by Bart Eriksson
A
fantasy novel set in an alternative medieval world, this book is a real
page-turner. Written by a friend and fellow Lutheran Pastor this book
has interesting characters and plenty of action. Monasteries and hermits
make for some welcome elements. The tale seems hardly begun (I'm not
sure how many volumes Bart is planning for), and I can hardly wait for
the next book in the series.
Monday, August 1, 2016
Sunday, July 24, 2016
Saved by the Light: The True Story of a Man Who Died Twice and the Profound Revelations He Received
by Dannion Brinkley with Paul Perry
Dannion Brinkley has the most detailed Near Death Experience of any Dr. Raymond Moody has ever encountered, and to top it off, he has had two such experiences - the first after being struck by lightning and the second during open heart surgery. His story is both compelling and incomprehensible. If anything the book further convinced me that we are only minutely aware of the bigger picture.
Dannion Brinkley has the most detailed Near Death Experience of any Dr. Raymond Moody has ever encountered, and to top it off, he has had two such experiences - the first after being struck by lightning and the second during open heart surgery. His story is both compelling and incomprehensible. If anything the book further convinced me that we are only minutely aware of the bigger picture.
Waking Up to the Dark: Ancient Wisdom for a Sleepless Age
by Clark Strand
I quite enjoyed the first half of this book where Strand explores the research around the shifting pattern of sleep from ancient times until our modern age, and how electric light particularly has removed the natural sleep pattern of earlier generations. The natural pattern has sleep divided into two parts with an "hour of God" in the middle of the night. I was less convinced of his personification of darkness as a woman, and more specifically with the black Madonna. Still, some good food for thought about our disconnect from nature and its spiritual cost.
I quite enjoyed the first half of this book where Strand explores the research around the shifting pattern of sleep from ancient times until our modern age, and how electric light particularly has removed the natural sleep pattern of earlier generations. The natural pattern has sleep divided into two parts with an "hour of God" in the middle of the night. I was less convinced of his personification of darkness as a woman, and more specifically with the black Madonna. Still, some good food for thought about our disconnect from nature and its spiritual cost.
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
Inventing Hell: Dante, the Bible and Eternal Torment
by Jon Sweeney
In a manner that is quite accessible yet still academic Sweeney gives an overview of Dante's Inferno and more importantly the sources Dante drew on to develop his famous work. I was surprised to learn how much Greek mythology was woven into Inferno, and also how the Quran might also have been a source. It is important to understand what Dante was intending with his epic poem because much of western civilization's understanding of Hell has been shaped by Dante's work. Our western culture's image of Hell, which we might assume to be scriptural, is more the result of a early medieval work of fiction.
In a manner that is quite accessible yet still academic Sweeney gives an overview of Dante's Inferno and more importantly the sources Dante drew on to develop his famous work. I was surprised to learn how much Greek mythology was woven into Inferno, and also how the Quran might also have been a source. It is important to understand what Dante was intending with his epic poem because much of western civilization's understanding of Hell has been shaped by Dante's work. Our western culture's image of Hell, which we might assume to be scriptural, is more the result of a early medieval work of fiction.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Christianity and the Celts
by Ted Olsen
A good corrective to the tendency to over-romanticize Celtic Christianity. This book offers a clear summary of the history of the Christianity as it was introduced, developed and practiced by the Celts. Of particular interest was the final chapter which described the 4 periods of Celtic revivalism, and shows how each of these shaped our understanding of Celtic Christianity differently.
A good corrective to the tendency to over-romanticize Celtic Christianity. This book offers a clear summary of the history of the Christianity as it was introduced, developed and practiced by the Celts. Of particular interest was the final chapter which described the 4 periods of Celtic revivalism, and shows how each of these shaped our understanding of Celtic Christianity differently.
Sunday, June 5, 2016
The Sign of Jonas
by Thomas Merton
This is the first Merton book I've read. It was a mixed bag, sometimes brilliantly written insights into spirituality and theology, other times simply a journal of daily activities. It was interesting at times to learn the details of daily life of a Trappist monk, but at times it seemed like too much of the same. Merton uses Latin quotes throughout the book, which I could not read, this did not add to my enjoyment of the book. Finally, I read this in e-book format, and was surprised that the number of typos that appeared throughout the book, the version I read needed some serious proofreading.
This is the first Merton book I've read. It was a mixed bag, sometimes brilliantly written insights into spirituality and theology, other times simply a journal of daily activities. It was interesting at times to learn the details of daily life of a Trappist monk, but at times it seemed like too much of the same. Merton uses Latin quotes throughout the book, which I could not read, this did not add to my enjoyment of the book. Finally, I read this in e-book format, and was surprised that the number of typos that appeared throughout the book, the version I read needed some serious proofreading.
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
The Perfect Prayer: Search for the Kingdom through the Lord's Prayer
by Philip Mathias
At times Mathias strays far from the content of the Lord's Prayer, but usually they are interesting diversions. The book attempts to see the big and detailed picture of the Lord's Prayer, and often succeeds in making worthwhile connections and observations. Occasionally I think the attempts at fitting the prayer into a pattern are a bit forced, nevertheless there are many insights into the fullness of the meaning of this most famous of prayers.
At times Mathias strays far from the content of the Lord's Prayer, but usually they are interesting diversions. The book attempts to see the big and detailed picture of the Lord's Prayer, and often succeeds in making worthwhile connections and observations. Occasionally I think the attempts at fitting the prayer into a pattern are a bit forced, nevertheless there are many insights into the fullness of the meaning of this most famous of prayers.
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