From Wild Man to Wise Man: Reflections on Male Spirituality [Paperback]

Richard Rohr (Author), Joseph Martos (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2005

From Wild Man to Wise Man: Reflections on Male Spirituality is a revised and updated edition of Richard Rohr's earlier best-seller, The Wild Man's Journey: Reflections on Male Spirituality. For this new work, Rohr added three chapters that discuss John the Baptist, Saint Paul and grief. An appendix provides a structure for a men's group, based on Rohr's work with M.A.L.Es (Men As Learners and Elders), a program of the Center for Action and Contemplation, which Richard Rohr founded and now directs in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
With Richard Rohr as mentor and guide, men--and the women who care about men--will want to embrace this new Wild Man.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Franciscan priest Richard Rohr is founding director of the Center for Action and Contemplation in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He considers the proclamation of the gospel to be his primary call, and the related themes he addresses include eco-spirituality, Scripture as liberation, non-dual thought, the integration of action and contemplation, peace and justice issues, and male spirituality. Author of numerous books, including Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality and Preparing for Christmas With Richard Rohr: Daily Meditations for Advent, he gives retreats and lectures internationally. He is a regular contributing writer for Sojourners and Tikkun magazines.

Product Details

• Paperback: 182 pages
• Publisher: St. Anthony Messenger Press (August 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0867167408
• ISBN-13: 978-0867167405
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,660 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Richard Rohr was born in Kansas in 1943. He entered the Franciscans in 1961, and was ordained to the priesthood in 1970. He received his Master's Degree in Theology from Dayton that same year. He now lives in a hermitage behind his Franciscan community in Albuquerque, and divides his time between local work and preaching and teaching on all continents.

He has written numerous books including: Everything Belongs, Things Hidden: Scripture as Spirituality, The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See, On the Threshold of Transformation: Daily Meditations for Men, and Wondrous Encounters: Scripture for Lent.

For information on all of the resources from Richard Rohr please visit the Mustard Seed Resource Center at www.cacradicalgrace.org

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars God Is Also Wild, December 6, 2005

By 

Carol Blank (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: From Wild Man to Wise Man: Reflections on Male Spirituality (Paperback)

Richard Rohr begins this revision of "The Wild Man's Journey" by defining God as "wild" in that God does not operate under human rules. God is free, that is, no matter what men do, God is "always the initiator, always good, always available." Men whose lives are based on performance and exercise of control are powerless before such wildness. Rohr pursues the theme with examples from scripture. The story of Abraham, for example, "has nothing to do with order, certitude, clarity, reason, logic, church authority, or merit. This is an utterly free God trying to create a spiritually free people." Additional topics include men's liberation, masculine and feminine spirituality, neither of which is exclusive to one gender; wild male saints; father hunger; male grief; and the powerful powerlessness of God. The appendix offers a structure for a men's group.

Though this work is written primarily for men, it has much to say to anyone who aspires to a deeper relationship with God.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great update to a spiritual classic, October 15, 2005

By 

TERRANCE O'SHEI "poverello" (Buffalo, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: From Wild Man to Wise Man: Reflections on Male Spirituality (Paperback)

The book is a major update and revision of "The Wild Man's Journey". All chapters were improved and updated, all were shortened for easy small group use, seven were dropped, and three completely new ones added. We have a much more user-friendly version of 25 to-the-point chapters. The appendix contains a structure for your small men's group and the M.A.L.Es mission statement. You could discuss one chapter of the new book per meeting.

The book is also ideal for a man considering attending the Men's Rites of Passage (MROP) with Richard Rohr. If you know someone considering attending a MROP, you may want to forward this message to them. The new book is one of the suggested Richard Rohr resource items for men considering attending a MROP.
[...]

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rarely Spoken Truth, August 26, 2006

By 

James Vagnoni - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: From Wild Man to Wise Man: Reflections on Male Spirituality (Paperback)

Rohr gives that hard to hear Gospel construct of spirituality that challenges us to accept who we are and not sacrifice our "True Self" to be "one-up" on the next person, or richer, or better; we are challenged to give up judgement for acceptance; we are challenged to follow the core tenet of Christ's teaching (and the Buddha's, for that matter) that we choose compassion over competition -- Win/Win brings more to self and the world that the traditional societal false premise of win/lose. It takes significant courage and honor, typical male virtues, to follow the heart over the dictates of culture and society. Although written for men, the message is clearly applicable to the modern woman