The Sacred Journey

I will start with the best thoughts I had about the book, The Sacred Journey. The writing makes me think...it challenged me not only intellectually but also spiritually. There are no answers, only observations and appeals to yearnings I have to admit I have had. A yearning to be a hobo, not in a bad way, but a dependent way. This book if you make it through it, will shake and jar you. This could be good or it could be bad.


The editor and author tell us that the book may be offensive. I feel that I can truthfully say it was offensive to me. Alongside that offense was a question of why did it offend me? I think it was the easy acceptance of the author that a spiritual pilgrimage could include alcohol and cannibis and throwing caution to the wind in your choice of companions in life. I cannot say I would recommend this book to anyone, in particular young people or those in typical mainstream Christian churches (which the author seems to have issues with).

I found the book to be filled with stories, points, quotes from non-Christian religions that support the author's premise that a physical spiritual journey is necessary to move into a lifetime of following Jesus. There were many things I agreed with and many I didn't.

I believe this book will lead a person into areas of thinking that are different from the norm of a typical Christian. It would be a great discussion book and it does have a study guide in the back. These questions do focus on living life with fresh eyes and open mind.

The references to literature and history may make the book hard to follow if you have not studied at a college level. I have a college degree and still needed my dictionary for many of the words.

I thought , "I hate this book" all the way to page 32. Then I began to see it as a book that "could" be used to spur me into deeper thinking. However, if you are looking for an inspirational easy read...this is not it.
 
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their 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 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”