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The Spirituality of Community Life

When We Come 'Round Right

• By Ron Mcdonald, Andrew J. Weaver

• Price: $39.95
• Binding: Paperback (also available in Hardback)
• Pages: 146
• Published by: Routledge
• Publication Date: 25th April 2006
• ISBN: 978-0-7890-2986-7

About the Book

Find out how communities can help people transcend their individual needs to live richer, fuller lives

The Spirituality of Community Life is a deeply personal analysis of community life and its importance in helping people develop to their full potential. Dr. Ron McDonald, a pastoral counselor, examines the dynamics of community life from the perspective of the participant in a variety of settings, including the classroom, sports teams, church groups, recreational groups, and the workplace. This unique book presents alternatives to a culture that creates competition, separation, and insecurity, focusing instead on communities that encourage civility, understanding, compromise, and altruism.

The Spirituality of Community Life analyzes the need for community life and the obstacles to it found in American culture, where money and power rule and people conform to stay out of trouble. The book presents insights into the importance and manner of building communities instead of efficient organizations that are fueled by crisis. Topics examined include growth and size as mistaken ideals, early Christian community life, the “What Would Jesus Do?” phenomenon, the spiritual disease caused by fighting enemies, the place of art and dance in community life, and leadership.

The Spirituality of Community Life looks at a variety of communities, including:

• hikers on the Appalachian Trail
  
• a college track and country team
  
• a seminary course on the Gospel of Mark
  
• a church health center
  
• a traditional Quaker meeting
  
• an open education elementary school
  
• a championship basketball team
  
• an annual meeting of pastoral counselors
  
• and much more

The Spirituality of Community Life also examines the deeply spiritual nature of community life, including insights into early Christian community history and how community life was crucial in the lives of our greatest spiritual leaders. The book is essential for anyone seeking to be the kind of leader who can build and nurture communities.

Table of Contents

• Preface
  
• Introduction
  
• Chapter 1. What We’re Up Against: Competition Against, Insecurity, and Growth
  
• Competition Against or Competition With
  
• The Creation of Insecurity
  
• Growth for Growth’s Sake
  
• Chapter 2. The Hope for America is on the Appalachian Trail: Pilgrimage and Community
  
• Chapter 3. Athletic Community: Hendrix Cross Country and Track, 1971-1972
  
• The Weather Is Just Right
  
• Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
  
• Don’t Stop Running Now—You’re Just Entering Your Prime
  
• Community Mentors
  
• Chapter 4. Mark Class
  
• Chapter 5. In His Steps
  
• Chapter 6. Community and the Church Health Center
  
• Chapter 7. Memphis Friends Meeting
  
• Chapter 8. The Revolving Nature of Communities
  
• Judaism at the Time of Christ
  
• Inclusive versus Exclusive Communities
  
• The Ethical Mysticism of Jesus
  
• Mystical Union and Paul
  
• Orthodoxy: Institutional Christianity
  
• What Difference Does This Make?
  
• Chapter 9. Challenging the Powers: A Revolutionary Pseudocommunity
  
• Chapter 10. A Championship Basketball Team
  
• Chapter 11. Professional Community
  
• Hospitality
  
• Discernment of Gifts
  
• Opportunities for Shared Work
  
• Learning to Think Differently and Be Different
  
• The Call to Leadership
  
• Chapter 12. Dancing to Community
  
• Conclusion
  
• References
  
• Index