Broken Gods

This is the vision of the early Church Fathers -- their understanding of salvation in Jesus Christ. But it is applied as never before, by a renowned psychologist, to our lives and relationships today. This book is a prelude to true and lasting happiness, not only in heaven, but right now in our homes and workplaces. Broken Gods is life-changing. -Mike Aquilina, author of Roots of the Faith Gregory Popcak's Broken Gods is a canny recovery of a still-startling theology of Christian life about our divinization: Gods though you be, / offspring of the Most High all of you, / Yet like any mortal you shall die;/ like any prince you shall fall (Psalm 86). Popcak takes this idea seriously, walking us through the false desires--the deadly sins--that arise from our brokenness in order to discover the authentic desires that lead us to joy. His is a hope-filled, theological humanism that comes from years of experience in both clinical practice and prayer. -Tim Muldoon, Ph.D., theologian and author of many books, including The Ignatian Workout In this excellent book, Dr. Popcak makes the ancient Christian doctrine of theosis, found in so many of the Church fathers, accessible and understandable. He shows that, in a way, everyone can be a mystic, in the sense that they are increasingly aware of the presence of God every moment of every day, and are becoming more and more partakers of the divine nature. Anyone who is in the midst of a crisis, who is doing some soul-searching, or who just wants to live more intentionally in relationship with God and find authentic happiness, should read this book. -James L. Papandrea, co-author of Seven Revolutions: How Christianity Changed the World and Can Change it Again. Today the Catholic and ecumenical evangelical traditions often speak of being born again, through the Spirit in our personal encounter and relationship with Jesus Christ. But the early Church fathers described the actual organics of this rebirth through the Spirit as 'theosis, ' or 'deification.' Dr. Greg Popcak has authored a great work investigating both the history and pastoral applications of this mystical reality in Christ. It is a good read. -John Michael Talbot, author of The Ancient Path Broken Gods is rooted in this fundamental truth: the devil doesn't have his own clay! Sin, even the deadliest sin, is the distortion of something good. Popcak masterfully reveals how even our darkest desires ultimately point to something beautiful, to a destiny beyond our wildest dreams, and he offers a powerful, practical plan for readers to fulfill God's ultimate vision for their lives. A must-read for anyone who wants to live the redemption Christ won for us! -Christopher West, Founder & President, The Cor Project Author, Fill These Hearts: God, Sex, & the Universal Longing To be human is never enough. We were made to be more. We feel it. We long for it. But we can't always name what the more is, let alone how to become it. In Broken Gods, Dr. Gregory Popcak, does both and does both beautifully--charting a clear course for men and women to follow that begins with desire, develops through the virtues, and ends with divine fulfillment: a wonderful read! -Emily Stimpson, co-author of The American Catholic Almanac