This readable, well researched, book examines why Christianity is stagnating when there is such a hunger for the spiritual in our society. It gives the insight into the church needed to overcome the guilt and fear of God Christianity has instilled in us, it shows how to build a personal relationship with the loving God through meditation, and concludes with a simple but effective meditation technique all can use. The first part of the book takes a fresh, incisive, look at the history of Christianity and the development of the Bible -- information you need to know in order to understand the religion which so extensively underpins our society and culture. The second part examines some of the issues which are bringing Christianity into disrepute, and suggests reforms which could, finally, bring the religion centered on Jesus into line with the teachings of Jesus. This book can liberate you from the guilt you grew up with, and the underlying fear that maybe you just might end up in everlasting punishment in hell. And it can show you how to find God's love.
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Editorial Reviews
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Mr Mason's skills as both researcher and writer are such that I was unable to put the book down once I started it. He makes what could be a very dry topic not only readable, but also highly relevant to someone who is attempting to move beyond surface spirituality to a level of deep understanding and growth -- Patricia A. Vallerand, Observer Quarterly, Summer 1998
From the Back Cover
In Search of the Loving God examines why Christianity is stagnating when there is so much interest in the spiritual in our society. It puts an end to the convenient fiction that church doctrine is based on the Bible. The reality is that for most of its two thousand years the church has borne little resemblance to Jesus. The medieval church revealed in this book is certainly fascinating, but it is also barbaric and power-hungry. It developed doctrines such as the unforgivable sin; in order to frighten people into submission to its authority. And it had millions of people burned at the stake for heresy and witchcraft.
Mark Mason casts authoritative new light onto what the Bible is saying, and in the process shows that nearly all Christian denominations need major reform before they can shake off the humbug of the middle ages, and become relevant to the educated and discriminating people of our times. Hell is at the center of the church's deception. This book's close examination of all the Bible passages relating to hell clearly shows there is no Biblical basis for believing in everlasting punishment. This sadistic concept has, over the centuries, been read and translated into the Bible in order to scare people into submission, but the liberating truth is that it is not really there at all. And how could it be, if God really is all-loving? But if this is the case, what does God do with wicked people when they die? Read this book and find out. Find out, also, how to personally know the loving God, and abide with Him, in the kingdom of heaven within, through meditation; and how to interpret the book of Revelation as a guide to the inner spiritual life, rather than a prophecy of doom for the world.
In this book, fundamentalism finds its nemesis. It heralds in a new reformation which will dwarf the spiritual non-event of Luther's time.
"Powerful! and extremely important that the truth be told. Your work will hopefully be a real catalyst to the healing that must take place." - Kaya Stasch, counselor
"This book is of timely importance as we observe the ever-increasing phenomenon of the Christian Right movement in the United States." - John Lawrence, book reviewer for Journal of Comparative Sociology
This book gives you the power to overcome the guilt Christianity gave you, and the insight to understand the movement which so strongly underpins our society and culture. It reveals truths the church has long concealed. And it shows how you can come to know our loving God.
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More About the Author
Mark Mason was born in Australia, but for the last 15 years has lived in the USA, and is an American citizen. He spent five years researching and writing "In Search of the Loving God." Recently he has published "Celestial Navigation Without Almanacs," which explains how to find one's position at sea with simple observations of stars and by timing sunrise and sunset. He is a sailor himself, currently sailing south to Baja, and enjoying every little place along the way. His latest publication is "Strange Lands of Poetry," a book of story poems and song lyrics published as a Kindle ebook. Mark, once a science teacher, has also written a number of computer programs, and a couple of scientific theories. His website, at www.markmason.net, showcases these and some of his other creative efforts, and includes his sailing blog.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Therapeutic reading for "recovering" fundamentalists,
By A Customer
This review is from: In Search of the Loving God: Resolving the Past Traumas of Christianity, and Bringing to Light Its Healing Spirit (Paperback)
Mark Mason's In Search of the Loving God can be very helpful for former "Born Agains" (such as myself) whose intuition has always told them that there must be more to God than the punishing father or unreachable "bearded guy in the sky".The author skillfully gives cultural and historical insights into the life of Christ and the Christian church of past and present. He offers reassurance based on etymological and cross-religious evidence that indeed, God is most definitely knowable and loving. Far from being a dry document, the book is written in a personable, self-disclosing style which I found engaging to read. The extensive references and bibliography are also quite impressive and helpful.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very readable - diagnostic on decline of Christianity!,
By bstanley@home.com (California, USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: In Search of the Loving God: Resolving the Past Traumas of Christianity, and Bringing to Light Its Healing Spirit (Paperback)
Well written, full of revelant historical information that allows the reader to grasp the foundation of the fall and decline of tribal Christianity; or my love of Jesus is better than your love of Jesus. The final chapters highlight the need to overcome this Christian demonimalization, or eventually, all Christians will witness the erroding of the sacred message enunciated by Jesus the Christ.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Past and present come together in Mark Mason's book,
By A Customer
This review is from: In Search of the Loving God: Resolving the Past Traumas of Christianity, and Bringing to Light Its Healing Spirit (Paperback)
Examining this book was enjoyable, educational and insightful. Mark Mason challenges the reader to go deeper into church history and examine the motives behind the actions then that influence us even now. It is the subtle quality of this book that makes it so powerful. And tying the past to the present is no small task, but Mr. Mason does a thorough job of doing just that. A must read for the serious student of history.
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