[[Category:New Reviews|Spirituality and Religion]]
[[Category:Spirituality and Religion|*]] __NOTOC__ <!--Remove -->
{{newreview
|author=Stuart Hill and Sandra Lawrence
|summary=Jacob was the second born of twin boys and resented the privileges that would come to Esau who was, after all only a few minutes older than him, but would get twice the inheritance from their father, Isaac, than that which would come to Jacob. Even in his teens Jacob plotted to usurp Esau’s position. What would happen if Esau died? But Esau was fit and a born hunter. Jacob thought about killing him, but the stories of what had happened to Cain and Abel came to mind and he was determined that he would not make the mistakes which Cain had made, so he developed an alternative plan and took advantage of Esau’s well-known greed: he was always desperate for something to eat. Esau is the man who sold his birthright for a bowl of lentil stew.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1482802120</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Rowan Williams
|title=The Edge of Words: God and the Habits of Language
|rating=4
|genre=Spirituality and Religion
|summary=This, Rowan Williams' first book since standing down as Archbishop of Canterbury, is based on a series of lectures that he delivered as Gifford Lectures in Edinburgh in 2013. Gifford Lectures are famous for their examination of developments in natural theology; a branch of theology that argues the existence of God based on reason and nature. In these lectures Rowan sort to examine how we as human beings develop use and process language, particularly when it comes to the use of language around faith and our perception and understanding of God.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1472910435</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|title=Like a Tramp, Like A Pilgrim: On Foot, Across Europe to Rome
|author=Harry Bucknall
|rating=4
|genre=Travel
|summary=What links London and Rome? Their capital city status for one, of course. One has a St Paul's cathedral, the other a St Peter's (although pedants will say not). They both have a football team who wear red and white. Oh, and the ancient pilgrim route called the Via Francigena – although the pedant will again say that that strictly starts at that other pilgrimage site, Canterbury. As for Harry Bucknall, the Via starts at St Paul's and should end at St Peter's. Whether or not Harry himself will connect the two cities – and entirely on foot – is the subject of this travel book.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408187248</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|title=An Atheist's History of Belief
|author=Matthew Kneale
|rating=4.5
|genre=Politics and Society
|summary=I’ve been an atheist since I was old enough to take a view on the subject. (Many atheists would argue that we’re all atheists at birth, but that’s not a subject for a book review). I did have to take Religious Studies at school but have entirely forgotten almost everything I learned!
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099584425</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Reverend Adam Smallbone
|title=The Rev Diaries
|rating=4.5
|genre=Humour
|summary=Adam Smallbone wasn’t always a vicar. He used to work for the Bristol Housing Department, enabling his father-in-law to tell everyone he worked 'in property'. From there, his initial calling was to a rural church in Suffolk which did nothing to prepare him for this, his current London inner city parish. Indeed, he's not prepared for Adoha (the Nigerian parishioner with 19 grandchildren and 'the bottom of God') or Colin, the homeless alcoholic who has adopted Adam and his wife Alex (Mrs Vicarage to Colin). But then Alex also has a lot to get used to; after all, she didn't actually marry a vicar.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0718178394</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|title=Burqas, Baseball, and Apple Pie: Being Muslim in America
|author=Ranya Tabari Idliby
|rating=4.5
|genre=Spirituality and Religion
|summary=I can’t imagine it’s that easy to be a Muslim in most areas of the USA. Even if you don’t ‘look like’ a Muslim, even if you don’t drop to your knees in the direction of Mecca 5 times a day, even if you give your kids arguably Jewish names. And being openly Muslim cannot have got any easier in the wake of 9/11. This book examines one Muslim-American family’s life and the constant challenges they face from friends, neighbours and teachers.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0230341845</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|title=The Atheist's Prayer
|author=Amy R Biddle
|rating=3.5
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=I don’t shy away from a book with a little edge, in fact [[:Category:Chuck Palahniuk|Chuck Palahniuk]] is one of my favourite authors and his books can be so sharp you can shave with them. On the surface ''The Atheist’s Prayer'' would seem to be courting controversy; why else have such a provocative title? But, is it really that shocking? Nope. This is a story about how people deal with the modern world and what happens when dangerous ideals infect a vulnerable group.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1780995822</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|title=Mindfulness and the Natural World
|author=Claire Thompson
|rating=3
|genre=Spirituality and Religion
|summary=This book appealed to me for a couple of reasons; I have recently completed a workshop on mindfulness and have been attempting to put some of the ideas into practice throughout my daily life, and I love nature and spending time outdoors cycling. Therefore, this seemed the perfect choice to learn more about combining the two and exploring fresh perspectives in my everyday life. I began reading this hardcover with high expectations, particularly as the book was beautifully laid out with unique artwork and philosophical quotes included. However, although there were some insightful ideas and inspiring thoughts presented amongst the five chapters, overall I was a little disappointed in what the book had to offer.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1782401024</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|title=Rogerson's Book of Numbers: The culture of numbers from 1001 Nights to the Seven Wonders of the World
|author=Barnaby Rogerson
|rating=4
|genre=Spirituality and Religion
|summary=One book, split into two testaments, regarding a holy trinity, the principal part known from four writers, in a world abutting another where five pillars are important, up against a world where a six-pointed star holds so many meanings… It's obvious from just a quick dash through the most schoolboy-friendly parts of religion that numbers are important. This book, although counting down from multitudes 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 is concerned. In the end, I'm sure it's a lot more user-friendly, interesting, and will be a lot more popular, than the original Book of Numbers.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1781250995</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|title=Inventing the Enemy: Essays on Everything
|author=Umberto Eco
|rating=4
|genre=History
|summary=Imagine a sumptuous Italian feast in the sunlit-bathed ancient countryside near Milan. Next to you a gentleman talks and eats with furious energy. He tells of Dante, Cicero, and St Augustine and quotes a multitude of obscure troubadours from the Middle Ages. He repeats himself, gestures flamboyantly, nudges you sharply in the ribs, belches and even breaks wind. His conversation contains nuggets of information but in the flow of his discourse there is a fondness for iteration and reiteration. He throws bones over his shoulder and when he reaches the cheese course - definitely too much information on the mouldy bacteria! When you finally get up things the elderly gentleman has said prompt your imagination. You are better informed, intrigued and prodded to examine his discourse again and again, even if only to challenge what you have heard. Such are the effects of reading Eco’s essays in ''Inventing the Enemy''.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099553945</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|title=Sisters of the East End
|author=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 of St John the Divine, 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>
}}