How Do I Know It’s God?

by William A. Barry May 20, 2002

I can hear someone who reads my article “Does God Communicate With Me?” (Am., 12/3/01) asking, perhaps with some pique: “You tell me to pay attention to my experience as the privileged place where God communicates with me. But how do I know it is God who is communicating with me? C

Books

Into the Mystery

by William A. Barry March 4, 2002

Spiritual genius is the uniquely human ability to seek life rsquo s meaning It rsquo s the voice inside us that keeps asking What rsquo s it all about Who am I How can I make a difference Thus does Winifred Gallagher begin this insightful and important book Her thesis is that all human beings

From Our Archives

Does God Communicate With Me?

by William A. Barry December 3, 2001

You say that God wants to engage in a relationship of mutuality with each of us, and you indicate that God communicates with us. But I don’t hear God speaking to me. I can imagine someone responding in this way to my article Why Do You Pray? (Am. 6/4). I would like to answer the question of th

Books

Mystery and Meaning

by William A. Barry July 30, 2001

With this well-written and insightful new book Robert Wuthnow a professor of sociology at Princeton University continues his exploration of the changing nature of contemporary American culture and religion already begun with Growing Up Religious After Heaven and Loose Connections The premise of

From Our Archives

Why Do You Pray?

by William A. Barry June 4, 2001

Often people ask, Why do you pray? In all honesty, at one time I prayed because I was a Jesuit. In other words, my answer was, I’m supposed to pray. Prayer was an obligation and, to be frank, a burden. At times I have prayed in order to placate Godto get God off my back, as it were. Many times