Analysis Of Becoming Human By Jean Vanier

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Recommended: Sense of identity and belonging

Becoming Human is a short book by Jean Vanier, the founder of L’Arche which is a network of communities across the globe for people with physical and intellectual disabilities and those who wish to support them and learn from them. Through this ministry, Vanier has gained insight into what it means to becoming human. Becoming human is the process of setting one’s heart free from chaos and loneliness by accepting the past while being open to growth and change, which allows one to love and respect others and find a sense of belonging. The book is not necessarily about changing society for the better, but changing the lives of individuals in society for the better, which eventually changes and sculpts society for the better. Vanier shares biblical examples and personal stories from some of the people he has met through L’Arche, and further explains the process of becoming human by sharing his wisdom on topics such as loneliness, belonging, and forgiveness. Vanier speaks of the loneliness and the need for fulfillment that is experienced by all. He explains how “[l]oneliness is part of being human, because there is nothing in existence that can completely fulfill the needs of the human heart.” …show more content…

It is evident through the way in which he writes about them that Vanier has a passion for these people and that they have taught him so much just by sharing a community with him. It is an inspiring book full of simple, yet profound ideas that could revolutionize the world if everyone made an effort to becoming human. However, the amount of wisdom and inspiration in this book is slightly overwhelming, and may be more effective in a longer, more compartmentalized book that goes into more detail about each topic instead of just a brief and slightly hurried

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