Dance of a Fallen Monk : A Journey to Spiritual Enlightenment

Rating:
Summary: Superb writing too
Review: All these other reviews pretty much cover the subject matter of the book, but no one has said much about the form. Well, i just want to add that this is obviously a labor of love, done by a man with an extraordinary gift for writing; the result is just immensely enjoyable in terms of the beauty of the writing, all along. The language is rich, superbly wrought, full of delightful wit and pizzaz. This dancer has got style, lots of it!

Rating:
Summary: Once past the biography, book took me where I needed to go.
Review: Although George Fowlers' life was interesting, I would have liked to hear more about how his new way of thinking has affected his life--more about his "dance." I hope he shares more about his views on the God of us.

Rating:
Summary: Once past the biography, book took me where I needed to go.
Review: Although George Fowlers' life was interesting, I would have liked to hear more about how his new way of thinking has affected his life--more about his "dance." I hope he shares more about his views on the God of us.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful story about a courageous soul
Review: As a "recovering catholic" myself, I found this book spoke to me and its hard not to imagine someone not enjoying Fowler's openess and charm. His thoughts are in tune with my own thoughts and intuitions and it was refreshing to hear a former priest's ideas about catholicism and christianity in general.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful story about a courageous soul
Review: As a "recovering catholic" myself, I found this book spoke to me and its hard not to imagine someone not enjoying Fowler's openess and charm. His thoughts are in tune with my own thoughts and intuitions and it was refreshing to hear a former priest's ideas about catholicism and christianity in general.

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful story about a courageous soul
Review: As a "recovering catholic" myself, I found this book spoke to me and its hard not to imagine someone not enjoying Fowler's openess and charm. His thoughts are in tune with my own thoughts and intuitions and it was refreshing to hear a former priest's ideas about catholicism and christianity in general.

Rating:
Summary: A Gift for Any Who Have Considered Leaving Their Faith
Review: George Fowler records his entrance and exit from years of devotion to God as a monk. For anyone who has had to leave many years of devotion to God to rediscover and reform their faith, Fowler's very candid discussion of his wrestlings and decisions, including a chapter where he wrestles with his sexual identity, are a comforting companion. Here is someone who was and is devoted to God, but had to step out of his first committment to renew his faith. Powerful.

Rating:
Summary: An inner-directed man gives up on the outer-directed church
Review: George Fowler tells a story that almost every intuitive-feeling or intuitive-thinking Christian or ex-Christian could relate to. The public-institutional church will at its best neglect their needs and, at its worst, drive them out. Probably the same is true of other religions. The overwhelming majority of the population is outer-directed and uninterested in (or threatened by) the perennial mystical tradition that led to their religion's founding and is usually enshrined in their scriptures. Christians who desperately go from one retreat center, workshop, or teacher to another in search of sustenance their church will not provide will relate to George's story. Seekers on the New Age circuit will also relate to the dance of this "fallen monk." Unfortunately, the personalities that thrive on the public face of institutional religion will probably be offended by his critique of their little world, learn nothing, and go on to the next committee meeting or potluck dinner. (And that assumes they would read the book at all, which they probably wouldn't.) My one criticism is that George is a bit too harsh and far-sweeping in his judgment of Protestantism. He simply may not have a very wide experience with the myriad of denominations and movements, and the varieties of inner-directedness some have to offer.

Rating:
Summary: An inner-directed man gives up on the outer-directed church
Review: George Fowler tells a story that almost every intuitive-feeling or intuitive-thinking Christian or ex-Christian could relate to. The public-institutional church will at its best neglect their needs and, at its worst, drive them out. Probably the same is true of other religions. The overwhelming majority of the population is outer-directed and uninterested in (or threatened by) the perennial mystical tradition that led to their religion's founding and is usually enshrined in their scriptures. Christians who desperately go from one retreat center, workshop, or teacher to another in search of sustenance their church will not provide will relate to George's story. Seekers on the New Age circuit will also relate to the dance of this "fallen monk." Unfortunately, the personalities that thrive on the public face of institutional religion will probably be offended by his critique of their little world, learn nothing, and go on to the next committee meeting or potluck dinner. (And that assumes they would read the book at all, which they probably wouldn't.) My one criticism is that George is a bit too harsh and far-sweeping in his judgment of Protestantism. He simply may not have a very wide experience with the myriad of denominations and movements, and the varieties of inner-directedness some have to offer.

Rating:
Summary: A life-changing book that encourages everyone on the path
Review: George Fowler's courageous expose of his spiritual journey was hard to put down. His honesty about himself and his experiences along the path gives permission and encouragement to become authentic even at the risk of offending authoritiy figures, family and friends. He makes it clear we are all blessed with an inner guide, the voice of the soul, which isn't to be denied. Great job!!!