Who Needs God

Rating:
Summary: It Is "Full of Sky"...
Review: ....I hide nothing about my search for spiritual awareness. If you've followed along some of the book reviews I've done in Amazon.com--and other places, because I do write articles under psuedonyms in other venues--you would know I've read a lot in the religious and spiritual and philosophical arena. Rabbi Kushner has written many books on how modern folks could cope in today's trials and tribulations starting with the great "When Bad Things Happen to Good People" which, in my estimation, still is one of the best books on the searching I have ever read.

This book, "Who Needs God" is written for those who are too-- should I say 'distracted' by everything to find the love God gives us through the fellowshipping and community of churches, and a hope that can be strenghtened by belief in and awareness of someone greater than our poor selves. Kushner writes passages that are sheer beauty...in a chapter entitled "Can Modern People Pray" he says Psalm 73 is a "Spiritual Masterpiece" in which the author comes to experience God and "in the light of that experience, all doubt, all philosophical and intellectual questions melt away" and "once we have tasted the prescence of God, we will no longer envy the wicked..."

I cannot adequately describe how stirring and how helpful this book has been for me. It is has been a lifechanging expeience for me. You will have to get it and read it to find out for yourself..

The "full of sky" quote comes from Kushner's introduction in a fable about a Sky Maiden who leaves her earth-husband after he's opened the box she asked him not to...it was to the husband empty, but to the Maiden, it was full of that which she came to know and love from her celestial existence....

Rating:
Summary: It Is "Full of Sky"...
Review: ....I hide nothing about my search for spiritual awareness. If you've followed along some of the book reviews I've done in Amazon.com--and other places, because I do write articles under psuedonyms in other venues--you would know I've read a lot in the religious and spiritual and philosophical arena. Rabbi Kushner has written many books on how modern folks could cope in today's trials and tribulations starting with the great "When Bad Things Happen to Good People" which, in my estimation, still is one of the best books on the searching I have ever read.

This book, "Who Needs God" is written for those who are too-- should I say 'distracted' by everything to find the love God gives us through the fellowshipping and community of churches, and a hope that can be strenghtened by belief in and awareness of someone greater than our poor selves. Kushner writes passages that are sheer beauty...in a chapter entitled "Can Modern People Pray" he says Psalm 73 is a "Spiritual Masterpiece" in which the author comes to experience God and "in the light of that experience, all doubt, all philosophical and intellectual questions melt away" and "once we have tasted the prescence of God, we will no longer envy the wicked..."

I cannot adequately describe how stirring and how helpful this book has been for me. It is has been a lifechanging expeience for me. You will have to get it and read it to find out for yourself..

The "full of sky" quote comes from Kushner's introduction in a fable about a Sky Maiden who leaves her earth-husband after he's opened the box she asked him not to...it was to the husband empty, but to the Maiden, it was full of that which she came to know and love from her celestial existence....

Rating:
Summary: A Refreshing Perspective
Review: Kushner creates an understanding for the existence of G-d that is both thought-provoking and inspiring. By taking a leisure and open-minded approach to an often troubling and problematic subject, he makes the rationalization of a higher being both logical, and easy to accept. Most important, Kushner makes us believe that we truly are not alone, no matter our individual circumstances. An eye-opening read for the secular, and religious alike. Words to live by. We shall never forget.

Rating:
Summary: Great Inspiration!
Review: Kushner reaffirmed my belief in a supreme being. Even though I cannot seem to define him like others can, I know GOD is there.
Kushner's words are comforting as he tries to make sense of everyday tragedies that hit people in a somewhat random fashion. It's our reaction to what happens to us, not what happens to us that makes us unique in the eyes of GOD.

Jeffrey McAndrew
author of "Our Brown-Eyed Boy"

Rating:
Summary: Great Inspiration!
Review: Kushner reaffirmed my belief in a supreme being. Even though I cannot seem to define him like others can, I know GOD is there.
Kushner's words are comforting as he tries to make sense of everyday tragedies that hit people in a somewhat random fashion. It's our reaction to what happens to us, not what happens to us that makes us unique in the eyes of GOD.

Jeffrey McAndrew
author of "Our Brown-Eyed Boy"

Rating:
Summary: Good start, weak finish
Review: Most of the book gives you much to ponder and think about and is well done but the last two chapters reveal the weaknesses of liberal theology. If I didn't know better, I'd swear the last two chapters had been written by Marcus Borg and John Shelby Spong. As is typical for liberal theology one ends up with a God so ill-defined as to be nothing more than a theological abstraction. Furthermore it doesn't matter if events depicted in the bible really happened as long as they produce a positive effect on the believer. In philosphical terms Kushner is therefore in essence embracing the concept of non-realism/anti-realism which says if you think something is true for you then so it is. Like many liberals, Kushner is confounded by the rise in fundamentalist religions, not realizing that whether you like them or hate them, they have a substance to them that liberal theologies simply do not. Liberal houses of worship often end up being no more than social clubs with nice ethics.
After a generally conciliatory approach to beliefs it surprised me to see Kushner take a swipe at atheists near the end of the book. Kushner sees "God" as love, truth etc. Because of this concept of God he sees atheism not so much as the denial of the existence of God but rather as an inability to appreciate the intrinsic value of things like love, truth etc. I think atheists would beg to differ.
Overall not bad but not very compelling either.

Rating:
Summary: Who Needs G-d
Review: Well, I have to let you know that I had some difficulty getting into this book. That lasted all the way through the introduction. The only reason I gave this book four stars was that I had some difficulty following the author's train of thought at times. I am reading the book for the second time. I have found this book excellent for focusing on my own doubts on being Jewish and my relationship or lack there of between myself and G-d. This book provided the perspective I needed to reach inside and think of my own needs and the needs that G-d may have for me. This book is a great read and one that you will like to own.

Rating:
Summary: Who Needs G-d
Review: Well, I have to let you know that I had some difficulty getting into this book. That lasted all the way through the introduction. The only reason I gave this book four stars was that I had some difficulty following the author's train of thought at times. I am reading the book for the second time. I have found this book excellent for focusing on my own doubts on being Jewish and my relationship or lack there of between myself and G-d. This book provided the perspective I needed to reach inside and think of my own needs and the needs that G-d may have for me. This book is a great read and one that you will like to own.