![]() ![]() This was seen by them all as a primary mission to all that they did and how they thought however, even within this book, while in unison on this goal, one can find variances in how they went about it. In general, this book is a compilation of wisdom and knowledge gained over centuries by Christian ascetics and monks on their efforts to gain a closer relationship to God. It does have these in abundance, but it also is a series of anecdotes about them, or their comments on the sayings or acts of other contemporary prominent church fathers and ascetics in the times in which they lived. I would go so far to say that, in my opinion, this is not a book for non-Christians or for new or immature Christians, but one for those mature in their faith seeking general principles or ideas for which to take that faith to a higher level in growing yet even closer to God.įor one thing, it is not just a compendium of sayings, aphorisms, and proverbs of early Christian saints. In other words, we're all different, and God deals with us all in different ways in accordance with how we are, how we think, and are own gifts and weaknesses. I think that one must read each of these sections on their own, and evaluate from them what principles are most beneficial and applicable to their own spiritual journey in Christ. That may seem fuzzy or inexact, but I do think that to see this book holistically will make it of greater benefit to the reader than to focus excessively on some of the more disturbing things in it. I do not think that the way to approach this work is the way one might approach a self-help book or Bible study from some Christian book stores, but to see it as an overall whole. This book was definitely not quite what I expected. ![]() This is one of those books that pulled me in different directions - from blessing by wisdom to astonishment at the seeming indifference, occasional perversity, or even cruelty of some of its subjects.
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