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[[Category:New Reviews|Spirituality and Religion]]
[[Category:Spirituality and Religion|*]]__NOTOC__ __NOTOC__<!-- INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE-->{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Christina Goodings and Annabel HudsonFrederic Seager|title=My Look Jesus, the Man and Point Biblethe Myth: A Jewish Reading of the New Testament
|rating=4.5
|genre=For SharingSpirituality and Religion|summary=This version of I was brought up in a family where religion played little or no part. Culturally Irish Catholic on one side and Welsh Methodist on the bible for toddlers has been cleverly retold to engage little onesother, with lots of illustrations, pictures to point at nobody really discussed religion and words to learn. It includes stories from both the old and new testaments, adults around me ranged from the creation and Noah through lapsed to agnostic to atheist. Other than the birth of Jesus as well as some of his parables and odd church wedding or baptism or the crucifixionschool nativity play, I didn't think too much about faith or what people did or didn't believe.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0745962068</amazonuk>B092BWWG9Y
}}
{{Frontpage|author=Peter Owen Jones|title=Conversations with Nature|rating=5|genre=Spirituality and Religion|summary= One of the comments made when I was offered this beautiful book for review was that it's not very long. Having read the book twice over, I'm brought back inescapably to the Spanish proverb that Life may be short, but it is broad. In this case I'm brought to the idea that the length of life is not the point; the point is its depth. Peter Owen Jones dives deep.|isbn=1912992418}}{{newreviewFrontpage|author=Alexandre ChristoyannopoulosRichard Brook|title=Christian AnarchismUnderstanding Human Nature: A Political Commentary on the GospelUser's Guide to Life
|rating=4.5
|genre=Lifestyle
|summary= I am a firm believer that sometimes we choose books, and sometimes books choose us. In my case, this is one of the latter. Not so very long ago, if I had come across this book I'd have skimmed it, found some of it interesting, but it would not have 'hit home' in the way that it does now. I believe it came to me not just because I was likely to give it a favourable review [ ''full disclosure The Bookbag's u.s.p. is that people chose their own books rather than getting them randomly, so there is a predisposition towards expecting to like the book, even if it doesn't always turn out that way'' ] – but also because it is a book I needed to read, right now.
|isbn=1800461682
}}
{{Frontpage
|isbn=Hill_Atlas
|title=The Atlas of Monsters
|author=Stuart Hill and Sandra Lawrence
|rating=4
|genre=Children's Non-Fiction
|summary=There are monsters and mysterious characters, such as trolls, leprechauns, goblins and minotaurs. They're the stuff of far too many stories to remain mysterious, and every schoolchild should know all about them. There are monsters and mysterious characters, such as Gog and Magog, Scylla and Charybdis, and the bunyip. They are what you find if you take an interest in this kind of thing to the next level; even if you cannot place them all on a map you should have come across them. But there are monsters and mysterious characters, such as the dobhar-chu, the llambigyn y dwr, and the girtablili. To gain any knowledge of them you really need a book that knows its stuff. A book like this one…
}}
{{Frontpage
|isbn=1999731506
|title=Spiritual Atheist
|author=Nick Seneca Jankel
|rating=2
|genre=Lifestyle
|summary=''Spiritual Atheist'' is a new 'bible' for the spiritual not the religious, according to the tagline. This is a taboo smashing book which solves the problem of modernity and explains how to be a 'spiritual technologist' who can live and love freely in 'spiritual fullness' without relying on a belief in god. Touching on everything from 'brain science' to AI, Jankel offers a 'path to meaning', allowing us to move beyond consumerism towards an ethical life.
}}
{{Frontpage
|isbn=1789015200
|title=Be Your Higher Self
|author=Samesh Ramjattan
|rating=4
|genre=Spirituality and Religion
|summary=Whilst IThere are a lot of self-help books about: it've long been a Christians one of the most thriving sections of the average bookshop, Ibut it've never considered myself an anarchists not always easy to find the book you need. My thinking is that anarchy is something youSamesh Ramjattan has addressed this problem in ''Be Your Higher Self''re more likely , a book which allows us all to see on make sense of our place in the news than on 'Songs world, as most of Praiseus only glimpse our true potential and few people ever achieve it. Even with hard work and dedication, obstacles present themselves and it's difficult to understand why or how they can be overcome. HoweverRamjattan offers us a guide to the spirit world, the chakras, there is a school karma and reincarnation as well as information about the age of thought that suggests that JesusAquarius and the ego. It' teachings were so counters a slim book - just 128 pages -cultural and so against Roman law that can it constitutes anarchism.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1845402472</amazonuk>provide us with the answers we seek?
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Karen ArmstrongMahnke_Lore|title=In the BeginningThe World of Lore, Volume 1: A New Interpretation of GenesisMonstrous Creatures|author=Aaron Mahnke|rating=4.5
|genre=Spirituality and Religion
|summary=Armstrong's background (Every country, every town, every village has a folktale – a story passed down through generations that often focuses on the dark and unexplained. No matter how the modern world moves on, there's a page right at the beginning) still a part of everyone that is certainly diverse and interesting so I was looking forward vulnerable to reading what she had a good tale. From ghosts to say. And thankfullywerewolves, I didn't have to rummage around looking for my own copy by way of wendigos and elves, author Aaron Mahnke delivers the bible (Ireader legends from all over the world, whilst examining how they've now located it) as Armstrong obligingly provides Genesis (in beautifulbecome part of our collective imaginations, old-fashioned typeface) here. So roughly two thirds is given over to her investigative prose and still striking fear into the remaining third is the actual book hearts of many of Genesis, for handy referenceus today.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099555476</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Yangzom Brauen and Katy DarbyshireSaxena_Jaya|title=Across Many Mountains: Three Daughters of TibetBasic Witches|author=J Saxena and J Zimmerman
|rating=4
|genre=BiographySpirituality and Religion|summary=Fleeing your home can never Before I started this book I was expecting to be easy but when you are six, your only shoes are roughly hand-sewn thrown into the world of magic and stuffed with haywould know how to levitate by the end of the first chapter. Unsurprisingly, and your route is over the world's highest mountain range then it must be particularly challengingI was wrong. This However, what I was the journey met by was a book that Yangzom Brauen's mother took with her parents when they fled Tibet after explores the Chinese invasion origins of 1959. They were leaving behind all that they knew witchcraft, teaches you how to dress and act like a witch and travelling contains spells ranging from accepting compliments to India in the hope that they could find sanctuary in the country where the Dalai Lama was in exileconjuring up a relaxing Netflix binge. 'Across Many Mountains' is their story.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184655344X</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=David OvasonWright_Universe|title=Shakespeare's Secret Booke: Deciphering Magical The Universe and Rosicrucian CodesLife but Not Everything|author=Anthony Christian Wright|rating=3.5
|genre=Spirituality and Religion
|summary=One group I often wonder - usually after a moment of people that were convinced shaking my fist at the Chilean miners, Los 33, news on TV - what my manifesto for life and society would be relieved of their ordeal, look like were numerologistsI to write it down. For hundreds of years, it seems, they I have held the number thirty-three in good stead. It represents a lot of expression all sorts of the egothoughts about these things, or from the soul, or the transformation metaphysics of the spirit who we are and where we come from one world , right down to anotherdetailed critiques of quite insignificant government policies. It doesnI't boil down to just ve never done such an exercise - mostly because I lack the 33 years Christ was supposed to have held His human incarnationtime, but refers to many ethereal, magical, alchemical transformations from state to state. And who can deny the Chilean mine was 2010's most vivid embodiment of hell - patience and that the 33 were reborn in coming back to life on earth?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1905570260</amazonuk>diligence required. It seems like an enormous task.
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Robert Leon Davis1850788332|title=Running ScaredRosie: For 22 Years He Was a Fugitive - The Corrupt Cop Busted by GodNote to Self |author=Claire Connor and G P Taylor
|rating=3.5
|genre=AutobiographyGeneral Fiction|summary=Robert Davis was In the eldest first of nine children all living a five book deal Claire Connor, writing in partnership with their grandmother in New Orleans – GP Taylor, brings us a modern romance based loosely on welfarethe story of Ruth from the Bible. His grandmother was a goodThis is total chick-lit, honest woman and Davis loved and respected her, but money from the first few pages I thought it was so tight that he resorted just going to thieving to bring some extra food in for the family. He knew that she would be deeply upset about ita very light, but hunger is hungerfunny romance story. In your heart you can't blame him and it seems that all is coming good when Davis becomes a respected police officer in However, the mid nineteen-seventies. He's living with story quickly takes a good, decent woman depressing turn and looks set to have a good career. Great, you think, sometimes life ''the rest of the book is'' fair and as much an exploration of grief as it works outis a romance novel.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1854249932</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Carol RichardsSantiago_Returning|title=Columbanus: Poet, Preacher, Statesman, SaintReturning Home|author=Stephan Santiago|rating=43.5
|genre=Spirituality and Religion
|summary=Richards is at pains [[:Category:Stephan Santiago|Stephan Santiago]] has experienced life in a way that's led him to point out straight away believe we're all on a soul journey back home – that the reader mustn't confuse Columbanus with Columba of Ionaplace we inhabited before we were born. She informs us that the latter did not travel extensively but the former, the subject of her This book, did travel throughout parts of Europe. She gives her subject is a terrific introduction on the cover, describing him guide as 'poetto how we can optimise this journey for ourselves, preacher, statesman, saintthose around us and our children.' And then goes into much more detail about these areas of his life.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1845401905</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=G Willow WilsonWilbourne_Shepherd|title=The Butterfly Mosque: A Young Woman's Journey to Love and IslamShepherd of Another Flock|author=David Wilbourne|rating=4.5|genre=AutobiographySpirituality and Religion|summary=This memoir is told in the first person so straight away there is [[:Category:David Wilbourne|David Wilbourne's]] CV looks like a connection with the reader. The story starts career path for people who are hard- not in Egypt of- but in the USAhumoured. Willow (lovely name) says she's ''Banker, teacher of Ancient Greek, vicar, bishop…none of these are jobs normally connected in the market for our minds with a philosophyjovial twinkle.'' And Yet in this search she is extremely thorough. She looks at mainstream religions - ChristianityDavid's case, Buddhism we'd be totally wrong to name but two and puts them under the microscope, so to speakassume. She dismisses all The current Bishop of them before settling on Islam. It appears Llandaff takes us by the hand to offer what she is after, what she is looking for, that enigmatic thing. But also, there's some little twist which helps make her mind up. But not before she digs deep and seeks answers to complex and awkward questions. She reads and researches Islam and finds out surprising facts, which she shares with show us episodes from his life as vicar of the reader. Willow is wellcharacter-read and well-educated. She seems set for a good career packed Yorkshire parish of her choice on American soil. Why not settle for Helmsley proving that? But she's set on travel to the Middle East come what maytears of sorrow are equally shared with tears of laughter.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1843548283</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Colin WatersPigliucci_How|title=A Pregnant Ghost and Other Sexual HauntingsHow to be a Stoic|author=Massimo Pigliucci|rating=3.5
|genre=Spirituality and Religion
|summary=This ''Stoicism is a book that does what it sets out about developing the tools to do on deal as effectively as humanly possible with the tinensuing conflicts, does not demand perfection, and does so not provide specific answers.'' For many readers, living in almost glorious fashionan age of rules to make us happy and the inevitable failure to stick to them, this is an intensely reassuring sentence. The back cover blurb promises hilarity and tittilationPigliucci certainly makes Stoicism an appealing philosophy, one which can sit alongside religious faith but this will also fit on the shelf doesn't have to, one which doesn't demand Aristotelian heights of any academic looking into the hornier side of the Fortean worldintelligence, beauty or riches in order to truly succeed in life, as well as anyone relishing the most singular collection of ghost legends that I can remember readingand one which recognises life's messy difficulties.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709089902</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=Pearce_Biblical|authortitle=A N WilsonBiblical Theology Behind Music, Nick CavePraise, Richard Holloway and Blake MorrisonWorship|titleauthor=The Four Gospels with introductionsDr Mark Pearce
|rating=4
|genre=Spirituality and Religion
|summary=I wasn't entirely sure what Music used in religions and worship itself goes back to expect from the beginning of humankind. In this book. I only skimmedthrough the description on Amazon, musician and understood that four modernwriters were introducing the four Gospels. What I hadn't really takentheological academic [[:Category:Dr Mark Pearce|Dr Mark Pearce]] explores its Biblical history in was that the introductions are brief - a few pages each - Christian context as well as providing tips and thatthe bulk of the book consists of the Authorised Version (known as theKing James Version suggestions for those involved in the USA) of the Gospels. The whole is publishedworship in a fairly trendy looking paperback format, with the idea ofappealing to people who are not particularly religious, but who seethe Bible as valuable ancient literaturepresent day.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847678351</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=David EaglemanIles_Thoughts|title=Sum: Tales from the Afterlives|rating=4.5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=For some reason I find myself unable to start this review. So I'll mention this book starts with the end, The Thoughts and see where we go from there. Of course, that's the key – this book does just that – starts with the end Inner Journey of our human life here on Earth (or wherever you happen to be reading this) and posits forty possibilities of what happens thereafter, in the hereafter. It's not so much 'Five People You Meet in Heaven' as 'Forty Heavens you Might Meet People In'Dr.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847674283</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewJohn Dee|author=Peter Blackstock |title=The Secret Symbol: The Original Masonic Documents Behind Dan Brown's Latest BestsellerClair Iles|rating=3.5
|genre=Spirituality and Religion
|summary=Pop Quiz[[:Category:Clair Iles|Clair Iles]] is, in her own words, a normal person who was educated at a normal comprehensive school. What links Scott of the AntarcticHowever, Jim Davidsonshe's a normal person who hears dead people. Yes, Churchill, and Rabbie Burns? Where and when might you come Clair is a cropper trying spiritualist with ability to spell Boaz, but starting with hear from those who have passed on. In the B? past they had generally been relatives or everyday folk. And what has three stages - unless it's thirty-threeImagine, then, or even ten by her surprise when she felt she was hearing from Elizabethan court polymath John Dee. Over a period of time she could feel his dictated thoughts and ideas in her mind and this book of the channelled words is the York system?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846683734</amazonuk>result.
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Robert CrumbWoodcock_Becoming|title=Robert Crumb's Book of GenesisBecoming Reverend: All 50 ChaptersA diary|author=Matt Woodcock
|rating=4.5
|genre=Spirituality and Religion
|summary=One day[[:Category:Matt Woodcock|Matt Woodcock]] is enjoying life: successful journalist, Mitch Albom's eighty-two year old rabbi asks him to write his eulogyhappily married and a new dream home bought and heavily mortgaged. Thinking that he must be close The only cloud on the horizon is their struggle to death Albom reluctantly agrees, have children but decides to meet with they have faith in the IVF treatment as it's early days yet. Then comes the Reb' funny turn Matt has on the way to try to get to know a story one day. This takes him better by surprise but the resulting clergy collar comes as a man firsttotal shock. What then develops is an eight year friendship He's a normal bloke who always thought of himself as Albom continues to regularly meet with the Reb, who was obviously stronger more pint than he looked, discussing life and religion and death and love. At the same time Mitch becomes involved with a pastor piety believing in Detroit called Henry, a reformed drug dealer, God who is preaching from an old, run-down church with no power, no heat and a hole in its roof. Albom relates the Reb's story, and thoughts on life, against happy for him to remain in the back drop of the struggling Henry, querying issues like forgiveness, doubt and faithpews.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847442919</amazonuk> Errrrm… whoops!
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Tamim Ansary Chaplin_Stone|title=Destiny Disrupted: A History of the World Through Islamic EyesThe Stone Cradle|author=Patrice Chaplin
|rating=5
|genre=HistorySpirituality and Religion|summary=I enjoyed history at school and whilst we didn't always work our way through it chronologically I came, over time, to have 'The Stone Cradle'' is a working knowledge of remarkable book from the ancient Egyptiansauthor Patrice Chaplin. It is a biography, Greeks and Romans. I knew about the rise third in a series set in the Catalonian city of Christianity Girona. It is also an enduring love story and spoke knowledgeably about medieval Englanda journey into mystery and spirituality. The city has drawn artists, the Renaissance writers and philosophers for centuries. Rich in Kabbalistic thought through Azriel, the Reformation but was perhaps less taken by most famous student of Isaac the Industrial Revolution Blind, it has always been a home for mysticism and all that followedsecrets. I was au fait with The magnetism and resonance of the east but city has had a hold on Patrice Chaplin since she first visited it was mainly from in the perspective fifties. The series of exploration – or even exploitationbooks detail her journey and her encounters with the esoteric society that have protected its mysteries since ancient times. It was an education based on 'The Stone Cradle' also gives a new life and direction to the virtues mysteries of Rennes le Chateau, the solidsmall French village, white, English, Christian middle classes made famous by the Da Vinci Code and the Holy Blood and it completely ignored histories from The Holy Grail. Linking the two places through sacred geometry to the perspective mountain of other religionsCanigou.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1586486063</amazonuk>
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{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Trevor Hamilton Vonnegut_Sun|title=Immortal Longings: F.W.H. Myers Sun Moon Star|author=Kurt Vonnegut and the Victorian Search for Life After DeathIvan Chermayeff|rating=4.5|genre=Biography Spirituality and Religion|summary=Born in 1843, Frederic Myers began In his career as a classical lecturer at Cambridge Universityown delightfully imaginative way, but disliked teaching Kurt Vonnegut tells the story of the birth of Christ in this unique and soon gave it up in favour long out of print children's book. Told from the perspective of writing poetry and essays the new born infant in literature. Although his social circle included men such as Gladstonefirst hours of birth, Ruskin, Tennyson, Browning and Prince Leopold, the most intellectual of Queen Victoriathis charming little story feels different to other children's sons, his Christmas books (which are not so well remembered today) might have been his sole claim whilst at the same time goes back to fame, had it not been for his passionate curiosity about the meaning of human life. If it had a purpose, he was convinced, it could only be discovered through basics in exploring the study true nature of human experiencesChristmas.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1845401239</amazonuk>
}}
