If I Gave You God's Phone Number....: Searching for Spirituality in America [Hardcover]

Mare Cromwell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2002

This book is a unique exploration of how different people experience the Divine or choose not to -- woven together with one woman's spiritual journey. Part memoir, part interview-based, Mare Cromwell interviews Christians, Jews, agnostics, a Cherokee Medicine woman and others in her search for a path that brings her closer to God. All interviews are framed by the question: "If I gave you God's phone number, what would you do with it?"; Sometimes shocking and sometimes inspirational, it is an honest aperture into the diverse perceptions of God, religion and spirituality in our society. It also speaks to one woman's journey away from the Catholic Church to a spirituality that more broadly encompasses a Creator - Earth Mother balance.

Editorial Reviews

Review

If you like to delve into the depths of the minds of many, you will enjoy reading this book. -- Bookreview.com Mar. 2003

The book will appeal to those asking their own questions... The reader will want to add his or her answers! --ForeWord Magazine, Nov. 2002

About the Author

Mare Cromwell lives in Maryland and is on her way to living more sustainably with lots of organic veggies, goats, sheep and other four-legged friends. In the following order of odd priorities currently, Mare weeds, blogs, cooks, loves to play with stones and is hard at work on her second book. At times she can also be found chatting with plants as a plant whisperer. After writing her first book, "If I gave you God's phone number . . .: Searching for Spirituality in America", she's convinced that God has a phone number but she can't give you yours.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Pamoon Press; First Edition edition (September 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0971703205
• ISBN-13: 978-0971703209
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,624,472 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Mare Cromwell lives in Maryland and is on her way to living more sustainably with lots of organic veggies, goats, sheep and other four-legged friends. In the following order of odd priorities currently, Mare weeds, blogs, cooks, loves to play with stones and is hard at work on her second book. At times she can also be found chatting with plants as a plant whisperer. After writing her award-winning first book, "If I gave you God's phone number . . .. Searching for Spirituality in America", she's convinced that God has a phone number but she can't give you yours.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars TIMELY & INSPIRING, December 3, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: If I Gave You God's Phone Number....: Searching for Spirituality in America (Hardcover)

Local Baltimore author Mare Cromwell offers up timely answers to many of my heartfelt, unspoken questions about life. Perhaps more so than ever before in our history, we're asking important questions and desire to strengthen our relationship with the creative force of life.

This book was a comfort to me recently during the anniversary of 9/11. I turned off my television and hungrily dug in. My appetite for understanding was well satisfied. The stories expressed by men, women, children, teens, older folks, a death row inmate, an agnostic, and people of many faiths, occupations, economic and educational backgrounds, reassured me that I am not alone in my longing.

Some of the interviewees have clearly struggled with their understanding of the Divine; I found the sincerity of their stories, their courage and the intensity of their questions equally enlightening, and I took a moment to appreciate my own hard-won sense of faith.

Ms. Cromwell's personal story charmed me from page one. She is funny and warm. On occasion, her words were tough for me to read. They reminded me of my own feelings of awkwardness and alienation as a child, and an early disillusionment with church going. Most of all, I saw my own life mirrored in her questions regarding romantic relationships and her commitment to her integrity. I am heartened by the strength and courage that clearly guides her well along her path.

Two interviews in particular captured my attention.

Abdullah, the Muslim Sufi and mystic speaks of the beauty of his faith and expresses sadness and frustration with those who distort Mohammad's vision by creating violence and terror in the world. Read this book if you're interested in receiving an education regarding the much underreported, positive side of this rich, ancient path to God. Abdullah's kindness, wisdom and grace brought me much hope and a sense of peace.

It is the Cherokee Medicine Woman Jasmine Hishaw's words in the final chapter that remain with me most strongly. This is the chapter that sold me on the book. Ms. Hishaw teaches about the structure of the Universe, organized religion, the New Age movement, human sexuality, the Creative Force as expressed through Divine Father and Earth Mother, and many other topics of interest to us today. You won't want to miss out on this one. Her words are filled with humbleness, humor and a wonderful wildness. Her message is so simple that I trust it.

This book will appeal to open minded human beings, truth seekers of all faiths, and individuals who hear the urgent call to help bridge our differences and work to bring in understanding and acceptance among all peoples of the world.

We need more positive books like this one - keep up the good work Ms. Cromwell. I look forward to your next one!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book's importance, November 12, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: If I Gave You God's Phone Number....: Searching for Spirituality in America (Hardcover)

The plight of the homeless, beyond the obvious poverty, is gross disenfranchisement. They are cut off not only from the mainstream but from all other streams. They are deprived of any meaningful dialog because they have no voice in our society, but worse they also do not have society's ear. The same can be said for meaningful open discussions of individual beliefs. Crowded out by organized religions and individuals who tell you what to believe, there is seemingly no open earnest ear or forum for this important discourse. Even the bible, through my own limited review, reveals more asking and being directed rather than true dialog with god.

Mare Cromwell in her book has shown herself to be an open engaging individual whose interviews provide a warm comfortable place that allows for this essential dialog. Like the new friends in "The Summer of 42", who seal their growing friendship by revealing secrets about themselves, Mare earns the confidence of her interviewees and readers by revealing her own beliefs and concerns to us. Through the careful interjection of her own thoughts amongst the interviews, she has shown her path to an open dialog with nature, mankind and ultimately God. The lesson of her book is to keep your ears open, while seeking out and following your own path.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You will enjoy reading this book, March 19, 2003

By 

Zanne Marie Gray "[e-mail]" (Monona, WI USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: If I Gave You God's Phone Number....: Searching for Spirituality in America (Hardcover)

This book provides a glimpse into the diversity of the human interpretation of God and how it affects the lives of those who agreed to share their beliefs with the author. For me it was interesting to see the personality differences between people who believe God is outside of them vs. inside of them vs. non existent and how these beliefs play into their life experience.

Some people want to ask God for more favors and some simply want to thank God over and over for their lives and loved ones. Some want to give "God" a piece of their mind and some do not even want to bother with the question or the concept.

The Author does a wonderful job of interviewing. I felt almost as if I were hearing the conversation first hand which kept me interested to the point of wishing that the conversation would not have to come to an end. Her commentary on the interviews was like reading a diary which added another level of reality to the reading.

If you like to delve into the depths of the minds of many, you will enjoy reading this book.