The Faithful Parent: Discovering the Spirit of Purposeful Parenting

by Seamus Carey

Overview

The Faithful Parent provides parents with the tools necessary to develop their 'philosophical faith' in order to live more fulfilling lives while guiding their children with greater purpose. Philosophical faith begins with a belief in one's self, akin to a sixth sense or intuition, which can help navigate the obstacles of everyday life. The Faithful Parent explores this worldly faith in several ways: faith in self, faith in the hidden meaning and coherence of the world, faith in the child, faith in reason, and faith in faith itself, or faith that it is worthwhile to work at developing faith.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780742558588
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	05/10/2007
Pages:	144
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.41(d)

About the Author

Seamus Carey teaches philosophy at Manhattan College, and is the author of The Whole Child: Restoring Wonder to the Art of Parenting. He is the father of two daughters and one son.

Table of Contents

1 Preface
2 Introduction
3 Chapter 1 — Faith in the Higher Self
4 Chapter 2 — Faith in the World
5 Chapter 3 — Faith in the Child
6 Chapter 4 — Faith in Reason
7 Chapter 5 — Faith and Freedom or Faith in Faith
8 Epilogue — Simple Steps to Philosophical Faith

Editorial Reviews

This book is a welcome guide to the vanishing art of parenting. It richly illustrates the vital role of philosophical faith in family life, and could help get the American family off the endangered species list.

Lou Marinoff

This book uses philosophical intelligence in the service of parental love. It is Seamus Carey's great intellectual accomplishment to remind us that philosophy can indeed help us fulfill this urgent, and enormously difficult, task.

Roger S. Gottlieb

Parents, educators, and counselors, religious or not, will benefit from Carey's thoughtful, informed reflections.

Dominic J. Balestra

There is much to recommend in this book.

International Journal Of Children's Spirituality

A generous and thoughtful meditation on the lifelong calling of parents. Carey clearly articulates the challenges all parents face and the virtues their vocation requires. Filled with practical insight and wisdom, Carey's book is a boon to all who love and care for the young.

Michael McCarthy

There is much to recommend in this book.

February 2009 International Journal Of Children's Spirituality

With his characteristic thoughtfulness, common sense, and integrity, Seamus Carey reclaims the notion of faith, rethinking it in its application to the orienting attitudes that make for good parenting. Faith, as he explains it, coincides with that fundamental trust in oneself, in the world, and in one's child that lets each open up as a source of spiritual depth and, by providing bearings independent from the ubiquitous pressures of the daily social hustle, make family life a site of stability and growth. A particular gift I will long reflect on is Prof. Carey's notion - key to self-knowledge and autonomy - of silence. His faith in silence as an occasion for discovery and restoration is itself a paradigm of his faith in faith itself.

Mitch Miller

With his characteristic thoughtfulness, common sense, and integrity, Seamus Carey reclaims the notion of faith, rethinking it in its application to the orienting attitudes that make for good parenting. Faith, as he explains it, coincides with that fundamental trust in oneself, in the world, and in one's child that lets each open up as a source of spiritual depth and, by providing bearings independent from the ubiquitous pressures of the daily social hustle, make family life a site of stability and growth. A particular gift I will long reflect on is Prof. Carey's notion - key to self-knowledge and autonomy - of silence. His faith in silence as an occasion for discovery and restoration is itself a paradigm of his faith in faith itself.--Mitch Miller, Vassar College

Parents, educators, and counselors, religious or not, will benefit from Carey's thoughtful, informed reflections.--Dominic J. Balestra, Fordham University

A generous and thoughtful meditation on the lifelong calling of parents. Carey clearly articulates the challenges all parents face and the virtues their vocation requires. Filled with practical insight and wisdom, Carey's book is a boon to all who love and care for the young.--Michael McCarthy, Vassar College

From the Publisher