132,662
edits
Changes
Newest Spirituality and Religion Reviews (view source)
Revision as of 12:29, 4 April 2023
, 12:29, 4 April 2023no edit summary
[[Category:New Reviews|Spirituality and Religion]]
[[Category:Spirituality and Religion|*]]__NOTOC__ __NOTOC__ <!--Remove INSERT NEW REVIEWS BELOW HERE-->{{newreviewFrontpage|titleauthor=The Atheist's PrayerFrederic Seager|authortitle=Amy R BiddleJesus, the Man and the Myth: A Jewish Reading of the New Testament|rating=34.5|genre=General FictionSpirituality and Religion|summary= I don’t shy away from a book with was brought up in a family where religion played little edge, in fact [[:Category:Chuck Palahniuk|Chuck Palahniuk]] is or no part. Culturally Irish Catholic on one of my favourite authors side and his books can be so sharp you can shave with them. On Welsh Methodist on the surface ''The Atheist’s Prayer'' would seem to be courting controversy; why else have such a provocative title? Butother, is it nobody really that shocking? Nopediscussed religion and the adults around me ranged from lapsed to agnostic to atheist. This is a story Other than the odd church wedding or baptism or the school nativity play, I didn't think too much about how faith or what people deal with the modern world and what happens when dangerous ideals infect a vulnerable groupdid or didn't believe.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1780995822</amazonuk>B092BWWG9Y
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|titleauthor=Mindfulness and the Natural WorldPeter Owen Jones|authortitle=Claire ThompsonConversations with Nature|rating=35
|genre=Spirituality and Religion
|summary=This One of the comments made when I was offered this beautiful book appealed 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 me for a couple the idea that the length of reasonslife is not the point; the point is its depth. Peter Owen Jones dives deep.|isbn=1912992418}}{{Frontpage|author=Richard Brook|title=Understanding Human Nature: A User's Guide to Life|rating=4.5|genre=Lifestyle|summary= I have recently completed am a workshop on mindfulness and have been attempting to put some of the ideas into practice throughout my daily lifefirm believer that sometimes we choose books, and I love nature and spending time outdoors cyclingsometimes books choose us. Therefore In my case, this seemed the perfect choice to learn more about combining is one of the two and exploring fresh perspectives in my everyday lifelatter. Not so very long ago, if I began reading had come across this hardcover with high expectationsbook I'd have skimmed it, found some of it interesting, particularly as but it would not have 'hit home' in the book way that it does now. I believe it came to me not just because I was beautifully laid out with unique artwork and philosophical quotes includedlikely to give it a favourable review [ ''full disclosure The Bookbag's u.s.p. Howeveris that people chose their own books rather than getting them randomly, although so there were some insightful ideas and inspiring thoughts presented amongst is a predisposition towards expecting to like the five chaptersbook, overall I was even if it doesn't always turn out that way'' ] – but also because it is a little disappointed in what the book had I needed to offerread, right now.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1782401024</amazonuk>1800461682
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=Hill_Atlas|title=Rogerson's Book of Numbers: The culture of numbers from 1001 Nights to the Seven Wonders Atlas of the WorldMonsters|author=Barnaby RogersonStuart Hill and Sandra Lawrence
|rating=4
|genre=Spirituality and ReligionChildren's Non-Fiction|summary=One bookThere are monsters and mysterious characters, split into two testamentssuch as trolls, regarding a holy trinityleprechauns, goblins and minotaurs. They're the principal part known from four writersstuff 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 world abutting another where five pillars map you should have come across them. But there are importantmonsters and mysterious characters, up against a world where a sixsuch as the dobhar-pointed star holds so many meanings… It's obvious from just a quick dash through chu, the llambigyn y dwr, and the most schoolboy-friendly parts girtablili. To gain any knowledge of religion them you really need a book that numbers are importantknows its stuff. This A booklike 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, although counting down from multitudes according to that late-comer zero, brings them all to us, with brief notes about why they all hold relevance where whichever country, civilisation or religion the tagline. This is concerned. In a taboo smashing book which solves the end, Iproblem of modernity and explains how to be a 'spiritual technologist' who can live and love freely in 'm sure itspiritual fullness's without relying on a lot more user-friendlybelief in god. Touching on everything from 'brain science' to AI, interesting, and will be Jankel offers a lot more popular'path to meaning', than the original Book of Numbersallowing us to move beyond consumerism towards an ethical life.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781250995</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=1789015200|title=Inventing the Enemy: Essays on EverythingBe Your Higher Self|author=Umberto EcoSamesh Ramjattan
|rating=4
|genre=HistorySpirituality and Religion|summary=Imagine There are a sumptuous Italian feast in the sunlitlot of self-bathed ancient countryside near Milan. Next to you a gentleman talks and eats with furious energy. He tells help books about: it's one of Dante, Cicero, and St Augustine and quotes a multitude the most thriving sections of obscure troubadours from the Middle Ages. He repeats himselfaverage bookshop, gestures flamboyantly, nudges but it's not always easy to find the book you sharply need. Samesh Ramjattan has addressed this problem in the ribs''Be Your Higher Self'', belches and even breaks wind. His conversation contains nuggets a book which allows us all to make sense of information but our place in the flow world, as most of his discourse there is a fondness for iteration us only glimpse our true potential and reiterationfew people ever achieve it. He throws bones over his shoulder Even with hard work and when he reaches dedication, obstacles present themselves and it's difficult to understand why or how they can be overcome. Ramjattan offers us a guide to the cheese course - definitely too much information on spirit world, the mouldy bacteria! When you finally get up things the elderly gentleman has said prompt your imagination. You are better informedchakras, intrigued karma and prodded to examine his discourse again reincarnation as well as information about the age of Aquarius and again, even if only to challenge what you have heardthe ego. Such are the effects of reading Eco’s essays in It''Inventing s a slim book - just 128 pages - so can it provide us with the Enemy''.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099553945</amazonuk>answers we seek?
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|titleisbn=Sisters of the East EndMahnke_Lore|authortitle=Helen Batten|rating=3.5|genre=Historical Fiction|summary=Katie Crisp had never intended to become a nun. Raised by non-religious parents, her family frowned upon organised religion and when Katie started secretly going to church, they strongly disapproved. When Katie ran to the aid of a stroke victim, she had a vision that changed her life. She saw herself dressed as a nun with a large silver cross hanging from her neck. She decided to follow her calling and join the community The World of St John the DivineLore, a group of Anglican nuns dedicated to nursing and midwifery. She thus shed her old identity and became known as Sister Catherine Mary.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0091951771</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|title=Anti-JudaismVolume 1: A History of a Way of ThinkingMonstrous Creatures|author=David NirenbergAaron Mahnke
|rating=4.5
|genre=HistorySpirituality and Religion|summary=Initially the choice of title seemed an odd one Every country, every town, every village has a folktale – a story passed down through generations that often focuses on account of the more widely used term, anti-Semitismdark and unexplained. The distinction is quickly made thoughNo matter how the modern world moves on, there's a still a part of everyone that unlike the latter, anti-Judaism does not need real Jews is vulnerable to a good tale. From ghosts to flourishwerewolves, but is fuelled by an idea alone. In fact this is a core tenet way of Nirenberg’s thesis. Throughout history wendigos and elves, author Aaron Mahnke delivers the reader legends from all over the idea world, whilst examining how they've become part of ‘Judaism’ is raised as an existential spectre in societies where there may be no Jewish members at all. This is a chilling realityour collective imaginations, and Nirenberg charts still striking fear into the course hearts of many of how this came to beus today. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781851131</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Carolyn MathewsSaxena_Jaya|title=Transforming PandoraBasic Witches|rating=4|genre=General Fiction|summaryauthor=When we first meet Pandora Armstrong in the spring of 2003 she's grieving for her husband, Mike, who had died just a few weeks before. It hadn't been his first heart attack and he had reduced his workload but this attack was fatal. He was only in his fifties J Saxena and Pandora feels that he'd been snatched away from her as they'd only been married for a few years. When a friend suggests that she goes with her to an Evening of Clairvoyance she runs out of excuses to refuse and although she's not exactly ''convinced'' by what she hears there's a lingering doubt. A spirit voice mentioned her children and Pandora was adamant that she didn't have any children - it's actually quite a sore point - but that wasn't true of Mike.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1780997450</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Wm Paul Young|title=Cross RoadsJ Zimmerman
|rating=4
|genre=Spirituality and Religion
|summary=WmBefore I started this book I was expecting to be thrown into the world of magic and would know how to levitate by the end of the first chapter. Paul Young's debut novel ''The Shack'' Unsurprisingly, I was a revelation in many wayswrong. Whilst many disagreed with his theologyHowever, it what I was refreshing to see such an overtly faith based met by was a book on that explores the bestseller lists. Personallyorigins of witchcraft, I found it teaches you how to dress and act like a very moving story witch and whilst I thought it helpful on some points, it tended contains spells ranging from accepting compliments to skim over others. Now we get to see if Young can repeat his success with his new novel, ''Cross Roads''conjuring up a relaxing Netflix binge.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444745972</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Danaan ElderhillWright_Universe|title=The Magic Book of CookeryUniverse and Life but Not Everything|author=Anthony Christian Wright
|rating=3.5
|genre=Spirituality and Religion
|summary=Back in the seventeenth century in what was then the Kingdom of Bohemia there was I often wonder - usually after a coven moment of witches. As was common shaking my fist at that time witches the news on TV - what my manifesto for life and society would look like were hunted and they had I to hide their beliefswrite it down. The Friends I have all sorts of Euphrosynethoughts about these things, as they called themselves, turned to this deity (she's one of from the three graces and there to remind us to have fun) in their time metaphysics of need who we are and developed rituals which could be assimilated into social gatheringswhere we come from, allowing them right down to hide in plain sightdetailed critiques of quite insignificant government policies. Their book I've never done such an exercise - The Magic Book of Cookery - vanished along with mostly because I lack the time, the coven when they were discovered but Danaan Elderhill wants us to benefit from its ancient wisdom - patience and its funthe diligence required. It seems like an enormous task.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>B0092BX6O0</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Charity Seraphina Fields1850788332|title=I am not a BuddhistRosie: Note to Self |author=Claire Connor and G P Taylor
|rating=3.5
|genre=Spirituality and ReligionGeneral Fiction|summary=''I am not a Buddhist'' is an individual through Buddhism and its principles seen from In the point first of view of one a five book deal Claire Connor, writing in partnership with GP Taylor, brings us a modern romance based loosely on the path. Charity Seraphina Fields attempts - through her own musings on this ancient Eastern philosophy - to explain why Buddhism is better suited to story of Ruth from the rich West than the poorer EastBible. For Fields, the question isn't ''Why am I suffering without all those things I want?''. The right question This is actually ''Why am I still suffering even though I have everything I want?''|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1475085664</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Eamon Duffy|title=Saintstotal chick-lit, Sacrilege and Sedition|rating=4|genre=History|summary=In from the introduction first few pages I thought it was just going to this book Eamon Duffybe a very light, Professor of the History of Christianity at Cambridge History, points out that all too often historians have written about the English Reformation from strongly polarised viewsfunny romance story. Taking two extreme examples However, he cites one which states that the people of England, formerly happy medieval Catholics, were forced by King Henry to abandon their religion, story quickly takes a depressing turn and England was never merry again, alongside another which speaks of the English being oppressed by corrupt churchmen until King Henry gave them the Protestant nation for which they longed. On the following page, he suggests that it had long been an axiom rest of historical writing that the success of the Reformation in England was book is as much an inevitable consequence exploration of the dysfunction and unpopularity of late medieval Catholicismgrief as it is a romance novel. Such remarks were evidently made by writers with an axe to grind. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1441181172</amazonuk>
}}
|rating=3.5
|genre=Spirituality and Religion
|summary=Atheist culture [[:Category:Stephan Santiago|Stephan Santiago]] has recently become more mainstream, thanks experienced life in part to the success of Richard Dawkins' book, ''The God Delusion''. However, religion does still have a part to play, with Prince Charles urging the United Kingdom to be more tolerant towards faiths other than the Church of England he was raised as part of and even the Prime Minister talking about faith issues. Since 1888, the Gifford Lectures have been given to way that'promote and diffuse...the knowledge of God'.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847065244</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Karen French|title=The Hidden Geometry of Life|rating=2.5|genre=Spirituality and Religion|summary=''The Hidden Geometry of Life'' aims s led him to explore the esoteric and often mystical meanings contained in believe we''shapes and patterns [re all on a soul journey back home – that] represent ideas and distil the essence of reality''place we inhabited before we were born. This mystical angle was book is a little bit of a unpleasant surprise guide as to how we can optimise this journey for this reader. I should have had a better look at Karen French's Amazon pages and previous work, but I was attracted by an exciting-sounding title, attractive cover and and references to author's art.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1780281080</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Grace McCleen|title=The Land of Decoration|rating=5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=Grace McCleen's debut novel, ''The Land of Decoration'' paints an original, unsettlingourselves, sometimes dark those around us and generally rather wonderful pictureour children. Narrated by ten year old Judith, raised by her father who is a fundamental religious follower of the end of the world is nigh variety, it looks at bullying, both at school and in more general society, faith and the possible rejection thereof and the strength of childhood imagination.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>070118681X</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Roman KrznaricWilbourne_Shepherd|title=The Wonderbox: Curious Histories Shepherd of How to LiveAnother Flock|author=David Wilbourne
|rating=5
|genre=Spirituality and Religion
|summary=Whilst I[[:Category:David Wilbourne|David Wilbourne've long been s]] CV looks like a Christiancareer path for people who are hard-of-humoured. Banker, teacher of Ancient Greek, vicar, I've never considered myself an anarchistbishop…none of these are jobs normally connected in our minds with a jovial twinkle. My thinking is that anarchy is something youYet in David's case, we're more likely d be totally wrong to see on the news than on 'Songs of Praise'assume. However, there is a school The current Bishop of Llandaff takes us by the hand to show us episodes from his life as vicar of thought that suggests that Jesus' teachings were so counterthe character-cultural and so against Roman law packed Yorkshire parish of Helmsley proving that it constitutes anarchismtears of sorrow are equally shared with tears of laughter.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1845402472</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Karen ArmstrongPigliucci_How|title=In the Beginning: A New Interpretation of GenesisHow to be a Stoic|author=Massimo Pigliucci|rating=43.5
|genre=Spirituality and Religion
|summary=Armstrong's background (there's a page right at Stoicism is about developing the tools to deal as effectively as humanly possible with the beginning) is certainly diverse ensuing conflicts, does not demand perfection, and does not provide specific answers.'' For many readers, living in an age of rules to make us happy and interesting so I was looking forward the inevitable failure to reading what she had stick to saythem, this is an intensely reassuring sentence. And thankfullyPigliucci certainly makes Stoicism an appealing philosophy, I didnone which can sit alongside religious faith but doesn't have to rummage around looking for my own copy , one which doesn't demand Aristotelian heights of the bible (I've now located it) as Armstrong obligingly provides Genesis (intelligence, beauty or riches in order to truly succeed in beautifullife, old-fashioned typeface) here. So roughly two thirds is given over to her investigative prose and the remaining third is the actual book of Genesis, for handy referenceone which recognises life's messy difficulties.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099555476</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|isbn=Pearce_Biblical|authortitle=Yangzom Brauen A Biblical Theology Behind Music, Praise, and Katy DarbyshireWorship|titleauthor=Across Many Mountains: Three Daughters of TibetDr Mark Pearce
|rating=4
|genre=Spirituality and Religion
|summary=One group of people that were convinced Music used in religions and worship itself goes back to the Chilean miners, Los 33, would be relieved beginning of their ordeal, were numerologistshumankind. For hundreds of years, it seems, they have held the number thirty-three In this book musician and theological academic [[:Category:Dr Mark Pearce|Dr Mark Pearce]] explores its Biblical history in good stead. It represents a lot of expression of the ego, or the soul, or Christian context as well as providing tips and suggestions for those involved in worship in the transformation of the spirit from one world to another. It doesn't boil down to just the 33 years Christ was supposed to have held His human incarnation, but refers to many ethereal, magical, alchemical transformations from state to statepresent day. And who can deny the Chilean mine was 2010's most vivid embodiment of hell - and that the 33 were reborn in coming back to life on earth?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1905570260</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Robert Leon DavisIles_Thoughts|title=Running Scared: For 22 Years He Was a Fugitive - The Corrupt Cop Busted by GodThoughts and Inner Journey of Dr. John Dee|author=Clair Iles
|rating=3.5
|genre=Spirituality and Religion
|summary=Richards [[:Category:Clair Iles|Clair Iles]] is , in her own words, a normal person who was educated at pains to point out straight away that the reader mustn't confuse Columbanus with Columba of Ionaa normal comprehensive school. She informs us that the latter did not travel extensively but the formerHowever, the subject of her book, did travel throughout parts of Europeshe's a normal person who hears dead people. She gives her subject Yes, Clair is a terrific introduction spiritualist with ability to hear from those who have passed on . In the coverpast they had generally been relatives or everyday folk. Imagine, describing him as 'poetthen, preacher, statesman, sainther surprise when she felt she was hearing from Elizabethan court polymath John Dee.' And then goes into much more detail about these areas Over a period of time she could feel his lifedictated thoughts and ideas in her mind and this book of the channelled words is the result.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1845401905</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=G Willow WilsonWoodcock_Becoming|title=The Butterfly MosqueBecoming Reverend: A Young Woman's Journey to Love and Islamdiary|author=Matt Woodcock
|rating=4.5
|genre=AutobiographySpirituality and Religion|summary=This memoir is told in the first person so straight away there [[:Category:Matt Woodcock|Matt Woodcock]] is enjoying life: successful journalist, happily married and a connection with the readernew dream home bought and heavily mortgaged. The story starts - not in Egypt - only cloud on the horizon is their struggle to have children but they have faith in the USAIVF treatment as it's early days yet. Willow (lovely name) says she's ''in Then comes the funny turn Matt has on the market for way to a philosophystory one day.'' And in this search she is extremely thorough. She looks at mainstream religions - Christianity, Buddhism to name This takes him by surprise but two and puts them under the microscope, so to speakresulting clergy collar comes as a total shock. She dismisses all of them before settling on Islam. It appears to offer what she is after, what she is looking for, that enigmatic thing. But also, thereHe'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 the reader. Willow is well-read and well-educated. She seems set for a good career normal bloke who always thought of her choice on American soil. Why not settle for that? But shehimself as more pint than piety believing in a God who's set on travel happy for him to remain in the Middle East come what maypews.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1843548283</amazonuk> Errrrm… whoops!
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Colin WatersChaplin_Stone|title=A Pregnant Ghost and Other Sexual HauntingsThe Stone Cradle|author=Patrice Chaplin
|rating=5
|genre=Spirituality and Religion
|summary=This ''The Stone Cradle'' is a remarkable book that does what it sets out to do on from the author Patrice Chaplin. It is a biography, the third in a series set in the tinCatalonian city of Girona. It is also an enduring love story and a journey into mystery and spirituality. The city has drawn artists, writers and does so philosophers for centuries. Rich in almost glorious fashionKabbalistic thought through Azriel, the most famous student of Isaac the Blind, it has always been a home for mysticism and secrets. The back cover blurb promises hilarity magnetism and tittilation, but this will also fit resonance of the city has had a hold on Patrice Chaplin since she first visited it in the shelf fifties. The series of any academic looking into books detail her journey and her encounters with the esoteric society that have protected its mysteries since ancient times. 'The Stone Cradle' also gives a new life and direction to the hornier side mysteries of Rennes le Chateau, the Fortean worldsmall French village, as well as anyone relishing made famous by the Da Vinci Code and the Holy Blood and The Holy Grail. Linking the two places through sacred geometry to the most singular collection mountain of ghost legends that I can remember readingCanigou.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0709089902</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=A N Wilson, Nick Cave, Richard Holloway and Blake MorrisonVonnegut_Sun|title=The Four Gospels with introductionsSun Moon Star|rating=4|genre=Spirituality and Religion|summaryauthor=I wasn't entirely sure what to expect from this book. I only skimmedthrough the description on Amazon, Kurt Vonnegut and understood that four modernwriters were introducing the four Gospels. What I hadn't really takenin was that the introductions are brief - a few pages each - and thatthe bulk of the book consists of the Authorised Version (known as theKing James Version in the USA) of the Gospels. The whole is publishedin a fairly trendy looking paperback format, with the idea ofappealing to people who are not particularly religious, but who seethe Bible as valuable ancient literature.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847678351</amazonuk>}}{{newreview|author=David Eagleman|title=Sum: Tales from the AfterlivesIvan Chermayeff
|rating=4.5
|genre=Spirituality and Religion
|summary=Pop QuizIn his own delightfully imaginative way, Kurt Vonnegut tells the story of the birth of Christ in this unique and long out of print children's book. What links Scott Told from the perspective of the Antarcticnew born infant in his first hours of birth, Jim Davidson, Churchill, and Rabbie Burns? Where and when might you come a cropper trying this charming little story feels different to spell Boaz, but starting with the B? And what has three stages - unless itother children's thirty-three, or even ten by Christmas books whilst at the same time goes back to the basics in exploring the York system?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846683734</amazonuk>true nature of Christmas.
}}