Brennan Manning?

[Madaglan]

I read one of Brennan Manning’s books and while finding some parts good, considered his book in certain ways “off.” Although he was a Franciscan and taught at Franciscan University of Steubenville, his writing sounds much more evangelical Protestant than Catholic. There is much better Catholic material on divine love (e.g. Blessed Julian of Norwich’s Revelation of Divine Love) and I have found certain Orthodox books (e.g. *The Way of a Pilgrim–*treasured by many Eastern Catholics as well) much more substantial in their presentation of divine love.

 

[jebeau]

I don’t think even Brennan Manning would be as critical of my last post as the-typist is. Apparently, I have hit a nerve. I’m sorry for that, but I guess I’m not really surprised.

 

[the_typist]

Okay…how do you delete a post? I don’t want everyone to see what I said and yes, you did hit a nerve. There are so many churches (protestant) and both the Orthodox and Catholic churches say that they are the “true church”. I don’t believe in a true church but I believe that if you follow Jesus in your heart and continue following Him, you will enter heaven.

That said, I do not follow anyone or anything until everybody quits arguing over who is right and what is wrong.

Ex believer,

Matt

 

[Scardinoz]

I had an evangelical friend give me this book a while back. I think I will finally take the time to read it. I’ll take notes and scriptural comparisons - whether in agreement or disagreement - and discuss my opinion of it with him when I’m done.

He seems like a very interesting author. He didn’t bother to get a nihil obstat before he published the book but if his primary target audience was evangelicals then it certainly would not have done anything to help put the book in more hands. I’ll give him a chance and thoughtfully read his book and critique it when I’m done.

 

[jebeau]

christianitytoday.com/ct/2004/june/22.42.html

Here’s an article about Brennan from Christianity Today, an evangelical magazine.

This is a quote from The Ragamuffin Gospel:

“I don’t think anyone reading this would have approved of throwing rocks at the poor woman in adultery, but we would have made darn sure she presented a detailed act of contrition and was firm in her purpose of amendment. Because if we let her off without saying she was sorry, wouldn’t she be back into adultery before sunset?” (p. 173)

First of all, the sacrament of penance is a sacrament of healing that can help protect us from future sin.
Second, it’s Jesus we receive forgiveness from in the sacrament of penance, not our peers.
Third, The last thing Jesus says to the woman caught in adultery in John 8:11 is, “Go your way, and sin no more.” (But it’s Jesus saying it, out of concern and compassion for the woman.)

God is telling her not to do that again because He knows how bad it is for her.

Some people respond to the Love of God by obedience, and little by little, from glory to glory, with the prompting and assistance of the Holy Spirit, increase in holiness. If they fall into serious sin, they can still ask for forgiveness and receive it, as many times as needed.

Brennan is right about one thing though. What is needed is awareness.

This also applies to awareness of our sin. If we don’t have that, then we won’t ask God for His forgiveness in the first place.

 

[aspirant]

There is much better Catholic material on divine love (e.g. Blessed Julian of Norwich’s Revelation of Divine Love) and I have found certain Orthodox books (e.g. *The Way of a Pilgrim–*treasured by many Eastern Catholics as well) much more substantial in their presentation of divine love.

 

[jebeau]

I don’t think Brennan Manning could get a Nihil Obstat for one of his books, and I think he knows that and doesn’t care. I don’t think he’s worried about being “orthodox” in his teaching. His teaching is all about “the Christian Experience” anyway.