Sneak Peeks: Four Reviews Coming in PW on Monday, January 28

-- Publishers Weekly, 1/16/2008

Gifts of Passage: What the Dying Tell Us with the Gifts They Leave Behind
Anne Hollingsworth. Thomas Nelson, $19.99 (192p) ISBN 978-0-8499-1920-6

Few events in life leave us more vulnerable and potentially open to God's gifts than the death of a loved one. The death of Hollingsworth's father while she was writing her first book, The Simple Faith of Mister Rogers, gave her the opportunity and desire to discover what legacies the dying leave behind. While searching for the meaning of her father's final moments, Hollingsworth talked to or read about others who had experienced gifts in the midst of loss, and movingly recounts their stories. While some of the anecdotes are familiar, such as C.S. Lewis's loss of his wife, Joy, many of the most touching are of ordinary people whose gifts are occasionally physical—e.g., a locket that had not yet been given—but more often are ones of relationship. Hollingsworth concludes with the powerful story of her father's death and her discovery that his last moments offered her much needed healing of their difficult relationship. Those who question whether God orchestrates all that happens in our lives will struggle with that implied theology here, but those who find comfort in that perspective will experience Hollingsworth as a warm and gracious companion for the grieving process. (Apr. 29)

Conversations with American Writers: The Doubt, the Faith, the In-between
W. Dale Brown. Eerdmans, $18 (318p) ISBN 978-0-8028-6228-0

For more than 20 years, W. Dale Brown has been interviewing authors about "wrestling with the sacred in their writing." As a former English professor at Calvin College and director of its Festival of Faith and Writing, Brown has been in a unique position to listen to voices that, he insists, "are preaching up a tempest" in resistance to trends in postmodern fiction. He now follows up his first collection of these conversations (Of Fiction and Faith) with 10 more interviews. Among his "tale-tellers with a point" are Ron Hansen, Ernest Gaines, Sheri Reynolds, Jan Karon, Silas House and Lee Smith. In gentle discussions, Brown investigates the wellsprings of their writing: while not all of the authors identify themselves as Christians, they reflect at length on being storytellers and seekers of meaning through the lives of their characters. Of particular interest are those who write from a strong sense of place, particularly the South. Brown is an enthusiastic and knowledgeable interviewer. Although some of the discussions are so specific they may be hard to follow for readers unfamiliar with the writers' works in question, this warmhearted collection capably introduces readers to new authors and illuminates the inherent tensions serious writers face in tackling spiritual themes. (Mar.) 

Saving the Holy Sepulchre: How Rival Christians Came Together to Rescue Their Holiest Shrine
Raymond Cohen. Oxford, $27.95 (320p) ISBN 978-0-19-518966-7

Probably few of the pilgrims and tourists who visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem are aware that for much of the 20th century the building, revered as the location of Christ's crucifixion and burial, was in danger of collapsing. In this meticulous, evenhanded account, Cohen (professor of international relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem) describes step-by-step how the three major faith communities in the church (Armenian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic) finally worked together to preserve this shrine in spite of doctrinal differences, property disputes, brawls, lack of funds and the complicated politics of the Middle East. Their goal, according to Cohen, was not "interchurch reconciliation" or conflict resolution but conflict management; most astonishing is the perseverance of all parties involved over a span of decades. While his concluding analysis of the project's eventual success in terms of international relations principles seems too brief, Cohen's chronological approach and strong writing maintain suspense in spite of the outcome promised in the book's title. His tale offers hope that ancient sites can be preserved in spite of seemingly impossible odds. (Mar.) 

Soul Fire: Accessing Your Creativity
Thomas Ryan. SkyLight Paths, $16.99 paper (176p) ISBN 978-1-59473-243-0

Don't let the author's title of reverend scare you away from this soulful cheer for creativity. A Catholic priest and yoga instructor, Ryan artfully blends his personal journey with equal parts travelogue and biography, yet manages through engaging end-of-chapter exercises to bring the focus back to the reader seeking spiritually creative motivation. At times the combination of his poetry and guidance is a bit awkward and perhaps even indulgent, yet at the same time it is a seductively brave demonstration of his challenge to "Surrender to the Adventure." Friendly and even almost confidential in his manner ("Here's the thing about creativity: It's a live growing entity") he still maintains enough of an air of authority (think yoga master, not schoolmaster) that the questions for reflection and creativity exercises are less like homework and more like steep mountain climbs or complicated yoga positions, delicious in their challenge. Although Ryan is better at relating his own experiences than helping readers generate their own "soul fire," his exuberance is more than enough to inspire and encourage others—regardless of their professed or practiced faith—who seek an enlightened, emboldened path of spiritual creativity. (Mar.) 

A First Look at the Stars: Four Starred Reviews Coming in PW on Monday, January 28:

Founding Faith: Providence, Politics, and the Birth of Religious Freedom in America
Steven Waldman. Random, $25.95 (304p) ISBN 978-1-4000-6437-3

Various American evangelicals have claimed the founding fathers as believing and practicing Protestants who intended America to be a Christian nation. Secularists, on the other hand, see in the same historical record evidence that the founders were often Deists at best. Both views are grossly oversimplified, argues Waldman, cofounder and editor-in-chief of Beliefnet.com. In this engaging, well-researched study, Waldman focuses on the five founding fathers who had the most influence on religion's role in the state—Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, Adams and Madison—and untangles their complex legacy. They were certainly diverse in religiosity, with Jefferson a self-diagnosed heretic, for instance, and Washington a churchgoing Anglican who was silent on points of doctrine and refrained from taking communion. All, however, were committed to the creation of religious freedom in the new nation. Waldman deserves kudos for systematically debunking popular myths: America was not primarily settled by people seeking religious freedom; the separation of church and state did not result from the activism of secularists, but, paradoxically, from the efforts of 18th-century evangelicals; and the American Revolution was as much a reaction against European theocracy as a struggle for economic or political freedom. Waldman produces a thoughtful and remarkably balanced account of religion in early America. (Mar. 18)

Jesus for President
Shane Claiborne And Chris Haw. Zondervan, $16.99 paper (304p) ISBN 978-0-310-27842-9

Here is the must-read election-year book for Christian Americans. What should Christians do when allegiances to the state clash with personal faith? Haw and Claiborne (The Irresistible Revolution) slice through politics as usual and well past the superficial layers of the culture wars with their lucid exploration of how Christians can and should relate to presidents and kings, empire and government. Their entertaining yet provocativetour of the Bible's social and economic order makes even the most abstruse Levitical laws come alive for our era. They also provide a valuable political context for Christ's life, reminding readers that Jesus did not preach the need to put God back into government—he urged his followers to live by a different set of rules altogether, to hold themselves apart as peculiar people. The compelling writing is enhanced by a lavish, eye-popping layout. The pages are a riot of textured callouts, colors, photos and fonts—the perfect packaging for a message that must compete in a world of sound bites. With this second book, Claiborne emerges as an affable, intelligent, humorous prophet of his generation, calling people out of business-as-usual in a corrupt world and back to the radically different social order of the biblical God. (Mar.) 

Freedom's Prophet: Bishop Richard Allen, the AME Church, and the Black Founding Fathers
Richard S. Newman. NYU, $34.95 (342p) ISBN 978-0-8147-5826-7

In this elegant and insightful biography, historian Newman (The Transformation of American Abolitionism) offers a vivid portrait of Bishop Richard Allen (1760–1831), a tireless preacher committed to ending slavery and fostering equality for blacks in post-revolutionary America. Born a slave in Philadelphia, Allen converted to Methodism when he was 17 during a revival held at his master's house. After obtaining his freedom, Allen helped to establish two of the most important black-led organizations in early America: the Free African Society, a benevolent organization, and Bethel Church, the birthplace of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, one of the most powerful African-American denominations in the United States. Although Allen is best remembered for his religious leadership, his work moved far beyond these circles. According to Newman, his ability to create independent black organizations as well as initiate a published discourse among free blacks established him as one of the nation's founding leaders. Newman's beautifully written study is not only a first-rate social history of the early Republic and African-American culture and religion, it provides a detailed sketch of Allen that is sure to become the definitive biography of the leader. (Mar.) 

Bead One, Pray Too: A Guide to Making and Using Prayer Beads
Kimberly Winston. Morehouse, $28 (192p) ISBN 978-0-8192-2276-3

Part history, part missal and part crafting how-to, this is a treasure trove of faith and spiritual contemplation. Winston, an award-winning religion journalist, occasional PW contributor and avid beader, takes readers on a fascinating journey through the tradition of prayer beads. From the third century B.C. through the late 20th century, she touches on a variety of world religions, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, the Baha'i faith and others. A thorough introduction to both the Catholic and Anglican rosaries, complete with stunning photographs and instructional diagrams, rounds out the historical portion of the text. The second part, which is even more inviting, reveals myriad ways to use the tactile to reach the spiritual. From poems to psalms to saints, Winston offers bead-by-bead suggestions, all the time emphasizing that "prayer beads are a tool for prayer and not an object of devotion... they are not there to be the focus of your prayers, but to help you focus your prayers." Practically, the final section provides the nitty-gritty of tools, materials and techniques necessary for creating individual rosaries and chains, complete with resources for choosing and finding particular types of beads. The combination of Winston's personal anecdotes with her obvious knowledge of and love for the practice makes this a lovely addition to any praying person's repertoire. (Mar.)  

You Saw It Here First: Two Original RBL Reviews

Happier than God: Turn Ordinary Life into an Extraordinary Experience
Neale Donald Walsch. Hampton Roads, $22.95 (292p) ISBN 978-1-57174-576-7

A self-described "modern day spiritual messenger," Walsch is known for his Conversations with God books, national bestsellers translated into more than 30 languages. This new offering recaps some of that content, but chiefly expounds upon the "law of attraction" school of thought, brought to market most notably by Rhonda Byrne's The Secret. Walsch carves big real estate, asserting that "this book offers a complete explanation of How Life Works." At once altruistic and self-serving, his framework is a multi-step "Process of Personal Creation": he claims to augment the energy of attraction with the law of opposites, the gift of wisdom, the joy of wonder and the presence of cycles. What Walsch asserts to be a revelation—that the Divine exists in all, thus all is a manifestation of the Divine—is really an age-old tenet of Hinduism. His well-intentioned content, though hard for many mainline believers to swallow, is nonetheless flavored with Christian sensibilities, e.g. " The kingdom of God is within you." No doubt, however, his arguments will find great success with the Conversation and Secret crowds who can find sustenance here in short chapters and 17 steps to happiness, including the notion that readers should give others every experience they seek themselves; understand sadness; and smile. (Feb.) 

Spiritual Delights and Delusions: How to Bridge the Gap between Spiritual Fulfillment and Emotional Realities
Steve Posner. Wiley, $24.95 (272p) ISBN 978-0-471-69825-8

Posner has a great intention: reconcile the loftiness of enlightenment with the day-to-day realities of minor pettiness and major suffering. The same question has prompted, and anguished, spiritual seekers at least as far back as Job, and produced countless books on the subjects of good and evil, of active spiritual response to life's challenges. Unfortunately the author, who cites many spiritual teachers, is better at questions than answers, in both the figurative and literal sense. The rhetorical question is so frequent a device of his ("Isn't all of reality worth grasping? Is our consciousness so fragile that it can't withstand the whole truth of human existence?", two of 36 such questions in a single chapter) that it becomes annoying. A fair portion dwells on the need to respond to terrorism—frequently characterized as Islamic—a good question that isn't answered by much reflection beyond personal anecdotes about travel in Israel and China. Experience is authentic, but also limited. A macho spirituality ("This is not misguided patriotism or crude flag-waving fanaticism. It is a realistic spirituality...") may have its fans, but many better books on this perennial subject are available (After the Ecstasy, the Laundry by Jack Kornfield; anything by Thich Nhat Hanh). (Mar.)