Customer Reviews

Worldwide Worship: Prayers, Songs, and Poetry

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The prayers, songs and poetry presented in Worldwide Worship are drawn from classical and religious texts as well as the works of poets. This examines worship traditions in many different religions, illustrating common qualities in worldwide worship and including a rich blend of prayer, song, and poetry reflecting religious appreciation and celebration. A fine inclusion for any religious library.

I picked up this book primarily for the scored music section, and in that area I found the book very disappointing. Of 46 songs scored in the book, about half seem to be from either the Shaker or Unitarian Universalist hymnal, and all but one come from either American or European sources - and that one is by a Filipino Christian. The most interesting piece (to me, at least) is not even properly speaking a hymn at all, but a setting of a poem by Henry Longfellow.

These choices, in my view, invalidate the title of the book. Given the title and the symbols of many religions on the cover, I came to it hoping to find actual sacred music from other religions, not just watered-down Christian or Christian-lite hymns chosen for their generality and inoffensiveness.

I also was surprised to note, in the first section, "A Gathering of Prayers", how many of the selections are not, in fact, prayers of any kind, but general reflections and poetry excerpts that sometimes do not even have religious content to speak of.

All in all, I have found most of the relevant material in other places (Andrew Harvey's "The Essential Mystics", for instance), and most of the material that is unique to this volume is not essential.

As a source for personal spiritual exploration or leadership of public worship, "Worldwide Worship" stretches the boundaries. It is an early venture into what is destined to be a network of religious ideas spread across world cultures by instant communication. I wonder about some of the choices - a sign of the effectiveness of the format. It causes one to consider the reasons why this choice was made and what causes my reaction. A dialogue takes place that broadens ones perceptions and gives greater depth to ones own chosen faith. All for the good in one world of many faiths.