Annemarie S. Kidder

In the hustle and bustle of modern life the word "solitude" may provoke a sigh of relief or the anxiety of loneliness. Dr. Kidder has found that a significant dimension of our spiritual lives is most deeply encountered in solitude. Married, single, or recently divorced -- all of us can find opportunities for solitude that offer a unique opportunity for personal growth and encounters with God. Themes include: romantic allure as a substitute for spirituality; the loner syndrome; cultural conditioning; coupling, co-habitation, and community; fear of loneliness; overachieving; the search for intimacy; the search for sexual fulfillment; Biblical roots; Jesus, the solitary person; Mary and the Annunciation; Mary Magdalene in the Gospels, the Gospel of Thomas, and the DaVinci Code; Augustine, Luther, and Calvin; evangelicalism; prayer, song, drama; spiritual direction; meditation; tending to the body; vows and covenants of temporary/long-term abstinence; and coping with opposition.

The purpose of the book is to show that for Christians, both men and women, the single life is an option equally valid and honorable to marriage. It does so by examining the issue of celibacy throughout the church's history with special regard of women. Sections include: Celibacy and the Bible; Celibacy and the Early Church; Celibacy as Seen by the Church Fathers; Celibacy from the Church Fathers to the Reformation and Until Today.