Adam's Return

I've read a lot of books, especially Christian books, about how to become a man, what a real man is like, etc. and this is one I felt like I could relate too. He does a good job of talking about masculinity and what men really need to grow up. I totally agree with him that we need to learn how to initiate men again. We don't do a good job of empowering young men and giving them a bar to reach in order to know that they are men.

Richard Rohr's book is great as a reference to anyone who is in a position to give counseling to young adult males. It deals with the 5 major principles of the initiation of young adults into a culture of spiritualization.

This is a fantastic book with some very keen insights into the condition of men in the world today. The author began his "male initiation weekends" some twenty years ago when it was somewhat of a "fad" of the 80's to take a group of men out in a wilderness setting to "discover themselves." Richard has stayed with the process over the years and now writes of the fundamental insights which he and his team have gained in doing this kind of "men's work." Joseph Campbell made the insight years ago that young men in the United States today were severely lacking because they did not have the "initiation rites" which had been an advantage to older tribal societies. These rites introduced young men to their proper role in society so that they knew who they were, what was expected of them and their proper roles as protectors and fathers in society. Richard has risen to the challenge by creating such an experience and making it available to men all over the world for two decades. He offers some reflections on how this has developed and how men have responded to it over the years. In addition he suggests a format and some insights for regular meetings of men who are interested in personal and spiritual growth based on his experience with a group in New Mexico. As a person who has been involved in similar processes for the last thirty years, I find his reflections affirming and stimulating. My own men's group is in the process of purchasing the book and setting up a schedule to explore his material. His "five spiritual truths" are a summary of what is common and the best spiritual teachings regarding the role of men from various Christian and non-Christian traditions. I highly recommend the book for insights on a personal level or with a group of men.

No matter what one's backgound or affiliation, here is a candid and insightful expose on what being a man in "modern" western civilizaton is, is not and should be. Rohr has clearly and simply hit the target dead-center by revealing what nearly every man senses but rarely has the ability to define, and what contemprary western society, American in particular, has squelched, smothered and shamed men for -- being a true man rather than some calculated, psycho-sociol, politically correct manifestation of manufactured "maleness." Suspend prejudices and read, like it or not, the truth ...