Synopses & Reviews
Contemporary political venues have put religious belief at the forefront of ourthinking. Yet, we live in a world where religion has become a tool people can use totheir advantage rather than a means of growing closer to God. In this revisededition of In Search of Belief, Sister Joan Chittister challengesreaders to reflect upon whether they truly live what they say they believe orwhether they have created their own images of God to suit whatever is convenient fortheir personal and/or social situations.
With a new foreword by Tom Roberts(National Catholic Reporter) and a new Introduction by the author, this freshedition examines the Apostles' Creed phrase-by-phrase, offering challenginginterpretations of its familiar themes and a provocative way of understanding--andexpressing--its tenets.
232-page paperback; 5-1/2 x 8-1/4
Testimonials
Chittister's meditations on the mysteries that herbelief affirms in the Creed are rich. She cautions that disbelief in God inevitablyleads to a myopic affirmation of one's own divinity, and she repeats the ancientcaveats against creating God in our own image, or believing that a human being isable to grasp God intellectually...Her characterization of heaven is both refreshingand challenging...Her reflections on the annunciation and incarnation soar with hopeas she affirms the reality of miracles, the active presence of God who fills humanflesh 'with an insatiable capacity for the divine.'
--AmericaMagazine
A refreshing and contemporary analysis of the truemeaning of the Creed. Honest and thought provoking, In Search of Beliefcalls us to a spiritual adulthood...Not for the spiritually faint-hearted.
--Edwina Gately
Each age has those who understand moredeeply than most the essence of belief and the need to liberate religion from itself-- and God from the constrictions of religion. Joan Chittister brings a religiousvision, one deeply considered and richly experienced, to the task. In doing so, sheoffers us the way to new eyes and new hearts when we pray, I believe.
--Tom Roberts, National Catholic Reporter
...InSearch of Belief raises several questions about the Creed.... The book is aninvitation to examine the extent to which we have made the Creed a personalstatement of what we truly believe....The life of faith is a perilous journeybecause it involves placing one's trust in God and in transcendent reality. Whatmakes the book so refreshing is that the Creed is made relevant to the modern age.There is absolutely no chance of anyone being bored
--Trefoil, Southern African Catholic Quarterly
In this stirringtestament to the resiliency of the Christian faith, Joan Chittister ...spells outthe meaning of the apostles Creed, phrase by phrase. For her, this testament is notan index of dogmas, but a catalog of choices, an inventory of possibilities, aroster of visions...She breathes new life into these familiar phrases...This is apath-breaking resource for Christian educators to study and use in parishes.
--Spirituality & Health
This book is dangerous.Once you have read it, you can never again mumble the Creed complacently, withoutthought. Joan Chittister