Spirituality: A Post-Modern and Interfaith Approach to Cultivating a Relationship With God

by Carl McColman

Spirituality is a book about the spiritual life that doesn't tell you what to believe. Have you ever heard someone say: "I'm spiritual, but not religious." Or "It's easier for me to find God in nature than in a church." Or "I can't limit myself to just one faith tradition: I see God in all of them." If statements like these make sense to you, you aren't alone. Today, more people are searching for spiritual experience outside traditional channels of religious faith. But even alternative or New Age spiritualities are often filled with dogma and prescribed notions of how to behave and what to believe. By contrast, Carl McColman's book answers the question "What is spirituality, and why does it matter?" with insights drawn not only from religious traditions, but also popular culture. Here the emphasis is on celebrating the many ways spirituality makes a powerful and positive difference in our lives.

Genres: Spirituality

244 pages, Paperback

First published June 17, 2008

About the author

Carl McColman writes about the spiritual life, covering topics like mysticism (The Big Book of Christian Mysticism), contemplative prayer (Answering the Contemplative Call), monastic spirituality (Befriending Silence), Celtic traditions (An Invitation to Celtic Wisdom), Paganism (The Complete Idiot's Guide to Paganism), and Wicca (When Someone You Love is Wiccan).

He is also a blogger (www.patheos.com/blogs/carlmccolman) and podcaster(www.encounteringsilence.com) .

Why did Carl McColman, a Catholic author, write books about Paganism? Read the answer here: www.patheos.com/blogs/carlmccolman/20...

Reviews

[E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't really looking forward to this book. I thought it would be shallow, lacking in substance. This was partially because it was looking at spirituality in a general way and not from a particular narrative community.

But I ended up really liking it. It is still far more Christian than I expected from the blurb on the back. And the discussions of various spiritual topics are filled with insight and wisdom.

In fact, I know exactly which congregants I will recommend the book too. They are folk who dabble in many of the self-help, shallow spirituality books out there. This book will appeal to them, while also leading them into a deeper understanding of spiritual formation. No navel gazing narcissism in this book. It is a strong advocate for community, social justice, and peacemaking.

There is little original in the book, but it is a good summary and overview.

I was most interested in the discussions of Icons and the chapter on Change. McColman discusses how culture, including many elements of popular culture, can be icons leading us to God. He does the same with nature, and uses the concept of icons to discuss many other aspects of spirituality.

The chapter on Change is quite interesting. He discusses four types of change: interrpution, surprise, transgression, and peacemaking. Interruption, for instance, are negative events that shatter our sense of control over our own lives. Often they are unforunate moments, even tragedies. Yet they can become opportunities for spiritual growth.

Interruptions remind us of our vulnerability, which McColman considers a fundamental aspect of spirituality. Vulnerability actually connects to our sense of wonder:

Both wound and wonder are interruptions of our tightly controlled, safely constructed world--the world of willfulness and self-protection. So the question is begging to be asked--when we strive so hard to protect ourselves from woundedness, are we likewise shutting down all possibility of wonder.

[Darrell Reimer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I resorted to speed-reading about 15 pages into it, then slowed down again for the last chapter, which I thought was terrific -- sort of a Spirituality For Dummies: The Cliffs Notes. So maybe one star is a little harsh