Pilgrim Souls: A Collection of Spiritual Autobiography (Paperback)

~ Elizabeth Powers (Author), Amy Mandelker (Editor), Madeleine L'Engle (Introduction) "Attested author of seventy-seven of the 150 psalms in the Hebrew Old Testament, David was shepherd and favored minstrel to King Saul until anointed as..." (more)
Key Phrases: Jesus Christ, New York, Lord Jesus (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This anthology is broken down into the four basic categories of spiritual journeys, according to the editors. 1) Wanderers and seekers--those who pursue "all available experiences under the sun." 2) Pilgrims and missionaries--"individuals whose life goal has been the unwavering pursuit of God." 3) Mystics and visionaries--"who focus on supernatural experiences and epiphanies." 4) Philosophers and scholars--those who "demonstrate a lifelong commitment to the discernment of the truth through the exercise of the intellect."

By organizing spiritual quests into these themes, the authors create an effect that is more liberating than confining, offering a clear context for the sometimes ethereal and wrenching stories of real-life saints, rabbis, writers, and pilgrims from all walks of life. Literary heroes add their impassioned and tender stories of spiritual transformation, whether it be Leo Tolstoy's excerpt from The Confession, Madeleine L'Engle's self-revealing story of forgiveness and the sensuality of the human body, or Annie Dillard's tug of war with a loving God who allows terrible things to happen to good people. Spiritual seekers will no doubt find their own stories in this stimulating and expansive dedication to the soul's eternal pilgrimage. --Gail Hudson

Product Description

What is the source of personal writing? When do we begin to consider our own lives worthy of a story? These powerful and passionate selections of spiritual autobiography do not merely represent a vital literary tradition; they bring together fifty-eight writers whose search for truth and understanding has spanned over two millennia and several continents.

From Saint Augustine and Rabi'a to T. S. Eliot and Kathleen Norris, each of these autobiographers tells the story of the inner life as a spiritual quest. Although separated culturally, historically, and linguistically, they are united by their efforts to respond to Socrates' challenge to "know thyself." In four parts this insightful collection includes works by:

* Wanderers and seekers, like Leo Tolstoy and Thomas Merton, who feverishly explore many experiences and world views
* Pilgrims and missionaries, like Anne Bradstreet and David Livingstone, who unwaveringly pursue God and holiness in lives of self-sacrifice
* Mystics and visionaries, like Julian of Norwich and Annie Dillard, who discover the ecstasy of epiphany in a life of contemplation and seclusion
* Scholars and philosophers, like Simone Weil and Blaise Pascal, who seek to ground spiritual conviction in a rational certitude.

Strong, deep, and enduring, the selections in this illuminating anthology remind us that "the unexamined life is not worth living" and speak to us with an immediacy that transcends time and space.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: Touchstone (May 12, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684843110
• ISBN-13: 978-0684843117
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.1 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #81,628 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars most fulfilling book, April 17, 2000

By	Melissa J. Lynch (San Jose, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Pilgrim Souls was one of the most fulfilling books, spiritually and intelectually, that I have read in a long, long time. In is an immense collection of writers who have so much to offer. I personally enjoyed St. Teresa of Avila, Victor Frankel, and Flannery O'Conner. Actually, I loved and learned from all of them. I've already recommended this book to all of my friends. END

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Collection of Spiritual Writings, February 1, 2004

By	Timothy Kearney (Hull, MA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Any book that is a collection is only as good as the people represented in the book. If your book is about spirituality and contains writings by St. Augustine, Thomas Merton, Julian of Norwich, and Simone Weill, to name a few, your probably on excellent ground, and PILGRIM SOULS is certainly a volume filled with great spiritual insight. Most of the people included in the book are from the Christian tradition, but not all are "spiritual giants" or even religious so to speak. Yet each can help a person in his/her quest for God. PILGRIM SOULS is an excellent resource for those who are interested in great spiritual thinkers but may not have time to read all the longer works. It is also a great resource for those who would like an introduction to the wide variety of classic spiritual writing available.

5.0 out of 5 stars A seeker's one stop shop., April 24, 2006

By	Benton D. Nighswonger "sky bison" (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

An excellent collection of Christian ideas with a broad stroke of mysticism and practical theology that extends beyond orthodoxy and Christianity itself. Approachable and beautifully organized... something to keep within reach for quick spiritual jogs... poetic, deep or just plain curious times with a minimum of effort. Perfect for the short-attention-span seeker.