A very insightful study of how the traditional monastic vows of poverty, chastity and obedience can be translated into modern times through the respective Christian ideals of simplicity, fidelity, and service. ( )

spiritual disciplines

How to Live in Today's World, September 8, 2000
Reviewer: Dale A. Blanchard "Friendly Spirit" (Ohio USA) - See all my reviews

I think this is one of the best books on the difficulty of living in a society driven by money, power, consumerism, sex and continual change.
Foster has a compassionate, realistic view of what life is really like and how to deal with it. His opening chapter, Money, Sex and Power in Christian Perspective lays out the focus of the book - it is difficult to walk the walk. He isn't focusing on the external morality of ethical behavior, but on the social implications. He offers historical views of attitudes on money, sex and power, and divides the books into sections that focus on each issue.

In a small section titled "When Good Things Go Bad," he says, "There is, of course, a proper place in Christian life and experience for money, sex, and power. When properly placed and effectively functioning, they have the ability as nothing else does to enhance and bless life." He goes on to identify what the problem is in each area -the demon in money is greed; the demon in sex is lust; the demon in power is pride. And he tells us that these really are not matters we can be neutral about in hopes that they will disappear - if we ignore them, we will be dominated by them.

How do we avoid be controlled by our own desires, instead of controlling them to our own advantage? In the Power area, Foster suggests that we face the demons within, instead of projecting them on others. In addition, he suggests that we stop trying to manage and control others, and focus on our own spiritual powers.

Foster manages to be 'proper' without being unrealistically 'prim.' Whether read by fundamentalist Christians, small "c" christians, or Buddhists, this book gives food for thought. Agnostics, athiests and many free spirits will be turned off by references to the Bible and the focus on Jesus.

I used to think you had to agree with everything you read in a book, to find it of any use. There are parts of this book I don't agree with, but I took what was helpful, and left the rest. Those who keep an open mind will find that this is not a dogmatic, preaching book, but one that will make you think. ( )

This thoughtful and challenging book helps readers to sort out ways of modeling one's life after Jesus in the context of the most fallen (and potentially most blessed aspects of life). He discusses the implications of both the twisting and redemption of "money, sex and power." ( )