Books on faith and spirituality

[mountaingal]

Re: Books on faith and spirituality

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Peasie</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MGee</div><div class="ubbcode-body">the ability of the subconscious mind to spring up solutions at the most unexpected times when we let go of the problem from the conscious mind.</div></div>

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for an atheist, that concept reinforces the power of the human mind.

[f0rTyLeGz]

Re: Books on faith and spirituality

This poetic translation by Stephen Mitchell of the Tao inspired me by it's sublime non-sexist attempt to get it's arms around the mystery of having a life. The whole book can be found here&gt; http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/co...aote-v3.html#1

[rudemonk]

Re: Books on faith and spirituality

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Peasie</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What are some books that, over the years, have inspired you to to rethink or to deepen your faith? What truths did they reveal?

Post a picture of the book cover if you can </div></div>

[rudemonk]

Re: Books on faith and spirituality





this book and a hardcover slipcase of the Prophet.

[rudemonk]

Re: Books on faith and spirituality



any of his books are basically indispensible and necessary reading.

[rudemonk]

Re: Books on faith and spirituality



this monk defied the teachings of his church and celebrated communion with a non catholic zen monk. that took huge cojones, he was at risk of excommunication, but did it anyway, actually proving catholic doctrine in the process.

[SmoothOperator]

Re: Books on faith and spirituality

James - The Brother of Jesus and the lost teachings of Christianity by Jeffrey Butz. This is not the DavInci Code but a fair and balanced look at Christian origins by a Lutheran minister and professor of world religions. Butz argues convincingly that Jesus and James his brother the leader of the apostles after Jesus's crucifixion were thoroughly Jewish and faithful to the Torah and Judaism and had no intention whatsoever of abrogating The Law and starting a new religion. Christianity as we know it now is largely the result of Paul's innovation and theological interpretation which are in some respects a contradiction of Jesus teachings. Controversial yes but also very fair and balanced.

http://www.amazon.com/Brother-Jesus-Lost...7022&amp;sr=8-2

[Diplomat]

Re: Books on faith and spirituality

Too many to list but if I had to take one book with me anywhere it would be Chuck Swindoll's &quot;Flying Closer to the Flame.&quot; An awesome book, written over 15 years ago, that attempts to reaquaint the believer with the role of the Holy Spirit in his/her life.



A blurb from here.

<span style="font-style: italic">Let’s face it; most of us are intrigued by the Holy Spirit. Like moths, we are attracted to the warmth and the light of His flame. Our desire is to come closer . . . to draw nearer, to know Him more fully and intimately, to enter into new and stimulating dimensions of His workings . . . without getting burned. I know that is true of me, and I suspect you often feel the same.

The Spirit is interested in transforming us from the inside out. Flying closer to the flame sets that in motion. He is at work in dozens of different ways, some of them supernatural. Flying closer to the flame makes us acutely aware of that. He is interested in showing us the Father’s will and providing us with the dynamics necessary for experiencing satisfaction, joy, peace, and contentment in spite of our circumstances. Flying closer to the flame gives us the correct perspective for entering into those (and so many other) experiences. Isn’t it time we flew closer to the flame?

...

The Spirit is the comforting Helper. He is the Truth-Teacher, the will-of-the-Father Revealer, the Gift-Giver, the Hurt-Healer. He is the inextinguishable flame of God, my friend. HE IS GOD. To remain at a distance from Him is worse than wrong; it is downright tragic. Flying closer to the flame, therefore, is better than good; it is absolutely magnificent.</span>

[rudemonk]

Re: Books on faith and spirituality

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SmoothOperator</div><div class="ubbcode-body">James - The Brother of Jesus and the lost teachings of Christianity by Jeffrey Butz. This is not the DavInci Code but a fair and balanced look at Christian origins by a Lutheran minister and professor of world religions. Butz argues convincingly that Jesus and James his brother the leader of the apostles after Jesus's crucifixion were thoroughly Jewish and faithful to the Torah and Judaism and had no intention whatsoever of abrogating The Law and starting a new religion. Christianity as we know it now is largely the result of Paul's innovation and theological interpretation which are in some respects a contradiction of Jesus teachings. Controversial yes but also very fair and balanced.

http://www.amazon.com/Brother-Jesus-Lost...7022&amp;sr=8-2

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i felt the same way without even reading the gentleman's book. it seems obvious the gospels are 'layered.' especially when compared and contrasted with similar mythic systems, divergences pop out.

[rudemonk]

Re: Books on faith and spirituality



&quot;Anyway, I keep picturing all these little kids playing some game in this big field of rye and all. Thousands of little kids, and nobody's around - nobody big, I mean - except me. And I'm standing on the edge of some crazy cliff. What I have to do, I have to catch everybody if they start to go over the cliff - I mean if they're running and they don't look where they're going I have to come out from somewhere and catch them. That's all I do all day. I'd just be the catcher in the rye and all. I know it's crazy, but that's the only thing I'd really like to be.&quot;

[Compry]

Re: Books on faith and spirituality

Hi Peas...I'm back.

I can always find encouragement within its pages for any situation that I am faced with. It truly has been an inspiration to me over the years.

[Peasie]

Re: Books on faith and spirituality

OK, you've all made me look a little deeper at the books that have inspired you. I see some I'm going to order on my next go around at Amazon

I have been sorting through my kids' books from high school and came across The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho which was required reading for every freshman at my son's Catholic school. I enjoyed this little book tremendously.

From Harper Collins web site &quot;<span style="font-style: italic">The Alchemist</span> is the magical story of Santiago, an Andalusian shepherd boy who yearns to travel in search of a worldly treasure as extravagant as any ever found. From his home in Spain he journeys to the markets of Tangiers and across the Egyptian desert to a fateful encounter with the alchemist.

The story of the treasures Santiago finds along the way teaches us, as only a few stories have done, about the essential wisdom of listening to our hearts, learning to read the omens strewn along life's path, and, above all, following our dreams.

[Peasie]

Re: Books on faith and spirituality

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: monk</div><div class="ubbcode-body">this monk defied the teachings of his church and celebrated communion with a non catholic zen monk. that took huge cojones, he was at risk of excommunication, but did it anyway, actually proving catholic doctrine in the process. </div></div>

I am fascinated with Thomas Merton for the past two years and really want to delve a little more into his work. I think I'll start with this book.

[rudemonk]

Re: Books on faith and spirituality

well he is certainly a fascinating character. growing up catholic, I was seriously strengthened by his bravery in internalizing the catechism.

you would probably also enjoy the writings of the zen monk, he became rather famous. His name is Thich Nhat Hanh, and he became a zen monk in viet nam, and began working in order to help Vietnamese women regain some sense of self worth and dignity after the war.

it bears the imprimatur and nihil obstat, if that means anything to you.