| Title | : | The Silence of Adam: Becoming Men of Courage in a World of Chaos |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0310219396 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780310219392 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 192 |
| Publication | : | First published January 1, 1995 |
The Silence of Adam: Becoming Men of Courage in a World of Chaos Reviews
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This is an excellent look at men's issues in the contemporary church. In many ways it is a predecessor to John Eldredge's Wild at Heart, though without that books odd theological basis.
This was my first introduction to Crabb, and I grow more impressed the more I read. -
Judeo-Christian tradition has long entertained a philosophic stranger whose subtle poison makes him a very dangerous guest. I refer to a slight - a very slight - corruption of the Eden story, a version in which Eve is alone when the serpent tempts her to eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. It seems a trivial detail but, just as a little yeast alters a whole loaf of bread, getting such details wrong can alter the character of whole religions and societies.
If Eve was alone, you see, when she succumbed to temptation (and then dragged Adam and the rest of creation down with her) it gives men an excuse to fantasize that, had Adam been with her, perhaps mankind would not have fallen into sin and error and the curse of mortal toil. Mythic distinction between Eve and Pandora is blurred; implied distinctions between men and women are exaggerated in popular understanding.
According to the actual texts of the Jewish and Christian creation stories, that is not what happened: the Eden account plainly states that Adam, although he says and does nothing, "was with her." And yet this lie, that the Fall began with Eve's solitary mistake, has for centuries remained perniciously persistent: never orthodox, yet never repudiated firmly or consistently enough for the true myth to be fully accepted in patriarchal Jewish or Christian societies. Milton
did his bit to perpetuate it in the 17th century; even C.S. Lewis,
paying tribute to Milton with his own fiction, contributed to keeping it alive in the 20th.
Then along comes this fellow Larry Crabb - not an academic, theologian, historian, poet, or novelist, but a clinical psychologist - who discovers, in a more attentive reading of the Eden myth, in correcting the popular misogynist misreading, a useful metaphor for describing and working through aspects of the human condition. For Crabb, Eden is not a morality tale about the relative moral fortitude of women when left alone without male supervision, but rather a morality tale about the tendency of men to remain silent and passive in the face of uncertainty, to "check out" of uncomfortable situations emotionally and mentally even when physically present.
The Silence of Adam is not a great book. Its first 60 pages should be whittled down to about 20. Crabb and his co-authors' presume a broader historical and societal applicability for their observations than is warranted. Even though it contains many excellent and insightful passages, I doubt the book as a whole will endure, unless it undergoes a substantial rewrite.
But I strongly hope its premise does. -
Livro altamente mais ou menos.
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I've read a lot of books on manhood and such and this is definitely an important addition to the big collection of books on the topics. The title refers to Adam being silent when Eve accepted the apple from the serpent in the Garden. Crabb takes the view that Adam was standing alongside Eve and accordingly should have spoken up recalling the instruction God had given him earlier about not eating from this tree. Forgetfulness (or choosing not to remember), silence and passivity. I don't know a man where these three attributes don't exist. Whether they came about as a result of the Fall isn't so much the issue now; it's the fact that men allow these attributes to play too big a role in our lives and as a result handicap us in discovering the fullness of life walking with the Lord.
Crabb has counselled hundreds, perhaps thousands, of men and so one can take it that he has learnt a thing or two about what handicaps us. The various vignettes of men he provides are very relatable and on a couple of occasions I wondered if I was reading my own story. Even though confronting, it was comforting to know that I am not alone nor unique in my struggles.
I particularly appreciated the debate of recipe-based theology (solution solving) versus transcendence theology plus the notion that we should be willing to walk into the darkness, find God (because He's there with us) and allow Him to guide us out rather than running from it.
I think Crabb could have made it easier to see some of the practical ways of better connecting with God and other men without using recipe-based theology, which would make it easier for readers to adopt some of the essence of the book. A study-guide would be very useful that enabled either an individual and/or group to explore each others reactions to each chapter. I notice in the updated version now titled Men of Courage does included such a study guide.
But perhaps one of the strongest impressions that I walk away with is Don Hudson's reflections at the end where he discusses the point that "Godly men are broken men." He points to the fact that Jesus summed up His life in Matthew 20:18-19 by saying He would be handed over to the chief priests and scribes to die. He set up His kingdom through brokenness. And in so doing we too are strongest in our most broken places: "It is only my brokenness that brings me life."
Because it's in our brokenness where we reach for and hold onto Jesus who has created us for a particular life and it is only in walking with Him everyday that we come to discover that life. -
Overall, I thought this was a very good book. It was recommended by one of my dads friends, and I am glad I read it. The intended audience probably was not me, but that does no mean I can not get things out of it. I feel that the book taught me a lot about spiritual growth and becoming the spiritual leader that God created the male side of humanity to be. Actually, I think that it is more important to take this into mind going into high school and later into the world.
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This is a very insightful book for Christian men. It shows how we men too often look for the easy way out when we encounter chaos or conflict or crises in our lives. Crabb identifies healthier approaches to those situations that better honor God and help those close to us.
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This book evokes strong reactions in its readers: they either seem to love it, or to hold it is disdain. This is my third time through it, so you know which of those groups I fall into. The premise of the book is that Adam, in the Garden, stood by silently while his wife, Eve, took and ate the fruit--the first (human) act of sin. My father in-law (a pastor) scoffed a the very idea of a man "standing by" while his wife does something so horrifyingly destructive, and obviously felt something like that just wouldn't have been done by Adam, a man who (admittedly) had not yet committed any sin. But, the biblical text does suggest that was at least close by, if not physically present, when Eve took the fruit--and he certainly was silent, even if Eve had to hike through the Garden a ways to find him. (That theory also presumes that Eve deceived her husband, by not telling him the source of the fruit she was handing him to eat...)
The first time I read this book was when I began to face up to my membership in a abusive church, and to honestly evaluation how I felt about the leaders of that church, and my role in it as a member. The book led me to take some positive, confronting actions that have resulted in ongoing blessing and healing for my family, and many dear friends.
But even today, looking at my own life, and the lives of men/husbands/fathers around me, it make PERFECT sense that Adam stood silently by while he wife destroyed their lives. While he should have committed the first instance of animal slaughter, in killing the serpent that threatened his wife, Adam just watched the disaster unfold, content to stay out of the way, to not interrupt the "conversation" between Eve and the serpent. Adam's silence.
So, here I am in my third time through this work, because I personally have found Crabb's book to nothing less than life-changing. It is not a theological treatise, or an exegetical commentary, and it does not presume to replace the Scriptures--it is simply a devotional guide pursuing the goal of character formation in its readers. This is a book that deals with men, specifically, and will bless all of the Adam's, Achans, Moses', Nadabs, Korahs, Sauls, Davids, Solomons, Peters, Roberts, Conners, Steves, Rogers, Georges, and Kens, and anyone else who cares to give it a try.
The book was written in the 1990's as a response to the Promise Keeper-style of spiritual growth that was happening at the time, and so includes many references to men's conferences and such, some of the younger guys might not remember that era. Here's a sampling of the author's thinking, from chapter one:
1. When men feel POWERLESS over the people and circumstances of their lives, they are prone to become CONTROLLING and OVERBEARING in their relationships.
2. When men feel ANGRY at what they perceived as their legitimate goals in life, they tend to become ABUSIVE and DESTRUCTIVE in their relationships and behavior.
3. When men experience deep FEAR at the events, people, and circumstances of life that they are unable to control, they are tempted to become SELFISH, SELF-INDULGENT, because they become convinced they must meet their own needs, for no one else will.
Highly recommended, and (for me) life changing! -
Was asked to read this book several years ago for a Bible study and never did. Finally came back around to it and glad I did. While I'm not ready to subscribe to everything Dr. Crabb has to say here, I generally agree with the principles he embraces. Understanding general tendencies that most men (if not all) face is helpful both in terms of self knowledge but also in relating to other men. There were a couple of moments where Dr. Crabb speaks in generalities about how men see the world, and I thought, "Oh really? I thought that was just me!"
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Hugely influential part of my college years. I still refer to Crabb's paradigm of strength and sensitivity as the two extremes of masculinity that men struggle to properly balance. Presets Christ as the perfect example of masculine strength and tenderness.
One of many subjects that hit me hard during my initial read. I pull this off the shelf, and it's all soft and loose, from having been read so intently. Haven't reread it fully since college. Not sure how it would hit me today... -
A Wild at Heart, written by certified counselors. Strong biblical teaching, with a mix of good coffee-talk type guidance, bolstered by evocative personal anecdotes. Not too commercial, which gave me a feeling of finding a diamond in the rough. However, the book is not written well; the plague of using three authors is that themes are not as strong — as if a psychologist was giving the Sunday sermon .. powerful nuggets but unpolished in its delivery.
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A thought-provoking book about the biblical path of manhood from youth to old age. Chock-full of realistic scenerios/illustrations, packed with biblical insight into not only why men are "silent" in an age of chaos, but how they can regain their God-given voice. Highly recommended for both men and women.
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I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to reading the updated edition "Men of Courage". I like how honest each of the co-authors are, how candid and open they are about their own paths and struggles.
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Dá algumas voltas, as vezes, e poderia embasar algumas questões melhor, teologicamente, mas é sem dúvida uma obra clássica de grande valor. Um livro para revisitar e presentear à vontade.
Que nós homens aprendamos a falar... e a continuar falando...! -
Really good conversation starter. Too many anecdotes for my taste.
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One of the best books on manhood I have read
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Sensacional. Lido duas vezes, cada uma delas uma nova visão, aprendizado, enfim, vale a pena a leitura.
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Excelente livro. Trata da importância de analisar o comportamento do homem no relacionamento, isso e suas consequências.
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O silêncio de Adão dura até hoje no homem brasileiro. Vale a pena ler.
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Leitura extremamente necessária nos nossos dias. Trata a masculinidade de forma bíblica e real.
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Meh
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I had very high hopes about this book, but ultimately i was let down. :(
The title sucked me right in. i knew exactly what the subject was going to be about even before reading the summary on the back cover. Eldredge went over this subject briefly in his Wild at Heart series. and it's a powerful truth: Adam was there in the garden while Eve sinned, and he remained silent. he was passive. because of that, men have a battle inside of their hearts with passivity.
there are chapters in this book that just knocked my socks off. the first one or two are particularly good, and toward the end of the book the chapter on spiritual fathers is dynamite. but the rest of the book had a lot of issues, in my opinion. and it's not really the subject matter of the book that lost me, really, it was more that the book as a whole seemed inaccessible. i guess the writers of the book are professional counselors or something, and to me, this really showed. but in a negative way. their stories were fine, but it seemed like there was, overall, a lack of passion on the subject. what i read seemed informative, yes, but uninspired. it sounded more like a lecture than anything else. my other big issue is that this book is a real downer. i mean, it's a REAL downer. in their attempt to try to help men overcome passivity, what i found them doing is just pointing the finger at all the wrongs in my life and other men's lives. i certainly found myself in the pages of this book, and i'm okay with that. this book took me a while to read because it took a lot of reflection and thought on my part to really try to hear what they're saying. sometimes i didnt like that i agreed with them so much about myself, but, again, that's a good thing. the problem is that they dont really change their onslaught approach. and this makes me wonder why they made this book and what their goals in writing it were. because i would think that men who fell into the categories they described would want to quit reading the book after only a few chapters. i kept wanting more than what they said. i kept wanting them to point in a positive direction instead of keeping the focus on our problems the whole time. there's a time for pointing to issues, but that doesnt solve the problem. where, or to whom, do we go with our problems? my other big issue with this book is that they seemingly close the door to criticism of this nature when they reiterate the truth that God is moving us from the sphere of management into the sphere of mystery. and there's a profound truth in God moving us into mystery and away from all we know and can handle on our own. but it seems like they imply that if you really want answers, you're in the sphere of management, thus pointing the finger back at you (shame on you!). they also seem to imply that men who desire to listen to God for decision-making in their lives arent manly in some way; that really what men should do is to walk out into the unknown and not have "listening to God" as a crutch. again, they dont overtly say this, but there are times here and there where it seems like they imply that. and if that was their intention, i'm going to have a major beef with them. they talk about men in difficult situations knowing they should change yet asking "what do i do? i dont know what to do." and i completely relate to that. yet their point about not having any answers seems like a logical fallacy. they're writing a book to inform us of something. it would have been enough if all they did was point in the right direction after a time and tell some stories of men who started to change by the power of the Holy Spirit. unfortunately they dont.
despite my overanalyzing rant, i didnt dislike this book completely. there are some powerful truths in here, and it's worth the time of every man to read it--if even to see the light shone on your heart. but this book's biggest flaw is that they look more at man than they do Jesus, in my opinion, which can leave people frustrated. when you look more to Jesus than you do your own faults, that doesnt disregard all the things wrong in our lives, but lets Jesus deal with them his way. he may not give us the answers we think we need or really want, but he's still the Way. he's still the Truth. and he's still the Life. trying to be a man on your own--even trying to do what they prescribe in this book--will only lead you to your own way. -
This book could have hit 5 stars for me but it fell short and I'll get ot that part later.
It's a purposely slow book to read as it is meant to be digested and pondered on for a while. I managed a chapter a day sometimes less.
Dr. Crabb is a Godly man and his advice and encouragement have much weight. His teaching on the Silence of Adam and the implications for all of us is insightful and humbling. This is a book all men need to read, those who walk with God and those who hope to or think they already are.
My one fault is the same fault I find with most Protestant authors - they have to get the jabs in. There are some anti-catholic references, references to the reformation and where "they" went wrong throughout the book if you read between the lines. I don't think this is necessary at all and for that reason the book was somewhat spoiled for me.
The reformists among us will of course defend Crabb's stance on this and find it admirable.
A great read nonetheless and a lot of lessons to continually think about and apply. -
This is probably a book that is helpful for certain men, but it just didn't connect with me very well. The struggles that the three authors raised simply didn't resonate with my life. Perhaps they will in a few years when I'm older. The book suffers from too much "counselor-ease" type vocabulary and ideas. It made the book more opaque than clear.
It had some good ideas, but things weren't really fleshed out in a way that I found as helpful as other similar books are.
The central idea--that Adam, who was silent when Satan tempted Eve is a powerful metaphor for male maturity, but it just wasn't developed in the ways I had hoped for when I added this one to my reading list. -
Great argument---that Eve may have taken the first bite, but only because Adam stood next to her too passive to stop her. "And she gave it to the man who was with her...."
Thus men (who sin plenty on their own, of course) are also guilty of the sins of their wives and children when they refuse to accept their God-given role as the high priest and defender of the home.
This is a great warning. Men and women have unique strengths, and both are necessary. 'Silent' women seem rare, but too many men tune out too often. -
I desperately wanted to like this book. But honestly, it seemed to provide more questions than it answered. It paints an interesting scenario in which Adam stood by silently and watched as Eve disobeyed God. Since then, men continue to remain silent as their loved ones fall into the trap of sin. It is an interesting notion. But it almost seemed that the author was silently standing by as the book was writing itself, because it doesn't provide the answers it makes us want. Maybe he was using the book to further illustrate that point - - because the reader was let down.
