Features
- Cover Type: Paperback with 384 pages
- Published by: Anchor July 13, 1998
- Written in: English
- ISBN 10 Number: 0385486774
- ISBN 13 Number: 978-0385486774
-
Book Dimensions:
8.1 x 5 x 1.1 inches
- Weighs: 10.4 ounces
Product Review
The quintessential baby-boom seeker of spiritual fulfillment, Harry Moody came of age in the late '60s, began his search for deeper meaning, gradually assimilated into professional life, married, and became "normal." The only difference is that Moody never stopped searching, and
The Five Stages of the Soul is the culmination of his efforts. Everyone, especially in the middle years, he says, takes an interest in the spiritual life, and more or less goes through five stages of development: the call, the search, the struggle, the breakthrough, the return. In a colorful array of stories from contemporary America and legends and myths from religious traditions around the world, Moody unveils the varieties of spiritual paths and the common threads that bind them all together. As a mirror of our own search,
The Five Stages of the Soul is as useful as it is informative.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From Library Journal
Moody, cofounder of the Brookdale Center on Aging at Hunter College in
New York City, has studied the field of aging for two decades. Through Sufi masters, Buddhist monks, and personal spiritual reflections, he illustrates five stages of spiritual development that play a part in every individual's life journey. The call comes first, then the search, struggle, and breakthrough. Finally, the return finishes the cycle. Moody moves beyond Jung, Erikson, or Maslow, whom he claims neglected the spiritual in their theories on human development. His work could be the counterpart to Gail Sheehy's Passages (LJ 5/15/76). An extensive bibliography demonstrates Moody's knowledge of his subject. Recommended for public and academic libraries.?Lisa S. Wise, Broome Cty. P.L., Binghamton,
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Reader ReviewsThis book was seminal in describing to me and helping me to understand the extent to which my life has been and continues to be a spiritual journey, one that was originated by the God of the universe, and to which the journey leads. This is a book for all, but especially for those who have been brought up in a majority Christian culture, but who eschew the parochialism and often bigoted dogma and rigid theology of mainstream and particularly, right wing christian culture. The authors use all the great spiritual traditions to describe their concepts of the spiritual journey, including Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, and others. This is a book that really emphasizes the individual relationship with the Holy One, the Great Lover, and so has an attractive mystical bent. Quotes from the writings of Rumi as well as St Theresa of Avila, John of the Cross and Julian of Norwich fit very comfortably together within the authors' spiritual paradigm. If you would like a book that can explain to you how you and everyone else on earth might fit into God's plan, despite differences in dogma and theology, then this book is for you. After all, this is exactly what Christ taught, despite orthodox bigots' exclusionary proclamations. It's an easy read the first time, and gives forth more richly on subsequent readings.
Search for books at
