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“My climb out of darkness” This is Karen’s second shot at an autobiography. She’s a bit embarrassed about the first, so we’ll pass by that.
An excellent story of her life. She optimistically joins a convent, learns she’s not growing or prospering in the environment (after years of practically killing herself) and leaves the monastic life. Education is her life at first, and along the way she drops her faith.
Years later, she finds a way in which religion enriches her life through academic study of it, and she goes with it, gaining many insights and benefits to her soul.
A good read, and of particular interest for me because I have read two of her books (and enjoyed them):
The Case for Godand The Great Transformation. HiJolly
Thanks for the review. Just purchased two more Karen Armstrong books! I know I could just look her up on the web, but it would be useful to know the background of the author for those of us who don’t know much about these kind of figures/authors….just as a suggestion. Off the top of my head, Karen Armstrong is a former nun, who was “hopelessly bad at prayer.” She has since turned to a scholarly study of all religions. Her point of view is from an academic perspective, rather than from any particular denomination. Love Karen Armstrong. Her newest book 12 Steps to a Compassionate Life is fabulous. So needed in this world today but I don’t believe I’ll see her dream come to pass in my lifetime. I can hope mind you. CG
Karen Armstrong is interesting. I listened to her interview a while back on Speaking of Faith with Krista Tippett (highly recommend that NPR radio show in general). I also picked up her book “A History of God” at a used book store recently and have been reading it now and then. I think it’s actually quite good, and written in a very accessible and light way. Thanks for posting HiJolly! Interesting to see the path Karen Armstrong came from. You mean there are other religions where education scholars find religion hard to explain besides BYU professors?
:think: Those darn intellectuals!
Heber13 wrote:Thanks for posting HiJolly!
Interesting to see the path Karen Armstrong came from. You mean there are other religions where education scholars find religion hard to explain besides BYU professors?
:think: Those darn intellectuals!
One interesting story she shares concerns an assignment to prove the resurrection of Jesus.She did exceptionally well on the study & writing of the paper, but in the process she realized how secondary (or worse) all her sources and proofs were. And when she discussed the paper with the Sister in charge, she accepted the praise gracefully and then said “But it’s not really true, is it?” The Sister sadly said “No, but I’d appreciate it if you didn’t share that with the others.”
Life’s like that all over.
HiJolly
HiJolly wrote:Life’s like that all over.
Jesus groaned within. You see, some of us aren’t very good at insisting with our kids there is a Santa Claus. Why insist? What good does it do? Why can’t Jesus bring us salvation and miracles without being superhuman? But I digress.
I’m just about done with this book and it is absolutely fan-freaking-tastic. Seriously one of the best books on spirituality that I have ever read. Here are a couple of excerpts that really spoke to me. Speaking of the T.S. Elliott poem
Ash Wednesday, she says
Quote:The sudden clumsiness of the syntax and language showed that this was no easy solution. It was not something that came naturally. The new joy demanded effort. It would have to be constructed as laboriously and carefully as I put together a chapter of my thesis or as engineers and aeronautical experts built an airplane. It would be a lifetime task, requiring alert attention to the smallest detail, dedication, and unremitting effort, but … I knew it could be done.
which is something I discovered recently on my own, and found so confirming to hear her say.
Quote:The one and only test of a valid religious idea, doctrinal statement, spiritual experience, or devotional practice was that it must lead directly to practical compassion.
If I could write, I’d want to write like Karen Armstrong.
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