally am a Jew - raised in the Reform Jewish religion, and I became a born again Christian 20 years ago when I was 27 years old. So, I know about the Jewish and Christian points of view that are presented in the book. I know very little, however, about the Muslim religion. I read the books "Three Cups of Tea" and "Stones Into Schools" this year and they gave me more insight into the Muslim r
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Jan 26, 2010
Heather
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After 9/11, New Yorker and Muslim Ranya Idilby wanted to both educate her children about their religion and show children of the world how Muslims are not so different from everyone else. She spoke with a fellow mother at her daughter’s school, Suzanne Oliver, who she knew was a Christian, about collaborating on a childrens’ book about religion. Suzanne got in contact with Priscilla Warner, a Jewish woman living in a New York suburb, about the project, and she agreed to join. Thus, the Faith
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Apr 06, 2008
Dana
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This book makes me optimistic about peace - at least in this country. Other books make it clear that the issues are so complex, we may never achieve peace in the middle east or in other regions. However, these 3 women work hard and dig deep to discover what we, humankind, have in common. There is a chance that through continued dialogue and understanding, our children here in the US may coexist peacefully regardless of their faith.
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Feb 20, 2011
Marty
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I read this book for the Book Discussion Group at our winter residence, Sun 'n Fun RV Resort. The club reads one book a month, Jan - April, when the park is most fully occupied. The group has been in existence for over 20 years. I would never have picked up this book on my own, so I will be eternally grateful that it was selected by this group for February. I almost didn't finish it because we were very busy this month and I was slow getting it from the library. The Faith Club is a very per
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Apr 03, 2010
Meagan
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This is the book that my book club will be reading next go-round, and I have to confess that I had some trepidation about reading it. I don't always do well with non-fiction, it can take me quite some time to finish, and so I gave myself an extra long period of time to read it. Happily, it didn't take me long at all and I found it compelling in many respects.
The book consists of three women, one Christian, one Jewish, and one Muslim, who were inspired by the events of September 11t More...
The book consists of three women, one Christian, one Jewish, and one Muslim, who were inspired by the events of September 11t More...
