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Transfiguration: A Meditation on Transforming Ourselves and Our World
Spiritual leader and peace activist John Dear guides readers on the path to finding peace within, and bringing harmony to a world torn by hatred and violence, through following in the footsteps of Jesus.
John Dear’s efforts on behalf of social justice and world peace have won him international admiration and spurred features in the New York Times , the Washington Post , NPR’s All Things Considered , USA TODAY , and the National Catholic Reporter . Seen by many to be the spiritual heir to the Berrigan brothers, Dear believes that the key to the spiritual life is not just finding inner peace, but also bringing that peace to bear on the outside world. In his latest work, Dear uses the Gospel account of the Transfiguration, inviting readers to shape their lives along the story of Jesus and to continue his mission of love and peace. These practices have sustained him through his work with the homeless in Washington, D.C., and New York City, as a human-rights advocate in Northern Ireland and Iraq, and on his many missions for peace in war-torn places around the world. Dividing the lifelong pursuit of peace into three distinct parts—an inner journey, a public journey, and the journey of all humanity—he delves into the challenges of learning to love ourselves as we are, diffusing the hatred we feel toward others, and embracing the choice to live in peace.
John Dear’s efforts on behalf of social justice and world peace have won him international admiration and spurred features in the New York Times , the Washington Post , NPR’s All Things Considered , USA TODAY , and the National Catholic Reporter . Seen by many to be the spiritual heir to the Berrigan brothers, Dear believes that the key to the spiritual life is not just finding inner peace, but also bringing that peace to bear on the outside world. In his latest work, Dear uses the Gospel account of the Transfiguration, inviting readers to shape their lives along the story of Jesus and to continue his mission of love and peace. These practices have sustained him through his work with the homeless in Washington, D.C., and New York City, as a human-rights advocate in Northern Ireland and Iraq, and on his many missions for peace in war-torn places around the world. Dividing the lifelong pursuit of peace into three distinct parts—an inner journey, a public journey, and the journey of all humanity—he delves into the challenges of learning to love ourselves as we are, diffusing the hatred we feel toward others, and embracing the choice to live in peace.
- GenresReligionSpirituality
237 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2007
9 people are currently reading
41 people want to read
About the author
John Dear
56 books30 followersFather John Dear (The Society of Jesus) is an internationally known voice for peace and nonviolence. A Jesuit priest, pastor, peacemaker, organizer, lecturer, and retreat leader, he is the author/editor of 30 books, including his autobiography, “A Persistent Peace.” In 2008, John was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
From 1998 until December 2000, he served as the executive director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, the largest interfaith peace organization in the United States.
After the September 11th, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, John served as a Red Cross Chaplain, and became one of the coordinators of the chaplain program at the Family Assistance Center. He worked with some 1,500 family members who lost loved ones, as well as hundreds of firefighters and police officers, while at the same time, he spoke out against the U.S. bombing of Afghanistan.
From 2002-2004, he served as pastor of several parishes in northeastern New Mexico. He co-founded Pax Christi New Mexico and works on a nonviolent campaign to disarm Los Alamos. These days, he lectures to tens of thousands of people each year in churches and schools across the country and the world. He also writes a weekly column for the “National Catholic Reporter” at www.ncrcafe.org.
A longtime practitioner and teacher of nonviolence, John has written hundreds of articles and given thousands of talks on nonviolence. John has two masters degrees in theology from the Graduate Theological Union in California.
* BIO EXCERPT FROM http://www.johndear.org/
From 1998 until December 2000, he served as the executive director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, the largest interfaith peace organization in the United States.
After the September 11th, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center, John served as a Red Cross Chaplain, and became one of the coordinators of the chaplain program at the Family Assistance Center. He worked with some 1,500 family members who lost loved ones, as well as hundreds of firefighters and police officers, while at the same time, he spoke out against the U.S. bombing of Afghanistan.
From 2002-2004, he served as pastor of several parishes in northeastern New Mexico. He co-founded Pax Christi New Mexico and works on a nonviolent campaign to disarm Los Alamos. These days, he lectures to tens of thousands of people each year in churches and schools across the country and the world. He also writes a weekly column for the “National Catholic Reporter” at www.ncrcafe.org.
A longtime practitioner and teacher of nonviolence, John has written hundreds of articles and given thousands of talks on nonviolence. John has two masters degrees in theology from the Graduate Theological Union in California.
* BIO EXCERPT FROM http://www.johndear.org/
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
February 21, 2012
Activist Jesuit, John Dear, wrote this book reflecting on the transfiguration and the implications of the contemplative and activist life.
Dear asserts that that the transfiguration provides a model for the spiritual life in that: disciples follow Jesus, they go with him up the mountain and see him for what he is, and come down and follow him in the way of the cross (defined by Dear as pacifism, activism against nuclear armament, etc.).
Dear is insightful and prophetic. I am not sure that I agree with his political analysis on every point, but like the Berrigans before him, I admire how his convictions about peace and activism are Christologically centered. Perhaps its the Jesuit in him.
Dear asserts that that the transfiguration provides a model for the spiritual life in that: disciples follow Jesus, they go with him up the mountain and see him for what he is, and come down and follow him in the way of the cross (defined by Dear as pacifism, activism against nuclear armament, etc.).
Dear is insightful and prophetic. I am not sure that I agree with his political analysis on every point, but like the Berrigans before him, I admire how his convictions about peace and activism are Christologically centered. Perhaps its the Jesuit in him.
January 27, 2020
OWL Reading Challenge - Transfiguration
As someone who now only loosely describes herself as Christian, I am probably not the best person for this book. Or perhaps, I'm the best person. Certainly, I have not been raised in the type of Christianity that John Dear promotes. I grew up in the Evangelical church where guns, God and America were just as important as Jesus. Peace was bad. Being tough and strong was good. Pacifists were evil. So were socialists. And Catholics were only good if they were pro-life (but even then all we care about is euthanasia and abortion).
John Dear's book is the complete opposite. He is not the first person to write about Jesus's mission being about systemic oppression and the fight against violence but he managed to tie it into the transfiguration. Personally, I thought the tie in was a little clumsy. I didn't think the book was actually about the transfiguration as much as his theories on non-violence. Again, I didn't really care as I found the book thought-provoking, but this isn't a devotional or commentary on the transfiguration.
The cynic in me has trouble with complete pacifism. Many of the leaders he talks about, especially ones like Martin Luther King, had more nuanced views of peace than he portrays. But if you grew up in a Church where God was draped in an American flag you might find that for the first time in a long time, you can find a Christian book that doesn't make you want to run away.
John Dear practices what he preaches. He has been arrested many times for his protests. And for that, I've got to give him a lot of credit. Even if you aren't religious, you have to respect him. He does a lot more good in the world than a lot of people.
As someone who now only loosely describes herself as Christian, I am probably not the best person for this book. Or perhaps, I'm the best person. Certainly, I have not been raised in the type of Christianity that John Dear promotes. I grew up in the Evangelical church where guns, God and America were just as important as Jesus. Peace was bad. Being tough and strong was good. Pacifists were evil. So were socialists. And Catholics were only good if they were pro-life (but even then all we care about is euthanasia and abortion).
John Dear's book is the complete opposite. He is not the first person to write about Jesus's mission being about systemic oppression and the fight against violence but he managed to tie it into the transfiguration. Personally, I thought the tie in was a little clumsy. I didn't think the book was actually about the transfiguration as much as his theories on non-violence. Again, I didn't really care as I found the book thought-provoking, but this isn't a devotional or commentary on the transfiguration.
The cynic in me has trouble with complete pacifism. Many of the leaders he talks about, especially ones like Martin Luther King, had more nuanced views of peace than he portrays. But if you grew up in a Church where God was draped in an American flag you might find that for the first time in a long time, you can find a Christian book that doesn't make you want to run away.
John Dear practices what he preaches. He has been arrested many times for his protests. And for that, I've got to give him a lot of credit. Even if you aren't religious, you have to respect him. He does a lot more good in the world than a lot of people.
May 21, 2019
If you are looking for ways to lead a more peaceful life, this book will inspire. Based on Jesus's transfiguration on Mount Tabor, Dear leads us into seeing our own transformative moments. I read a little each morning and found a great calming effect, which I carried into my daily life as a teacher. If you, like me, see too much violence in the world around you, this book provides the antidote.
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August 5, 2010I like John Dear, and I know that he means well...but I just can't adopt his nonviolence. This guy walks the walk: goes into war zones, gets arrested, goes to jail, protests, preaches, speaks out, gets arrested again, goes to jail again, etc. He is very,very serious, and a man of tremendous passion for peace. I admire him even as I know that I am not on the same page as he is.
This is my third or fourth John Dear book, and my last one. I just don't agree with his pacifism. He certainly does bring up a lot of good points, but his interpretation of the Gospel is...troubled, I guess. Or perhaps it's troubling. Either way, all done.
This is my third or fourth John Dear book, and my last one. I just don't agree with his pacifism. He certainly does bring up a lot of good points, but his interpretation of the Gospel is...troubled, I guess. Or perhaps it's troubling. Either way, all done.
March 20, 2008
This book is a very challenging book to those of us who want to sit back and do nothing about violence. John Dear is committed to non-violence and shows in this book how the message of Jesus is one of non-violence. I finished this book with a determination to do more to work for non-violence and particularly to begin to work more for nuclear disarmament and an end to the immoral, illegal war in Iraq.
November 2, 2016
I have a great deal of respect for Father John Dear, and his extraordinary commitment to nonviolence. He offers some valuable insight on the Transfiguration in this book, but I became frustrated with how much he conflates his own actions for peace with Jesus. Dear asserts that Jesus' message leads to the way he has acted for nonviolence, which is possible, but Dear is so strident about it that it is offputting to this reader who supports the work of nonviolent resistance.
January 11, 2009
An amazing book indeed! You could spend your life trying to live this out, following the Nonviolent Jesus. I suppose that's the point!
February 28, 2014
The most challenging Christian living/inspiration book I have ever read. He inspires me and makes me uncomfortable with my own faith at the same time. Great, great book.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews