An intelligent, sometimes quirky, often moving, always fascinating take on a variety of subjects both sacred and profane . . . With her lucid luminous prose, hard-headed logic and far-reaching metaphors, Norris has brought us the cloister at its most alive. SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
I found this a very helpful guide back to the Christian church, myself. Not couched in "charismatic" or "evangelist" language, it is down to earth and really provided a sense of peace while reading it.
(from the back cover)
Struggling with her return to the Christian church after many years away, Kathleen Norris found it was the language of Christianity that most distanced her from faith. Words like "judgement," "faith," "dogma," "salvation," "sinner"--even "Christ"--formed what she called her "scary vocabulary," words that had become so codified or abstract that their meanings were all but impenetrable. She found she had to wrestle with them and make them her own before they could confer their blessings and their grace...
(from the back cover)
Struggling with her return to the Christian church after many years away, Kathleen Norris found it was the language of Christianity that most distanced her from faith. Words like "judgement," "faith," "dogma," "salvation," "sinner"--even "Christ"--formed what she called her "scary vocabulary," words that had become so codified or abstract that their meanings were all but impenetrable. She found she had to wrestle with them and make them her own before they could confer their blessings and their grace...
A collection of short essays, organized by words or phrases that Ms. Norris describes as "dauntingly abstract to me, even threatening" as she made a return to Christianity. I found this resonated with me, for I too spent many years as a practicing agnostic/atheist before I felt called to return to a faith-filled life. As I made that transition some twenty years ago, I relied on her earlier book, "Dakota," for guidance. It is thanks to her that I ended up as an Episcopalian, returning to the roots of my baptism.
This collection is equally insightful and helpful. She is not a theologian, but someone who has thought deeply about faith and spirituality, that of others as well as her own. I recommend her as an able companion for your faith journey, as well.
This collection is equally insightful and helpful. She is not a theologian, but someone who has thought deeply about faith and spirituality, that of others as well as her own. I recommend her as an able companion for your faith journey, as well.
