# Spiritual books you'd recommend- **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 11, 2007, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiritual-books-youd-recommend/407567 "2007-06-11T15:26:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiritual-books-youd-recommend/407567/41 "2007-06-12T15:03:11Z")
I stepped in to say _Conversation with God_ by Neale Donald Walsch…found it to mirror my already distorted beliefs… Also…_Another Roadside Attraction_ by Tom Robbins ymmv, tsfr ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiritual-books-youd-recommend/407567/42 "2007-06-12T15:21:22Z")
Obviously it’s from a Catholic religious perspective, but \*\*The Story of Soul \*\* by St. Therese of Lisieux. It’s her autobiography and talks about her way of meditating and praying, as well as how she translates her beliefs into everyday actions. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiritual-books-youd-recommend/407567/43 "2007-06-12T15:23:16Z")
[QUOTE=RikWriter] Really? If you can find the word “stupid” in my post, I’ll paypal you $5000. What’s funny to me is how defensive some people get if their worldview is questioned. [/QUOTE] > [@](#): > > The Demon Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark, by Carl **S** agan. I **t** wo **u** ld hel **p** someone to stop depending on fa **i** ry stories and start **d** epending on themself. I’ll let you know where to send the money… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mrs.Millamant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@Mrs.Millamant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrs.Millamant)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiritual-books-youd-recommend/407567/44 "2007-06-12T15:40:21Z")
H.D.'s _Trilogy_, consisting of “The Walls Do Not Fall,” “Tribute to the Angels,” and “The Flowering of the Rod” was the most spiritually moving book I’ve ever read, and certainly the one that moved me to go further in my own explorations. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiritual-books-youd-recommend/407567/45 "2007-06-12T15:52:57Z")
**Rikwriter** , your comment to **Lord Ashtar** above comes perilously close to personal insult, which is not permitted in this forum. You’re on the OK side of the line at this point, I just want to be sure that nobody crosses the line … A heated discussion about spiritual books. Who’da thunk? ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiritual-books-youd-recommend/407567/46 "2007-06-12T16:11:40Z")
Recently read “Interior Castle” by St. Teresa of Avila - but would only really recommend that for people interested in Christian spirituality. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiritual-books-youd-recommend/407567/47 "2007-06-12T16:55:17Z")
[QUOTE=Lord Ashtar] I would think Sagan would encourage reading the book with a skeptical mind. If you think that amounts to learning how to not depend on “fairy tails” to know how to live one’s life, then I refer you back to my last post. [/QUOTE] Your reply indicates you are not that familiar with Sagan or the book in question. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiritual-books-youd-recommend/407567/48 "2007-06-12T16:56:33Z")
[QUOTE=Khadaji] I’ll let you know where to send the money… 😃 [/QUOTE] No, you won’t, as you didn’t find the word “stupid” in my post. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiritual-books-youd-recommend/407567/49 "2007-06-12T17:33:21Z")
[QUOTE=RikWriter] Your reply indicates you are not that familiar with Sagan or the book in question. [/QUOTE] Interesting that you would think that. Based on my reading of the book (still relatively fresh in my mind from having finished it within the last few months), I would think that, were he still alive, Sagan would’ve been one of the first in line to read _The Secret_ and point out all the author’s flaws in reasoning and logical inconsistancies. Please cite a line or two from _DHW_ that support your assertion that Sagan would’ve recommended against reading _The Secret_. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiritual-books-youd-recommend/407567/50 "2007-06-12T17:39:54Z")
[QUOTE=Lord Ashtar] Interesting that you would think that. Based on my reading of the book (still relatively fresh in my mind from having finished it within the last few months), I would think that, were he still alive, Sagan would’ve been one of the first in line to read _The Secret_ and point out all the author’s flaws in reasoning and logical inconsistancies. [/QUOTE] Ah, so you’re now going to interpret the OP’s request as “tell me spiritual books I can read in order to shoot down the author’s flawed reasoning and logical inconsistencies?” That’s an…interesting take on things. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiritual-books-youd-recommend/407567/51 "2007-06-12T18:01:50Z")
[QUOTE=RikWriter] Ah, so you’re now going to interpret the OP’s request as “tell me spiritual books I can read in order to shoot down the author’s flawed reasoning and logical inconsistencies?” That’s an…interesting take on things. :rolleyes: [/QUOTE] Where in the world did you get that? Never mind, don’t care. We’re done now. ---
**Author:** ![RikWriter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/49beb7/32.png) [@RikWriter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RikWriter)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiritual-books-youd-recommend/407567/52 "2007-06-12T18:17:56Z")
[QUOTE=Lord Ashtar] Where in the world did you get that? [/QUOTE] From your contention that somehow me saying that DHW is a good book to read regarding spirituality meant that Carl Sagan would want you to read “The Secret” in order to debunk it. > [@](#): > > Never mind, don’t care. We’re done now. You’d likely have been far wiser simply not to make your somewhat snarky comment in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![MTRG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71c47a/32.png) [@MTRG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTRG)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiritual-books-youd-recommend/407567/53 "2007-06-12T18:31:22Z")
[QUOTE=Malthus] My preference is for a spirituality compatible with science. I never understood why those two ways of understanding the world are always portrayed as invariably _antagonistic_ rather than complementary. As a scientist, who is not as religous as I was as a kid…I have enjoyed reading The Universe in a Single Atom (the convergence of science and spirituality) by the Dali Lama. It has kind of put things in perspective without being pushy. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiritual-books-youd-recommend/407567/54 "2007-06-12T18:47:54Z")
[QUOTE=MTRG] [QUOTE=Malthus] My preference is for a spirituality compatible with science. I never understood why those two ways of understanding the world are always portrayed as invariably _antagonistic_ rather than complementary. As a scientist, who is not as religous as I was as a kid…I have enjoyed reading The Universe in a Single Atom (the convergence of science and spirituality) by the Dali Lama. It has kind of put things in perspective without being pushy. [/QUOTE] Interesting. I’ll check it out. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Lunar\_Saltlick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/977dab/32.png) [@Lunar\_Saltlick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lunar_Saltlick)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2007, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiritual-books-youd-recommend/407567/55 "2007-06-12T18:58:08Z")
[QUOTE=Lissla Lissar] … _The Seven Storey Mountain_- Thomas Merton … [/QUOTE] I’ll add Merton’s _My Argument with the Gestapo_. This one qualifies for both of the OP’s categories (liked it, didn’t like it). ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiritual-books-youd-recommend/407567/56 "2007-06-13T02:11:05Z")
For my own tastes; Anything by HH the Dalia Lama, a very practical man this go round; Thomas Merton; wonderful example of Christian contemplative thought, and open to other interpretation; yep, Aldous Huxley, great synthesizer. One book that is very helpful to modern spiritual thinkers, especially Southern ones, is Walker Percy’s [Lost in the Cosmos; The Last Self Help Book](http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Cosmos-Last-Self-Help-Book/dp/0312253990) It’s great, especially for writers and artists, helps to deliniate betweeen the sad ass life spaces of creating vs real world. He’s labelled as a Southern Catholic Existentialist, which, admittedly, is a damn hard row to hoe, but he gets you there[in compassionate tenacity](http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/arts/al0129.html) and heartfelt exploration of soul He realises the agony of separateness of being, in a very modern sense, and then tries to suss it all out with very capable mind. He’s way overlooked in modern spiritual sense, but I think Time will prove him to be an astute gage of modern intelligent spiritual mind. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiritual-books-youd-recommend/407567/57 "2007-06-13T11:09:20Z")
[QUOTE=elelle] One book that is very helpful to modern spiritual thinkers, especially Southern ones, is Walker Percy’s [Lost in the Cosmos; The Last Self Help Book](http://www.amazon.com/Lost-Cosmos-Last-Self-Help-Book/dp/0312253990) . [/QUOTE] This isn’t a genre I read much in any more, but your recommendation counts a lot with me, **elelle** – and the description sounds wonderful. I’ve ordered a copy – and will let you know directly what I think. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2007, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiritual-books-youd-recommend/407567/58 "2007-06-13T23:36:36Z")
[QUOTE=FriarTed] Paris Hilton is reportedly reading _The Secret_, _The Power of Now_, and _The Bible_ while in jail. Granted, one of these things is not like the other. [/QUOTE] Whyever not?! ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiritual-books-youd-recommend/407567/59 "2007-06-14T00:01:57Z")
Okay, I’ve held off long enough, but curiosity has gotten the better of me. Can somebody spoil _The Secret_? Or at least identify it? I’d never heard of the book before, and a trip to [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) brings up more than one book by that title, and I’m not sure which one is the one we’re talking about here. Can anyone give the general gist of the book? I haven’t heard of _The Power of Now_, either, but I can at least guess what it’s about from the title. ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2007, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiritual-books-youd-recommend/407567/60 "2007-06-14T00:39:41Z")
If you think in the right way about things you want, you’ll get them. There. I saved you twenty-five dollars. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/spiritual-books-youd-recommend/407567.md?page=2)