A confirmed spiritual fence sitter marries a Catholic and everything changes--not quickly, but decidedly. Six years after the birth of his first child, the author becomes an inquirer in the Church's RCIA program and eventually joins the Church. "Journey into Belief: Finding God Through the Creed" recounts the author's journey, with all of its meandering and searching. In an engaging manner sure to bring readers to tears and to laughter, the author uses the Nicene Creed as a basis for coming to faith, which gives "Journey Into Belief" a solid and focused foundation. It will delight both new and long-standing Catholics alike and make all readers grateful for the great gift of faith in their life. "Paperback"
As many people know, the R.C.I.A. program is the layperson group for those wondering about things Catholic. That stands for Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults but that slightly offputting title is completely opposite to the friendly, open and encouraging atmosphere that characterizes these groups. Of course they are absolutely different depending on who the people are, what the program is like and the hundred other variables that attend such things. I hesitated writing about my experiences in the RCIA program because they were so amazing I didn't want to raise the expectations of other seekers. I need not have worried, however, because Steve McCoy-Thompson has beaten me to it. In this brief, inexpensive book he gives a lively account of his experiences in RCIA set against his doubts and questions. RCIA is a time of discovery, at the end of which, those desiring to do so may join the Church, although some inquirers at the end of the program decide not to. Thompson's case is in a sense typical, in that his wife had already become Catholic and he increasingly was similarly led on his own journey. Throughout the book he compares his own experiences as a husband and father to the spiritual attributes of divine love. As a very personal story Thompson's book is intriguing, as few have set down their thoughts about RCIA. But it's perhaps more intriguing because he gives vent to doubts and questions that many people have but don't express, unawares that RCIA was created to provide just this sort of forum. The subtitle in a sense takes the book to a higher level, in that many Catholics rabbit back the creed without thinking or never delve into the rich history of this statement of faith, never dreaming it has anything to do with a personal relationship with God. In my view a great strength of the RCIA program is the diversity of people who go through it. I went through with a professor, a Baptist minister, a nominal Methodist, a lapsed Catholic and other various sorts, and it is the interchange of ideas and opinions and the sense of seeking together, as so aptly captured in this book, that makes RCIA such a rich experience.
Funny and wise
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 20 years ago
I read Journey into Belief this weekend and enjoyed it very much. It's easy to read - great tone, great use of humor -almost as if having a casual conversation with the author, yet the book is able to address significant issues of faith that have been debated and studied for 2,000 years. I also enjoyed the format of the book, which goes through each element of the Nicene Creed. Neat idea. Issues of faith are also tackled quite nicely. It's tough to "argue" or "debate" faith because by its very nature faith is not logical, and I like how the author admits "I still don't understand how this works." Some of my favorite moments: Prayer quota (exactly how I've always felt) / Why the Old Testament is obsessed with floods and wars and disasters (Great answer) / God as bipolar (he's not, and you have a great explanation for this) / the Bible is not a science book / the Catholic Church does not reject the theory of evolution / you make a good argument for evidence that perhaps Christ did actually rise from the dead! Some excellent moments of humor: Steve's Letter to the Pasadenian's / "But really most sincerely dead" / "where any twenty-first century male goes to privately ask directions..." / like a collective "Go Team." Yet the most powerful statement / concept (for me) in the book was: "Faith-based insanity is captured ... in our abiding love for our children." A wonderful read; I recommend this to everyone who is assessing their faith and looking for well-thought answers (with a light touch) to some very important questions.
This book resonates with honesty and humor...
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 21 years ago
I finished this book last week and I really enjoyed it. It resonated with honesty and the humor was great. So many of the rationalizations made me giggle out loud because they were so honest, or I'd thought the same thing at one time or other, or it just made sense logically. I loved it. The book is an "easy/ quick read" size. It fits nicely in a purse or car (for moms waiting for little and big darlings to come out from school or whatever). I'm going to give it to the gal I sponsored last year in the RCIA program and suggest to our Director that she recommend it to all the folks in RCIA. I think it would be great for them to see how much alone they are NOT - in their thoughts and concerns and feelings and anxieties, etc etc etc. The tone is so inviting, light, and very thoughtful. It's a beautiful journey so beautifully shared.
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