Schedule a date... with God

The attention-grabbing title of Franciscan friar Daniel P. Horan’s new book Dating God aptly describes his thesis that the human experience of establishing a close relationship with another person is comparable to that of developing greater knowledge and understanding of our Creator. He describes how one has to get to know God in the same way and in a similar process as one would with someone one dates, when one wants to explore another's truest self. “…[T]he metaphor or image of dating… serves as a symbol for our relationship with God, a relationship marked by a life lived as prayer. … If you take the romantic connotations away from the term dating, then you are left with a word that can be applied to any experience of getting to know one another.” (11)

While this book is a quick and easy read, it deserves sufficient time to contemplate the ample “food for thought” provided throughout the text and in the reflection questions at the conclusion of each chapter. Pausing for reflection during the journey from “The First Date” to “Living a Life of Relationship With God” enriched my reading experience.

Dating God is a great book about developing a relationship with God. “The primary question that guides this book is How can I know and love God today?” (5) I think it is particularly well suited for teens and young adults, but would be a good for anyone who is seeking a new way to connect with God. I look forward to sharing this metaphor with friends and some of the young people in my life and to hearing what they think of it.

The references to contemporary culture should make this book appealing for teens and young adults, but in a few years time it will likely seem dated and "out-of-touch." Hopefully when that time comes, Br. Horan will produce a revised version because I think that the basic ideas of developing a relationship with God are solid and valuable.

Disclaimer: This review was written as part of the Catholic book reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Dating God. The Catholic Company is also a great online store for all your Catholic gift needs, such as baby baptism and christening gifts.