Cultivating the 7 Spiritual Instincts for a Fearless Life
February 14, 2011
According to Golliher, an Episcopal priest and author of A Deeper Faith, "the fear that rules our lives makes us a danger to ourselves." While that sentiment may seem bleak, it is only because the author approaches the nature of fear with uncommon acuity and insight. He's not out to frighten, but instead to show how fearless it's possible to be. Golliher admits the primal flight-or-fight instinct is necessary for survival, but warns that unacknowledged spiritual fears lead to personal and public conflict. To move through fear, Golliher advocates strengthening seven spiritual "instincts": awe, love, intent, rest, community, justice, and faith. He explains them with touching personal stories and provides time-tested spiritual practices to help develop them. The chapter on awe is the most theologically strenuous, as a fear of God is reconciled with being in awe of God. Throughout the awe-filled contemplations, love is presented as the true opposite of fear, and so "love carries us through every fear." With intimate and affecting prose, Golliher brings home a message that is at once comforting, socially conscious, and resounding in its bold spiritual wisdom.
March 1, 2011
A faith-based guide to finding freedom from the crippling effects of fear.
In this sensitive book, Episcopal priest and cultural anthropologist Golliher (A Deeper Faith: A Journey into Spirituality, 2008) offers helpful advice, in the form of personal recollections and stories, to individuals seeking to overcome fear, "one of the greatest obstacles in life." The author begins by defining this devastating negative emotion and discussing the five insights he sees as necessary for a successful journey through it. Golliher systematically examines what he calls the "seven spiritual instincts"—awe, love, intent, conscience, community, rest and faith—and the relationship each has to fear. Through richly detailed anecdotes, he shows what these instincts are (as well as what they are not) and outlines methods or "spiritual practices" readers can use to cultivate them in their daily lives. He argues that by strengthening and refining these instincts, individuals can move through and beyond fear to experience "the joy that the great body of life" bestows on those who live in the "real world," rather than the false and needlessly painful one fear can create. While the book is rooted in Christian spirituality, the author never loses sight of his ultimate mission to help all readers regardless of their religious backgrounds.
Through a skillful, balanced blend of sympathetic insights into the human condition and wise observations gleaned from the Bible, Golliher creates satisfying reading for a general—rather than strictly faith-based—audience that neither preaches nor attempts to proselytize.
(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)
March 15, 2011
Healthy fear can protect us, but left unchecked, fear can cause numerous problems and prevent us from reaching our full potential. Freeing ourselves from fear involves first acknowledging its power over us, then moving with persistence through and beyond it. In his latest book, Golliher, author of A Deeper Faith (2008), provides a guide for making fear literally disappear. He offers valuable insights into the mechanics of fear, explaining that avoiding fear only feeds it, and working through it makes it go away. He also identifies spiritual instincts that can enable us to act fearlessly: awe, love, intent, conscience, community, and rest. These instincts play out in many ways and often involve taking such actions as: turning off the television to experience peace and quiet, standing up for our beliefs, sharing a home-cooked meal, resting and meditating, and helping others in need. A helpful book with an important message: never give up, never give in to fear.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)
March 1, 2011
A faith-based guide to finding freedom from the crippling effects of fear.
In this sensitive book, Episcopal priest and cultural anthropologist Golliher (A Deeper Faith: A Journey into Spirituality, 2008) offers helpful advice, in the form of personal recollections and stories, to individuals seeking to overcome fear, "one of the greatest obstacles in life." The author begins by defining this devastating negative emotion and discussing the five insights he sees as necessary for a successful journey through it. Golliher systematically examines what he calls the "seven spiritual instincts"--awe, love, intent, conscience, community, rest and faith--and the relationship each has to fear. Through richly detailed anecdotes, he shows what these instincts are (as well as what they are not) and outlines methods or "spiritual practices" readers can use to cultivate them in their daily lives. He argues that by strengthening and refining these instincts, individuals can move through and beyond fear to experience "the joy that the great body of life" bestows on those who live in the "real world," rather than the false and needlessly painful one fear can create. While the book is rooted in Christian spirituality, the author never loses sight of his ultimate mission to help all readers regardless of their religious backgrounds.
Through a skillful, balanced blend of sympathetic insights into the human condition and wise observations gleaned from the Bible, Golliher creates satisfying reading for a general--rather than strictly faith-based--audience that neither preaches nor attempts to proselytize.
(COPYRIGHT (2011) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)