In the Absence of God: Dwelling in the Presence of the Sacred
Despite his stellar résumé (editor of Psychology Today, author of Fire in the Belly, subject of a PBS special), Keen begins this latest book with a humble litany of spiritual failings. Is he too self-critical, or is his discontent the catalyst for deeper personal development? He's quick to admit he doesn't have all the answers, an attitude that builds trust with readers. This trust is important because the content soon gets seriously mystical. The world is compared to a sacred vacuum and "G-d" is used for "God" to emphasize the divine's ineffable nature. At the heart of this volume is a lengthy meditation on dynamic emotions that "spring from a source deeper than the culturally informed psyche." While he extols individual faith, Keen gives lesser priority to institutionalized religion. That marks this book as a direct message to the spiritual-but-not-religious non-congregation. For those who have faith but do not belong to a particular organization, Keen reminds that the hero's journey ends with participation in the world at large, and that heroes don't just save themselves.Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.