Category Archives: books

Life After God

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I recently read a very interesting book, Society Without God by Phil Zuckerman. Zuckerman is an American sociologist whose book studies the spiritual (or aspiritual) outlook of Nordic Europeans—specifically Danes and Swedes—and how the decline in their religious concerns is reflected in the state of their society. Zuckerman conducted his research mostly in Denmark primarily through lengthy first-person interviews. He relates portions of these conversations throughout the book, with little emphasis on statistics and data (though that is interspersed), making the study highly readable and… Continue reading →

God Says Yes To Me

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I had a great and restorative day of being myself (by myself) today.  I checked a book out from the library called Faith & Doubt because I loved this poem on the back cover: GOD SAYS YES TO ME I asked God if it was okay to be melodramatic and she said yes I asked her if it was okay to be short and she said it sure is I asked her if I could wear nail polish or not wear nail polish and she… Continue reading →

A New Kind of Christianity

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A few weeks ago, I wrote a somewhat emotionally reactive post about (hyper-) Calvinism and the seeming militant commitment to it by its adherents.  I didn’t mention it then, but the words were in response to a book I had just read, Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist’s Journey with the New Calvinists.  Though I finished the book with a bit more insight regarding this resurgent movement, I am continually dismayed by the certainty and hubris displayed in this particular way of viewing both God and… Continue reading →

In the Motherhood

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A while back I asked my husband if he thought the American way of family life–a single nuclear family living in a private home–is the best model available.  He was either being wise or rude; I can’t remember that he engaged the debate.  The question lingered and resurfaced while reading an excellent book, Honeymoon in Tehran by Azadeh Moaveni.  The book itself is a wonderful, surreal portrait of life in modern Iran, but it was the author’s final personal remarks that hinted at this dilemma. … Continue reading →

Asking the Right Questions

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It seems to me that an awful lot of people are talking, but not enough people are asking questions.  One person who I can always count on to ask great questions is my good friend, Lynnea, as you can see from her many thought-provoking posts here on PMIAB.  I have found another wonderful inquirer in David Dark, who raises questions as well as eyebrows from the front cover of his newest book, The Sacredness of Questioning Everything.  You can find numerous reviews of Dark’s book… Continue reading →

Three Women

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I read a lot of memoir and this summer brought two remarkable women into my life.  The first is Shirin Ebadi, a Nobel Peace Prize award winner from Iran.  Shirin Ebadi grew up during the Shah’s government and lived in Tehran during his overthrow and the subsequent rule of the Islamic Republic under the ayatollahs.  She became Iran’s first female judge, but following the revolution found it difficult to continue her career, eventually being forced to give up her judgeship as well as her ability… Continue reading →

Dating Jesus

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I recently read Dating Jesus: A Story of Fundamentalism, Feminism, and the American Girl by Susan Campbell.  As soon as I heard about it and read the Amazon reviews, I knew I had to read it. I have a lot in common with Campbell.  I grew up in small towns and in my early years attended a church of Christ.  Also, like in my family, it was her stepfather that brought the family into the church of Christ, though he seemed less committed to it… Continue reading →

Going to Heaven

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Lainie’s recent writings on the ongoing debates in the Episcopal Church reminded me of an excellent book I read a few years ago–a biography of Bishop Gene Robinson.  My review… Going to Heaven: The Life and Election of Bishop Gene Robinson Elizabeth Adams Soft Skull Press, 2006 On November 2, 2003, Gene Robinson garnered national media attention as he became the first openly gay bishop ordained in the Episcopal Church.  Elizabeth Adams offers readers a look inside the man who—though far from ordinary—would be an… Continue reading →

more spiritual books

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I have benefitted from many of the books mentioned by Lainie. In my recent years, I have been particularly inspired by Marcus Borg and his incredible gift for expressing spiritual truths. Three memoir writers already mentioned, Lauren Winner, Anne Lamott, and Frank Schaeffer are also wonderful, enlightened writers with fascinating stories to tell. In college, I was introduced to a lot of popular hot-at-the-moment books, mostly Max Lucado and Bible studies. I even worked at a Christian bookstore, the kind that are actually more like… Continue reading →

Spiritual Books

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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.