Reviews (3)

Status Report on the Wilber Project
Ken Wilber started out 30 years ago in "Spectrum of Consciousness" trying to butt-weld Buddhism onto western developmental psychology.Now in "Integral Spirituality" he is trying to imagine what religion would look like if it accepted that the modernist critique of pre-modern religion and the postmodernist critique of modernism (including science) are true.
Spirituality with intelligent thought: not a bad idea
The previous reviewer has done a great job summarizing the content in this book, so I'll just make a few simple comments. This book will probably be most enjoyed by people who have some familiarity with Ken Wilber's work (thought this is not necessary). Not a lot of time is spent defining and suiting his theory (thank goodness, since he's already done that in a hand-full of previous books). It was refreshing to see Wilber present some significant new ideas, some revisions of previous ideas, and he also began to relate different parts of his model to each other in a more dynamic fashion (thought there is still a long way to go).
Integral Theory, with some application to spirituality
The book mostly presents a theory of how to theorize about spirituality, rather than simply delivering a direct theory of spirituality.By this late stage, we must set high standards for Wilber to meet, for the content of his theory and his presentation of it.This presentation is not as condensed, polished, and finished as one would expect from the expert on integral spirituality; it's a hashing-out of a rebuttal to one aspect of postmodernism, and a repeated urging to take that one aspect into consideration.It has an unbalanced emphasis on "the myth of the given", as though the only aspect of postmodernism to think about is how mystic experiencing is shaped largely by cultural factors.The presentation gives the sense Wilber is still in the midst of working-out these ideas; we'll have to wait for someone else to boil down his top-heavy use of jargon into plain-spoken English in a balanced, polished presentation with straightforward subheadings.
Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Philosophy Of Religion    3. Religion    4. Religion & Science    5. Religion - Socialissues    6. Sociology of Religion    7. Spirituality - General    8. Religion / General    9. Religion: general    10. Spirituality   

Editorial Review

The old Quaker adage, "Let your life speak," spoke to author Parker J. Palmer when he was in his early 30s. It summoned him to a higher purpose, so he decided that henceforth he would live a nobler life. "I lined up the most elevated ideals I could find and set out to achieve them," he writes. "The results were rarely admirable, often laughable, and sometimes grotesque.... I had simply found a 'noble' way of living a life that was not my own, a life spent imitating heroes instead of listening to my heart."Read more

Reviews (36)

LetYour Life Speak review
This book shows that it is never too late to do a little soul searching to discover your life's purpose.The author recounts his own personal struggle for self discovery and fulfillment. This book is a good read with some food for thought.

The Answers are Within
Although "Let Your Life Speak" would be considered a small book, it's definitely big on insights, ideas, and thoughts to ponder.
the book let my life speak
I am a person who is looking for my vocation.I am confused and lost in my life.With the help of the book, I know more about the inner self.The path that the author experienced helps persons like us to face our inner self in different demension.There is one thing that alarmed me much: the author told us that depression is not our enemy but actually is our friend who leads us to God. The book explains very good about this point and let me have a new prospective on depression.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity    2. Christianity - Christian Life - General    3. Christianity - Theology - General    4. Church And Society    5. Inspirational - General    6. Religion    7. Religion - Christian Life    8. Sociology Of Religion    9. Spirituality - General    10. Vocation    11. Christian life & practice    12. Mind, body, spirit: disciplines & techniques    13. Religion / Christian Education   

Reviews (13)

Really important stuff, especially "moralistic therapeutic deism"
A sociological analysis of conducted between 2001 and 2005 at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill under the title, "National Study of Youth and Religion."
soul searching...
excellent content.
National Survey of the Spiritual Lives of Teens
Chris Smith did a marvelous analysis of the religious and spiritual life of teens in the United States.I am using this comprehensive research to assist us as we plan for the teens in our parish.The analysis is "user friendly" and certainly touches on a very important part of the lives of our teens. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Children's Studies    2. Religious life    3. Social Science    4. Sociology    5. Sociology of Religion    6. Spiritual life    7. Teenagers    8. United States    9. Adolescents    10. Religion & Theology | Sociology of Religion    11. Social Science / Sociology of Religion    12. Spirituality   

Reviews (21)

Good effort, some disappointment
Although Karen Armstrong has made a good effort and has exhibited a wide range of overall scholarship, "The Great Transformation" was a disappointment when it came to her understanding of Ezekiel's vision. She sees the Merkava (chariot) as a "war chariot", written in response to the Babylonian exile, and as being a "terrifying, confusing vision" (Page 398). Since Ms. Armstrong's book is on the Axial Age, it would have been better for her to approach this vision from the standpoint of a meditative experience that could bring a person into the awareness of oneness. There are elements of this vision that are common to the meditative experience wherever it arises, within whatever religious tradition it takes place. Ezekiel's vision is a description of and a metaphor for this experience, and not a "war chariot." For a scholarly elucidation of this subject, Aryeh Kaplan's book "InnerSpace," Moznaim, 1990, discusses Ezekiel's vision in detail.

Thoroughly educational and fascinating
This is a very enlightening book about the development of religious traditions in China, India, Greece and Judea/Israel (and later on Arabia), from the dawn of history until the time of Mohammed.It centers on a period in each of these cultures that is called the "axial" age, which is when the most profound enlightenments occured.It's fascinating to learn the history of the development of different belief systems - both familiar and unfamiliar.

Excellent, but not for the faint of faith
Karen Armstrong is a prolific author who has gone far beyond the faith that was taught to her as an aspiring nun in the early 1960s.I've enjoyed a few of her earlier works (Through the Narrow Gate and A History of God) and I picked this up with great anticipation. I was intrigued by her assertion that a short span of history (800-200 BCE) marked a dramatic leap in the beliefs of several religions throughout the world at a time when they had limited or no contact with each other.Her writing is both gripping and persuasive and I was very impressed with the book.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Ancient - General    2. Ancient Philosophy    3. History    4. History & Surveys - Ancient & Classical    5. History Of Religion (General)    6. History, Ancient    7. Philosophy, Ancient    8. Religion    9. Religion - Commentaries / Reference    10. Sociology of Religion    11. Religion / History   

Reviews (13)

Let's Reason Together
From the moment one begins to read Dr. Roger's book, "Jesus, the Bible and Homosexuality:Explore the Myths, Heal the Church," there is a sense of being in his presence engaging in a conversation about a topic through which he has struggled and, obviously, has well researched.He writes with a keen understanding of church history as well as one who is quite knowledgeable of the Biblical texts that people have claimed to be expressive on the topic of homosexuality.He writes with great sensitivity, knowing that this topic is one that elicits deep-seeded emotional responses.In his writing, one gets the sense that he is saying to the reader, let's explore this "defining issue" without judging or demonizing one another.His approach is multifaceted.He uses history, the creeds, and the Bible to develop his argument.This approach helps to broaden one's thinking about the subject.I would highly recommend this book for groups and individuals who want to work with the texts, confront the issues, and engage in open and honest reflection and/or discussion.It would also be helpful to read it with Freda Gardner's and David Maxwell's companion study guide.

Oh, How I Love Jesus...
The Bible is cut and dry on this issue, right? There is no wiggle room. Jesus condemned homosexuals and said they were going to dwell in the lake of fire prepared for Satan and his angels. It's all there in the Book, isn't it?
Good Background, Faulty Exegesis and Logic
As a fellow member of PC-USA (Rogers is an ordainedPC-USA minister, and moderator of our 2001 General Assembly), I picked up a copy of this book with considerable interest given the on going debate over ordination standards in our denomination.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity - Christian Life - Social Issues    2. Christianity - Theology - Ethics    3. Religion    4. Religion - Socialissues    5. Sexuality & Gender Studies    6. Sociology of Religion   

Editorial Review

Among his many gifts, Joseph Campbell's most impressive was the unique ability to take a contemporary situation, such as the murder and funeral of President John F. Kennedy, and help us understand its impact in the context of ancient mythology. Herein lies the power of Read more

Reviews (104)

What a Wonderful Book
Joseph Campbell knows his subject, mythology and religious stories, so well that you can tell it has become instinctual for him to tie all the world's imagery and symbology together in a way that connects human beings in a truly transcendent way. This book clarifies how similar we all really are, at the core of our beings, despite where we live and in what millenia we are living in. So full of rich, thought-provoking conversation, I would recommend this to everyone, from young to old. It is just an awesome book that makes you fall in love with humans and human nature -- bad and good alike.

Brilliant
Both Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyer create a must read from their historic interview.This book has become my blueprint.

A book that seems to make religious nuts bitter.
Well versed and thought out, this book stands out and has been used in many of todays religion studies.Though some of his points can be perceived as "stretched", he is still a scholar in his field.It seems that the people that often criticize him and his works have little to no experience or education on the subject at hand and do it solely on the fact that it sometimes criticizes the monotony of modern and ancient religion.I recommend this book to everyone. Read the book and make your own educated determination. It could open your eyes and your mind.Or you can close your mind, avoid the book, and start a "crusade" against the author for speaking his opinion. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1904-    2. Anthropology - Cultural    3. Campbell, Joseph,    4. Comparative Religion    5. Folklore & Mythology - Mythology    6. General    7. Interviews    8. Myth    9. Philosophy    10. Religion    11. Religion historians    12. Religious    13. Sociology    14. Sociology of Religion    15. United States    16. Campbell, Joseph    17. Myths & mythology    18. Philosophy / General   

Reviews (116)

A welcome antidote to the rising tide of ignorance and superstition
David Mills' "Atheist Universe" is a lucid presentation of the rationalist viewpoint on the nature of our world and how it can be explained without resorting to mysticism and unprovable assertions about a Supreme Being.In it, Mills carefully lays out the reasons why we needn't assume the existence of a God (or gods) to understand natural phenomena, and demolishes numerous assertions and teachings of religious and spiritualist propagandists.
Basic scientific evidence, but a bit uneven
It's actually extremely amazing that a book like this would be written in the 21 stcentury. The scientific credibility of the Bible and religious interpretations of the natural world have been completely discredited since the middle of the 19th century and well before that for many. It hardly seems necessary to rehash and debunk Christian beliefs concerning the age of the universe, planetary motion, evolution, the evidence of miracles, intelligent design, etc. For those who need these arguments to prop up newly found doubt, here they are.
Brilliant
This is simply the best book I've read regarding atheism in the past twenty years.As a former evangelist and seminary graduate, I found this book to be a simple, yet profound, clarification and summarization of the issues that need to be honestly addressed by all believers and truth-seekers today.We've now had the benefit of centuries of scientific data, and it's time that we deal with those data forthrightly and avoid the mistakes of our forefathers.For them it may have been more permissible to misunderstand the science, but for us today it can only be a brazen and embarrassingly oafish recalcitrance that would cause us to ignore the facts at hand.David exposes the truth and addresses the data in a manner in which there can be no misunderstanding, or refutation, of what to the honest truth-seeker has to be obvious, and no longer controversial.The facts are in, and David pulls all the salient data together in a brilliantly written exposition.There are other books that are more technical, but none that are more lucid, succinct, contemporary, and saturated with the intellectual response that we must provide to the facts. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Atheism    2. Religion    3. Religion - World Religions    4. Religion, Politics & State    5. Sociology Of Religion    6. U.S. - Contemporary Politics    7. Religion / Atheism    8. Religion: general    9. USA   

Editorial Review

Even at his most irate, Jimmy Carter projects cool, communicating with a poise that commands attention while gently signaling to opponents that they better do their homework before mounting any sort of debate. Perhaps that's why the former president, Nobel Peace Prize-winner, and bestselling author ranks as one of the planet's most respected voices in the areas of human rights, diplomacy, and good government. And when a clearly agitated Carter suggests America is on a slippery slope, globally speaking, as he does throughout Read more

Reviews (246)

A bit disappointing
Even though I am biased towards Jimmy, I was a little disappointed by this book.While some sections are very succinct and Jimmy is clearly writing from the heart, for $15 one would expect a little more analysis and explanation of the major issues of the day.

An important book for our times
I bought this book from the UK amazon under the title Faith & Freedom. It is an eye-opening account of how religious fundamentalists have managed to leave the impact of their worst attitudes of intolerance, self-righteousness, and belligerence on American domestic and foreign politics, something that concerns me as a UK citizen, because that which significantly affects the most powerful country on the planet is liable to have repercussions elsewhere. But after its eye-opening, soberingcontent, the book ends with a more gracious tone, encouraging Americans to return to a renewed commitment towards their own best ideals in a way that is reflected in the country's dealings with the rest of the world. May this happen, else America's reputation could undergo irreversible damage. Hopefully this excellent book will exert a wide and good influence. Highly recommended.

An accurate, honest and true account of the state of our country.
Absolutely the best non-fiction book-on-dvd I've ever listened to. President Carter gives an accurate and honest account of the political, social and physical changes currently dividing the American society under this current administration. I remember as a young girl hearing a White House biographer say that it would be years after President Carter's administration that we would appreciate his intelligence and the contributions he made to peace and the strength of the nation. I think this book brings that prediction to fruition. What a shame that we don't have a leader who cares about the future of the country and the people's well being.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity and politics    2. Church And Social Problems    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. Politics / Current Events    5. Public Policy - General    6. Religion And Politics    7. Religion, Politics & State    8. Religious fundamentalism    9. Social Science    10. Social values    11. Sociology    12. Sociology of Religion    13. United States    14. Political Science / General   

Reviews (14)

A must read for Catholics!
Double Crossed is a must read for all Catholics - practicing, lapsed or somewhere in between.
DOUBLE CROSSED and AT THE CROSSROADS
DOUBLE CROSSED shows how Church Fathers thoughtlessly killed its willingly obedient, unpaid or underpaid nun work force and, in the process, killed so many excellent schools, hospitals, and social services. When Vatican II arrived, this writer had been privileged with sixteen years of extraordinary Catholic schooling, and, in good conscience, felt forced to review how one could maintain faith in such a woman-unfriendly church. Still, no longer identifying with Catholicism, I continued to respect and honor the women who taught me to think for myself. I considered them feminists before we used that term. That's when, in appreciation and tribute, I wrote AT THE CROSSROADS, a novel about four contemporary nuns facing feminist issues. If you liked DOUBLE CROSSED, you will like AT THE CROSSROADS because it lets the reader experience what it was like to be a nun "before" we accepted women as equals, and the kind of moral challenges one must endure before one dares embrace an "after."

I think the reader is double-crossed
If the author, as an investigative journalist, took a step back and looked at the past versus the future in terms of American female religious, he would discover that there are orders today that are anything BUT in decline. I'll site one for example, that I have personal experience with: The Nashville Dominicans. This order has over 200 woman, and the average age is 36. Yes, 36. When you look closer, it is easy to see why. As with every other religious order in this country that is blossoming today, the members wear full habits, they pray the Rosary, they focus on Eucharistic Adoration, and they are obedient to the Magisterium. For readers trying to figure out what really happened after Vatican II, here is some true history... When Cardinal Wojtyla (the future John Paul II and a man who had significant input in many of the documents that were issued from Vatican II) returned to his home country of Poland, he helped his people understand and implement the changes that the Council had discerned. The Polish had no problems embracing the changes, and their faith deepened as a result. Poland remains the most devout Catholic nation in the world. The American Bishops, on the other hand, did not exhibit the same cohesive leadership in our own country after Vatican II, and as a result, many priests, religious, and lay people were left to figure things out on their own. The fruits of this experimentation has led to poorly catechized adults, a decline in priests and religious, and a secular mindset. These facts cannot be argued. Post-Vatican II Catholics, like myself, want more than the watered-down faith we've been handed. We seek the truth, which is waiting for us at the heart of our faith, and we seek priests and religious who represent that truth. I, for one, feel double-crossed by Mr. Briggs, not the Catholic Church. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity - Catholicism    2. Christianity - History - Catholic    3. Christianity - History - Social Issues    4. Monastic and religious life of women    5. Monastic and religious orders for women    6. Nuns    7. Offenses Against Women    8. Religion    9. Religion - Classic Works    10. Sexuality & Gender Studies    11. Sociology Of Religion    12. United States    13. Women's Studies - General    14. Women's Studies - History    15. Religion / Catholicism   

Reviews (25)

great idea, little proof
As part of my enquiry into the forces that the Reformation unleased, I decided to at last read this classic.
". . . a more impassable and in its invisibility more terrifying gulf. . ."
Here is an argument which merits a particular accolade: it is one of the few modern academic theories whose acceptance has withstood the test of time.Max Weber's claim, that the Protestant ethic provided the psychological/sociological framework for the emergence of Capitalism in the formative 16th and 17th centuries has surprisingly outlived, in its original whole, such momentous theses as Einsteinian relativity, to the extent that it remains so far unscathed by the inevitable skeptical critique, in tact in its primary tenets.
A Sociology Classic
Modern readers may find the dry style this book is written in a bit boring, but the subject matter makes up for it. Weber looks at 4 branches of Protestantism (Calvinism, Pietism, Methodists, Baptists) and how they each affected the development of modern capitalism. It also sheds light on some of the origins of modern Western beliefs. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Capitalism    2. Economics - General    3. General    4. Literature - Classics / Criticism    5. Protestant churches    6. Protestant work ethic    7. Religious aspects    8. Social Science    9. Sociology    10. Sociology - General    11. Sociology of Religion    12. Ethics & moral philosophy    13. Protestantism & Protestant Churches    14. Social Science / Sociology / General   

Reviews (37)

If You Are Serious....
If you are serious about becoming Christlike, read this book.If you are content with mediocre Christianity, this book is not for you.

Discovering the Mind of a Woman
The book is not accurate.It doesn't address real marriage problems but only looks at men.Women have no responsiblity and I have seen this ruin marriages.The authors wife is the prime promoter.The book is good for men to help them understand women but lacks real marriage substance to have a lasting marriage according to the word of God.
Understanding The Mind of a Woman
After 30 years of marriage, this is the best book I have ever read on understanding women and how to be a better husband.I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity    2. Christianity - Christian Life - Interpersonal Relationships    3. Christianity - Christian Life - Men's Issues    4. Interpersonal Relations    5. Marriage    6. Psychology    7. Religion - Marriage & Family    8. Religious aspects    9. Social Science    10. Sociology    11. Sociology Of Religion    12. Wives    13. Women's Studies - General    14. Family & Relationships / Marriage    15. Marriage Difficulties    16. Marriage Growth    17. Marriage Preparedness    18. Marriage, family & other relationships   

Reviews (2)

Modern capitalism and its origins
What Weber's ideas most clearly demonstrate is not capitalism as it is seen by the the devout protestant or any derivation thereof, he clearly proposes that capitalism itself is founded and practiced solely on the moral and ethical teachings of the protestant refromation. Furthurmore, the continued presence of God or any other religious influence is secondary to the overall implications of their socio-political indoctronation.
Interesting but not really scholarship
There are so many problems with Weber's idea that it is hard to know where to begin. First of all, there are no examples anywhere in the text of statements of purpose from capitalists reflecting on the Protestant Ethic. The closest Weber comes is Benjamin Franklin, but Franklin was an American who lived several generations after the origin of capitalism in Europe. Franklin better reflects the "can do" spirit of a new continent, the "American Adam," than he is a "secularization" of Calvin. Couldn't Weber find a European Ben Franklin? Read more

Subjects:  1. Capitalism    2. Christianity - Theology - General    3. General    4. History Of Sociological Thought    5. Protestant churches    6. Protestant work ethic    7. Religion    8. Religion - Church History    9. Religious aspects    10. Social Science    11. Sociology - General    12. Sociology of Religion   

Reviews (7)