NAKED SPIRITUALITY

I read this book as part of my Sabbath discipline, one chapter per week. I found it so fruitful that I now use it as a training tool for new member sponsors at the church I attend.The premise is simple: McLaren has chosen 12 words to reflect on the seasons of the spiritual journey: Here, Thanks, O, Sorry, Help, Please, When, No, Why, Behold, Yes, and [...] He uses three words each as contemplative metaphors for the four seasons of Simplicity, Complexity, Perplexity, and Harmony. Because he is using the analogy of the year or cycle, he offers the opportunity for the reader to consider our journeys less as a trip (from point A to point B) and more in line with a wandering (passing the same point more than once, but always in a slightly different emotional-spiritual-psychological space.)McLaren's reflection on his own voyage of discovery was like having a lively, challenging, and vulnerable companion beside me. There were times when I said, "Finally I have words to describe what I felt during that experience." There were other times when something that had been lurking in the back of my heart snapped into sharp focus.McLaren's honesty encourages honesty in his readers, and a willingness to move deeply beneath the surface of events to explore the meanings, the blessings, and the shadows.Having used the book with groups, I would say that literal folks have a harder time with the imagery and metaphors he uses (which, personally, I found enormously helpful -- ) It is also probably not a good book for those who tend toward believing that there is one right answer to questions about faith. Depending on where a person is emotionally, it might be the tipping point book -- inviting her or him into an expansive and divine space. It could also simply be an exercise in frustration when McLaren gently suggests that God is likely larger than any one answer we might believe we "have."If, however, you are someone who is seeking a companion to challenge your own status quo and nudge you to look openly at your own "givens" and biases...you have found the person in McLaren.

Naked Spirituality offers a creative and fresh approach to Christian spirituality. McLaren orients the text around four seasons, which one can pass through any number of times and should be envisioned as "an ascending spiral that grows wider" each time one passes through (p.27). For each season, he suggests three words that offer unconventional names for specific spiritual practices.For those followers of Jesus for whom the traditional language and practices of spirituality are second nature, as well as those for whom those words and what they represent are difficult to approach, McLaren, McLaren provides new vocabulary and an invitation to continue on the journey of faith moving toward spiritual nakedness or authenticity. I find McLaren's work, in general, to be theologically thoughtful and pragmatically helpful in moving the church of the early twenty-first century more fully into the present. While Naked Spirituality is no exception, it did not reach as far nor did it resonate as fully as have other recent texts. Furthermore, the stage theory itself is a bit forced, but this problem is overcome to some degree by the advice to live each stage well and to see all twelve as leading to the final word: love.

I was reluctant to review this book because, for whatever reasons, I did notreally "connect" with it. However, I do know that Brian McLaren is a very popular andprolific writer. While I did find some his writings very inspirational, mostly it was notthought provoking for me. So I would have to conclude that ones response to thisbook may vary greatly and be very individualistic.There was another Brian McLaren that I found more stimulating and thoughtprovoking. This book is "Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Budda and Mohammed Crossthe Road? I would recommend this book more highly. Don't let the title deceive you, this is a book of substance, in my opinion.

This book is amazing! I originally checked it out from the library but then i kept wanting to underline all the paragraphs, and as i am a librarian, i know that is frowned on, so i saved my pennies and bought a copy. I can't think of a more appropriate book in this time when so many people who call themselves Christians have forgotten Christ's mandate to love and care for one another, not just those who go to the same church. I would say this is a must read!

McLaren develops four seasons of life along the lines of the seasons of the year, with one-word summaries that depict each element of each season. I particularly liked the "autumn" season, where we cry out with no apparent response from God. McLaren is at his best in describing the agony and apparent non-redemptive quality of this season, which are subsequently resolved by other seasons. I had to "plod through" some of the material, but overall, it is a worthwhile read.

A story within a story about the Huguenots and a mass shooting in France. Characters well developed. Would enjoy a sequel.

I have a very specific use for this material in a workshop I present. The author's views and experiences confirm my own and provide helpful language to express these views and experiences. I find the notes at the end of the book to be equally helpful in addition to the text and amplify and further explain the text. A very helpful resource for me

Easily the most useful Christian book I've read. And I've read a lot. I guess it depends where you're at how helpful it is (though it's meant to work at any point ,being based on stages or a cycle of someone's dealings with god). For me, well for a couple of years I've been using a lectionary to pray (the Common prayer for ordinary radicals one - v popular as I guess I'm not the only one to feel the need) because I got to a point where I couldn't do it otherwise. Not that I didn't pray, or want to pray, just had a block when it came to the words. I suppose I'd got allergic to christian jargon, got fed up of pretending stuff, and really, what do you say? So old prayers, pictures worked, imagination, doing stuff like walking a labyrinth... But anyway this book turned out to be exactly right for giving a one-word hook for the stuff you need to do with God (spiritual disciplines). It offers a minimal, simple, clear structure to help negotiate something that's massively complicated and hard to understand, but without being at all formulaic or reductive. I really like his tentative-ness, being really clear that he doesn't have the answers but this might help. Any more certainty and I'd have stopped reading. it doesn't make you feel bad about not doing stuff, but kind of puts a name and a few useful words to what you are doing, or wanting to do, anyway. The first part, 'here' is awesome. I suppose I must be at a back-at-the-start stage of life because I've only really internalised the first three things (there are four 'stages' with three three things each) though I read the whole book. But those three things, or words, have become part of what do, really helped, so i'd say give this a try.

I try to be very sparing with awarding five stars and only put very special books in that category. And I seek to be very specific as to the strengths of the book. So what are the attributes of the book that are so good?* Practical. I bought the book not to know more about spirituality but to help me to try to engage better in prayer. As such the book proved to be very suitable. The author outlines a process and then begs that readers put the book down and put the exercise into practise rather than simply moving on to the next interesting issue.* Simple. I have yet to meet anyone who believes they are an expert in prayer - we all need a simple guide. I found the structure based on 4 stages and 12 one word prayers to be accessible and logical. With some other books on prayer I have felt defeated before finishing the first chapter - here the material was put together in an easy to understand manner which gave me confidence that even I could embark on the mystery that is prayer.* Depth. While it is simple in some ways in other ways it has tremendous depth. So having finished the book (which took several months) I have returned to the beginning to repeat the journey. I am finding that second time around I am progressing even more slowly as I feel better able to ponder and digest and put the suggestions into practice.Some individuals have difficulties with some of Mclaren's theology. This need be no barrier to reading this book - as the focus is entirely on relating personally with God.Mclaren expounds 4 seasons of spiritual maturing (Simplicity, Complexity, Perplexity and Harmony). Others have described development in terms of : 1. Accepting Authority; 2. Questioning and finding one's own answers; 3. Mystical - relating with God. In these terms it is a valuable stage 3 book - but that said I believe it would be invaluable for anyone seeking to develop or deepen their spiritual life - I would highly recommend this book.

I enjoyed this book although I found it patchy. At times he seemed to get caught up in this poetic musings so he could have benefitted from a rather more ruthless editor, but some chapters were wonderful. I especially like the chapter on silent prayer which I have quoted from liberally when explaining the concept to friends.He has a wonderful ability to pick quotations from other authors that have stuck in my mind.

A serious and quite deep look at how we stand before God and how we grow in the Christian life. Perhaps over-complex, but a fascinating, realistic and moving account of Christian growth. The difficulties of seemingly unanswered prayer and of pain and suffering are taken seriously, but it is clear that God is never absent and the book proves to be both life-affirming and faith-affirming.

Have really enjoyed reading this book. It has struck a cord in my thoughts and clarified my thinking in a number of areas. I shall probably read it again as at time the 'wordiness' of the text was overwhelming.