Spiritual Direction and the Encounter with God: A Theological InquiryIs what we call "the encounter with God" merely a depth experience of the psyche or does it have a specific theological character? In this revised edition of his best selling book, William Barry shows how it it possible to understand an encounter with the Triune God in this world, and how that process can be interpreted and aided by a spiritual director. Using the insights of John Macmurray and John Smith, Barry describes how a relationship with God develops and how one can discern whether a particular experience is from God or not. This understanding of religious experience comes from a theology of community, communal discernment and ministry in the church. This book will be helpful to spiritual directors, educators and theologians, as well as all educated seekers desiring a deeper relationship with God. In this revised edition, the author has added reflections on God's presence to suffering and evil and to evildoers, updated the bibliography, and freshened his examples for the 21st-century reader. + |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Understanding Gods Presence in the World | 7 |
The Religious Dimension of Experience | 20 |
A Theology of Trinity and of Community | 40 |
The Development of the Relationship with God | 59 |
A Theology of Discernment of Spirits | 73 |
A Theology of the Ministry of Spiritual Direction | 90 |
Conclusion | 106 |
110 | |
Other editions - View all
Spiritual Direction and the Encounter with God: A Theological Inquiry William A. Barry Limited preview - 2004 |
Spiritual Direction and the Encounter with God: A Theological Inquiry William A. Barry No preview available - 1992 |
Common terms and phrases
action includes Agent analogy argument attuned become believe C. S. Lewis chapter Christ Christian church constituted created desire director discernment of spirits ence encounter evil example existence Father feel friendship Gifford Lectures God's action God's intention God's one action God's presence hearts Hence heterocentric Holy Spirit human experience Ibid Ignatius of Loyola immanent Jesus John Macmurray Karl Rahner live Lord love thee Macmurray argues Macmurray's minister ministry of spiritual Moreover motivation mutual N. T. Wright negative noted one's Paulist Press philosophy philosophy of action Practice of Spiritual prayer present problematic Rahner reality reflection relation relationship religion religious dimension religious experience resistance reveals Sebastian Moore sense share sinful Smith society Society of Jesus spiritual direction Spiritual Exercises subordinated to love Susan Howatch theology things three Persons tion Trinity understanding unintegrated fears unity universe words York/Mahwah