Books have been an important part of my ongoing spiritual journey. Here are just a few of them.

The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions by Marcus J. Borg and N.T. Wright
Girl Meets God: On the Path to a Spiritual Life by Lauren Winner
Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
The Heart of Christianity: Rediscovering a Life of Faith by Marcus J. Borg
Addicted to Mediocrity: Contemporary Christians and the Arts by Franky Schaeffer
Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art by Madeleine L’Engle
20 Hot Potatoes Christians Are Afraid to Touch by Tony Campolo
Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
and oh yeah–the Bible–my personal favorite versions are the NRSV and the TNIV. I also like the KJV when I just want to enjoy the language.

I know I’m forgetting some important ones here, but these are the first to leap to mind. They are kind of an odd mix, and I think I’ve edited out some that were once important to me, but which have faded in importance as I have changed spiritually.

How about you, Anne and Judith?  I know you both are big readers, too.  I probably have fewer books than either of you–I’m a big reader but I’m addicted to fiction.  I confess to having a bit of a short attention span with drier tomes.

Anyone else out there reading this?  Feel free to chime in and tell us what books have changed your life.

1. Pam Says:
   June 20th, 2009 at 11:12 pm

   It’s not a book, but a blog I’ll bet y’all would enjoy is “Glory to God for All Things” by Fr. Stephen Freeman. Fr. Stephen is an Orthodox priest and very accessible. He has a strong sense of the sacredness of all things — which he calls the “one storey universe”. Check it out! http://fatherstephen.wordpress.com/ Looks like he is going to be away for a few days, but all his archives are there.

2. Anne Says:
   June 20th, 2009 at 11:14 pm

   I like to say that I tend to read things almost above my comprehension. I find Marcus Borg amazing. I just started the book on Paul. The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions was eye opening to me. My favorite books are often autobiography or coming of age stories. Anne Lamont is great. She is open about struggles and doesn’t portray herself as one who has it all figured out. It is refreshing to read a book on religious themes that isn’t full of all the answers.

3. Rosemary Says:
   June 20th, 2009 at 11:27 pm

   Pam, thanks for the comment and the great link. We’re always looking for great blogs to read as well as books.

   Anne, yes, don’t know why I didn’t list any Anne Lamott–love her stuff–she’s so down-to-earth and real but always striving toward God.

4. Steve Hayes Says:
   June 21st, 2009 at 1:59 am

   For the life of the world by Fr Alexander Schmemann — showed me that the Western split between social gospel and spiritual gospel is an entirely unnecessary distraction.

5. Caroline Says:
   June 22nd, 2009 at 10:03 pm

   Religion and Sexuality/ Passionnate Debates by Canon Dr. CK Robertson, The Heart of Christianity by Marcus Borg, The Gnostic Gospels by Elaine Pagels (?), and Reaching Out Without Dumbing Down by Marva Dawn.

6. Christina Says:
   July 21st, 2009 at 12:17 pm

   This is an amazing compilation of books. A book that seems to be missing is Mitch Albom’s Five People You Meet In Heaven. Although not necessarily religious, I would classify it as being spiritual, and definitely a great motivator to not take our lives for granted. Mitch Albom also has a new non-fiction book coming out, Have A Little Faith, about a rabbi and a pastor’s devotion to their faiths. In addition, it discusses how easy it is for so many of us stray from our faith, which ever faith it may be. I saw the youtube video the other day and I thought I’d share it with you guys because I know you’ll appreciate it here. Take care everyone and I hope you enjoy the video:

   http://bit.ly/gagZ7