The Golden Rule is something that almost all religions can agree
upon. I'm including a page of quotes on the
Golden Rule as expressed by 11 different religions. You can print it out as a
free mini-poster. The Golden Rule advocates love and kindness. You can click here for some good books on love and
kindness.
Publisher out of stock in
Dec. 2000. The
Eliade Guide to World Religions, by Mircea Eliade and Ioan P.
Couliano. An intellectual scholarly analysis of the beliefs and history of 33 major
religious traditions. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
Different
religions believe in and have faith in different sacred texts.
Three major sacred texts include the
Jewish Torah, the Christian Bible, and the Islamic Qur'an
(also sometimes spelled Koran).
Most Eastern religions have more than one sacred text.
The Aesop
for Children, with pictures by Milo Winter. Aesop's fables,
while delightfully entertaining children, also each contain a moral to the
story. For example, one of the first morals taught is "Heaven helps
those who help themselves." I like the stories because they portray a
freewheeling version of life, morality, and wisdom. These fables,
thousands of years old, are an enduring part of folk wisdom. Reviewed by
Amazon.com.
Out of print. The
Universe Bends Towards Justice: A Reader on Christian Nonviolence in the U.S.,
edited by Angie O'Gorman, with a foreword by Colman McCarthy. Published by New Society Publishers.
My
favorite chapter in this book is "Jesus' Third Way" by Walter Wink. A key
quote from this chapter is "A proper translation of Jesus' teachings would then be,
'Do not strike back at evil (or, one who has done you evil) in kind. Do not give
blow for blow. Do not retaliate against violence with violence.' Jesus was no
less committed to opposing evil than the anti-Roman resistance fighters. The only
difference was over the means to be used: how one should fight evil.
There are three general responses to evil: 1) passivity, 2) violent
opposition, and 3) the third way of militant nonviolence articulated by Jesus."
The Quakers have often been in
the forefront of nonviolent Christian struggle for social change. (For example, here's a recent column about the activism of
a Quaker from Washington, D.C., An
Alternative To Cynicism, by William Raspberry, from The
Washington Post,
6/9/97, page A19.) [Post
archive search.]
The Unitarian
Universalist Church is an open-minded liberal faith, and I for one have gone to many
events held at Unitarian Churches.
From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians,
by PBS. This is fascinating 4-hour PBS Frontline documentary on the early
history of Christianity from its origin through its becoming the official
religion of the Roman Empire. Reviewed
by PBS. Expensive, so you may want to rent a copy from a video store
or library.
Here's a recent article
on one woman's view on selecting
a church that is right for her, from The
Washington Post, Sunday, May 11 1997;
Page C3. [Post
archive search.]
Some Christians have embraced the human potential movement and/or New
Age beliefs. For example, the delightful elf-help
mini-booklets, which provide plenty of love and encouragement on a number of topics,
are published by Abbey Press.
In my opinion, Christianity,
or more broadly organized religion, offers many benefits, including religious faith, a
sense of values, community, and a moral code, and it motivates some people to volunteer
for community service. But I would add a caution about religious
fundamentalism, extremism, or religious belief that leads to judging others, hatred,
and/or attempting to control other people's lives. A powerful example of what I
would caution against is the wholesale violation of women's rights that occurred in
Afghanistan after Islamic fundamentalists took over.
Where does America stand on religion and
spirituality? Here are 2 interesting articles from The
Washington Post. "Poll
Finds America 'as Churched as Ever'-
Beliefs in God, Afterlife Have Changed Little Since 1947, but Faithful Sample More Forms
of Spirituality". From The Washington Post, 5/31/97; Page B7. (It
includes interesting poll results on religion.) "Christian
Pollster and Analyst Sees Country at Spiritual Crossroads", from The Washington Post,
5/31/97, page B7. [Post
archive search.]
The Lost
Gospel of the Earth: A Call for Renewing Nature, Spirit, and Politics, by Tom
Hayden and B. Ras. Published in 1996 by Sierra Club Books. Tom Hayden, a founder of
SDS, member of the Chicago Seven, and longtime progressive California legislator presents
an impassioned plea for reclaiming our spiritual bond with the Earth. Extensively
reviewed by Amazon.com.
Out of print. The
Green Bible, by Stephen B. Scharper and Hilary Cunningham. As its
book cover states, "The Green Bible seeks out the word of God for our diminished
planet. Its sources range from the Hebrew and Christian scriptures to religious and
political leaders, scientists, and environmentalists today. Their voices bring home
the urgent task we face: to mend our household which is Creation, and to inspire hope that
life will continue- and flourish- for all Earth's beings." Published by Orbis
Books, which is associated with the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America,
Maryknoll. Note: this is not an official religious document, but is instead the work
of 2 authors to combine Christianity and ecology. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
The
Earthsteward's Handbook: A Guide to Healing Ourselves and Healing the Earth,
by Danaan Parry and Lila Forest. In the book's own words, "...this handbook
presents the concept of the "Sevenfold Path of Peace"- a series of practical
steps designed to help bring spiritual awareness into your life. The path consists
of:
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
Inner Peace
Earth as a Living Organism
Planetary Stewardship
Right Livelihood
Sacredness of All Life
Ego Transcendence
Oneness"
Handbook
to Higher Consciousness (cassette tape & mini-guide), by Ken Keyes,
Jr. Reviewed by Amazon.com. I recommend this as your first introduction to the
Ken Keyes living love method. Reviewed by Amazon.com.
If you want more information and books on some spiritual traditions
outside of our Judeo-Christian religious tradition, click here.
I personally find some non Judeo-Christian spiritual traditions very interesting, but I
also recognize that in America many people are firmly attached to a Judeo-Christian
religious worldview. So I've set up a separate category called New Age Spirituality to allow those people interested in it to
check it out while allowing conservative people with a traditional religious faith to
avoid being offended by ideas that may differ from their faith. - See also inspirational books. -
- See also consciousness-raising information -
- See also utopian/ecotopian visions. -
Prices and discounts are
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