God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian

Book Description

In what began as a series of quirkily characteristic ninety-second interludes for New York's public radio station, Kurt Vonnegut asks, on behalf of us all, the Big Questions. Could death be a quality? A place? Not an ending but an occurrence that changes those to whom it happens?

As a "reporter on the afterlife," Vonnegut bravely allows himself to be strapped to a gurney by his friend Jack Kevorkian and dispatched round-trip to the Pearly Gates. Or at least that's what he claims in the introduction to these thirty-odd comic and irreverent "interviews" with the likes of William Shakespeare, Adolf Hitler, and Clarence Darrow, bringing readers to an entirely new place -- a place to which only Vonnegut could bring us.

Download Description

A new work of fiction by the American master Kurt Vonnegut.

Customer Reviews:

And God Bless, You, Mr. Vonnegut.......2007-07-13

A nice pamphlet from Mr. Vonnegut. May it push you towards: BreakfastofChampionsWampetersFomaandGranfallonsCat'sCradeleGodBlessYouMr.RosewaterSlaughterhouse5andPalmSunday

Slight but Fun.......2007-06-10

Fun, clever, quick little read. Doesn't really stand alone. Should be a part of a longer nonfiction work. This and Man Without a Country could have been combined into one book. Vonnegut imagines how 23 dead folks might explain themselves if they were given the chance. Do not buy this. Read it in the bookstore, the library or borrow a friend's copy. The hardback sold for $18 and this paperback can be had for slightly less than ten. This for an 80 page book with wide margins and double spacing by an author who frequently assails the commodification of art. Joke's on us. One last laugh from the king of gallows humor.

God Bless You, Mr. Vonnegut.......2007-04-12

Even a bagatelle from Vonnegut has more zing than most writers achieve. Reading these imaginary excursions to the other side while the news of his death is still in the headlines (4/12/2007) is poignant, but it also has the kind of wry humor Vonnegut could appreciate. And I hope he does.

So it goes.

A Quick and Fun Read.......2007-03-09

Kurt Vonnegut had a recurring segment on public radio which provided the fodder for this engaging short work. In a series of 21 interviews, conducted "from the death chamber in Huntsville" by dying at Dr. Kevorkian's hands only to be revived at the interview's conclusion, Vonnegut maps out a periphery of the humanist ideals. Not merely entertaining quips, but a roadmap for what is right and wrong, and why we humans ought to do the right thing even without Holy Punishment rained down upon us.

He interviews the obligatory villain, Adolf Hitler, who shrugs off accusations that he's the worst person to ever live.

"I paid my dues with everyone else," he said. It is his hope that a modest monument, possibly a stone cross, since he was a Christian, will be erected somewhere in his memory, possibly on the grounds of the United Nations Headquarters in New York. It should be incised, he said, with his name and dates 1889-1945. Underneath should be a two-word sentence in German: "Entschuldigen Sie." Roughly translated into English, this comes out, "I beg your pardon," or "Excuse Me."

He also interviews John Brown, Karla Faye Tucker, Clarence Darrow (of the Scopes Trial, or Monkey Trial, fame), James Earl Ray, Mary Shelly, William Shakespeare, and Salvatore Biagini, a construction worker who rescued his schnauzer from a pitbull.

My favorites included his interview with Isaac Asimov, friend and fellow humanist; Socialist hero and presidential candidate, Eugene Debbs; and Sir Isaac Newton who spent his time interrogating the interviewer on the nature of the blue tube toward the light of the afterlife. In usual rambling style, Vonnegut expounds on life, insanity, and all manor of social justice issues.

It's a fun read, less substantial than other Vonnegut works, but still full of wisdom and meaning.

- CV Rick

Good Book....but too much money for so few pages.......2007-01-16

Many people have done a good job of summing up the plot. The narrator--with the help of doctor Kervorkian--artificially provokes near death experiences so that he may go up to heaven and interview dead historical people. He discusses the Sermon on the Mount with Socialist labour leader Eugene Debs, chats about the hypocrisy of the U.S. founding fathers with abolitionist John Brown, and reminisces with Hitler....among many other famous figures. It's interesting, thoughtful and funny.

That said, it's under 80 pages with very small margins and text that is doublespaced. My guess is you'll finish it under half an hour. I suggest you borrow this one from the local library or buying it used. Half an hour of reading just isn't worth 10 bucks in my opinion.

Average customer rating:

A BLESSING!!!!!
Humbling Essays
Suffering and yet Sovereignty
Excellent Book!
A Blessing from Audio to Print

Suffering and the Sovereignty of God

Manufacturer: Crossway Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

What Jesus Demands from the World
When the Darkness Will Not Lift: Doing What We Can While We Wait for God--and Joy
Overcoming Sin and Temptation
Battling Unbelief: Defeating Sin with Superior Pleasure
Sex and the Supremacy of Christ

ASIN: 1581348096

Book Description

In the last few years, 9/11, a tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and many other tragedies have shown us that the vision of God in today’s churches in relation to evil and suffering is often frivolous. Against the overwhelming weight and seriousness of the Bible, many Christians are choosing to become more shallow, more entertainment-oriented, and therefore irrelevant in the face of massive suffering.

In Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, contributors John Piper, Joni Eareckson Tada, Steve Saint, Carl Ellis, David Powlison, Dustin Shramek, and Mark Talbot explore the many categories of God’s sovereignty as evidenced in his Word. They urge readers to look to Christ, even in suffering, to find the greatest confidence, deepest comfort, and sweetest fellowship they have ever known.

âJohn Piper and friends tackle some of the hardest and most significant issues of Christian concern, producing one of the most honest, faithful, and helpful volumes ever made available to thinking Christians. It is filled with pastoral wisdom, theological conviction, biblical insight, and spiritual counsel. This book answers one of the greatest needs of our timesâto affirm the sovereignty of God and to ponder the meaning of human suffering. We need this book.â
â R. Albert Mohler, Jr., President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky

âFor all who don’t live a charmed life, for all who have given themselves to the point of exhaustion, for all who have been betrayed by pious backstabbers, for all who wonder if they can even go on, Suffering and the Sovereignty of God will be green pastures and deep, still waters.â
â Raymond C. Ortlund, Jr., Senior Pastor, Christ Presbyterian Church, Nashville, Tennessee

âThis is not another theological volume that complicates what appears to be an irreconcilable paradox; it is a book that grows out of practical experience and applies Scripture to a realistic world where we all live.â
â Jerry Rankin, President, Southern Baptist International Mission Board

âThis book will challenge you to believe that God is truly sovereign, not just in the safe haven of theological inquiry, but also in the painful messiness of real life. You will be encouraged to live more consistently by God’s grace and for his glory.â
â Mark D. Roberts, Senior Pastor, Irvine Presbyterian Church, Irvine, California

Customer Reviews:

A BLESSING!!!!!.......2007-08-03

I think this is such a hard topic for many of us who personally have gone through difficult times. I know the theology, but it didn't make my heart feel any better. I have three special needs children and I have never been able to really understand our suffering within our family. I know God is wonderful and works all things for good for those who love him. I believe in Romans 8:28, but my heart had moments where life felt so difficult for my husband and me. This book has been a real blessing to me and has really given me hope while raising these babies. I realize that God has called me to raise these children for a purpose higher than i really know here on earth. I needed this book at just this time in my walk. I pray that whoever reads this book will be as blessed as I have been. If God led you to read these reviews, i say buy this book and let God speak to you through it. God bless~

Humbling Essays.......2007-02-05

This book has some great essays. It provides a great mix of theology, and personal testimony, and narratives of how God uses suffering to progress the gospel. The question of suffering is very complex so having a variety of writers from diverse backgrounds attacking the issue from slightly different perspectives helps the reader to understand how God uses suffering to glorify Himself, to mature us in Christ, and to progress the gospel. Suffering can not always be explained, but we have a God who has suffered through his Son and that should bring great comfort to us. The most poignant essays were by Piper and Joni. Another good essay was Suffering and Missinaries. The book starts off with essays by Piper and Taylor putting suffering within the framework of God's sovereignty.

I haven't suffered much. I was humbled by stories of suffering in this book. The book was very encouraging because the authors of these essays were very honest in their struggles, but yet praised God for the suffering. Their endurance was not their effort, but God's strength working through them.

Suffering and yet Sovereignty.......2006-12-06

In Piper's book, Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, he makes a clear distinction at the very beginning of Chapter 1 that the reasoning behind his book stems from the ultimate reality that God is the supreme value in and above the universe. I found that comforting, knowing that this book was going to focus on suffering without giving God the easy way out. After reading through it, I realized that this is exactly the focus that Piper intended to convey in his writing. It gives a very heartfelt and sincere, yet firm message that the Lord allows all things according to His will and purpose.

Throughout scripture we are reminded of God's purposes in suffering and the vital role that it plays in strengthening our faith and dependency on God. I had not yet come to grasp however, (until reading this book) that many times suffering is the cost of obedience. I think too often we are told that obedience leads to greater fulfillment and contentment in Christ. Ultimately, yes, but there is definitely something to be said for individuals that choose to be obedient, knowing full well that the road is paved with suffering.

I also found it interesting that this type of suffering leads not only to greater obedience but also to greater compassion. This wouldn't have been my natural inclination. I don't usually think about the Apostle Paul, Jeremiah the Prophet, or King David as being very compassionate. Perhaps this is due to their human perspective in relation to their sufferings and the call on their lives. However, you can not read the words of Christ and not sense the compassion that he has for us.

I would and have been recommending this book to a number of my friends. Excellent read!

Excellent Book!.......2006-12-01

When the condition of suffering is brought up in today's society, relatively few people can identify with. The modern world, more specifically Western society in all its affluence, is populated with denizens that spend most of their brief lives attempting to avoid suffering. People look to various techniques or goods in their quest to minimize any type of suffering for a mere hint of such a condition is undesirable. From drugs, money, sex, food, entertainment, religion and so on are being utilized for escapism as the reality of suffering becomes too much. As Christians, how are we to endure suffering or even explain it? All too often I hear Christians ask the question of why bad things happen to good people?

The recently released book Suffering and the Sovereignty of God edited by John Piper and Justin Taylor aim to answer the question of suffering from a biblical basis. Based on the 2005 Desiring God National Conference of the same name, the editors have assembled the speakers from that event to put to paper the content of their sessions. If you attended the conference, the book's editors have arranged the various essays by themes instead of the actual order of each session and included additional material outside the conference relating to suffering.

The heart of the book is divided into three parts:

1. The Sovereignty of God in Suffering
2. The Purposes of God in Suffering
3. The Grace of God in Suffering

Part one contains two essays - one written by Pastor Piper and the other by Mark R Talbot. - that tackle the role of God's sovereignty in our suffering. Part two considers the "why" of suffering in four essays - two by Piper, one by Steve Saint, and one by Carl Ellis Jr. Part three closes out the book looking at grace in suffering with writings by David Powlison, Dustin Shramek, and Joni Eareckson Tada. The last part of the book contains appendices of Don't Waste Your Cancer by John Piper and David Powlison as well as a transcript of the Q&A session with Piper and Justin Taylor from the conference.

The arrangement of the chapters is purposeful, attempting to let each chapter build upon themes and concepts addressed. Even so, the chapters do not have to be read in order to benefit from the writings. In part one Piper shows how God is sovereign over the various methods Satan uses to cause suffering. As humans we all too easily attribute suffering to the Enemy and leave God out of the picture. Mark Talbot, in his essay, reiterates God's sovereignty and goodness through suffering and simultaneously engages the errant view of open theism. Then in part two the book covers the reason of "why" suffering exists. Here in this section Piper explains the ultimate reason for suffering is to "display the greatness of the glory of the grace of God." The second essay is based on a chapter from another of Piper's books Let the Nations Be Glad and works out some reasons how suffering affects a Christian. Steve Saint then further extends this line of thinking into relationships in missions and relates it to his own personal experiences. The final essay of the section by Carl Ellis Jr. parallels Saint's in some ways as he examines suffering in a horizontal sense of one human to another. Part three then engages how God's grace in suffering. David Powlison's essay helps to demonstrate how God meets us in our personal sufferings. There is no quick and easy answer as Dr Powlison aptly points out but he guides us through some biblical principles to help us out. Dustin Shramek reminds us of the immense pain that suffering produces. Though Christians may know the theologically correct answers to suffering, as humans the emotional and physical pain of suffering still exists and does not usually quickly pass. Closing out this final part of the book, Joni Eareckson Tada shows us how we are to place our hope and joy in God and not our own circumstances. Suffering tends to draw our gazes inward and on the Self which is our naturally sinful tendency instead of looking to God. The appendices serve as a coda for a few months after the conference both John Piper and David Powlison were diagnosed with prostate cancer. Don't Waste Your Cancer is Dr. Piper's pre-surgery meditation on his condition that God purposed in his life; Dr Powlison added his own thoughts to this writing shortly after being diagnosed himself. The Q&A portion gives Piper an opportunity to address some corollary issues tied into suffering as well as some personal insights.

Overall this book is immensely profitable whether you read it from cover to cover or skip around. The writers all engaged suffering horizontally while at the same time vertically. Despite the brevity of each chapter for a collaborative work such as this, the topics were handled with conciseness and depth. Suffering is an immensely personal condition that creates more difficulty in our already difficult human lives. Suffering and the Sovereignty of God helps guide us in the biblical truth Christians have that answer the hard questions when such circumstances arise and how we should bring this Truth to a dying world.

A Blessing from Audio to Print.......2006-11-04

This topic could be no more relevant for the church. It's not a question of modern days, but one that has continued long throughout the history of Christianity. Maybe, however, no other group of gifted men have come together, as one, to put together such a gem of all books.

I am thankful for such a book. You will find it honest, true, straighforward, and absolutely and purely Biblical. If you're wanting a read that will make you feel perky, good about yourself, and inward focused, than don't read this. If you're ready for a heart-wrenching, long-enduring read, than pick this up (and be sure you can sit for a while).

This book will bring to the front of your heart one of the issues that you have just bumped down to the bottom of the priority list. Get it. Read it. Pray through it. Cry through it. Live with the truth of it.

The Essential Bible Companion: Key Insights for Reading God's Word

Average customer rating:

Bible Companion

The Essential Bible Companion: Key Insights for Reading God's Word
Dr. John H. Walton , Mark L. Strauss , and Ted Cooper Jr.
Manufacturer: Zondervan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Bible in 90 Days: Cover to Cover in 12 Pages a Day (New International Version)
The Bible in 90 Days Participant's Guide: An Extraordinary Experience with the Word of God
The Bible in 90 Days: An Extraordinary Experience with the Word of God
MAP: Making the Bible Meaningful, Accessible, Practical, The
Zondervan Handbook to the Bible: Complete Revised and Updated Edition of the Three-Million-Copy Bestseller

ASIN: 0310266629

Book Description

This unique, easy-to-use reference guide quickly provides context for reading God's Word. Each book of the Bible is presented on a colorful two-page spread, helping readers understand the biblical story and its significance. It can also be used as a companion to The Bible in 90 Days curriculum.

Customer Reviews:

Bible Companion.......2007-03-08

Interesting info about each book of the Bible. A "nice to have" for reading the Bible in 90 days, but not necessary.

No More Debt!: God's Strategy for Debt Cancellation

Average customer rating:

A true gem
This book works!
BIG Inspiration
Supernatural Debt cancellation
Take Your Time

No More Debt!: God's Strategy for Debt Cancellation
Creflo A. Dollar Jr.
Manufacturer: Creflo Dollar Ministries
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Money & Values | Personal Finance | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Total Life Prosperity 14 Practical Steps To Receiving God's Full Blessing
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Claim Your Victory Today: 10 Steps That Will Revolutionize Your Life
I'll Never Be Broke Another Day in My Life: Real Answers to Financial Hardships
In the Presence of God: Find Answers to the Challenges of Life

ASIN: 1885072406

Book Description

For many people, struggling from paycheck to paycheck is a way of life. Nearly all of their income is spent paying credit card bills, mortgages and car notes, a frustrating pattern with no apparent end in sight. When emergencies arise,they resort to borrowing more money or juggling bills just to make ends meet.

Customer Reviews:

A true gem.......2006-09-05

A simple and straight to the point book. My husband and I read this book and practised every step outlined in it and went from roughly -$3400 to $20000 in the bank in 6 months NO LIE. If you are not lazy and practice what is written in this book you will truely be with No More Debt. I love Pastor Dollar's teaching because he does it with clarity only laziness can keep you in debt after reading this book.

This book works!.......2006-05-28

I did pay all my debt and now I'm debt free. Thanks to Creflo Dollar and this book. You will have to put principles to work. Not just read the book. Do what he says to you and you will be amazed with results.

BIG Inspiration .......2005-12-16

Dr. Creflo Dollar has been a true inpiration in my life since i was 17 years old, anything i review from him will recieve 5 stars, he really inspires me to do better in life, and the battle between good and evil in my life, the word is what keeps me going another day, if i didnt have the word that Dr. Dollar preached to me the first time i heard him i probably would be in jail, or dead.

Supernatural Debt cancellation.......2003-10-30

This will help us attain a supernatural debt cancellation

Take Your Time.......2003-10-09

This book is awesome and amazing. I read this book twice. The first time I cheated myself and I read the book like a novel. You can read a novel quick (2 or 3 days), but you shouldn't read teaching books that fast. When I read it the second time, I took my time, highlighted, underlined, took notes, and most importantly I put the principles into action. When I did it this way, I received so much revelation that I didn't receive the first time.

There are only two systems that exist in this life. God's system and the devil's system. There are no in-betweens. Of course, we know that the world's system is under the devil's system. You can handle your finances according to God's system or the world's system. 'No More Debt' is a prosperity course (simplicity level) on how to get out of debt God's way. Don't just read this book quickly just to say that you read it. Take your time with it and apply it to your life. As a result of reading this book, I've seen a change in my finances and am on my way to debt-free living.

The Question of God: C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud Debate God, Love, Sex, and the Meaning of Life
Average customer rating:

Heidi

False advertising

Mixed bag

A great service to fans of Freud and Lewis

Which worldview works for the way you live your life?

The Question of God: C.S. Lewis and Sigmund Freud Debate God, Love, Sex, and the Meaning of Life
Armand M. Nicholi Jr.
Manufacturer: Free Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Question of God: Sigmund Freud & C.S. Lewis

Credibility: How Leaders Gain and Lose It, Why People Demand It, Revised Edition

Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life

Mere Christianity

The Problem of Pain

ASIN: 074324785X

Amazon.com

Of course we can never really answer the question of whether God exists. And of course it would have been highly unlikely for Sigmund Freud and C.S. Lewis to discuss this question in person, considering that they were born in different countries and a generation apart. Nonetheless, The Question of God allows readers to listen in on one of the most articulate debates possible by creating a virtual meeting of Freud and Lewis. For the past 25 years, Armand M. Nicholi has taught a similar course at Harvard, where he compares Freud's atheist-based reasoning against the atheist-turned-believer C.S. Lewis. Both men were considered brilliant, highly educated thinkers who profoundly influenced 20th-century thought. And both men presented compelling arguments for and against the existence of God.

At the core is Freud's assertion that God is a figment of the imagination (more accurately, God is an outcome of our deep-seated need for protection, stemming from the helplessness of early childhood). Lewis, on the other hand, did not see the belief in a higher power as a childish need for comfort. In fact, he wrote, "rendering back one's will which we have so long claimed for our own, is, in itself, extremely painful. To surrender a self-will inflamed and swollen with years of usurpation is a kind of death." Nicholi never take sides. Instead he gives both men a chance to eloquently answer the big questions of humanity: why is there suffering? What should be our guiding belief? How do we form a moral compass? Surprisingly, this debate turns out to be a fascinating page-turner, with most of the credit going to Nicholi. Because he understands these men's arguments so well and respects their beliefs so thoroughly, believers could begin to have doubts and atheists could start to wonder. Regardless of where you ultimately land on the question of God, this stellar book will deeply enrich your understanding of humanity. --Gail Hudson

Book Description

Throughout the ages, many of the world's greatest thinkers have wrestled with the concept of -- and belief in -- God. It may seem unlikely that any new arguments or insights could be raised, but the twentieth century managed to produce two brilliant men with two diametrically opposed views about the question of God: Sigmund Freud and C. S. Lewis. They never had an actual meeting, but in The Question of God, their arguments are placed side by side for the very first time.

For more than twenty-five years, Armand Nicholi has taught a course at Harvard that compares the philosophical arguments of both men. In The Question of God, Dr. Nicholi presents the writings and letters of Lewis and Freud, allowing them to "speak" for themselves on the subject of belief and disbelief. Both men considered the problem of pain and suffering, the nature of love and sex, and the ultimate meaning of life and death -- and each of them thought carefully about the alternatives to their positions.

The inspiration for the PBS series of the same name, The Question of God does not presuppose which man -- Freud the devout atheist or Lewis the atheist-turned-believer -- is correct in his views. Rather, readers are urged to join Nicholi and his students and decide for themselves which path to follow.

Customer Reviews:

Heidi.......2007-09-26

We have been using this book as an icebreaker to discuss the physicalist and theistic world views. I am learning a great deal about Freud that I never knew before, and have a greater appreciation for the extrinsic pressures (anti-semitic from the religious sect)placed on him. I have been thinking that he was likely an extrinsic atheist, and an intrinsic agnostic. Although I am very familiar with Lewis' works, I have never seen both Freud's and Lewis' philosophies placed side by side before! Thanks!

False advertising.......2007-09-03

I labored through this book in audio format. I have the physical copy on my bookshelf and have had it for several years. (I will now be donating it to goodwill.) From the description, I was expecting a sort of posthumous debate between Freud and Lewis about God, etc., per the title of the book.

I found the actual book to be, disappointingly, nothing of the sort. It seemed more like a mini-biography of both Freud and Lewis, often drifting way off track of their views on the proposed topics of the book. What do the details of Freud's analytical technique have to do with the purpose of the book? Or the drama of Lewis' childhood, or love life? These subjects took up far too much of the book, leaving little room for substance.

I'm disappointed because it wasn't what I thought it would be, at all. I expected a contrasting of opinions and I got a mini-bio instead.

Additionally, I felt the author was clearly biased in favor of Lewis. Whenever a direct comparison of the two was made (which wasn't very often), he seemed to be in favor of Lewis' viewpoint.

I am an atheist, and a former devout Christian, and I greatly admire C.S. Lewis, but he is not the only and best representative of what it means to be a Christian. And neither is Freud the only and best representative of what it means to be an atheist! Overall, I felt the author's handling of the Freud and Lewis, as well as atheism/Christianity, was disappointingly shallow.

Mixed bag.......2007-08-22

Overall, I enjoyed the author's ability to negotiate the lives and teachings of Lewis and Freud. This book is a good way to encounter both thinkers, though it is necessarily a very brief introduction.

As for theological/philosophical perspective, I found Freud a very dissapointing advocate for atheism. Having once been one myself, I recall more convincing (or at least more universally relevant) arguments against God than Freud offers. The treatment of Lewis, in contrast, is encouraging, entertaining, enlightening, and the exposition of his theology is very convincing. Sadly, many chapters include much more of Freud than Lewis.

In all, a decent book, but I recommend just reading some of Lewis's works if you want to learn about his thoughts. If you want a brief treatment of both, then this book is for you.

A great service to fans of Freud and Lewis.......2007-08-16

The author has done a great service in presenting the views and lives of Freud and Lewis in such a readable way. Whether or not you are a fan of either or both men, I believe you will genuinely enjoy the philosophical and lifestyle "debate" that is this book. Although it would seem a very difficult task, the author has done it masterfully and maybe as importantly, concisely.

Which worldview works for the way you live your life?.......2007-04-30

Dr. Nicholi is a professor at Harvard University and teaches a course to his students using this same material comparing the life, writings and worldviews of two extraordinary men - Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, and C.S. Lewis, a converted atheist turned author and Christian apologist. While Freud and Lewis were contemporaries (Freud was 42 years older), they apparently never met in person - until Dr. Nicholi's work to bring his students and those who read this book face to face with these men and their messages. Nicholi gives ample background into the lives and inner workings and struggles of each man helping the reader understand the conclusion each draws on issues such as the presence of God, the concept of evil, and the hope of love. Most people probably are familiar with the different conclusions reached by Freud and Lewis - Freud influenced by his naturalistic worldview is forced to eliminate the possibility of a divine creator and looks at life as hopeless and helpless, man is a product of his conditioning and lives out his existence in a hollow pursuit of meaning and significance. Lewis, on the other hand, surrendered his life to Christ and his worldview was radically transformed - from hopeless to hope-filled! While both men lost loved ones early in life, Lewis was filled with love and passion in his later years, even enjoying his sexual life within the bounds of marriage. Freud was a man who seemingly enjoyed little, including sex, and refrained from sexual intimacy with his wife after the death of his father. While the writings and philosophy of Freud seemed to free the moral constraints of others, Freud himself lived by the moral code of a Jew his entire life and died a bitter man angry at the world and at god.

The book is clearly written by a college professor and would be a great read for high school aged students or those already in college and beyond who really want to compare and contrast the two opposing worldviews of naturalism and Christianity not only in theory but also in practice. Comparing these two lives is a great way to compare what they ultimately believed. The Question of God is not an easy read, but it was a very enjoyable read - Nicholi is an excellent communicator and he makes the nearly 300 pages pass with ease.

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The book of God
Chronology is key
The Book Of Good
I am no Biblical Scholar...
The Book of God

Book of God, The
Jr., Walter Wangerin
Manufacturer: Zondervan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Biblical | Fiction | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

PAUL: A Novel
Jesus
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ASIN: 0310220211

Book Description

Here is the story of the Bible from beginning to end as you've never read it before, retold with exciting detail and passionate energy by master storyteller Walter Wangerin Jr. The Book of God reads like a fine novel, dramatizing the sweep of biblical events, making the men and women of this ancient book come alive in vivid detail and dialogue. From Abraham wandering in the desert to Jesus teaching the multitudes on a Judean hillside, this award-winning best-seller follows the biblical story in chronological order. Priests and kings, apostles and prophets, common folk and charismatic leaders -- individual stories offer glimpses into an unfolding revelation that reaches across the centuries to touch us today.

Customer Reviews:

The book of God.......2007-03-23

WHAT A WONDERFUL BOOK! I love history & I love God - what a wonderful combination & what a great way to know the bible. My Mother has read this book three times & I am now reading it with my children at night. I have given this book as gifts & will continue to do so. I highly reccomend this book. So well written - you are there! Thank you. I look forward to reading The Book of Jesus by the same author - Walter Wangerin Jr.

Chronology is key.......2007-03-10

As a theologian, I always struggle with teaching people about the bible as a story. The Pentateuch alone skips several generations and changes the order of some events.

"The Book of God" is a great way to look at the great story as a novel. When things are not chronologically correct, it is because they're being told as a past story. This book gives a delightfully real retelling of the entire bible in one complete novel, and is highly recommended.

The Book Of Good.......2007-01-05

For children up to early adolescence an excellent introduction to the Bible. It brings the Bible to life, in a clear an easy way to understand the essence of the word of God.

I am no Biblical Scholar..........2006-12-22

But I really enjoyed this book and the way it lays out events in the Bible like a novel. A good portion of the Bible is not in here, but with what is in the book, it is very long, so I can understand why some things had to be left out. This is not a book to replace the Bible, but one to enhance some of the story's in the Bible.

The Book of God.......2006-11-10

This book was one of the best Christian fictions I have read. Although it is written as fiction, it is essentially Biblically based. What a wonderful way to learn more about God's word.

Total Life Prosperity 14 Practical Steps To Receiving God's Full Blessing

Average customer rating:

Very good book about prosperity
Finally, A clear and lucid presentation of Prosperity!!!
God's Will is Prosperity
A great way to get to know Him the right way!
A how-to-manual on God's total prosperity.

Total Life Prosperity 14 Practical Steps To Receiving God's Full Blessing
Creflo A. Dollar Jr.
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0785269002

Book Description

Creflo Dollar, Jr. knows from experience that God can be trusted. But often our expectations are too immature and not biblically informed, so when times are tough we assume God has let us down or wants us to struggle. This popular televangelist offers 14 practical steps from understanding the dynamics of godly prosperity in all spheres of life-and how to move from a state of inadequacy to a state of fullness in Christ. Starting with what the Word of God says about total life prosperity and taking the reader into practical application for his or her own life, Dollar offers proven principles that will help believers find all they need to serve God faithfully.

Customer Reviews:

Very good book about prosperity.......2002-04-08

I truly enjoyed Creflo Dollar's book about prosperity. In particular, I like how he stresses that thinking about prosperity only in terms of financial gain is incomplete; one must also think about prosperity in terms of health, relationships and other areas of our life.
While, I have trouble listening to Creflo Dollar on TV, the writing style in his book is clear, easy to understand, and directly applicable to our everyday lives.

Finally, A clear and lucid presentation of Prosperity!!!.......2002-02-21

I have been a Christian for years. I have heard many partial explanations of the prosperity message that left me with more questions than answers. Dr. Dollar gives a lucid and insightful presentation of the teachings of scripture about prosperity as well as defining what prosperity really is.

For years the church has taught that God wants us to be poor and needy. Dr. Dollar shows that this is not what the Bible teaches nor is it true through his experience with God. I would recommend this book for any who truly want to explore the Bible and what it has to say about God and how He wants to relate with us.

God's Will is Prosperity.......2001-11-15

This is another life-changing book from Dr. Creflo. This wonderful book taught me what Total Life Prosperity is and that prosperity IS the will of God. I learned that to say prosperity is just money is not incorrect -- it's just an incomplete definition. Total life prosperity means prospering in your body, your relationships, your mind, your emotions, and, yes, your finances.

The "prosperity message" is under attack within the Church. After reading this book, I can't imagine why any Christian would reject the fact that God's will is prosperity. I now have a better understanding of Jesus' saying, "I am come that you may have life and have it more abundantly" thanks to this book. The Bible talks about money more than it does heaven. It talks about God's desire for His people to fare well in life often. As a Christian, it never set right with me that the same God Who saved me and delivered me would leave me sick, broke, and in family relationships that were disunified. I am so glad I read this book, for it showed me what has been missing in my life and how God wants me to have the best.

If the Bible is the final authority in your life and you have been wondering whether God's will is prosperity, buy this book. As always, the thing I like most about Dr. Dollar is that he doesn't preach or write his opinion. Everything he says is back up by Scriptures (plural).

A great way to get to know Him the right way!.......2001-10-19

I loved this book. It realy helps up Christians who still feel we are not worthy of God'd FULL BLESSINGS! Use your mouth! If you can lift up your voice during a football game, you can lift the Lord up in prayer.

A how-to-manual on God's total prosperity........1999-10-24

This book will become your manual for entering into total life prosperity! Easy to read and understand yet it covered every possible area of life. Creflo Dollar explained from a pastor's viewpoint that prosperity isn't only money. A great book for those just beginning to walk by faith or anyone needing a refresher course!-

The Bible in 90 Days Participant's Guide: An Extraordinary Experience with the Word of God

Average customer rating:

You HAVE to have the video series to use this!

The Bible in 90 Days Participant's Guide: An Extraordinary Experience with the Word of God
Stephen Sorenson , and Amanda Sorenson
Manufacturer: Zondervan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Light Speed Bible

ASIN: 031026684X

Book Description

The Bible in 90 Days Curriculum kit is a 14-week DVD curriculum designed to help people attentively read every word of the Bible in 90 days. The advantage of reading through the Bible in 90 days is that it allows you to read the Scriptures as a story. Reading the Bible cover to cover gives people a sense of cohesiveness and connectedness to God and his unfolding purpose for humanity. This curriculum uses the NIV Thinline Large Print Bible and, in order to read the Bible cover to cover in 90 days, you only need to read 12 pages per day.

Customer Reviews:

You HAVE to have the video series to use this!.......2006-12-27

This book MUST be used in conjunction with the video series. It cannot be used as a stand-alone guide to reading through the Bible in 3 months. Unfortunately, it was a waste of money. Nevertheless, I continue to enjoy Bible reading at less than warp speed. :)

Nearer, My God: An Autobiography of Faith

Average customer rating:

gentle
A Christian Apologist
Interesting, but not riveting
Faith Questioned and Affirmed in WFB's "Nearer My God"
Helpful for your Catholic side

Nearer, My God: An Autobiography of Faith
William F. Buckley Jr.
Manufacturer: Harvest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0156006189

Amazon.com

In Nearer, My God, William F. Buckley Jr. turns away from the political concerns that form the crux of his reputation and offers a series of thoughtful meditations upon his Roman Catholic faith. Although the book is subtitled An Autobiography of Faith, only portions of it are strictly autobiographical. Other sections include ruminations on the controversies of the modern Church--such as the continued ban on birth control and the ordination of female priests--and an exegesis of Difficulties, a remarkable 1934 collaborative debate between a Catholic priest and an amateur theologian. ("The volume has slipped from regular use," Buckley writes, "and even from the memory of younger people, but it is not anachronized, though it takes on some questions that no longer vex the religiously curious.")

Buckley writes with consistent intelligence and precision; how, indeed, could it be otherwise? Even those who do not agree with him politically will be struck by the sensitivity of his spiritual inquiry, particularly in his elaboration of the distinction between contemporary Catholic practice and the enduring Catholic heritage. Nearer, My God serves as a splendid testimony to the maintenance of faith. --Ron Hogan

Book Description

This is the story of one man's faith, told with unrivaled reflection and candor. William F. Buckley, Jr., was raised a Catholic. As the world plunged into war, and as social mores changed dramatically around him, Buckley's faith -- a most essential part of his make-up -- sustained him. In Nearer, My God, Buckley examines in searching detail the meaning of his faith, and how his life has been shaped and sustained by religious conviction. In highly personal terms, and with the wit and acuity for which he is justly renowned, Buckley discusses vital issues of Catholic doctrine and practice, and in so doing outlines for the reader both the nature of CathoLic faith and the essential role of religious belief in everyday life. In powerfully felt prose, he contributes provocatively and intelligently to the national interest in the nature of religion, the Church, and spiritual development. Nearer, My God is sure to appeal to all readers who have felt the stirrings of their own religious faith, and who want confirmation of their beliefs or who are seeking a guide to understanding their own souls. The renowned social and political commentator, William F. Buckley Jr., turns to a highly personal subject -- his faith. And he tells us the story of his life as a Catholic Christian. "Nearer, My God" is the most reflective, poignant, and searching of Bill Buckley's many books. In the opening chapters he relives his childhood, a loving, funny, nostalgic glimpse into pre-World War II America and England. He speaks about his religious experiences to a world that has changed dramatically. He is unafraid of revealing the most personal side of his faith. He describes, in his distinctive style, the intimacy of a trip to Lourdes, the impact on him of the searing account by Maria Valtorta of the Crucifixion, the ordination of his nephew into the priesthood, and gives a moving account of his mother's death. And there is humor, as Buckley gives a unique, hilarious view of a visit to the Vatican with Malcolm Muggeridge, Charlton Heston, Grace Kelly, and David Niven. Personal though this book is, Buckley has gone to others to examine new perspectives, putting together his own distinguished 'Forum' and leaning on the great literature of the past to illustrate his thinking on contemporary Catholic and Christian issues.

Customer Reviews:

gentle.......2007-06-05

Written in a gentle way without any super big words pushing you to the nearest dictionary. A statement of faith and belief. But spiritual questions remain which even the super intelligent can not totally figure out. This reviewer found the book enlightening.

A Christian Apologist.......2007-04-22

I'm suprised he's a Mr. Buckley instead of a Dr. Buckley.
His philosophical defense on Christianity are as complex and as detailed as other leading doctorate Christian Apologetic defenses by such professors as William Lane Craig and Peter Kreeft.
His book is more than just intriguing; it's a work of deep thought and faith.
Although the extravagant words that Mr. Buckley uses (Many of the words he use are unfamiliar to Microsoft Word!) can be quite confusing, it's logical structure is superb.
Mr. Buckley must have some very good knowledge on formal logic.
I personally like how he seperates his defenses of Christianity and Catholicism, allowing this book to be tolerated for even the most evangelical Christian.
That's another great aspect of the book, in my opinion. (I am not an evangelical) Mr. Buckley is obviously a conservative Catholic, seperated by the popular Christian evangelism that is sweeping through churches. Buckley put's aside the evangelical dogma, and shows Christianity on how it really is.
Not by saying that every religion is wrong except for Christianity - the evangelical approach
but by saying why Christianity is the right religion, and how he possibly could be wrong.
Christian apologetic books like this make Atheists, like Sam Harris, beg for a chance to slow down and let them organize their thoughts.
So instead of having Rick Warren and Sam Harris debate on Newsweek, let's see Sam Harris and William F. Buckley bust out their beliefs. But I do believe Mr. Harris would plead for a Dictionary somewhere in the middle of such a debate.

The book is superb and I recommend it for those Christians who feel their faith lacks intellectual and rational standing.

Great Book

Interesting, but not riveting.......2006-03-20

Interesting, but not riveting...I would say the best chapters are the first several - Buckley seems to lose his way through the book - what is he trying to convey to us in the latter chapters? He, himself says he took on and then abandoned the project (it sounds like a couple of times) before settling down to write it. His writing is always interesting - delightful 'turn of phrase' springs to mind...IMHO - not up to the Buckley standard (and admittedly - it is a high standard)

Faith Questioned and Affirmed in WFB's "Nearer My God".......2005-01-03

As founder, editor, and post-retirement conscience of "National Review," William F. Buckley Jr. acknowledges being described as an evangelist for conservative political and economic ideals. This world view, fueled by efforts to bring faith-based, like-minded people to the polls, helped George W. Bush's 2004 re-election.

In "Nearer, My God," written before President Bush took office (and whose title springs from the hymn,"Nearer My God To Thee") Mr. Buckley draws from Catholic liturgy, philosophy, dialogue, art and debate (reaching to Scripture itself) to describe and affirm his love for Christ and his Catholic faith.

The book is subtitled, "An Autobiography of Faith," and often reads with warm, vivid, humorous family memories and familial wit (a WFB trademark.) Mr. Buckley vividly describes his youth in strict but nurturing St. John's school in Beaumont, and recalls his parents and siblings' religious practice (closing with tender remembrances of his mother Aloise, to whom he dedicated the book). Mr. Buckley tempers memories of a nephew's ordination into a strict Benedictine order, a Sistine Chapel TV taping and audience with Pope John Paul II with humorous asides on bad wine, camcorder angles and papal misintroductions. Mr. Buckley also bemusedly describes his years at Yale, from where gradual, hard-hearted removal of Christian symbolism and ethos inspired his first best seller and a recurring theme in this book. (WFB's dismantles Millbrook College's Christmas, um, "Candlelight" service with particular humor and relish.)

But WFB also at times falls into the moderator role he often took on his flagship PBS show, "Firing Line." Early in "Nearer My God" he steps back and relays a blow-by-blow theological debate between author Arnold Lunn and Catholic priest Ronald Knox in their book "Difficulties." Lunn and Knox touch on everything from the Crusades and Inquisition to the concept of pre-destination and eternal damnation. The episode concludes ends with Lunn converting and Knox performing the ceremony.

Mr. Buckley later gathers recent Catholic converts (including former National Review colleague Jeffrey Hart) to ask their personal conversion stories (their "road to Damascus," as WFB calls it) and views on issues like married priesthood, contraception, and Christ's uniqueness to His time. But Lunn and Knox, and Mr. Buckley's panel, slowly reach the same conclusion: trust God's providence and authority given His church and shepherd to interpret the faith. To help, Mr. Buckley invokes Bishop Joseph Butler's "escape," which states if you would have created the world, you would have done so differently. (WFB effectively invokes the "escape" here describing an Turkish earthquake and more recently in National Review after Hurricane Charley struck Florida.)

For its many strengths, "Nearer, My God" is not a Catholic conversion tool. Mr. Buckley takes issue with Latin's gradual disappearance from Mass and other Vatican II-era changes, describes a wayward Protestant evangelist (who later repented) as a "cretin" while praising equally rehabilitated Watergate-era figure Charles Colson. You also leave the book wanting to understand, as best he can explain it, more of WFB's personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

But as WFB unwinds wisdom from sources as diverse as John Henry Newman, Andrew Greeley, and even Bach's "St. John's Passion," no one will finish this book without understanding Catholicism's permanence and reason to resist popular sentiment. It's what held its faithful followers to it even now, if not always to its highest teachings. (Mr. Buckley devotes part of the book to sin's concept and role in social morality). "Nearer My God," is an often moving semi-autobiography, written expertly by one of the 20th century's most influential thinkers and seekers of knowledge. Highly recommended.

Helpful for your Catholic side.......2004-07-14

As someone who was raised in a nearly secular manner, later became an atheist, and recently converted to Catholicism, I can say that this volume was very helpful in understanding some of the more difficult aspects of Catholic theology. On top of that, Mr. Buckley's endless sea of references to other important religious works had helped me find a path to God that I otherwise would not have had. Despite some of the weaknesses of this book (It's not really an autobiography and a little boring) I'm still content with the purchase.

The Simplest Path to Personal and Planetary Awakening, Step One: FREE YOUR MIND: 10 Keys for Unlocking Your Personal Potential, Achieving Spiritual Awakening, ... of Humanity's Ultimate Cosmic Destiny

Average customer rating:

Way Beyond "Socrates Revisited"
True, but gimmicky
A Unique and Inspiring Wake-up Call
Challenge Consensus Reality!
A Simple Cure For What's "Eating Us"

The Simplest Path to Personal and Planetary Awakening, Step One: FREE YOUR MIND: 10 Keys for Unlocking Your Personal Potential, Achieving Spiritual Awakening, ... of Humanity's Ultimate Cosmic Destiny
Vincent Casspriano Jr.
Manufacturer: Lulu.com
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1847285783

Book Description

The Simplest Path, Step One: Free Your Mind delineates, in one slim volume, a complete system for achieving personal spiritual awakening, along with a straightforward, no-nonsense plan individuals and groups so enlightened can follow to awaken Humanity en masse and positively transform the world. This book contains keys to awakening. Awakening from our personal dream shatters the solid "box" of limitation memes have built around our lives, and frees us to fluidly craft our personalities, environments, relationships, careers, etc. as an artist paints a landscape or a sculptor teases form from formless clay. All of us awakening together from the shared dream of the planet will mark the birth of our species out of our current global nightmare of decline into a limitless future literally beyond our present ability to imagine, even in our "wildest dreams," indeed.

Customer Reviews:

Way Beyond "Socrates Revisited".......2007-08-22

After reading the commentary attached to the one star rating given by the young man from Texas, I feel compelled to step forward in defense of this very fine book. With only one exception, every point made in that negative review is simply wrong. Just not factually correct. The reviewer identifies himself as a young man (... "to my young mind"), and since all of his other Amazon reviews are of TV episodes on DVD, video games and rock music CDs I take him at his word. Well, I am an "old man," closing in on my sixty-third birthday, and I came to Mr. Casspriano's book after six decades of life experience, the last three of those decades a zealous practitioner of Zen Buddhism. I say this not to "brag," but simply to qualify myself as a reviewer before beginning.

I'll start where the one star reviewer closed his argument, with his statement that the simplest path reduces to two Socratic concepts: "Admit that you don't know anything" and "know yourself."

The first part is nominally true (the exception). Like Zen Buddhism, a central tenet of the simplest path is working to release the false notion we all hold that we know ourselves, other people, the world around us. But identifying and releasing our attachments to our illusions is a life's work, not some brash "I don't know nothin'!" as the young Texan seems to imply. Under normal circumstances, we go about our daily lives with no idea we are deluded about anything, as Maya (the illusion of the phenomenal world around and even inside us) is so convincing that most of us never even think to question its validity. Casspriano did not invent the notion of human beings being trapped in illusion, as this truth was known to the timeless authors of the Hindu Vedas and is central to all schools of Buddhism (not just Zen). But his scientific/spiritual exploration of the mechanism by which Maya ensnares our minds and can, with effort, be overcome is among the best "plain English" explanations of this process I have read. There is no "inscrutable mystery" in the simplest path (a criticism that has been accurately leveled toward Zen Buddhism, as a lot of Eastern thought truly does come off as "inscrutable" when translated into English and/or the metaphors of Western culture). Casspriano lays out in no-nonsense American English exactly what our brains are doing when they create the illusion we mistake for reality, then shows the reader in the same clear terms how to train his or her brain to break free of illusion and taste reality as-it-is. In just 216 pages, that is no mean feat. After thirty years of Zen practice and numerous kensho experiences (of varying depths and intensities), I can say from personal experience that Casspriano is correct. Enlightenment comes as the fruit of a long, incremental process of retraining the mind to touch reality in a new way, and the process described in the simplest path is the same as that followed in Zen practice, especially Rienzi Zen koan study (I'll have more to say about this in a later paragraph). Casspriano's approach and language is very different from traditional Zen (more "scientific," and no sitting meditation is required), which I think would appeal to Americans and other Westerners seeking to experience "awakening" without necessarily committing themselves to a religion like Buddhism, but the internal mental/spiritual process and final destination are the same.

"Know yourself," on the other hand, is not in this book at all, at least not in the way the young reviewer, or Socrates for that matter, uses the phrase. As in Buddhism, Casspriano takes pains to demonstrate that "self" is as much of an illusion as our misapprehension of the phenomenal world, and is a byproduct of exactly the same mind process that creates outer Maya. A core teaching of Buddhism is that our "self," our personality/ego, is nothing more than an aggregation of outside influences that cluster together in our minds like shiny stones gathered into a pile, and which we mistake not only for something "real," but tragically, for our essential selves. Yet this "pile" has nothing really to do with who we are at all. Buddhism teaches "no-self." Belief in the illusion of a unique and independent "self" is our greatest obstacle to enlightenment. Wasting time and energy getting to "know yourself" in the Western sense is foreign to Eastern thought. Casspriano again does a great job of translating the Buddhist concept of "no-self" into Western scientific/spiritual terminology. He shows the process by which our ego/personality aggregate "piles up," as well as how to take the pile down, stone by stone. Enlightenment is what the pile was covering up, and so it naturally appears as soon as the pile is removed - but oh how we cling to our personal pile of stones! "Self" is what we must trade for enlightenment, what must be surrendered, and Casspriano returns to this truth many times in the simplest path. My point is that the one star reviewer's reduction of the simplest path to "know yourself" has no basis at all in the actual book.

As to the book being "gimmicky": Yes, the words "The Simplest Path" recur frequently throughout the book, but not in reference to the book itself (at least that's not how I took it), but rather to the system of understanding the mind and working toward "awakening" Casspriano is describing - and it is a complete system that deserves to be considered as a whole, on its own. At times the repetition does have a feel of "branding" in the commercial sense, so I understand where the reviewer may have taken his impression. But the simplest path, while resonant with Zen Buddhism (and apparently, according to Casspriano, with the Toltec philosophy espoused by Carlos Castaneda, of which I have no personal knowledge, so I'll have to take the author's word for that) is far enough different that it needs its own "name" to set it apart from other schools of similar but not identical thought. The reviewer's criticism is like saying that every use of the term "Zen" in a book called "Zen Buddhism" should be taken as a reference to the book, and not to the larger practice of Zen Buddhism as a spiritual discipline that the book is describing. Casspriano's point in repeatedly linking The Simplest Path, Zen Buddhism and Toltec Shamanism throughout the book, at least as I understood it, is to highlight these three spiritual practices as related reliable paths through a dark forest of illusion, a forest in which many apparent (and more popular) paths, including most (all?) religious beliefs, actively vie to mislead travelers toward deeper ensnarement in the dream, rather than leading them toward "awakening."

I want to say a word about koan study in Rienzi Zen and how it relates to the simplest path. Koans are those quirky Zen sayings and stories like "what is the sound of one hand clapping?" or "what was your original face before you (or your parents) were born?" that have no rational answer, and which Zen students turn and turn in their minds like the tumblers of a combination lock until their imprisoned psyches "explode" in a "super-rational" experience of reality beyond the illusion ("irrational" would be the wrong term, as that implies "nonsense"). That "super-rational" vision of reality is called "kensho." I have experienced it myself, more than once in my lifetime. I have come to think of Casspriano's "Key Questions" in the second half of the simplest path, especially the later seven of the ten, as "cultural koans" designed to trigger "collective kensho" for the whole human race at once. Like "what is the sound of one hand clapping?", unflinching consideration of the value of human life, of how our beliefs about the future shape the present, of the true origin and destiny of life on Earth, etc., especially as seen through the lens of Casspriano's "Key Question Technique," reveals that none of these questions have rational answers, yet all require our active and immediate response. Successful resolution of these larger riddles that impact everyone will require us all to eventually "explode" into reality, together, in a "super-rational" way. We'll have to break through the illusion and wake up together, as one (which has been the goal of Mahayana Buddhism, of which Zen is a sect, since around 200 BCE). That is the "Planetary Awakening" addressed in this book, and I believe Casspriano's "Key Questions" are a concrete step in that direction. I'm glad I spent my fifteen dollars.

This is my "old man" take on the simplest path, having encountered it after 30 years of Zen Buddhist practice (I'm not veering off my chosen path here, just bowing respectfully in passing toward Casspriano's). From a Buddhist perspective, the simplest path is true Dharma, though I do not get the impression from reading his book that Vincent Casspriano is himself a Buddhist or a follower of any religion. That to my mind makes his book all the more interesting.

True, but gimmicky.......2007-08-09

Casspriano's book is scientifically and philosophically sound as best as my young mind can tell, but I don't recommend this book. Its scattered with numerous pages of advertising about how his "program" works and how it compares to other religions and spiritual movements. Why must this author physically write out "The Simplest Path" in reference to his book every other page, and talk about his second volume? Perhaps because he's not out for pure truth, but for our money.

All this book comes down to after you strip away the nonsense is two things. First, admit that you don't truly know anything. Second, know yourself. Do those two things (they essentially both mean to question EVERYTHING), and you'll have Casspriano's "Planetary Awakening," with 15 bucks still in your pocket. And you'll be following the fundamental truths already said by Socrates.. so do yourself a favor and pick up Plato's "Apology" and read up on the Socratic dialogue on how to live a good life. And don't stop there, because you can't be sure he's right.

And I have 10 bucks that says these other couple of reviews were written by the book publisher. In any case, ignore the hype.

A Unique and Inspiring Wake-up Call.......2007-05-15

This is one of the most clear-headed books I've read in years on the subject of real, nitty gritty, get your hands dirty spiritual development (as opposed to the fru fru New Age variety). So much of what passes for "spirituality" in our time amounts to some author, celebrity, priest, philosopher or self-appointed guru telling us what to "believe," sight unseen, if we want to reach heaven, attain enlightenment, achieve "ascension," etc. Casspriano takes an at times startling opposite approach. For Casspriano, such unquestioned/unquestionable beliefs are not only NOT the path to spiritual awakening, they represent the chief obstacle blocking our realization of higher consciousness. And it's not just religious beliefs ("faith") he's talking about, but all our beliefs about reality, especially those that enclose our thinking in "boxes" that limit our freedom to find solutions to real-world threats like Peak Oil, overpopulation, Global Warming, etc. Though much of the book focuses on individual enlightenment, for Casspriano, these larger planetary issues are "spiritual," as well. Whether the issue is our personal inability to find happiness or Humanity's collective rush toward physical extinction, the cause is the same - our wrong-headed beliefs about what's real. The solution is the same, as well - continuous, deep questioning. Using Richard Dawkins' concept of "memes" as a central metaphor, Casspriano first breaks down the basic process of belief, showing the mechanism in our brains by which beliefs misdirect and control our psyches, then he walks the reader through an exploration of a series of ten "anti-meme questions" aimed at breaking down the walls of our mental "boxes" and setting our minds free. With each question, he supplies an exercise designed to allow the reader to attain a personal taste of reality "beyond the box," especially as flavored by that chapter's "Key Question." For the most part, this formula works very well (with a few rare moments of over-exuberance on the author's part, as already described in other reviews, though as a card carrying vegan environmentalist, I can't say I particularly minded), delivering a cumulative series of death-blows to some of the most basic "pillars" of our present human consensus reality. Beyond the walls those pillars supported lies real reality, where we are all interconnected and interdependent, and, in Casspriano's view, mutually destined for greatness, if we can just wake up and grab the reins of our runaway culture in time. This is not a book for spiritual "feel gooders" seeking soft assurances that they're perfect just they way they are and everything's going to be all right, no matter what. This is a wake up call, a tool kit and a concrete action plan for becoming individually enlightened and collectively saving the world, all rolled up into one. That, I think, is a cause well-worthy of exuberance.

Challenge Consensus Reality!.......2007-05-10

This is a thoughtful book that addresses how we may go about developing a process to question our everyday consensus reality. I suppose if I have learned anything in 49 years of life, it is that all personal and social problems stem from our fundamental views on the nature of reality itself. Vincent Casspriano uses the concept of a "meme" as a fundamental unit of ideas, assumptions, etc. that often block our understanding of reality itself. One such meme, for example, may be that we have to "fight for our freedom" or the world's a "fearful" place and hence, we have to be ready to kill to protect ourselves. I suppose you could also use the word "paradigm" here as well, but the essential point of this book is that we "unconsciously" function in our life with many limited points of view that block our ability to solve problems on both a personal and a social basis.

While Vince Casspriano is to be congradulated for producing a book that presents both a methodology and a motivation for personal transformation, there are a few pitfalls here that the potential reader should be aware of before tackling this material. The author has some rather strong views on fossil fuel consumption, meet consumption, and the role of humans in the cycle of procreation. While I generally agree with his analysis on fossil fuel consumtion and meat consumption (as I have viewed large tracks of deforrested grazing land in developing countries), these viewpoints can distract the reader from the essential point here which is to rigourously question consensus reality. Since I am single, and have no motivation to have children, I definitely disagree with his views on the necessity of human procreation on this planet, but here again, it is important to extract the essential meaning rather than get caught in the specific political/social debates that these issues may spawn.

If you are serious about personal transformation with the potential for changing our global consciousness, than this book can be an invaluable tool. I do agree with the Author that a world population of "high functioning" people can resolve every planetary problem we face today. As we systematically question our consensus reality, we will see our problems in new ways, and with this new perspective, problems can often be quickly resolved or transcended.

A Simple Cure For What's "Eating Us".......2006-11-13

I considered titling this review, "Stop Whining, Wake Up and Get Busy Saving the World," but decided "Eating Us" would be more attention-grabbing - which matters because I believe Vincent Casspriano, Jr.'s "The Simplest Path, Step One: FREE YOUR MIND" is an important book, and I want to do whatever I can to draw your attention to it. Pick the title you like best. Both very fittingly describe what you will find within the pages of this remarkable new release from New Paradigm Press.

I have selected three short quotations to explore in this review that I think best summarize Casspriano's overall message:

From Chapter One, "The Boxes We Dream In":

"Right now, this very moment, you are asleep... Even if you are reading these words in broad daylight - sitting at your desk or beside the kitchen table, your feet firmly planted on the floor, eyes open, senses alert, feeling the weight of this book in your hands as sounds of life rise and fall rhythmically around you - you are deeply asleep, and dreaming furiously"

Now, the idea that Humans are sleeping, and must therefore "awaken," is by no means unique to Casspriano's "Simplest Path" spiritual system, being the root observation underlying pretty much all Eastern religion, and a lot of Western Occultism and New Age metaphysics, as well. In fairness, Casspriano makes no claim to this as an original insight, openly supporting his assessment of the human predicament with quotations taken from Animism, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Islam. He then flows seamlessly into a list of complementary illustrations from the secular realms of Quantum Physics, brain/consciousness research, and most to-the-point, the study of memes and memetics, ala Evolutionary Biologist and world's best-known cheerleader for scientific atheism, Richard Dawkins.

If you've never heard of memes or memetics, a quick Google of those terms will reveal hundreds of serious, information-rich websites devoted to this now thirty-year old science. In a nutshell, a "meme" is a sort of contagious thought-form that spreads between people by way of imitation. Obvious memes in our environment include advertising jingles, fads and fashions, etc. Casspriano somewhat radically extends the concept to include just about everything that makes up the contents of our individual brains and shared human culture. While he resists redefining the word "meme" wholesale, he decidedly expands its definition to make memes and "memeplexes" (what you get when a number of memes band together into an organic, relational unit, like a religion or cultural or political movement) the basic, fundamental building blocks of everything we habitually label "real..."

And then he demonstrates, in at times excruciating detail, the complete emptiness of the "apparent-reality" that is a byproduct of memetic activity in our brains. What we call "real" is not real at all. It's an illusion spun up by our memes. And our memes are not original to us. They are "viral invaders" assailing our minds from without. Worse - and, while even this thought is not wholly unique to Casspriano, he certainly gives it his own very effective spin - memes are by no means mere passive beliefs or simple "harmless ideas." They are, Casspriano believes, actively predatory psychic parasites whose survival depends on our buying into the illusions they create in our minds. Think of illusion (Samsara, Maya, etc.) as a web we're caught in. Memes are the spider. We are the fly. Gotcha.

One thing I like very much about Casspriano's book is that he never asks us to take anything on faith, least of all this rather ugly depiction of the human psychic/spiritual condition. He not only challenges readers to test his hypothesis firsthand in order to experience what is real and true for ourselves, he spends a large chunk of the book outlining specific exercises anyone can do to escape memetic interference and personally experience reality as-it-is. The exercises in Part II of the book are powerful medicine... But this is a digression, so let me return to the point.

Memes are the spider, and we are the fly. A better metaphor might be that memes are the farmer, and we are the cow. Domesticated and docile, we allow memes to milk us daily, to extract from our minds the potent human psychic energy which, if reclaimed by us and put to proper human use, would quickly and positively transform our lives and our world. This transformation is awakening, ascension, enlightenment, metanoia, the Buddha-like change of consciousness most religions and spiritual systems on Earth hint at, but few ever actually deliver to followers. In this analysis, Casspriano's "Simplest Path" is very much in line with Gurdjieff's "Fourth Way," Carlos Castaneda's Toltec sorcery, and a few other well known spiritual practices inhabiting a somewhat darker, though perhaps more realistic corner of the New Age. But unlike most of those other systems, Casspriano's prescription for escaping illusion and awakening to reality is remarkably, well... simple.

From Chapter Three, "Waking Up":

"The simple truth is that we are sleeping because we lack sufficient energy to wake up."

And later in the same chapter:

"The real work that brings about awakening, rather than merely granting the external appearance of "being spiritual," while actually embroiling us ever more deeply in the dream, is a rigorous, daily commitment to the identification and elimination of every self-serving belief from which our personal dream-lives are constructed."

For "belief" in the quotation above, read "meme/memeplex." Casspriano certainly does, treating the terms as largely interchangeable. In the end, this genuinely simple - at least in the sense of being uncomplicated and pragmatic - spiritual practice amounts to discovering reality as-it-actually-is less by searching for a glimpse beyond the illusion, than by systematically withdrawing our participation in, and identification with, the dream. When we disentangle our psyches from memetic illusion, only reality remains. We don't have to chase it; to a meme-free mind, reality just appears. This is "Satori" in Zen Buddhism. This is "stopping the world" in the Toltec sorcery of Castaneda and others. Casspriano's genius lies in his talent for exposing the core mechanism behind such complex and often inscrutable spiritual systems, and for putting into plain language clear instructions for unraveling the dream and achieving personal awakening. The virus-like process by which memes take over and control our human minds, as described by Casspriano is, to my mind, very complicated (but well worth struggling through). What is genuinely simple about "The Simplest Path," however, is Casspriano's prescription for breaking those bonds, once you've made the effort to understand how they are created and maintained. For Casspriano, remaining a victim of spiritual sleep and energetic exploitation by memes is a complex activity in which we unconsciously invest enormous amounts of psychic energy every day of our lives. Awakening is the product of a simple act of withdrawing that investment, which automatically re-energizes of our minds and lives. Or as Casspriano cleverly phrases it when closing Chapter Three, "Waking Up":

"Unweave the tapestry of the dream, and awakening happens."

Anyone can do this. Spiritual awakening, in Casspriano's view, may be hard work, but it is not complicated work. The path to enlightenment is really rather shockingly simple. Fall out of love with the dream. Reclaim your psychic energy. Wake up to reality.

The ten "Key Questions" Casspriano explores in the second section of the book are designed to put the theory laid out in Part I to practical and immediate use. Essentially, I think Casspriano sees these ten issues - why we treat enlightenment as an "airy-fairy" ideal instead of a measurable transformation of brain functioning, the excuses we make for avoiding personal responsibility and integrity along the lines of Castaneda's "impeccability," the fallacy of belief in a "separate self," etc. - as pillars of both our personal and collective human dreams. They are by no means an exhaustive listing of the memes twisting our minds. But they are primary keystones on which layers upon layers of the grand illusion are built. Topple these ten baseline pillars and the larger structure crumbles.

Casspriano explores some "Keys" more successfully than others. One downside to the book is that, especially in the "Keys," Casspriano's own memetic prejudices shine at times rather glaringly through, as when, in his discussion of the American "What Would Jesus Do?" religious fad, he characterizes the Evangelical Christian purveyors of WWJD as, "ultra-conservative, right wing ideologues." Even should the reader personally agree with such pronouncements, its hard to resist thinking, "Hey Vince! Your memes are showing!" But where he nails his point, Casspriano's prose can be downright inspiring, as with the "Key" cosmological study "Is Earth the Center of the Universe?," which explores the gap between what we know, scientifically, about the Universe and what our daily choices and behavior says we really believe, about the cosmos and about ourselves. His closing "Key" "Are We Alone?" so poetically frames the true stakes of our global human predicament - species survival VS extinction - that its hard to imagine anyone keeping their gaze glued squarely to their own self-involved navel in the wake of reading it. Of course we are not alone. There are six and a half billion of us on Planet Earth, and whether we awaken to what's best in us or follow our darkest drives over History's cliff into oblivion, we do so as one. One planet, one fate.

This notion of "oneness" and of a common, intertwined human spiritual and biological destiny is a core theme in The Simplest Path, Step One: FREE YOUR MIND that sets it apart from any spiritual book in recent memory. My final quotation from the book returns us to the opening lines of Chapter One, "The Boxes We Dream In":

"We are all aware of the challenges facing us as we enter together into the 21st Century:

· World oil supplies are running out.

· Global warming is transforming the Earth into a steamy greenhouse.

· Even as our technology connects the world, ideological extremism, terrorism and militarism divide us as never before.

· Headlines bombard us with news of war, famine, pestilence and death until we feel overwhelmed and unable to respond.

· Time is running out..."

Vincent Casspriano, Jr.'s "The Simplest Path to Personal and Planetary Transformation, Step One: FREE YOUR MIND" does not offer easy escape from these very pressing real-world human ills, but rather, a down to Earth, workable prescription for their cure. Yes, we must awaken as individuals, and, rest assured, "The Simplest Path" shows spiritual seekers exactly how to do that. But a prime message of "The Simplest Path" is that, for personal awakening to have meaning, it must occur within the context of a complete re-visioning of global culture, and a mass wrenching away of the wheel of History from the control of viral memes, that we might create a common cosmic human destiny worthy of our highest potential as a species.

Now that's a meme worth feeding.

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