Beliefs

Sacred geography : deciphering hidden codes in the landscape, by Paul Devereux.
" Paul Devereux travels the globe-from the Scottish Isles to the mountains of Tibet, from the Australian Outback to the deserts of South America-in a quest to unlock the potent spiritual meaning of hills, caves, and standing stones. Attending closely to the archaeological evidence and making use of the latest research technologies, Devereux shows us how to look at our surroundings through our ancestors' eyes-once again perceiving the sacred geography that is everywhere embedded in the landscape." (drawn from Syndetics book summary)

The signs and symbols bible : the definitive guide to the world of symbols, by Madonna Gauding.
While some symbols such as the lotus flower may be familiar, where this book adds value is in explaining the significance and fascinating origin of the signs. Some symbol meanings may have been misused, misunderstood or simply forgotten. This reveals the key ideas and concepts lying behind over 500 signs and symbols, from ancient religions. A fascinating exploration where nothing is as straightforward as it seems.

The Oxford handbook of the sociology of religion, edited by Peter B. Clarke.
This draws on the expertise of an international team of scholars providing both an entry point into the sociological study and understanding of religion and an in-depth survey into its changing forms and content in the contemporary world. ... the fifty-seven contributors collectively emphasise the complex relationships between religion and aspects of life from scientific research to law, ecology to art, music to cognitive science, crime to institutional health care and more.... (drawn from the book jacket)

God is not one : the eight rival religions that run the world - and why their differences matter, by Stephen Prothero.
"Prothero arrives late at the party that has been celebrating for years the diversity and plurality of the world's religions. ... Prothero sets up a helpful model for examining each religion on its own terms: he explores a problem that dominates the religion, the religion's solution to the problem, the technique the religion uses to move from problem to solution, and the exemplar who charts a path from problem to solution. ...Despite his naivete about contemporary interreligious dialogue, Prothero's survey is a useful introduction to eight of the world's great religions." (Drawn from Booklist review, courtesy of Syndetics)

Twelve steps to a compassionate life, by Karen Armstrong. (2010).
Starred Review* Armstrong worked with leading thinkers from a variety of major faiths to compose a Charter for Compassion, which calls for the restoration of compassion to the heart of religious and moral life in a dangerously polarized world. Not content with merely stating lofty goals, however, Armstrong, a revered genius of elucidation and synthesis, now tells the full and profound story of altruism throughout human history. ... Exquisite and affecting explications of Buddhist, Confucian, Judaic, Christian, and Islamic commentary prepare the ground for meditation exercises meant to engender open-mindedness and the cultivation of compassion, making for the most sagacious and far-reaching 12-step program ever. (drawn from the Booklist Review, courtesy of Syndetics).

100 journeys for the spirit : sacred, inspired, mysterious, enlightening, by chief contributors, Michael Ondaatje ... [et al.] ; foreword by Pico Iyer. (2010)
From the prehistoric megaliths of Carnac in Brittany to the Buddhist temple-complex of Borobodur in Java, from the giant medicine wheel at Bighorn, Wyoming in the USA to the Confucian Temple of Heaven in Beijing, this book guides the reader on a journey around a hand-picked selection of 100 of the world's most spiritually uplifting sites. (drawn from publisher's information)

How to be a perfect stranger : the essential religious etiquette handbook, edited by Stuart M. Matlins & Arthur J. Magida. (2011)
"We... live in a remarkably diverse society, and it's increasingly common to be invited to a wedding, funeral, or other religious service of a friend, relative, or coworker whose faith is different from our own... This easy-to-read guidebook, with an 'Everything you need to know before you go' checklist, helps the well-meaning guest to feel comfortable, participate to the fullest extent possible and avoid violating anyone's religious principles - while enriching their own spiritual understanding" -- Book jacket.

The neuroscience of religious experience by Patrick McNamara. (2009)
"Formal study of the relationship between science and religion has expanded dramatically in the past decade, as evidenced by an explosion of books, journals, college courses, and popular media dealing with the subject. ... While many professionals have posited a correlation between religious experience and neurophysiological phenomena, very few have made attempts to connect these with a concrete understanding of the self. A significant portion of the book contains an exploration of the concept that religious experience has a powerful transformative and developmental effect on human consciousness. McNamara presents a clear and well-articulated scholarly work that synergistically combines core concepts in neuroscience, philosophy, and religion. ...Summing Up: Highly recommended. (drawn from Choice review, courtesy of Syndetics)

Mystery cults of the ancient world, by Hugh Bowden. (2010)
"Describes methods of private initiations and mystic rites of cults for various gods and goddesses as well as how these mystery cults influenced practices of early Christianity. His book dovetails nicely with earlier works such as Walter Burkert's Ancient Mystery Cults and Marvin W. Meyer's The Ancient Mysteries: A Sourcebook of Sacred Texts. Verdict Numerous illustrations help the reader visualize and better understand the subjects discussed, which, Bowden admits, represent a wide leap from the religions that flourish today. The author's concise explanations of ritual practices allow even beginners to follow his analyses of religion, culture, and politics in ancient history. An excellent, easy-to-read, and fast-paced introduction to the topic. (drawn from Library Journal, courtesy of Syndetics)

Taming the gods : religion and democracy on three continents, by Ian Buruma. (2010).
"The place of organized religion in the public square is well-trammeled territory; in this brief volume, journalist and Bard College professor Buruma (Murder in Amsterdam) adds to the discussion with political and cultural analyses from the United States, Europe, and Asia. By examining the history of church/state relations in the U.S. and Europe, the role of religion in the politics of China and Japan, and the growing role of Islam in contemporary Europe, Buruma makes "an attempt to sort out, in different cultures, how democracies have been affected... by these tensions [between religious and secular authorities]." ... (drawn from the Publishers' Weekly, courtesy of Syndetics).

World religions for healthcare professionals , edited by Siroj Sorajjakool, Mark F. Carr, and Julius J. Nam. (2010)
"Health care professionals generally would concur that religion can have an influence on a patient's health or illness. Yet few practitioners have an understanding, beyond stereotypes, of the beliefs and practices of the major world religions. This concise reference begins to fill that gap.... The chapters conclude with a brief table of vital "dos and don'ts" for the health care setting. The book is well written and well referenced. Overall, it should be a perfect quick reference to increase readers' basic understanding of a particular religious tradition and associated health/illness beliefs and practices. Summing Up: Highly recommended. (drawn from Choice review, courtesy of Syndetics)

Belief : readings on the reason for faith, by Francis S. Collins. (2010)
Francis Collins, New York Times bestselling author of The Language of God and renowned physician and geneticist, defends the reason for faith in this provocative collection. Collins is our guide as he takes us through the writings of many of the world's greatest thinkers,- philosophers, preachers, poets, scientists - both past and present, ..." Provided by publisher.

God is back : how the global rise of faith is changing the world, by John Micklethwait and Adrian Wooldridge. (2009)
The book's main point is that religion and modernity are not at odds, that, they can function together to create prosperity and individual freedom. Historians have been making similar arguments for several decades. But "God Is Back" moves beyond the standard analysis to argue that religion offers people a wide range of additional social rewards beyond economic ones, including comfort, community and meaning. Because modern life tends to cut people off from tradition, it creates a longing to reconnect that religion can satisfy... (Drawn from Washington Post book review by Diana Butler Bass)

The evolution of God, by Robert Wright. (2009)
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)