A lot of wisdom packed into a slim volume. One doesn't have to be Buddhist to appreciate it, but I bet it helps. The forward by the translator does a A lot of wisdom packed into a slim volume. One doesn't have to be Buddhist to appreciate it, but I bet it helps. The forward by the translator does a nice job of drawing out the perennialist perspective, finding parallels in other world religions....more
Justin Brierly, host of Premier Christian Radio's "Unbelievable?" in the UK, has just written a book titled "Unbelievable?: Why after ten years of talJustin Brierly, host of Premier Christian Radio's "Unbelievable?" in the UK, has just written a book titled "Unbelievable?: Why after ten years of talking with atheists, I'm still a Christian." It's quite good, though it contains little we haven't heard on the radio program (or the podcast). So of course me and some of the other non-believers who hang out at the "Unbelievable?" forum are having a crack at a "Justin Response Book" in a manner inverse to the Christian response to Bart Ehrmann's "How Jesus Became God: Exaltation of a Jewish Preacher From Galilee." First, I had to read the book. Now comes the writing......more
Those who know me understand that sussing out what humankind was up to in the pre-historic period is my thing. David Noble's book came highly recommenThose who know me understand that sussing out what humankind was up to in the pre-historic period is my thing. David Noble's book came highly recommended by another amateur enthusiast who works a V-Bar-V petroglyph heritage site. It does not disappoint, offering succinct directions, useful descriptions, and thoughtful analysis of "ruins and rock art" found in my neighborhood. ...more
Of the thousand some petroglyphs discerned on the rock panels at V Bar V Heritage Site located along Beaver Creek in the Verde Valley, many correlate Of the thousand some petroglyphs discerned on the rock panels at V Bar V Heritage Site located along Beaver Creek in the Verde Valley, many correlate to midday shadows cast by two rock gnomens during the equinoxes and solstices and at other calendrical events throughout the year. "Sinagua Sunwatchers", by Kenneth J. Zoll, lays out the details patiently in methodical detail....more
The late Mortimer J. Adler reminds his reader, "De gustibus non disputandum: about matters of taste, there is no disputing. De veritate disputandum esThe late Mortimer J. Adler reminds his reader, "De gustibus non disputandum: about matters of taste, there is no disputing. De veritate disputandum est: about matters of truth, we should engage in dispute..." And dispute he does. Adler's Truth in Religion: The Plurality of Religions and the Unity of Truth (1990) is chewy, spirited, and oddly argumentative (Adler had some strange beef with Joseph Campbell, who approached religion as misunderstood mythology). A thought-provoking, challenging, and ultimately useful read....more
As with many volumes I finally have made time to read I wish that I'd read this many years ago. It stands as a worthy companion to the works of Rumi, As with many volumes I finally have made time to read I wish that I'd read this many years ago. It stands as a worthy companion to the works of Rumi, Ecclesiastes, and the Tao Te Ching....more
My, what a fine "little book!" Comte-Sponville reminds us that the search for meaning has long been - and will forever continues to be - conducted by My, what a fine "little book!" Comte-Sponville reminds us that the search for meaning has long been - and will forever continues to be - conducted by the non-believer and the non-religious as well as the theist. He reminds the theist that atheism need not equal nihilism while reminding the atheist that non-belief need not entail fatalism. I plan to make gifts of this rich little volume to my favorite evangelical, my favorite Marxist, and many of the others I also love in between. I'll be reading "The Little Book of Atheist Spirituality" again....more
A worthy effort by two evenly matched opponents, yet more enjoyable than most such exchanges in that authors Rauser and Schieber obviously respect eacA worthy effort by two evenly matched opponents, yet more enjoyable than most such exchanges in that authors Rauser and Schieber obviously respect each other. Not sure they got to choose their title. Schieber was called upon to defend the implications of a materialism I'm not sure he holds, while Rauser defended a God of the Philosophers (bare theism) rather than the trinitarian~monotheism of biblical Christianity. I'd buy a sequel, but next time I'd hold out for paper rather than use the Kindle app on my smartphone again....more
I bought "Stories of Your Life and Others" to read the short story upon which the screenplay for the film "Arrival" was based. It was well worth it foI bought "Stories of Your Life and Others" to read the short story upon which the screenplay for the film "Arrival" was based. It was well worth it for that reason alone, but there are other stories in this collection which are even better. Ted Chiang is whip smart, wicked imaginative, and viciously clever. ...more
Useful summary of theories of culture, economics, agriculture, demography, disease, architecture, alliances, conflict, and abandonments in the prehistUseful summary of theories of culture, economics, agriculture, demography, disease, architecture, alliances, conflict, and abandonments in the prehistoric Southwest....more
This quick read joins the ranks of books like Jung's "Answer to Job," for thoughtful analysis and passionate appreciation. This quick read joins the ranks of books like Jung's "Answer to Job," for thoughtful analysis and passionate appreciation. ...more
I was not quite prepared for this thick and chewy read. The first half was awesome. The role of Canaanite myth as the foundation upon which the HebrewI was not quite prepared for this thick and chewy read. The first half was awesome. The role of Canaanite myth as the foundation upon which the Hebrew epic was built was rich and juicy. The second half dealt largely with the conflicting voices present in the pentateuch, for which I was unprepared....more
"It is never easy from the historian's perspective, to determine whether the text led Christians to embrace a doctrine or whether doctrine led Christi"It is never easy from the historian's perspective, to determine whether the text led Christians to embrace a doctrine or whether doctrine led Christians to modify the text."
One of Ehrman's three best books on the subject of early Christianity....more