Any "spiritual" book suggestions for my book club?

[CoffeeCat]

Hi everyone,

I'm wondering if anyone could suggest a good book for my book club.

I'm looking for a book that would help women grow spiritually and
help them strengthen their spiritual growth and their relationship
with God.

The women in my group are all Christians. Most of them are Progressive,
but a few are pretty right-wing. It makes for a very interesting mix
and some good discussions.

I would love to suggest a book that would help people really take a long
look at themselves--and get them thinking about life, love, why we're all
here, how we can better the world, how we can transform ourselves and grow
spiritually as we journey through life.

Thanks for any suggestions. I'll let you know what we pick, if you're
interested! :)

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. OMG - you have to get "The Prophetic Imagination" by Walt Brueggeman!

http://www.amazon.com/Prophetic-Imagination-Walter-Brueggemann/dp/0800632877/sr=1-1/qid=1170997039/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-0155016-9446311?ie=UTF8&s=books

It was written first in the 70s, but it's so relevant today it's fucking awesome - it's like he's describing the apostasy of Shrubbie and his administration. The book is about the prophets of old (Jeremiah, Isaiah, John the Baptist, etc.), and how the Church has lost that voice and needs to reclaim it.

But Brueggeman is clever - he never, ever says anything about liberals, conservatives, republicans, democrats, etc. He just lays out a perfectly scriptural idea of society and the role of Christians in it, to be prophets, critiquers, etc., and not patriots (though he doesn't use that word, either), and let's the scripture speak for itself for the most part.

He does it all so gently in terms of never naming specific people or groups of people, but he is definitely from what we might call a "liberal" political and theological stance (which isn't really liberal, it's just authentically biblical).

Your rightwingers would have an absolutely awful time refuting him.

And if you don't know who Brueggeman is, he is one of the world's greatest living Old Testament scholars. He's a United Church of Christ member, and a professor at a seminary that I've had too much gin to remember (but it's not a UCC seminary - Methodist, maybe?). Rock solid scholarship, laid out clearly and succinctly, with footnotes and scriptural references and a world of knowledge and experience behind him.

It would totally kill your rightwingers!

[CoffeeCat]

2. You rock...

...I looked at the link and this book looks like
something that would appeal to everyone in the group.

Thanks for so much information. It sounds like you
really enjoyed this book.

We have a wide-span of beliefs and personal philosophies
in this group, and we all learn and grow from each other.

This book sounds like it would give us our group a lot
to talk about!

Thanks again for the great recommendation. :)

[bmbmd]

3. When Bad Christians happen to Good People

www.amazon.com/When-Christians-Happen-Good-People/dp/1578564905

[StoryTeller]

4. Here's a few...

By N.T. Wright:

Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense
Following Jesus: Biblical Reflections on Discipleship

By Rob Bell:

Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith

By Donald Miller:

Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thought on Christian Spirituality
Searching For God Knows What

By Anne Lamott:

Traveling Mercies
Plan B
Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith

I was assuming you were thinking non-fiction. If you want fiction, I can help with that, too. :)

[Critters2]

5. _Gilead_ by Marianne Robinson nt