psychology of spiritual development

From renowned EWTN host and author Benedict Groeschel, this is a profound discussion of the stages of spiritual growth. Of special note is the way Groeschel identifies four distinct approaches to God (as Beauty, Truth, the Good, and the One) and shows how each leads to a different kind of spiritual path or pilgrimage.

This book is fantastic. It provides a high level view of spiritual development. It also gives a lot of information on the factors that inhibit such development and the factors that enhance development. Paralleled with the spiritual dimension is the psychological dimension. Here again, the barriers and the enhancing aspects of the personality are presented. Groeschel is orthodox in his Christian views. Overall his message is that people can overcome the darkness that is a reality in the long journey of coming to know and trust God personally. At least some of the requisites include a desire to know oneself, a willingness to change and developing a more complete trust in God. This is comes about primarily through the theological virtue of faith, a grace given by God. Through faith, trust grows and we come to see God in greater reality. ( )

An effort by a respected Roman Catholic priest and EWTN personality Father Benedict Groeschel (who is also a trained psychologist) to integrate the insights of developmental psychology with the Christian understanding of the Spiritual life. Well worth reading.