On a Pilgrimage with Augustine’s Confessions

In his ground-breaking work The Confessions, Augustine of Hippo (AD 343-430), a prominent theologian and philosopher of early Christianity, paved the way for self-disclosure and the art of writing one’s life story. In On a Pilgrimage with Augustine’s Confessions, Dr. Blom delves into Augustine’s role as both protagonist and reflective narrator, portraying him as Christianity’s original existential hero.

Blom draws parallels between Augustine’s journey and that of the wanton prodigal son, viewing Augustine’s address to God as the voice of an ‘everyday man’ struggling to find his way home – a spiritual homecoming. By masterfully weaving together Jungian archetypal psychology, mythology, biblical interpretations, and autobiography, Blom invites the reader to embark on a captivating journey that bridges the gap between Augustine’s musings and meditations from the fifth century and the present day.

On a Pilgrimage with Augustine’s Confessions offers a fresh perspective on a timeless classic, making it an essential read for anyone seeking to explore the depths of the human soul and the enduring relevance of Augustine’s wisdom.

Djuwe Joe Blom is a professor emeritus (King’s University College—affiliated with Western University) and a past president of Ontario Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, a division of the American Association. He was born in Friesland, the Netherlands, during WWII and emigrated to Canada with his family and attended middle/high school in Burnaby, B.C. After switching from a focus on engineering in his 3rd year, he earned a B.A. (UBC) in German literature, anthropology and religious studies and an MSW (UBC) in direct practice. This led him to become the director of social work at the Yorkton Psychiatric Center (Saskatchewan) and inspired him to pursue a Ph.D. (University of Minnesota) focusing on family sociology. While there, teaching courses in human development and clinical practice led him to a tenured position at King’s. And while there, he obtained an MThS with an emphasis on spiritual theology from Huron University College (Western). He subsequently returned home to Vancouver, where for almost two decades, he was an adjunct professor at the UBC School of Social Work. In addition, he has taught at several universities across Canada and the Vancouver School of Theology. For over 20 years, he practiced psychotherapy, published and lectured internationally on spirituality, mental health, psycholinguistics and narrative analysis.