Books

Understanding Islam: Fifty Questions by Dr. Amer Salih Araim.

Dr. Araim was born in Iraq, earned his B.A. in law in Baghdad and M.A. and Ph.D in New York and teaches at Diablo Valley College in dthe East Bay. Araim served in the Iraqi Foreign Service and then for more than two decades as a foreign policy specialist with the UN, specializing in global movements against Apartheid and Colonization. Araim has served as an Imam since 1999. Following 9/11, he spoke widely about Islam and discovered that many Americans want to know more about Islam. Araim has devoted his life to improving Americans' understanding of Islam and US relations with Moslem countries. Dr. Amer Araim is on the executive committee of the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County, a URI Cooperation Circle.

Topics: Interfaith Understanding, Countering Islamophobia
Purchase via Amazon to benefit URI in N.Am.

My 52 Weeks of Worship: Lessons from a Global, Spiritual, Interfaith Journey By Pamay Bassey.

My 52 Weeks of Worship is a clever and unusual look at one woman's journey to regain her spirituality. Pamay Bassey has done what most people could never even imagine--spending one day each week in a different house of worship. That effort and commitment taught her the universality of community, the joy of sharing, the importance of respect, and the pride that people who are committed to religion feel about their churches, synagogues, and mosques. Most of all, she learned that there is dignity in worship--however you practice it--and that all people must find their own way to a more fulfilling life. We can all learn from her experience.

Topics: Interfaith Experience
Purchase via Amazon to benefit URI in N.Am.

Love God, Heal Earth by Rev Sally Bingham of Interfaith Power & Light. What does it take to power a great awakening about Earth's environmental crisis? Until recently, science has been alone in sounding the alarms while many religious leaders have held back, viewing global warming as a purely secular issue. Now, in an unprecedented demonstration of unity and moral purpose, religious voices from across the spectrum--liberal, conservative, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists--are joining in one of the largest movements in human history...declaring the environment to be an urgent matter of faith. In Love God, Heal Earth, the Rev. Canon Sally G. Bingham brings together 21 highly regarded spiritual leaders from diverse faiths to make the case for environmental stewardship and show how their faith communities are tackling the issue of religion and environment.
 
Topics: Interfaith and Sustainability
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Forgiving the Unforgivable: Experience the Power of Holistic Living. The True Story of How Survivors of the Mumbai Terrorist Attack Answered Hatred with Compassion. By Master Charles Cannon with Will Wilkinson.

Topics: Nonviolence
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Practising the Art of Compassionate Listening By Andrea Cohen, with Leah Green and Susan Partnow

This practical "how to" book provides a step-by-step approach to helping you implement the practices of Compassionate Listening into your daily life. Whether you're challenged by self-judgments -- or by conflicts in your family, workplace or community, the practices of Compassionate Listening can provide a solid foundation upon which to bring greater peace, understanding and healing into your world.

Topics: Compassion
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The Quantum God: (Why Our Grandchildren Won't Know Atheism) By John Denker.

As heretical as it may sound to the modern orthodox views of both science and religion, science has proved God to be real. The classic questions about God’s existence are addressed through the use of modern physics. Most people will be surprised, if not shocked, by what modern science has to say. Rev Denker is a member of the URI in North America Leadership Council.

Topics: Interfaith Thought
Purchase via Amazon to benefit URI in N.Am.

Religious Diversity and Children's Literature By Connie R. Green and Sandra Brenneman Oldendorf, Appalachian State University

Expensive but worth it. This book is an invaluable resource for enabling teachers, religious educators, and families to learn about religious diversity themselves and to teach children about both their own religion as well as the beliefs of others. The traditions featured include indigenous beliefs throughout the world, Native American spirituality, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity (Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Protestantism), Islam, Sikhism, and other beliefs such as Bahá'í, Unitarian Universalism, Humanism, and Atheism. Each chapter highlights a specific religion or spiritual tradition with a brief discussion about major beliefs, misconceptions, sacred texts, and holy days or celebrations. This summary of each tradition is followed by extensive annotated recommendations for children’s and adolescent literature as well as suggested teaching strategies. 

Topics: Interfaith Education and Understanding
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Make a Difference 101: Community Service, a Practical Step-by-step Guide for Kids by Sande Hart.
A Fun and easy workbook to help you figure out what you want to do and who you want to help and all you need to make it happen!

A 13 step-by-step guide to help you take your own ideas, special interests & talents & turn them into empowering and effective community service projects that your entire community can participate in. Make a Difference  Community Service teen empowerment make a difference make a difference community service community make a difference community service community service community

This is one case where you should get M.A.D.

Topics: Community Service, Education

Purchase direct from the Author

Embracing Israel/Palestine: A Strategy to Heal and Transform the Middle East by Rabbi Michael Lerner

A major modern conundrum is how the Arab/Israel conflict remains unresolved and, seemingly, unresolvable. In this inspirational book, Rabbi Michael Lerner suggests that a change in consciousness is crucial. With clarity and honesty, he examines how the mutual demonization and discounting of each sides’ legitimate needs drive the debate, and he points to new ways of thinking that can lead to a solution.

Topics: Middle East Peace

Order via Amazon to benefit URI in N.Am.
 

The 11 Karmic Spaces: Choosing freedom from the patterns that bind you by Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati, founder of URI in N.Am. CC, the Kashi Foundation. The 11 Karmic Spaces reveals how and why most of us become stuck by karma and our habitual patterns of action and reaction. We learn that although karma is a spiritual law, we do not have to be bound by it. Through awareness, intuition and grace, it is possible to choose freedom from Karma. Ma Jaya shows us how..  The review by Devadatta Kali is well worth a look.
 
Topics: Inner Peace
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A Greater Democracy Day by Day by Sally Mahe and Kathy Covert. A Greater Democracy Day by Day rehabilitates the word "democracy" by bringing together 365 thought-provoking quotes from around the world and through time, all centered on this concept that is the keystone of modern society. The book presents a theme for each month and a quote about that theme to ponder on each day of the year.

Topics: Nonviolence
Order via the author's website .

The Sacred Art of Listening by Kay Lindahl

Designed to illumine your spiritual journey, this book provides access to a new way of listening—to Source, to self and to others. By expanding your awareness of listening and broadening your concept of listening you will learn to:

• Enhance your capacity to listen to people with different belief systems.
• Heighten your awareness and sensitivity to opportunities for deep listening.
• Communicate with courage and compassion.
• Speak clearly from the heart.

Today’s pace of life leaves little room for reflection and listening. This engaging book of inspired reflections and extraordinary illustrations guides you to take time for yourself and listen from the essence of your being.

Other books are also available from Kay Lindahl notably including a children's book, How Does God Listen?.
 
Topics: Interfaith Understanding, nonviolence
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Healing Inner Spirit: A Beginner's Guide to Sacred Psychology and Hypnotherapy by Jamal Rahman of the Interfaith Community Church in Seattle and Ed Eykholt.

Healing Inner Spirit provides mental health counselors and related professionals a healing framework known as Sacred Psychology, which is inspired by timeless insights and techniques common among many faith and wisdom traditions. We explore how to help clients become mindful, recognize their inner divine attributes, and cultivate self-compassion in order to work on a variety of issues ranging from diminishing destructive habits to evolving into the fullness of one's being.

Reach to Peace by Rosalind Russell may be purchased at www.rstarfoundation.org. Rosalind describes her book this way: "FYI, the REACH TO PEACE book is a tool, not a literary masterpiece. It is short and attractive, already getting us attention on the area of our peace work." Rosalind has accomplished and continues to provide great service for the Women and Children of Nepal. You can learn more in her book or by going to her website.

Topics: Peace Education
Purchase via the R*Star Foundation Website

Women, Spirituality and Transformative Leadership: Where Grace Meets Power
 
"This empowering resource engages women in an interactive exploration of the challenges and opportunities on the frontier of women's spiritual leadership. Through the voices of North American women representing a matrix of diversity--ethnically, spiritually, religiously, generationally and geographically--this book will inspire women to new expressions of their own personal leadership and invite them into powerful collaborative action."

Co-authored by: Kathe Schaaf, a co-founder of Gather the Women Global Matrix, has convened numerous collaborative conversations engaging women and women's organizations * Kay Lindahl, a Certified Listening Professional and founder of The Listening Center, is author of The Sacred Art of Listening * Kathleen S.Hurty, PhD, a teaching fellow in leadership studies at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, is an educator, a grant writer and a public speaker * Reverend Guo Cheen is an ordained Buddhist nun * All four are ambassadors for the Council for the Parliament of World Religions and co-conveners of Women of Spirit and Faith.

Topics: Interfaith Understanding, Women and Spirituality -
Purchase via Amazon to benefit URI in N. Am.

One Life Alliance Pledge: 30 Days to Honor the Sacredness of Life by Kia Scherr of the One Life Alliance.

Customer review by Grace33 on Amazon: At first glance this appears to be a simple little book. But in fact, these daily practices contain deep philosophical truths put into action. This 30 day program is a distillation of the work of spiritual masters, philosophers and quantum physicists, simply presented in a form that YOU can follow. Try it. Be the expression of who you truly are. The Force is with you. For realz.

World Scriptures & World Scriptures, Vol. 2: Guiding Principles for an Awakening World by Rev. Leland Stewart

World Scriptures brought us the essence of the world's historic religions and some which began in more recent times.  What it did not do was to look at the possibility of a new synthesis, including many new teachings that have emerged since the time of the earlier religions and looking toward an emerging global civilization.  It is the combination of World Scriptures and World Scriptures, Vol. 2 that brings together the essence of our universal heritage and helps to provide a new worldview and basis of faith for this age.
 
Rev. Leland Stewart has searched the writings of the holy books of the world to record in shortened form (using the original texts) the foundational principles and beliefs of the world's religions and spiritual movements.  These books are ideal for personal study and meditation, as well as for use in classes which seek to build bridges between different faiths.  Rev. Stewart is founder and leader of the Unity-and-Diversity World Council, a Cooperation Circle of URI in North America.
 
Topics: Interfaith Understanding
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Everest: A Climb for Peace by Lance Trumbull, former regional coordinator of the Multiregion.

This is a children's book that chronicles the inspirational journey of 'Peace Climbers' from different faiths and cultures as they climb to the summit of the tallest mountain in the world. The focus is on Palestinian Ali Bushnaq and Israeli's Dudu Yifrah and Micha Yaniv.

 
The Last Moderate Muslim by Osama Wazan, URI Global Council member from North America and member of the North America Leadership Council.

The well reviewed Last Moderate Muslim is a fiction novel. It is inspired by a true story and packs answers to countless questions that westerners have asked such as: Why are Muslims violent? Why do they hate us? Where are the moderates? What in God's name goes through the mind of a suicide bomber?

The Spiritual Power of Nonviolence: Interfaith Understanding for a Future Without War by Prof. George Wolfe

Religion and violence -- the two concepts seem incompatible given the emphasis in religion on virtue, love, forgiveness and compassion. Yet many scriptures contain martial images and stories of god-inspired military conquest. The Spiritual Power of Nonviolence confronts this theological contradiction, arguing that martial images and symbols found in religious texts are often meant to be interpreted as metaphors for an inner spiritual struggle and should never be used as a justification for war. The analysis is undertaken from an interfaith perspective that explains many of the paradoxical concepts found in theories of nonviolence. An appeal is also made to restore civil discourse in the public arena, and for politicians and religious leaders to refrain from using religious language when engaging in hawkish political rhetoric.

George Wolfe is an interdisciplinary scholar who presents a compelling case for the sustainability paradigm and for offering peace education and interreligious dialogue on a global scale. Professor Wolfe probes the scriptures of the world proving that nonviolence is a shared virtue and that the real enemy we must battle against and ultimately defeat is actually within us.  He is URI contact for the Muncie Interfaith Fellowship in Indiana, a Cooperation Circle of URI North America region.

George's book has been endorsed by Bishop William E. Swing, Arun Gandhi, Professor Michael Nagler, Rabbi Raine Teller, and others. To read endorsements, click here.

Topics: Nonviolence, Interfaith Understanding
 
Purchase via Amazon to benefit URI in N.Am.

One God, Three Wives, Five Religions by Frances Worthington, long term supporter of the Greenville Area Interfaith Forum, a URI Cooperation Circle. By examining the scripture and traditions of the five "Abrahamic" faiths, Frances provides us with a better understanding of our shared heritage, as well as, how the faiths diverge into their own unique perspectives.

Topics: Interfaith Understanding, Countering Islamophobia
Purchase via Amazon to benefit URI in N.Am.