Mary Poplin

My best friend gave this book, few months ago. An Easy read –– I was not surprised of the material. I didn't learn anything new from this book. However, I really enjoyed her own personal journey and how she dabbled in various philosophies, sin. Mother Teresa's response to her critics was convicting to me.

She surveys all the worldview, And I nodded my head, when she pointed out that Christian worldview is inclusive, it encompasses materialism and spiritual world. Meanwhile, others sway over to the extreme. Naturalism would be dogmatic to claim that only thing that exists is matter and universe is devoid of spiritual realm. Yet, many believe otherwise.

I think Charles Taylor's book on Secularism could be considered a better one.
I'm awaiting to read it.

--Deus Vult
Gottfried



… (mais)

My best friend gave this book, few months ago. An Easy read –– I was not surprised of the material. I didn't learn anything new from this book. However, I really enjoyed her own personal journey and how she dabbled in various philosophies, sin. Mother Teresa's response to her critics was convicting to me.

She surveys all the worldview, And I nodded my head, when she pointed out that Christian worldview is inclusive, it encompasses materialism and spiritual world. Meanwhile, others sway over to the extreme. Naturalism would be dogmatic to claim that only thing that exists is matter and universe is devoid of spiritual realm. Yet, many believe otherwise.

I think Charles Taylor's book on Secularism could be considered a better one.
I'm awaiting to read it.

--Deus Vult
Gottfried



… (mais)

From the end of the Introduction: "... It is the story of how God used her and the Missionaries to cause a crisis in my own life which revealed more clearly my purpose and my calling. Mother [Teresa] called it 'finding your Calcutta'. "

Notable quotes:
Ch 3 "I never heard a Missionary of Charity say she could not do something."
Ch 6 Do All Things Without Complaining or Disputing
Ch 8 There Is Always Enough "Divine providence assumes that God has provided an abundance for every need."
Ch 10 The Vow of Obedience "The superior of each house, however, will remember that she is first for the sisters and next for the work."
Ch 13 Mother Teresa's business cards read "Love to pray -- feel often during the day the need for prayer and take trouble to pray. Prayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of containing God's gift of Himself. Ask and seek, and your heart will grow big enough to receive Him and keep Him as your own.
Ch 18 "... statistically speaking, what Mother achieves is little, or even negligible. But then Christianity is not a statistical view of life. ... God is fond ... of doing much with little. ... He uses the simple to confound the wise, and the despised to become mighty."… (mais)

A fresh read best when the author is surveying and commenting on the various world views. The task of the author is to evaluate the different world views against "reality" to see which is the most consistent with "reality". The conclusion is that Christianity contains all the truth there is in other world views but goes beyond them to more comprehensive truth. The last section of the book explores the implications of Christianity being true. The book is essentially an apologetic for Christianity. But it takes a fresh approach and is engagingly written. If someone wants an intelligent introduction to the major themes of Christian thought preceded by a good survey of major world views (material naturalism, secular humanism, pantheism) then it's worth a read. I didn't agree with everything the author says (I rarely do!) but it's an interesting approach from someone who has lived on both sides of religion. An enjoyable and informative read that will, perhaps, be most appreciated by intelligent Christians.… (mais)