The Pope who Quit: A True Medieval Tale of Mystery, Death, and Salvation
Jon M. Sweeney. Image, $14 trade paper (224p) ISBN 978-0-385-53189-4
In the winter of 2005, an ailing Pope John Paul II considered stepping down from his elevated office and returning to a life of contemplation and prayer. Although he did not in take this step, he raised the specter of a medieval pope, Celestine V, who did what no pope has ever done before or since: retire. Drawing judiciously on a wealth of medieval sources, well-respected religion writer Sweeney (The Road to Assisi) vividly chronicles not only the life and work of the hermit Peter Marrone, who became Pope Celestine V in 1294, but also the political and religious intrigues surrounding Marrone's election to the papacy and his five months as pope. A well-regarded religious reformer, hermit, and founder of a religious order, Marrone inadvertently secured his election as pope by writing a letter to the conclave of cardinals whom Marrone thought were agonizing too long—over a year—in their choice of the next pope. This letter so inspired one of the cardinals that he elected Marrone by inspiration rather than acclamation; five months later, Celestine V had quit. Sweeney's engaging storytelling brings to life the little-known tale of the pope who wouldn't be pope. (Mar.)
Being Buddha at Work: 108 Ancient Truths on Change, Stress, Money, and Success
Franz Metcalf and B.J. Gallagher. Berrett-Koehler, $14.95 trade paper (176p) ISBN 978-1-60994-292-2
Covering individual decisions, relationships, and organizational issues, this “Buddhist tool kit for the workplace” comprises short reflections on topics commonly encountered by employees. Metcalf (What Would Buddha Do?) teaches religious studies and is president of the Western Region of the American Academy of Religion; Gallagher (A Peacock in the Land of Penguins) is a workplace consultant. The book is a substantial rewrite of What Would Buddha Do At Work? (2001). Maintaining that everyone has the potential to “become Buddhas,” the authors describe how the founder of this Eastern philosophy might respond to issues like right livelihood, wealth, financial hardship, change, difficult people, leadership, and the like. Each reflection is prefaced by a quote from an ancient text or contemporary Buddhist writer, which is then applied to modern work situations. While intended for workers at all levels, the advice is more oriented to the white-collar workplace than other types of jobs; recommendations tend toward the general rather than the specific. A glossary of Buddhist terms is included. Metcalf and Gallagher skillfully integrate timeless Buddhist wisdom with challenges faced by the present-day employee. (Feb.)
Ghazali on the Principles of Islamic Spirituality: Selections from Forty Foundations of Religion--Annotated and Explained
Translated and annotated by Aaron Spevack. SkyLight Paths, $18.99 (208p) ISBN 978-1-59473-284-3
Imam Abu Hamid al-Ghazali, a prolific 11th-century scholar, is generally considered to be the greatest Islamic scholar. His unique works often elude translation, not only because of classical language construction but also because Ghazali combined analysis of the Qur’an with hadith (traditions of Muhammad) and Sufi views and other sources of Islamic thought. Translation of Ghazali’s synthesis requires a sensitive touch, which Spevack, a professor of Islam at Loyola University in New Orleans, is uniquely qualified to provide due to his own interfaith work and credentials (he is founder of Boston’s Bukhari Institute, focused on arts and sciences of the Islamic world). Spevack walks the reader through Ghazali’s work, which establishes forty “foundations” of Islam and, in a way, the foundations of all religion. The book covers first the basics of Islamic belief, and then those qualities that would adversely affect one’s ability to believe. This portion is fascinating, reading like an Islamic study of the seven deadly sins (covering such topics as envy, arrogance, pride, and the like). The book concludes by covering those attributes that bring a Muslim, or any spiritual person, closer to God. The non-traditional structure of the book--with Ghazali’s text (in translation) on the right-hand page and Spevack’s annotations, where he often includes additional sources as well, on the left--makes for an enlightening and rich read. Spevack’s translation skills are evident, as Ghazali’s words come across as wise and warm. This book is a lovely read for any reader looking for spiritual inspiration. (Feb.)
Beauty Will Save the World: Rediscovering the Allure and Mystery of Christianity
Brian Zahnd. Charisma, $15.99 trade paper (256p) ISBN 978-1-61638-585-9
Extolling the power of metaphor to fuel “the prophetic imagination,” Zahnd (Unconditional), founder and pastor of Word of Life Church, examines how several biblical metaphors, including city, shelter, and cruciform, witness to the gospel message of a “new world built around the cross of Christ,” a future reality into which Christians are called to live today. For example, tracing the biblical journey from Genesis to Revelation, Zahnd follows Cain’s path, “east of Eden,” which leads to cities built on fratricide, and contrasts it with Abraham’s parallel journey west, toward the city of God as foretold by the prophets. In particular, God’s power to transform an instrument of ultimate political power, crucifixion, into a symbol of unconditional forgiveness and sacrificial love, inspires faith through sacred mystery. Zahnd’s thought-provoking explication of the Beatitudes includes a powerful interfaith statement, “For the Common Good.” While primarily addressing his own American evangelical community--critiquing its embrace of the “ridiculous and idolatrous doctrine” of American exceptionalism--many of Zahnd’s theological insights, such as distress over the church’s misguided focus on being “practical” and “relevant,” challenge mainline churches as well. (Jan.)
Islam and America: Building a Future Without Prejudice
Anouar Majid. Rowman & Littlefield, $35 (200p) ISBN 978-1-4422-1412-5
Majid, a scholar at the University of New England, pursues the noble goal of tearing down animosity between Islam and America in this flawed but important work. Through a mix of history, personal reflections on being a Muslim in America, and musings about politics, Majid argues that a future of good will and understanding is possible and offers suggestions for achieving it. Though short, the book contains a wealth of fascinating historical information that bolsters his larger political aims, such as the phenomenon of American-funded colleges in the Middle East, though occasionally the lack of context around some of the recited facts can make the history chapters tedious. Additionally, Majid rarely assesses the significance of each of his facts, leading to a chapter about Muslim contributions to American culture that cites both architecture and the Nation of Islam, with nothing to distinguish their relative impact. Sometimes the blend of academic and personal creates an inconsistent and somewhat jarring tone, particularly since some of the personal reflections include political opinions asserted with little argumentation or proof. Nonetheless, Majid’s message is critical in today’s political climate, and this work is a worthwhile contribution to an ongoing dialogue. (Jan.)
Patience: The Art of Peaceful Living
Allan Lokos. Tarcher/Penguin, $14.95 (240p) ISBN 978-1-58542-900-4
Patience, says author Lokos (Pocket Peace), is not a commodity ever in short supply. Patience can be increased with practice, and each obstacle that makes you swear under your breath (or out loud) is just one more opportunity to practice. Lokos has studied with some of the best Buddhist teachers--Thich Nhat Hanh, Sharon Salzberg--and it shows. His is a very practical book for living. On what to do before you make a stressful phone call: as a conversation heats up, repeat words you hear rather than your interpretation of them. The book itself is a bit meandering, one more opportunity for patience as something useful will pop out, whether an exercise, a “profile in patience,” or a simple flash of recognition. This book is best suited to those who don’t know a lot about the Buddhist understanding of mind and the practice of meditation; it would make a great gift. There isn’t a lot new for those familiar with techniques for living mindfully, but reminders are needed early and often to cultivate the good habits that lead to greater happiness. As Lokos writes, “you can learn how not to be miserable.” (Jan.)
Sneak Peeks: Religion Book Reviews Coming in PW January 9
Kosher Jesus
Shmuley Boteach. Gefen(www.gefenpublishing.com), $26.95 (300p) ISBN 978-965-229-578-1
In this informed and cogent primer on Jesus of Nazareth, Boteach, rabbi and author of the international bestseller Kosher Sex, takes a brave stab at re-evaluating Jesus through an intensive look at the New Testament and historical documents. In what is sure to be controversial, Boteach asserts that contradictions in the New Testament regarding who bears responsibility for Jesus’ crucifixion, Jesus’ feelings toward the Jews, as well as issues like Jesus’ divinity and the question of Judas’ existence, prove that editors of early texts chose to distort that Jesus was, in fact, a beloved member of the Jewish community who rebelled against Roman brutality, not Jewish law. Boteach reiterates that although he does not believe in Jesus as Messiah he hopes that a new look at Jesus as a man who lived and died as an observant Jew will help eliminate anti-Semitism, establish good will between the faiths, and “strengthen Judeo-Christian values.” This well-researched analysis will certainly reopen intrafaith and interfaith dialogue. (Feb.)
1,000 Days: The Ministry of Christ
Jonathan Falwell. Thomas Nelson, $22.99 (224p) ISBN 978-0-8499-4808-4
Falwell, successor to his father, the late influential Christian pastor Jerry Falwell, at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Va., makes his publishing debut in this book, which he asserts gives readers the opportunity to “meet Jesus Christ as never before,” a bold claim for a novice author that readers may find arguable. Falwell maps out various integral moments of the “1,000 days” of Jesus’ ministry and interprets for readers how their lives on earth can become similarly transformative. He challenges readers to be “real with God,” asking, for example, if, while we are singing at church, our hearts are “in it.” The strongest challenge of the book occurs when the author asks, “When Jesus looks at me does he see a modern-day Pharisee?” The challenges and questions are porous enough to allow for any number of ways the reader can follow Jesus’ 1,000 days with a thousand of their own, while not looking like him at all. (Mar.)
A First Look at the Stars: Starred Reviews Coming in PW January 9
Revelations: Visions, Prophecies, & Politics in the Book of Revelation
Elaine Pagels. Viking, $27.95 (256TKp) ISBN 978-0-670-023334-9
Many Christians today believe that the Book of Revelation (which some mistakenly call “Revelations”) was written by the same “John” who wrote the Gospel of John, speaks to an audience of persecuted Christians, and stands in harmony with the rest of the New Testament. In this fascinating study, Pagels challenges all of those assumptions, arguing instead that the visions recorded by John of Patmos function as an anti-assimilationist harangue that explicitly countered Paul’s teachings that keeping Jewish law was no longer necessary. Pagels situates John of Patmos within a competitive marketplace of New Testament prophets, some of whom had similar prophetic visions that were omitted from the canon but rediscovered in the 20th century. Why did Revelation survive while other revelations were passed over or even suppressed? The answer, she says, lies in the way the prophecy was reinterpreted after Constantine’s unexpected conversion in the early 4th century; Revelation proved surprisingly adaptable even after the Roman Empire turned out not to be the whore of Babylon after all. Pagels offers a sharp, accessible, and perceptive interpretation of one of the Bible’s most divisive books. (Mar. 6)
Gandhi and the Unspeakable: His Final Experiment with Truth
James W. Douglass. Orbis, $24 (144p) ISBN 978-1-57075-963-5
Fifteen years ago, Douglass began investigating the assassinations of John and Robert Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X. His award-winning JFK and the Unspeakable (2008) is now recommended reading for those seriously investigating political assassinations. While researching Kennedy, Douglass learned from Arun Gandhi, grandson of the Indian liberation leader, that his grandfather had been killed by a conspiracy involving powerful nationalist forces within the Indian government—not a lone gunman. This led to Douglass’s rigorously investigating thousands of documents on Gandhi’s 1948 murder. He now provides readers with a slim, elegant volume containing explosive insight into who conspired to assassinate the father of modern nonviolence and why. “Gandhi’s murder, followed by the repression of its truth,” writes Douglass, “forms a paradigm of killing and deceitful cover-up that U.S. citizens would soon have to confront in our own government.” No other contemporary writer is exposing the mechanics of assassination as methodically and bravely as Douglass. But because he is a Catholic independent scholar and activist most well-known for his writings on nonviolence and suffering, this book is more than a fresh look at historical circumstances: it’s spiritual spelunking into the depravity of unchecked political power. (Feb.)
The Underground Church: Reclaiming the Subversive Way of Jesus
Robin Meyers. Jossey-Bass, $24.95 (288p) ISBN 978-1-118-06159-6
Meyers (Why the Christian Right Is Wrong) offers a number of subversive ideas in his latest, reminding readers that Jesus came to feed the hungry, wage nonviolence, and generally afflict the comfortable in his day. Today, the comfortable are seated in the pews of Christian churches, worshiping idols at twilight. Like many who use a traditional, prophetic voice, Meyers has a talent for putting theology on the ground and in the midst of life. Jesus really does mean for us to feed people, as he did: hospitality is a cardinal Christian virtue. So is nonviolence, but it’s so hard that most fail at a practice that demands discipline and sacrifice. Meyers calls for other practices running counter to the prevailing imperial culture, including low or no-interest moneylending and tithing, which may startle middle-class mainline Protestant churchgoers. Going back to basics is not a new idea, but Meyers writes with energy, intelligence, and conviction, adding to the choir calling for Christianity in a new key. Agent: Carol Mann. (Feb.)
On the Virtual Shelves: Web Exclusive Religion Book Reviews
Defiant Grace: The Surprising Message and Mission of Jesus
Dane Ortlund (EP Books, Oct.)
