1 comments about From Jerusalem to Moroni and Back.

1. Lew Phelps has a unique perspective and passion that allows him to reach many Mormons through a good dose of reality therapy. He understands the Mormon mindset and is extremely gifted at non-confrontational and straightforward dialog that encourages Mormons to take an honest look at what they believe.
   
   This book is not your typical book to/about Mormons from a Christian perspective, as a matter of fact it's style is not typical for any other book I've read by a Christian author. It's a first person narrative that doesn't put on airs from either the Mormon or Christian perspectives it represents. Lew just says it like it is.
   
   This book is best for Mormons or those who have a good understanding of Mormon culture and religion. For someone looking to understand Mormonism for the first time I would recommend "The God Makers" by Ed Decker & Dave Hunt.

1 comments about Pilgrim of Love: The Life and Teachings of Swami Kripalu.

1. touching,amusing, bapuji was an amazing wonderful person. as great as he was he never took himself too seriously. he was truly a wonderful human being

2 comments about Fire Under My Feet: A Memoir of God's Power in Panama.

1. Father Mahon is now Pastor Emeritus in my parish, Saint Mary of the Woods. After reading "Fire Under My Feet", I am moved by the adventure that Father Mahon experienced in Panama. I am reminded of how provincial and non-adventurous most of our lives are. This 12-year "experiment" in Panama packs a lifetime of experiences.
   
   It is more perfect, more rewarding, more Christ-like being a priest among the poor than among the affluent. What a great gift to humanity to go into a poverty stricken town in Panama, live among the people and help them build a community. What a wonderful, energetic and idealistic adventure. I both admire and envy Father Leo Mahon for having lived this life of love, sacrifice and adventure.
   
   Father Mahon clashes with the Catholic establishment of the 1960s in Panama that retained unsavory medieval practices such as the selling of prayers and sacraments for a fee. He clashes with incompetent Bishops and Cardinals that are poor leaders. He clashes with unjust governments. He fights to defend himself from official accusations of heresy that steal energy from his mission. His approach to Catholicism and ministry was 50 years ahead of its time, but there was a price to be paid for this. In the end, Father Mahon builds a Christian community in San Miguelito far improved from 12 years earlier but in the struggles his energy in Panama is nearly exhausted. The struggle between good and evil continues... but Father Mahon scores one for the good guys.
   
   Javier Gorostiaga 5/25/2007



2. Rev. Leo Mahon, spent 12 years in Panama building a new model of a Catholic parish. Sent by the Archdiocese of Chicago, his 'experimental church' grew to be wildly successful and a powerful tool in not only changing the faith of many of the poorer people in Panama, but also became a challenge to the authorities in that country.
   
   With the Church becoming fearful of what Father Leo and other had created, plus a Government that feared the power if a rising class of poor people eventually lead to Father Mahon leaving Panama and the Church model eventually closed down.
   
   This book is a poweful witness to Faith moving a people and the man who helped make that happen. This book is simply written, but that is what makes this book good. I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who would want to explore their Faith and how it can change lives.

No comments about Whores, Queers and Others.

2 comments about George Pell: Defender of the Faith Down Under.

1. Livingstone's biography of George Cardinal Pell sheds light on one of english-speaking Catholicism's most important Cardinals. Pell's rise in the hierarchy of the Catholic Church has been meteoric, and particularly pivotal for Australia. Were he slightly older, I believe Pell would have been "papabile" in the most recent conclave.
   
   The tone of Livingstone's work is somewhat apologetic. As an American, I was familiar with Cardinal Pell through his writings in First Things and through his reputation in First Thing's pages. I was unaware of the degree to which he has been excoriated in Australia. Before reading Livingstone's work, I imagined Pell to be a sort of "Ratzinger Down Under." Now I have a more nuanced appreciation of the Cardinal - his work bears similarity to Msgr. Levada of San Francisco, the new prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. That is, he is not the archconservative Tridentine-Mass loving 1950's priest that his critics (or supporters) would have one believe, but a priest, bishop, and cardinal who takes his faith very seriously but reconciles a respect for dogma and tradition with a genuine love for his fellow Catholics.
   
   The defensiveness of the book is understandable considering the assault that Pell was under when the book was written.
   
   One intiguing aspect of the book is that of the unfamiliar Aussie syntax. Many of Pell's statements are slightly confusing - he seems to be saying something inconsistent with the context in which it is placed by the author. At times it is necessary to read Pell's statements a few times before appreciating the particular Aussie expression.
   
   I was also taken aback by the degree of Pell's involvement with "social justice". Pell's comments on American actions in southeast Asia were somewhat disconcerting. It is as if the American left-wing view of Vietnam/Laos/Cambodia found a stronger long-term purchase in Australia than it did in America.
   
   All told, Livingstone's work is a valuable introduction to Pell, a figure with whom discerning Catholics should familiarize themselves.



2. Tess Livingstone has done Catholics and observers of the Church a tremendous service in penning this brilliant biography of George Cardinal Pell, arguably one of the most influential prelates of the Catholic Church today. She traces his simple beginnings in a way that is simultaneously detailed and breezy, never bogging down in minutiae that would distract the reader. Countless interviews with contemporaries, peers and superiors show she has done a massive amount of research on the Cardinal. Her insights into his deeply-held faith, his trust in God and his simple humanity paint a picture of a man that the Catholics of Australia are proud to call their own.
   But this is not a fluff piece for the PARADE section of the Sunday paper. Ms. Livingstone's writing can be hard-edged and unflinching when discussing the less Christian side of some of the people who have had contact with Cardinal Pell over the years. Likewise, she points out His Eminence's less-than-gentle mannerisms as a young seminarian: in one memorable quote, a disgruntled former seminarian mentions, "He [Pell] thought that pansies belong in the garden, not the seminary." Refreshing words indeed for those of us exposed to the seamier side of religious life in the 1970s, with various diocesan and religious clergy preying on youth and children. Pell's commitment to "Muscular Christianity" is wonderful to see develop. His inspiration to young men and women in Australia is the reason the Church "Down Under" will provide holy men and women to serve the Catholic Church for many generations to come. An excellent biography of a truly good shepherd.

No comments about The Saintly Politics of Catherine of Siena.

1 comments about Martin Luther King Jr (Life&Times).

1. Ron Ramdin has accomplished a short, but fairly comprehensive overview of the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I found this work accessible, accurate, and in sufficient depth to give a sense of the life and ideas of Dr. King. One would only wish that Mr. Ramdin had done a little more, giving more length and substance. The book is very short. For first time readers of Dr. King, this is a good place to start. Three and a half to four stars.

3 comments about John Xxiii: Pope of the Century.

1. The peasant child who would be Pope...each stage of John XXIII's life recalled in a well directed manner, including some little known facts that were most interesting. His great devotion not only to God and his Church, but to mankind as well, revealed in profound ways. I was surprised that this simple, humble servant of the Lord was also a brilliant man with eloquence of speech and a compassion that reached across all walks of life and left its mark on humanity. An enigma who was at once a traditionalist with a passion for history, and also a reformer of the Church, with a keen sense of what was necessary to meet the demands of his modern day flock. Despite his elevated office, he remained a man who loved to talk to all peoples, and held in his heart a very special place for the downtrodden, the poor.His relationships with his family members were especially endearing.Most interesting was his role with the Jewish people during their darkest days.I could not put this book down! If my memories of Pope John from my childhood always seemed to touch my heart, my knowledge of him now has truly captured it! A gift from God whose Blessed presence in our world remains enduring. A must read for those interested in the Papacy, the Vatican, or simply a tender and exquisite story of one man's journey of Love. My deep thanks to the late author, Peter Hebblethwaite, and his wife Margaret for this gem!



2. This is the best book about John XXIII I have ever read. I read a biography about every Pope since 1846, and this was the best one. John XXIII was a saint, and this book clearly shows it.



3. This particular edition uses very small type--about the size that is found in footnotes to legal documents or pocket-size Bibles. Bifocal wearers be warned!

2 comments about L'chaim, A Zayde Adventure!: Memoirs of a Rabbi's Life.

1. This book is written about a wonderful human being who was my Rabbi for almost 40 years in San Francisco, CA.
   Rabbi Herb Morris was one of the finest man I have ever met, and this book, written by his daughter, tells of his life, and his story, from birth to death.
   You did not have to have known Rabbi Morris to enjoy this fantastic book and I guarantee you that you will love it.



2. Tamra Dollin has written a loving tribute to her father, Herbert Morris, who served his congregation as rabbi for 40 years. Through her use of stories, sermons, letters and events in Rabbi Morris' life, the author describes his remarkable journey spent helping others, even in the face of his own final illness. Written with tenderness and insight, this book captures the warmth, humor, trials and accomplishments that comprise a life well lived. Readers of all faiths and backgrounds will find it inspirational.

2 comments about Converting to Judaism - Choosing to Be Chosen : Personal Stories.

1. The book is very fast moving with personal testament from people who converted to Judaism. Some of these people wanted to create a more spiritual environment for the spouse and future family. Some never found meaning in their own religion. I think that the interesting part is that the stories are so personal and real. It's possible to relate.



2. I really liked this book. The author tells the story of several people who convert, most but not all in the context of relationships with a Jew. Some people had strong religious backgrounds, while others had little exposure to organized religion. A couple had abusive childhoods. There are stories of an African-American woman and a Japanese-American woman who convert.
   
   One thing I really liked about this book is that the author had something positive to say about each convert. She also presented the process as a period of study of Judaism, rather than a demand for immediate conversion. One of the women described here may never convert because of her difficulty giving up the belief in the divinity of Jesus. Interestingly enough, marrying converts caused some of the born Jews to become more religious and a couple chose Orthodoxy.
   
   This book is great for anyone interested in becoming a Jew-by-Choice.