My Inward Journey: A Story of Spiritual Transformation by Sheila Mee
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A brave memoir of spiritual transformation. Mee not only deconstructs her fundamentalist faith but reconstructs a whole and healthy wisdom spirituality. Her journey includes honest, open, and raw discussions of marital conflict, childhood abuse, and toxic families. Plus, because of the decades she spent as a missionary in Latin America, her personal story often plays out during major geo-political events like the 1980's civil war in El Salvador. This is a rich, compelling exploration of healing, wholeness, and faith.

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Reading Genesis by Marilynne Robinson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Eh.

There are some good books on Genesis written by non-specialists, particularly Karen Armstrong's and Harold Bloom's. But I didn't get much from this one.

But upon finishing I do appreciate the general point she seems to be making, that in scholarly discussions of the book what is often missed is the note of grace that permeates story after story. Even if often that note of grace is only relative to the context.

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David von Drehle's column in today's WaPo attacking the anti-IVF zealots is worth a read.  He states unequivocally (and from personal experience), "the perverse result is that the supposed champions of families and babies are targeting the very families that want babies the most."

The column concludes powerfully:

I don’t think any people alive care more about the miracle of conception, the viability of a fetus and the gift of life than IVF patients. No one suffers more acutely or weeps more bitterly over unborn babies; they are, after all, holes at the centers of our lives. How can a person of faith fail to see the creative power of God in the intelligence that makes such reproductive technology possible? What crabbed theology sees God at work in sperm and eggs and reproductive organs, yet finds only sin in the brains of scientists and doctors? Lord save us from the zealots.

Why the Bible Began: An Alternative History of Scripture and its Origins by Jacob L. Wright
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've read numerous books on the Hebrew Scriptures over the decades, and this may be the very best. A summary of the current state of scholarship (and archaeological research), he presents the best understanding of ancient Israelite history, the development of the religion, and the writing, editing, and formation of the canon. Here was synthesized bits and pieces I'd encountered in recent years in various places, but never all put together. And some of it was also new to me. The picture presented is radically different from what I learned in my Old Testament classes thirty years ago.

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The Meaning of Mary Magdalene: Discovering the Woman at the Heart of Christianity by Cynthia Bourgeault
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a fascinating and wonderful book, that I wish I had read earlier. Not only does it go a long way to recovering the role of Mary Magdalene, but it opens up fabulous new ways of looking at key Christian ideas and practices, and has many helpful practical suggestions for liturgy and ministry.

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The Varieties of Spiritual Experience: 21st Century Research and Perspectives by David B Yaden
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

About fifteen years ago I remember reading an article about the use of brain science to study religious experiences and was fascinated. I thought then that if I ever went back to get another academic degree, it would be something in that field. But beyond that initial interest I never did follow up.

So it was good to read this review of all the current research and hear about promising ideas for the future.

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Jonah's Journeys by Barbara Green OP
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While it contains fun and interesting interpretations of the Book of Jonah, the text is really an examination of how we make meaning from reading scripture. Would be great to use in a classroom setting.

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Sacred Nature: Restoring Our Ancient Bond with the Natural World by Karen Armstrong
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Armstrong turns her vast scholarship to the climate crisis and presents us with the practices we currently need to change our lives by drawing upon the wisdom of ancient spirituality. Most interesting to me was the vast resources of neo-Confucianism she presents as being quite helpful today.

As she writes near the end, "So, if we want to save our planet, we too must cultivate this ancient conviction that every natural thing is inseparable from our ultimate concern."

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Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For me a timely and helpful book, as we near the end of a cruel and exhausting legislative session here in Nebraska.

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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42249869-healing-the-wounds-of-sexual-abuse" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="Healing the Wounds of Sexual Abuse: Reading the Bible with Survivors" src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1540837076l/42249869._SX98_.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42249869-healing-the-wounds-of-sexual-abuse">Healing the Wounds of Sexual Abuse: Reading the Bible with Survivors</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/673279.Elaine_A_Heath">Elaine A. Heath</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5500505007">5 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
This is an excellent book that I highly recommend. Both pastorally helpful and also full of rich interpretations of biblical stories from the perspectives of survivors of sexual abuse. So a helpful book for the preacher as well.
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