Benedict Books

I bought, I read, I wonderd. I really think this must be a culminate work on "Nationalism" study among our contemporaries. At first you will see the argument of which this book treats is only limited to a regional/culturual/historical study on so-called Southeast Asia, but the author's brilliant thinking will lead us to the most effective "vantage ground" for analysing the universal "Nationalism" phenomena. I do recommend you this book and I do believe it is one of the must-have-items for every student and researcher who engages his/herself in human or social science.

I just finished this book last night, and I found it to be very inspiring, and insightful. The author is an episcopalian priest, married with family. He really brings an interesting insight to the Rule of Benedict coming from someone who is a pastor by profession and a parent. I found the book to be a concise quick read, and the page layout was just fine. For Oblates or those wishing to become Oblates add this book to your reading list. The author being someone who is married with children lays out simple ways for the laity to incorporate the Rule of Benedict in everyday life. I am Catholic and I did appreciate the neutrality of this book. I believe this book serves well as an excellent read for Benedictines of the Catholic or Anglican tradition.
Pax.

Eric Dean, a professor, Presbyterian minister, and ecumenical oblate of Benedict for several decades, has put together an interesting and useful guide for following the Rule of St. Benedict, a guide for persons not formally trained in spiritual disciplines or theology, but rather those who seek personal fulfillment and structure to their spiritual quest. The Rule of Benedict is best served in connection with a community, but there are parts that are useful for instruction and inspiration in private practice, too.

Benedict's Rule for life includes worship, work, study, prayer, and relaxation. Benedict's Rule requires community -- even for those who become hermits or solitaries, there is a link to the community through worship and through the Rule. No one is alone. This is an important part of the relationship of God to the world, so it is an integral part of the Rule.

Benedict's Rule was set out first in a world that was torn with warfare, economic and political upheaval, and a generally harsh physical environment. This Rule was set out to bring order to a general chaos in which people lived. This is still true today, and men and women all over the world use Benedict's 'little rule for beginners' as a basic structure for their lives.

The first word of the rule is Listen. This is perhaps the best advice for anyone looking for any guidance or rule of life. While Benedict's Rule is decidedly Christocentric and hierarchical (though not as hierarchical as much popular ideas about monastic practice would have one think), it nonetheless can give value to any reader who is looking to construct a practice for oneself.

Benedict's establishment of a monastery was in fact the establishment of a school for spirituality. In his prologue to the Rule, Benedict even states this as his intention. In drawing up its regulations, he intends to set down 'nothing harsh, nothing burdensome.' He sets forth in this brief rule a guide to individual life within community that will bring one ever closer to the divine.

Benedict explores the issues of charity, personality, integrity, and spirituality in all of his rules. From the clothing to the prayer cycle to the reception of guests, all have a purpose that fits into a larger whole, and all have positive charges and negative warnings. Benedict is especially mindful of the sin of pride, be it pride of possession, pride of person, pride of place -- he strives for equality in the community (as a recognition that all are equal before God).

Dean's book is not a handbook on Benedictine spirituality per se, but rather an introduction to those parts of the Benedictine practice that can be useful and adapted to life outside the monastery. Dean is himself an oblate member of a Benedictine order - oblates are those who live outside the monastic community, but have ties to the community materially and spiritually, and adapt the Rule of Benedict to fit a secular life, with due reverence and concern for God.

Dean recounts personal experiences in his own growth toward oblature, as well as lessons learned from key aspects of the Rule. The Rule is restructured according to different, more modern topics. While it is not absolutely required, it is helpful to have a copy of the actual Rule of Benedict (available in any number of translations) to accompany this text.

This is a book of only 100 pages, but it can take a long time to read if one does so properly - Dean's book should be read slowly and intently, letting the spirit form: this is reading for formation, not information.

I've beed something of a fan of BBB for some time so I got a hold of ASCP ASAP--and I was not dissapointed. This story cuts to the heart of where so many of us live, or have lived, or don't want to live. Braddock deals with race relations in a way you won't find in a Hollywood movie, but you may find somewhere out there on the streets--if, like Benny, you dare to look. Braddock's story telling here is uncompromisingly raw, and real, with a writing style that's downright lyrical. This story will stick in your gut for a long time--and it might hurt a little, too. It will change the way even the most tolerant amoung us view race relations, friendhsip and love.

This anthology is a must-have. It explodes/expands surrealism (by grounding it), and it explodes/expands southern literature (by freeing it).

Also, the line-up is first-rate: Andrew Hudgins, Joyce Carol Oates, Lee K Abbott, Laura and Pinckney Benedict, along with William Gay, Robert Olen Butler, Chris Offutt, and Rodney Jones. All rock stars, to my mind.

But then there's the up-and-comers: Kyle Minor, Benjamin Percy, and Jacinda Townsend.

Buy this anthology. Assign it to your students, if you teach. Buy it for friends and family. Stand on top of a very tall hill and yodel its praises until everyone hears you.

This book provides an interesting look into the history of the pueblo and its origin.

Her dying Aunt Judith wants the rich, young heroine to marry her deceitful step-son and even gives them a special ring to use for the wedding. The ring allows her aunt to swap bodies with the other wearer when they each put a ring on at the same time. It goes awry when she drops the aunt's ring and instead, is sent back in time to the aunt's original body where it all began. She must stop her "Aunt" even if it means leaving Drew, the man who has learned to trust in her and she has come to love.

A Theologico-Political Treatise (Tractatus Theologico-Politicus) by Benedict de Spinoza

In the context of a new emerging wave of religious fundamentalism on one hand, and post-modernist denials of the importance of Reason on the other, the book is as important as ever to the intellectual heritage of modern Society.

First published in 1670, this is the book that every Bible student, theologian and evangelical Christian should read. Spinoza's excellent knowledge of languages - he mastered Spanish, Portuguese, Latin, German and Hebrew - gave him an unparalleled linguistic access to virtually all the latest works of Hebraic and Christian philosophy.

In A Theologico-Political Treatise, he applies his knowledge and scholarship - both of which soar far above that of all modern Bible commentators - to questions concerning the interpretation and authorship of Scripture. He is unafraid to tackle the most difficult questions that most others ignore or gloss over.

The scope of the book is immense. Spinoza writes on prophecy and prophets, divine law and miracles, the apostolic mission and the definition of faith. He shows how the Pentateuch could not have been written entirely by Moses, as it describes events that occurred after Moses' death. He discusses Old Testament prophecy and points out the inconsistencies to be found in the writings of Old Testament prophets. (For example: God is said never to repent of anything by one prophet, but to repent of his decisions by another.)

Spinoza questions the claim of the Jews to be a chosen people. He distinguishes faith from philosophy. He shows how ancient Hebrew texts can be translated in different ways. He asserts that while the Old Testament is concerned with history and prophecy, the New Testament is concerned with teaching.

One point that came across strongly to me was that it was the Pharisees who decided which writings to include in the Torah, just the prelates of the Roman Catholic Church decided which writings to include in the New Testament. The shocking truth of the matter is that the entire content of what is known as the `Holy Bible' is an assemblage of books put together in one binding as a result of decisions made by authoritarian committees. (Remember: Jesus called the Pharisees a generation of vipers.)

Another passage (on page 25) that jumped out of the page at me sums up Spinoza's philosophy:

`Everything takes place by the power of God. Nature herself is the power of God under another name and our ignorance of the power of God is co-extensive with our ignorance of the power of Nature.'

The Political Treatise is concerned with Freedom of Speech, the Monarchy, Democracy and human rights. In it, Spinoza sets out much of what we now take for granted. In particular, he says that no nation should invade another sovereign state. George W. Bush and Tony Blair take note.

Basic Flying Instruction: A Comprehensive Introduction to Western Philosophy

A Good Boy Tomorrow: Memoirs of A Fundamentalist Upbringing

This book summarises and completes all of western thought on the body for the last 500 years. Fr. Ashley's breadth and sheer genius cannot be praised highly enough. For the serious thinker of any denomination or of none, this book will convince you of God's design for man and the human body. It is a natural law tour de force.