Customer Reviews

How Big Is Your God?: The Freedom to Experience the Divine (Book & DVD)

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Fr. Coutinho, a Jesuit priest from India, gives us different way of deepening our relationship with God. His joining of East and West in how we perceive God is creative and will open our minds and hearts to start a deeper journey towards God. This book is not for the narrow-minded. St Teresa of Avila once said, "Lord, spare me from sour-faced saints". If one is of this ilk, he/she will neither enjoy the book nor be spiritually transformed. My wife, a Catholic school principal, has purchased several copies to give as gifts to her teachers, several of whom are conservative, but not rigid. The chapters are short and to the point, with many practical helps on how one should grow closer to God. As a convert to Catholicism, this book answered many of my concerns about my relationship with God. A must read.

This book played havoc with my day -- and incredibly enriched my life! When I picked up my new copy it was to just fill 15 spare minutes. But I finished it in one sitting. Can't recall when that's ever happened before. What an incredible journey! I am almost breathless, and yet so full of energy. What's a half day balanced against the rest of a life? This book is both challenging and affirming. More than that, it's so encouraging and insightful. And the little stories -- I am going to steal every last one of them if only I can recall them in the right circumstances. Heck, if I remember only one just once in my life, the world will be better for it. As I turned the pages I found myself making a list of family and friends with whom I have to share this book. Thank you, Paul Coutinho.

Jesus taught us by telling stories. Paul Coutinho does the same in this wonderful book. The brief chapters are understandable and thought provoking-perfect for daily or weekly reflection. I look forward to reading How Big Is Your God over and over again. It is good to be reminded that we are the breath of God.

Coutinho has given his readers a great gift, that of introducing us to a God that we don't often allow ourselves to experience, a God of limitless compassion and unconditional love. How refreshing it is as a Catholic to be invited to forgive myself and "not sweat the small stuff" because God's love for me knows no bounds. He doesn't suggest that we throw caution to the wind and live as we please with no regard for others. On the contrary, he challenges us to move through our acts of charity to become compassionate people, living lives rich in experiences of divine wonder and "infinite possibilities" that are only possible for people whose God is "big". Rather than just knowing about God and remaining with our own limited ideas of God, Coutinho encourages us to deepen our relationship with God by living each day experiencing God in all of God's wonderful disguises. He introduces us to Eastern mystics and teachers, fathers of psychology, and everyday people who have done just that, and he does it in such a way that makes us wonder why we hadn't thought of it before.

The format for the book is ideal - a collection of short one- to two-page stories and thought-provokers that beautifully demonstrate his ideas. He has a delightful sense of humor that is evident throughout the book; no doubt you'll want to read it straight through at least once. (It's hard to put down!) But the real beauty of it is that you can open to any chapter at any time and be challenged to rethink your ideas of faith and of God. You may not be able to determine answers for yourself, but as Coutinho would suggest, it is not in the answers but in the questioning that your relationship with God will grow.

Paul Coutinho has written a book that is a must for my spiritual library. It is not a book that I would just read once. It is a book that I can use for meditation and inspiration. I now have a better understanding of the eastern approach to God. My narrow approach to Christianity has been expanded and I could never go back.

Fr Paul Countinho's work will be a classic. This book won the 2007 Eric Hoffer Award given to the best independently (by Loyola Press) published book in America. I wish I had a thousand copies of this book to give away to the poor who cannot afford to buy it. I personally have already given away a dozen copies. It is that wonderful and good.

My mind was beyond comprehension at the God that Fr. Paul describes. So big, so majestic, so filled with the depths of love that most of us cannot imagine. God truly loves us as humans and asks only for our love of him in return. A small idea - but executed in a stupendous Star Wars, overwhelming life-shaking way.

Fr Paul has a very engaging wit and terrific condensed writing style. Every 2-4 page chapter just bristles with insightful content and wisdom. This goes far beyond C.S. Lewis or Thomas Merton into a living, breathing almost mystical sense of God's overwhelming infinite love. Definitely one of the best books of my life.

I recommend this book to anyone looking to integrate their understanding of Eastern Spirituality with Western Christianity. No dogmatic, syrupy sermons here: this book is a delightful mix of theology and "out of the box thinking." Fr. Coutinho reminds us that we are each a sacred expression of God. His wonderful stories make the message come alive. I'm a recovering Catholic with eight years of parochial school training. Fr. Coutinho has re-awakened my interest in the religion I abandoned years ago.

Enlightening and challenging as well as liberating. Fr. Paul's world perspective and spiritual insight serve as a unifying force in an increasingly divided world. god indeed is larger than we think, no matter what we think!

"How Big is your God?"is a well-written and challenging book. The author, an Indian-born Jesuit priest distills the illumination of well-known aspects of the God of Jews, Christians, and Muslims, into pithy, challenging segments. He bring "eastern" sensibilities to a discussion of a classically "western" topic. His examples are often problemmatic for people who choose to think of God in European terms, but struggling with them is well worth the while. It is proving to be an excellent adult study text for a group of older Christians. It's well worth exploring.

I was very curious about the title of this book. Why would a title such as "How Big Is Your God? be written and "How will I gain any insights into the vastness of God?
What a surprise I was about to encounter. The author writes like he is actually talking to you and shares personal and spiritual stories. The part of his writing I have really enjoyed are the reflections shared for our own personal growth. The chapters are short but filled with many insights. I would reccommend this book to anyone. Enjoy a peaceful and rewarding book.