The Purpose Driven Life?

[Jenny15]

This is most likely in the wrong forum. please move it to the right one!
Anyways, has anybody read this book and if so, what are your thoughts on it and would you reccomend a “renewed” Catholic to read it?
Let me know.

 

[Jeanette_L]

I read this book, although it has been quite some time ago, and I wasn’t a Catholic at the time, although I was in the beginning stages of my journey home and didn’t know it yet.

I have mixed feelings about the book. It seems to me that while reading it, something didn’t sit right with me, but I can’t tell you why specifically. I guess at the time I was getting really tired of most of the “evangelical” books I was reading that were so focused on “self”, and this just seemed to be another one in the pile. I didn’t, in the end, find it very deep. But, maybe it was lost on me, maybe it was intended to reach people who hadn’t yet contemplated the reason for their existence/creation. I was already beyond those beginning stages in my spiritual journey when I read it.

Also, Catholic spirituality doesn’t seem to be as ''self-centered" in comparison, which I find so completely refreshing. After having discovered the Catholic faith and the wealth of spiritual readings from her history, I had no desire to revisit any of the “evangelical” books I had previously read, “Purpose Driven Life” being one of them.

Sorry, maybe others here can be a little more specific “theologically” in helping you with this.

 

[Tonks40]

You may want to get “A Catholic Perspective On The Purpose Driven Life” by Fr. Joseph M. Champlin. It a book that’s meant to be a companion guide for Mr. Warren’s book, but gives a Catholic perspective and corrects doctrinal errors that might be in the original book. I was released late last year, so you may be able to find it online, or you can go to your local Catholic bookstore and see about having them order it if they don’t have it. I understand it’s great for Lent.

 

[Fidelis]

You may want to get “A Catholic Perspective On The Purpose Driven Life” by Fr. Joseph M. Champlin. It a book that’s meant to be a companion guide for Mr. Warren’s book, but gives a Catholic perspective and corrects doctrinal errors that might be in the original book. I was released late last year, so you may be able to find it online, or you can go to your local Catholic bookstore and see about having them order it if they don’t have it. I understand it’s great for Lent.

Here it is on Amazon:

amazon.com/Catholic-Perspective-Purpose-Driven-Life/dp/0899421326

Also there is a completely Catholic alternative called “Life Work”:

lifeworkpress.stores.yahoo.net/books.html

 

[WJSFC]

Catholic Answers has its’ magazine This Rock archived up until the last three months online. Go to www.catholic.com and click on the December 2005 issue. In it there is an article written called Wrong Turn by Ronald Rychlak and Kyle Duncan. This should answer any of your questions.

 

[distracted]

I read this book, although it has been quite some time ago, and I wasn’t a Catholic at the time, although I was in the beginning stages of my journey home and didn’t know it yet.

I have mixed feelings about the book. It seems to me that while reading it, something didn’t sit right with me, but I can’t tell you why specifically. I guess at the time I was getting really tired of most of the “evangelical” books I was reading that were so focused on “self”, and this just seemed to be another one in the pile. I didn’t, in the end, find it very deep. But, maybe it was lost on me, maybe it was intended to reach people who hadn’t yet contemplated the reason for their existence/creation. I was already beyond those beginning stages in my spiritual journey when I read it.

Also, Catholic spirituality doesn’t seem to be as ''self-centered" in comparison, which I find so completely refreshing. After having discovered the Catholic faith and the wealth of spiritual readings from her history, I had no desire to revisit any of the “evangelical” books I had previously read, “Purpose Driven Life” being one of them.

Sorry, maybe others here can be a little more specific “theologically” in helping you with this.

 

[distracted]

distracted:
enjoyed reading your post… I haven’t read the book but it sounds like a book th isn’t Catholic in its approach… I’ve known Protestants who sounded more Catholic than Protestant, but they are somewhat rare (in my world anyway).
I am wondering if you - or anyone - has read John Bradshaw? He is another one who seems to be entiredly focused on SELF. He even said in one of his books that he didn’t believe Jesus was sin-less!! He doesn’t care (doesn’t know???) that scripture tells us that he was like us in all things but sin…
In one part of the book, JB “whined” about how this one relationship broke up because he was so involved in his own life that he didn’t have time for her concerns. After reading his book, i no longer wonder why he can’t hold a relationship together (been divorced, etc.). When he was younger, he planned on entering the priesthood… I sometimes think those are the worst ones…
I sent him an email once, got no response… Big surprise…
Yes, a lot of books these days are focused on self (feeling sorry for self, etc.). Its not always BAD 2 focus on self but it is a dangerous thing to over-indulge in…

 

[toddkitta]

I know this is an old post, but it shows up on Google when doing a search for a Catholic perspective on this book. Here is a direct link to the “This Rock” article which provides sound and important warnings about this book:

catholic.com/thisrock/2005/0512fea2.asp

Catholics seeking sound (biblical and Church) teaching should probably steer clear of this book.