(Part 2) Best religious worship & devotion books according to redditors
We found 110 Reddit comments discussing the best religious worship & devotion books. We ranked the 65 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 21-40. You can also go back to the previous section.
You can guarantee she is a snooper and probably trying to find if he has condoms etc. He needs to get these two books and put them where she'd look for condoms etc:
https://www.amazon.com/Single-Saved-Embracing-Celibate-Life/dp/1496951891
https://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Christs-Virginity-Celibate/dp/0898701619/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1506136070&sr=1-3&keywords=Celibate+Life
The purpose being to make her think he is not interested in sex. Sometimes you have to go with the long game.
Favorite theologians on this subject:
Beyond that, consider looking on JSTOR and Google Books for older texts on archaeological finds and anthropological considerations of ancient Greek cult, as well as reading up on the astrological and qabbalistic associations of the planet Venus (with whom Aphrodite is intricately tied into).
You might also consider going to /r/HellenicPolytheism and /r/RomanPaganism and asking there.
That's quite a story. Here's one that comes from the exact opposite angle (excerpted from the outstanding book From Apostle to Apostate: The Story of the Clergy Project), from a former Baptist minister, explaining the event that pushed him from the agnosticism he'd already reached into outright atheism:
> I realized that everything the Church had taught me about its conflicting versions of god was grounded in a fear-based distortion. I evolved into an agnostic. My depression subsided. Self-love replaced loathing. Self-reliance replaced fear. A peace that the Church could not give filled my being. [...] I remained an agnostic, willing to accept the possible existence of "something more" that most people classified as god. Atheist seemed too absolute, close-minded even. I was still operating under old distortions such as, "Atheists believe in nothing," and "There are no atheists in foxholes." Then, I found myself in a "foxhole."
> While on a 16-mile hike at Point Reyes National Seashore, north of San Francisco, the encroaching tide trapped me on a clifflined strand of remote beach. Poor planning and bad directions from locals had landed me in a do-or-die situation. I had to scale the 100-foot rock face, or hope that I survived the night's high tide that would swallow the beach. If the waves crashing against the rocks didn't kill me, hypothermia would.
> I climbed. It was easy--vertical but with plenty of eroded nooks and crannies to grip. Twenty feet from the top, sandy soil and grasses began to cover the smooth rock. The soil layer gave way. My feet dropped. I slid. I threw my chest against the cliff and grasped for anything as my fall accelerated. I jammed my forearm into a hole in the rock and dangled. As I hung from the cliff, my past didn't flash before my eyes. The fear pulsing through my veins didn't drive me to prayer. There were no angels to rescue me. No afterlife would embrace me after the coming fall. I had only my body and this life. Any vestiges of faith in a "something more" crashed against the the rusty yellow boulders below. I grabbed the rock. I climbed. I slid. I tried again, until I made it to the top an atheist.
I would read SHORT but incisive texts from great religions or religious thinkers. Just one or two a day to start with.
I personally love The Hidden Words by Baha'u'llah, but there are many great interfaith collections as well. One nice one is God's Big Instruction Book, here used, which is actually many tiny delicious nuggets from different world Faiths.
I'd read one or two short interesting pieces, and meditate on them.
I think the spirit is quite easily reawakened and nourished! Also looking forward to seeing others' recommendations...
I also really like this prayer:
>O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. I will no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being. O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life.
>O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord.
Here in musical form
There's also a really neat event called Soul Food that happens in several cities, with very uplifting and inspiring interfaith readings. Attending something like that might also be helpful: but really, I think short prayer, meditation, and reading are the best.
I don't have it with me but I believe it's in Anglican Dominicans: an introduction for seekers and the curious.
Some resources:
Eleusis by Karl Kerenyi - focusing on the Mysteries of Demeter and Persephone
Queen of the Sacred Way devotional anthology - essays, poetry, etc by modern worshippers (I have a poem in there)
Bakcheion page on Persephone with several poems, links, resources, essays - this is a Dionysian group but they also include many other deities
My pastor often says, "your history does not determine your destiny". My poem on this very subject is in one of his books, "Moving Beyond Mediocrity" and if you can find a way to send me a private contact method, I'll send you a copy of the poem which may well help you move on. Alternatively perhaps I'll gather up the courage to post it on a blog somewhere. (EDIT: just realised Reddit has a PM style feature. Sent you the poem).
Also, please read (even in preference to my pastor's book) the phenomenal Ragamuffin Gospel which was instrumental in my own recovery from utterly-failed-church-planter back to productive-and-sincere-follower-of-Jesus :-)
https://www.amazon.com/Ever-Increasing-Faith-Smith-Wigglesworth/dp/1511670851
https://www.amazon.com/Faith-That-Prevails-Smith-Wigglesworth/dp/0882437119
https://www.amazon.com/Smith-Wigglesworth-Holy-Spirit/dp/0883685442
The Power of Silence - Horatio Dresser
Pretty sure it is his son. He was selling motivational tapes for youth by the time he was in college, thanks to Daddy's connections. Ashamed to say I owned them, but only because the parents bought them for me. I still remember his derogatory joke about BYU coeds on one tape. Yikes. how did those get past his LDS publisher when they were minting them for publication?
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https://www.amazon.com/Life-Like-Football-Game-Troy/dp/1555039642
The Science Of Yoga By I. K. Taimni
The most direct and rapid means to eternal bliss
The most direct and rapid means to eternal bliss (full text website)
Plant Intelligence and the Imaginal Realm: Beyond the Doors of Perception into the Dreaming of Earth
The rapturous states are signs of high concentrative abilities, enjoy. However, this is just a factor of awakening.
Being present is. That is enlightenment. Not trying for anything, but being at total peace, acceptance of all the flow of phenomena, pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral.
If you are interested in some detailed talks on the 7 factors of awakening according to the Buddha, consider listening to Joseph Goldstein's talks on The Satipatthana Sutta, parts 27-35, and # 27 is here. Joseph is ridiculously modest. Do not let that fool you into thinking he does not know. He teaches in that tone.
If you want more stories of high yogis, try Miracle of Love. It's about Neem Karoli Baba, Ram Dass and Krishna Das's teacher.
Also, Be Love Now has a number of stories about modern saints/yogis.
Also, Osho has quite a lot to offer. His book, Tantra might be of interest to you. I went through an extensive kundalini awakening and Osho's talks and books helped me a lot through those times.
I'll say, you are correct in seeing that what you've experienced so far is not "it," not enough. That is wisdom. Carry on.
This is a thought for your current bible study, rather than going online.
Recently a student-led bible study began at my university chaplaincy with students who don't really know scripture well enough for someone to read it so they took up the practice of Lectio Divina and everybody is benefiting from it greatly.
If it's done right it takes the burden off of one person and lets the group actually sink really deeply into the text and into meditation on the text and then to share your experiences and thoughts with one another.
>This method of prayer goes back to the early monastic tradition. There were not bibles for everyone and not everyone knew how to read. So the monks gathered in chapel to hear a member of the community reading from the scripture. In this exercise they were taught and encouraged to listen with their hearts because it was the Word of God that they were hearing.
The idea as outlined below is that a passage is read in the group three times. In between each reading there is a time of silence for each person to think about and meditate on what was read. Following the three readings you open up and talk.
>Lectio Divina can also be an effective form for group prayer. After a passage is read, there can be some extended silence for each person to savor what he or she has heard, particularly noting whether any word or phrase became a special focus of attention. Sometimes groups invite members, if they so desire, to share out loud the word or phrase that struck them. This is done without discussion. Then a different person from the group would read the passage again with a pause for silence. Different emphases might be suggested after each reading: What gift does this passage lead me to ask from the Lord? What does this passage call me to do? The prayer can be concluded with an Our Father.
The idea as I have come to understand it is that you read it multiple times and just wait for a passage, sentence, or word to shine out at you. Don't look for it. Don't go into the reading hoping to find answers to some question or problem that's burning in your head--leave yourself open to what God wants to reveal in the reading and it will be revealed. Maybe one word strikes you as being particularly beautiful--well, when the time comes tell the group and engage discussion.
I only bring it up because it has been really effective and good for all of us who don't have someone leading it. We also wanted to engage with it in a prayerful way--praying the scriptures, not just reading them.
I also mention it because I really believe in the efficacy and importance of being gathered in person for this sort of thing. I don't believe the internet and virtual ways of coming together, video or not, can force us to face one another or be in community in quite the same way as is necessary for this sort of practice. Others may disagree.
Here are some resources:
http://www.amazon.com/Lectio-Divina--The-Sacred-Art-Heart-centered/dp/1594733007/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383071024&sr=8-1&keywords=lectio+divina
http://www.valyermo.com/ld-art.html
http://www.ocarm.org/en/content/lectio/what-lectio-divina
http://www.jacketflap.com/honor-books-publisher-3109 <- check this out, nothing listed about "Devotional Book For Moms" its only "for teens" weird...
u/sailorjava
edit: there is one listed on amazon with the correct year but a different cover ->http://www.amazon.com/Gods-Little-Devotional-Book-Books/dp/1562920979?ie=UTF8&amp;keywords=gods%20little%20devotion%20book%20for%20moms&amp;qid=1464348228&amp;ref_=sr_1_1&amp;sr=8-1
Find the book in Kindle and paperback formats.
Here's one for teens. It was one of a handful that popped up on Amazon when I searched for "plain english book of mormon." I've seen others as well. They seem to be relatively popular and I can already tell you they're all better written than JS Jr.'s version.
It sounds to me like you don't want Paganism to have a Fascism problem so you're choosing to ignore reality & minimize evidence.
The SPLC seems to think Paganism has a bit of a Fascism problem: https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/extremist-files/ideology/neo-volkisch
And here's the Asatru Folk Assembly guide to rituals. They are, without a doubt, practicing pagans: https://www.amazon.com/Asatru-Book-Blotar-Rituals-Assembly/dp/1466312653
We can't fix white supremacy by ignoring its roots & expressions. You can't root out white supremacists in a community if you can't first admit that you have a lot of white supremacists in your community.
No, not a man of peace, not me.
I didn't mean to suggest you should not have posted Richard Rohr.
I can see how that could be posted here. There was a time when I was a big fan of Brother Lawrence, Practice of the Present. http://www.amazon.com/The-Practice-Presence-God-Teachings/dp/1434410137
One of my oldest friends was a monk in Cistercian monastery for years.
He is more interested in Zen now. It has been interesting to see the evolution.
I suppose there would be a place for a polite approach to where Richard Rohr is coming from, the kinds of issues he is attempting to reconcile. Its interesting.
The internetz