Malcolm Mark's Reviews > The Imitation of Christ

The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis
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Sep 24, 2008

really liked it
Read in February, 2000 , read count: five times

This is very deep and high. Most of the theological and spiritual concepts are high theology and spirituality, however you can find practical concepts or thoughts that you can apply in your life. If you have good pastoral psychology background, hence, this will be a good book for you... This is also good material for reflection, meditation, or any religious exercise to deepen your spiritual experience. I have read the Spanish translation of this book which is closer to the original Latin manuscript written by Tomas e'Kempis. However, to be very careful in reading this book because this is basically personal reflection of Tomas e'Kempis. When you read this book you gotta have read the author's background (esp. personal and the time being written) and again you gotta have at least good pastoral psychological and spiritual experience. I highly recommend this to people who have good theological and psychological education, and mature spiritual experience. Yet, I highly discourage people to read this book, those who have high religiosity but poor spirituality. (i.e. people with prayer-life that are very dependent to institution, esp. they can't pray outside an institution like church, altar, any absence of a symbol or sign).
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10/30/2016 marked as: read

Comments (showing 1-2 of 2) (2 new)

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message 1: by Bobby (new)

Bobby Very deep and high? Did you read books about spirituality without religion?


message 2: by Malcolm Mark (last edited Apr 15, 2013 06:02PM) (new) - rated it 4 stars

Malcolm Mark Bobby wrote: "Very deep and high? Did you read books about spirituality without religion?"

Nope, I have a religion. I am a Catholic. Well, I am a Pastoral Psychologist, Spiritual Director, and Educator by profession. In Theological class, we mean "deep" as it is very academic and "high" it means the book is too wordy like it is candy coated with a lot of philosophical understanding.

Your second question drives me to a good attention if you are asking me directly that or you are asking me if i have read a book.

Do you mean the John Tomikel book? There are other versions of that idea of John Tomikel has in his book like the books of Robert C. Fuller, "Spiritual but not Religious", or the other one "God without religion".

However, I am obliged to answer it. Well, religion is important foundation to read books about spirituality. What could happen to an individual identity if that individual disregards the identity where he/she comes from (family). But yet you can read books like those if you are expert in literature without having religion but at least you have a good respect of those thoughts. And yet, spirituality is not exclusive to any religion, it is encompassing the whole universe.

Hi Bobby! Thank you for your time in asking those questions. My apology if I have replied very way too late. Thanks again.


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