Ever since it first appeared in the 15th century, "The Imitation of Christ" by Thomas a Kempis has been one of the most widely read books in world literature. With the renewal of the Church in the 1960s, however, it went into complete eclipse. Its spirituality, it was felt, was no longer compatible with the religious and lay people of the day. The author argues that, despite its many limitations, the "Imitation" has a timeless message and insights that are still valid as meaningful expressions of Christian ideals. This book is a contemporary adaptation of the "Imitation", similar to Meninger's succesful adaptation of the mediaeval classic "The Cloud of Unknowing". He has kept the essential elements of the "Imitation's" spirituality, while modifying or opposing those time-bound aspects that have been responsible for its modern rejection.
