From his Jesuit background, Bernie Owens has written a twenty-first-century version of Teresa of Avila’s sixteenth-century classic, The Interior Castle. He writes in an experiential, easy-to-read style with numerous contemporary stories taken from North American and African cultures to illustrate the seven stages of spiritual growth Teresa describes. His book is a map for those seeking guidance on how to grow into praying and living contemplatively and dispose themselves for entering the deeper stages of the spiritual journey. Finally, he names issues that frequently emerge during the spiritual journey, describes the way for becoming a Beloved Disciple of Jesus as a proven path for living intimately with Christ and the Triune God, and, lastly, presents the kind of God Teresa knew and fiercely loved.
Claiming Our Deepest Desires integrates the spirituality of marriage with the practical experience of marriage. M. Bridget Brennan and Jerome L. Shen, a married couple, invite readers to reflect on God's call to marriage, the nature of the call, and the acceptance. Readers contemplate true love, intimacy, and how love is expressed and received in their marriage. The book addresses attitudes that are helpful for dealing with obstacles and fears that hinder intimacy. The rhythms, cycles, and stages in a marriage are discussed to provide awareness for a married couple. The wants, needs, and requirements for the relationship are acknowledged. The authors delve into some specific aspects of marriage by considering the process of making decisions as a couple, discussing making life choices, and different perspectives on the use of time and money. One chapter is devoted to love making. Communication and conflict resolution are brought up as well as the call to mission. The book ends by focusing on the hopes, dreams, and Vision that we have for marriage and how that motivates us to live better and more joy-filled lives today. Claiming Our Deepest Desires is for adults in healthy committed married relationships, who wish to grow in love and intimacy to realize the full promise of marriage. Ideally spouses will read, reflect on, and discuss the book together. It can be used by individuals, small groups, or as a supplemental text to university-level courses. Chapters are Call to Marriage," *What Is Love and Intimacy? - *Growing in Love and Intimacy, - *The Dynamics of Relationship, - *Making Decisions on Life Choices, Time, and Money, - *Making Love in a Sexually Charged World, - *Conflict and Communication, - *Mission: Fruit of a Vibrant Marriage, - and *The Fruit of Love Is Joy. - Exercises and reflection questions are provided at the end of each chapter. M. Bridget Brennan is the director of marriage ministry at St. Francis Xavier Church on the campus of St. Louis University. She serves as a consultant with the St. Louis Archdiocesan Office of Laity and Family Life. She is founder and president of The Cana Institute. She also serves as an adjunct instructor at Aquinas Institute School of Theology and St. Louis Community College. Jerome L. Shen served as director of fundamental research for DuPont Protein Technology International for several years. Presently he serves as visiting professor of chemistry at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, Illinois. Bridget and Jerry travel throughout the United States presenting retreats and workshops for married couples. In addition, they direct marriage preparation seminars for first-time marriages, second-time marriages, and inter-faith marriages. "
Finding Our True Home presents a new definitive translation of the Amitabha Sutra along with Thich Nhat Hanh’s first commentary on one of the most practiced forms of Buddhism in the world, the Pure Land school. Introduced in the Buddha’s own lifetime, Pure Land practice puts us in touch with the beauty in our own world and brings us the security, solidity, and freedom we need in order to truly enjoy it. Realizing that Buddha is within us, we see that the Pure Land (paradise) is here and now, rather than in the future. Finding Our True Home will open a new Dharma door to many students of meditation.
How can we shape our future by understanding our past and living in the present? Do you want to change your future but feel stuck due to the past or the present? This book will help you understand how your past experiences, beliefs, and habits have shaped your present reality and are influencing your future possibilities. This book is a captivating blend of memoir, self-help, and empowering you to chase your dreams/desires that will motivate you to dream big. You will learn how to create positive change in yourself and your world by discovering the basic infrastructural requirements for a fulfilling life. It will inspire you to make a change for chasing your dream as it would be easy after reading this. The book does not directly offer a step-by-step solution or guidance to actions but would open gates for your steps in the journey of life in an easy way to make a desire/dream come true by your daily actions itself. You will see some unconventional combinations of professions that would help you think about life on a different horizon. This book is for anyone who wants to transform their life but doesn’t know where to begin. The author is presenting a journey of life and his vision of a place where dreams and desires are no longer just probabilities, but realities.
Befriending Our Desires portrays the intimate connection between desire and the spiritual journey. Philip Sheldrake explores the role of desire in relation to God, prayer, sexuality, making choices, and responding to change.
Forster's reading reveals the Phenomenology of Spirit as in fact an impressively coherent text containing a rich array of ideas of extraordinary philosophical originality and depth.
CONTENT: What do you want? -- What did you go out to the desert to see? -- What do you want me to do for you? -- Who do you say that I am? -- Will God grant justice to his chosen? -- Is it lawful? -- Why do you not believe? -- Do you believe I can do this for you? -- How many loaves do you have? -- Do you see anything? -- Where are the nine? -- Has no one condemned you? -- Why should it clutter the ground? -- Did you not know? -- Who is my mother?
THE SHAPING OF THE UNBEGOTTEN EXPANDED EDITION LECTURE BASED ON THE LECTURE BY NEVILLE GODDARD WRITTEN BY NEVILLE GODDARD ABOUT THIS BOOK This book is a public domain ebook, enriched with new content that delves into the life and teachings of the original author. The additional material serves as an insightful expansion, designed to provide readers with a deeper understanding of the context surrounding the author's work. By incorporating details about the author's life and the philosophical underpinnings of their teachings, this enhanced edition offers a comprehensive exploration that goes beyond the original text. Readers are invited to engage with a more comprehensive narrative, gaining not only knowledge of the author's literary contributions but also a nuanced perspective on the factors that influenced their work. ABOUT NEVILLE GODDARD: Neville Goddard was a mystic and spiritual teacher who lived from 1905 to 1972. He was born in Barbados and later moved to New York City, where he began to study spiritual and mystical teachings. He also studied the work of psychologists such as Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung. Goddard's main teachings focus on the power of the imagination to create one's reality. He believed that everything in our lives, from our circumstances to our health, is a result of our imaginal acts. He taught that by changing our thoughts and beliefs, we can change our lives and manifest our desires. BOOK CONTENT: About This Book Brief Book Introduction Brief Biography Of Neville Goddard Introduction Early Life And Awakening Teachings And Philosophy Notable Works And Legacy About Neville Goddard LECTURE: THE SHAPING OF THE UNBEGOTTEN EXPANDED CONTENT 10 LESSONS FROM THE LECTURE 01. Belief In A Loving God 02. Union With God 03. Attributes Of God 04. Identity And Individuality 05. Manifestation Through Imagination 06. Practical Application Of Spiritual Laws 07. Faith In God's Law 08. Change In Perspective 09. Law As A Protector 10. Dreams As Messages KEY THEMES IN NEVILLE GODDARD'S TEACHINGS The Power Of Imagination Consciousness And Awareness Living From The End Revision And Reimagining Faith And Belief Inner Conversations And Self-Talk The Law Of Assumption Gratitude And Appreciation Oneness And Interconnectedness Personal Responsibility And Empowerment
Wittgenstein influenced a generation of philosophers and theologians, with works such as Fergus Kerr’s Theology After Wittgenstein showing the relevance of Wittgenstein’s philosophy for contemporary questions in theology. Nature as Guide follows many of the insights of this earlier generation of Wittgenstein influenced scholars, to bring Wittgenstein into conversation with contemporary Catholic moral theology. The first four chapters of the book provides a reading of key themes in Wittgenstein’s philosophy, and draw among others on G.E.M. Anscombe to situate Wittgenstein in relation to the Platonic tradition. Understanding the relationship between grammar, metaphysics and nature is central to this tradition and these themes are examined through an account of Wittgenstein’s philosophical development. These four chapters also provides a critical perspective on Wittgenstein’s thought, engaging with the criticisms of Wittgenstein offered by philosophers such as Rhees Rush and William Charlton. Chapter five lays the groundwork for a dialogue between Wittgenstein and moral theology. Firstly, by examining how open Wittgenstein’s philosophy is to dialogue with theology, and secondly through proposing the use of Servais Pinckaers’ definition of moral theology to structure the conversation developed in subsequent chapters. Pinckaers’ definition is based upon St Thomas Aquinas’ presentation of the principles of human acts in the Prima Secundae of the Summa Theologiae and the final three chapters focus on the question of human acts and their basis in human nature. The reading of Wittgenstein developed in the first part of the book is brought into dialogue with the tradition of Catholic moral theology represented by Pinckaers and other students of St Thomas, such as Anscombe, Josef Pieper, Herbert McCabe, Jean Porter and Alasdair MacIntyre. The book finishes with McCabe’s account of the transformation of human nature through God’s Word, showing how Wittgenstein’s understanding of human practices can shed light on the life of grace.
A guide to Christian philosophy that engages with the biblical story As human beings, we all qualify as philosophers, and Paul Copan contends that we take a position of trust (faith) shaped by philosophical stances but also personal heart commitments (worldviews). In this thoroughly revised and expanded second edition of Loving Wisdom, Copan explores philosophy of religion from a distinctively evangelical Christian perspective—biblically grounded, informed by apologetics, and engaging with questions about universal human longings. Copan presents a distinctively and deliberately biblical philosophy of religion in Loving Wisdom,addressing a wide range of topics and questions as they arise in the metanarrative of scripture. He acknowledges the difficulties, mystery, and disagreements in “religion,” while attempting to show how the Christian faith does a much more adequate job of responding to a wide range of challenges as well as addressing our deepest human yearnings. With discussion questions for each chapter and an accessible approach, Loving Wisdom is ideal for the classroom or small groups.
