Customer Reviews

Beyond the Threshold: A Life in Opus Dei

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

For anyone that has been a "numerary" member of Opus Dei, the facts that the author describes constitute no surprise. In different countries, in different times, the story of strong psychological pressure and manipulation on potential recruits and on members has been repeating itself for decades now. The very detailed description of places, names, and practices, has made me so vividly recall the asphyxiating atmosphere that I once lived when recruited by Opus Dei at the age of fourteen. The book reflects the great fraud of the Opus Dei praxis which consists in presenting to the catholic people the attractive message of being a way to help them live their faith from within the society as citizens and professionals; however, once inside, the numerary member gradually becomes just a component of the recruiting machinery of Opus Dei. Without physical violence but via tremendous though subtle psychological pressure, the member gradually abdicates his/her own will and renounces to making his/her own decisions even on very small details of his/her life. Once the mind of a person has been manipulated to make him/her convinced that "the will of God is transmitted to him through the directors of Opus Dei", the degree of control over that person is complete. The book very well describes this process which is common to all "numerary"" members. The last part, describing the last stay of the author in the Opus Dei headquarters in Rome, is very impressive and demythify the figure of the founder of Opus Dei but does not constitute the key argument against the Work. It is all the previous chapters, showing how, in the name of the father, very young persons are recruited and converted into instruments of the Opus Dei organization through a process that finally makes them convinced that it is God's will that they become obedient members. With all my love for current and former Opus Dei numerary members who at very early age have undergone a recruitment and indoctrination process that has caused them anxiety and distress, I want to say that "Beyond the Threshold" is a true testimony of what Opus Dei has meant in the life of many.

I was a numerary of the Opus Dei in Spain for two years 1977-1978. I was recruited at the age of 19 while attending the University of Barcelona Spanish Studies course for foreigners. My parents who lived in the United States had to threaten with legal action before the Opus Dei allowed me to see them. The book brought back floods of memories. All the aspects of life within the Opus Dei that I had shared in common with Carmen, she had described absolutely accurately. I was alone in a foreign land and they took advantage of my vulnerability to take over my life. Luckily I my parents managed to get me out by hijacking me in London. Carmen has done the world a great service by exposing this terrible organization. I am still a daily Mass going Catholic, and now a medical school student. I was so glad to read that she had not lost her faith over her terrible ordeal. It's never too late to start over!

The book is for many people an eyeopener for other it is a scandal. However no matter who is reading it, certain traits and problems in Opus Dei must be admitted- both by the devotes and the opposition. I have no personal experiences brought out from that organisation. I have never been a subject for recruitment by Opus Dei. My knowledge is from what I read about them, from other people associated in different degrees with Opus Dei and from my own observation. Quite much of what is described in this book coincides with my own humble experience of this organisation.

The personal experiences described by the former Opus Dei member- Maria del Carmen-Tapia- are shaking and frightening. When reading through the pages I consulted a manual on sects, considering the overall methods used in OD. I think, provided that del Carmen-Tapia's descriptions are accurate, one can define OD as a certain kind of sect with brain-washing, degradation of personality, very excessive cult of the guru (read Msgr. Escriva) and diminishing of personal freedom among certain class of members- the numeraries. Everything that of course is done under disguise or sacrifice for the sake of the organisation, the higher truths and goals it claims to fulfill. This organisation seem also to be very secret with well defined security levels. Someone referred to Opus Dei as catholic freemasonry. I do not think this kind of comparision is qualifying. Nevertheless information from upper levels is portioned out down according to certain criteria. Secrecy is also kept laterally. Everything that is fine, every organisation must have certain levels of integrity and "business" secrets. The problem seem to be that these secrets are mostly futile things, not worth keeping a secretive attitude toward. These things are most probably used in the process of brainwashing. The other aspect mentioned in the book is a certain lack of frankness, a kind of artificial, laboured attitude toward the non members. This kind of attitude produces unnatural and weird situations. For example young people whom OD recruits are expected to be more honest to Opus Dei than to their parents becuase of Opus Dei alleged superiority in the realm of the spiritual. When being invited on an Opus Dei dinner in their headquarter non-OD people are not explicitly told about if or how much to pay for the dinner. It is insinuated with a certain kind of "discretion" yet another way used in Opus Dei. The visitor is in a way put in an unclear situation. This allusive, enigmatic way of talking is very characteristic and can be often a source to bisarre misunderstandings.

Another point mentioned in the book is the gender perespective on Opus Dei. The organisation treats men and women unequally. The position of a woman is, in spite of her right in the organisation to have modern professions, inferior to that of Opus Dei men. Opus Dei women have serving functions. Their freedom is clearly diminished compared to men.

The overall organisation and customs in Opus Dei originate from the old aristocrate Spain and is often irrelevant outside that country. Present Opus Dei operatives stick irrationaly to these outer forms which are many times irrelevant and even harmful ( i.e treatment of women) both to Opus Dei and its adepts in foreing countries. There is a certain ignorance among the liders of Opus Dei and even lack of interest in how the organisation should be reshaped according to the new enviroment and culture.

Many so called progressive catholics and people outside the Church criticise Opus Dei for being backward, unmodern, medieval or even fascist. I think this kind of critics is very often a kind of biased ideological interpretation based on misperception of essentials. The important sectarian traits as well as other unhealthy psychological problems within Opus Dei do not get their proper space in that kind of critique. Opus dei is certainly an elitist organisation shaped and designed for upper classes, the wealthy and influential people which is well described in "Beyond the threshold". This is not a secret. It was one of Msgr. Escrivas open goals to have an exclusive apostolate among these groups. The idea in itself is sometimes used as a typical bad argument against OD. Another side of the coin is that Opus Dei sees itself as a kind of elitist organisation, indispensable in the life of the church. They create among their members an aura of indispensability. According to them OD is supposed to play a major role in the critical hours of the church now or in the future. This, I think is very ell described in Maria del Carmen-Tapia's book. The recruitment to every prise of people in high positions is another trait of this organisation. It is important to OD that the influential persons are the natives in the actual country where recruited. The "hotest" professions are rich industrialists, nobility, militaries, intelligence workers, politicians and higher positioned academics. The main goal seem to be many times unfulfilled. There are some risks with Opus Dei methods of recruitment. These riscs are charasteristic for every sectarian organisation using psychomanipulative techniques. Many often a certain kind of people is let in. People who are easy to manipulate because of a dormant psychopathology in the background and certain psychological-emotional problems or even syndroms.

There are certainly other good books about Opus Dei. As yet this one seem to be the best and most throughout and helps very much to grip the spirit of that organisation.

Thanks to Dan Brown's Da Vinci Code, I was inspired to read up on Opus Dei so that I could formulate my own opinions about it. I didn't know which book on Opus Dei to begin with and ended up purchasing this one because it was written by a woman who actually was an Opus Dei numerary.

Although this book didn't tell me in great detail about the whole history of Opus Dei, i.e., why and how it was established..etc., it did provide me with insight into the organization's functions, its many contradictions, its view of and treatment of Opus Dei women (compared to Opus Dei men) during its formation period, the type of people it sought to recruit, the founder's view of the Catholic Church...etc.

I gave it 4 stars since there aren't many books on Opus Dei women (correct me if I'm wrong) and I appreciate the author's effort in writing this book. Also, it's the first book I've read on Opus Dei and therefore, I cannot really say anything negative about the information contained in the book since I still do not know enough about the Founder, his principles (the Way), what inspired him to begin this organization, what the organization really stands for and the good it has done/produced, if any, to be able to make a proper evaluation of its content. It lacks the 5th star because some of the information was repetitive. Also, the book made references to Christian terms, practices...etc which would make it hard for someone who is not familiar with the religion, its practices and prayers...etc. to comprehend, although the lack of comprehension of such references does not take away from the information the author intended to provide. Further, the book makes several references to Spanish history during the author's time. So unless you know all about Spanish history during those times, you might be left wondering who so and so was, what he did and how important of a figure he was...etc. - again this doesn't take away from the information the author wanted to provide her readers with, but it does make reading the book slightly difficult.

If you are looking for a book on the whole history of Opus Dei, from its founder and its roots to present-day modus operandi, then this book is not the one for you. It is, however, a good supplementary book, especially if you are looking for information from a different perspective.

The book is as fascinating, as the Opus Dei is controversial. Definitely Opus Dei is not for every one and certainly it was not for Ms. Tapia. Many things in her book are true but her emotions reduce her credibility. Being a devout catholic I consider Opus Dei as one of the most conservative orders in the Catholic Church today, and a stronhold of our faith. Nevertheless their methods are sometimes questionable. I was active in the Opus Dei and I admire their principles but three points made me realize Opus Dei was not for me: 1.- Their fanatical devotion to their founder Mgr. Escriba. It is not a devotion but an obligation to worship him 2.- Their obsesive secrecy. It really seems that they want to to hide something wrong. If you are sure about your principles there is no need to hide them. 3.- Next to their secrecy, their recrutments methods (also secret)among young people. I support Ms. Tapia, Opus Dei is not perfect but neither is her. I should also say that Opus Dei is changing and becoming becoming more open.

I just read the review of Javier Puerta (Spain), and I'm strongly agree with him. Anyone who was numerary knows what happen inside the Opus Dei...and this book it's not a surprise for me; I could writte the same...different places and names, but similar circunstances... I hope that many people read this book and know the truth ....and we're save, because God it's not going to measure us with the wand of the Opus Dei!! He really knows what is charity, love and comprehension...

Bravo to Maria del Carmen Tapia for being a trailblazer for all those who have been hurt by Opus Dei. By speaking out, she has started the process of demystifying the cult-like and secretive organization in the Catholic Church. Chapter 7, "Rome II -- Return to the Unknown" is a gripping tale of her imprisonment in Rome by the founder of Opus Dei. Her crime? She used her critical thinking skills as an Opus Dei director in Venezuela. A must-read for anyone who wants to learn to what extent Opus Dei controls the lives of their numerary members.

This book is a "must read" for all faithful Catholics and for anyone who has come in touch with Opus Dei. Tapia's memoirs are written incisively, fairly and without bitterness. I can attest that the recruitment methods she describes so vividly are still alive and well in Opus Dei. And, it is with great sadness for the Catholic Church that I have seen Opus Dei grow in numbers and power. Opus Dei, unfortunately, is filled mostly with good people who have become convinced that being blindfolded and miserable is a way to please and obey God. Tapia's detailed account should be distributed to all university ministries where Opus Dei is actively recruiting.

Carmen Tapia writes with charity, not in anger; for this reason her horrific account of life inside this sect is the most convincing I have read. Her story ties in with my own experience, and the experience of friends of mine who've had the misfortune to join Opus Dei. Her book can prevent many tragedies if it is read in time.

This is an excellent book if you have some experience of opus dei. I think it necessitates a certain knowledge of the organisation to fully understand some of the author's points. It is clear that the book is a cathartic experience for the author, allowing her to expunge years of bitterness at the way she was treated. However, it still pulls together as an interesting insight into opus dei, an organisation which seems to positively encourage a controversial image.

The most interesting parts of the book are, to my mind, the accounts of her dealings with the founder of opus dei, Josemaria Escriva. These stories of meglomania, mysogyny and barely concealed sexual perversion are not isolated when it comes to this character. There are many other independant accounts of similar behaviour by this man from other former members of this organisation ( no current member would ever speak detrimentally of this man who is regarded as a god-like figure within the sect).

I would recommend this book to anyone contemplating a life in opus dei or anyone who has some knowledge of the organisation. There is also a spanish website called opus libros which details the experiences of hundreds of former numerary members ( both male and female) of opus dei and gives a chilling insight into the kind of lives they had to live. I have read many accounts of people leaving opus dei and it would seem that, without exception, people are much happier outside the organisation than within it.