This month, I’d like to experiment with a reading group. It will have two main components:
- Weekly posts on interesting points brought up by the book and a concluding, in-depth review. The weekly posts would give any of you reading the book to be involved in a dialogue about the book. I hope that I might be able to cross link with the bloggers among you who might like to post on the reading or on spin-off topics.
- There will also be a non-virtual, face-to-face discussion about the book towards the end of the month. The venue will likely be located somewhere in the OC/LA borderlands. I forsee a heated, intellectual conversation possibly enhanced by good food and adult beverages.
Here are the books that I nominate for this month’s reading. They all reflect some public aspect of religion. I hope that you can help us narrow it down to one:
When Religion becomes Evil: Five Warning Signs, by Charles Kimball. It’s on the list partly for the provocative, timely title. It’s also listed as Publishers Weekly’’s “Top Religion Book of 2002.” To whet your appetite, the first two warning signs are “Absolute Truth Claims” and “Blind Obedience.” It gets better.
The God Factor: Inside the Spiritual Lives of Public People, by Cathleen Falsani. Falsani is Chicago Sun-Times religion writer, and when I grow up, I want to be just liker her. This book contains a series of candid interviews with Hugh Hefner, Anne Rice, Barack Obama, annie Lennox, Jeffrey Sachs, Bono, David Lynch, Seamus Heaney, Melissa Etheridge and others about their spiritual lives. That’s right. That Hugh Hefner.
The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason, by Sam Harris. This book and its dynamic author have been getting a lot of recognition in both audio and print media recently. Of all of this books, this one is perhaps the most critical of religion as a whole, but I’m curious as to why big media outlets are interested in it (most recently Newsweek).
American Theocracy: The Peril and Politics of Radical Religion, Oil, and Borrowed Money in the 21st Century, by Kevin Phillips. I started reading a bit of this and it’s already transformed how I look at American politics, our oil dependency and our sad little future. Kevin Phillips is a long term Republican policy advisor who predicted the rise of the Religious Right a decade or two in advance, but who now argues against the policies and partnerships of the current administration.
Rational Mysticism: Spirituality Meets Science in the Search for Enlightenment, by John Horgan. I’ve read this book once, a couple of years ago and loved it. A Scientific American writer decides to explore options for accessing other worlds. He tries shamanic concoctions, interviews spirituality gurus, and takes a close look at medical research being done on spirituality.
Here’s how the voting will work: please vote by commenting below. In each comment, pick a first choice and a second choice. You are welcome to mention why you think it’s a better pick. Let me know if you are going to try to make it to the book group (which will probably happen on a weekend evening later this month, or early October). Let me know if you will consider blogging about the book on your own site. The selections by those planning to discuss it in person will be weighed a little heavier than those who plan to write about it on their blogs, and theirs will be weighted a bit more more than those who plan mainly to follow along on mindonfire–but don’t let that hold you back! What sounds the most interesting to you?
11 responses so far ↓
1 Elise Johnson // Sep 10, 2006 at 12:07 am
I vote for “The God Factor”. I’m intrigued by the idea of people like Hugh Hefner being spiritual. Who’s to say he isn’t? I’d like to read about it.
By the way – great idea, John! I’m excited to see our collective selection.
2 John // Sep 10, 2006 at 3:22 am
Thanks, Elise! I’d give you a “I voted” sticker if I could.
Would you be interested in the live, non-virtual book group as well? Also, do you have a secondary selection?
3 pilgrimgirl // Sep 10, 2006 at 11:19 am
Wow, all of these sound really good…how to choose??
Ok, in order of preference:
The God Factor
American Theocracy
Rational Mysticism
But honestly, I think I would enjoy any of them, so how ’bout you consider my preferred selection as a tie-breaker rather than a fully-weighted vote?
4 Watt Mahoun // Sep 10, 2006 at 11:54 am
I vote for the following:
1. The End of Faith – because I’ve read about it and written some, but still need to read it…Harris seems to be one of a very few pointing to moderate religionists rather than blaming all bad religon on extremist.
2. American Theocracy – because I’d really like to get a Repub take the the situation.
I can’t make the face-to-face
but will blog about the reading and perhaps even crack open a cold one in solidarity.
5 Elise Johnson // Sep 10, 2006 at 3:44 pm
I don’t follow directions very well at midnight (when I originally replied) and forgot my second choice book. #2 for me is The End of Faith, because I’ve seen this book and actually picked it up half a dozen times or so in Barnes & Noble but never actually brought it home.
I do like the idea of a face-to-face group, but it would have to be on the weekend in order for me to commit. But if we all chose a book and set a date to meet and discuss it, I’d love to be there!
6 Matt Thurston // Sep 11, 2006 at 8:27 am
I vote first for The End of Faith. I read a couple of chapters of this at a Barnes & Noble in Palm Springs a few months ago and was intrigued by some of the things Harris had to say. I’ve got it on my reading list after 5 or 6 other books, but I’d be happy to bump it to the front if this is selected for the Book Club reading. I’d also love to blog about it and I’d be happy to make the face-to-face discussion in the OC/LA borderlands.
My second selection, based just on your descriptions, would be When Religion Becomes Evil: Five Warning Signs.
Third would be Rational Mysticism.
7 Miko // Sep 11, 2006 at 4:39 pm
The fact that I live in Hollywood and am therefore shallow may influence my decision: my first choice is God Factor. Second is When Religion Becomes Evil. Although I could really go either way. I trust that my choice of one does not preclude the other at a later date… My intents are to read it and, should I ever get my website/blog up and running to consider posting about it. That may be as soon as 2012. I do, however, intend to show up.
8 pilgrimgirl // Sep 12, 2006 at 9:00 am
Can we do the bookgroup as a webcast or podcast for the folks who’ll want to ‘virtually’ join in?
9 John // Sep 14, 2006 at 11:05 pm
PG, that’s a good idea–we’ll have to look into wired (or rather wireless) venues.
My first vote is for The End of Faith, and my second is for American Theocracy. I like all of the books, so this was an agonizing choice for me (you never want to take me to an ice cream store).
10 Jonathan // Sep 15, 2006 at 7:03 am
This is a great idea! I’ll read whatever book ends up being the winner. (I already cheated and found out
) I look forward to the discussions.
11 John // Sep 20, 2006 at 10:05 pm
For late-comers, voting is closed, and Sam Harris’ The End of Faith is the winner.
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