Customer Reviews

Breathing Under Water: Spirituality and the Twelve Steps

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Father Rohr takes AA's 12 steps & puts a Christian spin on them (adding Jesus' teachings to the mix..) As a long-time fan of Father Rohr, a Franciscan priest, this is one of my favorite sets. Totally real, and REALLY helpful (even if you're not recovering from substance abuse, this definitey is a Faith-strengthen-er!) Must confess that some of Father Rohr's other stuff is WAY over my head, but these practical recordings walk through the recovery process step by step. Especially like his take on mercy. Not just words, it's an attitude -- as folks in AA humbly stand and say "I'm an alcoholic".. the church can learn to be humble like that -- Lord have Mercy. REAL mercy. We sure need it! These CDs are from the 80s (some references a bit dated); but insights still very relevant. (Thought Father Rohr did a conference a few yrs ago.. there may be an updated version.)

This review refers to the paperback book published in 2011
Richard Rohr joined the Franciscans in 1961 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1970, the same year he earned a master's degree in theology. In 1971 he founded the New Jerusalem Community in Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1987 he established the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he serves as founding director, dividing his time between local work and preaching and teaching around the world. The center is designed as a place of discernment and growth for activists and those interested in social service ministries.

Rohr is best known for his audio and video tapes, CDs, books, and articles. His themes include Scripture as liberation, integration of action and contemplation, community building, peace and justice, and eco-spirituality. His latest work, Breathing Under Water, is based on a series of talks Rohr gave 25 years ago connecting the Gospel to the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. He begins with two connections: (1) what we now label "addiction" can be compared to what the bible called "sin" (2) sin, like addiction, may be viewed as a disease rather than something that is punishable and displeasing to God. He expands the commonly held idea of addiction to something broader and also hidden. He suggests that individuals today are addicted to our own way of doing things, our own defenses, and our own way of thinking and processing reality.

The book is formatted in twelve chapters, corresponding to the AA steps. Each chapter opens with the text of the step being addressed and relevant quotations from Scripture. Rohr often holds up elements in established religion, yes, Catholic too, that seem not to contribute to the necessary healing. At the same time, he does not condemn those practices, but suggests ways in which they might be altered to comply more fully with the healing message of Jesus.

For more information on the center, and a list of services and resources, search the Internet for Center for Action and Contemplation.

As a Twelfth-Stepper who is also a Christian, I found this book a wonderful guide in my journey towards a better relationship with Jesus, who is my Higher Power. This book would also be helpful to those who are the family and friends of those of us in recovery.

Words just will not convey the way this book touched me. Small wonder though, as the author hits the spot on so many of the areas of despair I went through as I journeyed from the depth of addiction to an area of appreciation of life again. Thank you Father Rohr for once again allowing me to learn that I'm not that different from other sufferers from this scourge of addiction. In my recovery I have been introduced to that fact again and again. No matter the profession or education level the fellow sufferers I have become acquainted with are affected in much the same ways. A lot of that understanding I think comes from listening to each ones stories and this book once again verifies this fact and allows me to be accepting of my fellow human beings.

Rohr sees new dimensions of Christian spirituality in the Twelve Step Program--especially on how to cope with our addiction to consumerism in our contemporary society. We are drowning in our secular obsession with "things"; the only way we are going to be able to breathe spiritually is by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ.

I found this book to be a clear explanation of each of the twelve steps (regardless of what programme one is working!) - This is material that a person can use in every day living. Thank you to the author for this work.

I found this book to be very helpful to me. It gave a Christian perspective to the 12 steps and pointed out how they followed the message of Christ. More importantly, they helped use these steps more effectively. I recommended this book for beginners or oldtimers on the spiritual path.

This is a great book and it is easy to read. Richard Rohr writes in a language that we can all understand and not get lost in the religion/biblical language and ties it all very nicely with the 12 steps. It is the type of book I can read over again.

I was looking for a 12 step program which reached beyond alcoholism. I was looking for a means of dealing better with areas of my life that involve more subtle addictions that could be addresses in a 12 step program. I still firmly believe that the 12 step program can help to answer issues like worry and anxiety which can be addictions, just like alcoholism is. The synopsis of the book implies that this is the direction the book takes.
Regretably the author does not go in this direction. He offers very little in the way of specifics or application of the 12 step program but speaks only in vague generalities. He does, however, intermingle his agenda of liberation theology and criticizes politicians who do not espouse his chosen social agenda.
For those reasons, the book receives a low rating.