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The Inner Life: Inner Land--A Guide Into the Heart of the Gospel, Volume 1 by Eberhard Arnold
geekwayne's review against another edition
3.0
“The Conscience: Inner Land, a Guide into the Heart of the Gospel, Volume 2“ by Eberhard Arnold is a book about the healing and restoration of the troubled conscience.
The conscience, or the inner moral compass, is sensitive and can be corrupted pretty easily. Before we know it, we can be guided by an askew judgment. In this book, we learn that only through the forgiveness of Jesus can our conscience be made true.
This work along with the others in the series were packed in metal boxes and buried at night from the Nazis. The author was no fan of the Nazis and the discovery of his books and ideas could have been the end of his life. The works have a bit of a dated quality to them but I’ve enjoyed reading them.
The conscience, or the inner moral compass, is sensitive and can be corrupted pretty easily. Before we know it, we can be guided by an askew judgment. In this book, we learn that only through the forgiveness of Jesus can our conscience be made true.
This work along with the others in the series were packed in metal boxes and buried at night from the Nazis. The author was no fan of the Nazis and the discovery of his books and ideas could have been the end of his life. The works have a bit of a dated quality to them but I’ve enjoyed reading them.
jamelchior's review
A still small voice from one of the stormiest periods of history. Volume 1 of The Inner Life discusses the architecture of our inner life – heart, soul and spirit. This will be the foundation for reflection in the remaining volumes on how to take action from our spiritual center, even and especially in times of violent social upheaval.
This book goes deep and is worth reading slowly.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.
This book goes deep and is worth reading slowly.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.
the_weirdling's review against another edition
4.0
In this short volume, a reissue of a previously published work, the great Anabaptist theologian Eberhard Arnold offers an in-depth but concise treatment of the conscience, it's role in the greater understanding of the grace of God, and effects of clinging to conscience when rightly understood.
Arnold starts with the theological paradox of the conflict and mutual support of both law and spirit in the role of the Christian's life. He sees conscience as a God-given call to live a more just life as well as a vehicle through which God calls us to repentance. He details the ways in which the conscience is unreliable without a life lived in tandem with God, teaching that only a life lived with and dedicated to Jesus Christ as Lord will purify the conscience and make it reliable. He sees conscience as only being able to find it's true bearings when a person experiences the life of spiritual rebirth.
Arnold then spends some time discussing how modern society has turned it's back on the role of the conscience, denigrating it as out of step with our search of self-fulfillment. He takes task most especially with the Freud and modern psychoanalysis. Some of this section might been seen as dated by readers, but it is worth keeping in mind both that this work is somewhat older and Arnold was not a professional psychologist.
This work will probably be pretty daunting to many readers who haven't ventured much beyond sermons in their reading of formal Christian theology. That said, it is not insurmountable to any who are willing to give it a try. Arnold is not overly abstract or complicated, but he does refer to theological issues which often don't make it into the sermonic life of the local congregations.
Arnold was a paragon of the Christian life well-lived. He was considered a sort of living saint by many in his day. He should be heard on what he has to say, even if the reader may not always agree with him. He does an excellent job of making his writing compatible with most Christian theological traditions. Certainly, any Protestant or Evangelical Christians will find what he was to say illuminating and insightful. In all probability, most Catholic, Orthodox, and Pentecostal Christians will as well.
Arnold starts with the theological paradox of the conflict and mutual support of both law and spirit in the role of the Christian's life. He sees conscience as a God-given call to live a more just life as well as a vehicle through which God calls us to repentance. He details the ways in which the conscience is unreliable without a life lived in tandem with God, teaching that only a life lived with and dedicated to Jesus Christ as Lord will purify the conscience and make it reliable. He sees conscience as only being able to find it's true bearings when a person experiences the life of spiritual rebirth.
Arnold then spends some time discussing how modern society has turned it's back on the role of the conscience, denigrating it as out of step with our search of self-fulfillment. He takes task most especially with the Freud and modern psychoanalysis. Some of this section might been seen as dated by readers, but it is worth keeping in mind both that this work is somewhat older and Arnold was not a professional psychologist.
This work will probably be pretty daunting to many readers who haven't ventured much beyond sermons in their reading of formal Christian theology. That said, it is not insurmountable to any who are willing to give it a try. Arnold is not overly abstract or complicated, but he does refer to theological issues which often don't make it into the sermonic life of the local congregations.
Arnold was a paragon of the Christian life well-lived. He was considered a sort of living saint by many in his day. He should be heard on what he has to say, even if the reader may not always agree with him. He does an excellent job of making his writing compatible with most Christian theological traditions. Certainly, any Protestant or Evangelical Christians will find what he was to say illuminating and insightful. In all probability, most Catholic, Orthodox, and Pentecostal Christians will as well.
duchessofreadin's review
5.0
This was a really good book! I enjoyed the insight from the author. As one who teaches history, this was an interesting read - given the timeframe in which it was written, and the lengths that the author went to keep it protected against those who would have destroyed it.
This is a must read!
This is a must read!
cherylanntownsend's review
5.0
Founder of the Bruderhof sect, this is a later version, translated, of Eberhard Arnold’s ongoing search for a true “inner land” of spiritualism. A way of living in true community, as if truly God’s children, in one “home.” Sharing all in lieu of owning, based on the Sermon on the Mount, they supported their families via their agricultural and publishing “business.”
Prominent prior to, til after World War I (and still going, in locations) it was anti-Nazi (or any form of hate) focusing on teaching against “the spirits that fed society’s support” for any such inhumanity, as well as against greed, vengeance and politics. (Baha’i?)
The pamphlets produced were uplifting, but “illegal” under Hitler’s reign, so their sequestration out of the country was necessary.
These are writings needing distribution direly in today’s fever of unrestrained, imploding hate.
“These are times of distress; they do not allow us to retreat just because we are willfully blind to the overwhelming urgency of the tasks that press upon human society. We cannot look for inner detachment in an inner and outer isolation.”
We need to unite in love.
With Biblical notations, we are introduced to Arnold’s “sermon” in chapters to “The Inner Life,” “The Heart,” and “Soul and Spirit.” The later intrigued me with his reference to children not understanding death...”Least of all can they see how it is possible to kill people in the service of a higher cause.” Nor should they ever!!!
Arnold was a philosopher. His poetic beliefs had echoes of Kahlil Gibran reverberating in my heart. If I could place this book (or any of like mind) in the hands of every negative thought person out there, hug them, and tell them it doesn’t have to be hate, I would die content. More so if they actually listened.
But then the final words of Don McLean’s “Vincent” echo just as loud...
They would not listen, they're not listening still
Perhaps they never will
If there must wars, let them be wars of love. Battles of hugs. An exchange instead of takings. Songs instead of screams. Let’s give this book instead of bullets.
Prominent prior to, til after World War I (and still going, in locations) it was anti-Nazi (or any form of hate) focusing on teaching against “the spirits that fed society’s support” for any such inhumanity, as well as against greed, vengeance and politics. (Baha’i?)
The pamphlets produced were uplifting, but “illegal” under Hitler’s reign, so their sequestration out of the country was necessary.
These are writings needing distribution direly in today’s fever of unrestrained, imploding hate.
“These are times of distress; they do not allow us to retreat just because we are willfully blind to the overwhelming urgency of the tasks that press upon human society. We cannot look for inner detachment in an inner and outer isolation.”
We need to unite in love.
With Biblical notations, we are introduced to Arnold’s “sermon” in chapters to “The Inner Life,” “The Heart,” and “Soul and Spirit.” The later intrigued me with his reference to children not understanding death...”Least of all can they see how it is possible to kill people in the service of a higher cause.” Nor should they ever!!!
Arnold was a philosopher. His poetic beliefs had echoes of Kahlil Gibran reverberating in my heart. If I could place this book (or any of like mind) in the hands of every negative thought person out there, hug them, and tell them it doesn’t have to be hate, I would die content. More so if they actually listened.
But then the final words of Don McLean’s “Vincent” echo just as loud...
They would not listen, they're not listening still
Perhaps they never will
If there must wars, let them be wars of love. Battles of hugs. An exchange instead of takings. Songs instead of screams. Let’s give this book instead of bullets.
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