Heaven Without Her: A Desperate Daughter's Search for the Heart of Her Mother's Faith

by Kitty Foth-Regner

A fascinating personal account of a libertarian feminist agnostic who discovered a dynamic faith. Kitty Foth-Regner was a secular feminist who had bought hook, line, and sinker the ideals and objectives of Betty Friedan's N.O.W. Kitty's mother-a woman of faith-became sick and clearly was destined to die rather quickly. And the author began to wonder about whether she would be in heaven with her mother someday. This led her on a personal journey of...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 078522744X
• ISBN13: 9780785227441
• Release Date: April 2008
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

A Fascinating Search for Faith

I came very close to tossing this book away. With so many books coming my way these days, I need to move assess them quickly, determining which are worth a closer look and which are not. I cannot read them all. In this case, I saw the cover, I saw the title, I skimmed the back and thought "not likely." But then I noticed that the author had included a little note inside. There she drew my attention to a couple of the endorsements that she felt would be meaningful to me--namely, Nancy Pearcey and Mark Buchanan, both authors whose works I am fond of. As I looked further I saw that it is also endorsed by Ray Comfort. Based on all of this I decided I would read it. And I'm glad I did. Heaven Without Her is a memoir. It is the life story of Kitty Foth-Regner, who, until the year 2000, was living exactly the life she wanted for herself as an ardent feminist. She owned her own business, and a rather successful one at that, had a live-in boyfriend whom she loved, and owned a house with a beautiful garden. It was all she had ever wanted. But when she learned that her mother had a terminal illness and as she watched her mother succumb to death, her heart was stirred with questions of eternity. Was there something to her mother's Christian faith, or was that faith really nothing more than wistful delusions? Kitty set out to determine what was true. Her searching took her through most of the world's major religions (and a few more). She saw quickly how each of them failed to offer good answers and true comfort. All but one, that is. As she explored Christianity through the guidance of sound pastors and theologians, she found a faith that offered answers to the toughest questions. She found a God who loved her as He had loved her mother before. In this book, Foth-Regner documents hear search. In a fun and narrative style, she describes how the Bible answered all of her questions and how her heart was first convicted, then convinced, and finally renewed. The unthinkable happened--she became a Christian, and this despite so many years of feminism and agnosticism. Her old passions and desires fell away and were replaced with new ones; holy ones. Heaven Without Her is a valuable read and I think an important one. i consider it an important apologetic work. Sure it presents truths that have been written in other books over and over again, but rarely have they been written in so readable a style. The innovation here is not so much the content as the style and its readily accessible format. This is an ideal book to give to a person who may have questions about the Christian faith. For that person who seems to be seeking or searching, this is a book that can provide answers and can show how God has worked in the life of another of His children. Despite my initial apprehension, having read the book I now highly recommend it.

A wonderful tribute to a mother and her faith

I happened upon this book not quite sure what to expect since I'd never heard of the author. As soon as I started the book I couldn't put it down. Kitty's style of writing has such a flair to it and I was able to put myself right there beside of her during the entire book. And the story itself is tremendous. It is such a testimony the love between a mother and daughter as well as the love of our Lord. Buy this book! It is definitely one that you'll want to read over again.

A must read for the discriminating seeker!

I believe this memoir mirrors the experience of so many women who are left spiritually empty-handed at the end of the day. And it will resonate especially with anyone who, in grieving, has wondered about the realities of heaven. The author grants us an intimate and poignant view of her own loss and spiritual struggle. Then, with the tenacity of a best-selling crime-solver, she sorts through and compiles evidence for faith in Christ that ultimately cannot be dismissed. This book is a must read for the discriminating seeker.

Helping Your Young Unbeliever to Evaluate Christian Beliefs

I'm sure that Ms. Foth-Regner wrote this remarkable memoir in the hope of opening the eyes of other bright young sons and daughters from among her own baby-boomer generation - especially for those who may consider themselves far too intelligent and "sophisticated" to buy into the simple, unquestioning, sweet (but clueless) Faith of their Fathers (and mothers). This she has done brilliantly - for those inclined to listen, of their own accord. But as the rapidly-aging mother of such young sophisticates, I'd also like to recommend it highly to my own, older generation, especially if you find yourself echoing her mother's plaintive cry - "If I could give you only one thing in this life, my dearest young atheist, it would be the kind of faith in the Lord which has sustained me through all these years!" Well, here in this book, is a wonderful start. Read it yourself, as I did, to understand the kinds of questions that have, for so long, justified disbelief in those whose goal that is. Discover answers that we may not have needed ourselves (although it couldn't hurt) - but that can create such chasms of misunderstanding between generations. Then give a copy to your own dear young unbeliever, and ask that she read it too (if only for your sake - because you would so like to discuss it with her). Astound her with how well you can now understand her point of view, and speak her language. And maybe - just maybe - she'll also become open to doing the same for you. I haven't found a better way to open this potentially life-changing conversation - not confrontationally, but in the honest hope of mutual learning. And I can't think of a more valuable (or challenging) gift to give to your graduate, or your Birthday Girl (or Boy) ... as they say, in advance of need.