Deeper Than Words: Living the Apostles' Creed

David Steindl-Rast

Jun 2010 · Sold by Image

About this ebook

Spiritual teacher and bridge-builder Brother David Steindl-Rast translates the Apostles' Creed for today, uncovering the deeper universal truths that can be an inspiration to all people.
 
In Deeper than Words: Living the Apostles’ Creed, Brother David reexamines the words with which the early followers of Jesus summarized their faith. Reading line-by-line with an open perspective, he reveals the often overlooked message of trust, compassion, peace, love, and awareness contained in this widely known but rarely examined statement.  
     Deeper than Words moves beyond ritual and exclusivity and instead finds a deeper faith based in real human experience and the sense of limitless belonging that is shared by all people who seek to understand themselves and the world. The words of the Apostles' Creed are Christian, but its heart is a universal and timeless guide to fullness of life. From this transformation perspective, developed over a lifetime of contemplation, Brother David presents a powerful call to renewal through reconnection with the spiritual and a reawakening to shared sacred truths.

Ratings and reviews

Here's the actual Apostle's Creed from St. Joseph's Sundal Missal, complete with Imprimatur: I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. Br. David's version: I believe in God, the Father almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dea. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty, thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen We teach the Apostle's Creed, correctly, to 4th graders. How is it that Br. David doesn't know it?There are no deeper, universal truths. It is a Profession of Faith. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 26 is quite clear: about what "to believe" means: "Faith is man's response to God, who reveals himself and gives himself to man, at the same time bringing man a superabundant light as he searches for the ultimate meaning of his life." paragraph 156:What moves us to believe is not the fact that revealed truths appear asa true and intelligible in the light of our natural reason: we believe "because of the authority of God himself who reveals them, who can neither deceive nor be deceived." Why on earth would a Benedictine monk want the approval of a Buddhist monk (don't forget John Paul II calls Buddhism atheistic) on a matter of Roman Catholic doctrine? Br. David's failure to capitalize the c in Church says volumes. Br. David's "spiritual" teaching have nothing to do with Roman Catholicism, or any variant on orthodox Christianity. Know any Catholic parish who would invite him to give a retreat?

About the author

BROTHER DAVID STEINDL-RAST (b. 1926) was born in Austria and came to the United States after receiving his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Vienna. As a member of the Benedictine Order of Catholic monks, he is known for pioneering work in interfaith dialog, especially between Christianity and Buddhism, for his promotion of the spiritual practice of gratefulness, and for his efforts to revitalize contemplative prayer life. For decades, Brother David has divided his time between periods of hermit's life and extensive lecture and retreat tours on five continents. He is author of numerous books, including the classics of spirituality Gratefulness, the Heart of Prayer and A Listening Heart, and he is the co-founder of A Network for Grateful Living, an organization dedicated to gratefulness as a transformative influence for individuals and society. Audio and video recordings of Brother David can be found at www.gratefulness.org, a website viewed by over twenty thousand visitors per day.