An earnest and eclectic revisionist treatise.
Spiritual teacher Shipe calls for a new interpretation and practice of Christianity in this nonfiction work.
The author asserts that those called “Nones” (atheists, agnostics, and others who describe themselves as nonreligious) are growing in number, but that those who once identified as Christian but have since become disillusioned with their faith (or “Dones”) are responsible for “the shuttered churches” proliferating across America. Evangelical, Catholic, and mainline Christianity, the book argues, have failed millions in their hypocrisy, close-mindedness, and inability to offer a relevant message. Referring to herself throughout the book as “Moriah,” the author asserts that she’s been given a new “Message” from angels, detailed in depth in her previous book, The New Message of Love (2023). This book builds on that work in calling for Christians to “Forget what you believed,” and embrace a transformed version of Christianity. Since God is “Love energy,” per the book’s idiosyncratic theology, readers called to evolve into Love incarnate. This book is intended for lay readers who are “spiritual but not religious,” as well as those who feel trapped by overly dogmatic interpretations of Christianity. Interwoven throughout are original poems that contemplate the nature of God. The book’s second half features blank pages for journaling, reflective questions for contemplation (“What were your dreams? Did they become forgotten in everyday stressors?”) and daily personal meditations (“Help me to remember, understand, and grow into what You have uniquely designed for me”). The book’s nonjudgmental, empowering approach to spirituality openly welcomes those who are disenchanted, and others from varied faith traditions. However, its more unusual takes, as when it touches on the possibilities of “UFO’s, Others (aliens), psychic abilities, channeling, direct divine guidance, visitations, [and] teleportation,” won’t be accepted by skeptics. The book generally lacks citations or references, but it frequently references the author’s network of websites, blogs, social media accounts, and books (published by her organization, the International Institute for Human Empowerment) for those interested in its belief system.
An earnest and eclectic revisionist treatise.Pub Date: Feb. 17, 2022
ISBN: 9780970946157
Page Count: 504
Publisher: Self
Review Posted Online: May 2, 2024
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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