WoW wOw WoW

Any additional comments?

Have you just ever been really surprised by a book? I was on the fence about this book thinking it was perhaps too contrived...tattooed edgy pastor makes her mark in mainstream religious america, telling them what it's all REALLY about. Ohhhh...not so at all. She is brutally honest about her life and shortcomings. She is the real deal. And she talks about her relationship with Jesus and the Gospel in ways that bring it all to life. I have read this book twice and am on my third time. (I have NEVER read a book more than once...EVER). There are so many buried, insightful treasures in this book. We need more voices like hers to make Christianity relevant again in our times.

17 people found this helpful

Fabulous , Entertaining, Honest.

All Christians don't look a like , act a like or worship a like , THANKS BE TO GOD.

I am an Anglo Saxon wasp. A Southerner, no less. I am Episcopalian. I was born a Baptist and had parents just like Nadia ,that unlike the rest of the majority of their church didn't judge.
I am 68. Straight , married,professional. God loves me too. He loves us all .
If you think you don't fit the mold. GOOD NEWS ! You don't have to.

Thank you Nadia , for your ministry, honesty, and being real.

Sonny Craig

15 people found this helpful

Inspiring, thought-provoking, and edgy

Pastrix is an inspiring, thought-provoking, and edgy description of the Christian spiritual journey of Nadia Bolz-Weber, who is a Lutheran pastor and a nationally recognized figure in the Emerging Church (Liberal Christian) movement. Bolz-Weber clearly has a very fine mind and a remarkable personal spirituality that has survived her previous life as an alcoholic and standup comic, her scarred conservative church upbringing, and several years as a searching, lost soul. Bolz-Weber’s ministry is inherently dedicated to those suffering from addictions, or people with other life experiences such as non-traditional sexual orientations, abuse, poverty, etc. She is noticeably most comfortable with people from these backgrounds, and includes many interesting stories along these lines about both herself and her parishioners. Be ready for lots of swearing -- I can’t decide whether she consistently swears out of habit, to be provocative, to make herself more accessible to the downtrodden, or as a defense measure to prevent herself from becoming too normal. For those with bible-based or evangelical beliefs, be prepared for some controversial positions, but overall, this doesn’t appear to be a major agenda item for Bolz-Weber, who repeatedly attests to her great love of Christian liturgy. Towards the end, Bolz-Weber addresses the challenges, and ultimately the happy results, of her ministry intersecting with what society would refer to as normal people. She candidly describes her experiences (and current initial successes), but the story ends without being able to answer the question of whether the radical and liberal Christianity Bolz-Weber promotes can scale beyond the scope of her personal leadership and advocacy. The answer is probably, “If God wills it.” In conclusion, Jesus stated that the greatest commandments are to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” and to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Bolz-Weber’s book is the story of an imperfect woman who with God’s grace is trying really hard to (and arguably succeeding at) living these commandments. I wish her God’s blessings and recommend the book.

7 people found this helpful

Profoundly authentic and moving

As a Catholic priest, I have read more spiritual books than most, and I can say that this is the best spiritual book I have read this year. I found Pastor Nadia’s account of parish life both inspiring as she finds God in unexpected people and places and courageous as she shares her own spiritual journey.

4 people found this helpful

Makes you Think

If you could sum up Pastrix in three words, what would they be?

surprising, thoughtful, vulgar

Who was your favorite character and why?

Her husband. He seemed to have a pretty clear mind.

What about Nadia Bolz-Weber’s performance did you like?

It was her story.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. We may have listened to a couple of chapters at a time. But then we needed to stop and talk about it or I would just need to think about what she had said.

Any additional comments?

I both liked and hated the book. There were things in it that I just could not agree with, and sometimes she was conflicting. However then there was other times that she would look at things differently so it would really stretch me.

4 people found this helpful

An inspiring book!

This book is amazing! It both forced me to think about what I believe and how I extend grace to others. as well as encouraged me in that we are all fucked up people just trying to figure this shit storm called life.

3 people found this helpful

not just about religion..

I rarely listen to autobiographies and have never chosen a book about "religion". This was a great surprise and spoke to me more deeply than about religion, it spoke about the human spirit. It has been several months, and I plan on listening again as I am sure I missed some of the messages about love, forgiveness and self-love. #selfdiscovery, #inspiring, #tagsgiving #sweepstakes

1 person found this helpful

Finding Jesus through a cranky woman pastor

I’m from a progressive church who also is welcoming & accepting of all individuals. Although I’m not a pastor, I’m in a quasi-leadership position. I find this author has challenged me in areas I did not realize I had. My first time seeing Nadia was on a Facebook post / video of her telling the world to “Forgive Assholes”. Right there I needed to know she was and what else she had to say.

This book is not a fictional account, but some names had been changed. But it’s not a memoir either. However, each chapter is like part journal, part blog, part sermon. It was a good way to find out more about this woman of God who tells us to forgive assholes. I’ve download the next book, on Accidental Saints.

I love when the author reads their own work, as it is like they are having conversations with me.

1 person found this helpful

Great faith story

This book has given me an inspiration to find my faith again. This book is told in such truth.

I also now wish I live in Denver!!

1 person found this helpful

Inspiration and Honesty

Would you consider the audio edition of Pastrix to be better than the print version?

I have not ready read the print version.

Any additional comments?

I have seen Nadia in person and I find her to be "real" and that make some people uncomfortable but her story is true and a great read.

1 person found this helpful