Book Review: Finding Our Way Again by Brian McLaren

Side note: Another hobby! Reading! :)

I hope to post some Easter cards for you soon!

While this was not a book I would have normally chosen off the shelf, it turned out to be a very interesting read. As the introductory book to a series on spiritual practices, Brian McLaren speaks to how “we must rediscover our faith as a way of life, not simply as a system of belief.” He looks at how even ancient spiritual practices have a place today in modern religions as we seek to regain our focus and strengthen our faith. I was expecting a sort of summary of the practices, which it was not. He focused mainly on the need for these practices as a whole in our daily lives and what it means to be growing in our faith (and “finding our way again”).

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I am neither a religious scholar nor a history buff, but his explanations of Christian history were (mostly) clear enough that I was able to follow and have a very basic understanding of where he was coming from.

The one issue that I had with the book was that while McLaren clearly stated that he was a Christian and was writing from a Christian perspective, the book was written for “unreligious people as well as adherents of all three Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.” I did appreciate his explanations of the similarities among these faiths, but I also believe they are different enough to warrant not including them all in one book. For that reason, there were times that I felt he wasn’t as clear in making his statements as he would have been if it simply was directed toward a Christian audience.

I plan to keep this book on my bookshelf to refer back to at another time. I also hope to perhaps think through some of the spiritual exercises and study guide questions more thoroughly.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com http://BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”