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Spirituality and Religion May 2019
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| American Messiahs: False Prophets of a Damned Nation by Adam MorrisWhat it's about: the charismatic figures at the center of some of America's most famous (and infamous) fringe religious movements, from Cyrus Teed to Father Divine to Jim Jones.
Don't miss: the author's discussion of how the Puritans' cultural influence could be tied to the continual rise of messianic religious leaders in America.
You might also like: Captive by Catherine Oxenberg (which details the group NXIVM); Mitch Horowitz's Occult America: The Secret History of How Mysticism Shaped Our Nation. |
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| Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others by Barbara Brown TaylorWhat it is: a thoughtful account of the author's experiences teaching an introductory religion class over the years and what she's learned from watching her students as they go through the course.
About the author: Barbara Brown Taylor is an Episcopal priest, professor at Piedmont College in Georgia, and author of other religious memoirs including Learning to Walk in the Dark and An Altar in the World.
Reviewers say: "Taylor effectively reminds us that religion...involves our deepest selves and is the fabric of our shared lives" (Library Journal). |
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| Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion by Sam HarrisWhat it is: a thought-provoking argument for secular meditation, with an exploration of the cognitive and emotional benefits that can be gained even outside of organized religion.
You might also like: Into the Magic Shop by James Doty and Altered Traits by Daniel Goleman; both of which explore the connections between the mind, body, and spirit.
Want a taste? "I am often asked what will replace organized religion. The answer, I believe, is nothing and everything." |
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| Siddhartha's Brain: Unlocking the Ancient Science of Enlightenment by James KingslandWhat it's about: the modern neuroscience behind ancient Buddhist practice, using the story of Siddhartha Gautama's journey of spiritual development as a framework.
Read it for: the straightforward and concise writing style; the exploration of modern mindfulness-based psychotherapies and the research on their effectiveness.
You might also like: An End to Suffering by Pankaj Mishra or The Quantum and the Lotus by Matthieu Ricard, both of which explore Buddhism and modernity. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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