Customer Reviews

From Sand to Solid Ground: Questions of Faith for Modern Catholics

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The question and answer format for this book make it an easy read but the content is deep and challenging. It deals with who or what is this divine presence we call God and what is the relationship with Jesus. The author emphasizes that this divine presence is within each of us. Each one of us is a human manifestation of this divine spirit and the author chalenges us to reflect on how we are living what we profess to be. In Jesus he sees the most complete expression of the divine spirit.

This book was highly recommended to me by an old friend who is an inactive priest and former Benedictine monk (with a PhD in church history) as one of the best books he has ever read. Once I started to read it, I found it hard to put down and I had many notes to myself in the margins along with much underlining and many exclamation points. I am a cradle Catholic who was taught from an early age that God is always present and that we are to love one another, but something didn't seem right about the way the church treated lay men and women on a day-to-day basis. The distinction between an EVERYWHERE GOD and an ELSEWHERE GOD is crucial. It has always been there and, to some extent, I felt like a dunce for not seeing the obvious; my whole family lived their faith as if they could only have authentic access to God through the clergy/hierarchy of the church and if you thought otherwise you simply were not being appropriately reverent and not being a good Catholic. Morewood, who is not only an inactive priest, but an adult educator, does an excellent job presenting this material. The question and answer format was very helpful since many of the questions were ones I've wanted answers to, but would have had difficulty formulating so clearly. I felt that Morewood's book helped me realize that living the basic message of Jesus Christ is possible and essential if we are ever to have peace on earth.

Morwood does a simply Outstanding Job of taking us Out of the Box, of challenging us to look for horizons and not boundaries, of not being museum keepers, but God's Gardeners, loving Change and Growth

Where was this book when I was in Catholic School? Before I read this book I was a 26 year-old "lapsed Catholic", but this book has brought me back to the Church by truly uniting reason with faith. This book is a brilliant interpretation of Christian theology--and it explores the development of the Christian world-view throughout history. Morwood brings to life the message of Jesus in today's world for all people. He challenges Christians to think outside of their dogmatic and literal framework that characterizes much of their faith at the expense of the Good News that Jesus revealed to human beings. Morwood's message is not new, but his strategy for understanding this message is quite revolutionary. Every "thinking Christian" would benefit from this read. (Catholics, Protestants, and open minds alike.) It is very easy to read and hard to put down.

This is a must read. Morwood's lucid writing illuminates and inspires. Open this book to any page and you will find a golden nugget of hope and inspiration. It is an eminently thoughtful and creative assemblage of questions and answers in an age characterized by fear, suspicion, impasse, cover-up, closed-door sessions -- both inside and outside the boundaries of Roman Catholicism.

This book is a history of how the Catholic Church started and changed over the years, and not for the better. The history is factual. It has increased our faith in God and Jesus, changed our relationship with them and freed us from untrue ideas instilled in us from children to adults. My husband are both in our 70's and are active Catholics. We have given away many of these books and will continue to do so.

This book is not for the straight and narrow catholic. H e raises some good concerns and some good questions. Although I can't say I agreed with all his ideas, it is a good study and a good discussion book. He is challenging the post Vatican crowd and most likely is not embraced by those who pretend to be post Vatican but truly desire to go retro and want catholics to return to do as I say, fundamental type no serious questions please ,type of followers.

Michael Morwood writes in an easy, clear way. He spoke from my heart actually or you might say took the words right out of my mouth - except it framed those words much better than I could. He gives me peace and a restful spirit knowing that I am not alone in thinking and feeling my thoughts.
Thanks for a great book.

I liked the book but I wonder why I was charged $18.21 when the price listed on the cover is $14.95. I would like credit or a refund for $3.26. Thank you

disappointing, having read his earlier work. this is repetitious and assumes a catechetical format which the author is normally inclined to reject. the questions are "patsies" (set up for the answer that is wanted). this gives the impression of a set catechesis. consequently the issues are not opened up for general discussion.