Finding God Again Spirituality for Adults

by Shea, John J.

• ISBN13: 9780742542150
• ISBN10: 0742542157
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-05-20
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Summary

Growing out of two decades of teaching and practice, Finding God Again: Spirituality for Adults addresses, in an experiential and pastoral way, the need to re-envision God as we grow from an adolescent to adult spirituality. Shea, a renowned pastoral counselor and teacher, shows how we can lose touch with religion, spirituality, and a belief in God because of times when our image of God is too narrow, unreal, or inadequate to make sense of our experience. Real life stories illustrate Shea's life-changing challenge to leave behind the Superego God of childhood in favor of a Living God we can relate to as adults.

Author Biography

John J. Shea is a visiting associate professor of pastoral care and counseling at the Institute of Religious Education and Pastoral Ministry, Boston College

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	vii
Introduction	ix
PART I THE SUPEREGO GOD
The Adolescing Self	3	(6)
Imaging and Fettered Imaging	9	(14)
Characteristics of the Superego God	23	(10)
Adolescing Religion and Formal Religion	33	(6)
Images of the Superego God	39	(18)
PART II THE LIVING GOD
The Adult Self	57	(18)
Unfettered Imaging and Religious Experiencing	75	(12)
Characteristics of the Living God	87	(8)
Adult Religion and Integral Spirituality	95	(10)
Images of the Living God	105	(20)
PART III TRANSFORMATION: FROM THE SUPEREGO GOD TO THE LIVING GOD
Transformation and Why It Gets So Little Attention	125	(6)
What Hinders Transformation	131	(14)
What Facilitates Transformation	145	(18)
Images of Transformation	163	(18)
Conclusion	181	(4)
Bibliography	185	(12)
Index	197	(6)
About the Author	203