Description:
Editor Thomas Craughwell (A History of God) has assembled a collection of prayers, hymns, and simple blessings from all walks and all beliefs, including Native Americans, Hindus, African tribal groups, and Christians. Although the images of God may change from writer to writer or religion to religion, the essence of these prayers remains surprisingly similar. Words of humility, praise, and glory and impassioned pleas for hope cross over all religious and ethnic lines. "In prayer, we learn to acknowledge our vulnerabilities, our frailty, our failures, and our sins," writes Armstrong. "By putting out unutterable weaknesses into words, we make them more real to ourselves but also make them more manageable." Armstrong has organized chapters into prayers for various occasions, such as "Prayers for Help and Protection," "Rites of Passage," "Prayers for Prosperity," and "Blessings on the Earth and Its People." She also has an index for religious traditions and one of first lines, making this a thoroughly helpful resource for special occasions, public gatherings, or simply for the inevitable dark nights of the soul. --Gail Hudson
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