Catharsis: A Spiritual, Emotional, and Biblical Journey Out of the Tensions of Religion

by Garrett H. Jones

Most of us in Western Christianity have built up strong emotional tensions regarding faith and the way we relate with the God of the Bible. We must ask ourselves, how did we get into this mess? How did certain Greek ideas become so pervasive that they became each of our starting definition of the word God? How do we move past these misconceptions of the Divine so we can see God as he is? That is the purpose of this book. We may have been swept off our feet by him in love, but over time and after much Bible teaching and exposure to certain mindsets, we ended up believing that this God should be feared. Or that He’s unknowable and unpredictable. And that He saved us, not because we’re lovable, but because we’re damnable.
Atheists believe that any being who is powerful enough to stop evil and good enough to want to, yet doesn’t, must be questioned. What if they’re right? What if that god doesn’t exist? And the infinitely more interesting question What is the real God actually like? Is there another way of interpreting the pre-deterministic, all-controlling portrayals of God that our religious heritage may have handed us? Is there another way of interpreting the Bible itself that’s even more biblical? I believe there is. “What does catharsis mean?” Great question. You may have heard someone describe an activity or an experience as “cathartic.” People use the word to mean something was deeply relaxing. The technical definition of catharsis means “release of tension.” A strong feeling of emotional release is the goal of most novelists and screenwriters. Stories take us through tension, betrayal, confusion, suspense, misunderstanding, and delay. But when catharsis happens, and tensions resolve, the viewer, listener, or reader has a real experience of satisfaction. Like a good cry after an episode of This is Us or Call the Midwife, we come away feeling good. 
 Experiencing Goodness, the way stories help us do, has a profound effect on us emotionally. And, so it is with God and the incredible story we are all a part of. We have lived with tensions in our understanding of God for too long. Catharsis is long overdue. The Bible is full of mysteries, as is every healthy relationship, but we must reject tensions that are actually contradictions—especially tensions that distort or malign the character of God. But, as we will discover in this book, despite all of the confusion religious tensions have perpetrated, goodness shall prevail. Catharsis is coming!
 This book has one goal—to release the tensions religion has sown into the way we read the Bible and relate with God. Along the way, we will visit topics like Predestination, Determinism, God’s Goodness and his Relatability. We will identify the source texts from the Bible and re-narrate them with deeper, contextual understanding. We will visit certain attributes of God as seen in Jesus, and then end by talking about story—because only story unlocks catharsis.

262 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 15, 2018

Reviews

[Steve and Nellie Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book to read both all at once, and over and over again in little chunks

I was a bit wary to take on another theological book, as the last couple I have read have tended to lead more to confusion than clarity. From the very beginning, Catharsis was full of clear explanations of things I have often found frustrating to understand. The author has a way of leading the reader through some complex issues and questions, while keeping the pace fast enough to not get bogged down. Quite a feat for a book tackling so many complex theological issues! A great read, and I book I hope to turn to often as a resource and inspiration to knowing God better.

[John Chenoweth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Garrett H Jones has written a very honest attempt to examine the picture of God handed down to many of us. He delves into Biblical texts to see if that picture is based on what the Bible says, or on social factors, such as the influence of Greek philosophical thought. I liked in particular his chapters on theologies like 'The Depravity of Man', 'The Sovereignty of God', and even more, 'Is God Good?'
Now that sounds pretty heavy, but he has written in a conversational style that flows so easily that the depths traversed are barely noted by the reader.
The whole book is based on the flow of a train journey, with stops at defined stations - such as some I mentioned above.
His concluding chapters attempt to 'see' God more clearly and he draws a picture of a God who wants relationship above all else, about which he writes with winsome warmth.
This an outstanding book, written as one person tries to reconcile ancient beliefs with life today, while staying within the Christian Faith. His journey took me with him and his answers were so stimulating I read the whole book again the next day. Highly recommended.

[Katie Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I read it I find some new insight and have other lies broken off.

The combination of personal anecdotes and deep spiritual truths keep the meat of the book from being too heavy, while also giving it tons of heart.

If religious rules have held you captive at any point in your life, you'll want to read this book! Even if you think you have lived free of religion-created expectations and structures, there's something for you.

[Lauri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've reached the halfway point in the Kindle edition of this book and I am finding it very readable, it's freeing up little legalistic views or wrong understandings/teachings that still remain in my life and helping me go deeper in my walk with God. I recommend this book wholeheartedly.

[Garrett Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really, really like this book. I've read it over 100 times. How? It's easy when you're the author!