How Can I See the Light When It's So Dark?: Journey to a Thankful Heart Review

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How Can I See the Light When It's So Dark: Journey to a Thankful Heart ReviewI enjoyed readin this book and it gave me a lot of inspiration. I had never heard of Linda Douty before and want to read her other book which I purchased at the same timw.How Can I See the Light When It's So Dark: Journey to a Thankful Heart Overview

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Zealous Love: A Practical Guide to Social Justice Review

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Zealous Love: A Practical Guide to Social Justice ReviewZealous love consists of eight sections, one each for
* human trafficking,
* unclean water,
* refugees,
* hunger,
* education,
* the environment,
* HIV and AIDS,
* and economic inequality.
Each section consists of an introduction, which the authors call the "briefing." These introductions tend to give numbers and facts that document the problem. (Numerous footnotes seem to indicate that the numbers are at least colorably accurate.) These briefings probably do not tell the reader much that he or she did not already know, at least on some vague level. Though the scale of human trafficking might come as a shock, for example, the existence of the problem shouldn't.
After the briefing are "field notes," first-hand accounts from a variety of sources. Some are from missionaries telling about their experiences among refugees, some from church leaders who have led their churches to reduce Christmas spending or to be more active givers to charity, and some are from people who have simply toned down their lives by eliminating what they do not need.
Each section concludes with a "What Now?" section that asks the reader to reflect and then, perhaps, respond. This section contains a variety of references--websites, addresses, and so forth.
This is a book aimed at Christians, filled with scriptural references. The focus is not on spreading the Word but on alleviating the injustices in the world, and to that end, the book is relatively free of specific doctrine and thus should appeal to all Christians, from the most evangelical to the most progressive or liberal. In other words, "Zealous Love" is not an attempt to proselytize. It is an attempt to get believers to respond to the greatest problems the world faces.
There are a few minor objections I have to the book. The first is that it does not offer as many practical options as I expected. Perhaps it was simply that the words "A Practical Guide to Social Justice" at the top of the front cover led me to expect more. On the other hand, I hardly needed a book to tell me of all the charities at home and abroad for which we can volunteer or to which we can donate. Another small quibble is that the book itself is a rather heavy tome, printed on high-quality glossy paper. It seems to me that this product is not the most eco-friendly.
These qualms are minor, though. For the most part, "Zealous Love" is a very good effort to call upon Christians to work for social justice, not by changing the world individually but by becoming more aware of the problems and working in some way to help alleviate the suffering of others.
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Clouds of Witnesses: Christian Voices from Africa and Asia Review

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Clouds of Witnesses: Christian Voices from Africa and Asia ReviewFor many of us in the West, we are unfamiliar with Christianity outside of our Sunday morning circle. Simply put, our Global Consciousness, or conscience, has yet to be awakened. Sure, there are those times in which natural disasters strike other parts of the world and we selflessly give, but between those times, we often forget that the Christian witness is being played out in those lands, long after our great fleets of air cargo have left. Mark Noll and Carlyn Nystrom has configured a book which reads almost like a devotional and a modern day Foxe's Book of Martyrs in that we meet, in very short and succinct chapters, men and women from far distant lands who have been persecuted and even martyred, and many of them, not too distant in years from us.
Of particular note is the honest, sometimes raw, used to portray these figures. While many of them are from what we call Mainline Denominations, they exhibit often times what we might label as emergent, pentecostal or just plain heterodox beliefs which would have them named outcast in many American churches today. As a matter of fact, at least one faced the Western Church and lost. But, a book like this calls to mind what many Europeans have forgotten. With our liturgies, our prayer books, and our high ceilinged cathedrals we can still have the power of the Spirit of God present and active. In this, there are lessons to be learned from men and women with funny names and different hues of skin. They took their African, Indian or Asian culture and, like Europeans did 1900 years earlier, and allowed it to be transformed by the message of the Gospel. Some of this, I admit, was difficult for me to take, especially with my admittedly stringent views on what should pass or not pass for Christian praxis, but by allowing a little subjective license, the same license that the Europeans once used, we find that these witnesses have set forth the Gospel in their own language, but every bit as beautiful as the Gospel set forth in our language.
Noll and Nystrom tackle various continents, and for the case of Africa, various regions. There is Southern Africa, West Africa and East Africa. India and Korea have mentions as well, but China seems to receive the most attention, which is important for today as China's Christian communities struggle to find hope in the midst of oppression by the Government. We meet Methodists, Anglicans, and Catholics, as well as those who are more mystic than mainline. There are tales of assassinations, miracles, murder, and rebellion, but these men and women served Christ in lands, and through times, which were abused by the West, and Western religion, and still have managed to proclaim Christ and to secure unto Him and the Church, faithful witnesses.
While the book seems to cover only the late 19th to 20th centuries, I was left wanting to hear from Japan, of which the Japanese Martyrs (16th century) come to mind, but in that this book is not exhaustive, what is presented is worth reading, absorbing and in many ways, serving as I said earlier, as a devotional of sorts. Many Christians focus on the Saints of years past, carrying short biographies, or keeping them in prayer books. Here - here is a book for those who seek a different face of the saints of the past. It is also a reminder for those of us in the West to not forget where we have come from, and how much long forgotten ancestral traditions influenced ancient tribes and their reception of Christianity. Perhaps, then, we will not judge the mystic who seems more Islamic or Buddhist than Baptist or Methodist, and understand that these men and women who fought against the dominant religions and native superstitions did so in the name of Christ, and then let us hear the words of Christ,
But Jesus said, "Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward. (Mark 9:39-41 NRS)Clouds of Witnesses: Christian Voices from Africa and Asia Overview

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Behold the Spirit: A Study in the Necessity of Mystical Religion Review

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Behold the Spirit: A Study in the Necessity of Mystical Religion Review_Behold The Spirit_ is one of the most clearly written, profound, and enlightening books on theology I have ever read. This book represents the ideal combination of profundity and readability - never again will you say that a book must be difficult to read just because it deals with extremely complex and deep subject matter. Like most of Alan Watts' books, _Behold the Spirit_ is an absolute pleasure to read, yet competently deals with universal metaphysical questions which have troubled man for many centuries. For instance, Alan Watts talks at length about the problem of what God was doing before He created the universe. Was He just sitting there alone? The answer can be found in the book.
To me, this type of theological question is quite fascinating. I appreciated the unorthodox and critical approach Watts took in examining a wide range of theological and general metaphysical issues. In other words, this is not an evangelical or fundamentalist Christian book; it is a critical and sceptical examination of Christianity and man's belief in God. I highly recommend this work to anyone, and if you only want to read one or two of Alan Watts' most important works, they should be _Behold the Spirit_ and _Psychotherapy East and West_. These two works represent the solid core of Alan Watts' philosophy. They are rigourous, profound, and comprehensive psychological works which are also remarkably succinct, miserly, and readable. With Alan Watts, you can obtain large amounts of elightenment in a short amount of time, with minimal aggravation and headache.Behold the Spirit: A Study in the Necessity of Mystical Religion Overview

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Breaking Down Walls: A Model for Reconciliation in an Age of Racial Strife Review

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Breaking Down Walls: A Model for Reconciliation in an Age of Racial Strife ReviewThis needs to be read by anyone who is serious about addressing the racial differences we all face. These men share their personal stories and then the reconciliation principles that have grown out of their experiences. It is down to earth and practical, hard hitting yet enjoyable. A great help without the guilt ladden junk that comes in most racial sensitivity material. Two thumbs up!Breaking Down Walls: A Model for Reconciliation in an Age of Racial Strife Overview

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Thou Art That: Transforming Religious Metaphor Review

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Thou Art That: Transforming Religious Metaphor ReviewTHOU ART THAT is the first volume in THE COLLECTED WORKS OF JOSEPH CAMPBELL which contains materials gathered from previously uncollected essays, letters, diaries, articles and lectures. As such it presents a broad sampling of Campbell's work on mythology and the Western religions.
Campbell believes that the stories in the Bible should be read metaphorically. By interpreting events historically institutional religions create a problem. When people realize that the events probably did not take place, then the power of the message is diminished. Examples of such events are the Fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and the Exodus from Egypt.
A fairly thorough discussion is introduced in Chapter VI of Judo-Christian symbols such as the Virgin Birth, Judas and the Flight into Egypt. Here we see why Campbell is so much admired for the breadth of his knowledge of mythology and his ability to bring this learning to bear on Jewish and Christian origins.
In one of the more interesting parts of the book Campbell describes the basic differences between the world religions of creed which are Buddhism, Christianity and Islam and the leading ethnic religions of birth which are Hinduism, Judaism and Shintoism.
Often Campbell points out that our ideas of the universe are being reordered by our experience in space. There are no horizons in space causing many people to retreat into fundamentalism.
For a small book THOU ART THAT is filled with much food for thought. I highly recommend it and am looking forward to reading future volumes in this series.Thou Art That: Transforming Religious Metaphor Overview

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Coming Out Spiritually: The Next Step Review

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Coming Out Spiritually: The Next Step ReviewThis book is easy to read and yet full of precise scholarly prose. A must-read for those of the LGBT community who are spiritual or are struggling with spiritual issues.
As a bisexual woman, I found that this book included me instead of the trend of a lot of books on gay issues which cater specifically to the male community. I was very impressed with Christian's style and evocative language. Having met him recently at the SF Book Festival, I found that as a speaker, he is equally as eloquent and feels very strongly about his work in the LGBT community.
Anyone wondering about what religions really feel about homosexuality? Check out Appendix 1 which includes "snapshots" of many religions.
I recommend this book to anyone in the LGBT community or someone who has a loved one in the LGBT community and is wondering about spiritual issues.Coming Out Spiritually: The Next Step Overview

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Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition Review

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Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition ReviewIt is hard to know where to start. The book is elegantly written, it is full of interesting history of the early church. But more importantly, it speaks to a deadness in the church today. Often members of the church have learned to live distant from problems of their "neighbors" be they down the block or down the street in the challenged neighborhoods in our cities.
In the early church, members were the challenged people, they reached out to each other, but now much of the church is isolated and distant from the needy stranger. Read Luke 14 - decide if you have responded to principles in those scenarios described by Jesus. If you come up short, then this book will help with a compassionate analysis of our dilemma in reaching out to "the least of these."
In addition to setting the stage for individuals to learn to reach out to needy strangers, the book creates a context for the faith-based social service discussion. While members of congregations may not exhibit the skills of professional social workers, they have an important role to play in being present and responding to neigbors in their communities who need the touch of grace in their lives.
The book is a good read, but it requires more than one pass. If you invest in the book deeply, you will be called to action.Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition Overview

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Whole Life Transformation: Becoming the Change Your Church Needs Review

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Whole Life Transformation: Becoming the Change Your Church Needs ReviewI could not put this book down! Keith writes this book like a graceful invitation to his readers, and the invitation is one for a different kind of life, a life marked by intimacy with God and those around us. From the introduction to the last page I was amazed at how vulnerable, open, and honest this book is written. Keith identifies through his own experience the many ways that people in ministry and life in general get caught up in a kind of life that leaves little room for loving relationships- a fast-paced and restless life, anxiety to perform and produce, and a white-knuckled need to control the outcomes of life. All of these things leave us feeling sapped, but Keith offers his readers helpful real-life ways to learn like disciples the "easy yoke" of Jesus, and bring His change into every area of life.
I would recommend this book to anyone desiring deep and lasting changes in this life under the Lordship of Jesus, I would even recommend this book to those who are curious if such a way of life even exists. One warning: this book is not a quick fix self-help book, it is an invitation to lasting change. And I would not recommend this book to those who are comfortable and content with a reduced forgiveness-only gospel. This is not a book for those waiting to die to go to heaven, it is for those who want a piece of heaven in their life here and now.Whole Life Transformation: Becoming the Change Your Church Needs Overview

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If God Disappears: 9 Faith Wreckers and What to Do about Them Review

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If God Disappears: 9 Faith Wreckers and What to Do about Them ReviewHas you been so shattered by some tragic event, disappointment, loss or death that you've thrown in the towel on your faith and given up on God? Have you come to accept that everything about God you have ever believed has turned out to be nothing more than a man-made lie? If this describes you, you MUST pick up a copy of David Sanford's new book IF GOD DISAPPEARS. In a "been-there-done-that," non-judgmental fashion, Sanford exposes nine of the most common faith wreckers that not only take away our faith, they literally steal, kill and destroy the very quality of our lives. Sanford boldly faces the toughest faith challenges, reveals truth (yes, truth) and offers hope in the midst of numbness and hopelessness. Could it be that you have come to misread or misinterpret the facts of your own circumstances to mean something they in fact do not mean? What is truth, really? And who, what and where is God when he seems to disappear? Do yourself a favor and pick up David Sanford's book to find out. After all, at this point in your life you have nothing to lose.If God Disappears: 9 Faith Wreckers and What to Do about Them Overview

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In Parables: The Challenge of the Historical Jesus (Eagle Books) Review

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In Parables: The Challenge of the Historical Jesus (Eagle Books) ReviewJohn Dominic Crossan stands in my mind as one of the most lucid, honest, and forthright biblical scholar of our day. His many publications testify to his integrity and extensive scholarship. I did not read this book when it was first publishd in 1973, but have had the good fortune of having a good friend, the retired rector of an Episcopal church, donate me this book. Since I have read most of the lastest publications of Crossan, I find in this one the same sound interpretation of the parables of Jesus. This is not only a commentary, but a scholarly introduction to the literary genre that the historical Jesus employed to convey the core of his message, which is so often completely misunderstood. I recommend this book very highly to anyone who shares the new understanding of the historical Jesus, so well explored by the Westar Institute.In Parables: The Challenge of the Historical Jesus (Eagle Books) Overview

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The Essential Zohar: The Source of Kabbalistic Wisdom Review

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The Essential Zohar: The Source of Kabbalistic Wisdom ReviewIf I could rate this title with 10 stars I would. This book is amazing. I've never felt the need to write a review before but I believe that this title is deserving of my first.
The explanation of the tree of life alone, is reason enough to purchase this title. I own many different Kaballahs and I understand the material within them, but some of the concepts always seemed rather vauge until I read this book. This book has explained the material to me in a way that I didn't think was possible. It was as if the author took the time to hold the readers hand. Everything is explained in a clear and consise manner. This title is definatly worth a look.The Essential Zohar: The Source of Kabbalistic Wisdom Overview

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Warranted Christian Belief Review

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Warranted Christian Belief ReviewThere are two different types of criticism commonly given against Christian belief - one type is what Alvin Plantinga calls the De facto objection, which says that Christian belief is false because the evidence has proven it so - the other type (that is becoming more and more popular) is the De jure objection (the subject of this book) which claims that Christian belief is irrational, intellectually unacceptable, or morally suspect - irrespective of whether it is true or false. The beginning of the book discusses the difference between the De facto and De jure objections, and like the whole book it is very clear and illuminating -- The exact opposite of what you will read in this review --
Part 1 (Is there a question) begins by discussing (or searching for) some of Kants arguments concerning the impossibility of referring to anything beyond the world of experience -phenomena. Many others have taken up this 'argument' claiming that Kant proved that the language we use when speaking about the phenomenal world can not speak about the transcendent. Apparently, when the Christian speaks about God, ascribing properties to him -like infinite, ultimate- he is talking nonsense.
Part 2 (what is the question) deals with what is meant by an objector when he says that Christian belief is irrational. After much consideration the most plausible answer is found in Marx & Fraud -the same basic type of objection can be found in Nietzsche and Durkheim too.
In Part 3 Plantinga further develops his model for warranted Christian Belief (even if you have never read the other two books in the series - or God and other minds - you'll still be able to understand). This part of the book is the main response to the masters of suspicion (M&F), showing the futility of their objections. There is also a real good critique of naturalism found here (updated from warrant and proper function).
The final part of the book deals with potential defeaters for Christian belief -- different kinds of scripture scholarship, postmodernism & pluralism, suffering & evil. This book is clear and intelligent (with humor mixed in) it's definitely worth reading.Warranted Christian Belief Overview

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Einstein's God: Conversations About Science and the Human Spirit Review

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Einstein's God: Conversations About Science and the Human Spirit ReviewIn principle, this book should be really good: a fundamentally important topic, a conversational format which has the potential to be highly engaging, an inquisitive interviewer who sincerely wants to understand, and a diverse cast of interviewees which includes some well-known thinkers. Unfortunately, the book doesn't really work because it comes up somewhat short in all of these areas:
- Studying the interaction between science and religion is a great way to deepen understanding of both, as well as explore the big questions, but this book offers a relatively superficial treatment compared to the many other good books which are available on this topic.
- Instead of being engaging, the conversational format turns out to be rather rambling and unfocused.
- Tippett doesn't contribute much insight of her own to the conversations, and she's unable to adequately probe and challenge her interviewees. I think she has the potential to eventually be an effective interviewer on this topic, but she's not there yet.
- Some of the interviews cover interesting ideas, but they're only tangential to the topic of science/religion interaction.
To give more sense of the scope of the book, here are some notes on the ten interviews:
- Freeman Dyson emphasizes how mysterious reality is, and the related need to approach things with a sense of humor. Paul Davies expresses a sense of wonder at the intricate harmony of the universe and the existence of life and mind in it, thus suggesting a purpose to it all.
- Sherwin Nuland expresses wonder at the complexity of the human body and its ability to (usually) restore equilibrium. He also talks about how things can go wrong, especially the case of clinical depression.
- Mehmet Oz talks about the importance of integrative medicine, drawing on global medical knowledge and experience, and he (only) touches on the role spirituality might play in it.
- James Moore defends the view that Darwin didn't oppose theology, but rather saw nature as a wondrous example of God's handiwork.
- V.V. Raman emphasizes both the value and limits of both science and religion, and the resulting unavoidability of mystery. In my opinion, this may be the best interview in the book.
- Janna Levin presents quantum uncertainty, relativistic constraints, and Godel's theorems as examples of the limits to our knowledge, while also expressing doubt about the possibility of free will (a contradiction?).
- Michael McCullough describes how we're wired for both revenge and forgiveness because both have proven to be evolutionarily adaptive.
- Esther Sternberg describes how stress contributes to immunological disorders, and the resulting need to manage stress.
- Andrew Solomon, Parker Palmer, and Anita Barrows talk about depression and debunk the myth that it's simply an intense form of sadness.
- John Polkinghorne tries hard to reconcile science and Christianity, thus offering creative but highly speculative ideas to explain free will, the existence of individual souls, the possibility of God's intervening in the world, the problem of evil, the value of mystery, and the plausibility of God having limitations.
What does this all add up to? I think it's too much of a mixed bag to be amenable to a useful synthesis, and Tippett makes no attempt at such a synthesis by providing an epilogue.
Overall, I appreciate Tippett's effort and I do think this book has some value (hence my 3 stars), but it's too rambling and superficial, especially for people who have already devoted a lot of reading and thought to the topic. Novices might get more out of the book, at least as a vehicle to get their feet wet, but I think they would also benefit from a more systematic presentation. For better options, the following are a few examples of good books on this topic:
Science and Religion: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)
Science and Religion: From Conflict to Conversation
The Oxford Handbook of Religion and Science (Oxford Handbooks in Religion and Theology)Einstein's God: Conversations About Science and the Human Spirit Overview

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Pagan Spirituality: A Guide to Personal Transformation Review

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Pagan Spirituality: A Guide to Personal Transformation ReviewDid you know that there are different levels of spiritual development? I didn't until I read this book.
The initial chapters of this book explore the theories of Ken Wilber, a spirituality psychologist. His ideas are related to Pagan spiritual development in a way that the non-scientist can understand. The authors explain how a person progresses from infant to young adult and beyond the young adult stage into stages of more wisdom and self-reflection. The authors liken one's spiritual growth to the changes one goes through when going from helpless infant to someone who can run marathons.
In all there are nine developmental "spaces" and four different quadrants that readily conform to a Pagan world outlook. Joyce and River take the reader on a tour through each space and each quadrant with exercises, meditations and other activities.
The book is set up as a teaching guide, and would work best for a group situation, although the authors do include notes on how to make the contents work if you happen to be solitary, which a great many Pagans are.
Each chapter of the book is beautifully designed to make navigating through the book as easy as possible. Each chapter has section headings such as Questions to discuss, Exercise, My Journal, or Visualization. At the beginning of the book the reader is encouraged to create a spiritual progress map listing things that he or she wishes to accomplish in the coming year. The following chapters build on this map by returning to it and checking on progress toward the goals set forth in it. Each chapter builds on the lessons learned from the ones previous.
Chapters focus on different aspects of growth, both of the individual self and the way in which that individual interacts with the greater Pagan community, the mundane world and beyond to the spirit world. Chapter titles show what the reader can expect to find with such descriptions as Growth and Magick from the front end of the book to Energy Work from the back end of the book.
This book would be most useful to a shop that gives classes or a coven leader working with beginners that have progressed beyond the basic Wicca 101 level. It would also be a perfect workbook for a group of new seekers that are forming their own study group. Pagan Spirituality builds on the lessons and explanations found in the authors' first book, Paganism, and the authors suggest reviewing their previous work before tackling the projects of this one. I haven't read their first book, but on the basis of my reading of this one, I will at some point.
The only down side of the book for me was the repetitiveness of the various visualizations, but since each one builds on the last, I understand the reasoning behind the repetitions. If the reader were using the book as a lesson plan meant to encompass a year's study, this slight flaw most likely would become an attribute instead. This is a book I definitely recommend to anyone wishing to deepen their connection to the spiritual side of existence.
W. Lyon Martin Author/Illustrator of "An Ordinary Girl, A Magical Child"Pagan Spirituality: A Guide to Personal Transformation Overview

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Saintly Men of Modern Times Review

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Saintly Men of Modern Times ReviewThe Catholic Church offers many blessings, the sacrements being one of the most significant. But coupled along with that are the global children of the Church and the vast shining examples of good that they not only represent but advocate. Over the past few years, the Catholic Church has had to acknowledge its serious shortcomings in relation to the horrific sex scandal, among other things. The hierarchy was looked upon-and unfortunately to a certain degree still is-with scorn and jaded cynicism, and any chance of genuine rectification seemed almost impossible. It appeared to be an institution that was floundering in a sea of mistrust and anger, and rightfully so, especially in fully comprehending what happened to the victims. Along with the religious was the devout laity who took the helm and helped to usher in a deeper understanding of not humanism, per se, but of the true, palpable manifestation of faith and of the Divine gift that it really was and is. They, the laity and religious did not say that the doctrine of the Church was unsound and unstable, but rather, it was the varied manipulative and disordered practitioners of the dogma(s) that were. It was the foreknowledge and secretiveness that only added fuel to the fire. So much turmoil and havoc on so many. Hence, it was a real joy to read Saintly Men of Modern Times by Joan Cruz Carroll, because in this biographical work she illustrates the vital importance played by lay Catholics and how their holy essence of living out the Gospel has redefined, refined and added to the totality of the Catholic Church. When one thinks of sainthood, one normally thinks of that honor being afforded only to mystics, monks, priests and nuns and so forth. Yet, Pope John Paul II changed all that, and Carroll's book details in picturesque detail the lives of these men who had or are on their way to affording the honor of the alter. And some of the examples are quite startling: a former alcoholic (Matt Talbot), a former satanic priest (Bartolo Long) to medical doctors (Joseph Moscati and Ladislaus Batthyany-Strattmann) or just everyday holy blue-collar joes (Franz Jagerstatter and Dominic Cesari). A reader will be able to identify with any number of examples profiled in this book, and therein is where the beauty lies, in the underlying truth of the beauty of confession, the Holy Eucharist, the Mass, the rosary, et cetera. These men, married, single, martyred, lived out their baptism in the truest sense of the word, making the universal call to holiness an integral part of their identity. Men to stand with priests.Saintly Men of Modern Times Overview

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The Path of a Christian Witch Review

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The Path of a Christian Witch ReviewI loved this book. It spoke straight to my heart. For quite some time now I've been trying to honor two paths that seemed impossible to reconcile with one another. I wanted desperately to be able to express my love of Catholicism and my Pagan path together as one cohesive whole. This was always a challenge as my Christian friends feared Paganism and my Pagan friends vehemently were opposed to anything hinting of Christianity. I felt all alone, and then I found this book. Part journal, part instruction manual, Ms. St. Clair has managed to do an amazing feat and bring together two very different spirtual traditions and meld them into a working path. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wishes a way to bring Christianity and Witchcraft together.The Path of a Christian Witch Overview

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God's Promises for Men Review

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God's Promises for Men Review
Very good when looking up scripture by topics. Covers many areas of men's lives.
I wish the translation was NIV versus New King James.
Excellent value for the money.God's Promises for Men Overview

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The Gnostic Gospel of St. Thomas: Meditations on the Mystical Teachings Review

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The Gnostic Gospel of St. Thomas: Meditations on the Mystical Teachings ReviewWow!
There is something about this book that is saying far more than the scholars and modern academia is saying. Not only is it stylistically more interesting to read, it's practically and directly spiritual!
I'd been looking for a way to find SPIRITUALITY in the West, rather than stale dogmas, and real methods to feel connected with God, Divine Spirit, or whatever you want to call it in a practical and meaningful way. This book addresses those needs quite directly, unlike the scholars writing about Gnosticism who, at best, address those issues indirectly. I used to look up to the Eastern systems of metaphysics because they had a rich tradition of meditation and spiritual contemplation that I always felt I needed, but couldn't really connect with. But this author is coming to show me that such a spiritual richness and depth may also exist in the West!
The best part about the book is its practical use! The chapters are direct responses to each line of the Gospel of St. Thomas. There is a contemplation following each of St. Thomas' 114 sayings. This allows me to read in order, out of order, re-read sections in a nice, relaxing way as it fits into my busy schedule. Plus, each contemplation is good spiritual food for thought, so that I can read a contemplation, look back on Thomas' line and contemplate it myself to glean a little more on my own. It's the perfect book for anyone that has been looking for something more directly spiritual about Gnosticism, and more practically useful as good, solid food for one's truly spiritual considerations.The Gnostic Gospel of St. Thomas: Meditations on the Mystical Teachings Overview

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A Monk in the World: Cultivating a Spiritual Life Review

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A Monk in the World: Cultivating a Spiritual Life ReviewCombining the spiritual traditions of Christianity, Hinduism, and Buddhism, Brother Wayne Teasdale is a "monk in the world, a sannyasi who lives in the midst of society, at the very heart of things" (p. xx). Addressing readers who aspire to be "engaged in the world," but free from its "greed, indifference, insensitivity, noise, confusion, pettiness, unease, tension, and irreverence" (p. xxii), he explores the questions: "Is it possible for the masses of humanity, who do not live in monastic seclusion, to activate the monk within? Are we capable of realizing the mystical life here in the world, in the midst of so much frantic activity?" (p. xxvii). In his 237-page book, Brother Wayne shows that, although our culture "is burdened by a steady stream of chatter that reflects a noisy mind and a cluttered heart," it is possible "to live a secular life of integrity and quality, depth and creativity" (pp. 20-21).
Teasdale's book is complemented by an insightful Foreward in which Ken Wilber writes, "this is a beautiful, wonderful, wise book that gently touches and compassionately evokes the deep spirituality in all of us. But more than that, it further invites us--challenges us--to carry that awakened spirituality into the world, thus integrating inner life with outer life, drenching both in a radiance from the realized heart that allows grace the room to do its divine work" (p. xiii). Those readers who connect with Wilber's integral philosophy will enjoy this book.
Teasdale recognizes that there is a mystic in each of us (a monk dwells in each of our depths, just below our everyday awareness," p. 215), and looks to other monks in the world including Thomas Merton, the Dalai Lama, Bede Griffiths, Thomas Keating, and Thich Nhat Hanh to exemplify just what a life of truly integral spirituality might mean to us. "For me," he writes in summary of his book, "the mystical path means awakening this monk within and nurturing its development in encountering the world. This path is reinforced by spiritual practice, with its breakthroughs and graces; supported by like-minded friends, with their love and challenges; empowered by thoughtful navigations through the limitations of time, work, and money. It means living with compassion and love in the concreteness of daily encounters, especially with the most vulnerable. It means taking risks for the sake of justice, which requires us to speak the truth boldly, clearly, and firmly to power in all its forms, especially the political, economic, and religious" (p. 215). This book will appeal to Christian and Buddhist readers alike, and anyone who aspires to live a life of values in the modern world.
G. MerrittA Monk in the World: Cultivating a Spiritual Life Overview

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