New Christian Self-help book overturns Christian teachings

GRIMSBY, Ontario - Aug. 5, 2024 - PRLog -- It may seem contradictory that a Christian self-help book identifies and overturns certain doctrines as harmful, presenting alternative doctrine to help mental health. If your self-esteem and self-confidence have been hurt from being sidelined and told to be silent and submissive, this book is for you. If you are a spiritual wanderer, ex-vangelical, or feeling sidelined by religion, you may find fresh hope in this new release by Elaine Ricker Kelly.

Kelly has also been advocating for equality in her fiction writing. Forgotten Followers from Broken to Bold put female disciples overcoming trauma at the forefront of the Gospel stories, showing Jesus calls them. Because She Was Called, from Broken to Bold, book 2, shows women acting on their call to speak and teach, advocating to take action based on God's call. However, she has also entered non-fiction writing with The Sword: A Fun Way to Engage in Healthy Debate on What the Bible Says About a Woman's Role.

"I write to bring healing and hope in whatever format is best for the reader. I put concepts into fiction to make them more accessible. The fictional character development of Mara shows how she gains confidence from new ways of thinking about God and relationships. I wrote this non-fiction because some readers find it easier to apply Mara's steps if I pull them out of the story and lay them out clearly."

The new release, Walk with Mara on Her Healing Journey, reads a bit like a memoir, with Kelly sharing personal stories about times when she was emotionally upset, and how she applied steps to restore peace of mind and build emotional resilience. This stand-alone book is unique not only because each technique is illustrated by the fictional character, Mara, and from the author's own life, it is also a unique combination of spiritualism, pop psychology, and theology.

"Some valuable, proven psychology tools have been ignored by Christians holding to the false idea that prayer alone is the only allowable help for mental health. Christians can benefit from practicing secular tools for naming and handling emotions, reclaiming ancient practices like meditation and mindfulness, and re-interpreting passages that have been used to shame, blame, and silence people, particularly women and minorities."

Elaine R. Kelly and her husband live near Hamilton, Ontario, and have three adult daughters. She and her husband worship at an affirming church and enjoy hiking with their small dog, appreciating the Niagara escarpment, playing tennis, pickleball, and music.

Website: www.elainekelly.ca