The Priest Who Left His Religion
In Pursuit of Cosmic Spirituality

Discover the shocking dishonesty of the Catholic Church as
Scientific evidence is silenced to protect the “faithful”

Follow the story of an ordained Catholic Priest, destined by family prophecy to be the first American Pope. The author reveals his disillusionment over the Pope’s betrayal of scientific insight into the Bible. Shattered by his discovery of the dishonesty of his church, John Shields takes us through the torment of leaving the priesthood and the church. With courage and self-compassion, John relates his arduous struggle to make the shift from religion to spirituality.

Shields enters life as a Layman at the age of 31 with $30 in his pocket, but quickly adapts to his new life and becomes a leader of the Canadian labour movement. During the most intense crisis of his career, he uncovered an inner mythology operating in his subconscious, which intensified his search for spirituality and higher consciousness.

As he examines his own life, John tells how the findings of science convinced him that spirituality is rooted in the universe. He shows us a sentient cosmos where everything is interlinked, conscious and purposeful. Inspired by the science that confirms the foundation of his present spirituality, Shields leads the reader to welcome the union between science and spirit.

Shields enters life as a Layman at the age of 31 with $30 in his pocket, but quickly adapts to his new life and becomes a leader of the Canadian labour movement. During the most intense crisis of his career, he uncovered an inner mythology operating in his subconscious, which intensified his search for spirituality and higher consciousness.

Read John’s highlight interview in the March issue of Focus.

Watch John’s Video

The Priest Who Left His Religion John Shields from StrongHeart Productions on Vimeo.

BIOGRAPHY

John Shield’s remarkable career has spanned theology to economics, negotiations to senior labour management. A deep love of culture and place has infused his environmental consciousness.

John is recognized internationally as a leader in the labour movement and an advocate for win/win bargaining. A deep interest in spirituality led him to contemporary cosmology, which is illuminating a deeper understanding of the universe. For the past twenty years he has explored the connection between science and spirituality.

Born in NY City, Shields holds a Masters Degree in theology from St. Paul’s College in Washington, DC, where he worked with Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement. He went on to teach popular theology in Canada and the US. He left the church and moved to British Columbia in 1969. An interest in social justice led him to the labour movement where he was a champion for women’s equality work. He was President of the BC Government and Service Employees Union (BCGEU) for fourteen years.

He has been teaching Labour Relations and Negotiations at Vancouver Island University. His memoir is due to be published in September.

Praise

Good-morning John,
I have just finished reading your book.  As I read, I appreciated your connection with the scientific, spiritual and physical experiences of life. As I read, I asked or thought “But John, what about our Aboriginal People with their understanding of spirit in all things” .  So welcomed it on page 153. I learned of new applications of dowsing, the pervasiveness of energy, and an enhanced understanding of cosmology. While reading I reflected on my ruminations and recent conversations about our life journey before and after this earthly experience plus the inadequacy of language to convey concepts that have iintangible and not yet discovered attributes.  Now I am sending my copy to a friend in Switzerland, while getting additional copies for gifts (one will be for me).
John, with thanks and warm wishes..
Ann Geddes, Victoria, BC

“Hello John. I have just finished reading The Priest who left his religion. It has presented me with many leads to follow, many ideas to reflect on! It’s not often that a book deeply influences me. Yours has, and I want to thank you for it.”
Craig Spence