For the Love of God: Handbook for the Spirit [Paperback]

Ph.D. Richard Carlson (Author), Ph.D. Benjamin Shield (Author), Marianne Williamson (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 12, 1999

One of the most profound needs of our age, when so many violent conflicts are based on perceived religious differences, is to affirm the common ground of organized religion and personal spirituality. In this accessible collection, 25 of the world's foremost spiritual thinkers -- Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, Sue Bender, Matthew Fox, Shakti Gawain, Rabbi Harold Kushner, among others -- describe their concepts of spirituality and universal wisdom.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"To me, the key to spiritual growth and God-consciousness is understanding that we're not in this world to look for a new belief system," writes Reverend Michael Beckwith, a contributor to this outstanding selection of essays on personal relationships with the divine. "Instead, we are looking for ways to awaken to our real self." Beckwith's wisdom speaks to the core purpose of this superbly edited book. Diverse poetic and inspirational voices, such as Rabbi Harold Kushner, Mother Teresa, Hugh Prather, Brooke Medicine Eagle, and the Dalai Lama create a surprisingly harmonious message--one that sings the praises of finding and worshipping a God in one's self and one's life. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review

"This collection of essays has something for nearly every reader." - Booklist

"Highly recommended." - Library Journal

"Perhaps only once in a lifetime does a book come along with such profound spiritual insights." - Leading Edge Review

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: New World Library; 2nd edition (March 12, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1577310985
• ISBN-13: 978-1577310983
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,790,310 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Out of the Abyss, July 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: For the Love of God: Handbook for the Spirit (Paperback)

This book was the key I had been looking for in reaching a mid-40's spiritual plateau. It is a book of answers and methods. From things as simple as focussing on the thoughts "In" and "Out" while breathing during meditation to the conflict between egoism and spiritualism. It is the kind of book one will keep on hand in times of crises to read over again. The format of brief 4-5 page essays is perfect for those with short attention spans.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful and spiritually uplifting book, February 12, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: For the Love of God: Handbook for the Spirit (Hardcover)

I loved "For the Love of God" and, as the title claims, it is a "handbook for the Spirit". The essays range from Mother Teresa to the Dalai Lama, so as credentials go, it doesn't get better. This book works on the level of poetry - food for the soul. The only comparable book I can think of that achieves this same level of impact, is the divine and truly inspired "The Autobiography of Jesus of Nazareth and the Missing Years" by Richard G. Patton. The accumulated wisdom that is in "For the Love of God" becomes manifest in the profoundly moving "The Autobiography.." and for the first time I can believe Jesus as being a REAL human being. Either I am getting older or the authors of today are getting better at portaying our aspirations towards God. - I hope it's just them getting better. This is an excellent book, go for it!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gathering of "Old Friends" Opening New Windows in Our Search for God, March 29, 2008

By 

David Crumm "Editor of ReadTheSpirit magazine" (Canton, Michigan) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Handbook for the Spirit (Paperback)

Joseph Campbell said it well - and says it again in this new collection: "An intense experience of mystery is what one has to regard as the ultimate religious experience."

If that's where you are in your own spiritual journey - then this book is for you.

"Handbook for the Spirit" is a Who's Who of "old friends" in the spiritual field - too many names to list here. But the co-editors Dr. Richard Carlson and Dr. Benjamin Shield are old hands at sharing insights into the healing and happiness that can surprise us in our spiritual journeys. They've collected here some new, and some old, thoughts specifically about a person's relationship to the divine - to God or to other higher realms of spiritual truth.

What I love about this particular collection is that, while it does share some speculative approaches to spirituality, the community of voices here also is rooted in traditional faiths as well.

So, for example, we've got a great piece here by Sue Bender, author of the memoir, "Plain and Simple," about life among the Amish. Writing with her characteristic clarity, she gives us an 8-page reflection on what she's learned from the Amish -- and from her experience of writing about the Amish.

Rabbi Harold Kushner appears in this collection, too. For so many readers, his voice is like an old friend returning to share a few thoughts. As in most of these inspirational pieces, there's nothing here that's stunningly new to longtime readers. But it's like coming to a family reunion in which Kushner leans back and reminds us of various things, including the importance of Martin Buber's teachings.

And, every now and then, there's a flash of awareness, for example: I enjoyed finding, toward the end of Kushner's chapter, this little gem: "When people ask me, `Where is God?' I tell them I would rather rephrase the question to, `When is God?'" Now, truth be told, I've heard this great question from a number of rabbis through the years. It's a brilliant reframing of our windows toward God. Nevertheless, as I finished Kushner's chapter, seeing the question afresh in that context - was like a little ray of light.

That's how the very best "readers" in this genre are supposed to work. A huge "Bravo!" to Shield and Carlson and the whole circle of old friends who assembled this wonderful little gift.