Charles
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
The Last Week
The Last Week by Marcus Borg and John Dominic Crossan is an excellent introduction to the origin of Holy Week. The book tracks the Gospel of Mark, which gives us a day by day account of the last week in the life of Jesus. I leaf through it each year at this time, to help me remember why Holy Week is so important to me. Barbara Brown Taylor, an Episcopal priest and nationally acclaimed preacher and author says, "It is difficult to overestimate the importance of this volume for students of the Bible, especially those who mean to follow the Prince of Peace."
Sunday, February 3, 2013
More books
Fingerprints of God
Barbara Bradley Haggerty
Riverhead Books, 2009
This is a terrific book about science and religion in 21st century America. I have read it twice and made notes on every chapter.
Barbara Bradley Haggerty is the religion correspondent for National Public Radio.
She takes as her departure point The Varieties of Religious Experience written by the famed Harvard scientist William James in 1901. James concluded that while science could never prove or disprove the existence of God “Our normal waking consciousness, rational consciousness as we call it, is but one special type of consciousness, whilst all about it, parted from it by the filmiest of screens, there lie potential forms of consciousness entirely different.”
Haggery explores those “potential forms of consciousness entirely different” by tracing her own spiritual journey, describing the latest scientific explorations of the human brain, near death experiences, the effect of western and eastern meditational practices on the brain, speaking in tongues and the diversity yet unity in the great religious traditions of the world.
She writes clearly about science, religion and her own journey. She observes that “Scripture is metaphorical, explaining the world in a way that humans could understand at the time it was written, thousands of years ago. I do not think it was meant to be freeze-framed for all eternity.” p.282.
Haggerty concludes that there is no one way to God and that a transforming encounter with another type of reality is not confined to one religious expression.
Good Quote: “...the universe is stitched together not just by infinite intelligence but also by love and justice and beauty....We have all about us the fingerprints of God.” p. 284-5
We Took to the Woods
Louise Dickinson Rich
Lippincott, 1942
A calm, humorous and gently reflective book by a one time school teacher who met a divorced Harvard engineer while hiking in Maine in the 1930’s. A best seller when it came out during World War II, the book continues to have marvelous staying power. It describe what it was like for two educated people to live in the backwoods of Maine without electricity or running water, while raising a son, six Huskies and a skunk.
My grandfather owned a copy, which I first read when I was 12. I reread it every five years or so. I dont know what happened to my grandfather’s book but mine came from a used book sale at the Stanford library and has the book plate to prove it. “Gift of Dr. Raymond Jadarola”. I feel sure I would have liked Dr. Jadarola.
Good Quote: “The three weapons to use against axe cuts are: [a] sense enough not to get cut, [b] a good working knowledge of how to apply a tourniquet, if the worst occurs, and [c] a philosophical attitude.” 245.
Charles
Barbara Bradley Haggerty
Riverhead Books, 2009
This is a terrific book about science and religion in 21st century America. I have read it twice and made notes on every chapter.
Barbara Bradley Haggerty is the religion correspondent for National Public Radio.
She takes as her departure point The Varieties of Religious Experience written by the famed Harvard scientist William James in 1901. James concluded that while science could never prove or disprove the existence of God “Our normal waking consciousness, rational consciousness as we call it, is but one special type of consciousness, whilst all about it, parted from it by the filmiest of screens, there lie potential forms of consciousness entirely different.”
Haggery explores those “potential forms of consciousness entirely different” by tracing her own spiritual journey, describing the latest scientific explorations of the human brain, near death experiences, the effect of western and eastern meditational practices on the brain, speaking in tongues and the diversity yet unity in the great religious traditions of the world.
She writes clearly about science, religion and her own journey. She observes that “Scripture is metaphorical, explaining the world in a way that humans could understand at the time it was written, thousands of years ago. I do not think it was meant to be freeze-framed for all eternity.” p.282.
Haggerty concludes that there is no one way to God and that a transforming encounter with another type of reality is not confined to one religious expression.
Good Quote: “...the universe is stitched together not just by infinite intelligence but also by love and justice and beauty....We have all about us the fingerprints of God.” p. 284-5
We Took to the Woods
Louise Dickinson Rich
Lippincott, 1942
A calm, humorous and gently reflective book by a one time school teacher who met a divorced Harvard engineer while hiking in Maine in the 1930’s. A best seller when it came out during World War II, the book continues to have marvelous staying power. It describe what it was like for two educated people to live in the backwoods of Maine without electricity or running water, while raising a son, six Huskies and a skunk.
My grandfather owned a copy, which I first read when I was 12. I reread it every five years or so. I dont know what happened to my grandfather’s book but mine came from a used book sale at the Stanford library and has the book plate to prove it. “Gift of Dr. Raymond Jadarola”. I feel sure I would have liked Dr. Jadarola.
Good Quote: “The three weapons to use against axe cuts are: [a] sense enough not to get cut, [b] a good working knowledge of how to apply a tourniquet, if the worst occurs, and [c] a philosophical attitude.” 245.
Charles
Sunday, January 27, 2013
What I am Reading
From time to time I will be posting short snippets about what I have been reading, just in case you might enjoy the same kind of things that seem to interest me. Or not. As the case may be.
So here is a short list of things I have been working on. I read the hardest things early in the morning because that is when I am freshest in mind and spirit and the lighter things at night, when I have had enough of the day and want to wind down. Perhaps like you, I often have several books going at the same time. And I am afraid I have to confess that I don't finish everything I start.
The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief
By Dr. Francis S. Collins, Free Press, 2006
A graduate of the University of Virginia with a PhD in Chemistry from Yale, an MD from the University of North Carolina, and the leader of the Human Genome Project, Dr Collins is one of the most distinguished scientists in America. He is also a Christian.
The Language of God traces his own spiritual journey from atheism to agnosticism to a life of faith based on the teachings of Jesus. In his view science can answer the great questions of physical reality but is not equipped to answer the great questions of human meaning.
Dr Collins writes cleanly and is particularly helpful in describing the limitations of Creationism and Intelligent Design.
His first exposure to Christianity came when his agnostic parents encouraged him to join an Episcopal boy’s choir. They told him it was a great way to learn music but he shouldn’t take the theology too seriously.
Good Quote: “Life is short. The death rate will be one person for the foreseeable future. Opening one’s self to the life of the spirit can be indescribably enriching.”
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The Moon’s a Balloon and Bring on the Empty Horses
By David Niven, 1971 and 1975
Born in England, a graduate of Sandhurst and a decorated officer in the British Army in World War II, David Niven was also a famous movie star in Hollywood and played the lead in “Around the World in 80 Days”. Who knew that he was a gifted writer with an acute memory and a sharp pen?
Both books were international bestsellers in their day. For good reason. Funny. Poignant. And occasionally tragic. The first is the best. Easy to read in bits and pieces. Catnip for all but particularly if you are interested in the great movies of the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Apt Quote: “I apologize for the ensuing name dropping. It was hard to avoid it.”
So here is a short list of things I have been working on. I read the hardest things early in the morning because that is when I am freshest in mind and spirit and the lighter things at night, when I have had enough of the day and want to wind down. Perhaps like you, I often have several books going at the same time. And I am afraid I have to confess that I don't finish everything I start.
The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief
By Dr. Francis S. Collins, Free Press, 2006
A graduate of the University of Virginia with a PhD in Chemistry from Yale, an MD from the University of North Carolina, and the leader of the Human Genome Project, Dr Collins is one of the most distinguished scientists in America. He is also a Christian.
The Language of God traces his own spiritual journey from atheism to agnosticism to a life of faith based on the teachings of Jesus. In his view science can answer the great questions of physical reality but is not equipped to answer the great questions of human meaning.
Dr Collins writes cleanly and is particularly helpful in describing the limitations of Creationism and Intelligent Design.
His first exposure to Christianity came when his agnostic parents encouraged him to join an Episcopal boy’s choir. They told him it was a great way to learn music but he shouldn’t take the theology too seriously.
Good Quote: “Life is short. The death rate will be one person for the foreseeable future. Opening one’s self to the life of the spirit can be indescribably enriching.”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Moon’s a Balloon and Bring on the Empty Horses
By David Niven, 1971 and 1975
Born in England, a graduate of Sandhurst and a decorated officer in the British Army in World War II, David Niven was also a famous movie star in Hollywood and played the lead in “Around the World in 80 Days”. Who knew that he was a gifted writer with an acute memory and a sharp pen?
Both books were international bestsellers in their day. For good reason. Funny. Poignant. And occasionally tragic. The first is the best. Easy to read in bits and pieces. Catnip for all but particularly if you are interested in the great movies of the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Apt Quote: “I apologize for the ensuing name dropping. It was hard to avoid it.”
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