Christian Education Blog

The Seat of the Soul

The Seat of the Soul—by Gary Zukav

Reviewed by Melinda Calway

The Seat of the Soul is a book about spirituality, light, energy, angels, reincarnation and much more.

The author, Gary Zukav, talks about the evolution of the soul, external & authentic power, and karma in his first couple of chapters. He has a very insightful way of handling what scholars have grappled with for centuries. I found his perspective intriguing in that much of what he said was already a part of my thought process, but there were a few twists that definitely make it worth the read. I enjoy books that make me think in new ways.

Why Would Jesus Say That?

Why Would Jesus Say That?

Daily Reflections for Lent

Author: United Church Publishing House

Reviewer: Katharina Manassis

Why would Jesus say that? The implicit assumption of this title is that Jesus actually said the things the bible attributes to him. That’s quite an assumption 2000 years after the fact! It is also one of several problems with this year’s Lenten reflections.

Postcards from the Valley: Encounters with Fear, Faith and God

Postcards from the Valley: Encounters with Fear, Faith and God

Author: David Giuliano

Reviewer: Helen Jones

As a three time cancer survivor, I can identify with our 39^th Moderator as he talks about his cancer experience in the first section of the book “Do not fear – only Believe”. He shares with us his feelings of lowliness, vulnerability, limitation and beauty on the journey through the valley that has been a source of deepening his experience of the presence of God and of the way of Jesus.

An Imperfect Offering: Humanitarian Action in the Twenty-First Century

An Imperfect Offering: Humanitarian Action in the Twenty-First Century

By James Orbinski, M.D.

Reviewed by Katharina Manassis

If you are looking for a prescription for effective humanitarian action in the twenty-first century from Dr. Orbinski, this book will be disappointing. It raises more questions than it answers. If you are looking for a gripping, often disturbing memoir of one man’s attempt to make a difference against seemingly overwhelming odds, this is definitely a book to read.

A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose

A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose

Author: Eckhart Tolle

Reviewer: Katharina Manassis

“Oh, no! Not another Oprah’s Book Club book!” some people may exclaim.

This is one I actually liked, though. True, you get the gist of the book after about 10 minutes of reading, and the remaining 300 pages just elaborate on the same theme, but it’s not irritating. The prose is fluid, engaging, and has a lyrical quality so the reader doesn’t mind going along for the ride.

With or Without God

With or Without God: Why the Way We Live is More Important than What We Believe

By Gretta Vosper

Reviewed by Katharina Manassis

At the end of this book, I had penciled 37 comments in the margins, many of them questioning or disagreeing with some of its ideas. What an engaging read!

Noah's other son

Noah’s Other Son:

Bridging the Gap Between the Bible and the Qur’an

By Brian Arthur Brown

Reviewed by Katharina Manassis

Three major world religions all trace their origins back to Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. You would think that shared history would foster mutual understanding, but as we know all too well, that’s not always the case.

Too Busy Not to Pray

Too busy not to Pray

By Bill Hybels

Reviewer: Nicky Slovitt

First of all, I was attracted to the name of this book—it struck me as a very appropriate book for the busy times we live in right now. Many of us have trouble making the time to pray, then a crisis hits and we suddenly find ourselves praying for support! This book discusses that prayer doesn’t just happen on the run and suggests that we can all learn to slow down to pray and be with God on a daily basis.

Dying for a Home

Dying for a Home, Homeless Activists Speak Out

By Cathy Crowe

Reviewer: Margaret Mooney

Cathy Crowe has been a street nurse and advocate for the homeless for nearly 20 years. She was co-founder of the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee and was heavily involved with the homeless people in Tent City, who later became housed. Her book was written during the last three years, when she was the recipient of the Atkinson Foundation’s Economic Justice Award. Although she works in Toronto, she is well-known and well-respected throughout Canada. At a recent nursing history exhibition at the Museum of Civilization in Hull, her nursing bag was displayed, with a person present to explain its contents and Cathy’s work on the street.

More Articles...

St. Mark's United Church