A Beginner's Guide to Spirituality: The Orthodox Path to a Deeper Relationship with God

by Michael Keiser

Overview

Spirituality is in! Monks go platinum with recordings of chant, and books on self-help spirituality overflow on supermarket bookracks. But what is the meaning of true spirituality? Aren't we all a little confused? Genuine spirituality keeps us in balance with God, our neighbor, and the material world. Fr. Michael Keiser walks us through the Orthodox Church's timeless teachings and practices on the ancient understanding of Christian spirituality with humor and keen insight. He outlines how ascetic practices, personal and corporate worship, confession and repentance, overcoming the passions, and opening ourselves up to God's grace can lead us to transformation, and to our ultimate destiny-Jerusalem, the heavenly city. Fr. Michael Keiser is also the author of "A Beginner's Guide to Prayer" and "Spread the Word: Reclaiming the Apostolic Tradition of Evangelism."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781888212884
Publisher:	Ancient Faith Publishing
Publication date:	09/01/2007
Pages:	114
Product dimensions:	5.97(w) x 8.44(h) x 0.27(d)

About the Author

Fr. Michael Keiser is a popular speaker and author on the subject of spirituality. An Orthodox priest, he works with the Department of Missions and Evangelism on the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese of North America. He is the author of five books, including the companion volume, Beginner's Guide to Prayer.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

The Tender Trap

What Is Spirituality? • The True Meaning of

Spirituality • Spirituality and Religion

Chapter 2

Discipline and Training

Finding a Trainer • What Is a Spiritual Father? • Setting Up a Rule

Chapter 3

The Three-Legged Stool

The Divine Liturgy • Personal Prayer • Daily Worship

Chapter 4

Kinds of Prayer

Adoration • Thanksgiving • Penitence • Petition

Chapter 5

Confession 4

The Purpose of Confession • Preparing for Confession • Penance • Confession and Communion

Chapter 6

Asceticism I: Exterior Disciplines

The Need for Discipline • Fasting • Almsgiving • Detachment from Wordly Things

Chapter 7

Asceticism II: Interior Detachment

Purity of Heart • Controlling Our Thoughts • Cultivating Stillness

Chapter 8

The Passions

Passion and the Fall • What Are the Passions? • The Genesis of the Passions

Chapter 9

Go Towards the Light

We Cannot Do It Alone • Opening Ourselves to Grace • Transforming Negative to Positive

Chapter 10

Jerusalem, the Heavenly City