Amazon.com describes its theme as "how we each can become a miracle worker by accepting God and by the expression of love in our daily lives.

[1] The book is written with the understanding that the reader will have a working knowledge of religious concepts.

For example, in chapter 3 ("You"), section 2 ("The divine mind"), when referring to Christ she writes "The word 'Christ' is a psychological term.

Christ refers to the common thread of divine love that is the core and essence of every human mind.

[citation needed] It was credited as having been written by one of the two authors that helped bring New Age perspectives to the American mainstream, the other being Thomas Moore.

[5] The book has also been labeled by critics as having paranormal and anti-science philosophy in regard to health issues.

"[9] Writing in Commentary magazine, John Podhoretz described Return to Love as "almost unspeakably tasteless" in its blithe misappropriation of concepts central to the world's major religions...[it is] a work of surpassing vulgarity in a surpassingly vulgar field [that, nevertheless] offers both sound and surprisingly moving advice."

Readers are advised to seek meaning in something larger than themselves, to get over the issues of their past, and, "to act on wisdom from your grandmother, expressed in sugarcoated cliches: Always look on the bright side.

"[14] The passage has been compared to a statement of Jesus of Nazareth found in Matthew 5:16, "let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.