25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Shear Energy, June 20, 2000
The author of this book is himself an exemplified power house of energy, love, Spirit and Mysticism. Should the opportunity to attend one of his seminars present itself...run, don't walk. In this book he offers the reader a clear explanation of the underlying principles of Spirit. It's done so with humor, honesty, wisdom and exhuberance. If you have ever challenged, questioned or encountered self-doubt with regard to the presence of Spirit within yourself or others, you will find this book presents a modern, objective non-idealistic view of God. As a former Catholic priest with an extensive background in theology, his intrepretation of liturgy, symbolism, scriptures and Spirit is appealing and simplistic. This book offers practical appication of Spirit energy to every day situations from diet to business endeavors. Regardless of religious denomimation this book promises to be both an enjoyable and empowering read.
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19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Truly wonderful!, November 20, 1999
By A Customer
I was listening to the tape one night when I was in the midst of a crisis with my health. As I listened, I brought my full intention to Ron's words, praying for a direct experience of the holy spirit. I suddenly became aware of a very large bright light expanding outward from my heart. It lasted about 4 seconds. I felt this remarkable feeling of warmth, comfort and peace that did not take away my problems but soothed me and made me feel like everything *was* alright. If anyone is looking for a way to bring the holy spirit directly into their experience, I highly recommend this book. Ron Roth is such a strong conduit for the message that the holy spirit is there for us to experience, we just need to get out of the way (I am obviously a work in progress in this regard). Blessings to all.
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31 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Right and Righteous Stuff!, June 12, 2001
This review is from: Holy Spirit: The Boundless Energy of God (Hardcover)
Being a fan of author Peter Occhiogrosso's other book - 'Through the Labyrinth' - and having had some small experience of the vast love and power of the Holy Spirit myself - from listening to African American Gospel Music (by sister Dorothy Love-Coates et. al., 'THE GREAT 1955 SHRINE CONCERT' on Specialty CD# SPCD-7045-2) I was eager to read this book on the Holy Spirit.
Especially so as this book focuses on the actual experience of the Holy Spirit as opposed to some abstract theorizing that the Holy Spirit is 'just' a metaphor etc. This book is a good antidote for the devotees of the it's-all-just-a-metaphor theory!
Now having read most of it, I find it to be a valuable 'hands-on' (hehe) guide to prayer and study excercises designed to orient one to receiving this power in their life.
It is not an exhaustive history or 'exegesis' (thank God!), but a very personal account of what one long-time minister, Ron Roth, has found to actually work in conveying the Holy Spirit to others.
I also appreciated Mr. Roth's descriptions of how common it is nowadays to feign or fake the experience of the Holy Spirit in contemporary American Christianity. This explained a lot to me about the excesses of contemporary televangelism etc.
There are also many references in the book to other faiths and traditions, such as Rumi etc, which may turn off those of a fundamentalist bent, or those opposed to any tinge of 'New Age' ecumenicalism, but this may also encourage others, such as the fans of Matthew Fox or Thomas Merton.
Though there is some discussion of the cross-faith experience of the Holy Spirit, as in Rumi, I dont recall him mentioning the kundalini experience per se, which many consider to be a different name for the same thing.
One other very minor detraction of the book for me, was the emphasis on a 'positive thinking / prosperity' message. Those of us who suffer from depression (and who, God knows, could use the Holy Spirit's healing) may find themselves being 'put down' (though no doubt unintentionally) for their depression before they can find the healing they seek from the Holy Spirit.
I have read in the African-American Gospel music tradition that depression can be a sign of seeking, such as in the descriptions of the 'Mourner's Bench' and being 'Heavy of heart' and feeling 'oppressed' (see the classic book 'God Struck Me Dead' by Johnson).
So a more sympathetic treatment of the sufferers of depression (or 'loser's limp' as Mr. Roth calls it) might help Mr. Roth's message, in my very humble opinion.
After all, the Gospel music experience of 'Getting Happy' doesnt always come without a little time spent on the 'Mourner's Bench'!
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