Godly Love: A Rose Planted in the Desert of Our Hearts [Paperback]

Stephen G. Post (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2008

In this uplifting new book, author Stephen G. Post explores the mysteries and the wonder of Godly love—the all important love that is at once personal, unconditional, unlimited, generative, and omnipresent. The title alludes to Isaiah 35, to the way in which Godly love is said to plant a rose in our hearts precisely when we feel most like a dry desert with no more love of our own to give.

Post draws on his own life experiences as well as his work at the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love, as he intersperses personal anecdotes with spiritual truths and research on human happiness. In the process, he defines the concept of Godly love and illustrates how important it can be in our lives—not only emotionally and spiritually, but physically as well. "Godly love," he writes, "is the only foundation in the universe that we can really lean on."

We all have deserts in life, so we all need Godly love. Without it, the downward slide to cynicism, hostility, and cool indifference can be all too easy. These meditations on the subject will nurture our confidence in the power of a love that is greater than our own, when we need it most.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Stephen G. Post is professor of preventive medicine, and director of the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics at Stony Brook University of the State University of New York. He is recognized internationally for his work on the unselfish compassionate love at the interface of science, ethics, religious thought, and behavioral medicine. In addition, he is a recognized expert on the spiritual and ethical aspects of caring for persons with dementia. Post is the founding president of the Institute for Research on Unlimited Love, Altruism, Compassion, Service, which was founded in 2001 (www.unlimitedloveinstitute.com). The Institute facilitates research, writing, conferences, and courses at the interface of science, spirituality, health, and love for humanity.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Templeton Press (November 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1599471515
• ISBN-13: 978-1599471518
• Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,443,526 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Read, October 27, 2008

By 

Stacey (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Godly Love: A Rose Planted in the Desert of Our Hearts (Paperback)

For such a tiny read, "Godly Love: A Rose Planted In The Desert Of Our Hearts" by Stephen G. Post, packs a mighty punch! This is a lovely little book filled with wonderful quotes from an eclectic mix of sources. These quotes enhance the intelligent and spiritual writing of the author. This is an enlightening and convicting read. Don't let the size fool you.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not Recommended, November 24, 2008

By 

booklover1983 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Godly Love: A Rose Planted in the Desert of Our Hearts (Paperback)

I felt very uneasy as I read this book. It is full of references to the universe and other spiritual sources not just God. Some parts of it read like textbooks. There were quotes from various sources interspersed throughout of which some were bible verses. I guess I was expecting something a little different. I am sorry to say that I do not feel as though I can recommend this book. :(

1 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Godly love seems at times to leave God out, October 28, 2008

By 

Jennifer Bogart "@ Quiverfullfamily.com" (Alberta, Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Godly Love: A Rose Planted in the Desert of Our Hearts (Paperback)

Godly Love is an odd little book. Presented in a gift format, this 146-page title is printed on small pages with lots of white space and is small enough to fit in most purses and roomy pockets. However it's not the size that classifies this book as odd, that only accounts for the "little" aspect of the description.

Though Post draws upon the scripture reference of Isaiah 35:1 for its' title and speaks of the agape love of the Christian tradition, he often leaves God out in the cold in his work on Godly love. Godly Love starts with promise sharing pages filled with reflection on the nature of Godly love and examples of this love in action by those who serve Christ and others in love. These pages of reflections are interspersed with quotations from notable Christians such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Abraham Lincoln along with quotations from scripture.

Not far into the book though I began to encounter quotations from other thinkers including Buddha (who did not believe in any personal God), Muslim scholars and New Age philosophers subscribing to the notion of `cosmic consciousness'. Clearly Post is operating under a different understanding of the Christian tradition than I am.

These ecumenical tendencies began to infiltrate the text as well. Phrases such as "Oneness with the Universe", "Ultimate Truth" and "Supreme Good" began to be used interchangeably with the name of God. Post also began to speak of the essential goodness of human nature, the sacredness, goodness and Godly love that dwells within each of us if only we can call it out of ourselves.

The Bible informs us that not only have we all sinned and come short of the glory of God, but that every thought of our minds and hearts is wicked without God's revitalizing work in the heart. Since these tenets are vital to traditional Christian beliefs it became clear that Post was not basing his work firmly upon scripture, but resorted to drawing from pluralistic conjecture and his own thoughts.

A scant amount of research soon revealed that the Templeton Foundation - parent organization to Godly Love's publishing house, Templeton Foundation Press - funds religio-scientific research proposals from those practicing Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Other East Asian Religions. Knowing that it is less surprising to find strongly pluralistic beliefs in a title professing to draw it's insights from the Christian tradition.

Those who accept the words of the Bible as literal truth will recognize that this position is far from biblical. "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." KJV, John 14:6

Due to these concerns Godly Love is perhaps better suited to a readership of Gnostics, Anthroposophists, Theosophists and New Age believers who are not antagonistic to Christianity (A Course in Miracles, anyone?) The majority of Christians will likely find this title confusing and contradictory at best and entirely entirely incompatible at worst. Christians seeking a deeper understanding of agape love would be better served by a work illuminating the love present in Jesus' death on the cross.