Religion & Beliefs Recent Picks

September 2009

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Quotations where uncredited are from book summaries and citations via our online catalogue.

Buddhism | Christianity | General | Islam

Tales of wonder : adventures chasing the divine : an autobiography, by Huston Smith with Jeffery Paine. (2009)
Smith's lifelong spiritual journey and extraordinary travels around the globe have taken him to the world's holiest places, where he has practiced religion with many of the great spiritual leaders of our time. Smith's life is a story of uncanny synchronicity. He was there for pivotal moments in human history such as the founding of the United Nations and the student uprising at Tiananmen Square.... He interviewed Eleanor Roosevelt on the radio; invited Martin Luther King Jr. to speak at an all-white university before the March on Washington; shared ideas with Thomas Merton on his last plane ride before Merton's death in Bangkok; and was rescued while lost in the Serengeti by Masai warriors. " Starred book in Library Journal. (drawn from HarperCollins).

Religions, by Philip Wilkinson. (2008) (DK Eyewitness Companion) From Hinduism to Zoroastrianism, this takes an in-depth look at all the major global religions, past and present. Discover how each religion started, exploring their origins and history, from the moment of its founding to its spread across the world today. Find out all about the gods and prophets from a comprehensive who's who profiling deities and holy figures of each faith. Plus learn about the religious practices and traditions of each belief system, from day-to-day devotions to key events in the religious calendar. (Drawn from www.dorlingkindersley-uk.co.uk)

The Hindus : an alternative history, by Wendy Doniger. (2009)
The keyword here is "alternate" : this is not a comprehensive history of all of Hinduism or attempt to understand Hindu metaphysics and philosophy.
"Doniger's "alternative history" of Hinduism takes a closer look at how outsiders contributed to its evolution. Some have been the marginalized people within mainstream Hinduism itself, such as tribal people and Dalits (Untouchables) or women (within a strongly patriarchal society). Others have been believers in other religions - notably Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, and Sikhism—or alien conquerors and rulers, such as the Greeks, Moghals, and British. As shown here, outsiders and mainstream Hindus have dealt with one another at times violently and at times peacefully. There are times when the reader may feel overwhelmed by the wealth of information, so this sizable text is not for the casual reader." (drawn from Library Journal, courtesy of Syndetics)

Mind and life : discussions with the Dalai Lama on the nature of reality, by Pier Luigi Luisi, with the assistance of Zara Houshmand. (2009)
This book gives a synopsis of a conference hosted by the Dalai Lama concerning the relationship between science and Buddhism, featuring presentations by leading Western scientists representing the physical and biological sciences, as well as some leading Western representatives of the Buddhist tradition. Luisi (biology, U. Roma 3) was one of the scientists who participated in the conference. Rather than a collection of essays, the book provides a narrative of the conference, recounting the lectures given and providing anecdotes, interviews, and descriptions of the dialogues that took place. The primary content is the presentation of contemporary scientific theories and how these might relate to Buddhist thought and practice. The book seems aimed at general readers with little background either in science or in Buddhism. (drawn from Choice, courtesy of Syndetics)

Buddhism

The meditator's workbook : a journey to the center, by Matthew Flickstein ; foreword by Bhante Gunaratana. (2009)
Using hands-on exercises, journal entries, guided meditations, and stories, the author combines Eastern meditation techniques and Western psychotherapy in this practical workbook for realizing one's greatest potential. Whether your goal is to reduce stress or to gain deeper insight and mastery over your inner life, this simple straightforward guidebook is the tool to use for learning why and how to meditate.

All you ever wanted to know from His Holiness the Dalai Lama on happiness, life, living, and much more : conversations with Rajiv Mehrotra, by Dalai Lama XIV. (2009)
A longtime student of the Dalai Lama, Mehrotra has collected more than 25 years of his interviews with the Tibetan spiritual and political leader. The discourses on happiness, compassion and the commonalities among religions, edited from notes and transcripts, cover ground familiar to those acquainted with the Dalai Lama's prolific output, but the general reader may be disoriented by the spiritual master's in-depth exploration of complex Buddhist concepts about phenomena, consciousness and shunyata (emptiness). The author, an Indian public television talk show host and secretary/trustee of His Holiness' Foundation for Universal Responsibility, has edited several previous books on the Dalai Lama and is able to ask detailed, sometimes esoteric questions about Buddhist ideas and practice. The responses reflect the Dalai Lama's longstanding interest in the intersection between Buddhism and scientific inquiry as well as his knowledge of the various Mahayana philosophical schools. (Drawn from Publishers' Weekly, courtesy of Syndetics)

No self, no problem, by Anam Thubten ; edited by Sharon Roe. (2009)
Based on the Buddhist wisdom tradition, this easy-to-read book discusses in simple but profound and inspiring language how we can live a life full of love, satisfaction, and happiness. Anam Thubten, an accomplished Tibetan Buddhist meditation teacher, speaks with clarity, humour, and refreshing honesty as he shares his own spiritual journey. (Drawn from Snowlion publishers)

For the benefit of all beings : a commentary on The way of the Bodhisattva, by Tenzin Gyatso, the fourteenth Dalai Lama ; foreword by Tulku Pema Wangyal ; translated from the Tibetan by the Padmakara Translation Group. (2009)
The Dalai Lama explains how to follow the spiritual path of the bodhisattva by commenting on a beloved Tibetan Buddhist text. Many people consider the Dalai Lama to be a living embodiment of the spiritual ideal of the bodhisattva - someone who dedicates their life to freeing all beings from suffering and confusion. Here this beloved teacher presents a detailed manual of practical philosophy based on the best-known text of Mahayana Buddhism, "The Way of the Bodhisattva" ("Bodhicharyavatara"). He explains and amplifies the text, illuminating its message of putting others before oneself and showing how anyone can develop a truly "good heart." (Drawn Syndetics annotation)

Christianity

Christian mission : how Christianity became a world religion , by Dana L. Robert. (2009)
The Gospels record that Christ commanded his disciples to "go forth and teach all nations." Thus began the history of Christian mission ... To understand Christianity as a global movement, therefore, it is essential to study the role of mission - defined as the transmission of the Gospel across cultures. Erudite and enlightening, this brief book explores the 2,000 years of mission history, covering topics such as the meaning of the missionary through history, gender and missions, and missions in culture and politics. Given that in the twenty-first century, Christianity is now largely practiced outside the West, Christian Mission is an inspirational and invaluable resource to broaden our understanding of the nature of Christianity as a truly multi-cultural world religion." BOOK JACKET.

Praying the psalms in Christ by Laurence Kriegshauser. (2009).
In this book, a Benedictine monk examines the Christian praying of the Psalms, taking into account modern and contemporary research on the Psalms. Working from the Hebrew text, Fr. Laurence Kriegshauser offers a verse-by-verse commentary on each of the one hundred and fifty psalms, highlighting poetic features such as imagery, rhythm, structure, and vocabulary, as well as theological and spiritual dimensions and the relation of psalms to each other in the smaller collections that make up the whole. (drawn from the publisher - University of Notre Dame press)

To live is Christ : a 40-day journey with Saint Paul, compiled by Peter Celano. (2009)
"Published to coincide with Pope Benedict XVI's Year of St. Paul, To Live Is Christ will energize Christians of all backgrounds to study the great Apostle once again. It has been 2,000 years since St. Paul's birth. ... This beautiful book - ideal for both study groups and personal use - illuminates eight special themes from the life and writings of St. Paul Forty daily reflections (5 for each theme) include introduction, scripture, relevant quotations and teachings from the saints, and questions for further reflection" Publisher description.

Letters on the go : the correspondence of Suzanne Aubert, edited & translated by Jessie Munro ; with the assistance of Bernadette Wrack. (2009)
Suzanne Aubert's life was a very full one, ninety-one years packed with eventfulness. It was nonetheless a thoughtful life, in a partnership of reflection and action lived out and communicated to others. ...Highly articulate in both French and English, she wrote copious letters throughout her long life. The correspondence selected here reflects every aspect of her interest - her rich friendships, her challenges to the church hierarchy, her engagement with politicians on behalf of the poor, her relationships with the Sisters of the religious congregation that she founded (the Daughters of the Compassion). This book of letters is a superb presentation of a key figure in New Zealand history. (drawn from www.craigpotton.co.nz)

Say sorry : a harrowing childhood in Catholic orphanages, by Ann Thompson with Fiona Craig. (2009)
Conceived out of wedlock in 1941, Ann was just two months old when she was placed in the care of a Catholic orphanage in Christchurch, New Zealand. From the beginning, she was taught her mother was sinful and that she would be too unless the devil was beaten from her soul. She was physically and sexually abused by religious and lay staff at the orphanage from an early age and was forced to work long hours on the orphanage farm and later in the laundries. In 1997, when Ann watched a Prime Television documentary exposing the decades of abuse by the Good Shepherd nuns at the Christchurch orphanage, she realised hers wasn't the only lost childhood. Ann's battle to get authorities within the Catholic Church to accept responsibility for the past institutionalised abuse of children and young people in its care is entering its eleventh year. She is committed to communicating truthfully and openly about the abuse inflicted on her, and its ongoing consequences, until the church acknowledges culpability and admits - unconditionally - that there was wrongdoing.

General and other

Religion and human fulfilment, by Keith Ward. (2009)
"This book examines four religious traditions and their attitudes to violence, respect for life, sexuality, genetics, and religious law. It pays particular attention to the claim that morality is autonomous, having no intrinsic connection to religious belief, and to accounts of the origin of morality offered by some evolutionary psychologists." "Controversial, but based on sound scholarship and fully engaged with contemporary discussions of the nature of morality and of religion, this is a positive contribution to the modern debate on religion and morality."--BOOK JACKET.

In praise of doubt : how to have convictions without becoming a fanatic, by Peter L. Berger and Anton C. Zijderveld. (2009)
Between the extremes of fundamentalism and moral relativism sits the doubter, perched on liberal democracy, which the authors describe as a three-legged stool, balanced on the state, civil society and the market economy to promote debate and dissent. Berger and Zijderveld illustrate the obvious perils of extremism, but are less adept at navigating moderation. They apply their doubt premise to abortion, capital punishment and immigration policy, and come to inoffensively moderate political positions, but their tepid recommendations lack appeal; as the authors admit, The agnostic position is by definition a weak one. What recommends doubt as a concept is that it defies stringent characterization.
(drawn from Publishers' Weekly, courtesy of Syndetics)

Does God hate women?, by Ophelia Benson and Jeremy Stangroom. (2009)
Ophelia Benson and Jeremy Stangroom are the editors of Butterflies and Wheels, the best atheist site on the web. In Does God Hate Women? they forensically dismantle the last respectable misogyny. They argue: 'What would otherwise look like stark bullying is very often made respectable and holy by a putative religious law or aphorism or scriptural quotation... They worship a God who is a male who gangs up with other males against women. They worship a thug.' Every major religion's texts were written at a time when women were regarded as little better than talking cattle.... --www.newstatesman.com

Science and religion : a very short introduction, by Thomas Dixon. (2008)
In the debate between science and religion, emotions run high, fueled by polemical bestsellers like The God Delusion and, at the other end of the spectrum, high-profile campaigns to teach 'Intelligent Design' in schools." "Yet there is much more to the debate than the clash of these extremes. As Thomas Dixon shows in this balanced introduction, many have seen harmony rather than conflict between faith and science. Exploring the key philosophical questions that underlie the debate, as well as the social, political, and ethical contexts, and offering perspectives from a range of religions and examples from across sciences, this Very Short Introduction reveals what is really at stake in the debate between science and religion." BOOK JACKET.'

God is back : how the global rise of faith is changing the world, by John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge. (2009)
"John Micklethwait, editor in chief of The Economist, and Adrian Wooldridge, that magazine's Washington bureau chief, argue that religion is 'returning to public life' around the world, that 'the great forces of modernity - technology and democracy, choice and freedom - are all strengthening religion rather than undermining it', that these days 'religion is playing a much more important role in public and intellectual life.' They assert that 'religion is becoming a matter of choice', something that individuals themselves decide to believe in instead of something imposed upon them, and that 'the surge of religion is being driven by the same two things that have driven the success of market capitalism: competition and choice.'" -- www.nytimes.com

The evolution of God, by Robert Wright. (2009)
While the diatribes of the "new atheists"—Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and company—have made headlines in recent years, Wright (The Moral Animal, Nonzero) takes a decidedly more friendly approach to human religiousness. Although he shares their materialist, naturalist assumptions, he argues that over time human notions of God have "gotten closer to moral and spiritual truth….Religion hasn't just evolved, it has matured." Making the best recent scholarship accessible to the general reader, Wright follows the historical trajectory from polytheism through monolatry (worship of one god among many) to monotheism, focusing primarily on the evolving vision of God in the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, and the Qur'an, and ending with a discussion of religion's place in human evolution. In his focus on scriptures, Wright avoids the philosophical terrain covered more intently in Karen Armstrong's The History of God and The Great Transformation. (drawn from Library Journal, courtesy of Syndetics)

Sacred places : sites of spiritual pilgrimage from Stonehenge to Santiago de Compostela, by Philip Carr-Gomm. (2008)
Tells the stories of 50 sacred sites and include: Tongariro, Taupo, The Pyramids, Macchu Picchu, The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Rapa Nui, The Dome of the Rock, Mount Fuji, Mecca, The Golden Temple, Stonehenge, The Ganges River, Glastonbury, Angkor Wat, Iona...

Cults, conspiracies, and secret societies : the straight scoop on Freemasons, the Illuminati, Skull and Bones, black helicopters, the New World Order, and many, many more , by Arthur Goldwag. (2009)
As with any overview, the strength of this book is the ground it covers rather than its in-depth analysis. The author's aim appears to be as much to entertain as to inform. Some topics are familiar - the Kennedy assassinations, the Illuminati, the People's Temple and Heaven's Gate - but the coverage from Area 51 to the Yakuza, passing through intriguing examples such as Oulipo, (intellectuals who created literary masterpieces) will be sure to whet your appetite to do your own research in a more considered way.

Wrestling with our inner angels : faith, mental illness, and the journey to wholeness, by Nancy Kehoe. (2009)
The shadow of Freud and his view of religion as illusion still looms over psychotherapy, making it problematic for therapists to engage their clients about a subject that can be of great importance and potential benefit. Because she is both a nun and a clinician, author Kehoe can draw on both her psychological and religious training to approach with insight and sensitivity the role of belief and motivation in the lives of people troubled by mental illness. Neither illusion nor panacea, religious belief helps people organize their lives and make decisions. Kehoe has listened for years to people with illness, and she shares their compelling stories. She also discloses her own wrestling with inner religious promptings and their influence in her own choices. (drawn from Publishers' Weekly, courtesy of Syndetics)

Islam

The Blackwell companion to the Qur'an, edited by Andrew Rippin. (2006)
This substantial volume, consisting of 30 original essays on the Qur'an by leading authorities in the field, is undoubtedly the best single-volume introduction to Islam's sacred text currently available in English. Each of the essays is concerned, in one way or another, with the place of the Qur'an in the cultural, intellectual, and religious history of Islam. Although written by experts, the individual essays are generally accessible to a nonexpert readership. The editor has done a superb job in putting together a volume of generally high-quality essays that will serve the needs of a serious reading public, and also constitute an ideal text for introductory courses on the Qur'an at the university and college level. The volume includes an immensely useful bibliography. Summing Up: Essential. (drawn from Choice, courtesy of Syndetics)

A new introduction to Islam, by Daniel Brown. (2009)
This thought-provoking book introduces students to the history and development of Islamic studies as a discipline, showing how it has shaped our understanding of Islam ; examines how the vibrant religious culture of the Near East produced a unique and brilliant intellectual and religious tradition spanning the fields of Islamic law, theology, philosophy and mysticism ; surveys the ways in which Islamic tradition has enriched the world and in turn been enriched by interaction with other civilizations, from the Mongols to the modern West ; considers the opportunities and challenges facing Muslims today" -- Book jacket.

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