Best Native American Religions & Spirituality
Among the most profound explorations of the effects of mind-expanding drugs ever written, here are two complete classic books— The Doors of Perception and Heaven and Hell —in which Aldous Huxley, author of the bestselling Brave New World , reveals the mind's remote frontiers and the unmapped areas of human consciousness. "The Doors of Perception is a poignant book, partly because it reveals the human frailties and yearnings of a very cerebral writer" Financial Times "You can look at Aldous Huxley and draw parallels with the Beatles: Crome Yellow and Those Barren Leaves were his breakthrough Merseybeat books, Point Counter Point was his 'Revolver', with The Doors of Perception his full-blown Sergeant Pepper trip.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"There was so much talk about LSD, mescaline, peyote and other hallucinogens as being "mind-expanding" and all that stuff that is now history. The title was taken from William Blake who had said, "If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite." I do remember that I promised myself at that young age, that when I was older, I would try these drugs as the search for "God" and spirituality was very important to me then and is still now. It is a "must-have" for the library of any seeker of the truth, any who seek "higher learning", (pun intended and not), any who are investigators of world spirituality."
"The perfect mix of psychedelic trip and internal enlightenment."
"Amazing book."
"A classic in drug literature."
"How can I not give any of Aldus Huxleys books 5 stars?"
"delightful illustrations and story!"
"This is one of our very favorite books."
"A classic on drugs and a good value."
When Reginald comes across an Oneida mother with newborn twins, one white, one brown, he makes a choice that will haunt the lives of all involved. Reginald’s wife and foundling daughter, Anna, never suspect the truth about the boy they call William, but Reginald is wracked by regret that only intensifies with time, as his secret spreads its devastating ripples. “Open The Wood’s Edge and see the secret. Rich in history and lush in story, Lori Benton’s novel brings to life a cast of characters in a tale that spans two generations, two cultures, two worlds.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"A British soldier’s fateful decision to swap his dead infant son for a light-skinned child born to an Oneida woman during the Siege of Fort William Henry opens this story of division and reconciliation."
"The characters usually lack depth, internal conflict that matters, and tension is often artificial. I cared deeply about the characters, understood their struggles, tasted their disappointments and fears."
"There are so many things to love about this book. I love stories of loss and redemption and the ending of this book is beautiful."
"What a wonderful story of love and forgiveness and if you enjoy historical novels place between the Indian Wars and the American Revolutionary War, you will love this book."
"The Wood's Edge took me by surprise."
"I have anticipate this book ever since I first heard of it, and The Wood's Edge is well worth the wait."
"The historical details are spot on, the character growth is compelling and the story is unforgettable. Lori Benton addresses pre-Revolution relations between the Indians and settlers with grace and gritty honesty."
"Excellent story line with lots of twists and turns."
As the American Indian College Fund has stated, once you have encountered Nerburn’s stirring evocations of America’s high plains and incisive insights into the human heart, “you can never look at the world, or at people, the same way again.”. Nerburn’s timing is auspicious as Dan is near death and has taken up mentoring a four-year-old girl with an uncanny resemblance to Yellow Bird, including her spiritual gifts, communing with animals, and singing more than talking. Worried that she represents yet another case of the Indian being driven out from them, Dan and an assortment of allies (not all of them as trusting of Nerburn as he) marshal their forces to protect the girl and her connection to the spirit world. --Vanessa Bush A touching and enlightening pursuit of spirit.”. — Chris Eyre , director of Smoke Signals "With poignant prose and a compelling story, The Girl Who Sang to the Buffalo demonstrates Kent Nerburn's gift: not just to build bridges between the Native and non-Native world, but to transcend those differences with a narrative that speaks to the heart of the human experience."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Reading this third book in the trilogy was an adventure into my soul."
"I am a friend of Kent's, I love his books, and he signed each one!"
"The book took me through a roller coaster of emotions from the very first chapter."
"Kent Nerburn is gifted with an ability to bring to life the lost way of the Lakota through the memories of an Elder he was privileged to honor with his writing and friendship."
"This was truly an amazing book like all of Kent Nerburn's books."
"Back on the road with Kent's travels to our old friends, Dan, Grover and Jumbo... Kent's descriptive writing always makes you feel as if you are right there in the car with all his friends...."
"I have come to know and love the characters in this series."
"This book touched my heart."
Best Tribal & Ethnic Religions
Black Elk Speaks , the story of the Oglala Lakota visionary and healer Nicholas Black Elk (1863–1950) and his people during momentous twilight years of the nineteenth century, offers readers much more than a precious glimpse of a vanished time. ( Western Historical Quarterly 2013-10-25). “If any great religious classic has emerged in [the twentieth] century or on this continent, it must certainly be judged in the company of Black Elk Speaks .”—from Vine Deloria Jr.’s foreword.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Neidhardt promoted this book and Black Elk's vision tirelessly until the end of his life and I truly believe it was because he saw the incredible spiritual nature of Black Elk, his life, and visions. Neidhardt left out the ensuing years on Pine Ridge Reservation and Black Elk's acceptance of Catholicism to frame a lost way of life, the sadness and injustice of it, and the greatness and seeming inevitability of Black Elk's vision. The book was not meant to be a biography or history of the Lakota, but to preserve Black Elk's vision and so the purpose of the book was accomplished. Those who want to pick at the book miss the greater impact of Black Elk's life and vision. After reading this book, if Black Elk interests you there are books available on the later half of his life."
"A very interesting read."
"Gorgeous book."
"I have a mint 1st Edition- 😜."
"A great history of a troubled time."
"Needed a new copy."
Best Faith & Spirituality
The people in Anne Lamott's real life are like beloved characters in a favorite series for her readers--her friend Pammy, her son, Sam, and the many funny and wise folks who attend her church are all familiar. At once tough, personal, affectionate, wise, and very funny, Traveling Mercies tells in exuberant detail how Anne Lamott learned to shine the light of faith on the darkest part of ordinary life, exposing surprising pockets of meaning and hope. With sharp and bittersweet humor, she recounts a past full of bad relationships with men, with food, with drugs, with alcohol, and worst of all, with herself. She battles her demons thanks to the love of her friends and family and her "lurch of faith" to embrace religion, that "puzzling thing inside me that had begun to tug on my sleeve from time to time, trying to get my attention." Delaney Lamott (Bird by Bird) reads a collection of her autobiographical essays, each a heart-wrenching detailing of a life grown up in a world of obsessions: food, alcohol, drugs and relationships.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This fact also makes the book a great deal more interesting than one might expect of a text about a spiritual journey (for those who aren't wild about that sort of literature in general), because you get to see how Lamott sustains her faith despite a mind with little of the "obedient" nature one generally associates with religious fervor. I read this book maybe a year ago, and was shocked to see it now on the best seller list, since it's really quite liberal, and is not the sort of book I would expect to appeal to a wide range of Americans, given the fact that so many people voted in primaries for the son of George Bush--a man for whom Annie Lamott has never had a good word (to put it MILDLY! For the rest of the reading public, however, this is a taste of Annie Lamott at ALMOST her best--(I do think that "Operating Instructions" is even better, but so few books in my life have been capable of making me laugh OUT LOUD in the New York City subway system during rush hour, that it may be the funniest book about motherhood on the planet--and motherhood is its own unique kind of spiritual journey.)."
"Refreshing to see how God works 'outside our box' to love us where we are but love us enough to not leave us there."
"This book was such an easy read, yet it was packed with so many powerful thoughts."
"Enjoy this author and this book."
"Even though I normally do not read books about religion or spiritual topics; however, I recently read this book (Traveling Mercies: Some thoughts on faith by Anne Lamott) because it seemed interesting. This book focuses on various aspects of the role faith and religion played in her life."
"Purchased this book for a Lenten group study."
"This is a quirky and interesting perspective on faith."
"I first heard of her in one of Michael Yaconelli's books. It's not for those of you who think your perfect but for those of us who have been there and need to know others have learned from their scars and bumps."
Best American Old West History
Determined to understand how such a "good boy" could have become Indianized so completely, Zesch travels across the west, digging through archives, speaking with Comanche elders, and tracking eight other child captives from the region with hauntingly similar experiences. Adolph was traded to a band of Quahada Comanches, with whom he lived until November 1872, when the Comanches traded their captives for those held by the U.S. Army. Drawing on his tenacious research and interviews with the captives' descendants, Zesch compiles a gripping account of the lives of these children as they lived and traveled with their Indian captors.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book focuses on and follows the paths of some of the children who were captured by the Indians."
"A book that keeps your attention."
"The last part of the book slows down but I'm glad I read it."
"Loved this book, fascinating study of the psychology and adaptability of children, white boys made into Comanche warriors."
"A captivating account of the abductions of German settler children by American Indian tribes in the1870ies."
Best History of Ethnic & Tribal Religions
Black Elk Speaks , the story of the Oglala Lakota visionary and healer Nicholas Black Elk (1863–1950) and his people during momentous twilight years of the nineteenth century, offers readers much more than a precious glimpse of a vanished time. (N. Scott Momaday 2013-10-25). “An American classic.”— Western Historical Quarterly.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Neidhardt promoted this book and Black Elk's vision tirelessly until the end of his life and I truly believe it was because he saw the incredible spiritual nature of Black Elk, his life, and visions. Neidhardt left out the ensuing years on Pine Ridge Reservation and Black Elk's acceptance of Catholicism to frame a lost way of life, the sadness and injustice of it, and the greatness and seeming inevitability of Black Elk's vision. The book was not meant to be a biography or history of the Lakota, but to preserve Black Elk's vision and so the purpose of the book was accomplished. Those who want to pick at the book miss the greater impact of Black Elk's life and vision. After reading this book, if Black Elk interests you there are books available on the later half of his life."
"A very interesting read."
"Gorgeous book."
"I have a mint 1st Edition- 😜."
"A great history of a troubled time."
"Needed a new copy."
Best New Age Dreams
The Divinity Code to Understanding your Dreams and Visions is a Bible-based guide to dream interpretation that reveals the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. The Divinity Code to Understanding your Dreams and Visions contains: The most extensive Christian dream dictionary on the market (with Scripture support). “If you desire to dream or increase in your ability to interpret and apply them, I highly recommend The Divinity Code to Understanding Your Dreams and Visions . Adrian Beale is an admired prophetic teacher with a consistent ability to open God’s Word and bring supernatural revelation with impartation.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Always pray first for revelation, then use this book as confirmation and deeper understanding of your dreams."
"I love the dictionary in the back that helps me discern the meaning of my dreams."
"This is a very good Bible based way to understand the meaning of some of those dreams you KNOW are not just dreams but that have deeper meaning."
"It is very thorough and I enjoy the sample dreams and index."
"My go to book when I need assistance with prophetic dream interpretation."
"If you had a dream about a book."
Best Biographies of Hinduism
The Autobiography of a Yogi. The work is enduringly popular because it introduces millions of readers to Eastern spiritual thought. The yogi begins by showing how his childhood experiences in turn-of-the-century India produced a spiritual youth in search of an enlightened teacher, continues with an account of his years of training in the hermitage of a revered master, and concludes with the highlights of a period, beginning in 1920, during which he lived and taught in America.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I originally read the version with the blue cover which I found out later is apparently the one that wasn't edited after Yogananda's death. Many years later I repurchased this red cover version because it came with the free CD and I figured.. how different can it be?"
"This is the most excellent book i have ever read in my lifetime and i do read so many books on regular basis.this is the book that has changed the view and target of my life completely.if you have not read this book means every other book you read till now is a complete waste.i strongly urge every soul in human body on this earth to read this book.Human race owes so much to Yogananda ji for writing this book for us.so pls dont waste your life and do read this book."
"I thought that it was a very inspiring book."
"I have read this book on several occasions."
"This read taught me about a very interesting individual named Yogananda, The rich history of India, Science, Physics, Self realization even helping me understand the teachings of Jesus Christ with a renewed sense of understanding, and the over arching theme of the book which is the Oneness of Religion!!"
"This book is so awesome."
"His insights were remarkable, and the place he comes from when he is taking about spiritual subjects is one of knowing (as compared to one who is just rehashing facts). Although I remained somewhat skeptical of some of the stories for over 10 years, I finally came to the realization that every word in the book was true, and that "Here was a man who knew God." He has had a huge number of encounters with spiritual people of various faiths, and he talks in detail about them."
"I recommend that you read this book to get a glimpse into the Eastern/Indian philosophy and religious thought process."
Best Gender & Sexuality in Religious Studies
Discover the Truth He Wants You to Know. The man in your life carries important feelings so deep inside he barely knows they’re there, much less how to talk about them. Yet your man genuinely wants you to “get” him—to understand his inner life, to know his fears and needs, to hear what he wishes he could tell you. Praise for For Women Only “Shaunti’s signature message, which she has shared around the world with millions of listeners, is life changing and something every woman needs to hear. Shaunti’s message has impacted my relationships personally, and I’ve seen some amazing transformation in the lives and marriages of others.” —Holly Furtick, Lead Pastor's wife, Elevation Church, Charlotte, NC “What an important book!” —Beth Moore, Bible teacher, bestselling author of So Long Insecurity. For Women Only is a book that I believe will provide understanding and bring harmony to a lot of marriages.” —Bob Lepine, cohost of FamilyLife Today “Ready for an eye-opener? Les and Leslie Parrott, Seattle Pacific University; authors of Love Talk “Men are in agreement on this one: For Women Only is one book every husband wishes his wife would read! Read it, and you’re bound to have many ‘aha!’ moments that could revolutionize your relationship.” —Valorie Burton, bestselling author of Successful Women Think Differently and What’s Really Holding You Back? Single, married, divorced or not even allowed to date yet should all read this and come to understand the key truths that will help in your relationship with any man. I urge churches and other groups to give her the opportunity to share this message.” —Andy Stanley, author of Enemies of the Heart; Senior Pastor, North Point Community Church, Alpharetta, GA Praise for For Men Only and For Women Only “Whenever Shaunti Feldhahn appears as a guest on the Focus on the Family radio program, we know that listener response will be enthusiastic. We’re thankful for the unique perspective she provides not only to the Christian community, but to the culture at large.” —Jim Daly, President, Focus on the Family “These are the books I pass out to people as the best on the subject. There is something to learn on every page.” —Jim Burns, PhD., President, HomeWord and author of Creating an Intimate Marriage “Whatever Shaunti Feldhahn researches, read.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I liked that it was written from the women's perspective and that the author provided stories about her struggles with her husband. The lack of practical tips left me disappointed, but overall I thought the message of the book was very helpful. The survey results are undeniable and help me understand the importance of respect in a marriage. My 30-day action plan: 1) Always accept his opinion and judgement on a matter and only offer my opinion if asked. 2) Initiate casual physical connections at least once a day (ie: rubbing shoulders, sitting next to on couch, etc.). I am hopeful that by acting more respectful that he will in turn actively seek out my opinion so we have an equal relationship. I already thank him on a regular basis for important little things that he does to help with our child and around the house. I have found that if I carefully listen to what he has to say, acknowledge what he has said, and then offer my two-cents - he is much more open to my opinion. 2) I often forgot to initiate casual physical connections until the very end of the day. It made me realize how much our relationship has changed from our early courtship to now being parents of a toddler. Although I was not successful at carrying out each action step - it did open my eyes in a big way. I plan on talking to my DH at some point about the book, but I am waiting until we are on more solid ground."
"I started applying and thinking about the things learned the first day of reading and immediately saw a positive difference in both me and my husband."
"She has s good insight into understanding your man."
"The factual information shared in this book was vital in allowing me to see, hear, understand, and desire to learn to truly understand my husband and his need, eant, and desire to have love demonstrated through respecting, honoring, and valuing him."
"Excellent book on what women need to know about men's needs."
"In fact, as I read through it, I asked my husband about what I was reading -- he said it was spot-on."
"If only women realized how visual men are - maybe they would stop walking around town in yoga pants."
"I've recommended this book to many women and I've even recommended the men's companion book to some guy friends."
Best Ritual Spiritual Practices
Using the tradition of explaining what the Church believes (the Creed), what she celebrates (the Sacraments), what she lives (the Commandments), and what she prays (the Lord's Prayer), the Catechism of the Catholic Church offers challenges for believers and answers for all those interested in learning about the mystery of the Catholic faith. To get some idea of the level of detail with which the Catechism engages Catholic doctrine, consider that 17 pages of explanation accompany the opening words of the Apostle's Creed ("I Believe in God the Father"). Extensive cross-referencing, indexing, footnotes, and "In Brief" summaries of each section further ease the project of finding the precise answers to any questions a reader might have.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"excellent service/product."
"Awesome resource for life."
"Excellent gift for confirmation."
"I learned things I did not know."
"Very pleased with my purchase."
"A simple goto would solve...but not the way my kindle works...the newer versions of kindle may allow - I do not know."
Best Unitarian Universalism
Exploring this "depth potential," Butterworth outlines ways in which we can release the power locked within us for better health, greater confidence, increased success, and inspired openness to let our "light shine" forth for others. This book really does release the power within us all.” Eric Butterworth (1916-2003), often referred to as a "Twentieth Century Emerson," is considered a legend and spiritual icon in the Unity Movement.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Butterworth is one of my favorite New Thought writers along with Emily Cady, Frances Scovel-Shinn and even the Fillmores."
"If you have been tangled in the mire of the Bible's meaning, this book will shed light on the true meaning of Jesus's words (before many translations and erroneous interpretations) Very eye opening and leaves you with a deeper spiritual understanding."
"Get This Book!"
"I have been wanting to find some kind of connection with Christianity, but as a seeker Alignment with Divinity, it always eluded me. It's also been problematic for me knowing that centuries after he was gone, a group of men (with various motivations) got together to debate and decide "who Jesus was and what he was teaching". ...I am easily turned off both by self help books (which I usually find inapplicable) and spiritual books (where I often question if the author themselves has any direct experience, or is merely spouting nice intellectual theories)."
"Changed the way I interpret scripture."
"I have recommended this book to so many people and I hope they have gotten as much from the book as I."
"Eric Butterworth will open the door to your own understanding of this tremendous power that lies within each and every one of you. What you will discover is that there are very practical ways to harness the power of God and to make it manifest itself in ways you are seeking within your lives. He offers practical methods in order to tap into that divine power within yourself."
"Each and every page of this book brings to life the teachings of Jesus which most Christians are familiar with."
Best Theism Christian Theology
In recent years Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, and Christopher Hitchens have produced a steady stream of best-selling books denigrating religious belief. David Berlinski proceeds reasonably and calmly to challenge recent scientific theorizing and to expose the unreason from which it presumes to criticize religion.”. —Harvey Mansfield, Professor of Government, Harvard University. “Berlinski’s book is everything desirable: it is idiomatic, profound, brilliantly polemical, amusing, and of course vastly learned. Maybe they can recite the Periodic Table by heart, but the secular Berlinski shows that this doesn’t get them very far in reasoning about much weightier matters.”. —Michael J. Behe, Professor of Biological Sciences, Lehigh University, bestselling author of Darwin’s Black Box and The Edge of Evolution.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Does an excellent job of rebuking the "new" atheists' assumptions regarding their scientific conclusions."
"This book gives good arguments that science does not prove as much as some imagine."
"I cannot put into the appropriate words to describe the phenomenal impact this well written and easy to understand book has made in my life.Suffice it to say, I have been and will continue to recommend this book as a MUST read."
"Very good book, especially for the atheist!"
"Berlinski not only has deep insights into the overreaching claims of evolutionary materialism, but is also a master of wit and dry humor."
"It seems the more science learns about the possibility or probability that life evolved from pond scum the more faith it takes to believe in life being self generating. But neither does the scientist that claims to know the path to life."
Best Freemasonry
For the first time in history, the Illuminati has broken its silence with Illuminatiam: a testament of this planet's future, wisdom previously available only to elite members, and your life's guide to all that is ahead. Join the thousands of people from all walks of life who've committed themselves to the betterment of the human species as a whole - Christians, Muslims, Atheists, Hindus, Buddhists, and believers of all kinds. Illuminatiam introduces time-tested mental processes that many attribute to increasing wealth, overcoming hardships, and finding happiness. Chapters: The Age Of Illuminatiam. The White Room. Methods Of Mind Control. How You Are Watched. The Need For Hardships. The Secret Of Power. The Future Of This Planet. The God Conundrum. How To Join The Illuminati. A Beacon For The Light. Finding Purpose. "No matter what walk of life you come from, you will find shelter in the light that this book provides."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This book is a heralding of the coming age of humanistic perspective that will begin the shift of a long awaited new constituency and citizenship that will be geared toward the evolvement and encouragement of the people of Earth , this commonwealth of Terra which we all must live upon."
"Julie Akers's Review: It was a very easy book to read, offered many insights."
"I feel it's a duty to every person in the world to have an interest in mind to preserve the human species and this organization has done this despite societies negative remarks and turning their backs on the enlightened ones. I look forward to furthering my membership with you and receiving the Talisman I ordered in order to further my commitment to the all seeing organization."
"But if you are open to the possibility as indaviduals we can achieve so much to benefit ourselves and the world around us if we just believe in working hard and trusting in the invisable then this book will be a feeding frenzy for your mind."
"I teach my children that there are ways to make a greater impact in this world, and there are ways to improve your socio-economic standing, but this book walled everything in. That is to say, it made explicit references to the little people that are needed at the bottom, and the movers-and-shakers who make the rules at the top. I could actually write more text about why this book bothered me than the actual amount of text contained in the book."
"This is the kind of writing produced when you take an extra dose of your anti-depressants and feel like everything's cool, man. Especially his last book before he passed away: The Illuminati: The Secret Society That Hijacked the World."
"It's a short read and it's clearly written for anyone gullible enough to believe it."
Best Mysticism
For Christians seeking a way of thinking outside of strict dualities, this guide explores methods for letting go of division and living in the present. Franciscan priest and spirituality author Rohr ( Everything Belongs ) again brings his energy to the reclamation of the Christian mystical tradition. The somewhat theoretical re-reading of Catholic Christian tradition is brought down to earth by a series of appendixes that contain practices for those who want to know what to do; attaining insight is not self-evident nor is it easy.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"As an aside, our obsession on the first half of life is growing stronger -- we care about courtship, career choice, finding a mate, establishing ourselves, and this is the subject that too many 60 year old people worry at, fantasize over, concentrate on, well past the day that they should let this half of their lives go... and think about the second half. This author outlines how this half of life can be about joy, about falling upward in a spiritual sense, about the second half of life being about opening yourself."
"A life changing message, my awareness of which influenced me to "retire" last week and be open to a more personal work."
"Loved the book."
"Such a shame to see so many people, who could actually make a positive impact on our deeply divided society, are just so angry and unhappy with things and simply unable to show the least bit of comapssion and understanding toward others."
"I suppose that if we really are honest about our spiritual growth, then anyone who reads this book and embraces the resources like Thomas Merton will uncover the natural order of God's creation and intent for our individual union with Jesus and share in his peace."
"Oh wow, I can't even begin how much my heart and head hurt and ache as I move through this work."
"Thank you for a most enlightening book."
"We are never there and as life unfolds we need to be even more willing to let go, become more "empty" so we can find more of God."
Best Deism
Ranging broadly across Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Vedantic and Bhaktic Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism, Hart explores how these great intellectual traditions treat humanity’s knowledge of the divine mysteries. (Michael Robbins Commonweal ). “David Hart can always be relied on to offer a perspective on Christian faith that is both profound and unexpected. In this masterpiece of quiet intellectual and spiritual passion, he magnificently sets the record straight as to what sort of God Christians believe in and why.”—Rowan Williams, University of Cambridge. (Rowan Williams). “Hart marshals powerful historical evidence and philosophical argument to suggest that atheists—if they want to attack the opposition's strongest case—badly need to up their game.”—Oliver Burkeman, The Guardian. It’s difficult to convey to those who are unacquainted with Hart’s writing the sheer exuberance of his prose and the bite to his wit.”—Ryan Marr, Catholic Books Review. Bringing together Sanskritic analyses of God’s being with Latin and Greek and Arabic ones, this is a considerable achievement by one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary theology.”—Paul J. Griffiths, Duke Divinity School. (Paul J. Griffiths). “Writing at a high philosophical level with a sharp sense of humor, Hart argues for an ecumenical Theism. Devastatingly accurate, imaginative, and immensely readable, this is David Bentley Hart’s best book”—Francesca Murphy, University of Notre Dame. (Robert Louis Wilken) Praise for David Bentley Hart’s Atheist Delusions [A] major work by one of the most learned, forceful, and witty Christian theologians currently writing.” First Things With impressive erudition and polemical panache, David Hart smites hip and thigh the peddlers of a new atheism’ that recycles hoary arguments from the past. His grim assessment of our cultural moment challenges the hope that the Christian revolution’ could happen again.”Richard John Neuhaus. Hart has the gifts of a good advocate. He exposes his opponents’ errors of fact or logic with ruthless precision.” Anthony Kenny, Times Literary Supplement [This book] takes no prisoners in its response to fashionable criticisms of Christianity.”Dr. Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury, Church Times Atheist Delusions will be remembered as Hart’s breakout book.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Nonetheless both the excellence of this book and what in my humble opinion is the poorness of another review, have momentarily called me back. Long story short: if you have read Hart and enjoyed his learnedness and witticism in the past, buy this book. I was initially expecting something of a sequel to Beauty of the Infinite (which I still consider my favorite of Hart's books, despite its difficulty) but really for those interested I would consider this more akin to Atheist Delusions than anything. Much like Hart taking great pleasures dismantling many of our august myths regarding Christian history, here Hart takes aim at much of the tosh that passes for "talk about God," in the modern arena--particularly in the "God debates" between Fundamentalists and New-Atheists of all sorts. Here Hart thus takes an interesting--and perhaps controversial, for those of us still riding the avalanche of trinitarian scholarship of the last thirty years--approach by noting many of the conceptual similarities between these traditions and their theological and philosophical attempts to come to a "rational" picture of God. Which is to say, how these "moments" or "concepts" implicate, and are implicated by, God: (taking some limited examples from the chapters) our Being as contingency implying an Ultimate non-Contingent, our conscious orientations to the world presupposing in every mundane thought, act, and supposition a reference to the infinite, and indeed a saturation by it--or that the mind and reality should be compatible with each other at all, and (to those familiar with Hart's work on Gregory of Nyssa this will sound familiar) our "bliss" or the ecstatic moments of rapture and joy, our "stretching out" or epektasis into infinity. They more or less adequately summarize three concepts by which classical theism represented God (here those with Trinitarian hesitation to Hart's "separation of Treatises" will be relieved to note Hart's extensive talk of the Cappadocians, Augustine, Maximus the Confessor, and Bonaventure's concept of God as Love in Trinitarian form, a la Beauty of the Infinite. Thus, following Beauty of the Infinite's discourse of the "beautiful rhetoric" of Theistic discourse's ability to "illuminate existence," there is here a limited apologetic purpose; Hart repeatedly affirms that he is not attempting to "prove" God, yet he also frequently repeats that authentic theology and apologetics have a fuzzy line, and that part of the task of unburdening us of idols and caricatures of God is also to bring forth the true power of the theistic tradition's actual "picture of God" (for lack of a better term) and how it represents a rationally, emotionally, and aesthetically robust "explanation" (again, for lack of a better term) of reality. This is, of course, not "God-of-the Gaps" here, where God appears in spaces allowed by the aporia of some natural mechanism: "All the classical theological arguments regarding the order of the world" in fact "assume just the opposite: that God's creative power can be seen in the rational coherence of nature as a perfect whole; that the universe was not simply a factitious product of a supreme intellect but the unfolding of the omnipresent divine wisdom or logos." I do not doubt the veracity of his claims, but for those like myself who like to hunt down new avenues of reading, the sparse annotations and bibliography were irritating."
"Amazing erudition, wit and polemics."
"Answered a lot of questions I had concerning my doubts of theism due to the idiocy of materialism."
"I found this book to be beyond my expectations."
"Excellent book by a well-known author."
"One of the best books I've read."
"I recommend this book to all who with patience and persistence want to know the intricacies of attempting to understand and personally relate to God."
"In "The Experience of God", David Bentley Hart explores a few of the main philosophical arguments against a purely materialistic/naturalist worldview by exploring the actual way that God has been conceived and understood in various traditions -- East and West -- over and against the main criticisms raised by the materialist/naturalist worldview."
Best Eckankar
Ministry and Money serves as an excellent primer on accounting practices, church financial reports, and church budgets. -- Tom Harris, Associate Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Vero Beach, Florida "As an attorney and pastor, I have found few resources that combine the theology of money with the practical application of resources as successfully as Ministry and Money does." With the introduction of Ministry and Money, finally there is a practical resource for pastors and other clergy seeking a better understanding of the relationship between faith and money. The authors provide biblical, historical, and theological perspectives on money, addressing issues such as how we understand the nature of money, how it should be used, and how responsible stewardship of money can be carried out in the local church.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"This is a great book, written by two professors who know what they are talking about."
"Probably the best book I have ever read that talks honestly about the money side of stewardship."
"I purchased this book for a counseling course and I found it easy to read and understand."
"I bought it per recommendation of a pastor friend and I love it."
"A good book with a helpful approach to the witness that pastors and leaders make in the use of and management of money."
"Wonder text book for pastors and lay leaders."
"Great study text for ministers on money and stewardship."
"Fantastic book--a must have for all church leaders not just pastors."
Best Baha'i
In this guidebook we are going to learn the basics of using Stoicism in your daily life and how this ancient philosophy is going to work to make you feel happier.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"With this book I'm not only able to know more about this philosophy but also learn how to adopt it."
"It changed my lifestyle, pulled me from negative vibes, taught me how to be calm when there was a problem."
"I was surprised to learn that affirmation culture has its roots in Stoicism."
"A great book, I learned much and will be going back to read it again."
"Stoicism is an excellent practice to adopt but I would not recommend this book to learn more about it unfortunately."
"I totally enjoyed this book and have already started recommending it to others."
"Easy to follow and apply principles right away!"
"It is ok, however it should present the thinkers better."