The Hiding Places of God

by John Cornwell

Shows how a journalist changed his beliefs after investigating spiritual occurrences around the world and interviewing the people who experienced them firsthand

302 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1991

About the author

John Cornwell is a British journalist, author, and academic. Since 1990 he has directed the Science and Human Dimension Project at Jesus College, Cambridge, where he is also, since 2009, Founder and Director of the Rustat Conferences. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters (University of Leicester) in 2011. He was nominated for the PEN/Ackerley Prize for best UK memoir 2007 (Seminary Boy) and shortlisted Specialist Journalist of the Year (science, medicine in Sunday Times Magazine), British Press Awards 2006. He won the Scientific and Medical Network Book of the Year Award for Hitler's Scientists, 2005; and received the Independent Television Authority - Tablet Award for contributions to religious journalism (1994). In 1982 he won the Gold Dagger Award Non-Fiction (1982) for Earth to Earth. He is best known for his investigative journalism; memoir; and his work in public understanding of science. In addition to his books on the relationship between science, ethics and the humanities, he has written widely on the Catholic Church and the modern papacy.

Reviews

[Brian Erland · Rating 5 out of 5]

As stated by author John Cornwell, `The Hiding Places of God' is "a personal journey into the world of religious visions, holy objects and miracles." Sit back in your most comfortable reading chair and prepare for a person, thoughtful and satisfying excursion into a multi-layered universe where doubt and belief, delusion and faith commingle. John's true life spiritual journey begins like so many spiritual encounters have through the centuries, with a vivid dream. It was a dream that would change him forever.

While the book is written from a Roman Catholic perspective there are no black and white conclusions within these pages, no dogmatic absolutes, or “spiritual requirements” the reader is expected to embrace. This is an intelligently written and provocative read as the author searches for spiritual proof of the existence of the Divine in his examination of the ultimate consequences of our personal belief systems.

Take a look at the Table of Contents and see if any of the following categories spark your interest:
Part One: Small Mysteries
Part Two: A Spiritual Disneyland
Part Three: Real Presences
Part Four: Wounds and Healing
Part Five: Saints, Angels and Prodigies
Part Six: Powers of Darkness

As one would expect you’ll find some chapters more to your liking than others, The subject matter you gravitate to will obviously depend on what where your interest lie. My personal favorite two chapters are;

Chapter 13- "The Reluctant Prophetess" which contains an absolutely fascinating meeting with Conchita Gonzalez-Keena, the recluse Marian visionary of Garabandal, Spain.
Chapter 26- "Victim" containing an interview with a man relating his personal encounter with Satan.

Whatever your spiritual persuasion you'll take away more than one or two notions that you will continue to ponder long after finishing the book. I for one definitely enjoyed and appreciate the honesty and candor of John Cornwall's experiences.

[Lora · Rating 3 out of 5]

As I noted at the time, the author looked at large and small miracles (for example his arriving at a place he had seen in a recurring dream). Through his experiences, research and reflections, he concluded that miracles shouldn't be treated literally or taken as proof of God's existence, which only makes them vulnerable to scientific debunking. Instead they should be interpreted like poems, as divinely-inspired acts of imagination.