Greetings from Amazon.com Delivers Spirituality and Inspiration This month read about a new branch of psychiatry that is questioning whether extreme spiritual visions and encounters should be routinely treated as psychotic delusions. Also, an exciting novel about a young boy named Theo does for spirituality what "Sophie's World" did for philosophy. Plus, Denise Linn (author of "Sacred Spaces") has released another excellent coffee-table book about creating altars of all shapes, sizes, and intentions in our homes. "Saints and Madmen: Psychiatry Opens Its Doors to Spirituality" by Russell Shorto http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0805059024/entertainmentsit Many people who experience psychotic episodes have extreme spiritual encounters: for one person, it may be the sense that a tree's spirit is speaking its truth aloud; for others, it could be the sensation of energy beaming from their bodies and communicating with dolphins on a far-off coast. Modern psychiatry usually categorizes these visions as evidence of psychosis, to be treated with antipsychotic medication. But what if these visions were actually extensions of legitimate spiritual encounters or glimpses into the deeper dimensions of the soul? Author Russell Shorto ("Gospel Truth") dares to ask these questions. He even offers evidence of a new movement in psychiatry in which established doctors are assuming a more holistic approach to psychotic episodes and taking the patient's soul into account. This is not a cavalier dismissal of all that can be gained from appropriate diagnoses of (and medications for) mental illness; rather, it is an impressively researched argument for opening up to the idea of spiritual visions. Citing extensive research and numerous case studies, Shorto helps readers consider the possibility that grandiose spiritual visions aren't necessarily symptoms of mental illness. "Altars: Bringing Sacred Shrines into Your Everyday Life" by Denise Linn http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0345434463/entertainmentsit This beautifully written book offers instruction and inspiration to those who want to integrate altars into their daily lives. Author Denise Linn ("Sacred Space," "Quest," "Sacred Legacies") helps readers become more conscious of what they are already unconsciously doing: creating altars in kitchen corners, on shelves, and in other everyday spaces in their homes. "The urge to create sacred spaces is so deep in the human psyche that, even when there is no formalized intent to make an altar, we often create them subconsciously by the way we gather our photos on a piano, or by the way we carefully arrange objects on a desk or around a computer." "Theo's Odyssey" by Catherine Clement http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1559704993/entertainmentsit An advanced student who loves computer games and ancient mythology, 14-year-old Theo is diagnosed with a mysterious terminal illness. But instead of withering away in his bedroom or a hospital ward, Theo is sent off to travel the world with his eccentric and enlightened Aunt Martha. Rather than a generic tour of the world's greatest sights, Theo's aunt takes him on a pilgrimage to learn about the world's greatest religions--from Sufism to Islam to Taoism to the Southern Baptist denomination of Protestantism. Clement's rich storytelling guides Theo through an informative and deeply touching journey as he begins to understand others' relationships with God, as well as his own. Beneath the surface, this is a spiritual love story, one in which the love of family, a girlfriend, and God sustains and heals a dying boy. "Simple Words: Thinking About What Really Matters in Life" by Adin Steinsaltz http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/068484642X/entertainmentsit "Simple words are by no means simple," states Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz in his introduction to "Simple Words." This is certainly true of the words he has teased out from contemporary spirituality to expound upon here. Each chapter is dedicated to so-called simple words such as death, envy, masks, sex, good, and love. Steinsaltz uses familiar language and progressive thinking to offer a greater moral and spiritual understanding of these core concepts. Although many of the selected words are age-old, the accompanying commentary feels fresh and contemporary. When writing about envy, Steinsaltz explores how this misunderstood emotion can be used to serve the higher good rather than lowly desires. And in addressing the idea of sex, he writes, "Jewish tradition ... does not see sex per se as sinful.... It is a pleasure that is derived from giving and being connected with another--both in the body and beyond the physical plane; it can become a most meaningful expression of love, of charity, of benevolence. Sexual desire, possibly the most powerful human desire, can become an expression of holiness." --Gail Hudson is the author of "Quarreling." Her articles and essays have appeared in numerous national publications, including Utne Reader, New Age Journal, and Child. ****** You'll find more great books, articles, excerpts, and interviews in Amazon.com's Religion & Spirituality section at Religion & Spirituality
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