Hey Dawn, do you have a schedule of readings posted anywhere?

Are you going to do one in the Boston area? Would love to show up for it.
Jennifer | Homepage | 12.09.06 - 9:05 am | #

Jennifer, check the Appearances section of http://www.thrillofthechaste.com . Would love to speak in Boston -- get a bookstore, church, or young-adult group to invite me and I'm there!
Dawn Eden | Homepage | 12.09.06 - 11:13 am | #

It's a shame she doesn't know that God will be there too, whether you're on a date or by yourself.

And about just taking yourself, you could also meet a friend or two or three and they (we) could all take each other.
Drusilla | Homepage | 12.09.06 - 11:43 am | #

I think you are under more descriptive terms...an extreme Catholic. Your faith has nothing to do with whether you choose to have sex or not. My boyfriend and I live together and are incredibly happy. His parents are from Croatia and extremely devout. They don't condemn us for our choice to live together. It's more about the men you choose. You happened to find one who fits your beliefs. It's not about the chaste life at all. My significant other talks about wanting to be with me forever. Imagine a guy saying that to you. It has nothing to do with your faith or your chaste life. Anyway, I don't want to "ick" your wow. If you're making money off it and are happy that's not a bad thing. I'm thinking since you don't have a relationship turning into marriage you simply don't understand the real process is not the same for everyone. I don't like evangelical people who make money off the process of renewing their faith. If you were just evangelical for the sake of relgion then I would probably be friends with you because you're likeable. But since you make money off something so personal to me I find it a little offensive.
Jennifer | 12.09.06 - 12:05 pm | #

Jennifer, I'm not sure why your find it offensive that Dawn has written a book about her life experiences and her thoughts. Her religion is part of that. People write books about their personal experiences all the time (that's what a "memoir" is) and they hope to make money from doing so. That's all that Dawn has done. Telling people that it's offensive to write about their beliefs is telling them that they don't deserve to have freedom of speech. I don't think that's what you meant to tell Dawn.
Mary H. | 12.09.06 - 12:13 pm | #

Wait -- isn`t it possible for a Catholic to be a "born-again" Christian?"

I know the term is mostly applied to evangelical Protestants, but I believe I have heard it used by Catholic converts, or "re-lapsed" Catholics, to describe themselves.

Aren`t Catholics Christians?
L. | Homepage | 12.09.06 - 12:45 pm | #

Cool!

As Catholics though we are born again the Biblical way when we are baptized.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

Though of course the media only use the terms through the lens of Protestantism. It is just as Catholics we should welcome back the term when describing ourselves.
Jeff Miller | Homepage | 12.09.06 - 12:50 pm | #

since you make money off something so personal to me I find it a little offensive

Wow, Dawn, I didn't know that your book was all about personally criticizing "Jennifer | 12.09.06 - 12:05 pm." I thought your book was about you. I don't know. Maybe I'm just a little offended that Jennifer could post comments so personal to me.

I would think, if she were so "incredibly happy," that she wouldn't let what other people say about themselves bother her so much, and that she would let that happiness shine by showing love and charity towards others, rather than attacking them and calling them names.

But at least she has found someone who talks about wanting to be with her forever. Imagine a guy saying that to you. (Never mind that Dawn has probably heard the talk a hundred times herself and realizes that those who talk often rarely end up doing.)

Oh well. Perhaps in 5-10 years, after waiting for the talk to end, Jennifer (and all the others who come here to complain about how they are personally offended by Dawn writing things about herself) can have her own epiphany and write her own book on chastity.
Bender | Homepage | 12.09.06 - 2:24 pm | #

Hey, I'll go to Little Giant with you when I visit New York. Meanwhile, I'm trying to get my mind around the idea that a Catholic who wants to reserve sex for marriage is an "extreme" Catholic. Yes, Jennifer, your faith does have a lot to do with whether you have sex or not. However, being ethnically Catholic does not. Just because someone's family's Catholicism goes back to St. Patrick or to Saints Cyril and Methodius does not make them a "good" or even a practising Catholic. If a Catholic woman really buys the truth of Catholicism lock, stock and barrel, she either marries her live-in lover posthaste or moves out. Sorry to sound stern, but, as Thomas Aquinas said, Truth is what is.
Seraphic Single | Homepage | 12.09.06 - 2:24 pm | #

those who talk often rarely end up doing

"often rarely"??? Huh? Wow. That makes a lot of sense. Can you tell that I'm from the midwest?
Bender | Homepage | 12.09.06 - 2:26 pm | #

Greetings,

Just wanted you to know that I accidently came across your sight a while back, bought your book, have used it in a homily and recommeneded it at the parish.

Good job. Brave. Thank you for your ministry.

Fr. John
Fr. John | 12.09.06 - 2:57 pm | #

Jennifer,

He's lying.

John
John J. Simmins | 12.09.06 - 3:19 pm | #

Not a bad review, especially from the Times. One of these days they'll get a clue I suppose and not immediately start looking forward to a "blook" by a currently promiscuous blogger chick as a counterweight to Dawn.
Bob P | Homepage | 12.09.06 - 5:10 pm | #

Even if he means what he says (and he probably does), he's not doing much about it. And why should he? Inertia works upon us all. If he's got a bird in the hand, why work to get a ring on your finger?

It's sad that so many people settle for part of what they want, and think that asking for more from the one they love will drive that person away.
Maureen | Homepage | 12.09.06 - 5:13 pm | #

Maureen -- not all women want "a ring on your finger." I would have been very happy to live in an unmarried state indefinitely, and even have kids. My boyfriend had different feelings on the subject, and his "asking for more" from me very nearly did drive me away.

It is a myth that all women want marriage -- perhaps the majority do, but there`s definitely many of us who simply would have preferred living together.
L. | Homepage | 12.09.06 - 5:54 pm | #

Hmm a lot going on in these comments. Catholic, Christian, Evengelical, Born Again are all loaded statements that probably mean something a little different to each one of us.

Jennifer thank you for your input...its good to hear different perspectives. I think something you didn't catch is a relationship between "finding someone who fits your beliefs", chastity and faith.

I assume (a dangerous practice) that you look for someone who fits your moral system so that you can be compatable with them and then, as a result, happy. Now faith changes trying to find someone who fits into my beliefs to trying to fit myself into God's will.

It is possible to believe in God and keep your own personal beliefs as you gave an example of but to conform yourself and things about yourself (like relationships) to God's sovereignty is a completely different step of faith. Chastity and Dawn's book talks about making that step and "being happy" while on that journey. So I hope you aren't offended by Dawn's memoirs because I believe it was written to those who want to conform their relationships to God's will and not to those who want relationships who fit into their moral system. I don't think she was writing at you.
Aaron da Fish | Homepage | 12.09.06 - 6:11 pm | #

Re being born-again, I am born-again in that I have been regenerated through baptism, but to call me "born-again" without mentioning I'm Catholic is misleading. It omits the most important identifier.

In the case of the Times as well as other publications that have taken it upon themselves to use the term to describe me, I think "born-again" translates into "scary Christian." Catholics are considered safe by comparison, because they're not thought of as evangelizing (or "proselytizing," as some journalists disparagingly call it).

Re Jennifer, I'd appreciate a moratorium on criticisms of her. Enough has been said, and I don't think harsh words will improve her view of Christians, "extreme" or otherwise.
Dawn Eden | Homepage | 12.09.06 - 8:30 pm | #

Actually, to some evangelicals, Catholics are FAR more terrifying than "born agains."

We`re a CULT, you know.
L. | Homepage | 12.09.06 - 9:17 pm | #

Dawn, I don't see anything wrong with you're being called born-again even though you're now Catholic. Of course, my view of born-again is likely much different from that of the mainstream media.

Congratulations on being reviewed in the Times.
Rusty | 12.10.06 - 1:02 am | #

Hmm. In the NYT dictionary, "born again" means "raving wild-eyed looney." And "Catholic" means "somber uptight loser." Choose your poison, I suppose. They spelled your name right, and got the title of the book correct. Even if the snooty reviewer mistakenly thinks you're confused.
C.J. | 12.10.06 - 7:52 am | #

C.J.'s got a point there. This *is* the NYT which reported that the late Holy Father was laid out with a *crow's ear* tucked under his arm.
MaureenM | 12.10.06 - 8:38 am | #

Dawn-

What Rusty said. If anyone I know has really been born again, it's you. I would take it as a compliment on the sincerity and totality of your conversion.

You say that "...to call me "born-again" without mentioning I'm Catholic is misleading. It omits the most important identifier." I may just be an ecumenical squish here, but I would disagree with you that that "born again" is the most important identifier within the phrase "born-again Christian", or that it doesn't describe you accurately.

In any case, congratulations on such a fortunate review!
see-dubya | Homepage | 12.10.06 - 9:53 pm | #

Rusty, See-Dubya - I appreciate what you're saying. I believe you're missing my larger point: Calling me born-again is misleading. To the average reader, it means I'm an evangelical Protestant -- not an evangelical Catholic. Moreover, the motivation behind a publication's calling me born-again is, I believe, to present me as being overly aggressive in my faith. The simple fact is that "born-again" is a negative in many mainstream-media circles, and if you don't believe me, read the take-down of Prison Fellowship also in today's Times. If they want to say I'm aggressive, that's their prerogative -- but in doing so, they shouldn't use what is in their eyes (not mine) a pejorative, and a misleading one at that.
Dawn Eden | Homepage | 12.10.06 - 10:26 pm | #

I agree with Dawn that "born-again Christian" without "Catholic" is misleading, and that the former has specific implications that "Catholic" doesn't carry. Just because it's true about Dawn, per See-Dubya and Dawn herself, doesn't mean that readers of the review will take that away at face value, because of the common use of the term.

Moreover I find it bizarre that the review used that term *instead* of "Catholic," which surely (?) is made clear in the book that Dawn is? Did the reviewer take it upon him/herself to substitute the descriptive? Or did he/she simply not read the book carefully enough?
Anwyn | Homepage | 12.11.06 - 11:48 am | #

Anwyn, actually I do not specify any denomination in my book. I only say that I had "what Christians would call a born-again experience," which is true. But you'd think that my mentioning G.K. Chesterton on every other page, quoting John Paul II, and thanking nuns along with my patron saint Maximilian Kolbe would give the Times a clue.
Dawn Eden | Homepage | 12.11.06 - 11:55 am | #

Ah, that makes it a little clearer, then--I can't really fault them for not using a term not used by you. If reviewers make assumptions like that it gets them into hot water more often than not.

Congrats on the book and the good review! :)
Anwyn | Homepage | 12.11.06 - 12:19 pm | #

Hmmph. When I hear "born-again", I think "evangelical", not necessarily "Protestant." I'd say you're an evangelical Catholic, so I'm not sure that's wrong, per se...just that other descriptors might have been more accurate.
Vidiot | Homepage | 12.11.06 - 12:52 pm | #

I would agree with that first point, Vidiot. The evangelicals I know do not self-identify as Protestant. They flinch at "Protestant" because it is something they are not; they are not Baptist, not Presbyterian, not Episcopalian, etc. They're "bible-believing Christians," often members of non-affiliated faith communities.

I'm not sure what the term "evangelical Catholic" would signify. The church as one, holy, catholic, apostolic entity does not recognize categories (or degrees) of membership.
C.J. | 12.11.06 - 1:27 pm | #

Is it just me or is it a shame that "evangelical" has become its own category with specific implications, when all Christians were commanded to go forth and make disciples?
Anwyn | Homepage | 12.11.06 - 1:31 pm | #

Is it just me or is it a shame that "evangelical" has become its own category with specific implications, when all Christians were commanded to go forth and make disciples?

Great point, Anwyn.
Dawn Eden | Homepage | 12.11.06 - 1:34 pm | #

I don't know just what churches who have "Evangelical" in their name or mission mean by it unless it's simply that they make a priority out of sharing testimony with a view to conversion. But I do know what non-Christians and media mean by it--"annoyingly over-eager proselytizers who want religion to take over the government." I don't know how to counter such a widespread covert mudsling. It's not that there aren't people who are exactly what I just said, but rather that media wants to take a view of far too many (most?) Christians as being like that.

Anyway this is getting dangerously close to threadjacking; the points raised just made me think about it. :) Thanks Dawn.
Anwyn | Homepage | 12.11.06 - 1:45 pm | #

The church as one, holy, catholic, apostolic entity does not recognize categories (or degrees) of membership.

Well, except for those of us who are "in cafeterium." :)
L. | Homepage | 12.11.06 - 1:49 pm | #