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Writing in the Sand: Jesus and the Soul of the Gospels
In his latest work, Thomas Moore examines the Gospels. He uses a new approach based on a fresh reading of the original Greek texts, newly discovered gospels and employs psychology and archetypal studies.
In this book, Moore shows that Jesus’ teachings are challenging in a way that is far different from the moralism often associated with him. Writing in the Sand sets forth how we can today live the way of life that Jesus represents, showing that Jesus is a vibrant figure whose teachings can be meaningfully integrated into our twenty-first century intellectual and spiritual lives. Moore also unravels the mystery of Jesus in the past and present, from the hidden and coded texts of the Gospels, and the result will enlighten and delight readers.
179 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2009
101 people are currently reading
182 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Moore
137 books597 followersThomas Moore is the author of the bestselling book, Care of the Soul, Ageless Soul, and fifteen other books on deepening spirituality and cultivating soul in every aspect of life. He has been a monk, a musician, a university professor, and a psychotherapist, and today he lectures widely on holistic medicine, spirituality, psychotherapy, and the arts. He lectures frequently in Ireland and has a special love of Irish culture. He has Ph.D. in religion from Syracuse University and has won several awards for his work, including an honorary doctorate from Lesley University and the Humanitarian Award from Einstein Medical School of Yeshiva University. He also has a B.A. in music from DePaul University, an M.A. in musicology from the University of Michigan, and an M.A. in theology from the University of Windsor. He also writes fiction and music and often works with his wife, artist and yoga instructor, Hari Kirin. He writes regular columns for Resurgence and Spirituality & Health.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
June 2, 2021
Not the easiest of Moore's books to read but this one will give you a lot to think about when it comes to your spiritual life. I've enjoyed every book of his that I've read because he recognizes that there are no "neat and tidy" answers to the questions of life....and that the answers depend upon the person asking the questions. I highly recommend any of his books.
June 4, 2014
Moore, a "Zen Catholic" psychotherapist, former monk, and bestselling author of Care of the Soul (Harper Collins, 1992), seeks to reveal the layers of deep spiritual truths in the teachings of Jesus that are often hidden by traditional theology. Moore contends that religiosity and the idolatry of Christ are counterproductive to the cultivation of the authentic soul and the Kingdom of God, which he describes as the internal transformation that leads one to act with love and mindfulness rather than moralistic judgment. Jesus' mission was not to proscribe moral behaviors or preach a gospel of wealth but rather to teach wholeness: "to have a spiritual existence, to maintain an adequate relationship with the natural world, to live in accord with communitarian values, and to feel psychologically secure and creative." Moore's use of delightful metaphors, teachings, and parables from various traditions and his simultaneously learned and lyrical tone spiral past the cynical mind to touch the reader's soul first, and then circles back to guide the intellect along for this extraordinary and journey that assists us to explore hitherto unknown interior landscapes. This is joyful spiritual writing at its finest, an extraordinary book highly recommended for bookstores and public and academic libraries.
March 28, 2010
This is one powerful book. Most of us are familiar with the Gospels of the New Testament and the teachings of Jesus Christ. But for me, this little book by Thomas Moore has revealed them much more deeply. He has offered a reconsideration of the common interpretations that have been preached through organized religion for the past two thousand years. He shows us a more human Jesus whose teachings act as a guide to crating a more meaningful life. Far from the traditional moralistic view, we find a sophisticated Jesus having the good life of friends; loves; community; and a fascinating original philosophy based on being open to life, deepening our understanding of life, and giving up all defensiveness around our convictions.
In his examination of the original Greek texts, Moore draws upon numerous sources including his background of studying theology, world religions, art history, depth psychology, and world mythology. He explores the deeper significance of language, stressing the origin of words and their MANY levels of meaning in an effort to discover what we can TRULY learn from the Gospels' most significant stories.
A must read for the serious student of Christianity and follower.
In his examination of the original Greek texts, Moore draws upon numerous sources including his background of studying theology, world religions, art history, depth psychology, and world mythology. He explores the deeper significance of language, stressing the origin of words and their MANY levels of meaning in an effort to discover what we can TRULY learn from the Gospels' most significant stories.
A must read for the serious student of Christianity and follower.
December 15, 2013
Great book. I've always believed this but to see someone else write it was comforting. Good soul work here.
February 14, 2025
If Moore, who is a good enough writer to stay clear of both sentimentality and piety, had intended to rip the very soul out of Christianity with this book he couldn't have done a better job of it. The book is so relentlessly inane, so utterly insipid, so tepid, pedestrian, unimaginative, uninspired and political correct I kept wondering as to why I even bothered reading it in the first place. There wasn't anything of substance in it, nothing I hadn't heard countless times before. It had no teeth. No edge. No nothing. Not even meaningless platitudes. It's as though his editor told him, "throw in some Jung and some references to the Buddha, and don't you dare say anything even remotely controversial". But then, you know...if you are inspired by human-interest stories on NPR and are relatively well adjusted to consensus reality and think that pop psychology can do wonders for your ego, then by all means, have at it. You will so love this book. Your life and your religion can go on, relatively undisturbed. Otherwise read John of the Cross, or Augustine, or Ratzinger or Dietrich Bonhoeffer, or even Care of the Soul, by Thomas Moore. Otherwise, pass on. This book is definitely not for such as those who wrestle with their Faith in the hellish trenches of spiritual warfare, as though it actually made a difference.
December 23, 2020
Moore is always interesting to me. If you've liked his book, Care of the Soul, you will appreciate this one too. Moore doesn't follow the crowd. He follows his own path and your own views of the gospels will be challenged if you're open to it.
July 15, 2017
excelente libro que muestra una mirada mucho mas amplia y renovadora de la vida y el significado de Jesús.
Una delicia
Una delicia
September 7, 2021
Loved this book and its fresh take on the gospels without reducing them to less than they are.
December 30, 2021
Anything written by Thomas Moore is going to be substantial and worth the read. This book was amazingly supportive and revelatory to me on many levels.
May 28, 2023
Thank you for that book
This is a book that touches your soul, your mind and your body...my heartfelt thanks to Thomas Moore for having written such a profound book
This is a book that touches your soul, your mind and your body...my heartfelt thanks to Thomas Moore for having written such a profound book
March 17, 2025
This book makes so much sense to me. I've always had my conflicts with the patriarchal organized religion and Thomas' book provides a much more enlightened way to view and interpret the Gospels.
January 13, 2016
Why do I read so many books about religion? a friend asked me. Not for devotional reasons but because religion just seems to me an inexhaustibly interesting topic. How do humans make sense of their destiny, of what they should be trying to accomplish on earth and the best way to go about it. The great world religions may agree in general terms, but within their beliefs are many strands of interpretation.
Moore's book is about his interpretation of what he considers the basic tenets of Christianity, or as he puts it, the "soul" of Christianity. Although he doesn't say much about it, the title, "Writing in the Sand" is, I think, significant. It alludes to John's gospel where Christ comments as he writes in the sand about the punishment due to an adulterous woman . What does he write? There are different opinions as to why he responds in this way , but for Moore I think the point is that one has to mostly come to his own determination as to how best understand this mysterious action as well as the entire Bible.
Moore identifies four concepts that he think the New Testament gospels embody. The first is "metanoia", or more commonly translated as repentance, which he sees as a reawakening or a new vision. Each person has to have a change of heart, a new and often unconventional way of having a spiritual vision.
The second is that of "agape" or love, a moving away from the too often common responses to life - hatred, suspicion, judgment, and even paranoia The best example of this in action is the parable of the prodigal son. The father is compassionate and forgiving, and allows the errant son a second chance. The alternative is the closed mind of the elder son who locks people into the past lives.
The" kingdom" (as in the Lord's prayer) is the attempt to build social justice on the principles of the personal vision. The Father, then, is metaphorically an expression of ethical concerns that go beyond the individual's interests. .
Finally, he sees the Christian as a "healer" and this is the point of all of Christ's miracles which for Moore are archetypal examples of healing.. All occupations then find ways to heal or improve whatever physical, emotional, or spiritual sicknesses come along. Parents, teachers, physicians, scientists, manufacturers, financial persons, politicians, all have a role in keeping their constituents sound and healthy in their respective disciplines.
He stresses that all of these categories merge and overlap so that when you talk about one, you end up by talking about all of them. He uses concepts from other religions to illustrate his points and what unifies them is a personal and poetic response to the scripture words. For example, Jesus could be considered as a shaman, a go-between who passes from the spiritual to the ordinary, from the mind to the body. A life that is split, either veering too far toward the mind or toward the body, is a life that is broken and in need of healing.
The rite of baptism, of Christ being immersed in the Jordan River, is an acknowledgement of the "flow of life" and the skies opening to show a dove descending is an aspect of the "father" spirit, the imperative of transcending one's self-interests and being guided by the "kingdom" of justice and truth..
Moore emphasizes that his interpretations are not mere wordplay. "A Buddhist has to resolve a similar issue by grasping the paradox by which samsara (the wheel of everyday concerns) and nirvana (the state of having exited the frenetic life) are somehow identical. In the Jesus spirituality, ordinary life and the separate reality of the kingdom are in some sense, the same."
Repeatedly, Moore brings up the paradox of Christ, "divine" in his pursuit of an equitable kingdom - healing, teaching, banishing the "demons" of our faults, even to the extent of giving his life for it, but at the same time "human" in his enjoyment of simple pleasures - friends, both women and men, eating and drinking, loyalty, a sense of community, and humor. To follow Christ means a new way of imagining the human condition , of rethinking the platitudes that organized religion often slide into.
Moore's book is about his interpretation of what he considers the basic tenets of Christianity, or as he puts it, the "soul" of Christianity. Although he doesn't say much about it, the title, "Writing in the Sand" is, I think, significant. It alludes to John's gospel where Christ comments as he writes in the sand about the punishment due to an adulterous woman . What does he write? There are different opinions as to why he responds in this way , but for Moore I think the point is that one has to mostly come to his own determination as to how best understand this mysterious action as well as the entire Bible.
Moore identifies four concepts that he think the New Testament gospels embody. The first is "metanoia", or more commonly translated as repentance, which he sees as a reawakening or a new vision. Each person has to have a change of heart, a new and often unconventional way of having a spiritual vision.
The second is that of "agape" or love, a moving away from the too often common responses to life - hatred, suspicion, judgment, and even paranoia The best example of this in action is the parable of the prodigal son. The father is compassionate and forgiving, and allows the errant son a second chance. The alternative is the closed mind of the elder son who locks people into the past lives.
The" kingdom" (as in the Lord's prayer) is the attempt to build social justice on the principles of the personal vision. The Father, then, is metaphorically an expression of ethical concerns that go beyond the individual's interests. .
Finally, he sees the Christian as a "healer" and this is the point of all of Christ's miracles which for Moore are archetypal examples of healing.. All occupations then find ways to heal or improve whatever physical, emotional, or spiritual sicknesses come along. Parents, teachers, physicians, scientists, manufacturers, financial persons, politicians, all have a role in keeping their constituents sound and healthy in their respective disciplines.
He stresses that all of these categories merge and overlap so that when you talk about one, you end up by talking about all of them. He uses concepts from other religions to illustrate his points and what unifies them is a personal and poetic response to the scripture words. For example, Jesus could be considered as a shaman, a go-between who passes from the spiritual to the ordinary, from the mind to the body. A life that is split, either veering too far toward the mind or toward the body, is a life that is broken and in need of healing.
The rite of baptism, of Christ being immersed in the Jordan River, is an acknowledgement of the "flow of life" and the skies opening to show a dove descending is an aspect of the "father" spirit, the imperative of transcending one's self-interests and being guided by the "kingdom" of justice and truth..
Moore emphasizes that his interpretations are not mere wordplay. "A Buddhist has to resolve a similar issue by grasping the paradox by which samsara (the wheel of everyday concerns) and nirvana (the state of having exited the frenetic life) are somehow identical. In the Jesus spirituality, ordinary life and the separate reality of the kingdom are in some sense, the same."
Repeatedly, Moore brings up the paradox of Christ, "divine" in his pursuit of an equitable kingdom - healing, teaching, banishing the "demons" of our faults, even to the extent of giving his life for it, but at the same time "human" in his enjoyment of simple pleasures - friends, both women and men, eating and drinking, loyalty, a sense of community, and humor. To follow Christ means a new way of imagining the human condition , of rethinking the platitudes that organized religion often slide into.
February 23, 2010
Author offers some interesting and unorthodox ways of looking at/practicing Christianity, but at times can border on sacrilege. WHile I agree with the author's premise that Jesus was a radical and came to change people's thinking, the bottom line is that He also, and most importantly, came to save us from sin, which Moore dismisses. The author offers new ways of interperting old stories, such as teh wedding at Cana and the water to wine miracle, and the Last Supper scene of Jesus'command to eat and drink in rememberance of Him. I think this book falls more into the category of how to live a full and abundant life, according to Jesus' teachings,( I have come that you may have life and have it to the fullest) but Moore looses sight of the main belief of Christianity, teh death and resurection of Christ. While this book has affected my views of living in the kingdom here on earth, I am trying to reconcile those ideas while not loosing sight of the death and resurection. It is a worth while read, but one must keep the aforementioned in mind when reading it.
September 27, 2011
The Kingdom. The thing Jesus seemingly preached the most, yet remains the elephant in the room for almost any Christian denomination. Metanoia, or a radical change of mind is the attitude of the Kingdom, and Agape the way. While we tend to focus on Heaven as remote both physically and in the temporal sense Jesus announced the Kingdom had arrived and was something available here and now, now that he had come. Again, the whole of the Law is to Love God and then yourself as your neighbor, simple maxims if acted out via the imperatives in this book and by extension the New Testament, results in no less than a radical shift in thinking.
Mr. Moore in places has an agenda. Who doesn't? Politics aside, the book is a much needed way station for the soul.
Mr. Moore in places has an agenda. Who doesn't? Politics aside, the book is a much needed way station for the soul.
August 23, 2013
Another superb book by Thomas Moore, one which I will reread or refer to on many I occasions.
I believe, too, that heaven is not a place but an attitude, a way of feeling and living - and of loving.
I live my life in my own certain way not to GET to heaven, but to BE in heaven - right now! And not so I can say "I'm in heaven" but because I believe it to be the way for humans to live - at least, this human.
I applaud Thomas' courage in writing this book - as well as his frank style. In a nutshell, he says, "think, reflect, feel, heal, love, and live. Then round up a bunch if friends, and get some ice cream!"
I believe, too, that heaven is not a place but an attitude, a way of feeling and living - and of loving.
I live my life in my own certain way not to GET to heaven, but to BE in heaven - right now! And not so I can say "I'm in heaven" but because I believe it to be the way for humans to live - at least, this human.
I applaud Thomas' courage in writing this book - as well as his frank style. In a nutshell, he says, "think, reflect, feel, heal, love, and live. Then round up a bunch if friends, and get some ice cream!"
March 12, 2014
I hardly know where to start with this book. I wish it had been one of the required texts when I trained for lay ministry. I've read a lot of Moore's work and he is just good!
I borrowed this from my public library and it was heavily marked up (ugh!). It is so worth buying and placing in your library if the topic is up your alley. The author also includes references to other major world religions and I found that extremely useful and relevant.
A careful reading yielded a couple of insights for me to use in the future. In addition, Moore's Endnotes have given me a title or two for further reading.
I borrowed this from my public library and it was heavily marked up (ugh!). It is so worth buying and placing in your library if the topic is up your alley. The author also includes references to other major world religions and I found that extremely useful and relevant.
A careful reading yielded a couple of insights for me to use in the future. In addition, Moore's Endnotes have given me a title or two for further reading.
Read
April 7, 2010I find Moore's idea of Jesus an intellectual not come to establish a church but to save humankind through his precepts of loving our neighbor, etc. to be both comforting and realistic food for thought. My thought is to believe, or orbserve that people seldom take the Son of God to be more than a poor carpenter doing miracles. How can we not believe the Son of God, if we do believe he is the sog, would be the most intellectual being to ever walk the earth? I look forward to reading further in this book.
October 21, 2015
I confess to creatively re-thinking what Christianity means to me. What a relief to see that Thomas Moore does as well. He bases his reading of the gospels on several key Greek words (basileia, metanoia, agape, to name a few), and as a lover of languages, I found his discussion of those words compelling.
I don't know that his soulful analysis of Christianity is consistent with a historical account, especially with the Jesus who spoke of apocalypse and judgment. I'd be interested to hear what Moore would say about these themes of Christianity.
I don't know that his soulful analysis of Christianity is consistent with a historical account, especially with the Jesus who spoke of apocalypse and judgment. I'd be interested to hear what Moore would say about these themes of Christianity.
July 28, 2009
A gift for Fathers Day. The author describes himself as a Zen Catholic. Some excellent thoughts on what Jesus said and intended. He was a little more liberal in faith matters than I am, but his ideas deserve a good hearing and pondering.
January 20, 2012
I liked this more in the first part of the book than the end. I loved Care of the Soul and this felt like the author was reaching a little out of his area of expertise. It focuses on Jesus as wisdom teacher. I did like it though - new perspectives are always interesting.
October 20, 2012
Thomas Moore, the author of Caring for the Soul, writes a detailed analysis of the life and teachings of Christ. The concept of metanoia or transformation as noted in the Gospel teachings is a central theme of this psychologically based look at the life of Jesus. An interesting take.
April 10, 2014
This book gave me a new perspective on how Jesus lived and the values he lived by. Lots of friends, community, sharing meals, and compassion for the needy. It was a great read and I really enjoyed it.
August 30, 2009
Total re-visioning of what was REALLY the intent... how words are mis-translated and/or their meaning actually devolves from the original. Very interesting concepts
April 22, 2012
Brilliant. A loving perspective on the gospels and some good advice on how we can truly live in the Kingdom.
November 24, 2012
Very thought provoking and well written as always. I enjoyed his view on the Gospels very much.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2014
A good reflection on the message of Jesus and the Gospels.
January 17, 2016
Excellent interpretation of the Gospel.
October 27, 2016
Not my favorite Thomas Moore book. Lost interest halfway through.
July 28, 2014
Con un punto de vista de los evangelios diferente, atrevido, te pone a analizarlo.
June 7, 2016
I did not finish reading this book mainly due to no time.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews