A Defined Revelation

A Defined Revelation: For Ye Who Question Faith By Joseph Lewis Liferich, $11.99, 114 pages, Format: Trade
Star Rating: 4 / 5
A Defined Revelation is a book that will make its readers think about philosophy, God, religion, spiritual growth, love, and many other topics intertwined within these. The author starts the book by defining some key terms that are necessary for understanding the book as a whole. Philosophy, theology, absolute truth, divine will, divine mind, and divine providence are all explained and compared. God's will start with creating an image of God and perceiving God in a specific way since, as humans, we usually need physical proof of something in order to understand and believe in it. The mind needs to align with God's will in order for God's will to be fulfilled. The connection between physical and mental aspects of life is also explained. As humans, we place so much importance on the physical items we own that we often don't think about what would be left if it was all taken away. Through living a simpler life with just the necessities, including family and friends, our hopes and ideals, we actually have a clearer view of everything around us. This chapter really intrigued me as I pondered over what it would be like to live life in the most minimalistic way possible. The section on meditation was another one I felt was very helpful. Imagining a location that is pleasing to oneself, adding detail to it, and experiencing only pleasant emotions was very relaxing. The author teaches the reader that "Mind supersedes physicality almost as if it were a higher dimension." I truly believe in this. In "A Christian Plea," the author emphasizes God, the Holy Spirit, life, death, and original sin. Fulfilling a relationship with God is important and no one is born perfect. Spiritual growth takes time and understanding, trial and error. The rest of the book delves deeply into topics such as eternal punishment, baptism, demonology, types of sin, and prayers the reader may use on a daily basis. Overall, this book was very thorough in its descriptions and explanations of all the topics. I appreciated the fact that the last chapter was about love after all of the heavy information about demons and sin. The author also includes some "Poems of Faith," which are very beautiful and well written. They are easy to understand and pleasing to read out loud. Some are darker than
others but still very beautiful in their prose. I recommend this book to anyone who would like to delve into deeper thought on the topics of God, religion, and the physical versus mental aspects of life.
Reviewed by Kristi Elizabeth
OUR STAR RATING SYSTEM 1 star: Reviewer wouldn’t recommend this book at all.
2 stars: Reviewer wouldn’t read it again. Needs work.
3 stars: Reviewer enjoyed the book.
4 stars: Reviewer liked and would recommend the book to friends/family.
5 stars:

A Defined Revelation: For Ye Who Question Faith by Joseph Lewis LifeRich Publishing
book review by Barbara Bamberger Scott
"Philosophy is the first door one opens when wanting to seek more substance than what is physically provided."
In this well-considered volume, author Lewis has collected ideas and concepts that he wishes to share with those whose religious faith may be nascent, wavering, or even firmly established but perhaps in need of a fresh view. The first of the book's five prose segments introduces philosophy as a road to conviction. Lewis states that God's will can be perceived by anyone who truly seeks it, but it must at some point be girded with "God's favor" since God gave us the minds with which to explore divinity. Next, humility will be required for this quest. One must recognize one's faults and meditate on obstacles that prevent genuine introspection. By giving up attachment to the physical realm, one begins to see "the truth behind Truth." Baptism is a means of protection from original sin. One acknowledges the existence of evil, demons, and Hell while remembering that God's will is supreme. One should follow biblical commandments and the words of Jesus Christ, remembering that "God's love is unending."
Throughout this brief but powerful treatise, Lewis, who converted to Catholicism as an adult, uses rational constructs to lead the reader to overarching concepts. This method can be helpful for those approaching religious ideas from a logical, rather than purely mystical, stance. He gradually builds the case for sincere Christian belief, but only after exploring in sensible terms the apparent ambiguities that anyone may encounter on the way to acceptance by faith. His own chosen religious path is made plain as he speaks of consulting a priest if there is a need for exorcism and of attending daily Mass as a means of constantly renewing one's convictions. Poems at the end of the book reflect his very human connection to a higher teaching. His book would make excellent material for Bible study groups.
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