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Review: Recapturing the Wonder

IVP, 2017. 180 pp.

Summary

We live in a world that has lost its wonder. Or so argues Mike Cosper in his celebrated book Recapturing the Wonder: Transcendent Faith in a Disenchanted World (IVP Press, 2017). This book has a two-fold purpose: 1) to identify the deficiencies and symptoms of a disenchanted spirituality, and 2) to provide remedies for re-enchanting our worlds. In essence, this book packs a double punch, serving as a spiritual disciplines handbook and a devotional text. He addresses disciplines such as prayer, Scripture meditation, solitude, secrecy, and fasting. By reaching to the Church's historic practices, Cosper maintains, we can restore an enchanted spiritual life.

My ordinary life felt strangely irreligious.

Evaluation

Cosper's book is a fantastic text for Christians who feel skeptical toward acts of wonder in the world. His writing is candid, free, and humorous—yet perceptive and insightful. He draws on an array of relevant examples of our disenchanted world which may cause you to audibly murmur in agreement. Each chapter ends with a "Pathway" toward restoring one's faith. Cosper offers a theological defense along with very practical steps toward gradually implementing ancient practices into one's rhythm of life. Clearly, Cosper has been influenced by the thinking of James K.A. Smith (You Are What You Love; Desiring the Kingdom), Harold Best (Unceasing Worship), Robert Webber (Ancient-Future Worship, Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail) and the like.

I highly recommend this text for spiritually jaded Christians. Indeed, postmodernism can corrode our sense of wonder, but there is hope. And Cosper has some good ideas on how to start.


(My thanks is given to IVP for providing a complimentary review copy in exchange for an honest review.)

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