SPIRITUAL LITERACY : Reading the Sacred in Everyday Life

Rating:
Summary: Decent...
Review: Do dolphins dive bottomward to find the light? Is there someplace within us all that is deep and dark and waiting to be discovered by chance? Or is there nothing left worth waiting for, nothing left worth fighting for, nothing left worth living for? These are the questions that Spiritual Literacy challenges us with. As I read on, taking a long, hard trip upriver towards my own Heart of Darkness, I thought often of a solitary tree, a tree that had once belonged to a vast, glorious forest but now stood alone. Trees can come and go but forests, like our spiritual essence, can only exist if we nurture them and let their beauty strenghten us. Read this book and save a tree: the tree that is growing within you. It may one day turn into a forest and bring with it the happiness and joy that life is supposed to be.

Rating:
Summary: A marvelous resource
Review: Holding this hefty book in your hands, you cannot help but admire and respect the editorial efforts of the Brussats. They have put together a dazzling compendium of spiritual wisdom -- and have certainly done a lion's share of promoting many wonderful books that probably wouldn't have gained public attention otherwise! Many of the books they've quoted are now prized possessions on my book shelf, and I am grateful for having had this resource to light the path.

My only caveat -- and maybe it's just my issue -- is the way the book is organized and categorized. I find I have to spend a lot of time with the book before I can navigate its pages and figure out how/where to find things within the categories. To be fair, there's A LOT of material here, and not being an ediotr, I am not sure if there IS an easier way to package it all for the reader (?) Thankfully, there is a decent index and the book is worth keeping at your bedside for daily inspiration. You can dip into it anywhere and be nourished.

Rating:
Summary: disappointed
Review: I was disappointed in this book/tape. I thought it would give me some real insights into life and spirituality, as alot of good books have. But this was just nausiatingly gay, hopelessly drippy, and not insightful at all. I didn't want anyone to read poetry to me or ask me to notice what a peach looks like. I wanted something different. I give it two stars because I know other people liked it, and others may find it nice to read/listen to.

Rating:
Summary: disappointed
Review: I was disappointed in this book/tape. I thought it would give me some real insights into life and spirituality, as alot of good books have. But this was just nausiatingly gay, hopelessly drippy, and not insightful at all. I didn't want anyone to read poetry to me or ask me to notice what a peach looks like. I wanted something different. I give it two stars because I know other people liked it, and others may find it nice to read/listen to.

Rating:
Summary: Spiritual Literacy: Reading the Sacred in Everyday Life
Review: If you aren't clear on the difference between religion and spirituality or think spirituality is weird, this book makes a clear and essential exposition of the differences. They use volumous resources to point out the basic values in life that count. As a therapist I use this book literally every day to help me meet the needs of my patients to understand themselves and where they are going with their lives and the importance of nourishing one's self, one's unique spirit. Spirituality applies to all aspects of life and the Brussart's start with the ABC's and go from there to explore the voice of hundreds of spiritual and religious persons to describe and enhance one's understanding of the basic values that apply to all of our lives if we intend to live up to any of our secret desires to be better persons.

Rating:
Summary: This book brings joy to me everyday
Review: If you want to experience more joy in your life on this Earth, reading this book will definitely put you on the path with your renewed appreciation of every second!

Rating:
Summary: A BOOK OF JOY AND WONDER!
Review: Imagine my pure glee at finding this book on a $5 sale table at Wal-Mart! I bought all five copies there and gave them to my daughters and closest friends. This book is full of jewels and small treasures that make you stop, think and appreciate the everyday miracles in your life. Many of my favorite authors are excerpted or quoted in these pages. A must read for every book lover and those with a seeker's heart. A very comtemplative, heartfelt book that feeds my soul and spirit each time I pick it up. I highly recommend it to everyone looking for a book that can bring you joy and enlightenment on every page.

Rating:
Summary: Comprehensive and excellent!
Review: This book is arranged in a series of topics, covering the gamut from the simple (the spirituality of the things in our life, ordinary objects we take for granted), to the most complex (the spirituality of community) and all the steps in between. What is especially marvellous about this book is the way that it doesn't merely state a concept or a lesson. It deomstrates it, via the several quotes and story-lets per topic taken from all spiritual traditions and ways. If it were possible to rate a book with six stars, I would rate this book that high.

Rating:
Summary: The Essence of Accumulated Wisdom
Review: This book summarizes the accumulated wisdom of human kind. It deals with final and fundamental principles of the genetic urge to find meaning. It teaches us once again that the need for religion--connection, love,beauty, to be listened to--is a natural biological urge reflected in many sects and domination all searching for the same things, the things discussed iin this book.