The Soul's Religion: Cultivating a Profoundly Spiritual Way of Life

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I have ever read.
Review: I have been on a long and winding spiritual journey for twelve years. Part of those twelve years I attempted to become a minister in an enormous "red tape" denomination. I finally decided to turn the church loose and find out who God truly is.

Since that time I have been trying to define myself (spiritually). This book has truly been a key to that definition. The key authors that have guided me have been Thomas Merton, Oriah Mountain Dreamer, Thomas Moore, Thomas Keating, and Harold Kushner. Each of the authors have played a major role in my spiritual development.

I recommend the book, "The Soul's Religion: Cultivating a Profoundly Spiritual Way of Life" by Thomas Moore, to anyone truly wanting to discover ways to the "core of life"!

Rating:
Summary: One of the best books I have ever read.
Review: I have been on a long and winding spiritual journey for twelve years. Part of those twelve years I attempted to become a minister in an enormous "red tape" denomination. I finally decided to turn the church loose and find out who God truly is.

Since that time I have been trying to define myself (spiritually). This book has truly been a key to that definition. The key authors that have guided me have been Thomas Merton, Oriah Mountain Dreamer, Thomas Moore, Thomas Keating, and Harold Kushner. Each of the authors have played a major role in my spiritual development.

I recommend the book, "The Soul's Religion: Cultivating a Profoundly Spiritual Way of Life" by Thomas Moore, to anyone truly wanting to discover ways to the "core of life"!

Rating:
Summary: 'Wisdom is Radiant and Unfading'
Review: I think the concept of nourishing ones' inner life is important but might better be found in Thomas Moore's Care of the Soul and the existential concepts in Freedom and Accountability at Work, by Peter Koestenbaum.
In this book Thomas Moore takes us through his spiritual journey which may well be interesting for some and I am sure was cathartic for him. He is also an eloquent writer; to that extent I found merit in his pen and leveraged this inspiration into a few poems myself.

Rating:
Summary: The continuation of a great body of work.
Review: This excellent book is billed as the companion volume to Moore's Care of the Soul, but that is not the same as a sequel. Reading Care of the Soul is not a prerequisite to benefiting from The Soul's Religion. In fact, if you are just going to read one of them, I suggest this one.

In my work as a psychotherapist and author (Embracing Fear, HarperSanFrancisco) I have defined wisdom as "the accumulated knowlege of our ignorance." Thomas Moore understands and emphasizes the importance of acknowledging all that we do not know (our ignorance), and takes my definition into the spiritual realm by suggesting that it is in that often uncomfortable --- sometimes painful --- place of "not knowing" where we are most likely to meet God.

All great thinkers are independent thinkers and Thomas Moore challenges readers to think independently, rather than soliciting our membership to the "Thomas Moore Is My Guru" Fan Club. This book is an excellent guide into individual exploration of spirituality, and it never once loses touch with the real-world considerations of daily life. In brief: The Soul's Religion is useful. Can you tell that I recommend it?

Rating:
Summary: Mystical, Profound, and Practical
Review: This is a great book for people looking for some profound, yet still very practical, wisdom along the spiritual path. Moore is traditionally a Catholic, but since leaving his order of monks in his twenties has found inspiration in virtually all of the world's major religions and mythologies. He embraces the structure and importance of myth to a degree approaching that of someone like Joseph Campbell, interpreting the meanings and symbolisms found therein, but applies them more directly to the personal spiritual path.

In this book, the primary idea is that a successful spiritual life must be grounded in a realistic understanding of everyday life, what Moore calls the Soul. The Spirit of religion is high-minded and lofty, always trying to strive toward perfection and enlightenment. The Soul, on the other hand, is possessed of a more contemplative aspect, quietly relishing in life's subtle mysteries and constantly involved in the inner process of change and improvement amidst life's obstacles. Left unchecked by Soul, the Spirit can soar too high (think of the Ikarus myth) into obsessive, unrealistic, and even psychologically dangerous perfectionism, shielding the individual from reality with false security and overactive ego. Moore reminds us that we must strive to see our religion in the everyday, experiencing God in a blade of grass or a complete stranger.

If you are looking for a general introduction to spirituality or religion then this isn't the right book. This book is strictly self-help, a small stepping stone that will be most useful for people engaged in faith and looking for advice concerning the common pitfalls of overly enthusiastic idealism. Moore brings us down to Earth, but in a way that can ultimately lead us to much greater heights than we previously knew. Like a tree, our faith must have its roots as well as its branches.

Rating:
Summary: Mystical, Profound, and Practical
Review: This is a great book for people looking for some profound, yet still very practical, wisdom along the spiritual path. Moore is traditionally a Catholic, but since leaving his order of monks in his twenties has found inspiration in virtually all of the world's major religions and mythologies. He embraces the structure and importance of myth to a degree approaching that of someone like Joseph Campbell, interpreting the meanings and symbolisms found therein, but applies them more directly to the personal spiritual path.

In this book, the primary idea is that a successful spiritual life must be grounded in a realistic understanding of everyday life, what Moore calls the Soul. The Spirit of religion is high-minded and lofty, always trying to strive toward perfection and enlightenment. The Soul, on the other hand, is possessed of a more contemplative aspect, quietly relishing in life's subtle mysteries and constantly involved in the inner process of change and improvement amidst life's obstacles. Left unchecked by Soul, the Spirit can soar too high (think of the Ikarus myth) into obsessive, unrealistic, and even psychologically dangerous perfectionism, shielding the individual from reality with false security and overactive ego. Moore reminds us that we must strive to see our religion in the everyday, experiencing God in a blade of grass or a complete stranger.

If you are looking for a general introduction to spirituality or religion then this isn't the right book. This book is strictly self-help, a small stepping stone that will be most useful for people engaged in faith and looking for advice concerning the common pitfalls of overly enthusiastic idealism. Moore brings us down to Earth, but in a way that can ultimately lead us to much greater heights than we previously knew. Like a tree, our faith must have its roots as well as its branches.

Rating:
Summary: 'Wisdom is Radiant and Unfading'
Review: This is a most luminous, magical, lyrical and compassionate book. There is much wisdom contained in 'Soul's Religion' & its more detailed than 'Care of the Soul'. Moore addreses life's crucial questions and meditates upon them with profound, ritualistic rhythm. He is able to translate, so eloquently and poetically, his finely-tuned sensibility with an understanding of decades of theological scholarship. Moore honours history and integrates it into his work with dazzling finesse. Moore reminds us of the artful philosophies of the Renaissance. Encourages us to revel and rejoice in the mystery of the Church. In divine, holy ignorance.
Solomon 6:'Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her. She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her. He who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty, for he will find her sitting at his gates'

I have found her in this book.