The Way to Love: The Last Meditations of Anthony de Mello
by Anthony De Mello

List Price: $19.00
Our Price: $8.05
You Save: $10.95 (58%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $1.83 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions

Book Summary Information

Book Reviews of The Way to Love: The Last Meditations of Anthony de Mello

Book Review: fascinating and flawed
Summary: 2 Stars

"And here is a parable of life for you to ponder on: A group of tourists sits in a bus that is passing through gorgeously beautiful country; lakes and mountains and green fields and rivers. But the shades of the bus are pulled down. They do not have the slightest idea of what lies beyond the windows of the bus. And all the time of their journey is spent in squabbling over who will have the seat of honor in the bus, who will be applauded, who will be well considered. And so they remain till the journey's end."

I found passages like the one above scattered throughout the book. Each one was excellent at expressing a truth about the world. They show Mr. De Mello, who was a Jesuit priest, to be an eloquent writer with a powerful mind.

However, I have two bones to pick with this book. They are not quibbling, insignificant issues either. I believe that they contaminate this book to the point of negating its other values and making it impossible to classify this book as "Christian".

The first problem of this book is one that starts in the first chapter, ends in the last chapter, and is present everywhere in between. Mr. De Mello starts each chapter with a verse form the Bible. That is not the problem...in fact, if more folks used the Bible is their writing the world would be a much better place. The problem is not that Mr. De Mello uses the Bible-it is that Mr. De Mello misuses the Bible. Time after time, Mr. De Mello takes the verses at the beginning of each chapter completely out of context. This practice is at best misleading and at worst (especially for those readers who may not read the Bible as much as they should) outright deceptive. A blatant example of this is found in the sixth chapter. Mr. De Mello essentially uses Matthew 8:20 (Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.'') to justify not getting overly attached to people. Unfortunately, this practice is not the worst problem with the book.

The second problem with the book is made much harder to detect by Mr. De Mello's skill as an author. It is also what makes the book one that I would not classify as "Christian". The first five chapters of the book are passably Christian, yet with a notable Buddhist influence. Beginning in chapter six De Mello starts to actually contradict scripture with what he says. To use chapter six as an example again: De Mello argues that we must not "overly attach" ourselves or be dependent on anyone or thing that we love. Detachment is a concept which is viewed as being positive in Buddhism, actually leading to enlightenment. In Christianity it stands in direct opposition to the kind of relationship we are to have with our Creator and Savior (1 Corinthians 8:6-- yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live).

My final appraisal of "The Way to Love" is that it has some worth...but not enough to outweigh its flaws. I cannot recommend this book. I suggest you avoid it. There are better books to read (If you haven't checked it out yet, try the Ragamuffin Gospel).

Summary of The Way to Love: The Last Meditations of Anthony de Mello

Meditations Books

• Subjects > Christian Books & Bibles > Worship & Devotion > Meditations
• Religion & Spirituality > Spirituality > Devotionals
• Inspirational