In this powerful reflection, President Jimmy Carter contemplates how faith has sustained him in happiness and disappointment. He considers how we may find it in our own lives.

Spiritual meditation on the concept of faith and what it means in a person's life, from one of the more reviled US Presidents in our history. Whether your a fan of his politics or not, you should be a fan of his way of life and his love for people. There is a little denominational talk, but it's very minimal. The focus is on becoming a better person, living a better life, and making the world a better place - concepts that we could all use a little more of in today's world. It's not a conversion screed at all. You can't pick this book up and not be changed at least a little. Highly recommended. I've started collecting up more books by Carter. ( )

5606. Faith A Journey for All, by Jimmy Carter (read 6 Jan 2019) This book, published in 2018, is Carter's 30th published book. I have read three others of his: Why Not the Best? (on 18 Jan 1976), An Hour Before Daylight (on 11 Mar 2001), and Turning Point (on 19 Aug 2009).. This book, on his personal faith and how he feels all should seek and have such faith, shows he is a serious and committed Protestant. The later chapters tell of his life and efforts to live his faith and are of considerable interest and I found them moving and inspiring. While the current president is never named in this 2018 book it is obvious there is much difference between the present holder of the presidential office and Jimmy--and Jimmy is clearly the more admirable person and president. ( )

It was definitely not an earth shattering book, but I did learn more about Jimmy Carter and his life outside of politics. Wasn't horrible but I wouldn't recommend the book. ( )

My full review: https://mimi-cyberlibrarian.blogspot.com/2018/06/faith-journey-for-all.html

This slim volume contains the spiritual pondering of the thirty-ninth President of the United States, Jimmy Carter. Some of the chapters are culled from his many writings on the topic of faith as well as what he is thinking now in his 94th year.

The surprising thing to me is that Carter’s thoughts are well-researched, both biblically and theologically. It shouldn't have been a surprise. This is a man who has taught a Sunday School class all his adult life. He has researched and met many of the signature theologians of Protestantism, including Reinhold Niebuhr, William Sloane Coffin, and Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He quotes these (and other) theologians extensively as well as quoting many verses of scripture.

The goal of this book is to “explore the broader meaning of faith, its far-reaching effect on our lives, and its relationship to past, present, and future events in America and around the world.” He discusses faith in the context of religion, but he also discusses it in the broader dimension—in our communal lives, our individual lives, and our lives in government and secular affairs. He expresses how his faith has guided him in all his endeavors, including the political. One chapter is spent on the discussion of how he used his faith in his political life. My feeling about this chapter was that it may have been gleaned from some of his other writings. It is very interesting, although perhaps a bit out of context.

Carter believes that people must have a “foundation on which we can build a predictable and dependable existence.” He calls for people to have a central core of beliefs and standards. This, to him, is faith.

One of my favorite quotes in the book is "I love the recklessness of faith. First you leap, and then you grow wings." William Sloane Coffin. To this, Carter responds “I have always felt that my own faith has been made possible or strengthened by my sincere desire to have it, a personal blessing to me.”

He has harsh words to say to fundamentalists who say that they have the only answer. He says, “there are three words to characterize this brand of fundamentalism: pride, domination, and exclusion. In sharp contrast, Jesus espoused humility, servanthood of leaders, and breaking down walls between people.”

My church book club had a very meaningful discussion related to Faith: A Journey for All. It is written in a simple, engaging style. I recommend it for discussion groups. ( )