Voices of the Living Grail

Rating:
Summary: I enjoyed this book so much that I read it twice
Review: DeLong tells a great story, while occasionally planting a zinger of an idea. The novel, set centuries ago, is surprisingly relevant to our own times and concerns. Living in a time of clashing paradigms, a band of friends, each personally touched in some way by an itinerant mystic, Saramontus, hold out against the power and values of the Inquisition. The action is fast paced, and so are the ideas. DeLong clearly has something to say about our human condition and the possibilities of expanded consciousness.
Be sure to check out the back of the book -- the glossary, notes and references. I found them fascinating, especially the information on Mary Magdalene.


Rating:
Summary: Great blend of fiction and religious philosophy
Review: WONDERFUL STORY!!!! Although this exciting tale is a work of fiction with wonderfully developed characters that you follow intensely, WB Delong has managed to infuse a wealth of religious theories to explore. He clearly has a lifetime of spiritual and religious reading that he has researched. His examination of these themes are suffused into his writings with references to back it up for further exploration yourself. Where "The DaVinci Code" was a primer, this book goes into further detail about the various religions leading to the convergent paths of enlightenment and how the Church has manipulated political policies to further expand it's own power. This is particularly relevant considering the current political climate of haziness in the separation of church and state. READ THIS BOOK- it will explain various religious paths of thought and will make you reflect on and examine your own spiritual quest to develop your own belief system. HAVE SOME GREAT READING!!!!