Discourse on Kindly Ways (The Way of the Lord Book 1)

An excellent book that one should take enough time to read slowly and thoroughly. Elizabeth Johnson starts by looking for an appropriate word in order to refer to the Divine. It is common practice to say that God is Spirit. An interesting thing about this is that the word "Spirit" has gradually shifted from being feminine in Hebrew, to neutral in greek and ultimately masculine in latin. This is not much of a surprise in a male-dominated world.

In itself this does not necessarily indicate an improvement in the adequacy of our concept of God. But if we consider this particular history of the word, it may suggest that in order to improve our image of God, we need at least to integrate all three aspects: This will help us take into consideration the fact that God transcends all categories. It will help us deepen our perception of God as mystery. The important for all those who try to link with the Absolute is to know that God is, more than to know exactly what she, it, or he, is. Another interesting fact that the author points out in the same perspective, is that the Spirit as such, has never been given a proper name.

Spirit is considered more often than not as an impersonal power, like a blowing wind or a breath in motion. The title of the book is a clear indication that the author approaches the mystery of God from a feminine point of view. This is done in a constructive way, without being too aggressive. Even when she suggests that Christ's ability to be savior does not reside in his maleness, but in his huge and steadfast capability to love. More challenging are her comments on the suggestion made by a number of authors, that the Spirit was, at least for some time, hypostatically united to Mary.

To my view, this offers a good way of understanding the Christian creed when it claims that Christ was conceived from the Spirit and born from Mary. Altogether, this book is a good incentive for women, but also a real challenge for men. As a follow-up I would recommend the reading of her more recent book "Truly our sister". Quite logically, after dealing in the present book, with the feminine in God she focuses in the new one, on Mary as a major symbol of the feminine in humankind who also enjoyed a unique relationship to the feminine in God.

Johnson writes with an ultimate goal in mind, that of a transformation into new community. Her vision is one in which harmony with each other and with the earth are realized; an eschatological dream of a new heaven and a new earth where justice dwells and partnership reigns. As a first step toward this vision her book offers theologicaly founded evidence for expanding our image of God.

Language functions; selling a god of violence,or superiority based on maleness or color is not helping us to realize a vision of the kindom of God put forth by Jesus-one where all are included at God's loving banquet.

1. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: The Givens Collection.
2. Discourses, Books by Epictetus.
3. Frail.
4. Love Match (Italian Edition).
5. Spiral.

Without this first step toward expanding God's image we humans will always be in violent dissonance with each other and with the earth. I have read this book no less than six times, it has infomed my vision of the world and my personal goals in life. The language she uses is poetical and moves to the core of our being linking us with the holy. Brilliantly she explains Spirit Sophia, Jesus-Sophia, and finally Mother-Sophia adding a feminine spin on the discourse. We come away understanding a care giver God, a Jesus who is a nurturer, and God as a Mother of birth, bringing forth life and teaming with creation.

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This was written about Jesus being Sophia incarnate, and that Sophia would come to earth herself to live with her children, and to cause people to become friends with God. In the Other Bible, the book Trimorphic Protennoia states God would come back the second time in the likeness of a female. Johnson's book is the topping of the doctrines of the Essenes at Qumran found in the Other Bible. So in order to solve the mysteries surrounding the life of Jesus, one must search all the records for themselves.

It should be obvious that there are many male-oriented interpretations of the reality and presence of God, but their male-ness goes unnoticed until an alternative feminist perspective makes it evident by contrast. Even when Johnson criticizes some feminist ideas about God, her clear and forceful descriptions break open categories of how we might think about God. No theology of God, no course about God, is adequate without taking into account the balanced and scholarly analyses Johnson provides. See all 8 reviews.

Take it as well. I have no control over you, but neither you over my will if I willed not to follow you. I'm surprised to see it listed in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders by the way -- the Americans have taken the deprivation of personal dignity to a whole new level. I guess the main reason Nietzsche shut up in my head is that Epictetus stressed a lot on practicing what one has learnt. This is by far what I liked about him most. A bloody long list of philosophers would fail this test.

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Philosophy is not only what one says, but also what one does. Every once in a while I would run into someone like satin: These people are lovely to talk to, but can be an utter pain in the ass when I tried to deal with them in my everyday life. I personally tend to think twice on the statement "do not judge a statement by the one who delivered it".

It's nice to encounter another attitude by Epictetus on the other end of the spectrum: Aug 28, Matt rated it liked it. A follower of Zeno and Chrysippus as evidence by the numerous references , Epictetus expounds the lessons of Stoicism. Detachment from worldly desire being a core concept in both. Whereas Buddhism seeks to train the mind in the ways of sila ethical behavior to cut the chain of endless rebirth, Epictetus teaches how virtue helps you pass through the purpose of this existence.

Men act like a traveller on the way to his own country who A follower of Zeno and Chrysippus as evidence by the numerous references , Epictetus expounds the lessons of Stoicism. Men act like a traveller on the way to his own country who stops at an excellent inn, and, since the inn pleases him, stays there.

Man, you have forgotten your purpose; you were not traveling to this but through it. For Epictetus, the base for all action is cultivation of the mind and soul before God the God referred to being Zeus and not the Judeo-Christian God gaining notoriety in Rome at this time. Set your desire upon becoming pure in the presence of your pure self and of God. The external world must be evaluated with care to understand why there is desire for anything else. The trappings of possessions and prestige prevent true growth. Yes, Epictetus was a toga-hippy. The principles behind most of Book I and II will seem fairly familiar to the modern reader.

Anything can become endured because overcoming it is not the purpose. Regardless, this is a highly quotable text and two passages that struck me as particularly interesting: Whenever you mix in society, whenever you take physical exercise, whenever you converse, do you not know that you are nourishing God, exercising God? You are bearing God about with you, you poor wretch, and know it not! Do you suppose I am speaking of some external God, made of silver or gold?

It is within yourself that you bear Him, and do not perceive that you are defiling Him with impure thoughts and filthy actions. That is why the philosophers admonish us not to be satisfied with merely learning, but to add thereto practice also, and then training. For in the course of years we have acquired the habit of doing the opposite of what we learn and have in use opinions which are the opposite of the correct ones.

For who is there among us here and now that cannot give a philosophical discourse on good and evil? Jul 19, Paula rated it it was amazing Recommends it for: The ideals of Stoicism are not very popular today. Only the military truly appreciates what they have to offer, and for some that alone is enough to turn them away.

Yet, there is no wisdom the world needs more than what Epictetus offers. His insights are so startlingly right, his presentation so witty, his life so exemplary that we would be fools to ignore him. He teaches us, not just to be Men as the military interprets stoicism , but to be fully Human in the best sense.

Here is just a taste: H The ideals of Stoicism are not very popular today. He denounces the claims of so many that we cannot agree on what to value, or call good, in men. He expounds upon how men choose a good horse, and concludes that soundness reveals itself through a horses endurance while running. Is there not modesty, fidelity, justice? Show yourself superior in these, that you may be superior as a man. And what would he have been doing if there had been nothing of the kind? Is it not plain that he would have wrapped himself up and have slept? In the first place, then, he would not have been a Hercules, when he was dreaming away all his life in such luxery and ease, and even if he had been one what would have been the use of him?

And what the use of his arms, and of the strength of the other parts of his body, and his endurance and noble spirit, if such circumstances and occasions had not roused and exercised him? Oct 18, James rated it really liked it Shelves: Undeniably repetitive; however, I think that was rather the point. I find the relationship between Stoic thought which itself persisted in popularity through much of the heyday of Rome and throughout its decline and contemporary cognitive be Wisdom persists. In fact, it still does — hence my obsessive collection of excerpts. The power of each is apparent without much need for diving or dissection.

Sep 17, Nathan rated it liked it. Monumentally influential on moral thought, particularly with regard to Christianity, these short essays - presented as notes of his conversations with students - have a certain charm but there's only so much Graeco-Roman "Braveheart" philosophy I can take in a single sitting. There is another volume containing two more books of his discourses.

I am in no hurry to continue with it. Apr 13, matt rated it it was amazing. Sure, it would be almost impossible to live as a stoic all the time, but there is a comfort here that I really appreciate. I like the idea that we should accept death like one who has borrowed and appreciated something he never fully possessed. It reminds me of what I like about Thoreau--without the meandering treatises on beans. Aug 25, Colin rated it it was amazing Shelves: Lessons in Stoicism from a master, a freed slave writing for a Roman audience. One of the sources from antiquity on Stoicism.



Sep 14, Mark rated it it was amazing. What can I say? I really get a kick out of reading ancient philosophy.

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I wish I had the well-honed mind of a philosopher. Jun 13, Asrik rated it it was ok Shelves: This was really hard to get through. If I were doing it again I'd try the Enchiridion or try a different translation maybe one that isn't 80 years old. Jan 05, Tye Patchana rated it it was amazing.

A book that deserves to be read every morning.

Discourses, Books 1-2

Feb 11, Josh Paul rated it it was amazing Shelves: The best of the stoics. This is the sort of stuff most people probably think of when they think of philosophy. Advice on how to live your life. Kevin rated it really liked it Dec 16, Stephen rated it liked it Nov 04, Nawfal rated it really liked it Feb 19, Matthew Koch rated it it was amazing Apr 14, Jacob Paul rated it it was amazing Nov 19, Robert Willard rated it it was amazing Apr 03, Pallavi Nambiar rated it really liked it Jan 31, Shields rated it it was amazing Jan 29, Mohammed Aberdai rated it it was amazing Nov 12, Ramanan Rajaratnam rated it it was amazing Apr 01, Nancy Moore rated it really liked it Jul 17,