The book presents very detailed historical material of the evolution of science and Christianity from the time of their origins up to the late 1800s, and concludes that Christianity, during most that time, severely hampered the vigor and freedom of scientific inquiry.

The essence of the author’s thesis is that in trying to explain everything about everything Christianity had, in large part, stepped on ground that would have been better served by observation and experimentation. In its determination to maintain the upper-hand, and in vacating the ideational ground upon which Christ stood, Christianity ultimately killed people, stifled free thinking and stymied the progress of civilization for at least a millennium before the Protestant Reformation. At least the author implies as much. Read the rest of this entry »

Women’s spirituality, suggests educator Harris, is a “dance of the Spirit” consisting of seven steps: “Awakening, Discovering, Creating, Dwelling, Nourishing, Traditioning, and Transforming”.

Each correction: The publisher informs us that the ISBN for Hyam Macco by and Wolf Mankowitz’s The Day God Laughed: Sayings, Fables and Entertainments of the Jewish Sages (LJ 6/1/89) is 0-86051-467-6. We regret the error. Step has its own chapter here, with introductory guidance in “Centering” (being still) and concluding exercises to help readers connect with insights. Very much an interfaith book (Harris draws on Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism), this is also quite feminist in a gentle, nonmilitant way and should appeal to questing women with a slightly New Age bent. Read the rest of this entry »

Yaconelli has an annoying habit of speaking the truth. As an author, he changed the face of youth ministry over the past three decades with his honest approach to the challenges of today’s youth.

As former editor of The Wittenberg Door (now simply The Door), he and his staff humorously challenged what they saw as the church’s many hypocrisies and inconsistencies. Here, Yaconelli explores the perfectionism that plagues so many in the church, an examination that is both challenging and deeply personal. He does an excellent job of naming some of the unspoken assumptions in today’s church context, arguing, for example, that the church “has communicated that competence is one of the fruits of the Spirit”. But even more effective are his vivid stories, where he gives blood and flesh to the idea of grace lost and found again in the church. Read the rest of this entry »

The past century has seen the relationship between psychology and religion progress from wary antagonists to strange bedfellows to complementary worldviews. Psychology, Religion, and Spirituality is designed as a text that reflects this history while illuminating the robust dialogue that continues to accompany it.

The elegant, accessible coverage ranges from early psychological critiques of religion and responses from major religious thinkers to positivist and constructivist philosophies; from Jung’s archetypes to neurobiological research into the religious brain; from scientific constructs of prayer, meditation, and mindfulness to collaborative interventions for mental health. Read the rest of this entry »

In this innovative and deeply felt work, Bron Taylor examines the evolution of “green religions” in North America and beyond: spiritual practices that hold nature as sacred and have in many cases replaced traditional religions.

Tracing a wide range of groups–radical environmental activists, lifestyle-focused bioregionalists, surfers, new-agers involved in “ecopsychology”, and groups that hold scientific narratives as sacred–Taylor addresses a central theoretical question: How can environmentally oriented, spiritually motivated individuals and movements be understood as religious when many of them reject religious and supernatural worldviews? Read the rest of this entry »

Spirituality Simplified is an easy-to-understand overview of basic spiritual principles, supported by passages from the works of many respected spiritual teachers. With insightful content drawn from nearly 40 books covering a variety of topics, Spirituality Simplified provides you with the necessary foundation to make enlightened choices about your own personal spiritual direction.

This valuable book not only gives you a solid introduction to the concept of spirituality, it also serves as a virtual roadmap to other published works that can provide greater detail on the subjects you find most interesting.

Although designed primarily for mainstream readers interested in pursuing a path of spiritual growth, seasoned veterans on this path will find Spirituality Simplified to be a valuable, centralized resource for the wealth of information related to spirituality. Read the rest of this entry »

Psychiatrist and philosopher Roger Walsh looks at seven common practices of the world’s major religions to tease out a guidebook for contemporary spirituality. With gleanings from Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, Walsh offers seven chapters devoted to enlightenment. For example, “Practice 1″ discusses how readers can reduce cravings and find the soul’s desire (very relevant in an increasingly materialistic world).

Once Walsh has laid out the goals and reasoning behind each practice, he offers an array of exercises, such as how to “Examine the Experience of Craving” or “Reflect on the Cost of Craving”. Although this format is overtly self-help, Walsh has brought forth a wise and highly respectable book that integrates some of the best practices that the world’s religions can offer. The introduction by the Dalai Lama gives Walsh great praise for helping readers become purer in motivation so that they can lead a more fulfilling life in service to love and compassion. Read the rest of this entry »

Taylor is one of those rare people who truly can see the holy in everything. Since everyone should know such a person, those who don’t can—no, must—read this book, with its friendly reminders of everyday sacred. Taylor’s 12 chapters mine the potentially sacred meaning of simple daily activities and conditions, like walking, paying attention, saying no to work one Sabbath day each week.

Hanging laundry is setting up a prayer flag, for God’s sake. Since Taylor, an Episcopal priest, no longer pastors a church, she can “do church” everywhere: in line at the grocery store interacting with the cashier, walking a moonlit path with her husband.

An Altar in the World is about how faith can be both practical and sensuous.In Barbara Brown Taylor’s hands, the old division between heaven and earth is healed and both come alive. Your mind, your body and your soul will be well fed by this wonderful book. Read the rest of this entry »

The Me I Want to Be by John Ortberg—the bestselling author of When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back in the Box; God Is Closer Than You Think; and The Life You’ve Always Wanted—will help you discover spiritual vitality like never before as you learn to ‘live in the flow of the spirit.

But if God has a perfect vision for your life, why does spiritual growth seem so difficult? John Ortberg has some intriguing answers to that question, and he has organized his thoughts and God’s words into a straightforward and timely guide for living your best life in The Me I Want to Be. This book will show how God’s perfect vision for you starts with a powerful promise. All those who trust in God ‘will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. Read the rest of this entry »

Ekhart Tolle’s message is simple: living in the now is the truest path to happiness and enlightenment. And while this message may not seem stunningly original or fresh, Tolle’s clear writing, supportive voice, and enthusiasm make this an excellent manual for anyone who’s ever wondered what exactly “living in the now” means.

Foremost, Tolle is a world-class teacher, able to explain complicated concepts in concrete language. More importantly, within a chapter of reading this book, readers are already holding the world in a different container–more conscious of how thoughts and emotions get in the way of their ability to live in genuine peace and happiness. Read the rest of this entry »