PATHS OF SPIRITUALITY

This brief study centers on the themes of worship, prayer, and spirituality -- or ""the practice of religion."" Acknowledging that traditional Christian practice may be suspect today, even among church members, the author nevertheless feels that Christian tradition offers rich resources especially in its sacramental form. The last part of the book is an exposition of the Eucharist and related forms of worship. The practice of religion, Macquarrie believes, is essential to the development of the fully human person; and there is a thrust today toward that development despite what is said about ""religionless Christianity"" or the ""secularization"" of contemporary life. He examines the claims of ""prayer"" and ""action"" as the essence of Christianity and finds both are interdependent while ""thinking"" is an essential aspect of prayer. Dr. Macquarrie's substantial presentation, backed as always with Biblical and theological sources, unfortunately seems somewhat pedestrian and the reader might wish that his remark that Christian tradition must be rethought in the light of the contemporary human situation had fulfilled this expectation.