Spiritual Perspectives on America's Role As Superpower [Paperback]

Skylight Paths (Author), Surya Das (Author), Tony Campolo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 2003 | ISBN-10: 1893361810 | ISBN-13: 978-1893361812

This timely book provides us with an opportunity to pause and reflect on what may be the most pressing issue of our day: What are America’s global responsibilities as the only remaining superpower? What should we be doing with our resources, energy, talent, and strength? What shouldn’t we be doing?

Spiritual Perspectives on America’s Role as Superpower invites you to explore these essential questions with sixteen of today’s most profound religious and spiritual teachers. Coming from a wide variety of faiths, including Protestant, Catholic, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Vedantist, and interfaith traditions, this intriguing volume’s contributors bring a crucial point of view to the already-intense national debate centering on America’s place in the world: that of spirituality.

An invaluable resource for those wishing to better understand varied spiritual viewpoints on America’s role as superpower, these thought-provoking original essays provide a lucid introduction to the historical, moral, and theological aspects of this controversial issue.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This timely anthology contains the viewpoints of 16 noted spiritual leaders from a variety of religious traditions and the whole political spectrum. The SkyLight Paths editors offer a collection that mostly lives up to their hope that "together we can try to change the world." These short essays, many of them with provocative stances, will compel audiences toward deeper reflection on globalization, spirituality and power. Designed for general readership, this book will also be of value to groups, such as adult Sunday school classes, that want to pursue a course of study. The eclectic assortment of authors includes Unitarian Universalist minister Forrest Church; creation spiritualist Matthew Fox; eco-feminist theologian Rosemary Radford Ruether; Buddhists Lama Surya Das and Thich Nhat Hahn; Roman Catholic "interspiritualist" Wayne Teasdale; and Christian journalist John Wilson. Here is an excellent opportunity to broaden cultural horizons. Liberal thinkers, for example, may be heartened and somewhat surprised by evangelical Tony Campolo's cogent argument for global compassion. Sufi Kabir Helminski takes America to task for squandering the goodwill that was established in Muslim countries, "alienating the majority and sprinkling gasoline on the dying embers of Islamic fundamentalism." Jewish radio theologian Dennis Prager disappoints with his misapplied oversimplifications (e.g. "[America] is the only Judeo-Christian country in world history"), but most selections are worthwhile, well reasoned and well written.-- is the only Judeo-Christian country in world history"), but most selections are worthwhile, well reasoned and well written.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 234 pages
• Publisher: Skylight Paths Pub (March 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893361810
• ISBN-13: 978-1893361812
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,209,762 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Extraordinarily thought-provoking, January 3, 2004

By 

Terri Johanson (Laguna Niguel, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spiritual Perspectives on America's Role As Superpower (Paperback)

This book is filled with essays from spiritual leaders of different paths, and I appreciated the variety of positions presented. It gave me several new perspectives on our current world-situation - some I agreed with and some I did not. What I appreciated most was that I learned from each of them.

This is a read, contemplate, discuss, and read-more kind of book. Regardless of your personal faith or spiritual beliefs, or even political ideals, this book presents some engaging ideas about our moral and ethical roles and responsibilities as American citizens in a global community. This book could not have come at a more crucial time in our history. My vote - a must read!!