Recommendations based on Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faithby Marcus J. Borg

* statistically, based on millions of data-points provided by fellow humans

  1. Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why

    by Bart D. Ehrman
    A historical analysis of the New Testament, exploring the discrepancies and alterations made by scribes and theologians throughout history.

    For almost 1,500 years, the New Testament manuscripts were copied by hand––and mistakes and intentional changes abound in the competing manuscript versions. Religious and biblical scholar Bart Ehrman ... (Goodreads)

  2. On Death and Dying

    by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
    A look into the stages of grief, exploring the emotion and physical impacts of death.

    One of the most important psychological studies of the late twentieth century, On Death and Dying grew out of Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's famous interdisciplinary seminar on death, life, and ... (Goodreads)

  3. The World's Religions

    by Huston Smith
    Examination of the major religious traditions of the world, exploring their origins, beliefs, and practices.

    The World’s Religions, by beloved author and pioneering professor Huston Smith ( Tales of Wonder ), is the definitive classic for introducing the essential elements and teachings of the world's ... (Barnes & Noble)

  4. Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation

    by Parker J. Palmer
    A guide to finding one's true calling by listening to one's inner voice and living an authentic life.

    PLEASE NOTE: Some recent copies of, Let Your Life Speak, included printing errors. These issues have been corrected, but if you purchased a defective copy between September and December 2019, please ... (Goodreads)

  5. Life of the Beloved: Spiritual Living in a Secular World

    by Henri J.M. Nouwen
    A personal letter to a friend on how to live a spiritual life in a secular world, emphasizing the importance of feeling beloved by God.

    Initially written for a Jewish friend, Life of the Beloved has become Henri Nouwen’s greatest legacy to Christians around the world. This sincere testimony of the power and invitation of Christ is ... (Goodreads)

  6. When Bad Things Happen to Good People

    by Harold S. Kushner
    Reflections on how to cope with life's tragedies, with guidance from religious faith.

    When Harold Kushner’s three-year-old son was diagnosed with a degenerative disease and that he would only live until his early teens, he was faced with one of life’s most difficult questions: Why, ... (Goodreads)

  7. Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith

    by Anne Lamott
    A memoir of the author's journey towards faith, filled with humor, honesty, and raw emotion.

    Despite–or because of--her irreverence, faith is a natural subject for Anne Lamott. Since Operating Instructions and Bird by Bird , her fans have been waiting for her to write the book that explained ... (Goodreads)

  8. The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness

    by Michelle Alexander
    Exploring the roots and reality of systemic racism in the U.S. criminal justice system.

    "Jarvious Cotton's great-great-grandfather could not vote as a slave. His great-grandfather was beaten to death by the Klu Klux Klan for attempting to vote. His grandfather was prevented from voting ... (Goodreads)

  9. A History of God: The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

    by Karen Armstrong
    Traces the evolution of the concept of God in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, exploring the similarities and differences between the three religions.

    Over 700,000 copies of the original hardcover and paperback editions of this stunningly popular book have been sold. Karen Armstrong's superbly readable exploration of how the three dominant ... (Goodreads)

  10. The Wounded Healer: Ministry in Contemporary Society

    by Henri J.M. Nouwen
    Examining the role of the healer in society and exploring its implications for our lives.

    What does it mean to be a healer in the modern world? In this hope-filled book, Nouwen offers a radically fresh interpretation of modern ministry. ... (Goodreads)

  11. Pastrix: The Cranky, Beautiful Faith of a Sinner Saint

    by Nadia Bolz-Weber
    A frank exploration of faith and religion, reconciling the divides between the sacred and the profane.

    Now a, New York Times, bestseller, Nadia Bolz-Weber takes no prisoners as she reclaims the term "pastrix"(pronounced "pas-triks," a term used by some Christians who refuse to recognize female ... (Barnes & Noble)

  12. Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community

    by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
    Examines the importance of Christian faith in the context of community.

    In Life Together , Dietrich Bonhoeffer, renowned Christian minister, professor, and author of The Cost of Discipleship recounts his unique fellowship in an underground seminary during the Nazi years ... (Barnes & Noble)

  13. Living Buddha, Living Christ

    by Thich Nhat Hanh
    A comparative study of Buddhism and Christianity, exploring the similarities and differences between the two religions.

    A Vietnamese monk and Buddhist teacher explores the common ground of Christianity and Buddhism on such subjects as compassion and holiness, and offers inspiration to believers in both religions. ... (Goodreads)

  14. Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption

    by Bryan Stevenson
    A powerful true story of justice and redemption, exposing the flaws of America's criminal justice system.

    In 1989, idealistic young Harvard law graduate Bryan Stevenson travels to Alabama hoping to help fight for poor people who cannot afford proper legal representation. Teaming with Eva Ansley, he ... (Wikipedia)

  15. Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church

    by Rachel Held Evans
    A memoir of a woman's journey through the ups and downs of faith, church, and spirituality.

    From New York Times bestselling author Rachel Held Evans comes a book that is both a heartfelt ode to the past and hopeful gaze into the future of what it means to be a part of the Church. Centered ... (Barnes & Noble)

  16. Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith

    by Rob Bell
    A fresh perspective on Christianity, challenging traditional beliefs and practices. Encourages a more personal and authentic faith.

    In Velvet Elvis, Rob Bell frees us to consider God beyond the picture someone else painted for us in order to find an authentic understanding of the Christian faith. God doesn't have boundaries, and ... (Goodreads)

  17. Help Thanks Wow: The Three Essential Prayers

    by Anne Lamott
    An exploration of how to use prayer and faith to create meaningful connections with God.

    A, New York Times, bestseller from the author of, Hallelujah Anyway,, Bird by Bird, and, Almost Everything,Author Anne Lamott writes about the three simple prayers essential to coming through tough ... (Goodreads)

  18. Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth

    by Reza Aslan
    An examination of Jesus' life, death and legacy within the context of 1st century Judea.

    From the internationally bestselling author of No god but God comes a fascinating, provocative, and meticulously researched biography that challenges long-held assumptions about the man we know as ... (Goodreads)

  19. Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived

    by Rob Bell
    Exploring the ultimate fate of humanity, challenging conventional expectations of Heaven and Hell.

    Millions of Christians have struggled with how to reconcile God's love and God's judgment: Has God created billions of people over thousands of years only to select a few to go to heaven and everyone ... (Goodreads)

  20. The Dance of Anger: A Woman's Guide to Changing the Patterns of Intimate Relationships

    by Harriet Lerner
    A guide for women to identify and change patterns of anger in their intimate relationships, leading to healthier communication and self-growth.

    The renowned classic and New York Times bestseller that has transformed the lives of millions of readers, dramatically changing how women and men view relationships. Anger is something we feel. It ... (Barnes & Noble)

  21. Tao Te Ching

    by Lao Tzu
    A collection of wise sayings and reflections on the nature of existence.

    A lucid translation of the well-known Taoist classic by a leading scholar-now in a Shambhala Pocket Library edition. Written more than two thousand years ago, the Tao Teh Ching , or -The Classic of ... (Goodreads)

  22. Cash

    by Johnny Cash
    Autobiography of Johnny Cash, detailing his life as a musician, struggles with addiction, and personal relationships.

    He was the "Man in Black," a country music legend, and the quintessential American troubadour. He was an icon of rugged individualism who had been to hell and back, telling the tale as never before. ... (Goodreads)

  23. The Autobiography of Malcolm X

    by Malcolm X
    A gripping account of one man's transformation from criminal to civil rights leader.

    Alternate cover for ISBN 9780345350688 Through a life of passion and struggle, Malcolm X became one of the most influential figures of the 20th Century. In this riveting account, he tells of his ... (Goodreads)

  24. A Course in Miracles

    by Foundation for Inner Peace
    Path of spiritual transformation, emphasizing the power of love and forgiveness.

    This landmark guide to modern spirituality is as relevant now as when it was first published in 1975. Featuring an updated text split into three volumes - Text, Workbook for Students & Manual for ... (Goodreads)

  25. In the Name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian Leadership

    by Henri J.M. Nouwen
    Reflections on the nature of Christian leadership, using the example of Jesus Christ.

    Henri Nouwen was a spiritual thinker with an unusual capacity to write about the life of Jesus and the love of God in ways that have inspired countless people to trust life more fully. Most widely ... (Goodreads)

  26. The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment

    by Eckhart Tolle
    A journey of self-transformation, learning to live in the present moment and liberate oneself.

    Eckhart Tolle's message is simple: living in the now is the truest path to happiness and enlightenment. And while this message may not seem stunningly original or fresh, Tolle's clear writing, ... (Goodreads)

  27. Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith

    by Anne Lamott
    An examination of faith and its role in the modern world, inspiring readers to find hope and peace.

    From the, New York Times, bestselling author of, Hallelujah Anyway, and, Help, Thanks, Wow, a spiritual antidote to anxiety and despair in increasingly fraught times. As Anne Lamott knows, the world ... (Goodreads)

  28. The Cost of Discipleship

    by Dietrich Bonhoeffer
    A theological exploration of the cost of taking up one's cross and faithfully following Jesus.

    One of the most important theologians of the twentieth century illuminates the relationship between ourselves and the teachings of Jesus in this classic text on ethics, humanism, and civic duty. What ... (Goodreads)

  29. The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth

    by M. Scott Peck
    A guide to personal growth and spiritual development, emphasizing the importance of discipline, love, and grace in achieving a fulfilling life.

    The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth 316 pp. "Psychotherapy is all things to all people in this mega-selling pop-psychology watershed, which ... (Goodreads)

  30. The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation

    by Thich Nhat Hanh
    A practical guide to meditation and mindfulness, exploring their power to bring peace and joy.

    In this beautiful and lucid guide, Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh offers gentle anecdotes and practical exercise as a means of learning the skills of mindfulness–being awake and fully aware. From washing ... (Goodreads)