Religion Books

The book is concise, covers a wide range of topics and is entertaining while describing a complicated religion. An enjoyable read, very informative and filled with fascinating facts, thoughts, history and possible future of Judaism. I would recommend this for anyone wanting to start learning about Judaism and the fascinating culture, traditions and religions.

This book is in no form an "Idiot's" guide. Rabbi Benjamin Blech does an absolute brilliant job articulating some of the most difficult concepts in Jewish thought and Judaism today. Based on his book "Understaing Judaism" published by Jason Aronson, Blech touches on almost every aspect of Jewish life and for the right amount of time. Not too little, yet not too boring.

After reading this book I realized that after years of study, I am still an "idiot".

They need to remove the "Complete Idiot's Guide" from the title. I feel that this cheapens or insults the wonderful message and body of work inside this marvelous book. G-d's message and word should not be down played as this title implies.

With that said the Rabbi's message is very articulate and insightful. He is able to blend ancient teachings with modern analogies wonderfully. I highly recommend this book!!

This book provides an accurate basic account of the Jewish faith for all who are interested. It also adds amusing references to pop culture and real-life sitations.

This is a great book for a non Jew to get an overall appreciation for the beliefs, practices and customs of the Jewish religion. I am a Christian who wanted to get a better understanding and appreciation for Judaism. In Jan. 2007 I spent two weeks in the Holy Land and when I came back I wanted to get a fuller appreciation for Judaism. This book gave me that.

At age 45, after considering I've been in the driver seat of my life for the last 14 years provided many opportunities to at the very least give up whining about my circumstances, and on the brighter side recognize my capacity to create, lovelier things. The essay's written by Steve Roberts, however, broadened my perspective even further. Distinguishing power as an ability to be resilient in the face of any eventuality opened my heart to endless possibilities. I have been most struck by the simplicity of experiencing "Love", & "Being Loving", as perhaps an ultimate goal along with listening to my heart. Moreover, owning that I am the knower in my life. With gratitude and deep appreciation I thank you Steve, for sharing your life and your wisdom. I recommend your book often usually followed with a desire to know how it was for them.

Reading this book is like spending time with a dear friend, in the truest sense of the word friend, meaning someone who brings out the best in you. I was entertained, educated and touched by all I read and experienced in reading Cool Mind, Warm Heart. Each time I set the book down I was changed, and I saw the world through fresh eyes. Whoever you are you will love it.

This wonderful book becomes a subtle yet pervasive presence in the reader's life. To experience life through Steve's eyes is like having a still small voice, a Howard Cosells on your shoulder whispering, "You're so much more than you think; there is so much more than you see. Look at it this way, from this angle, over here..."

Reading these candidly written stories, I am invited to consider in ever deeper ways the perspective that everything, every unexpected change offers opportunity to become more than I've considered before. One moment I am reading a story of a man's relationship with his mother who has Alzheimer's or the Swami he met at 8 or his love of wrestling Vermont stones into sculpture, and the next I am wondering why I would choose anything less than love as a response to life. It is like walking in the woods and suddenly glimpsing a grand buck through the trees: I glimpse the greatness I am capable of if I will choose it.

Cool Mind Warm Heart doesn't stay on the pages; it calls my truest self forward, and increases my confidence to be that. I invite you to enjoy the extraordinarily ordinary moments Steve celebrates in his stories.

This is one of the rare books whose stories I "watch" as my eyes move across the written words. So much more than a lovely read, Cool Mind Warm Heart is fully entertaining and compelling. My heart danced from beginning to end!

Cool Mind Warm Heart is a grand adventure in asking the question, "Who am I committed to being beyond all else in life?" Each essay is a delicious piece of honesty and contains the purity of spirit that provides the reader an opportunity to consider life from the vantage of our greatness, not our limitations. Steve Roberts' ability to convey the simplicity of the human spirit is a breath of fresh air, especially in those moments when one feels as though they are gasping for a breath. This book will cause you to consider the vantage from which you view all life and begin to ask your own pointed and poignant questions about what motivates you to do the things you do. And above all else, this book will cause you to smile and laugh out loud!
Kenda Stewart

There's a lot of talk nowadays about end times, and most of the information comes out of the Bible's book of Daniel. Like any book of prophecy, Daniel can make your head spin as you try to put the pieces together. Beth Moore does a really great job of bringing understanding and depth to this hard-to-understand book. With her usual great scholarship and humor, Moore sure makes you understand why people are talking about the imminent return of Jesus. You'll either get excited or get your socks scared off, but you'll have the knowledge you need to understand how it goes. I also watched the DVD's that go with this book, and I would recommend that approach.

This is another amazing study by Beth Moore. She opens up our eyes to Biblical history in a way that makes it possible to understand, and to make sense of what scripture speaks about the future. It is imperative to understand this section of Biblical history if one is to study and understand the Book of Revelation. Beth Moore makes Biblical history interesting and fun!

We did this study with our women's group at church. The weekly DVD sessions are phenomenal and not to be missed. The daily lessons for the women to do at home were fairly short (15 to 25 minutes each day)and easy to understand. They lent themselves well to discussions when we returned as a group each week. I enjoyed the whole study and learned so much from it that I am leading the study again for a group of women who missed out on the first one!
Beth Moore is an excellent teacher and makes the book of Daniel easy to understand. The first six weeks were on Babylon and the correlations with today's society. The last six weeks were on end times prophecy. As with all prophecy interpretations there are differing views, premillenial, postmillenial, and so on. If you have a strong bent towards one side or the other you will find issues with the last six weeks of the study; as one reviewer of this book did. If you do not know much about prophecy then Mrs. Moore does a good job explaining her stance and how the last six chapters of Daniel fit.
A reveiw is just my opinion of a particular book. As such, I believe this study is worth 5 stars! Enjoy!

Beth Moore has written an EXCELLENT study/experience of the book of Daniel! For best effect, you'll want to purchase and watch her video series as you work your way through this Bible study. I read her book after completing my own book, Future History: Understanding the Book of Daniel and End Times Prophecy, and wished I had read her volume as part of my research. Beth has a clear writing style and a personal manner of connecting with women. I highly recommend this book.

Although the majority of Beth Moore's studies are very good, in the area of Daniel's prophecies, this one is woefully inadequate. Moore teaches the dispensational premillennial view, a theological system that was created in the 1800s. There is no attempt to "study" what the Scriptures say regarding the prophecies. She simply states her theology with very little biblical support and provides no balance from historical millennial positions held by the church fathers. I got the impression that she was simply regurgitating what she had read somewhere. I don't believe she even mentions historic premillennialism and it was clear from her uninformed comments regarding the amillennial and postmillennial positions that she hasn't done her homework there either.

What I found particularly upsetting was that in the second DVD lesson, Moore reads an excerpt from a 1969 sermon by Ray Stedman entitled "The Last Act" which contained so many inaccuracies about American and European history that I was embarrassed for my church showing it. (You can find this sermon on the internet if you "google" it.) Stedman tries to make the case that America and Europe are part of the fallen Roman Empire. (This is required by the dispensationalist view.) At one point Stedman claims that because German leaders are called "Kaisers," that this is evidence that the Roman Empire was the foundation for the government of Germany! I was disappointed that Moore would use this material as a part of her study.

Although the analogies Moore draws between sinful Babylon and modern-day America are very good, I found them to be overshadowed by the poor exegesis and lack of balance in the prophetic side of the study.

Adya is a great communicator of truth. His message truly delivers with so much patience and humor. He will lead you to the doorway. Caution! Once you have entered that door don't be disappointed to find yourself still doing the dishes.

[...]

It's hard to put it into words, there's just something unique about his teachings. He doesn't talk endlessly about koans or sitting like most Zen books. He describes the craziest experiences but emphasizes that the only good thing about spiritual experiences are to find what awakening isn't. He also says that you don't get a thing 'you' want when awakening. He speaks of awakening as enlightenment like experiences and also moment to moment work, thus seeming to go between both popular schools of Japanese Zen. He has an awareness of western and Hindu mysticism also, but keeps coming back to Zen of course. So he is not some sort of integrative teacher, although I had the unfortunate experience of finding one of his books in the new age section of a book store.
I believe he recieved transmission from a Soto teacher.
Recommended for any Zen student or any mystic whatsoever.

Adyashanti shows a fresh and impeccable clarity in this book and brilliantly leads the reader past the noise of the mind and its concepts to rediscover the constant, quiet, untaintable sense of beingness that is ever present.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2K90J6J1VNKGL Please enjopy my video review of Emptiness Dancing. Mark Waller author of Awakening: Exposing the Voice of the Mosaic Mind

Brilliant writing doesn't lie in how profound the terms are, but rather, in the simplicity that the unfathomably profound can be expressed in. Adyashanti is gifted with the ability to accomplish the task. The light that every chapter is able to shine upon the mind is put into terminology and sentence structure so simple that any individual will be able to allow the meaning behind the words immediately have an affect on them. So simplified, so wise.

At last I found someone who knows what he's talking about, at last I found a book concerning Islam written by a western writer that's really worth being read, at last I found the sound of reason that should be listened very carefully by the west as a whole, at last I found the book that must be read by the western people specially the Americans, at last I found the writer who can face the anti-Islamic propaganda with logic and by stating the facts about Islam.

This book that's called "Even Angels Ask: A Journey to Islam in America" is a book that's really worth being read specially by the new converters to Islam because this book is really able to strengthen the faith of any new converter who is still confused and have many questions need to be answered, this book answers many of the critical questions that new converters have about Islam, the writer of this book "Jeffrey Lang" is one of the best writers I ever read to, he has a special way of discussing and explaining the critical issues wisely and calmly and indeed he has a convincing way of writing.

A wise man said "There's always a light in the end of the tunnel", and I can consider this book a way to lighten the darkness in most of the western minds.

Even Angels Ask presents Islam from a modern perspective, to Americans as the audience. It explores some of the questions that usually concerns people who approach religion intellectually and answers them with impressive explanation not lacking spirituality itself. It's a balanced combination of faith and reason. Lang tries to address some questions considered taboos in the traditional Muslim minds, and discusses them according to his understanding. Compelling.

The book explains about the fundamentals of Islam and how the very basic of the tenets work together to provide a comprehensive guidance to the believers. Understanding the concepts and the virtues makes them more meaningful to practising Muslims. Very interesting. He stresses on the need to approach the Islamic practices for their universal values while adhering to the path, instead of taking everything literally without considering the applicability in the current context and situation. Pretty thought-provoking.

Lang talks about some of the things he found prevalent in Muslim communities, which either weaken themselves or even contradict the teachings of Islam. He suggests some actions to take in order to put Islam as the moving forces to the existing communities as well as the truthful way to be projected to new converts and to the non-Muslims.

I'm born Muslim, and indeed it is a humbling read. Although I'm not an American nor am I a resident, I lived in Ann Arbor in mid-90s. Some of the things he speaks of can be applied elsewhere too.

All in all, I'm very satisfied reading it. It's a gem.

This book is one of the most interesting books I have read in a long time. It is on par with 'Struggling to Surrender' (Dr. Lang's previous book). I could not let the book down. The logical approach to all arguments augmented with personal experiences that most can relate to but do not think about much simply makes this a book worth reading over and over again. Thank you Dr. Lang for two excellent books

Recently, I was dating a Muslim girl who informed me that in order to continue the relationship with her, I had to convert to Islam. Because I was completely in love with this girl I actually gave this serious thought and read this book and "Struggling to Surrender" by the same author. I can only assume that the author was very honest and upfront in his feelings. Unfortunately, Lang's arguments justifying Islamic practices and beliefs were very weak and, after reading his interpretations of Islam and rationalizations for certain troubling tenets of the faith, )particularly regarding the status of women and the role of Islam in politics along with Islamic concepts of religious tolerance), I was left much more troubled about converting than I was before reading his books. I am very happy for Prof. Lang that he has found contentment in Islam but I am not as ready as he is to spin everything in the Quran and the hadith in order to make it more palatable to American society at large. My intellectual and moral problems with Islam were not answered or assuaged after reading the book. On the contrary, reading the book as well as reading the Quran and biographies of Muhammed convinced me that Islam is incompatible with western concepts of democracy and fall very short of contemporary ideas of equality and tolerance. Being tolerant by the standards' of 7th century Arabia doesn't mean it is tolerant according to contemporary concepts of "toleranc." Also, Lang's anti-Semitism is obvious and troubling. Equally troubling is how his political views and ideology are totally determined by his religion, not be any objective analysis. Also, I am not a Christian but was raised Catholic. After reading Lang's arguments, I actually started to realize the philosophical superiority of Christian social thought, even if Christians and Christian societies fail to live up to it. He almost made me want to become Christian again! (almost!) Far from convincing me that Islam is a peaceful, wonderful religion, he convinced me (a person who actually wanted to convert!) that Islam is fundamentally intolerant of other faiths, irrational, and incompatible with progressive social thought.

If you want to read a book by an apologist for Islam who fails to make any convincing arguments to justify Islamic practices, this is the book for you. If you actually want rationally argued justifications for Muslim practices that might satisfy your intellectual curiosity about the religion, go somewhere else.

This is without a doubt a must read book for anyone raised in the West, specifically in America, who is intrigued by Islam as a viable spiritual path. In spite of the stereotypes and media bashing that takes place regarding Islam and Muslims there are many in the West who are converting. Mr. Lang is one of them.

The story of his journey is told humbly, cautiously, even reservedly. And this is the merit of the book. Strangely enough, his perspective allows for great conversation on the distinction between Islam's claims of absolute truth in a religious sense and those of the cultural edifice that surrounds Islam, often confused with the religious claims of Islam.

Mr. Lang is thus in a unique position to provide just critique from within the fold of Islam to goad Muslims to what is real and true within Islam. And his views are well articulated and crystal clear.

The story of his reversion to Islam is told in a heartfelt manner and is very touching. I have corresponded with him and he is a genuine seeker, one who is not satisfied with the status quo and the formal and ritualistic. This book expresses his longings both before and after is reversion. It is told in a very human and very heartfelt manner.

It is a must read for Westerners to understand the difficulty in understanding Islam and for Muslims outside of the West toward realizing what is and is not cultural when it comes to Islam's claims at universal truth.

Thanks for buying and reading my book. I am blessed to have written it and blessed for the life that I have had. I feel so fortunate to have overcome my neglectful and abusive parents and to be a parent myself.

God Bless.

John

We sometimes need a gentle reminder that there is a force working in our lives that is greater than ourselves. God is in the Kitchen is such a reminder. The simple truths found in these stories show us the extraordinary power of God and His presence in our lives. This book is truly inspirational, and I thank Dr. Seita for sharing it with us.

This is a book of great insight from one whose one history was filled with foster homes, institutions and abuse and neglect. His words of inspiration coming from where he came from are remarkable and give hope to all of us. The title story, God is in the Kitchen, is a close to proof to the existence of God as you can get. Whenever I struggle, I find hope in the idea that God is in the Kitchen conspiring to help me always.

Buy and read, maybe your life will be changed like mine was.

As the author of Finding Fish, like John, I feel tremendously blessed that after my own difficult childhood, a childhood that we both shared in the same city and in the same foster care system (perhaps even sharing the same caseworkers), that we both, given our sussecces and insights, have an obligation to share our stories and feelings so those in despair can see the hope that exists. John's book is a wonderful gift that should be read by all who want to be inspired. God really is in the kitchen.

As the author of Finding Fish, like John, I feel tremendously blessed that after my own difficult childhood, a childhood that we both shared in the same city and in the same foster care system (perhaps even sharing the same caseworkers), that we both, given our sussecces and insights, have an obligation to share our stories and feelings so those in despair can see the hope that exists. John's book is a wonderful gift that should be read by all who want to be inspired. God really is in the kitchen.

This is one of the most sensible devotional books I've eveer read. It is written with warmth, intellilgence, and humor--and gives the read much to think about. It should not be read straight through but in small chunks that can be enjoyed, then thought about at some length.

I have loved this book since I read it in college almost 30 years ago and, unfortunately, lost my copy. The popularity of this beautiful set of essay-like prayers is evident by how rare and expensive used copies of this book were. Reprinting this wonderful book was a answer to my specific prayer and I am buying copies to give as gifts. Favorites are Bits and Pieces, and Thank God as well as so many others. You, too, will find favorites that you will want to share. I suggest,as does the author, that you read them sparingly, one at a time. They are rich, like chocolate.

My highschool girlfriend bought me this book "just because" one day. I still have that dog-eared tattered copy floating around. Time and again this book brought me inspiration, peace or clarity. I have shared devotions with friends, even wrote a sermon based around one of the inspired thoughts. It is truly a God inspired book. No other book in this genre even comes close. If it is your first time trhough this book be prepared to smile, cry and cringe as these words will speak to your heart and spirit again and again.

I read this book back in the 1970s, and it disappeared, who knows where -- but I would like to have another copy. I will keep looking for the new printing, now that it is March, and hope that Amazon will be carrying it!

I, like most of the other reviewers of this book, fell in love with it in the early 70's. It is the only book in my library that I have never lent out. It affected my faith and my own writing style so tremendously that you can quote one line and I can tell you which one it came from. It sent me on a quest to find Dr. Cheney and do what I could to get the book reprinted so I could finally share it. And I did...and we did. IT'S BACK AND COMING IN LATE MARCH 2005.

I got this book yesterday and I will have read by tonight. I can not put this book down! Joseph knew betrayal and trials. The author explores Joseph's struggles and helps us explore ours. All I need to know is that God hasn't forgotten me in the midst of this mess and if I cling to Him He will bring me through...as gold, even. This book is biblical and that alone soothes my soul. It's an easy read. I'm not sure what Bible translation he uses, but my guess is King James. That's okay, because it just makes me dig in my NIV a little deeper. I'm telling you...if you are desperately looking for God in your current betrayal, struggle, problem...this book will lead you to Him if you're willing to be lead.

This is a good read. Each chapter came from a Sunday's sermon -- so easy to read a few pages and set aside, and easily pickup again later. I strongly recommend this book!

An absolute read for everyone
essential for anyone who has been "screwed over"

If someone or some organization has "done you dirt" then you'll live longer and happier if you read this book.

This is truly one of the best books ever written. Actually, anything by RT Kendall is a book with substance

This book is filled with scriptures and valuable information. I highly recommend it.

So many people have their own interpretations of what is happening when you go through something, but R. T. Kendall gives you biblical truths that give you concrete information of what is really going on.

A must read.

I came across a copy of this book a few months after my mother's passing. Although I was familiar with various perspectives on the spiritual and transpersonal aspects of dying this book was my guide to understanding some of the subtleties of her physical and mental withdrawal. It provided me with some "aha!" insights.

This insightful book about the "psycho-spiritual" aspects of dying, draws upon the perspectives of several spiritual traditions, largely eastern. I found it to be a wonderful blend of Sogyal Rinpoche and Elizabeth Kubler-Ross.

The topic does not make for easy, light, quick reading, but it is not difficult to understand if one keeps an open mind, regardless of one's faith. The material can be as fluid, thought-provoking, or as complex as a reader perceives it to be.

It ought to be required reading for any medical student and professional, as a mind-opener, much as a world-religions glass educates people about different faiths; no conversion necessary. Many thanks to Ms. Singh for her valuable work!

E.A. Davis, author, Waiting for Wings: Accompanying a Parent to the Edge of Life

With profound wisdom and insight, Kathleen Dowling Singh offers a uniquely clear view of the arc of life, encouraging readers to open into the gifts of awareness made available through facing death. This book will open your eyes to truths about where we came from and where we're going, and help clarify the beauty of this journey of human existence. Her writing style is clear and incisive, as well as compassionate and poetic. I recommend this book to everyone who desires greater self-awareness and who enjoys expanding their consciousness.

I have read many books on the dying as I work with hospices and have to say, this is one of the best books I have read yet. It not only gives the experience of the person dying, but also with those surrounding and accompanying the person on this "journey".
Very complete and well written book.

Kathleen Dowling Singh presents excellent descriptions of many healings that are possible in the process of dying. While her transpersonal orientation is apparently inspired by Sufi (mystic Muslim) traditions, her writing is relevant universally. As she notes, "I am an ordinary person working with ordinary people dying ordinary deaths." ( p. 3).

Singh specifies that this book is for people who have a space of time towards the end of their life - or are close to someone in this situation - and can contemplate what lies ahead. It is not for people who are already in the process of transition. At this stage, one's business is simply to get on with what is happening, not to distance oneself from it through analyzing it.

I found Singh's discussion on qualities of the Nearing Death Experience to be helpful handles on aspects of the deathing process. These include the qualities of relaxation, withdrawal, radiance, interiority, silence, the sacred, transcendence, knowing, intensity, merging, and experienced perfection.

Taking a more structured perspective, Singh considers stages of releasing of controls over psychophysical functions (Karnofsky scale - Appendix II) and relates them to stages in the process of dying which she finds conceptually helpful, including chaos, surrender and transcendence.

Singh's discussion brings an atmosphere of peace, acceptance and healing to what is often in our society a time fraught with anxieties, fears and distress. An example of this attitude is evident in the following observation:

"The AIDS community has called its disease `Accelerated Individual Discovery of Self' and has referred to the pandemic as `enlightenment at gunpoint.' This phrase applies equally to any one of us who is dying." (p. 15)

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who is involved in the dying process or just interested in understanding it in greater depth, from a healing perspective.

Assuming the Platonic narrative is an important aid to those who are dying over an extended gentle period Singh incorporates much of the vocabulary -- from pop-psychology and philosophy -- to build a coherent picture that must certainly soothe us as we die. Here, at the point where Aristotle would challenge us to recognize our soul ends with the body and accept that our soul was past tense -- a narrative sure to depress those who enjoyed life and wish for eternity -- reiterating the Platonic narrative using current idioms is a great service to our dying process. The reassurance that this interpretation of the narrative is persuasive depends on accepting Singh's expereinces which we cannot duplicate. Indeed, those who have had such experience, being present at many deaths, have told me they did not share such experience. But it is a safe argument since we cannot test it. It is beleivable to those who wish to beleive it and that may be enough.

A.A. literature and independent research make clear the relevance of this little book to the A.A., 12-Step, Recovery picture. See Dr. Bob's Library, 3rd ed.[[ASIN:1885803257 ; DR. BOB and the Good Oldtimers ; The Books Early AAs Read for Spiritual Growth [[ASIN:1885803265 ]; The Akron Genesis of Alcoholics Anonymous[[ASIN:1885803176 ; and Turning Point: A History of Early A.A.'s Spiritual Roots and Successes.[[ASIN:1885803079. A.A.'s co-founder Dr. Bob said hundreds of time that 1 Corinthians 13 was an absolutely essential part of the early A.A. program. He thought so much of this Drummond study that he circulated The Greatest Thing in the World widely among the A.A. pioneers. It was part of his library. It was part of his expression of the meaning of love. For that's what the Corinthians chapter and the Drummond book are about.

I heard Larry Burkett highly praise this book years ago so I got one. I agree, this is an awesome book. read just a few pages and it will change your heart to love others more, no matter how grouchy you are at the time. I prefer the older editions of this book, they fit in my purse better

My brother sent me a copy. He liked it so much he brought fifty copies to share with friends. I in turn have purchased copies to give away. It is the Sermon on the Mount, The Gospel of John, and First John all in one by way of expounding upon Paul's great love expose. Gary Trawick.

This book by Henry Drummond is a much-neglected meditation on I Corinthians 13. With kindness and gentle encouragement, Drummond walks the reader through the characteristics of love we all fail so miserably to exhibit in our own lives. Well-written and short, this book should be on the shelf of anyone who is trying to live Scripture.

Hadn't read Henry Drummond's book in years, but I recently picked it up again and re-read it and found it had lost none of its power for me. This book can be read in twenty minutes, but it's a twenty minutes that can change your perception of life and love.

Drummond, who was an inspiring liberal-thinking Christian of the 1800's, divides Paul's chapter on love in First Corinthians into three parts: "love contrasted," "love analyzed," and "love defended." He shows us what love isn't, shows us what it is, and defends it as the "greatest thing in the world." He helps us understand that it is not a burden to love - it's the easiest thing in the world!

This book is one of the most inspiring pieces of Christian literature I've ever read.