The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert (Expanded Edition)

A friend recommended this book a few years ago... why did I wait so long to get round to reading it...?The author writes from her heart, not pretending that her life as an "out" lesbian academic in a seriously committed relationship was anything other than fulfilling and satisfying.Neither does she pretend that her coming to faith in Christ was anything other than disturbing, upsetting and traumatic - a "train wreck", to use her terminology.Yet the story made me laugh as well as cry because it is told with humour and enthusiasm for life and for people in all of their / our eccentricity and imperfection.This book is an antidote to the flood of books and articles which tell us that God loves us as we are (true) and therefore we can continue living the way we want with God's blessing and approval (false).It is not an easy read as it challenges every reader to examine her / his own heart and root out any prejudice towards people in the LGBT community. It also challenges us to engage at a profound level with the huge and unmet needs of young people and chidren in the care system. Though Rosaria is writing from an American perspective, I gather that the situation in the UK is similar, i.e. not enough foster carers and potential adopters, especially for children with additional / special needs, and teenagers.To conclude, a deep, heart-breaking and yet humorous, even at times hilarious read.

This book might be a source of embarrassment or even outrage to anyone who believes that a person's sexual orientation is immutable. On the other hand, it might bring relief and encouragement to those who are not satisfied by the incompatibility between their physiology and psychology and are seeking harmony. Rosaria Butterfield begins by describing her life and attitudes as a lesbian and campaigning feminist, before tracing how this was changed by her experience of the holy love of God shown through certain ministers of the Gospel and Christian congregations. She also gives insights as to the nature of the homosexual community and how Christians may be perceived by members of this. In many ways she cannot be taken as typical, with her powerful intellect and background in Roman Catholicism. Has this lady gone from one extreme to another - to the Reformed Presbyterian Church with its exclusive use of psalms in worship despite what St Paul writes about hymns and spiritual songs in Ephesians 5.19? This book is a witness to a life totally transformed in Christ.

I actually read Rosaria’s follow up to this book, Openess Unhindered, first, then I wanted to read where she’d come from. This book has so much to say about sharing the Christian faith, about hospitality, about the major change that becoming a follower of Christ can and should have in our lives. It also has a lot to say about how we view sin which I found very helpful. As a Christian who had been exploring feminism I found it very interesting to read how Rosaria’s view on the role of women were changed and formed.

I liked this book from a Christian women who showed it possible to move away from sinful homosexuality.

I really enjoyed this book and found it fascinating! She is a very clever and honest and pretty amazing woman! What God hath wrought! It is likely that readers won't agree with everything as she holds to exclusive psalmody but it does us good to be challenged and given insight into other people's lives! There are going to be people who will absolutely hate this because it is not politically correct to be an ex Lesbian, ex English professor and write about your conversion to biblical Christianity!

This is a well-written, thought-provoking book which documents the struggle to find out about ultimate truth in a society dominated by 'truth is what you make it to be'. Although the author becomes a Christian, she nonetheless points to the shortcomings of right-wing politicized evangelicalism - urging them to engage people of all backgrounds in a conversation about the gospel rather than simply pointing fingers of condemnation.

A very honest and biblical perspective of homosexuality and of one person's struggle to deal with that particular sin, post her conversion to Christ. A good read for anyone having doubts about their sexuality, particularly from a Christian perspective.

A challenging and insightful book. I don't agree with everything Rosaria writes, but I appreciated the challenge to Christians to live in a way which makes Christ known, even when that means stepping out of our comfort zones and challenging our preconceptions. Our God is great!