Soul Making: The Desert Way of Spirituality (Paperback)

~ (Author) "When Teresa of Avila described the soul as an interior castle which most people explore, she was stating truth we needed Freud and Jung to..." (more)
Key Phrases: desert believer, fiftieth gate, desert tradition, Father Quixote, Jesus Christ, Don Juan (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A leading spiritual writer recovers "The Desert Way of Believing" -- the spiritual pathway discovered by early Christian monks who lived in the Egyptian desert that is still relevant to Christians today. Alan Jones distills the elements that made this fully orthodox way of inner transformation a unique and important part of the early church. Refreshingly readable and filled with rich insights, Soul Making draws together the spirituality of modern literature and elements of psychology. Jones shows how the desert way can become for any spiritual seeker a soul-stretching means of experiencing the "wonder, mystery, and awe" at the heart of the Christian faith.

About the Author

Alan W. Jones, Ph.D., is the dean of Grace Cathedral (Episcopal) in San Francisco, California. He was formerly the director of ascetical theology at General Theological Seminary in New York City. Born and education in England, Jones was also on the staff of Trinity Institute of Wall Street's Trinity Church. He is well known as a speaker and retreat leader and is also the author of Journey into Christ, Exploring Spiritual Direction, and co-author of Living in the Spirit.

Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne (May 10, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060641797
• ISBN-13: 978-0060641795
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #187,824 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Profound insights for those who seek them, June 3, 2000

By	"spandorf" (Fishers, Indiana - United States) - See all my reviews

My minister spoke with me last September of the "gift of tears" mentioned in one of the chapters of this book. These tears "soften the heart and open the soul". At the time I was beginning treatment for clinical depression and was spending quite a bit of time excercising this "gift" and was sure that these tears were signs of my lack of faith in God. He helped me to see that the ability to cry for the world is fundamental to the Christian soul. Nine months later, I discovered this book from which that term derived.

Jones has written a challenging and spiritually inspiring guide to our progress through such questions as "Who is God? Who am I? What is the meaning of my life?" The resonance of his prose, the depth of his understanding, the richness of his literary references is phenomenol. If you are on a journey, seeking to discover the "soul" within you, you will find this book quite enlightening.

I cannot reccommend this book highly enough! It is not easy reading, but the answers to life and faith are not easy ones. This is a book to be savored, pondered, and returned to again and again as we continue in the life long process of "soul making".

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought-provoking and insightful., July 21, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Kentucky) - See all my reviews

"I want to be a believer with passion and intelligence - and that longing always leads me into a desert place, a place of emptiness and death. And it is there that I begin to learn how to love" (quote from SoulMaking). Jones' book offers soul-food for the spiritual seekers. He explores the dark night of the soul that all believers experience; the times without like-minded fellowship where spirituality is defined solely by intimacy with God.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding and in depth exploration of living christianity, January 18, 1998

By A Customer

This is a book which draws you slowly to investigating the truth at your own core regarding your living of Christianity. It soars above individual church politics and invites you to truly discern your path. Not easy but compelling. A book to be read over time and savored as you grow .