Reading tips

"In our supposedly secular age governed by reason and technology, fundamentalism has emerged as an overwhelming force in every major world religion. Why? This is the fascinating, disturbing question that bestselling author Karen Armstrong addresses in her brilliant new book The Battle for God.

Bianchi draws inspiration from the collections of ‘words’ of the desert saints - for more details go to http://thoughtsprayersandsongs.com/tag/enzo-bianchi/

Compassion guides us through the life of Francis, tracing his growth from a selfish, materialistic young man to the humble, holy saint beloved by millions - http://francis.edu/ilia-delio/

Psychiatrist Viktor Frankl's memoir has riveted generations of readers with its descriptions of life in Nazi death camps and its lessons for spiritual survival. Based on his own experience and the stories of his patients, Frankl argues that we cannot avoid suffering but we can choose how to cope with it, find meaning in it, and move forward with renewed purpose. (Goodreads.com)

Anne Lamott claims the two best prayers she knows are: "Help me, help me, help me" and "Thank you, thank you, thank you." Lamott's faith isn't about easy answers. Against all odds, she came to believe in God and then, even more miraculously, in herself. As she puts it, "My coming to faith did not start with a leap but rather a series of staggers."

A spiritual master shows us how to live a life of spiritual assurance in the midst of difficult life situations. This book was born in respnse to personal requests asked many times by a variety of people - many of whom are far removed from any traditional religious base - for Nouwen to describe the way to live a spiritual life in a mateiral world.

"This is Thomas Merton's last book, in which he draws on both Eastern and Western traditions to explore the hot topic of contemplation/meditation in depth and to show how we can practice true contemplation in everyday life". Google Books

The Story of a Soul (l'Histoire d'une Âme) is the autobiography of Thérèse of Lisieux, a French Discalced Carmelite nun, later recognissed as a saint. It was first published on September 30, 1898, a year to the day after her death from tuberculosis at the age of 24, on September 30, 1897.

"What prompted me to write about her was the idea of altruism, the concept of goodness.." www.dianasouhami.co.uk

Drawing on his experiences as a former priest, Watts skillfully explains how the intuition of Eastern religion - Zen Buddhism in particular - can be incorporated into the doctrines of Western Christianity, allowing people of all creeds to enjoy a deeper, more meaningful relationship with the spiritual in our present troubled times.