Cory and the Seventh Story Hardcover – January 1, 2018

The stories we tell ourselves are important. That’s a message Brian McLaren has brought us before, in life-changing books like A New Kind of Christian and A Generous Orthodoxy. For many of us, it was very liberating to discover that the faith story we grew up with – a particular interpretation of the Bible, or a hurtful version of Christianity – is not the only story. I will always be grateful to Brian McLaren and, before him, Marcus Borg, for enabling thousands of people to reclaim our faith by seeing it with new eyes.In Cory and the Seventh Story, Brian McLaren and Gareth Higgins bring this message in the form of a childrens book. It’s a story about the power of love, and it’s written for children of all faith traditions or none at all. This is a message book, and some will find it a bit preachy at times (as is the case with many childrens books), but the message is a powerful one. The book, which is beautifully illustrated by Heather Lynn Harris, will help its readers identify what kinds of narratives they’re being told, and it will help them choose to live within the story of Reconciliation. “We have more than enough in the story of love.” Highly recommended for children of all ages.

This is a children's book with a heavy-handed dose of morality. I suppose all children's books are like that.Cory is a racoon who lives near a forest with other forest animals. Everything is going well until a couple animals begin fighting. Then it turns into who's the boss which leads to wanting revenge followed by the cowards running away.Pretty soon a new form of identity prejudice takes place giving in to hopelessness until finally we have the "super evil" form of capitalism: creating demand for some idiotic shiny thing and then taking pride in how many idiotic shiny things one has.When those six stories are told. There is a group that wants to get away from it all and they are greeted by a horse that tells a seventh story.A better story than what has taken place.I found it to be an okay reading experience. The illustrations by Heather Lynn Harris were terrific. The narrative is certainly agenda-driven. The agenda of Brian McLaren who advoates for a "new Christianity" that promotes working with people of all faiths for the common good.On the other hand I would compare this book to the kind of religious movies that feel more preachy than creative in how they tell the story and make their point.

Love as an ethic to drive the world seems like such a simple concept. Yet we do not live that way. We choose power, violence, conformity, etc. This book, in a beautifully simple and artistic way, outlines a better way of being. A better way for community.As I was reading it (to my children) I was seeing myself in all the wrong "stories." The book was just as much for me as it was for my children. We will be reading this book regularly as a family.

'Cory and the Seventh Story' is an enjoyable synthesis of the messages behind Brian McLaren's and Gareth Higgins' life work. A disarming tale of forest creatures becomes the occasion for a seminal (yet timely) story of mimetic rivalry and contagious generosity. I read it to my kids, and we've read it in our church - for all ages. Highly recommended transformational reading.

Loved this book, and gave copies to my whole family for Christmas––they're all in love with it now too. What I especially love is that the philosophy and moral underpinnings are well-thought out and not at all half-baked. Absolutely loving the message!