{"product_id":"almost-catholic-an-appreciation-of-the-history-practice-and-mystery-of-ancient-faith-9780787994709","title":"Almost Catholic: An Appreciation of the History, Practice, and Mystery of Ancient Faith","description":"Jon Sweeney, a self-described \"evolved Protestant\" and noted religious writer, has long been fascinated by the Catholic Church. However, it wasn't until he was a young missionary in the Philippines that he truly began to understand the Church's traditions, mysteries, and religious beliefs and its hold on those who follow the tradition. As he explains, Catholic spirituality is all about responding to the fundamental mystery of Jesus, the incarnation, and what it all meant in the beginning as well as what it means today. \u003cp\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eAlmost Catholic, \u003c\/i\u003e Sweeney offers an appreciation of Catholicism, weaving in the story of his own explorations with those of others who have also been attracted to this tradition. He finds himself drawn to the Church's ancient and medieval traditions out of a desire to connect with the deepest and widest paths on the way. Two millennia of saints and practices and teachings and mystery form a connection for him to the very beginnings of Christianity.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTHE AUTHOR\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eJON M. SWEENEY\u003c\/b\u003e is a prolific author who wrote\u003ci\u003e Born Again and Again, \u003c\/i\u003e named one of the Best Books of 2005 by\u003ci\u003e Spirituality \u0026amp; Health\u003c\/i\u003e magazine and honored with an Award of Merit by\u003ci\u003e Christianity Today, \u003c\/i\u003e and\u003ci\u003e Light in the Dark Ages: The Friendship of Francis and Clare of Assisi, \u003c\/i\u003e a selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club. He writes for the website www.explorefaith.org, and his articles have been published in a variety of magazines including\u003ci\u003e Catholic Digest, The Lutheran, The Merton Seasonal, and Spirituality \u0026amp; Health.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Jossey-Bass","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51720783921426,"sku":"9780787994709","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_3cc961fb-173c-4cde-ba94-bf05a8e798d6.jpg?v=1762936135","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/almost-catholic-an-appreciation-of-the-history-practice-and-mystery-of-ancient-faith-9780787994709","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}