Christmas books: religion/theology/faith

Catholic New Times, Dec 19, 2004

Diane Baltaz of Hamilton recommends Life Abundant: Rethinking Theology and Economics for a Planet in Peril by Sallie McFague (now a Canadian citizen), Fortress Press. "A message on how responsible discipleship involves religious reflection upon our world view and lifestyle--especially if we want to "good life" for everyone on the planet and for the needs of the earth--so that all people can have abundant life for generations to come."

David Seljak, professor at St. Jerome's University suggests The Paradox of Choice: Why More is Less, by Barry Schwartz New York: HarperCollins, 2004.

"Written by a psychologist, The Paradox of Choice shows why there is so much unhappiness in the midst of plenty in America today. In a society that celebrates freedom and hence choice, as its highest value, Barry Schwartz argues that it is the plethora of choices that, ironically, diminishes our satisfaction with any of the choices we do make. The glut of consumer and life-style choices lead to eternal dissatisfaction that expresses itself in mindless consumerism, anxiety, widespread unhappiness, and even clinical depression."

Schwartz argues that we would be happier if we embraced and celebrated certain voluntary constraints on our freedom of choice, sought what was "good enough" rather than the illusion of "the best," lowered our expectations of the decisions we do make, made certain decisions nonreversible, and paid less attention to what our neighbours and peers were consuming and doing.

For those who are committed to simple living, or would like to be, this book is a confirmation that the road to happiness is voluntary restraint: "living simply so that others might simply live". I plan to give it to a number of "maximizers" in my life, that is, people who are chronically unhappy with what they have and imagine that they would be happy if only, if only, if only ...

Schwartz argues that people are oppressed if they lack choice, but the paradox of choice is that too much of a good thing can lead to another kind of oppression, an observation that Catholic social teaching has made repeatedly over the past few decades.

Denise Nadeau from Montreal writes, For progressive and feminist bibliophiles--Towards a New Heaven and a New Earth: Essays in Honor of Elizabeth Schussler Fiorenza, edited by Fernando Segovia, Orbis 2003

Awareness: the Perils and Opportunities of Reality by Anthony de Mello S.J. Blending Christian spirituality, Buddhist parables, Hindu breathing exercises and psychological insight, de Mello's words of hope resonate with me to break through illusions of reality in our world, to help remind me of what is really important. I have re-read it many times. CNT also recommends:

Thinking of Christ: Proclamation, Explanation, Meaning ed. by Tatha Wiley, Continuum, 2003. A series of superb essays by theological luminaries such as Rosemary Radford Reuther, John Pawlikowski, Lisa Sowle Cahill, and Roger Haight, etc. gives the reader a historical and systematic overview of some of the major issues in Christology today.

Rabbi Paul: An Intellectual Biography by Bruce Chilton, Random House, 2004, is an engaging and popularly written book on the foremost disciple of Christ in the ancient world.

God, Christ and Us by Herbert McCabe, Continuum, 2004 The late Herbert McCabe, (d.2001) was a much appreciated Dominican writer in post-war Great Britain. This book brings together some of his previously unpublished sermons. Well worth reading.

Francis of Assisi: Performing the gospel by Lawrence Cunningham, Eerdmans, 2004. The well-known religious writer and professor (Notre Dame) rescues the much-loved saint from traditional tired stereotypes and working chronologically "reconsiders" Francis for our day.

Beyond Secrecy: the Untold story of Canada and the Second Vatican Council by Bernard M. Daly (Novalis) The veteran Canadian journalist and Catholic insider, Bernard Daly takes us through each session of the Vatican Council; particularly interesting are the contributions of men like Alexander Carter, Remi De Roo, Archbishop Charbonneau and William Power on the laity. Daly flags the leadership of Montreal's Cardinal Paul-Emile Leger and correctly opines that the top down Vatican movements of today are a pale version of what these forward thinkers envisioned. Most of the Canadian interventions at that time according to Daly were fresh and hopeful

Rev. Cheri Di Novo recommends "a great book, and one of the increasing volume of 'queer theological' texts, called Queering Christ: Beyond Jesus Acted Up" by Father Bob Goss (Pilgrim) who looks at sexuality and same sex marriage and biblical texts in as liberating and revolutionary way as the liberation theologians before him. This is the clarion call for all who are concerned with LGBT rights.

Doug Roche suggests Crossing the Divide: Dialogue Among (Seton Hall, South Orange, N.J., which emerged out of a dialogue the UN. held to launch the Inter national Decade for the Culture of Peace, 2001-2010. The book makes the point that humanity has shared a set of common values over centuries; those who communicate across the cultural divides are more likely to see diversity as a strength and celebrate it as a gift. Hans Kung was one of the contributors and his hand is seen in the section on a global ethic being built by the transformative power of reconciliation. Reconciliation is a means to peace