The Battle For God by Karen Armstrong. About 40 years ago popular opinion assumed that religion would become a weaker force and people would certainly become less zealous as the world became more modern and morals more relaxed. But the opposite has proven true, according to theologian and author Karen Armstrong, who documents how fundamentalism has taken root and grown in many of the world's major religions, such as Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Even Buddhism, Sikhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism have developed fundamentalist factions. Reacting to a technologically driven world with liberal Western values, fundamentalists have not only increased in numbers, they have become more desperate, claims Armstrong, who points to the Oklahoma City bombing, violent anti-abortion crusades, and the assassination of President Yitzak Rabin as evidence of dangerous extremes.

The Heart of Christianity by Marcus Borg. World-renowned Jesus scholar Marcus J. Borg shows how we can live passionately as Christians in today's world by practicing the vital elements of Christian faith. For the millions of people who have turned away from many traditional beliefs about God, Jesus, and the Bible, but still long for a relevant, nourishing faith, Borg shows why the Christian life can remain a transforming relationship with God. Emphasizing the critical role of daily practice in living the Christian life, he explores how prayer, worship, Sabbath, pilgrimage, and more can be experienced as authentically life-giving practices.

A History of God by Karen Armstrong. Armstrong, a British journalist and former nun, guides us along one of the most elusive and fascinating quests of all time--the search for God. Like all beloved historians, Armstrong entertains us with deft storytelling, astounding research, and makes us feel a greater appreciation for the present because we better understand our past. Be warned: A History of God is not a tidy linear history. Rather, we learn that the definition of God is constantly being repeated, altered, discarded, and resurrected through the ages, responding to its followers' practical concerns rather than to mystical mandates. Armstrong also shows us how Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have overlapped and influenced one another, gently challenging the secularist history of each of these religions. --Gail Hudson

Journey of Souls: Case Studies of Life Between Lives by Michael Duff Newton. Journey of Souls is a controversial yet inspiring investigation of the big question we all face at one point or another: "What happens after we die?" To find the answer, Newton opens cases from his private practice in which he hypnotically regressed his clients to a point between lives--after death, but before birth. Not only does Newton grapple with reincarnation, the spirit world, and the nature of the human soul, he also tackles equally sticky questions such as "Is there a Heaven and Hell?" and "What are ghosts?" Readers with a penchant for skepticism will balk at the lack of physical evidence to back up the claims in Journey of Souls, but the book remains a reassuring voice, affirming that our existence is not limited to the boundaries of our mortal flesh. --Brian Patterson

Why Religion Matters by Huston Smith. Huston Smith, the author of the classic bestseller The World's Religions, delivers a passionate, timely message: The human spirit is being suffocated by the dominant materialistic worldview of our times. Smith champions a society in which religion is once again treasured and authentically practiced as the vital source of human wisdom.

One Heart Full of Love by Mother Teresa. Mother Teresa of Calcutta, world renowned for her love of the poorest of the poor, shares the secret of surrendering everything to God - our time, our money, our talents, our very selves. She shows us how this secret unlocks the heart of God and releases his boundless love into our lives and the lives of those around us. One Hearth Full of Love gathers together stirring addresses and interviews given by Mother Teresa to her Missionaries of Charity and other groups worldwise on such topics as self-giving, the call to love our neighbor, spiritual poverty in the West, and a life of joy-filled sacrifice

The Resurrection Bible by George M. Lamsa. The primary book is the Modern New Testament from the Aramaic by Dr. George M. Lamsa with New Testament origin comparative bible verses and a compact English-Aramaic concordance, edited by Daniel John Mahar. This edition dedicated to those who believe in the resurrection/reincarnation of Jesus Christ. Without the doctrine of reincarnation, Christianity rests with the occult. When first century Christianity is restored we will come to know that Jesus Christ was indeed resurrected. The best ideas and instincts of the east and west will merge and advance. The truth to be found in each.

When Jesus Became God by Richard E. Rubenstein. The Gospel narratives may suggest that Jesus was divine, but they do not insist upon it. Hundreds of years after Jesus' death, the Church councils made Jesus' divinity a central tenet of belief among many of his followers. When Jesus Became God: The Epic Fight over Christ's Divinity in the Last Days of Rome by Richard Rubenstein is a narrative history of Christians' early efforts to define Christianity by convening councils and writing creeds. Rubenstein is most interested in the battle between Arius, Presbyter of Alexandria, and Athanasius, Bishop of Alexandria. Arius said that Christ did not share God's nature but was the first creature God created. Athanasius said that Christ was fully God. At the Council of Nicea in 325, the Church Fathers came down on Athanasius's side and made Arius's belief a heresy.

Why Christianity Must Change or Die: A Bishop Speaks to Believers In Exile by John Shelby Spong. An important and respected voice for liberal American Christianity for the past twenty years, Bishop John Shelby Spong integrates his often controversial stands on the Bible, Jesus, theism, and morality into an intelligible creed that speaks to today's thinking Christian. In this compelling and heartfelt book, he sounds a rousing call for a Christianity based on critical thought rather than blind faith, on love rather than judgment, and that focuses on life more than religion.

Worldwide Laws of Life: 200 Eternal Spiritual Principles by John Marks Templeton. Sir John Templeton's new book draws on a wide variety of cultures and sources, but its message is unified and clear: Affirm life. Dare to love. Be a person of depth and integrity. We need to hear these words, so clearly and forcefully presented, or we will not survive. This book is a fine example of mentoring - learning from our elders and teachers how to keep our souls in an age of anxiety. - Thomas Moore, author of Care of the Soul and The Re-Enchantment of Everyday Life