DISCUSSION Theme read July Women & Religion and Spirituality
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1juliette07
Time to start a new thread for all our thoughts, discussions and reviews of our July theme read. Share which book you have chosen - reflect as you read or leave your comment till you have finished.
2superfancy
Is there a list of questions we're supposed to consider?
3juliette07
Welcome superfancy - as yet we don't have a list of questions but how about if we add a question as and when?
I have just come over from the starter thread where streamsong has written her reflections on Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies and I have a few questions to think about - but please feel free to add your own thoughts. Neither Laura or I wish to direct too much. Most importantly enjoy your reading and please don't feel you have to slavishly answer any of the questions - please add your own if you wish!!
Does a book have to be overtly religious to be spiritual?
How does your read help you to reflect upon the impact of religion upon the lives of women?
What about stereotypical views of women in religion?
Does your book lead you to wonder about the unseen reality that lies beneath the surface of your world?
How does the spiritual wisdom of women you may have gleaned from reading inspire you to live your life - if indeed it does?
What about the patriarchal aspects of some religions ....
What about stories in which women hold to a faith in which they have to risk a great deal when they hold out against a male dominated faith culture?
Is your book an example of how women of faith have made a real difference in the lives of others?
I have just come over from the starter thread where streamsong has written her reflections on Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies and I have a few questions to think about - but please feel free to add your own thoughts. Neither Laura or I wish to direct too much. Most importantly enjoy your reading and please don't feel you have to slavishly answer any of the questions - please add your own if you wish!!
Does a book have to be overtly religious to be spiritual?
How does your read help you to reflect upon the impact of religion upon the lives of women?
What about stereotypical views of women in religion?
Does your book lead you to wonder about the unseen reality that lies beneath the surface of your world?
How does the spiritual wisdom of women you may have gleaned from reading inspire you to live your life - if indeed it does?
What about the patriarchal aspects of some religions ....
What about stories in which women hold to a faith in which they have to risk a great deal when they hold out against a male dominated faith culture?
Is your book an example of how women of faith have made a real difference in the lives of others?
4lauralkeet
Nice thought-provoking questions, Juliette. I will start my "theme read" book after I finish my current read ... so more thoughts later!
5mcna217
For this group, I chose The Spiral Staircase, Karen Armstrong's sequel to Through the Narrow Gate. It is an memoir, primarily discussing her life in the years after she left a Catholic convent.
Ms. Armstrong entered the convent in 1962, at the age of 17. She writes "I was filled with excitement and enthusiasm on that September day, convinced that I had embarked on a spiritual quest, an epic adventure, in the course of which I would lose my adolescent self in the infinite and ultimately satisfying mystery that we call God." Seven years later, that excitement and enthusiasm gone, she left the convent and reentered the secular world. The convent was not the life affirming place she had expected. Instead, it was sterile and cold, ruled over by a rigid Mother Superior. Even though the Catholic Church was patriarchal, in the convent its rules were enforced by nuns. There was no room for individuality or self-expression. There was no contact with the outside world except rare letters from family. The nuns spend the majority of the day in silence, except after dinner discussions about religion. During this time, the author began experiencing hallucinations and fainting spells, which were treated by the other nuns as a sign of weakness, or psychosomatic illness. It wasn't until years later that Ms. Armstrong was correctly diagnosed and treated for epilepsy. Additionally, she suffered from insomnia, anxiety, and anorexia.
While it was obvious that Ms. Armstrong did not belong it a convent, it was also difficult for her to live on the outside. She struggled with both medical and mental health issues, even spending time in a psychiatric hospital. She suffered setbacks academically, professionally, and spiritually. She didn't feel at place in the Catholic Church, yet a part of her still felt Catholic. It wasn't until she began studying and writing about religion that she felt she had found her niche. Writing, not religion, was her true vocation. She described the feeling of "ecstasy" she obtained through study, exploration, and travel. This was the same feeling she had hoped to find by entering a convent. She no longer believed in God, at least not in the traditional sense. She said, "Creator, father, personality watching over me, it's not what I believe in." She also wrote, " I don't belong to an affiliated, church...I'm very much a freelancer."
Ultimately, through years of introspection and study, Ms. Armstrong came to this conclusion...spirituality and wisdom can be obtained without religion or belief in a God.
Ms. Armstrong entered the convent in 1962, at the age of 17. She writes "I was filled with excitement and enthusiasm on that September day, convinced that I had embarked on a spiritual quest, an epic adventure, in the course of which I would lose my adolescent self in the infinite and ultimately satisfying mystery that we call God." Seven years later, that excitement and enthusiasm gone, she left the convent and reentered the secular world. The convent was not the life affirming place she had expected. Instead, it was sterile and cold, ruled over by a rigid Mother Superior. Even though the Catholic Church was patriarchal, in the convent its rules were enforced by nuns. There was no room for individuality or self-expression. There was no contact with the outside world except rare letters from family. The nuns spend the majority of the day in silence, except after dinner discussions about religion. During this time, the author began experiencing hallucinations and fainting spells, which were treated by the other nuns as a sign of weakness, or psychosomatic illness. It wasn't until years later that Ms. Armstrong was correctly diagnosed and treated for epilepsy. Additionally, she suffered from insomnia, anxiety, and anorexia.
While it was obvious that Ms. Armstrong did not belong it a convent, it was also difficult for her to live on the outside. She struggled with both medical and mental health issues, even spending time in a psychiatric hospital. She suffered setbacks academically, professionally, and spiritually. She didn't feel at place in the Catholic Church, yet a part of her still felt Catholic. It wasn't until she began studying and writing about religion that she felt she had found her niche. Writing, not religion, was her true vocation. She described the feeling of "ecstasy" she obtained through study, exploration, and travel. This was the same feeling she had hoped to find by entering a convent. She no longer believed in God, at least not in the traditional sense. She said, "Creator, father, personality watching over me, it's not what I believe in." She also wrote, " I don't belong to an affiliated, church...I'm very much a freelancer."
Ultimately, through years of introspection and study, Ms. Armstrong came to this conclusion...spirituality and wisdom can be obtained without religion or belief in a God.
6monarchi
My summer reading list seems to include several potentials. I'm just starting Camilla, by Madeleine L'Engle, who is certainly a very spiritually-conscious writer (although the books is targeted at YA readers, I think.) Reading Lolita in Tehran, by Azar Nafisi, and Monique and the Mango Rains, by Kris Holloway, are up next. I'm not sure yet how much either of those will fall under this category, but they seem hopeful.
Any thoughts from those who may have already read one of these books?
I'm looking forward to following this thread (I just discovered this group) and seeing all the neat books people are reading.
Any thoughts from those who may have already read one of these books?
I'm looking forward to following this thread (I just discovered this group) and seeing all the neat books people are reading.
7lauralkeet
Hildegard of Bingen: The Woman of her Age - reviewFirst of all, thanks to Nickelini for recommending this book; it was fascinating! Now, to tackle some of the questions from #3:
Impact of religion upon the lives of women Hildegard of Bingen lived in the 12th century, when it was quite common for parents to send their daughters to an abbey ...especially when they are the 10th child, as Hildegard was. The cloistered life provided an opportunity for women to develop their faith, but they did so in isolation -- even female friendships were discouraged. The cloister struck me as just another form of female oppression -- lock them away so they won't get too powerful.
Stereotypical views of women in religion / patriarchal aspects of some religions Women were kept "in their place." Unlike male clergy, nuns were not permitted to preach at all. They were subservient to monks and other male leadership figures. Unfortunately, IMO, this hasn't changed enough over the past 800 years. There are still denominations that do not allow female ordination and often relegate women to roles in the church that are more about caretaking than spiritual leadership.
Risking a great deal when they hold out against a male dominated faith culture I admired Hildegard for being very outspoken; she was a prolific letter-writer with religious and political leaders, including the pope. She didn't hesitate to tell people what she thought and was often quite scathing!
Is your book an example of how women of faith have made a real difference in the lives of others? Most definitely. Hildegard of Bingen was one-of-a-kind, especially for that period in history. Having founded her own abbey, she had a positive impact on the spiritual development of many, many women. And she was known for visions and miracles (if you believe in that sort of thing, which I confess I do not) ... but this seemed to have a strong impact on people who came in contact with her. People still make pilgrimages to celebrate her feast day.
A very, very interesting book!
8juliette07
This sounds an excellent read - thank you for your review. She has also inspired many through her words that have been used in Christian hymns.
9nancyewhite
Take This Bread by Sara Miles - ReviewDoes a book have to be overtly religious to be spiritual?
No, but this one is overtly religious.
How does your read help you to reflect upon the impact of religion upon the lives of women?
Sara's life was greatly impacted by her conversion to Christianity as was that of her partner and her daughter. Equally, the lives of the women and children who came to her food pantry were affected both by receiving food free of conditions when they were hungry and by the experience of being accepted at the communal table offered to them.
What about stereotypical views of women in religion?
Sara discusses the patriarchal (as well as classist, racist and homophobic) roots of Christianity but mostly in the context of none of that mattering to the very real feelings of connection with Jesus that she feels and that none of those offenses should stop radical Christians from doing the real work of sitting down at the open table with everyone the crazy, addicted and unwanted.
Does your book lead you to wonder about the unseen reality that lies beneath the surface of your world?
Sure. The story of someone having an undeniable completely unexpected experience of being converted is compelling to someone who longs for religious certainty. In addition, though, there is the unseen reality that Sara reminds us to see in the needs and longings of those around us - for food, for connection, for acceptance.
How does the spiritual wisdom of women you may have gleaned from reading inspire you to live your life - if indeed it does?
It reminds me to see God in everyone around me - people who I dislike, who appear dirty or crazy or unacceptable. It reminds me that the "realest" of spiritual experiences occur when we are doing real work with our hands and our hearts and not when we are sitting in church services.
What about stories in which women hold to a faith in which they have to risk a great deal when they hold out against a male dominated faith culture?
While Sara doesn't risk her life or physical health, she does have to stand up to ministers, bishops and other church members to see her vision of feeding people real food from the communion table come to fruition. Having no childhood experience of religion, she refuses to comply with the rules of the church (she both baptizes someone and gives someone communion without the approval of the church hierarchy).
Is your book an example of how women of faith have made a real difference in the lives of others?
This book is pretty much entirely about how a woman of faith can make a tangible difference in the life of the people in her community. It is also about how that woman can make an intangible difference to those same people.
10lauralkeet
I thought I'd bump this thread up to the top by asking whether anyone has recently finished, or is currently reading, a book for our July theme read? How are you finding it?
11streamsong
I just started a second book for this read, The Woman With the Alabaster Jar: Mary Magdalen and the Holy Grail, by Margaret Starbird.
My plan is to read several books during this theme read--alternating those celebrating my own Christian beliefs and those from an alternative spiritual viewpoint.
According to the book's blurb, Ms Starbird was a Roman Catholic scholar who set out to refute the book Holy Blood, Holy Grail which concluded that Jesus and Mary Magdalen were married. Instead, during her ten years of research, she found additional evidence to support this theory. Her next book is titled The Goddess in the Gospels: Reclaiming the Sacred Feminine.
So this is a much different viewpoint than my previous read, Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies.
My plan is to read several books during this theme read--alternating those celebrating my own Christian beliefs and those from an alternative spiritual viewpoint.
According to the book's blurb, Ms Starbird was a Roman Catholic scholar who set out to refute the book Holy Blood, Holy Grail which concluded that Jesus and Mary Magdalen were married. Instead, during her ten years of research, she found additional evidence to support this theory. Her next book is titled The Goddess in the Gospels: Reclaiming the Sacred Feminine.
So this is a much different viewpoint than my previous read, Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies.
12juliette07
streamsong - thanks for that. The Goddess in the Gospels sounds interesting.
nancywhite - great thoughts and thanks for posting. I especailly liked your last piece about the difference a women of faith can make.
It reminds me of A Thread of Grace where it is the women of both Jewish and Christian faith who in war torn Italy make such a difference to the lives of those around them them. I loved the way in which their faiths were truly lived out in a peacable, compassionate manner.
A Thread of Grace was precisely the kind of book that I was thinking about when I wrote about the possibility of a book being spiritual but not focussed upon religion.
nancywhite - great thoughts and thanks for posting. I especailly liked your last piece about the difference a women of faith can make.
It reminds me of A Thread of Grace where it is the women of both Jewish and Christian faith who in war torn Italy make such a difference to the lives of those around them them. I loved the way in which their faiths were truly lived out in a peacable, compassionate manner.
A Thread of Grace was precisely the kind of book that I was thinking about when I wrote about the possibility of a book being spiritual but not focussed upon religion.
13streamsong
The Woman With the Alabaster Jar: Mary Magdalen and the Holy Grail by Margaret
Starbird
According to the blurb, Margaret Starbird was a Catholic scholar when she read Holy Blood, Holy Grail and was moved to repudiate the book. Instead, she found more evidence that Jesus Christ may have been married to Mary Magdalen.
This book exams that belief through the artists, mythologies, traditions and symbolism of various eras.
Starbird believes that Mary Magdalen typifies the ‘forgotten feminine’ in the Bible which focuses on not only a father figure God, but that aspect of Jesus that is victor, ruler, Lord of the Universe and seated at God’s right hand. Starbird says that this version of Jesus clearly echos a male divinity in the tradition of such gods as Egypt’s Ra, Greece’s Apollo, Rome’s Jupiter and Persia’s Zoroaster and Mithras. The Jesus of the Gospels, however, is a Lord of wisdom, gentleness and compassion.
Does a book have to be overtly religious to be spiritual? Actually, I found this book to be almost the opposite—overtly about religion, but not terribly spiritual. It is full of an abundance of facts and research, but lacking what I felt to be a spiritual dimension until the last chapter.
What about stereotypical views of women in religion? This book was a good introduction for me about the denial of women’s importance in many aspects of the Christian church. Scholars have commented that it would have been highly unusual for a Jewish man of Jesus' age and time to have never married. Some scholars have concluded that if he had remained unmarried, it would have been mentioned. Yet the Bible is silent as to his marital status leaving at least one well known Jewish scholar to conclude he must have been married. Catholic Church doctrine chose to propose that Jesus, his mother Mary, and father Joseph, all remained virgins throughout their lives. In doing so, they denied women as her role as a mate of man although they do reverence the virginal motherhood of Mary.
Does your book lead you to wonder about the unseen reality that lies beneath the surface of your world?It has not changed how I view the unseen reality of my spiritual belief. It has led me to question the unseen/unrecognized (at least by me) realities of organized belief. It has led me to wonder if church doctrine tells the whole truth and whether the emphasis of Jesus’ ministry has been changed by doctrinal choices.
This book and the discussion on the other thread have definitely made me want to read more on the whole topic of femininst theology.
Starbird
According to the blurb, Margaret Starbird was a Catholic scholar when she read Holy Blood, Holy Grail and was moved to repudiate the book. Instead, she found more evidence that Jesus Christ may have been married to Mary Magdalen.
This book exams that belief through the artists, mythologies, traditions and symbolism of various eras.
Starbird believes that Mary Magdalen typifies the ‘forgotten feminine’ in the Bible which focuses on not only a father figure God, but that aspect of Jesus that is victor, ruler, Lord of the Universe and seated at God’s right hand. Starbird says that this version of Jesus clearly echos a male divinity in the tradition of such gods as Egypt’s Ra, Greece’s Apollo, Rome’s Jupiter and Persia’s Zoroaster and Mithras. The Jesus of the Gospels, however, is a Lord of wisdom, gentleness and compassion.
Does a book have to be overtly religious to be spiritual? Actually, I found this book to be almost the opposite—overtly about religion, but not terribly spiritual. It is full of an abundance of facts and research, but lacking what I felt to be a spiritual dimension until the last chapter.
What about stereotypical views of women in religion? This book was a good introduction for me about the denial of women’s importance in many aspects of the Christian church. Scholars have commented that it would have been highly unusual for a Jewish man of Jesus' age and time to have never married. Some scholars have concluded that if he had remained unmarried, it would have been mentioned. Yet the Bible is silent as to his marital status leaving at least one well known Jewish scholar to conclude he must have been married. Catholic Church doctrine chose to propose that Jesus, his mother Mary, and father Joseph, all remained virgins throughout their lives. In doing so, they denied women as her role as a mate of man although they do reverence the virginal motherhood of Mary.
Does your book lead you to wonder about the unseen reality that lies beneath the surface of your world?It has not changed how I view the unseen reality of my spiritual belief. It has led me to question the unseen/unrecognized (at least by me) realities of organized belief. It has led me to wonder if church doctrine tells the whole truth and whether the emphasis of Jesus’ ministry has been changed by doctrinal choices.
This book and the discussion on the other thread have definitely made me want to read more on the whole topic of femininst theology.
14primlil
Well I will wade in here...
The book I had intended to read, Hildegard of Bingen: The Woman of her Age, is still being read... infact I have just about given up on it as I need to return it to the library. Will renew it again and keep on going. I have just not been in the right frame of mind of late.
In regards to comments on the book Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert that was discussed in the other thread, and in fact it got some scathing remarks. This book was recommended to me after my mum died earlier this year, it is not my usual sort of book. I too dont particulary like the self absorbed writing of people searching for happiness and themselves - but after reading this book and actually liking it, I must admit to have changed my mind a little. I wonder how ANY book written about spirituality, the search for enlightenment and the desire to find inner peace - how can they not be self absorbed?
The search for individual meaning of life and how that translates into individual spirituality, is a self absorbed thing to do. Whether that searching takes place by eating yourway though Italy, living in an Ashram in India or regularly attending church on Sundays and praying every night at the meal table - all these actions of spirituality are self absorbed - some just translate into books better! And perhaps we like the notion that spirituality can 'be got' from exotic locations.
So how do you write a book about your journey to/from spirituality and your search for meaning in your life and all those larger philoshopical questions, without it being self absorbed?
If there are some 'spiritual journey' books out there that are not so self absorbed - I would like to hear of them!
Cheers Alexandra
The book I had intended to read, Hildegard of Bingen: The Woman of her Age, is still being read... infact I have just about given up on it as I need to return it to the library. Will renew it again and keep on going. I have just not been in the right frame of mind of late.
In regards to comments on the book Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert that was discussed in the other thread, and in fact it got some scathing remarks. This book was recommended to me after my mum died earlier this year, it is not my usual sort of book. I too dont particulary like the self absorbed writing of people searching for happiness and themselves - but after reading this book and actually liking it, I must admit to have changed my mind a little. I wonder how ANY book written about spirituality, the search for enlightenment and the desire to find inner peace - how can they not be self absorbed?
The search for individual meaning of life and how that translates into individual spirituality, is a self absorbed thing to do. Whether that searching takes place by eating yourway though Italy, living in an Ashram in India or regularly attending church on Sundays and praying every night at the meal table - all these actions of spirituality are self absorbed - some just translate into books better! And perhaps we like the notion that spirituality can 'be got' from exotic locations.
So how do you write a book about your journey to/from spirituality and your search for meaning in your life and all those larger philoshopical questions, without it being self absorbed?
If there are some 'spiritual journey' books out there that are not so self absorbed - I would like to hear of them!
Cheers Alexandra
15streamsong
That's a really interesting question, Alexandra. That was one of the criticisms nohrt4me had about Anne Lamott in the previous thread http://www.librarything.com/talktopic.php?topic=35660
Can any sort of memoir not be self-centered?
Can any sort of memoir not be self-centered?
16nohrt4me
Can any sort of memoir not be self-centered?
What a great question!
Here's kind of a half-baked response, which I'm sure bears more thinking about, but might be a starting place:
Does the writer's experience serve as a springboard into revealing something about the human experience? That is, do you come away with a new insight, a new way of looking at something, with increased understanding about how human life works?
Or is the author simply telling all about a personal experience in a kind of cathartic way? That is, you might find reading it therapeutic, but your main takeaway is that you feel better because you know someone else has been through the same thing.
More simply, and perhaps less subjectively put: Is the writer's approach reflective or merely descriptive?
I can see that there might be value in both approaches, but the one with the longest "shelf life" might be the latter.
What a great question!
Here's kind of a half-baked response, which I'm sure bears more thinking about, but might be a starting place:
Does the writer's experience serve as a springboard into revealing something about the human experience? That is, do you come away with a new insight, a new way of looking at something, with increased understanding about how human life works?
Or is the author simply telling all about a personal experience in a kind of cathartic way? That is, you might find reading it therapeutic, but your main takeaway is that you feel better because you know someone else has been through the same thing.
More simply, and perhaps less subjectively put: Is the writer's approach reflective or merely descriptive?
I can see that there might be value in both approaches, but the one with the longest "shelf life" might be the latter.
17nohrt4me
I read Knowledge of Angels at someone's recommendation in this group, and whoever it was, thank you!
One of the most interesting reads ever.
I'm not sure I have it figured out--or whether it's meant to be "figured out."
But it has a good deal to say about faith and reason, faith and doctrine, what it means to be human, and the nature of love, friendship and loyalty.
I'll be a long time thinking about this, but the central issue involves whether the existence of God can be proved, either through reason or scientific experiment.
One of the most interesting reads ever.
I'm not sure I have it figured out--or whether it's meant to be "figured out."
But it has a good deal to say about faith and reason, faith and doctrine, what it means to be human, and the nature of love, friendship and loyalty.
I'll be a long time thinking about this, but the central issue involves whether the existence of God can be proved, either through reason or scientific experiment.
18streamsong
I like your response, nohrt4me. Do you have any examples of non self-centered spiritual journeys?
Knowledge of Angels sounds very interesting. I hate to say it, but I think I had skipped over the discussion of it because of its title. I love books that leave you thinking for a long time--and may change your worldview in the process. Definitely one for my wishlist.
I just finished The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. I had read it for this group's Orange July challenge, but it works well for this read, too.
On my 75 books challenge, another poster stated that this book looks at the difference between religion and faith. I think this is the perfect one line summary of this book.
I wasn't sure how'd I like this one, but I did it like it very much. Some of the comments I had heard made me think thiis would be a put down of Christianity. I didn't find it to be that at all--although it definitely showed how Christianity can be twisted into a loveless shackle and the damages that such a shackle can produce--especially in a family that believes that the husband is the head of his family in a way that can't be questioned by others
I had read Kingsolver's Animal Vegetable Miracle last year. In it she had remarked that some group had decided she was the most dangerous woman (in America? in the World? in the universe?) based on her authorship of The Poisonwood Bible. The fact that some group would brand her thus is scary.
Reading TPB has made me want to reread Captive of the Simbas by Margaret Hayes who was a Christian missionary during the Congo revolution.
Knowledge of Angels sounds very interesting. I hate to say it, but I think I had skipped over the discussion of it because of its title. I love books that leave you thinking for a long time--and may change your worldview in the process. Definitely one for my wishlist.
I just finished The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. I had read it for this group's Orange July challenge, but it works well for this read, too.
On my 75 books challenge, another poster stated that this book looks at the difference between religion and faith. I think this is the perfect one line summary of this book.
I wasn't sure how'd I like this one, but I did it like it very much. Some of the comments I had heard made me think thiis would be a put down of Christianity. I didn't find it to be that at all--although it definitely showed how Christianity can be twisted into a loveless shackle and the damages that such a shackle can produce--especially in a family that believes that the husband is the head of his family in a way that can't be questioned by others
I had read Kingsolver's Animal Vegetable Miracle last year. In it she had remarked that some group had decided she was the most dangerous woman (in America? in the World? in the universe?) based on her authorship of The Poisonwood Bible. The fact that some group would brand her thus is scary.
Reading TPB has made me want to reread Captive of the Simbas by Margaret Hayes who was a Christian missionary during the Congo revolution.
19urania1
#17 I recommended Knowledge of Angels. I loved this book and thought it was brilliant.
20streamsong
The group's gone pretty quiet although I think it's supposed to go through August, too.
I'm currently reading The Places that Scare You by Pema Chodron. I love her books. I have no problem incorporating a bit of Buddhist philosophy and practice into my practice of Christianity. My minister says he came to Christianity 'through the Eastern gate' and encourages meditation.
Did anyone else get to any of Pema Chodron's books?
Anyone else still reading/have to read spirituality books?
I'm currently reading The Places that Scare You by Pema Chodron. I love her books. I have no problem incorporating a bit of Buddhist philosophy and practice into my practice of Christianity. My minister says he came to Christianity 'through the Eastern gate' and encourages meditation.
Did anyone else get to any of Pema Chodron's books?
Anyone else still reading/have to read spirituality books?
21ejd0626
Is this read going through August?? If so, I might read Reading Lolita in Tehran. It's been on my shelf for awhile.
22lauralkeet
It was originally just July, but somewhere along the way (after this thread was created), we decided to extend the theme read to two months. So, yes -- read away!
23Nickelini
Great! Now I just have to figure out a spiritual angle to Sense and Sensibility. Hmmm.
24Nickelini
Great! Now I just have to figure out a spiritual angle to Sense and Sensibility, since that's what I'll be reading for the next while. Hmmm.
25streamsong
Hey Nickelini, I'm still waiting for your comments on The Poisonwood Bible. I think it's great that you have an alternative view and I'd really like to hear them.
26yareader2
I never got a chance to start The Poisonwood Bible it fit into this months women and religion?
I have read Reading Lolita in Tehran and I was wondering where the religion came in? Was it because the religious fundementalists were controlling everything including what should be taught in University literature classes?
I have read Reading Lolita in Tehran and I was wondering where the religion came in? Was it because the religious fundementalists were controlling everything including what should be taught in University literature classes?
27Nickelini
Streamsong . . . I'm having trouble pulling my thoughts together on this one. Still thinking about how to say it . . .
28streamsong
Hi yareader--Yes, to me The Poisonwood Bible fits right into this discussion. It goes to the question juliette asked in post 3--Does a book have to be overtly religious to be spiritual?
For me, any book that makes me look at what I believe is a spiritual book. The Poisonwood Bible made me think about my definitions of religion/legalism/spirituality within the context of my Christian beliefs. For another reader, it might confirm their aetheism, or their, (hmmm for lack of the right word coming to mind), other-than-Christian belief system. In any case, the reader looks at their own beliefs, and so I would say it is a spiritual book.
I hope you read it. I would love to see more discussion on this thread. (Still have ten days to go on this read!)
Nickelini, sometimes posting your musings rather than your final thoughts helps your thoughts to gel.....
For me, any book that makes me look at what I believe is a spiritual book. The Poisonwood Bible made me think about my definitions of religion/legalism/spirituality within the context of my Christian beliefs. For another reader, it might confirm their aetheism, or their, (hmmm for lack of the right word coming to mind), other-than-Christian belief system. In any case, the reader looks at their own beliefs, and so I would say it is a spiritual book.
I hope you read it. I would love to see more discussion on this thread. (Still have ten days to go on this read!)
Nickelini, sometimes posting your musings rather than your final thoughts helps your thoughts to gel.....
30streamsong
I finished my last book for this read, Pema Chodron 's The places that scare you : a guide to fearlessness in difficult times.
For those not familar with her, I thought I'd quote from the back of the book:"Pema Chodron is one of the most renowned spiritual teachers in the West today. She is the resident teacher of Buddhism at Gampo Abbey, in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, the first Tibetan monastery in North America. She is the author of four best selling books....'
Pema Chodron is one of my favorite spiritual writers. I have no problem incorporating bits of her Buddhist philosophy into my Christian practice.
This book explains the premise of bodhichitta--that feeling of woundedness that can soften our hearts and lead us to feel a true connection with other humans. Instead, when we have this wounded feeling, most people tend to want to escape it as soon as possible--by either striking out or avoiding when we are in uncomfortable situations.
Like all of Pema's books, as soon as I finished it, I had the urge to immediately begin reading it all over again. It's why all of her books are marked either tbr or tbrr (reread) in my library.
For those not familar with her, I thought I'd quote from the back of the book:"Pema Chodron is one of the most renowned spiritual teachers in the West today. She is the resident teacher of Buddhism at Gampo Abbey, in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, the first Tibetan monastery in North America. She is the author of four best selling books....'
Pema Chodron is one of my favorite spiritual writers. I have no problem incorporating bits of her Buddhist philosophy into my Christian practice.
This book explains the premise of bodhichitta--that feeling of woundedness that can soften our hearts and lead us to feel a true connection with other humans. Instead, when we have this wounded feeling, most people tend to want to escape it as soon as possible--by either striking out or avoiding when we are in uncomfortable situations.
Like all of Pema's books, as soon as I finished it, I had the urge to immediately begin reading it all over again. It's why all of her books are marked either tbr or tbrr (reread) in my library.
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