Women Food and God: My Review
May 14, 2010 by Kim T
Filed under Emotional Eating, Grow Spiritually
Note: Below is my original review of Women Food and God. Since then, I have since taken a closer look at the book and recorded a video with my additional thoughts. You can listen to it at the end of this post.
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You may have heard of a new book called “Women Food and God” by Geneen Roth about compulsive overeating. I heard it was featured on Oprah, but I discovered it by accident while browsing popular books on Amazon. The title intrigued me, so I bought it.
But I stopped reading on page 16. More about that later, but first I want to share a conversation I read on an earlier page. The author has a retreat for women who compulsively overeat and this is what one attendee told her over dinner. It is startling:
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Laurie, a thirty-five year old CEO of a Boston mortgage company, raises her hand. “I am not hungry, but I want to be. I want to eat anyway.”
“Why is that?” I ask.
“Because it looks good and it’s here, right now. It’s the best comfort in town. What’s wrong with wanting comfort from food?”
“Not a thing,” I say. “Food is good and comfort is good. Except that when you are not hungry and you want comfort, food is only a temporary pallative; why not address the discomfort directly?”
“It’s too hard to address things directly, too painful, and there isn’t any end to it. And if it’s going to be endlessly painful, then at least I have food,” she answers.
“So you figure that the best you can get out of life is cold vegetable soup?”
When she talks again, her voice is quivering. “It’s the only true comfort I have and I am not going to deprive myself of it.”
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That hurt my heart because I was once in the same place as Laurie. Even though I was “saved,” I did not trust God for comfort. At that time, I didn’t view him as one who loved me and could heal my pain. Instead, I viewed him as ready to judge and condemn me.
Reading that conversation alone was worth the cost of Women Food and God for me, but I stopped reading on page 16 because of this author statement: “It doesn’t matter whether we believe in one God, many gods, or no god.”
Oh, but it does matter! I believe there is no such thing as a weight management issue; it is all ultimately a life management issue.
Your belief about God determines how you view life, approach it, and what you expect from it. If you believe there is no god, then all you have is yourself as the compass to discern what is good and right. And we know all know how self-deceptive humans can be.
If you believe in many gods, then how do you know which to follow in a given situation? God is not the author of confusion.
I believe in the God who says in Isaiah 44:6: “Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel, And his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts: ‘I am the First and I am the Last; Besides Me there is no God.”
It makes a big difference when you view yourself as a daughter (or son) of the King.
I believe in the God who heals as said in Psalm 147:3: “He heals the brokenhearted And binds up their wounds.”
And I believe in the God who comforts, protects, and leads me in the right way as said in Psalm 23:4: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”
I have a personal relationship with the one true God, which I obtained through the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6): Jesus.
So I say to Laurie and to anyone else suffering from compulsive eating: “God is the true source of comfort and he wants you to expect more from life than cold vegetable soup! He wants you to experience eternal life, which is that you may know Him, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He sent.”
Open up your heart and let God comfort you. Trust him and you will be healed.
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Video Follow-up Review: Author’s Views on God
Did you find this information on overcoming compulsive eating useful? You can learn a lot more about starting the healing process through achieving a closer relationship with God and how to achieve healthy weight loss. Check out my Take Back Your Temple eBook and the 8 bonuses that come with it.
Kimberly Taylor, C.W.C.
Certified Wellness Coach
Author of the ‘Take Back Your Temple’ ebook
http://www.takebackyourtemple.com/book
Hi Kim,
I really appreciate your review and comments on Geneen Roths book too. I did read most of it, with discernment and caution. The thing the Lord showed to me was from the verse about how a little leaven leavens the whole lump. The verse is in reference to pharisees and false teachers. The way the Lord taught me was by bringing back a memory of when I have baked bread. Never have I seen yeast only raise a portion of the lump of dough, but it raises it all as it spreads thru the whole dough. The same is with false teachings, it spreads like yeast and inflitrates all areas of your life and mindset, even if you don’t know it or see it or discern it.
For a short time I was part of another online site for overeating and I really seemed to enjoy it and learn some good tips. However the leader promoted a type of meditation that asked you to empty your mind and allow her to guide you to your new life as a thin person. When I spoke with her about it, she said that understood my concerns and that I didn’t have to particpate in that aspect of the program.
Then at a later time she started a book club to be held by telecast. The name of the book was “Why good people do bad things.” It was so steeped in new age and making yourself into god basically that I confronted her once more. Even though she claimed to be a Christian, she saw no harm in entertaining new age tools to help people and that if it was only Christian beliefs it would offend and turn away many others. I shared the yeast truth. She then bumped me off her forum.
So I steer clear of new age and half truths. Why would we settle for that when we have found the pure truth.
Thank you for all you do to share the truth in such loving ways.
Mimi Maher
I have all of Geneen’s books and she is a wonderful inspirational writer, if you had watched her on Oprah, she and Oprah both said the term God on the cover was NOT meant in the religious term. She is using the term to mean the Universe. I am a Christian, my husband is a preacher, and I believe that we need to be open to all, is that not what Jesus said?
Hi Keila,
Thanks for your post. I hope that you receive the message that even though man may judge you from your outside, God never will! He loves and accepts you as you are. He promises that he has begun a good work in you and will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. I will certainly keep you in my prayers. You have the victory as long as you recognize your righteousness in Christ. Walk in your true identity and you will be healed!
Kim
Mimi, I completely agree with your viewpoint. Your bread/yeast analogy is a perfect illustration as to what can happen when believers entertain false teaching.
To me, one of the saddest books in the bible is the book of Judges. Once God had brought his people into the Promised Land, you see over and over how they allowed the cultures around them to influence them, turning from the one true God, and going to worship false gods. Then, when they would come under bondage, they would cry out to God and he would send them a deliverer. Once free, they became complacent and repeated the same destructive cycle over and over again.
I am putting this information out there because I think it is important for those seeking God in this book to know the whole truth about it. What someone does with that information is up to them. The final verse of Judges ends with a sad commentary: “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
Kim
Hi Sandi,
I agree that Geneen Roth is a gifted writer. I didn’t see her on Oprah and thank you for letting me know that she meant “universe” instead of God in the title “Women Food and God”. But that brings up another question: Why did she not use “Women Food and Universe” as the title if that is what she meant?
As Christians, you and I both know that God is bigger than the universe. So that is a misleading definition since God was the one who created the universe in the first place. It is the same as in the quote from the book in which she says, “God has been here. She is you.” I think you and I both also agree that we are not God. God created us so how can we be him?
To me, that is the same as if I created a cake then someone else comes along and says that I am the cake. No, I am not the cake. I am more than the cake. Do you see what I mean?
Sandi, I am not a preacher’s wife. I am however a believer that the bible is God’s word and the source of truth. You asked, “I believe that we need to be open to all, is that not what Jesus said?”
No, I don’t recall Jesus saying that in the bible. If I am wrong, then please reply and let me know the scripture reference; I will stand corrected.
Jesus did say, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29-31)
I can love a person, but that does not mean that I have to be open to every person’s teaching, especially if it contradicts what the bible says is true.
In addition, the bible advises: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.” (1 John 4:1-2)
Geneen Roth’s false definition of God as the universe or as me (or whoever her reader is), her openness that it is okay to deny there is a God or worship many gods led me to decide not to open my mind to her teaching.
I do understand that others may draw a different conclusion.
Kim
Hi Leisa,
I’ve been on vacation and was trying to respond to posts on my website before I left and discovered that I missed yours. I am so sorry! Thank you so much for your post. Your determination and love for God is obvious and I am confident that you will have the victory. In fact you have it already. Just don’t give up! I have heard great things about the “First Place” program and I know it is helpful to have others supporting you in your weight loss journey. I applaud any program that uses the word of God as the basis for it.
Wow, that is amazing that you found my review on Barnes and Noble’s site! When I wrote it, I was like #112 and I was sure nobody would ever find it. The fact that you did is a miracle. But we know that with God, all things are possible.
Thanks again and stay blessed, sister!
Kim
Hi Kim,
I was watching Oprah today by happen stance and saw there would be a show coming up about this book. As a Christian, and someone who is overweight and has let it define who am in my own mind (Not the truth of the Word on who I am) I was curious. So I hoped on the internet and googled “Christian Reveiw of the book Women, Food, and God.” I am so thankful that your review came up.
What a sweet spirit you are and so clear on your review. I thank you for saving me the cost of this book. I would have absolutley have put it down at page 16.
Also, I think your response to Sandy was done in perfect Christian love but firmly pointed out the error of her way of thinking. I thank God for leading me to your site. I have not even looked around it yet but felt lead to reach out to you after watching your video. Now as I go and search out your method to overcoming this “life” issue I have. How true for you to say it is not really about “food” but life.
Thanks again Kim and may God richly bless you.
Kim McKee
Hi Kim,
Thanks so much for your comment! I think it is great that you took the time to seek out a Christian review of “Women Food and God”. Many, like I did, bought the book hoping to see the God of the bible in it – only to be disappointed to find him absent. My hope in writing the review was that people would know the author’s viewpoint on God before they buy it, then they can make up their own minds. I just know that to define God as “you” or as the universe does not make sense when you consider he made both you and it! He is so much bigger than that but the great news is that he invites each of us to get to know him personally through a relationship with Jesus Christ, through the bible, and through the circumstances of our lives. What an awesome privilege! I thank you Kim for affirming that I did the right thing in posting my review – I admit that I was nervous about doing it, but I am so glad I did. God bless you!
Hello Kim!
I just found you on You Tube today and boy am I glad I did! I truly believe the Lord is leading me onto a new path because last Saturday night I got the idea to start “going to church” at home, and to record the Charles Stanley “In Touch” program for each Sunday morning. Well.. when my husband and I sat down to watch I couldn’t believe the message! It was all about Overcoming Discouragement! The message really spoke to my heart because we have had some very discouraging experiences with my husband’s job for the last few years! I was so down in the dumps I managed to gain over a hundred pounds since the year 2000! Well I just decided to stop relying on men to make my life better, because you cannot rely on them! We are both Christians but just haven’t put Christ first. That is going to change! I want what God wants for us, not what we think we should have! I am convinced that my idea to record the Charles Stanley program was not wholly just my idea!! ; )
I’m very excited about this new direction I’m going in, and I totally agree with your review of Geneen Roth’s book. I bought the book too, and I too was taken aback about what she says about God and her beliefs. It sort of blocked me in the reading.. and I set it down one day to continue it later, but guess what! I just never picked it back up again! Because it lacked what I really needed to speak to my heart and convict me!
I don’t think true healing of one’s heart and mind is possible without God and our dear Savior! Without God, you are trying to fix yourself with your own power, and that’s very unstable.
Thank you Kim soooo much for your site and for your wisdom! I love all the bits of information all over the place, which really helps to put you on the right track! I know it’s going to make a big difference in my life!
Love and Blessings to you!
Sue
Thank you so much for your review. I too, saw this woman on Oprah and suspected their interpretation of “God” and went to the computer to confirm my suspicions. You have a very good grasp on the gospel and are putting it to good use telling the truth with love. Keep it up.