The Journey Toward God: In the Footsteps of the Great Spiritual Writers - Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox [Paperback]

Fr. Benedict J. Groeschel. C.F.R. (Author), Kevin Perrotta (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 263 pages
• Publisher: Charis Books; 1st edition (March 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1569551499
• ISBN-13: 978-1569551493
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #816,034 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Few Felicities, But Mostly Quite Prosaic, October 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Journey Toward God: In the Footsteps of the Great Spiritual Writers - Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox (Paperback)

Fr Benedict J. Groeschel is the nation's pre-eminent Franciscan. Author and TV personality, he is perhaps the most genial apologist for Roman Catholicism since the days of Archbishop Sheen. In THE JOURNEY TOWARD GOD, Fr Groeschel has put together an anthology of spiritual writing that he values. Insouciant about the ecclesial membership of the authors, Fr Benedict has given us a mixture of Roman Catholic neo-Scholasticism, a few writings from the Saints, a surprisingly large amount of Protestant sources, and a shockingly small selection from the treasures of Eastern Orthodoxy (the book's subtitle implies a generosity of representation that simply is not there).

A significant vexation is the absence of an index, needed so that readers might more readily find those passages they value most. The book's primary problem, however, is that there are few selections in it that set our hearts ablaze, truly, precious few that we wish to read more than once. Mostly, Fr Groeschel seems concerned with keeping to his scheme of describing the various stages of religious conversion, and finding selections that fit his categories. He seems less concerned with finding selections that "grab" the reader by the heart or soul and keep the reader enraptured. Most of the selections can be aptly abridged to read, "Be good and pray often." A noble admonition. But to get to that message, we are made to endure a disaffecting prolixity.

What we miss most of all when we peruse THE JOURNEY TOWARD GOD is the sound of Fr Groeschel's amiable, tough, intelligent, wry, humorous, charitable voice. For this, we must put aside his anthology, and turn to his other books.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful anthology of spiritual writers!, December 5, 2009

By 

JoyHopePeace (Lansing, MI) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Journey Toward God: In the Footsteps of the Great Spiritual Writers - Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox (Paperback)

Persons of any faith and no faith will be
moved by these writings.

Good beginning book about faith alive in
this world.

No faith! Read this book so you will know
what other people are talking about!

To deny onself the opportunity to explore
beliefs of Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox
faiths is a tragedy!

Start here!

14 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, August 17, 2000

By 

Barbara (South Orange, NJ United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Journey Toward God: In the Footsteps of the Great Spiritual Writers - Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox (Paperback)

I have had the great opporunity to hear Fr. Benedict Groeschel speak on several occasions. Each time had been a great learning experience. I have read several of Fr. Groeschel's book and he knows how to say things in simple terms - terms that the average person can understand. This book would make a good present for anyone. By reading this book you get an insight into several of the greatest religion thinkers and writers ever. I would recommend this book to anyone.