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jayoh717's review against another edition
3.0
It's not that I disagreed or didn't find this book to be helpful necessarily. McLaren does a great job of presenting and engaging with, as the title suggests, ancient practices (read disciplines). I just found my mind wandering often and had a hard time staying engaged, most likely because I've read a lot on this topic from many of the people he alludes to or gives a nod to. If you want a good intro to ancient disciplines/practices of the church this is a good jumping in point, if you want a bit more depth go to the original sources.
reatschetter's review against another edition
3.0
I suppose that as an introduction to the books to come which will delve into the practices in more detail, this book was okay. As a standalone book, it just didn't offer what I was expecting. So I'm torn between whether I should give this 3 or 4 stars. I'm settling on 3 just because it took me several months to finish this, and generally if I'm into a book it does not take that long, so clearly something was not connecting with me.
alissawilkinson's review against another edition
2.0
I actually found this to be much better than I expected. A thoughtful, intelligent, and overall graceful exploration of spiritual disciplines.
bythelionsmane's review against another edition
4.0
If you haven't read this book yet, you should! It's a reminder to us Protestants to never forsake the ancient paths that were forged before our movement began in the 16th century and a call for us to break the biggest sin of all: pride. The good thing about this book is the questions at the end of the chapters actually make us "faith" what he talks about, try them out. And he moves us away from making dichotomies between denominations, to trying to encompass the good from each other's denominations. McLaren also does an amazing job of describing theosis in language that Orthodox Christians use, but Protestants will understand. He also talks about how Protestants have made similar mistakes that the Catholic Church has made. But unlike Catholics who have been humbled and have learned from their mistakes, we haven't learned yet, and will continue to make our mistakes. Ironically using a formula, McLaren shows us how to break away from formulas, and realizes his irony and is humble enough to admit there is more to be learnt.
Since I am from a Brethren background (like McLaren) he speaks about the richness of the tradition he has grown up in, and yet at the same time how there were many deficiencies, and talks about how he moved around...but then "I felt the same calustrophobia in my new traditions, so instead of converting ot yet another tradition, I converted to a different way of holding traditions in geeneral. "
He continues, "I think that's part of what's going on in this time of change and transition. Old sectarian turf wars are giving way to a sharing oresources -- heroes, practices, flavors, and styles of practice."
and another place, "So now we hav Bpatists who practice the stations of the cross (copyright Catholic), and Catholics who speak in tongues (copyright Pentecostal), Pentecostals learn the Jesus prayer (copyring Eastern Orthodox), and Episcopalians sometimes baptize by immersion (copyright Baptist). Critics see these patterns as a terrible loss and view such innovators as spiritual dilettantes. Superficial borrowing can be a danger, but so can the refusal to learn from toher traditions and share on'es practices with an open hand."
my favourite quote is a tongue-in-cheek quote by McLaren about the term "New Kind of Christian"....."My new considerations turn out, as they always do, to be a rediscovery of something old and very precious." And that's truly what this book does. Find's the old, and helps us to embrace it once again (instead of reject it as some previously have...)
And as the beginning of the book suggests, all these chapters are not another "to-do" list, it's to incorporate us into realizing Christianity wasn't about a "to-do" list, it was about an active living relationship with the Creator of the universe. It's about living a life, rather than "acting out" a life as religious rules can make you do. It's about learning, but realizing how that learning can infect your life with goodness and how it can spread for more goodness in the world!
Enjoy the book and more importantly learn practices for real-life.
Since I am from a Brethren background (like McLaren) he speaks about the richness of the tradition he has grown up in, and yet at the same time how there were many deficiencies, and talks about how he moved around...but then "I felt the same calustrophobia in my new traditions, so instead of converting ot yet another tradition, I converted to a different way of holding traditions in geeneral. "
He continues, "I think that's part of what's going on in this time of change and transition. Old sectarian turf wars are giving way to a sharing oresources -- heroes, practices, flavors, and styles of practice."
and another place, "So now we hav Bpatists who practice the stations of the cross (copyright Catholic), and Catholics who speak in tongues (copyright Pentecostal), Pentecostals learn the Jesus prayer (copyring Eastern Orthodox), and Episcopalians sometimes baptize by immersion (copyright Baptist). Critics see these patterns as a terrible loss and view such innovators as spiritual dilettantes. Superficial borrowing can be a danger, but so can the refusal to learn from toher traditions and share on'es practices with an open hand."
my favourite quote is a tongue-in-cheek quote by McLaren about the term "New Kind of Christian"....."My new considerations turn out, as they always do, to be a rediscovery of something old and very precious." And that's truly what this book does. Find's the old, and helps us to embrace it once again (instead of reject it as some previously have...)
And as the beginning of the book suggests, all these chapters are not another "to-do" list, it's to incorporate us into realizing Christianity wasn't about a "to-do" list, it was about an active living relationship with the Creator of the universe. It's about living a life, rather than "acting out" a life as religious rules can make you do. It's about learning, but realizing how that learning can infect your life with goodness and how it can spread for more goodness in the world!
Enjoy the book and more importantly learn practices for real-life.
crysrowe's review against another edition
5.0
This book has been on my list of "must reads" since it first came out. About a month ago, when feeling particularly disillusioned with this thing we call "church", I finally made it a priority to read it. After the first chapter, I was convinced that God was speaking directly through Brian McLaren's words to me.
I do have one slight disappointment about the book - I had hoped that McLaren was going to help me understand how to DO the ancient practices. This is not so much an "instructional manual" as it is a book that works to convince us of the need for these ancient practices in our daily lives.
And boy am I convinced. This book uses incredible illustrations to help us understand that there are great things about every faith tradition, but that what sustains us over our lifetimes is the way in which we live out that faith tradition. Jesus says he is the way, the truth and the life - and yet we don't focus so much on what it means for him to be the way. McLaren does an awesome job of highlighting and explaining the ancient threefold way - and I am absolutely convinced that the future of Christianity lies within this ancient way.
McLaren talks about eight primary ancient practices (although he also gives a list of many many more): fasting, contemplative prayer, simplicity, spiritual reading, meditation, solitude, silence, and observing the holy days (or the liturgical calendar). There's a simple reason why they are called practices - they mean nothing to us unless we spend time actually doing them! Some call them disciplines, which makes a lot of sense too - it takes a lot for us to actually sit down and do them. But when we do spend time with them - when we are disciplined enough to take time out of our busy lives to practice these actions - we become alive. We become more aware of God's grace in our lives. We are changed.
This book was the first step of many for me. I long to feel alive with God. I am now on a journey to make this ancient threefold way an integral part of my life. And I am convinced that it is through that way that I will find true joy, and I might just change the world in the process.
And not only did this book affect me personally - this book has affected the way I view my ministry. Our churches should be about showing people the way. About teaching people how to practice, how to be disciplined - what it means to follow the ancient way every single day of my life. I am excited (and a little terrified) about beginning to make that happen in my ministry.
McLaren does a wonderful job of stressing the importance of cooperation between our denominations. What I have as a Lutheran is just a small piece of the way. What Southern Baptists have is another small piece of the way. It is when we seek to learn the way together that we begin to truly BE the body of Christ and build the Kingdom of God. If you haven't read it, read it. If you read this and you think you won't enjoy his book - that it sounds too far out there, read it anyway. Take a chance on it - it might be the beginning of a change in your life.
I do have one slight disappointment about the book - I had hoped that McLaren was going to help me understand how to DO the ancient practices. This is not so much an "instructional manual" as it is a book that works to convince us of the need for these ancient practices in our daily lives.
And boy am I convinced. This book uses incredible illustrations to help us understand that there are great things about every faith tradition, but that what sustains us over our lifetimes is the way in which we live out that faith tradition. Jesus says he is the way, the truth and the life - and yet we don't focus so much on what it means for him to be the way. McLaren does an awesome job of highlighting and explaining the ancient threefold way - and I am absolutely convinced that the future of Christianity lies within this ancient way.
McLaren talks about eight primary ancient practices (although he also gives a list of many many more): fasting, contemplative prayer, simplicity, spiritual reading, meditation, solitude, silence, and observing the holy days (or the liturgical calendar). There's a simple reason why they are called practices - they mean nothing to us unless we spend time actually doing them! Some call them disciplines, which makes a lot of sense too - it takes a lot for us to actually sit down and do them. But when we do spend time with them - when we are disciplined enough to take time out of our busy lives to practice these actions - we become alive. We become more aware of God's grace in our lives. We are changed.
This book was the first step of many for me. I long to feel alive with God. I am now on a journey to make this ancient threefold way an integral part of my life. And I am convinced that it is through that way that I will find true joy, and I might just change the world in the process.
And not only did this book affect me personally - this book has affected the way I view my ministry. Our churches should be about showing people the way. About teaching people how to practice, how to be disciplined - what it means to follow the ancient way every single day of my life. I am excited (and a little terrified) about beginning to make that happen in my ministry.
McLaren does a wonderful job of stressing the importance of cooperation between our denominations. What I have as a Lutheran is just a small piece of the way. What Southern Baptists have is another small piece of the way. It is when we seek to learn the way together that we begin to truly BE the body of Christ and build the Kingdom of God. If you haven't read it, read it. If you read this and you think you won't enjoy his book - that it sounds too far out there, read it anyway. Take a chance on it - it might be the beginning of a change in your life.
thislibrarianisreading's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
5.0
becmatho's review against another edition
3.0
The start was great,
the end was thought provoking
the middle was bland and boring.
(although I did read a Pratchett about that time, so that could be the issue here)
the end was thought provoking
the middle was bland and boring.
(although I did read a Pratchett about that time, so that could be the issue here)
wakela's review against another edition
4.0
Very much like the other books in this series, this book is written to allow the average lay person to take a look back at the way ancient Christianity was practiced.
Sometimes, we need to step back and time to see how things were previously done. And also to see why.
The author also provides exercises for us to do in order to allow ourselves to come closer to practicing the old ways.
I know in our busy lives today, we feel stressed because we run from one thing to another. It is only when we take time out to ensure that we nourish our spirits do we grow and flourish.
This is one of those books that you want to work through at a relatively slow pace. Read the chapter, do the exercises, live and breath it for a little bit, all before moving on to the next chapter.
Sometimes, we need to step back and time to see how things were previously done. And also to see why.
The author also provides exercises for us to do in order to allow ourselves to come closer to practicing the old ways.
I know in our busy lives today, we feel stressed because we run from one thing to another. It is only when we take time out to ensure that we nourish our spirits do we grow and flourish.
This is one of those books that you want to work through at a relatively slow pace. Read the chapter, do the exercises, live and breath it for a little bit, all before moving on to the next chapter.