Recommended Books
These are books that have been used in recent programs at Robertson-Wesley or recommended by individuals. Please pass on your recommendations. Click on the title link for more details on each book.
- Ackerman, Diane
Dawn Light - Dancing with Cranes and Other Ways to Start the Day (W. W. Norton, 2009). Dawn Allan: "the spiritual meaning of the beginning of the day"
- Autry, James A.
Looking Around for God - The Oddly Reverent Observations of an Unconventional Christian (Smyth & Helwys, 2007). Jim Allan: "poems and short prose pieces with a depth of insight into life, by a poet with business executive background"
- Ban Breathnach, Sarah
Peace and Plenty - Finding Your Path to Financial Serenity (Grand Central, 2010). Dawn Allan: "a book of daily readings about how we use financial resources in our lives, linked with spirituality"
- --- Romancing the Ordinary
- A Year of Simple Splendor (Simple Abundance Press/Scribner, c2002). Dawn Allan: "further reflections on living each day in simple splendour; for me, her books are wonderful and easy to read"
- --- Simple Abundance
- A Daybook of Comfort and Joy (Warner Books, 1995). Dawn Allan: "her first book of daily meditations, readings and quotes, where we find comfort and joy in simple things: attitude of gratitude"
- Bass, Diana Butler
Christianity for the Rest of Us - How the Neighborhood Church is Transforming the Faith (HarperCollins, 2006). Jim Allan: "an encouraging book by a church historian with insight into the potential of the North American, main-line Protestant church"
- --- A People's History of Christianity
- The Other Side of the Story (HarperCollins, 2009). Jim Allan: "a deeply researched history that sheds new light on the surprising ways that many Christians have refused to conform to a rigid hierarchy of the church in an effort to recapture the radical implications of Jesus's life and message"
- Borg, Marcus J.
The Heart of Christianity - Rediscovering a Life of Faith; How We Can Be Passionate Believers Today (HarperCollins, 2003). Jim Allan: A modern classic on the new paradigm for Christian faith.
- Chopra, Deepak
The Third Jesus - The Christ We Cannot Ignore (Harmony Books, 2008). Jim Allan: "view of Jesus' teachings from outside of the Christian tradition"
- Crossan, John Dominic
God and Empire - Jesus Against Rome, Then and Now (HarperCollins, 2007). R-W 2008-09: "Eclipsing Empire", DVD lecture and discussion series from "Living the Questions".
- Fox, Matthew
Creativity - Where the Divine and the Human Meet (Penguin, 2002).
- Gafni, Marc
Soul Prints - Your Path to Fulfillment (Simon & Schuster, 2001). R-W.
- Graham, Rochelle, et al
Healing from the Heart - A Guide to Christian Healing for Individuals and Groups (Wood Lake Books, 1998). "healing ministry for our church"
- Hotchkiss, Dan
Governance and Ministry - Rethinking Board Leadership (Alban Institute, 2009). R-W: studied by the Church Board in 2010.
- Levine, Amy-Jill, and Marc Z. Brettler, editors
The Jewish Annotated New Testament - (Oxford University Press, 2011). Nancy Heule: "Wow- what a publication - a must for anyone interested in meaningful study of the New Testament. Most of the introductory notes to each Book are written by world-renowned Jewish scholars. Included are several essays that shed light on topics such as Paul and Judaism, Logos-a Jewish Word, Food and Table Fellowship, and Jewish Movements of the New Testament Period."
- Lundy, Janice Lynne
Your Truest Self - Embracing the Woman You Are Meant to Be (Sorin Books, 2008). Dawn Allan: "a series of reflections by women authors exploring what it means to become your authentic self"
- Intrator, Sam M., and Megan Scribner, eds.
Leading from Within - Poetry that Sustains the Courage to Lead (Jossey-Bass, 2007). Dawn Allan: "a series of 3 poems selected by world-renowned leaders with their comments regarding how the poem encouraged them in their leadership"
- McDonald, Marci
The Armageddon Factor - The Rise of Christian Nationalism in Canada (Random House, 2010). Carol Anne Inglis: For anyone who assumed that the American religious right stopped at the border,The Armageddon Factor explains how US money and evangelists have infiltrated Canadian politics. This book should be essential reading for Canadians of every religious belief or political stripe. Indeed,The Armageddon Factor should persuade every Canadian that, with the growth of such a movement, the future direction of the country is at stake.
- McGinnis, Ray
Writing the Sacred - A Psalm-inspired path to appreciating and writing sacred poetry (Woodlake Books, 2005). R-W: 2007 workshop series, based on the book.
- Meyers, Robin R.
Saving Jesus from the Church - How to Stop Worshiping Christ and Start Following Jesus (HarperCollins, 2009). R-W book study, 2010 Nov.
- Myss, Caroline
Defy Gravity - Healing Beyond the Bounds of Reason (Hay House, 2010). Dawn Allan: "living beyond reason, into grace: understanding living by grace by comparing grace to the seven chakras; I find her progressive writing to be where I am on my spiritual path and growth"
- --- Entering the Castle
- An Inner Path to God and Your Soul (Free Press, 2007). Dawn Allan: "reflections based on her study of St. Theresa of Avila, going within to find your soul, travelling through the seven rooms of the inner castle"
- --- Why People Don't Heal and How They Can
- An Inner Path to God and Your Soul (New York: Free Press, year). Dawn Allan
- --- Sacred Contracts
- An Inner Path to God and Your Soul (New York: Free Press, year). Dawn Allan
- --- Anatomy of the Spirit
- An Inner Path to God and Your Soul (New York: Free Press, year). Dawn Allan
- O'Donohue, John
To Bless the Space Between Us - A Book of Blessings (Doubleday, 2008). Dawn Allan: "blessings for every occasion, from birth to death; written in his wonder celtic, poetic style"
- Pasricha, Neil
The Book of Awesome - Author of 1000awesomethings.com (Putnam, 2010). Dawn Allan: "a thousand examples of simple brilliant things that are awesome in everyday life; gives a place for you to discover your own awesome things (my best awesome thing is hearing my cats smacking while they eat)"
- Rohr, Richard
The Naked Now - Learning to See as the Mystics See (Crossroad, 2009). Jim Allan: "a wonderful book on spirituality Dawn and I picked up at Naramata's Mustard Seed Bookstore"
- Rupp, Joyce
The Cup of Our Life - A Guide for Spiritual Life (Ave Maria Press, 1997). Rupp is a popular and prolific writer of poems and prayers on Christian spirituality
- --- Inviting God In
- Scriptural Reflections and Prayers Throughout the Year (Ave Maria Press, 2001).
- --- May I Have This Dance?
- An Invitation to Faithful Prayer Throughout the Year (Ave Maria Press, 2007).
- --- Out of the Ordinary
- prayers, poems, and reflections for every season (Ave Maria Press, 2011).
- --- Dear Heart, Come Home
- The Path of Midlife Spirituality (Crossroads, 1996). Jim Allan: "from our recent clergy retreat"
- Sanguin, Bruce
Darwin, Divinity, and the Dance of the Cosmos - An Ecological Christianity (Woodlake Books, 2007). R-W: 2010 Jan-Mar, book study.
- Schwab, Betty Lynn
Rising With the Morning Star - Daily Reflections for Lent (United Church Publishing House, 2011). R-W: Lent 2011, Sunday morning discussion gatherings.
- Searcy, Edwin, ed.
Awed to Heaven, Rooted in Earth - Prayers of Walter Brueggemann (Augsburg Fortress, 2003). Jim Allan: a collection of deeply biblical prayers by a leading Old Testament scholar.
- Spong, John Shelby
Why Christianity Must Change or Die - A Bishop Speaks to Believers in Exile; A new reformation of the church's faith and practice (HarperCollins, 1998). R-W: Jim Allan.
- --- Jesus for the Non-Religious
- Rediscovering the Divine at the Heart of the Human (HarperCollins, 2007). R-W: Spong spoke at Robertson-Wesley on "Jesus for the Non-Religious" in 2007 April, sponsored by the Pathways Centre.
- --- Eternal Life: A New Vision
- Beyond Religion, Beyond Theism, Beyond Heaven and Hell (HarperCollins, 2009)
- Stern, David H.
Jewish New Testament Commentary - A Companion Volume to the Jewish New Testament (Jewish New Testament Publishing, Jerusalem, 1992). Nancy Heule: "David Stern is a Messianic Jewish scholar whose commentary opens the reader to the Jewish world of Jesus. He provides a deeper understanding of the First Century CE our of which our Christianity developed."
- Taylor, Barbara Brown
An Altar in the World - A Geography of Faith (HarperColins, 2010). Donna Krucik.
- Tolle, Eckhart
The Power of Now - A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment (New World Library, 1997). John Helps: "if [I] could recommend only one book to a friend about spirituality or faith..."
- Twist, Lynne
The Soul of Money - Reclaiming the Wealthof Our Inner Resources (W. W. Norton, 2003). Dawn Allan: "helping us have a healthier and more spiritual relationship with money"
- Vosper, Gretta
With or Without God - Why the Way We Live is More Important than What We Believe (HarperCollins, 2008). Vosper is the founder and chair of the Canadian Centre for Progressive Christianity
- Wheatley, Margaret J.
Perseverance - (Barrett-Koehler, 2010). Dawn Allan: "a collection of thoughts by writers all over the world on perseverance"
- Wiederkehr, Macrina
Seven Sacred Pauses - Living Mindfully Through the Hours of the Day (Sorin Books, 2008). Dawn Allan / Donna Krucik: ...
- Williamson, Marianne
A Return to Love - Reflections on the Principles of a Course in Miracles (HarperCollins, 1992). Mandy Batke-Lwanga: "if [I] could recommend only one book to a friend about spirituality or faith"
- Woodbury, Clair
A New Take on an Ancient Story - A Young Person's Guide to Christiantiy (Congregational Life Centre, 2010). Carol Anne Inglis: Although it is presented as a young person's guide to Christianity, I think it's an interesting read for all ages.
- Young, Wm. Paul
The Shack - Where Tragedy Confronts Eternity (Windblown Media, 2007). R-W: book study in 2009.
- Zukav, Gary
The Seat of the Soul - (Simon & Schuster, 1989). Dawn Allan: "a practical guide to soulful living"
United Church Resource Distribution
Naramata Centre