adption surrender

Where We Belong [Book]

- Suz 9 Comments

Have you read this book? 

Where We Belong by Emily Giffin

From ew.com “The book follows Marian Caldwell, a successful TV producer, who gets a shock when (minor spoiler alert!) Kirby, the daughter she gave up for adoption 18 years ago, arrives at her door. Giffin uses alternate point of views to tell the heartfelt story of Marian and Kirby, and how they both cope with their newfound relationship.”

I read it yesterday, cover to cover (well, sort of since I read it on my iPad). I highlighted a number of passages. 

In short I liked it and thought it was well done in terms of the accurate portrayal of the emotional dynamics of  search and reunion (at least as I have experienced, noting that I cannot comment on the adoptee narrative in the book but I could relate to the mother, particularly in one majorly whopping way).

I have some thoughts but would love to discuss interactively in comments if anyone here has read it. 

If you read, what did you think about Kirby?

What were your thoughts on Marian and her reaction to being found? What did you think about Marian in general? About her “choices”?

How strong was Marian’s mothers influence in relation to the adoption? Did Marian’s socio economic status contribute to the adoption?

How about Conrad?

Did the title of the book make sense to you? How did you interpret it?

If no one has read it, I will ramble on in a separate post about the passages I highlighted and why.

 

Christians & Dissenting Opinions in Adoption

- Suz 5 Comments

Hat tip to Desiree Smolin for this link.

Journal of Christian Legal Thought

From the editor, Michael P. Schutt:

“This issue of the Journal is a bit of a dissenting opinion, but I believe that it will be helpful and illuminating, regardless of which side one takes on the issues discussed. Our guest editor is Professor David Smolin, Harwell G. Davis Professor of Constitutional Law and Director of the Center for Biotechnology, Law and Ethics at Samford University’s Cumberland School of Law. Professor Smolin, who invited the authors and developed the topic for this issue, also contributes the keystone essay. His purpose is to “demonstrate that the scriptural and theological analysis undergirding the evangelical adoption and orphan care movement is seriously erroneous.” “These errors,” he says, “produce practices that are sinful and exploitative.” Put simply, this is not the majority view among evangelicals today“

Articles/Authors include:
  1. David Smolin’s Biblical & general critique of the contemporary Christian Orphan Care Movement;
  2. Two responses to David’s critique by leaders of that movement Jedd Medefind Dan Cruver;
  3. JaeRan Kim, a transracial, international adult adoptee’s, thoughts on “color-blind Christianity” as someone who grew up as a transracial, international adoptee in a white church;
  4. Reverend Mark Diebel, a transracial, international adult adoptee, writing on truthfulness and human nature in regard to both adoption and donor conception;
  5. Noted adoption historian E. Wayne Carp on a little known Christian figure, Jean Patton, who fought against the tide of the Baby Scoop era to apply the historic understanding of how to help unwed mothers and their children by keeping them together and respecting them; and
  6.  “A Mother’s Story” a heart-wrenching true-life modern narrative by an unwed mother whose baby was taken from her through the efforts a church entirely too taken with the idea of adoption.
View and download the entire issue at the link above.