That Chih is captivated by the Dalai Lama is beyond question. But this effusive narrative falls just shy of a hagiography. Perhaps for this reason, Chih’s biography fails to capture the depth of this remarkable human being, the Tibetan people, and the distinctiveness of Tibetan Buddhism.
Although there are not enough anecdotes from desert mothers and fathers to fully appreciate them, Arndt’s book (citing Anglican, Orthodox, and Catholic sources) succeeds in showing that they were not some curious aberration but a genuine response that has repeated itself throughout Church history.
Telling rich stories about people and communities across a vast religious spectrum, Smietana delivers his insights on reimagining American Christianity and organized religion more broadly.
By integrating Eastern practices to illuminate her own spiritual tradition and personal encounters, Spitzer moves beyond merely touting the benefits of mindfulness exercises, even while one wonders whether the Big Person can be integrated with these metaphors and practices or must be left behind.
To advocate for a non-productive spirituality, Sherrill focuses on the pragmatic benefits of contemplation and offers a handful of spiritual life hacks for readers in need of advice or guidance.
As with mysticism, highly personal accounts of Jesus run the risk of portraying the Jesus one wants to see, rather than encountering the transformative power of the Spirit. Bass neatly avoids most of this and so provides a portrait of Jesus for progressive Christians of all stripes that is as tangible, compelling, and biblical as the Christ of their more fundamentalist counterparts.