Loneliness

Loneliness is a widely prevalent problem not only for the elderly, but for the young and middle-aged city-dwellers.Adam Bittleston's profound insight into the cause of our feeling of alienation asks for honest self-knowledge. He shows the importance of how we relate to the world through our senses, and how in our relationship with other people, genuine speech and inward listening cannot be overrated. Bittleston brings many examples from history, literature, mythology, and the Gospels, to show that in the struggle with loneliness universal experiences can be found. Ultimately our desire for a feeling of "oneness" with others is a deep longing to be reunited with our spiritual origin and to find a direct experience of Christ. Some present-day descriptions of such experiences are quoted.The author concludes with suggestions of steps that can be taken by everyone to begin to transform loneliness.