REFLECTIONS OF THE CHRIST MIND

A New Age take on Jesus.

Ferrini, founder and editor of Miracles magazine, had already been disenchanted with Christianity for a long time when he claims he heard Christ say to him, “I want you to acknowledge me.” Quite naturally, he balked. But gradually he realized that it wasn’t Christ he found distasteful—it was the claptrap of the churches that seemed to subvert his message of love and inclusion. Here Ferrini compiles many of the teachings that he claims Christ has since revealed to him. Most of the material in this book has been published before in one of Ferrini’s four prior works (Love Without Conditions, The Silence of the Heart, Miracle of Love, and Return to the Garden—none reviewed). Although most orthodox Christians will find Ferrini’s doctrines beyond credence (especially as they directly contradict the words of the Gospels), other readers may be inspired and challenged by some of the teachings of Ferrini’s Christ (who says of himself, “I am not one to condemn adultery, or divorce”). In this Gospel according to Ferrini, you cannot find your soul-mate until all of your other relationships are characterized by complete honesty, and once you do find that soul-mate your earlier isolated existence will be completely transformed. Ferrini’s Christ knows that it is easy to fall in love, but he maintains that many relationships fail because people are not willing to forgive their partner’s mistakes. Although earnest, many of these teachings are quite banal (if you expect good things to happen, they probably will; we are entering a time when tolerance and diversity will reign). Ferrini’s Christ often speaks in the pop psychologist’s lingo: the true spiritual community is “safe” and “non-judging.” And the discussion of self-esteem seems straight from Oprah: if someone calls you “stupid” and you feel upset, blame your own lack of self-esteem (and not the jerk who taunted you).

A mixed grab-bag of aphorisms that tells us more about contemporary society than eternal truth.