Leiann Walther says:

the previous review seems to be on the theological discussion brought up in the first review and not at all on the product. The Wise Woman is one of the best stories that exposes our loveless selfishness for what it is, and shows what happens when one is transformed into true selfless love for others. It has been one of the most encouraging books in my own pursuit of Christian character, and I try to read it at least once a year. I doubt that anyone who has read the book would give it a "1"! #

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Anne Sallee says:

MacDonald rejected the doctrine of penal Substitutionary atonement as put forward by John Calvin which argues that Christ has taken the place of sinners and is punished by God in their place, believing that in turn it raised serious questions about the character and nature of God. Instead, he taught that Christ had come to save people from their sins, and not from a Divine penalty for their sins. The problem was not the need to appease a wrathful God but the disease of cosmic evil itself. George MacDonald frequently described the Atonement in terms similar to the Christus Victor theory. MacDonald posed the rhetorical question, "Did he not foil and slay evil by letting all the waves and billows of its horrid sea break upon him, go over him, and die without rebound—spend their rage, fall defeated, and cease? Verily, he made atonement!"

MacDonald was convinced that God does not punish except to amend, and that the sole end of His greatest anger is the amelioration of the guilty. As the doctor uses fire and steel in certain deep-seated diseases, so God may use hell-fire if necessary to heal the hardened sinner. MacDonald declared, "I believe that no hell will be lacking which would help the just mercy of God to redeem his children." MacDonald posed the rhetorical question, "When we say that God is Love, do we teach men that their fear of Him is groundless?" He replied, "No. As much as they fear will come upon them, possibly far more. . . . The wrath will consume what they call themselves; so that the selves God made shall appear."
George MacDonald in 1901
George MacDonald in 1901

However, true repentance, in the sense of freely chosen moral growth, is essential to this process, and, in MacDonald's optimistic view, inevitable for all beings. He recognized the theoretical possibility that, bathed in the eschatological divine light, some might perceive right and wrong for what they are but still refuse to be transfigured by operation of God's fires of love, but he did not think this likely.

the question is, did he know the Lord and did God use this man?

hm. #

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corinne mahan says:

After researching George MacDonald, I found he was not a believer in substitionary atonement. I won't be downloading this or any work of his, even if it is free. #

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