The Christian's Spiritual Journey: Viewing the Christian Life in the Context of the Hero's Journey

From the Introduction - "We are all on a journey. If we never venture beyond our own hometown, we are still on a journey—the journey of life. For the Christian, the journey of life takes a turn when he or she first accepts the call to Christ. At that point, the journey becomes a spiritual journey.

In many ways, the Christian’s spiritual journey mirrors the stages of an ancient and universal pattern that can be found both in the simple stories and in the epic tales of various cultures worldwide, from some of the earliest recorded literature, such as The Iliad and The Odyssey, all the way to present-day novels and films—a pattern that has now come to be popularly known as the “Hero’s Journey.'"

This book offers a unique perspective on Christian living by setting our lives within the context of the Hero’s Journey, and by providing practical day-to-day advice for success on our journey
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In order to illustrate the various stages comprising the typical pattern of the Hero’s Journey, at the start of each chapter, the author draws on examples from some well-known stories that exemplify a particular stage, including the Arthurian legends; The Lord of the Rings; The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe; and Star Wars (Episodes IV–VI). He then looks at some prominent examples of major figures in the Scriptures whose spiritual lives followed the pattern of the Hero’s Journey. The focus then turns to the manner in which our own experiences also follow that very same pattern.

At the heart of this book is the practical advice offered for experiencing the abundant life God wants us to have on this journey, and for avoiding the distractions and pitfalls which can lead us astray. This is not an abstract, academic exercise, but lessons learned from over 30 years of Christian living. Topics addressed include spiritual identity; love and compassion; spiritual growth through gratitude, prayer and meditation; perseverance through tests, trials, and temptations; spiritual maturity; and how each day is a spiritual journey of its own and a microcosm of our life-long spiritual journey.

If you are interested in viewing the Christian experience from a fresh, dynamic, and engaging perspective, and for relating it to the beloved stories of Scripture and legend, then this book is for you.