Background
Michael Roden was born on February 2, 1962, in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. He is the son of Jerry Lee and Theodora (Damis) Roden.
("The Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands."...)
"The Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands." --Acts 7:48 A Church Not Made with Hands is written for those who are seeking a deeper spiritual connection to Jesus. Using Jesus' own words, Michael Roden strips away centuries of dogma to reveal the mysticism underlying the New Testament--and Christian spirituality. Citing hundreds of biblical passages, Roden shows how spiritual experience underlies the most important elements of Christian belief and doctrine. Spiritual experience and psychological transformation played an integral and essential part in every aspect of the religion of the earliest Christians, Roden says, and must not be neglected by Christians today. A Church Not Made with Hands recalls the idea of a spiritual church--spoken of in the New Testament--and reminds us that we must delve more deeply into human psychology if we are to understand, share, and deepen our spiritual experience.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1571744487/?tag=2022091-20
2005
(Paradise Re-Envisioned by Michael Roden presents an epic ...)
Paradise Re-Envisioned by Michael Roden presents an epic spiritual journey, beginning with Adam (the first man) in the original spiritual Paradise, continuing through many spiritual figures in the Old and New Testaments, and then returning to Paradise (or Heaven). It is a re-telling of all these events through the vision of Spirit. This four-part journey, consisting of 28 chapters plus an introduction, is written in poetic form, with bold inspirational strokes which draw out the spirituality and love at the center of the Bible and at the center of each reader. Like Michael's previous scholarly work, such as A Church Not Made with Hands, this book emphasizes the positive message of religion and spirituality for our time. However, this inspirational work has the added attraction of being able to place the reader in that world directly. From the Introduction: Paradise Re-Envisioned is a book meant to inspire and to comfort. But it is also meant to teach, to persuade, to illuminate and to enlighten. It is meant to change your mind about what you think you know about the original creation story, and about spirituality in general, and therefore to change your mind about humanity’s relationship with God. It is meant to give us a sense of being reborn by way of its emphasis on spirit.... The Genesis stories imply that the original substance was dirt, or clay, or dust; but there is another side to them that is not often mentioned. For early on, after fashioning man out of clay, God breathes the breath of spirit into him, making him “a living being” (Genesis 2:7), which means to me that our true life, the life God created, was one made of spirit. In my re-envisioning of all the stories in this book, spirit is the center around which all else revolves, and from which all things are made. Table of Contents Part One: Origin and Destiny I. Creation II. A Stray Thought and the Layers of Night III. The Dream IV. Descent into Form V. The Forbidden Fruit VI. Gods of Our Own VII. Spirit and Truth Part Two: The Ancient Melody I. Stranger in this Land: A Song of Abraham II. Altars and Offerings: A Second Song of Abraham III. The Promised Land: Song of Moses IV. Psalmody: A Song of David V. She of the Light: Song of Solomon VI. The World Will Change: Song of the Prophet VII. A New Song: The New Reality Part Three: Greatness Overheard I. Water and Air II. Believe in the Light III. Behind the Parables IV. Self and Others V. Know Yourself VI. The Human Savior VII. The End, a New Beginning Part Four: Adam and Eve Revisited I. A New Dream II. The Gate That is No Gate III. The Fields of Heaven IV. We Two V. Working Together, All Things VI. Revival VII. Revelation Excerpts: From Part 3, Ch. II: "Believe in the Light": Heaven itself shines on you, child of light; it was created for you, a fitting context in which to live.... Heaven itself shines on you and through you, lighting this world, blessing this world, changing it into something it never was: the threshold of Heaven itself. From Part 4: Ch. VII: "The End, A New Beginning" You will never stand before a judgment seat without the Holy Spirit beside you, your Wonderful Counselor. And your Advocate will speak for you because He knows you better than you know yourself, and He will listen as your flaws and your self-made guilt are exposed. And then He will stand before the Court, quietly to tell the Judge what the Judge knows in His Heart to be true: that you yourself are no more your flaws than you are your hurt and that there is another side of you the world has longed to see. And you will be set free, to live again, to sit in judgment of none, but with me, redeemer of all. Be not afraid; you may have suffered here but God has saved up all your joy in Heaven for you and when you see it, it will increase exponentially of its own accord. And the love He gave you never dies. (Cover Art "Adam and Eve-The Sparks" by Janet Shafner).
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0056A1UL2/?tag=2022091-20
2011
(This book takes a different angle on Christianity by emph...)
This book takes a different angle on Christianity by emphasizing its psychological effects. It helps to make the teachings less dogmatic, less judgmental, and more joyously personal. What if Christianity were based on Jesus' words, rather than the later theologizing about him? In that case, Christianity would be more like we human beings than about even Jesus. It would be less dogmatic, less rule-oriented, and instead more love- and relationship-oriented. In his third book of theology, The Enlightened Christian, Michael Roden lays out the evidence of a strong association in Jesus' teaching between our relationship with God and our relationships with one another. Each depends on the other: to have good relationship with God is to have a sense of unity with others, and vice versa. This is the message that Jesus came to teach. Roden goes well beyond this, however, taking Jesus' teaching to its ultimate conclusions. Along the way, he reinterprets such traditional concepts as sin, hell, and the end of the world, pointing out that they have more meaning as psychological realities than as physical ones. They are more figurative rather than literal. He reinterprets even God, pointing to Biblical passages that speak of the infinite and unchanging love of God rather than of wrath. But the main thing that Jesus' teaching was always meant to change was our entire concept of ourselves--of who we are in the greater universe. Roden presents biblical evidence that Jesus was a psychologist par excellance, and one of the greatest theorists of the human mind in history. New Testament scribes Paul and John are at their best when they are affirming this original message. All of this serves not only to give Christianity a much-needed makeover, it turns it inside-out and clarifies reality itself in the process.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013PC7POS/?tag=2022091-20
2015
(Vision is one of the great unheralded themes of A Course ...)
Vision is one of the great unheralded themes of A Course in Miracles. As a major theme, it serves to integrate all other themes, allowing us to step back and view the Course’s teaching as a unified whole. Yet vision in the Course has rarely been the subject of extensive study. This book will help the Course student to better understand the Course as a whole by understanding the nature of vision, the benefits it brings, and how it is acquired. Vision is said to lead to an experience of Oneness and the certainty of spiritual knowledge. Vision is the way to happiness, according to the Course. It is the source of every miracle. And it leads us through happy dreams and the real world all the way to a present experience of Heaven. It is said to resolve every problem. Yet it is easy to acquire. It comes to us through our desire for it. As we learn about vision, our desire for it grows, and our eyes open to a new world full of beauty, joy, and miracles. Table of Contents Introduction: Vision and Freedom Chapter 1: The First Glimmerings The Promise of Vision Other Benefits of Vision Chapter 2: The World in General The World We See The Hidden Reality The Emotional Undercurrents of the World Chapter 3: Perception in General The Mechanics of Perception The Fundamental Law of Perception Image-Making Chapter 4: The Holy Spirit as Facilitator of Vision The Holy Spirit The Holy Instant, Time and Vision Chapter 5: Vision in The Workbook The Hidden Spark of Beauty Forgiveness and Vision Chapter 6: Vision, Reason and Judgment The Appeal to Reason How Vision Surpasses Judgment Chapter 7: Vision, Relationship and Identity The Reality of our Brother Vision and the Self Chapter 8: A World Full of Miracles Vision and Miracles The Breadth of Vision Chapter 9: Vision and Oneness The Experience of Oneness Healing and Happiness Chapter 10: The Happy Dream The Reality of the Dreamer The Happy Dream Chapter 11: From Vision to Truth The Real World The Vision of Christ God and Vision Chapter 12: The Practice of Vision The Practice of Vision Bringing the Darkness to Light The Quiet Moment Conclusion: Vision and Freedom.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1537227319/?tag=2022091-20
2016
Michael Roden was born on February 2, 1962, in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. He is the son of Jerry Lee and Theodora (Damis) Roden.
Roden graduated from Kent State University and received a Master of Education in Counseling from it in 1984.
Roden started his career as a social worker at State Hospital in Cambridge, Ohio in 1985. Two years later he became an outpatient therapist at Sandusky Valley Center in Fremont. He also worked there for two years until he went to Counseling Center of Wayne and Holmes Counties in Wooster, Ohio, where he worked till 1991.
Since then, Roden works as a therapist and counselor in private practice and as a freelance writer.
(Paradise Re-Envisioned by Michael Roden presents an epic ...)
2011(This book takes a different angle on Christianity by emph...)
2015(Vision is one of the great unheralded themes of A Course ...)
2016("The Most High does not dwell in houses made with hands."...)
2005Roden married Carol Brady on June 29, 1985. The couple has 2 children: Sarah Beth and Nicholas Brady.