Customer Reviews

From Wild Man to Wise Man: Reflections on Male Spirituality

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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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

American men are in a difficult position these days and have been for quite a while. Flogged for their shallow masculinity and hindered in their search for meaninfgul intimacy, its hard to know how and what to do to achieve real spiritual strength and direction. Richard Rohr has been dealing with this matter for a long time and in this extraordinary book he illuminates how we men got here so quickly and gives us great hope that we can move beyond this state into real, robust, fruitful masculinity and wholeness. An easy, enthralling read for men of all ages and faiths.

This is a great, great book in my opinion (of course!) Each sentence contains so much to think about that each short chapter offers opportunity for deep thought, food for personal journal reflection and rich conversation if used by a group. I am female and have seen much in this book that pertains to my own life. I feel the ideas in this book are just that universal. I was so excited by the concepts that I shared them with my husband during our evening walks. Soon he asked me to not only buy him a copy but to purchase a copy for his nephew, his friend and his boss! My son has a copy and we talk about the book from time to time. My brother-in-law has begun a men's group at his church, talking about Rohr's concepts. This is a very readable book with ideas that on a surface level can appear simplistic but when taken to a deeper level are life-probing.

Good book on male spirituality. Men need help in this area and this book helps men connect to their spiritual side.

I found in this book a unique guide to understand my own spiritual ways and needs, to accept gender related differences and to find happiness while assuming different roles through the way we, men, live and face life stages.

I would strongly recommend this book to men in search of inner peace, wisdom for life and transcendental answers.

It's a good book on Male Spirituality. The chapters are helpful for a better understanding and appreciation of man's growth and development.

I think there is an updated edition, which I thought I was buying. But it turned out to be the old edition. I wish it was listed a more specific.

This book fills a void in masculine spirituality. I recommend it for women too.

I've ordered multiple copies to share with others, and am giving a copy to my grandson who just turned 15.