5 comments about Seduced By Success.

1. This book is the vindication for everything I experienced as a young Christian.
   
   I can remember my brothers and sisters in Christ pointing out my many flaws and exhorting me to be more like adorable Ann Kiemel. I was sunk from the start. There was no way I could be like her. (Not even she was like her.)
   
   Even then, something about her struck me as false. The falseness seemed deeper than merely being a drama queen. But my Christian friends adored her, and chalked my distrust up to my lackluster walk with Jesus. I did not start to trust my own instincts about her until decades later, when I read that as a teen she'd tried to burn her freckles off -- classic self-mutilation and a sign of grave trouble.
   
   Then this book came out, and I heard her weeping and quavering on Dobson that her "perfect" marriage had been a sham, that the whole thing had been a sham. I find a measure of peace in that it endorsed my early decision to leave the whole evangelical Christian scene behind.
   
   I am glad she came clean, although I doubt she had any other alternative, since her "perfect" husband had left her destitute and there was little else to do but try to revive her moribund career, and this would have been the only way to regain the attention she still seems to crave.
   
   Whatever the motives: Thank you, Ann, at least for eventually setting people free from the horrific burden you laid on us.



2. As a college student with a growing eating disorder I was both inspired and intimidated by Ann Kiemel. I too wanted to sing songs to taxi drivers, and was dismayed at my terror to even attempt it. All these years later having dealt with my own demons, I found her story behind the stories of changing her world, far more powerful, and moving than the originals. How refreshing to read of a Christian who chooses to work through her marriage issues instead of getting a divorce. And starts by focusing on her own issues. I just wish she had spent more time sharing about the healing process. With her prose style of writing we get more condensed highlights. And those babysteps to healing that lead to the highlights are important to hear. Very much recommend this book.



3. Possibly one of the most raw, honest and authentic books I've ever read. Ann Anderson is a woman of great courage to share her whole story. It was an inspiring read.



4. I have read all of Ann's books and they were a great inspiration to me as well as my growth as a Christian. She encouraged me and my excitement for Jesus. I respect her honesty and openness in sharing that she herself wasn't this "perfect Christian" that so many others thought she was. Some reviews have commented that they now think she was a fake and they are angry with her for appearing to be someone she wasn't. How many of us appear to be what we aren't? Happy when we really aren't? Acting like we like someone when really we despise them? (sometimes rightfully so). I feel a sense of relief that she really was like us. I recommend this book highly. She shares her struggles being an addict and it was especially moving when she finally "saw the light" into why she has been basically addicted her whole life. You won't be able to put the book down - I read it completely the day I got it!



5. The real Gospel of Jesus is to deny yourself and be willing to follow Him to death. Being a Christian means that you have acknowledged that you are a selfish depraved person and that your are lost and going to hell without Christ. Recognizing it to the point that it shakes your body and soul to the core. True repentance comes ONLY from the holy spirit regenerating ones heart - being "born again." A Christian is one who defines their life as Christ. To live IS Christ to die is just to gain. If you follow Christ you deny yourself, carry the cross (be willing to die). To live you must die to yourself. To be a Christian is the death of one life ambitions, goals, self-esteem. Faith without works is dead.
   
   Ann's version of Christianity doesn't resemble what the Bible or Jesus taught. Hers is a diluted and taken-out of context Christianity. Yes God is love but there's so much more than that.
   
   Ann needs to read her Bible and listen to some sound Theology like John MacArthur's The Gospel according to Jesus.
   
   Her father didn't sound like a pastor who understood Christianity and that may be a large part of the problem. Growing up in a religious family environmet will always damage kids.
   
   I've always suspected Ann of preaching a false Gospel. One that she invented in her mind and not that of the Bible.
   
   The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.
   
   It's not about living for yourself, your kids, or your sister but to live for Christ. Only God's grace and Holy Spirit can give you that kind of life. It looks like it took Ann a while to realize it. It's too bad she misguided so many people through her "false" Gospel.

5 comments about Oscar Romero: Reflections on His Life and Writings (Modern Spiritual Masters Series).

1. As a biography, this book is a mere introduction - but a good one. Latino country boy works as carpenter, enters seminary, studies in Rome, becomes priest, lives comfortable and respectable life of cleric hobnobbibng with the elite of El Salvador, becomes Archbishop of San Salvador, loses priest-friend to assassination, has conversion experience, condemns elite for oppressing the poor, loses support of elite and fellow Bishops, is assassinated while saying Mass for cancer patients, and is proclaimed a saint by his oppressed poor.

   As a story of a conversion experience and life thereafter, it is an outstanding and soul-stirring book. Dramatic conversions are not new. St. Paul had one. Constantine had one. Both changed the world. Romero had one and, once again, the world will never be the same.

   Romero's conversion makes this book possible. The authors' skill makes it exciting. Romero, a moderately conservative Catholic Bishop, friend of his country's oppressive economic, social, military, and ruling elite, is installed as Archbishop of San Salvador. Warmly welcomed by this elite, he is opposed by the oppressed poor who view him not as a friend of the oppressed but as a supporter of the oppressor. Within weeks of his installation, his friend, Father Grande (supporter of the poor and oppressed), is assassinated by this elite. Big mistake! Romero begins his conversion experience.

   He joins the oppressed poor. They become his spiritual sustenance. In his commitment to them he finds the Sacred. His spirituality increases. His mysticism deepens. He becomes a prophet. He is an outcast from the elite and from his fellow Bishops. He enters his dark night of the soul and emerges from it finding God not in the desert cave, or the isolated monastery, or in the stained glass cathedral, but among his tortured and suffering poor. There he finds the sacred, the spirit of God.

   This is the message of Romero. It is the message which this book conveys with such power, clarity, and depth. It is an onion book whose layers can be peeled back to satisfy every category of reader: the intellectual, the casual seeker of information, the mother at home in her kitchen, the subway rider on the way to work, the solitary monk or nun, the activist in the street, the powerful of the world, and the ecclesiastic in the church. It is a book that will leave no reader unchanged.




2. Amazing! When a man takes the plain words of Jesus to heart, when he preaches them and practices them, the poor flock to him, and the powerful fear, despise, and execute him.

   "The poor are a sacrament who can transform our lives if we are willing to open ourselves to them, to accompany them." (p. 14)

   This book briefly outlines the story of Oscar Romero, his message, and his death. It touches on the violence and injustice taking place in El Salvador. It contrasts the Christian commitmen to life with the Capitalist/materialist commitment to death. The book cites his writings and journals on nearly every page. These passages touched my heart deeply.

   But, this book was week on discussion about =HOW= Romero converted to the poor. I would have liked to know more about that--this was the primary reason I purchased the book, and I felt disappointed that it seemed to take a back seat to Romero's teachings and praxis.

   "There is nothing pretty about Christian hope. Whatever Chiristian hope is, it begins in terror and utter disorientation in the face of the collapse in all that is familiar ... It is no longer the hope of a rescue, but a fixed surety of that which is not seen, where there seems to be no way out, and where death and its system seem absolutely dominant; and it is this fixed surety of that which is not seen which empowers us to the forging of a counterhistory to that of the domination of death." (p. 84)

   As Romero's story is told, he is held up as a christ figure, walking in the steps of his Master, proclaiming the gospel of the poor, to the poor, rebuking the powerful, and finally, executed at the altar during mass.

   If only this book sold like "The Jabez Prayer" or some of the other, shallow, Christian best-sellers. That would reflect a transformation of mind and heart, one that is sorely needed in a land that condemned Clinton's sexual escapades, but not his policies of economic and structural injustice.

   Five stars for broad coverage of Romero's thought. Four stars for telling the man's story--I wanted to feel how he wrestled through the issue of conversion to the poor, how he wrestled through his inevitable martyrdom.

   (If you'd like to comment on this review or discuss the book more, please click on the "about me" link above and drop me an email. Thanks!)




3. OSCAR ROMERO: Reflections on His Life and Writings is a slim volume written by three American scholars expert in and inspired by the new care for the poor in the Latin American church for which the martyred bishop worked. It is published by Maryknoll's Orbis Books, which is known for its many titles in support of liberation theology. This loosely-knit series of reflections by Marie Dennis, Renny Golden, and Scott Wright is no mere biography, but rather approaches a traditional hagiography.
   
   The focus of the book is on Romero's work and illustrated by numerous quotations from his writings and homilies. I was pleasantly surprised, however, to see that the authors kept his life in context by briefly mentioning some of his contemporaries among the disadvantaged of El Salvador. The mention of murdered NGO workers or continually victimized campesinos shows the repressed people for which he gave his life.
   
   I found two facets of the book unsatisfying, however. The first is that there is a great deal of needless repetition; I feel that the book could have benefitted from tighter editing. I was also disappointed to see that only the English translation of passages from Romero was provided. Romero was an excellent rhetorician--that is why his homilies continue to inspire--but one can enjoy them best in the original language, so the Spanish should have been represented here.
   
   For those who want to know what all the fuss is about in the remembrance of Romero's martyrdom and why his memory continues to give hope to the poor of El Salvador and Christians around the world, this is a book worth reading for a simple explanation of the archbishop's piety. A more serious theological study can be found in Jon Sobrino's ARCHBISHOP ROMERO: Memories and Reflections.



4. Dennis, Golden, and Wright offer an informative and interesting biography with "Oscar Romero: Reflections on His Life and Writings" (2000). Originally penned to persuade Roman Catholic officials toward canonization of Archbishop Romero, this small book (only 127 paperback pages) provides a necessary witness for a great man's extraordinary life.
   
   Introducing Romero with his birth (in an El Salvadoran barrio in 1917) the authors tells of his training and ordination (in 1942 Rome), and his quick rise through church ranks to the arch-episcopacy during the turbulent era of 1970s Central America. The authors witness his saintly qualities and his pursuit of holy living. They regard him as a 20th century prophet whose life was a symbol for the struggle of the Meso-American poor. Romero's life is characterized as "the mystery of faith and God's grace as well as...the mystery of betrayal and evil". Archbishop Romero "tried to make the world see the value of every human life".
   
   The authors explain Archbishop Romero's theology through each of the book's 5 chapters. The centrality of the poor, the historical demand of the Gospel, and the testimony of the martyrs provide the principle basis for his Christo-centric accompaniment theology. Romero's call to the universal church is to offer itself to the poor. His invitation resulted in the inevitable clash between the "haves" and the "have-nots". In the end everyone lost something (the Archbishop lost his life).
   
   After various unfruitful public confrontations with the corrupt (U.S. backed) Salvadoran government, Archbishop Romero decides, in 1977, to challenge its avarice, greed, and human rights violations. He formally requests the secession of U.S. aid, he preaches against repression, and he publicly invites the western media to see his country's plight. With his own bishops opposing him, Romero is reminded that a prophet always stands alone. Gunned down during worship, by government soldiers in 1980, Romero's life became a cry for Central American social realignment. (This calls to reform remains yet to be heard by many south of the Rio Grande.)
   
   Unfortunately, the authors only glance over Romero's writings. They offer signifcant research (with 7 pages of endnotes) into the Archbishop's sermons, books, and college lectures. Several notable theologians and church colleagues are also quoted about Romero's life and influence. (By book's end, I wondered as a non Roman Catholic what the hold-up is for Romero's canonization.)
   
   "Oscar Romero" is a poignant and gripping read. It tells a story a few others do. This book is recommendable to all students of Central America, church history buffs, and as a class text. Its story should never be forgotten.



5. While living in Central America during the 1990s I came into contact with the writings of Oscar Romero,many biographies of his life and work, and writing about his writings. As I read this book of Reflections on His Life and Writings I was once again inspired by Romeo's life, thought and writings. I would like to quote a line from the Introduction that I believe is important to understanding Romer's life- "he discovered a God who was emeshed in the ordinary, messy, conflictive struggle of the Salvadoran people." Oscar Romero represents another side of Catholicism that is often forgotten and ignored in favor of more anteseptic forms of thought and practice. I highly recommend this book for all those seeking a spirituality for living in the world as Christian people.

5 comments about Ark Fever (Legend Chaser).

1. I usually don't read a book through in one night but did this book. Cornuke does a great job writing of his adventures to find Noah's Ark. His fortitude and commitment were commendable and rewarding. I hope there is a follow up to what he has discovered. Cornuke also gives an inspired insight into salvation. This is a must read.



2. Ark Fever by Robert Cornuke is a very good and exciting read. Cornuke a retired detective, went on to become a real life Indiana Jones. Who went all over the world searching for Biblical relics, such as the Ark of the Covenant, the Ship Wreak of Paul, Noah's Ark and many others. This book Ark fever is about His search for Noah's Ark, as well as the why people search. It involves dangerous Mountain Climbing in Dangerous CONDITIONS IN dangerous COUNTREYS (IRAN AND TURKEY). This is a guy's book (action packed) for sure, and I think, anyone would like it. tales of near falls and falls, terrorists to avoid, Hostel Government's and secret Police. The book is very well written, being a former detective Cornuke is very detail oriented, the book will grip you and not let you go, I think I have Ark fever now. Should I give away the end, does cornuke find the Ark? Let's just say; some will mock, some will not care and other will rejoice.



3. Bottom line, the subject matter is very interesting, and Bob Cornuke's role in the quest for the Ark is worth reading about, but this book should have been 25 pages, not 225.
   
   Unless you're truly interested in an adventure story about every detail of every expedition, you'll agree. It's like he, when writing the book, struggled to come up with things to say to make the book long enough. I would not recommend the book; I'd recommend that someone who's interested visit the Web site for 20 minutes and call it good.



4. Like a movie that is thin on plot yet keeps you on the edge of your seat, this book keeps you turning the page to see how the author will survive his next adventure. For those looking for proof of the ark in Iran the book will not satisfy. But for those wanting to learn what a real life Indiana Jones story is like, this is the book for you.



5. I just finished listening to the audio version of this book. Cornuke has climbed Turkey's Mt. Ararat numerous times, but finally decided that the biblical "mountains of Ararat" were more likely to be in present-day Iran.
   
   Admittedly, Cornuke's adventure stories are often interesting, but the whole premise of his search is flawed. There is nothing in the Bible to indicate that Noah's ark still exists; no biblical prophecy that the ark will ever be found. Think about it. Doesn't it make more sense that the ark would have been recycled to other uses by the post-diluvian settlers? Wouldn't there have been a shortage of worked lumber after the flood, making the ark's wood extremely useful to the flood's eight human survivors? If the ark was still on Turkey's Mt. Ararat (Agri Dagi), wouldn't one of the numerous expeditions have found it by now? The mountain seems pretty-well searched at this point. (To his credit, Cornuke eventually realized that the Ark wasn't necessarily on Turkey's Mt. Ararat, and expanded his search to Iran.)
   
   I have no reason to doubt Cornuke's Christian bona fides, but, frankly, the end of this book was off-putting to me. Cornuke writes as though the rock formation he found in Iran on Mt. Suleiman is certainly what Ed Davis saw and thought was the ark back in WWII, but, of course, Cornuke cannot possibly prove that.
   
   He also writes as though the rock formation on Mt. Suleiman is probably petrified wood. Now, a couple of years ago I saw his photos, posted on the Internet, and the rocks have features that bear a superficial resemblance to wook grain, but there are other geological explanations for that, such as as "foliation" caused by folding and metamorphism. Moreover, unlike Mt. Ararat, Mt. Suleiman is not a volcanic mountain that would produce the chemicals necessary to petrify wood, so it would be anomalous to find petrified wood there. The only way to tell for certain is to examine the speciman under a microscope to look for cell structures that will be present in petrified wood, but not in plain rock. So all Cornuke needed to do was to brink back a sample of the rock. But he didn't do it.
   
   He didn't do it, he claims, because he feared being arrested. But this claim is truly remarkable, because the previous 200 pages of the book describe Cornuke's countless illegal actions. Most of his expeditions were without official permits; he spent literally thousands of dollars bribing the Turkish Military and the Kurdish PKK guerillas who control the higher altitude areas around Ararat. He walked around with $30,000.00 in cash under the insoles of his boots, for purposes of doling out bribes. Even in Iran, he went to places that he did not have permission to go, and hiked up mountains he didn't have permission to climb. Now, at the end, when he claims to have found the petrified wood of Noah's Ark, he expects us to believe he would not bring out a piece of rock for fear of getting arrested? Come on.
   
   I'm afraid that, deep down, Cornuke knew he didn't find anything remotely like Noah's Ark, and that bringing back specimens would prove beyond any doubt that all he found was an interesting rock outcrop. And I think Cornuke wanted to keep alive the notion that he found Noah's Ark, for purposes of selling his books, raising money for his BASE institute, making the lecture circuit, etc. This is tawdry, and doesn't reach the high standard to which Christians are called.

5 comments about House Calls And Hitching Posts.

1. If you enjoy reading and learning about the Amish, you will enjoy this book.



2. This was a wonderful book . Once I started reading it I could not put it down. It is amazing to realize that there are still Dr.'s out in the world that care so much for their patients.



3. If you are interested in Amish culture, this is a great book to read to get a snapshot of what types of challenges, ethical and medical, on a typical Amish farm. The writing style is easy to follow and very descriptive. The Amish people have such a strong faith and are very family oriented which is a refreshing change to read. If you are a nurse or a physician, you would really appreciate the ingenuity that is needed when dealing with blunt force trauma from a farming accident or just the challenge of getting to someone's rural home in 6 feet of snow.



4. I've always been interested in the Amish People and this book is good learning for anyone who is interested in the Amish. I've read this book 2 times already and I hope there will be a sequel.



5. This is an excellent book. I have recommended it to one of my colleagues who is a recognized authority on the history of medicine. Dr. Lehman comes across as a realist and a caring professional. His practice is/was heavy on births and traumatic farm injuries. While there are many examples of these in the text, they never become tedious.
   
   The book also gives a warm glimpse into the lives of the Amish people and their lifestyle and beliefs. One enlightening incident involved an elderly farm woman who had sustained a stroke at home in bed. Her husband sent for the doctor. Dr. Lehman recognized that the woman had little time left. The husband asks, "Is there anything the hospital could do for her that we can't do here?" The answer came back, "Essentially 'No." The woman passed away a few hours later in familiar surroundings, in her own bed, with her family and friends at her bedside. All of us readers can only hope for so peaceful an ending ourselves.

5 comments about From Private to General: An African American Soldier Rises Through the Ranks.

1. A great read from start to finish. If you enjoy history, the military or stories of personal success, this book is for you. General Curry personifies what it is to be an American, and his book elucidates this perfectly. As an American you can accomplish anything by dreaming big, working hard and following after God.
   
   Todd Morrisson



2. This book is an enjoyable read with an inside look at military life from the General's professional and personl life. Teacher's should take note! This would be excellent material for a character education segment of curriculum. It's riveting and heartfelt with a lot of perserverance against all odds thrown in. Your students will be inspired to be excellent and hard working.



3. The extraordinary journey of an extraordinary man! What a great read!



4. Some men are born to greatness and from his childhood, Jerry Curry was destined for great things. With a lot of hard work and determination everything that Jerry set his hand to do was successful. I found "From Private to General: An African American Soldier Rises Through the Ranks" an interesting read from a enlisted point of view. Many times we enlisted men are blind to the difficulties that officers have to deal with. Often when talking with my twin brother who is a "West Point" graduate we discussed how politics often are a part of advancing in rank. What is the old adage; "It isn't what you know, but who you know." And this is so very true of those who compete for higher rank.
   
   On the down side, I felt that many times instead of reading an autobiography, I was reading a dissertation on the evils of racism. There are many powerful lessons that the American culture had to learn since the abolition of slavery. We must learn from our mistakes or be doomed to repeat them. But even with the cards stacked against him, Jerry Curry, by the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ was able to overcome and advance. Is not this after all is the primary mission of the military; to overcome and advance.



5. The story of Gen. Curry is inspirational. He describes some of the obstacles he faced in the military because of his ethnic background from the viewpoint of an overcomer, rather than a victim. His integrity and courage stand out. His faith in God is part of the story, but his wife's book, "The General's Lady," gives much more detail on the spiritual side of their family.

1 comments about Athanasius: The Life of Antony (HarperCollins Spiritual Classics).

1. I read that this is a classic still used in seminaries so I'm surprised that there are no reviews! Antony was an Egyptian hermit who gave away all his belongings as a teen to go live in search of God. He found many other holy men living on the outskirts of towns and learned from them, fasting and living a life of self-denial. He spent a lot of time fighting demons, which he describes as physical forms that would change shapes and actually beat him and talk to him. His efforts did indeed bring him close to God, and as he grew in wisdom people came to him for healing and advice, even the great leaders of the time. Others came to join him and it began a movement, but really all Antony seemed to want was to be left alone with his God - he didn't seek to influence world leaders or heal anyone but would when pressed to do so by those around him.
   
   It's hard in this day and age to believe what he says about the physical problems he had fighting demons, but the bit about how, as we try to do good it brings on us the temptations to do otherwise, against which we must always remain vigilant, is still relevant today.

5 comments about Mama Made the Difference.

1. I love my mom. She drives me crazy, but she also have taught me great lessons in life I carry with me as a testimate to her love for me.
   
   In listening to Richard Allen narrating Bishop T.D. Jakes book Mama Made the Difference(seven cds, nine hours, Unabridged). It stired emotions, which is what a good audio presentation should do. Allen tries a straight narrative format, rather than trying for character voices in this presentation. He also does not try to mimic Bishop Jakes vocal styles, that would be a wasted effort.
   
   Author Jakes takes on the subject of Mothers by relating to his own life lessons he learned with his mother, bible teaching and cases of other people's mothers. It does not preach to the audience, more over it informs and makes you aware without heavy sermons. After I heard the first CD from this audio book, I wanted to call my mom and tell her how much I love her.
   
   In audio format, the unabridged text of this book moved quicker> I only wish Bishop Jakes would have spoken something on this CD book
   
   I am late for this mother days to give these to friends as gift. Well there is always Christmas for my friends who are mothers--maybe you should think about getting this for your mom with a dozen roses and tell her you love her
   
   Bennet Pomerantz, AUDIOWORLD



2. IT'S ALWAYS A JOY TO DO BUSINESS WITH SUCH A COMPANY



3. Although Mother's Day only happens once a year, this audio reminds us just how important mothers are in most people's lives. Bishop Jakes shares personal stories about the experiences he shared with his mother along with the lessons and values she taught him, especially in the areas of life, love and longevity. He also includes biblical stories about mothers, along with testimonials from other prominent African-American figures about the importance of motherhood. More reviews at [...]



4. If you have an good mother like I was blessed with, I would like to recommend for you to read about other good mothers and the relationships that they have had with their children. This book was awesome. Thank God for mama's always being there inspite of the hurt and differences in our life!!!



5. I had resisted buying this book because I am not a mother and had just lost my precious Mom and was afraid it would make me sad. NOT! This is one of the two most inspiring books Bishop Jakes has written; he speaks to women of all walks of life: married, single, mothers, non-mothers...My copy is "dog-eared", marked in, has pages turned down, cover is getting worn....Bishop Jakes encourages us to NEVER give up, it is NEVER too late with God, that we are "surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses" who are cheering us on, that we are DESTINED to follow the courage and strength of those who have gone before from generations past....I want to rise up and shout GLORY as I read this book....We are blessed to have this teaching and encouragement and I thank God!
   PS: And, IMHO, Jakes' other "best book" is "The Lady, Her Lover, Her Lord." It is awesome.

3 comments about God, Country, Notre Dame: The Autobiography of Theodore M. Hesburgh.

1. God, Country, Notre Dame is a book that once again proves what an amazing man Father Hesburgh is. This book is inspiring. If you've never read or heard about Father Hesburgh, this is a must. He has got to be one of the top 10 most influntial people of the 21st century.



2. I "read" this book for the first time on audio cassette and quickly ran out and bought it" Years later, I still think of it and am still amazed at what a tremendous person Father Hesburgh is. If I did not know its true, I would not believe that a person could accomplish so much in a lifetime. Knowing that this country and faith produces such great men, makes me proud to be Catholic and an American. This book would make a great, great gift!



3. Outstanding Book! Well written! Very insightful history of an amazing person and a fine institution.

5 comments about Code Name: God: The Spiritual Odyssey of a Man of Science.

1. I think this book is wonderful approach to the science of God's existence. If you've ever seen the "Elegant Universe" (I think it is called) on PBS where they delve into String Theory and explain quantum physics to the layman, this book is a perfect follow-up. I think that because I had seen this show, I absorbed much of the physics he presented very quickly. I remember stopping at one point and thinking, "this is some scientific stuff."
   
   Even if you've never heard of String Theory or Quantum Mechanics, it is worth reading this book. Dr. Bhaumik's book presents complicated physics theories in simple terms, and then ties those principles into his statement that everything from human consciousness, to the farthest stars, to the smallest particles are all interrelated and have a single name: God.
   
   When I got to certain points in the book, I could hear my brain frying ;-) These were some increbile points he was making and I was blown away.
   
   The only reason I gave it four stars is because he spends a little too much time in my opinion on his upbringing in India. Yes, it helps set the stage for the life eventually goes onto, and underscores several of his ideas, but it should have been cut shorter.



2. We live today in a world so divided by disparate religious ideas that there is a very real possibility that we as humans won't survive these differences.
   
   The spectrum of this divde is great and varied. Extreme Christian fundamentalists longing for a biblical Armageddon promote political choices that could bring on an ultimate nuclear holocaust. More moderate Christians eschew science in favor of a literal reading of the Bible and turn a blind eye to scientific "theories" as varied as global warming, the evolution of our species or the age of the universe.
   
   Extreme Islamic fundamentalists scoff at earthly political goals altogether and wish only to live in a world governed entirely by the Koran. Unfortunately, like the Judeo/Christian Bible, interpretation of these sacred scriptures is subject to whoever perceives that he/she has been selected by his or her god to do so. This has resulted, in many instances, in the wide-scale destruction of people by those convinced by these chosen spokesmen that they will achieve heavenly rewards by their own and their victims' deaths.
   
   Obviously, examples like these can be found everywhere in the world and in many other religions as well.
   
   In a fervent desire to get beyond religious misconceptions of basic spiritual concepts, many thoughtful people have followed one of two divergent philosophical paths of inquiry concerning the universe and our place in it.
   
   Science and spirituality (as opposed to religion) both seek the answers to this most fundamental question. While never quite at physical odds with each other, proponents look askance at each other for the others' naive understandings of reality. Yet a few individuals in both camps have been able to take a "quantum leap" of understanding and realize that science and spirituality should not just "agree to disagree".
   
   For some scientists, David Bohm, Rupert Sheldrake, Karl Pribram and others, the deeper science goes towards discovering the most fundamental nature of Matter and Energy, the more the paths of science and spirituality merge into one.
   
   On the spiritual side, a person such as the Dalai Lama honors the discoveries being made by science; to the extent that he says that if science proves a concept that is counter to his own Buddhist tradition, then the Buddhist idea must succumb to science! Truly a remarkable statement in view of most religious orthodoxies.
   
   Mani Bhaumik is one of these "leapers", whose early life happened to be suffused in mystical Hindu traditions. Yet, the talents for science and mathematics he displayed at a young age allowed him to escape the poverty and ignorance epidemic in his community.
   
   Finding his way to the West and his subsequent invention of the Exemer Laser (known commercially as Lasek) culminated in his enjoying a fabled lifestyle of the rich and famous; coincidentally the name of a popular television show of the day in which he displayed his wealth. His Hollywood star-studded life of parties and luxury in Beverly Hills is the stuff of dreams.
   
   But somewhere along the way, the dream ended. Like many others throughout history, he finally had to ask himself, is this all there is?
   
   Even while climbing the ladder of success, however, he never forgot the ground below from where he began. His political and spiritual grounding as an acquaintance of the "living saint" Mahatma Ghandi (in the political struggle for independence by the Indians against Great Britain) demonstrated to him how true spirituality can be manifested in the everyday world.
   
   Throughout his early life in America he used his practice of Hindu meditation as primarily a method of remaining calm and centered in the high-flying academic and business worlds he was increasingly a part of.
   
   But when he began to ask whether "this is all there is", he wanted to explore the deeper realms of reality found through mediation; those spoken of in the Gitas, the sacred writings of his religious tradition.
   
   As a man with one foot in Western science and one foot in mystical Hinduism, he came to realize that it was perhaps his dharma to create a bridge between the two.
   
   The result is the narrative of a wonderful, poetic journey through his own life before he begins the even more fantastic journey into the realms of quantum theory and sublime mystical states.
   
   In the process, he does a truly amazing thing. He makes the underlying scientific field of all physical reality--which is, in fact, non-reality--move so closely towards the highest mystical states that it makes the a non-belief in "god" the most non-rational and least plausible conclusion one could make for a human being.
   
   As a formerly agnostic seeker of knowledge, I've spent the past few years, trying to reconcile the remarkable scientific discoveries of DNA, quantum theory and consciousness with the fantastic realms of mind explored and written about by mystics, shamans, artists, users of entheogenic plants and others throughout the ages.
   
   Mani Bhaumik's journey is a wonderful stepping stone on our own journey through a life that offers so many unanswerable questions. I've found that the most wonderful thing about our journey is that once a stepping stone is reached, another one appears almost magically.
   
   And it's only one step away.



3. Dr. Bhaumik nails this most difficult task of wedding his personal story as a beautiful metaphor, to the greatest story ever told - the unfurling of our universe. He pursues the question that his father refused to answer and aren't we lucky for it. His formidable intellect and acquired rags-to-riches wealth gives way to a humility and innocent passion that can only reflect what he is and always will be: pure unadulterated spirit. I flat out love the way he presents meditation as the sacred portal of entry to our birthing ground, the unified field. The description of our holograhic universe by using the analogy of the human genome replicating whole humans brought tears to my eyes. The implication that we ARE the united field brings me to my knees because it resonates with every fiber of my being. By celebrating the similarities rather than the differences, Dr. Bhaumik honors what we all know at some level: What we're looking for is looking for us. His is an invitation to step up to and behold an idea of God that we can all live and die with. What a wonderful additional gift for more of us to get and live the Big Idea. Thank you Dr. Bhaumik for your remarkable contributions to our little parenthesis in eternity. - Dr. Herby Bell



4. I had purchased the book after reading a few reviews which were very positive. If you want to know more about the person, Mani Bhaumick, this book is a good one. If the topic of Quantum Physics and its journey towards explaning the universal truth in the same manner as old religions interests you, this book offers a good start. Unfortunately, I got bored reading the past of the author (which is no doubt interesting but why spend money to know this!!!). Further,the portions relating to developments of Physics went over my head - I guess this may be because I am a normal Accounting person or I am not be very intelligent. And then, there are photographs of the author with various celebreties (why was this necessary?). And I felt the end of the book was also very abrupt. The book could have been more simple and focused on the subject. I guess persons of normal intellect may avoid this book. It will be useful if someone can recommend books that are more simple (with illustrations, where possible) and where the focus of the book is purely Quantum Physics rather than spice this up with avoidable diversions.



5. It was a gift to read of Mani Bhaumik's life and history, and I found the first third of the book completely fascinating. When the scientist mind came in and we were offered a look at the world through a very wide spread net of intelligent perception, my reading slowed down, but my fascination lit up.
   This book successfully attempts to weave personal narrative, life passion, spirituality and deep science into a one-size-fits-all-wear-it-anywhere-package. The amount of personal research Dr Bhaumik has done is evident in each page, yet he has brought it into an engaging form: science filled with metaphor and anecdote that keep the reader curious and involved. I can imagine any age level from middle school on up benefitting from this work. There is a genuine desire to share insight; so the book is devoid of the pomposity of rhetoric so often obscuring most scientific treatises.
   I had a hard time letting the book go, so i spread it over time. This isn't a light ramble though it reads like one; it is a dissertation on the nature of the universe. I so appreciate the way he includes the reader into the active process of understanding. The final revelation would seem to be that by meditating, (which in itself adds a huge gift to the entire system), one will automatically develop a profound awareness of the answers they seek on the nature of existence.
   Rarely has such a vastly over arching viewpoint been so distilled; we go from an understanding of the cosmological history of all, and offer a way to balance the perceptions so that they are no longer elusive abstract phenomena, but are included in our life path.
   Thank you for the great ride, highly recommended.

1 comments about The Moral Theology of Roger Williams: Christian Conviction and Public Ethics (Columbia Series in Reformed Theology).

1. This book is a tour de force of scholarship and is a delightful and interesting read. The author reveals Roger Williams rootedness in reformed theology, and at the same time his support for toleration, reason, civility, and conscience as antidotes to the harsh, persecuting ways of his reformed, Puritan brothers in Massachusetts. This volume is developed with patience and care, and one sees how Williams believed that spirited debate between reformed religionists and other belief systems was compatible with allowing complete access to the civil polity by those other religionists, e.g., Jews, Muslims, and Catholics. Williams had difficulty applying his principle of toleration to the Quakers, and this shows us that life will challenge even the best of intentions.
   Prof. Davis demonstrates a high degree of scholarly integrity in the work as he details points of disagreement between the Puritans, especially John Cotton, and Williams and how Williams often repeated to Cotton the question: how could the Puritans be so harsh and persecute dissidents when they themselves had been victims of persecution? It was a good question, and the book is convincing that Williams' approach was a necessary and fruitful antidote to the harshness and, to some degree, hypocrisy of the Puritan position.
   Through no fault of the book, I am somewhat uncomfortable with R. Williams and the author's view that tolerance, civility, conscience and dialgoue are the keys to successful pluralism.
   The history of the past century -- WWI, fascism, communism, WWII, other attacks on civilization and civility/conscience -- suggests that the sinful inner condition of mankind is not responsive to the call for dialogue and the welcoming attitude shown by even our most well-intentioned citizens. Even today, Islamic radicals reject the requirements of natural law, reason, civility, and conscience. We need a greater commitment to enduring Judeo-Christian moral values if we are to sustain a viable family life and social cohesion. Survival, even, may hang in the balance.
   Derek Jarrett, a longtime professor of history at Oxford, in his amazing little book The Sleep of Reason: Fantasy and Reality from the Vicorian Age to the First World War, wrote about the decline of the power of reason (including in that term natural law, civility, and conscience) to advance our quest for Godly compatibility and peace prior to WWI. To me this shows that our view of God prior to that time was superficial. We need a more absolutist view, if you will, of God's grace, His commands, and His purpose. In this sense, the Puritans of Massachusetts were correct,although they were too oblivious to the rights of others. We need to right the balance in the direction of restored Judeo-Christian values. At the same time, we also need to incorporate freedom which is also God-given and God-driven ("the truth will set you free" John 8:32). Thus we need again to see ourselves more as sinful man in need of redemption, a redemption which only the Cross of Christ can give, yet,at the same time, challenged to retain a sense of universal human dignity which freedom implies.