An edition of How to believe (2008)

How to believe

teachers and seekers show the way to a modern, life-changing faith

1st ed.

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Last edited by ImportBot
March 16, 2012 | History
An edition of How to believe (2008)

How to believe

teachers and seekers show the way to a modern, life-changing faith

1st ed.

After seeing Christianity become increasingly defined in the media as a narrow and punitive political movement, Spayde began to wonder: Are religions now just combatants in the culture wars? Should he leave the organized church? How are ordinary people using faith positively to search for the truth and improve their lives?Spayde takes a journey across America that introduces him to an array of believers, eminent and obscure, who relate their personal stories of active and living faith--how they balance Jesus's love and judgment, the church's dictates, and their own free will--to live and love completely while on Earth.Here are veteran religious leaders such as John Shelby Spong, a retired Episcopal bishop who advocates a radical reform of Christian teaching that would eliminate talk of miracles and stress social justice, and Kosuke Koyana, an important Protestant voice in Asia whose firsthand knowledge of World War II horrors made him see Christ's teachings as neither liberal nor conservative but simply "care for the widow and the orphan." Spayde meets those committed to unorthodox beliefs, such as Joyce Rupp, a Catholic sister dedicated to the concept of the feminine as divine, as well as those who have for the sake of their faith drastically altered their lives, including Cynthia Williams who left a high-powered job in finance to work for a struggling inner-city church in Minneapolis, and Thien-an Dang, a Vietnamese refugee who became a top Radio Shack executive only to quit and work for a Texas ministry deeply connected to Vietnam. We're also introduced to Mary Forsythe, a self-described "train wreck for Jesus," who found the roots of her work as an evangelical preacher while serving time in prison, and hospice chaplain Anna Bradshaw, who was transformed by the "aliveness" of people near death and personally touched Spayde's life while tending to his dying mother.Spayde's odyssey brought him to a new understanding of why action is more important than the intellect in faith, how true solace is found in forging a personal relationship with God, and why worrying about one's own "worthiness" is always beside the point.This is a crucial book that reveals the different paths that can lead to the same inspiring place, a book that teaches "how to believe" in ways that honor individuality, allow for personal journeys, and spiritually enrich not just our own lives but the lives of those around us.Advance praise for How to Believe"Jon Spayde has assembled a wonderfully vivid portrait gallery of Christian faith in our times. It's a wild ride, this mystery tour across the deep divides of contemporary religion into the lives of believers and seekers. These are not 'arguments' against atheism or in favor of belief, but compelling voices of struggle and astonishment gathered by a writer of integrity on his own ardent search."--Patricia Hampl, author of The Florist's Daughter"Jon Spayde is a convivial and wise spiritual scout, who guides us in the direction of a robust Christianity that is deeply grounded in love. Along the way we meet remarkable figures from diverse religious traditions who inspire with their intelligence, insight and faith. This is the perfect book for all of us who yearn for a greater connection with the divine but still feel a little nervous walking through the church doors."--Jay Walljasper, senior editor, Ode magazine and former editorial director of Utne ReaderFrom the Hardcover edition.

Publish Date
Publisher
Random House
Language
English
Pages
213

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Previews available in: English

Edition Availability
Cover of: How to believe
How to believe: teachers and seekers show the way to a modern, life-changing faith
2008, Random House
in English - 1st ed.
Cover of: How to Believe
How to Believe: Teachers and Seekers Show the Way to a Modern, Life-Changing Faith
2008, Penguin Random House
in English
Cover of: How to Believe
How to Believe
2008, Random House Publishing Group
Electronic resource in English
Cover of: How to Believe
How to Believe: Teachers and Seekers Show the Way to a Modern, Life-Changing Faith
February 12, 2008, Random House
Hardcover in English

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Book Details


Edition Notes

Published in
New York

Classifications

Dewey Decimal Class
277.3/0830922, B
Library of Congress
BR1700.3 .S63 2008

The Physical Object

Pagination
xvii, 213 p. ;
Number of pages
213

ID Numbers

Open Library
OL19972746M
Internet Archive
howtobelieveteac00spay
ISBN 13
9781400064021
LCCN
2007025841
Library Thing
4870172
Goodreads
2301004

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History

Download catalog record: RDF / JSON / OPDS | Wikipedia citation
March 16, 2012 Edited by ImportBot import new book
January 11, 2012 Edited by ImportBot import new book
August 18, 2010 Edited by IdentifierBot added LibraryThing ID
April 16, 2010 Edited by bgimpertBot Added goodreads ID.
October 25, 2008 Created by ImportBot Imported from Library of Congress MARC record