When True Simplicity Is Gained: Finding Spiritual Clarity in a Complex World

by Martin E. Marty, Micah Marty

For those who feel overwhelmed and sense that their lives are too complex and the demands on them too great, this book provides a daily moment of grace and escape. For those who have made their lives superficially simple but still lack the anticipated spiritual dimension, this book offers hope. Promoting no complex instructions on how to accomplish the simple life, but offering only insights into how to receive its gifts, the Martys combine photographs that capture the essence of the Shakers, an American religious community founded on simplicity, with thoughtful meditations that reflect on great prayers of the ages. Together they demonstrate that "when true simplicity is gained," the busy and otherwise distracted person will be gifted with new measures of clarity of purpose, directness of vision, serenity of soul, order in agenda - and an experience of God.

110 pages, Paperback

First published March 31, 1998

About the author

Martin E. Marty was an American religious scholar and historian known for his extensive work on religion in the United States. A Lutheran pastor before transitioning into academia, he became a leading voice in religious studies, particularly in the areas of American Protestantism, fundamentalism, and public religion. He was a longtime professor at the University of Chicago Divinity School, where he mentored numerous doctoral students and held the prestigious Fairfax M. Cone Distinguished Service Professorship.
Marty wrote or edited a book for nearly every year of his academic career, producing influential works such as Righteous Empire: The Protestant Experience in America, which won the National Book Award, and the five-volume Fundamentalism Project, co-edited with R. Scott Appleby. He was a prolific columnist for The Christian Century and wrote extensively on religion's role in American public life.
A recipient of numerous honors, including the National Humanities Medal and over 80 honorary doctorates, Marty also served as president of several academic societies and participated in U.S. presidential commissions. The Martin Marty Center for the Advanced Study of Religion at the University of Chicago was named in his honor.

Reviews

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book! I keep coming back to this one.

[Jeremy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection of brief, one-page reflections on the implication of simplicity in relation to a host of topics. Some of the entries are good, some of them are so profound I highlighted every word. The entries are all paired with photographs from a Shaker community, which makes me bummed for reading it on the Kindle. Purists rejoice at the pain born of my error.