5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent recommend for students wanting to study medicine and nursing

A.L.R. · 29 May 2022

A book I recommend to anyone looking to study medicine and nursing, as well as anyone qualified in these professions and/or teaching healthcare students who need to rethink/expand the dynamics of holistic patient need ~ underlining causes of disease and illness. It reminds us of the importance of the spiritual dimension of ‘us’ is a key component to the human experience along with the physical, psychological, biological and social aspects. The author provides powerful vignettes to underlines his thoughts, each chapter is carefully summarised with exercises and questions for the reader to consider.

5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars

D.M.R.H. · 2 December 2015

Excellent and stimulating book

5.0 out of 5 stars Every religious professional should read this book.

D.A.S. · 31 December 2010

The split between religion and spirituality has been a disaster the world over, reaching a high point in the last twenty five years. In all faiths, religious professionals don strange garbs, inhabit fine buildings, and pontificate about God and love, knowing in their hearts that they do not always do what they preach. They should all read this book, and reflect deeply on it, avoiding trite responses. It is written by someone deeply versed in modern science and medicine, who sets out a profoundly sane path for how we could all become more spiritual individuals, and how society can become more spiritual. Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens and their ilk should read this book also: they would realise that their arguments have nothing to say about spirituality, but only about religion. They might even start to learn about themselves: then they would stop saying some of the ill-considered and hurtful comments that they do. The 21st century will see spirituality restored to its rightful place, and growing numbers of books like Larry Culliford's will help show the way.

5.0 out of 5 stars An important synthesis by an unusual medical educator

(.R.W. · 31 December 2010

This text is an unusual multi-sectioned synthesis that I read through my lens as an experienced advocate and developer of culturally-marginalised holistic education. To compile a theoretically-informed and yet practical text in this crucial arena requires not only wide reading, but considerable personal and professional experience of practice at the interfaces between the science and intuitions of the mind, our labile human emotions, body-knowledge, and both religious and 'secular' avenues through which our soul-spirits are often mysteriously informed. Dr Culliford both knows and has experienced what he writes about. Moreover, he uses creatively in differing contexts the sadly less than well-known J W Fowler's hypothesised six stages of life-course faith development. Also he has tried out a number of spiritual awareness activity exercises with young medical students, a brave move even for a psychiatrist in the context of the supposedly exclusive scientific stance of medicine. Helpfully scattered throughout the book are both patient and personal 'vignettes', and issues for further possible group discussion. These reflect the deep integrity of the author as both person and teacher. Despite its cover, the mix is certainly 'ground-breaking' and worthy of recommendation to all practising in or preparing for the caring professions.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great introduction to Spirituality

S.S. · 27 December 2010

I would say that this is a ground breaking book for people working in the health and social care settings. I am a psychiatric nurse and "spirituality advocate" in the NHS Trust where I work and I have found it very helpful - not only with patients, but also in getting my own spiritual bearings. I thoroughly recommend it!

2.0 out of 5 stars Curate's egg - some parts are good

R.M.R.M.B. · 30 November 2010

I was looking forward to reading this book, but was disappointed. The reviews on the back cover describe it as "groundbreaking" and say it "sets out what spirituality is". Unfortunately it fails on both counts.There is little if anything in the book which is new. The claim to "groundbreaking" isn't justified. It largely goes over ground covered elsewhere and this it largely does without undue scrutiny or critique. So, for example, it refers to Fowler's stages of faith development but without ever really questioning Fowler's hypothesis that some people become more spiritually advanced than others. Is a spirituality that is based on individualism more advanced than one that is based on collective or shared values (as Fowler assumes)? The book might have been groundbreaking if it had considered that, but it doesn'tSimilarly the claim that the book "sets out what spirituality is" isn't justified. The nearest it gets to a definition of spirituality is to say "Spirituality is about wholeness." As a description that is simply far too vague to be of any use. So as I reader I found the book lacking precision or focus. The whole of what? The whole of everything? What does that mean?So reading the book felt like going over familiar ground while trying to wrestle with warm jelly. The book has a little useful material on meditative techniques. If the book is read by those in the mental health field unfamiliar with the work of other writers in this field then it will be of benefit.

Exellent insight

M.P.J. · 1 August 2011

Dr Culliford gives us excellent insight into the spiritual stages, and the psychology behind them. If you have read about the stages elsewhere and they have not made a big impression on you, this book may change that. Culliford states on page 54: "Faith, based on spiritual wisdom and awareness, going deeper than belief, is one of the principal goals of the spiritual journey." That is code for saying that rigid, pre-set belief in the tenets of just one religion cannot represent spiritual maturity. To be spiritually mature, a person must move beyond what Culliford calls the "Belonging" stage, where a conformist mentality holds the person under the illusion that his group (his religion especially) is better than all the others. In the belonging stage the comforts of belonging to whatever group lull the person into a false sense sense of security where he does not think much for himself. Unfortunately, a large part of our society exists at this level and never grows beyond it.As a person matures past the Belonging or conformist stage, he or she moves into what Culiford calls a "Searching" stage where he he begins to think for himself,independent of his group. This move requires courage and is necessary for a person to become fully an adult. In this stage a person may also move beyond the narrow certainties and simple literal beliefs of his religion. Though more mature than the conformist, in the searching stage, the person may suffer some confusion and doubt.Culliford calls his third stage "Homecoming." Here if the person continues on the spiritual path he may move into a type of faith that it not so much about holding to the narrow beliefs of one religion. The person adopts a broader perspective and realizes it is all so much bigger than any given religion, than any specific definition of God. As the person attains the spiritual wisdom of the Homecoming (or Integration) stage, his ego self becomes reunited with his spiritual self and the person softens in many ways, in particular he becomes more accepting of the human suffering that is a natural part of life. In fact he softens in his attitudes toward death as well.Also very interesting in this book are Culliford's human examples of individuals moving through these stages, most particularly, that of (surprise!)our president, Barack Obama. Don't miss this book if you want to know what the word spiritual maturity means.

Four Stars

R.M. · 6 October 2014

TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE AGENDA

Informative Read

R. · 16 May 2017

Most informative material I have exposed myself to in some time. I recommend this book as a must read for people who work in the helping professions.