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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 242
EAN num: 9780375700187
ISBN number: 0375700188
Label: Vintage
Manufacturer: Vintage
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 288
Printing Date: March 24, 1998
Publishing house: Vintage
Release Date: March 24, 1998
Sale Popularity Level: 66850
Studio: Vintage
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Product Description:
Thought by many to be the most influential of all texts in the Christian tradition, this 15th century meditation on the spiritual life offers the clearest and most universally accessible expression of Western religious ideals.
Amazon.com Review:
The Thomas à Kempis fan club includes St. Ignatius, Thomas Merton, Thomas More, and even Agatha Christie's Miss Marple. (She reads a chapter of The Imitation of Christ every night before sleep.) Imitation has exerted immense influence on Christian worship, ethics, and church structure, because it gives specific yet broad-minded guidance about the central task of Christian life--learning to live like Jesus. Better to read this book a little here and there, now and then, than to try gobbling it cover to cover. Imitation is no triumph of orderly thinking, but it's a great monument and incentive to deep living. --Michael Joseph Gross
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Rated by buyers 
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This is a centuries old classic that still has great relevance today.
I appreciate being able to purchase it so conveniently and so inexpensively as a "pre-read" book.
Rated by buyers 
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I found nothing at all about this book to be inspiring. The one sentence that speaks to this most, for me, is....
"It is better to lead a hidden life and care about one's salvation than to neglect it and work miracles. The religious who rarely goes out, avoids being seen and is unwilling to see others, is the one who is worthy of praise."
How is that Imitating Christ? Jesus didn't close himself off from people...he identified with everybody....especially sinners!
I didn't realize how "Catholic" this book would be even though I was aware that he was a Monk.
Imitating Christ has nothing to do with the Catholic Church, Saints, the Pope, etc. Christ came to set people free FROM empty religion, dogma and stale tradition. He didn't intend for us to be enslaved by a new religion. That isn't the freedom of Christ. Christianity is a relationship, NOT a religion.
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Book: The Imitation of Christ
Back cover it reads: Only the Bible has been more influential as a source of Christian devotional reading than The Imitation of Christ. This meditation on the spiritual life has inspired readers from Thomas More and St. Ignatius Loyola to Thomas Merton and Pope John Paul I. Written by the Augustinian monk Thomas `a Kempis between 1420 and 1427, it contains clear instructions for renouncing worldly vanities and locating eternal truths. No book has more explicitly and movingly described the Christian ideal: "My son, to the degree that you can leave yourself behind, to that degree will you be able to enter into Me."
For me this man's writing does not reflect the Christian ideal. Yes we are to become new men in renewing ourselves through Christ and strive to live the life of Jesus, but has Thomas `a Kempis really done this?
It appears that he does all he can to empty himself and seek Jesus, but he places himself under the Pope and the Catholic church. How can this be an imitation of Christ? Jesus placed Himself under no one but His Father and His Father gave us Jesus as the Christ as a gift for our salvation and redemption onto Him and no other has He given us to follow.
Thomas is a monk and he said, "Whoever withdraws himself from dealing with men, that man God draws to Himself and to His holy angels."
"It is better to lead a hidden life and care about one's salvation than to neglect it and work miracles. The religious who rarely goes out, avoids being seen and is unwilling to see others, is the one who is worthy of praise."
Did not Jesus mix with sinners to reveal His truth and say to His followers to go out into the world and spread the good news of Him?
What would this life in Jesus we seek be if Paul took and followed monk's advice?
I see not Thomas `a Kempis imitating Christ, but deluding self, giving reason for hiding. If he was truly leaving himself behind to enter more into Christ, would he not of done what Jesus did/does and point others to the way to salvation as Christ had His Apostles go out into the world do? The Apostles did not go and hide upon some mountain top and deny self to death. They denied self by giving self to the work of Christ with their God given gifts which is truly entering Christ by using and not hiding gifts given in His name. Is this not more devotional?
Clasping one's hands together and staring into the heavens with a sad look upon one's face is not devotion, but one's actions as commanded by God reflects true devotion.
God does not give you light to hide, but to shine so others may see also. So what you learn of Christ, act upon and share!
The author speaks of penance (voluntary self punishment to show repentance for wrongdoing, sin, etc.) as if a sinner could in some way make payment for his sins. In performing self punishment is the sinner usurping God's authority and not understand God's grace? God's love? Is not vengeance God's alone? God reads the heart, therefore He knows true repentance without the sinner having to show men through physical action against self. Are we to follow the laws of God or fail as the Pharisees in following the laws of man?
Making restitution of which God says we are to do, is not giving to the church, but to those whom we had wronged, and is not the same as doing penance.
There is much good in the book on focusing self in correcting our faults, but I feel there is sway toward putting on chains around self if I were to follow Thomas' advice.
He said, "Your progress in the spiritual life is in direct proportion to the punishment you choose to inflict upon yourself." (my underling - not the author's)
Does this mean if I stub my big toe on my right foot, I should stomp on my big toe on my left foot for balance? Instead should I not seek God's forgiveness and petition Him in giving me the strength to overcome my weaknesses? Again, is not vengeance God's alone and not mine to do unto myself if I am His who has already paid for me?
How far does Thomas carry out this thought? Suicide is not acceptable to God. Was it acceptable to Thomas?
Jesus said in Mark 28:29 - 31 - "The very first of all the commandments is: Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the very first commandment. And the second is like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these."
Do you think that Jesus included the second to keep His followers from closing themselves off from the rest of mankind?
Thomas writes; "If there be any joy in the world, certainly the man of pure heart possesses it, and if anywhere ... Read More
Rated by buyers 
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This is a deeply powerful, moving book. Thomas paints a complete picture of what it means to be a disciple of Jesus in every major area of life. He writes concisely and profoundly, offering his thoughts simply and boldly. His style makes for easy reading, allowing this book to be accessible to younger readers. This book lends itself to a contempltaive style of reading--I often found myself meditating on a paragraph, sentence or even a phrase for several minutes before being able to continue. This book is a perfect companion for daily devotional time or a weekend recharge. The importance of this book in the course of Christian history is incalculable. Numerous prominent Christian leaders (Wesley, Loyola and More, for starters) have been deeply shaped by this book and it continues to influence modern Christians (as evidenced by its staggering number of translations and worldwide sales). Aside from the Bible, no other book has impacted my life as deeply as this book. Recommended with highest endoresments.
Rated by buyers -
Why claim trinkets when you can read one of the best devotionals on the market. I use it to keep my daily life in check, to remember to have the right focus and to live what I believe. This is the top of the charts for a "Christian" work. Brother A'Kempis was a great instructor and a wise disciple. So much of todays mediocre fluff is twisted by society, self centeredness and lazy Christianity where the thinking is done for those who don't see the value in meditation and self examination. Next to the Bible, this is my favorite work.
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