On Being Human Religiously

- What does it mean to be human? - How does a right understanding of personhood affect decisions on critical life situations? - What implications does a biblical perspective on personhood have for the pastoral ministry of healing and hope? In answering these questions, Ray S. Anderson focused on the person as determined by and sustained by the creative power of God. He explored the the implications of a biblical understanding of personhood for such critical issues as human sexuality, family relationships, abortion, and death. He broke new ground in relating pastoral care and counseling to contemporary issues which challenge Christians and their understanding of the meaning of human life.

Adams speaks passionately and lucidly on religion's ties to everyday life.

This book is a deep exploration of what it means to be both human and divine. Since the beginning of authentic religion and higher philosophy the mystics from every tradition have given us one message: "You are a divine being and we (humans, animals, the earth, the sky, the divine) are one." Jesus, Lao Tze, The Buddha, Meister Eckhart, Hildegard of Bingen, have provided us with techniques that shake off the ego--the false identity realize our greater identity. For we are as those who are the "birthers" of the light and co-creators with God. You are the light of the world. You are a co-creator with god/goddess. All of the peace that you need and the power to live a joyful life dwells within you. This book and the exercises within are one of the doors to your greater self. Do you dare enter into the struggle that will lead you to your greatness?

What is consciousness? Is the mind a machine? What makes each of us a person? How do our bodies relate to our minds? In this deeply engaging exploration of what it means to be human, Rowan Williams addresses these frequently asked questions with lucid meditations that draw from findings in neuroscience, philosophy, psychology, and literature. Then he presses on to ask, Might faith be necessary to human flourishing? If so, why? And how can a traditional Christian practice—namely, silence—help us advance on the path to human maturity? The book ends with a brief but profound meditation on Christ’s ascension, inviting readers to consider how, through Jesus, our humanity in all its variety and vulnerability has been transfigured and taken into the heart of the divine life. Being Human is a book that readers of all religious persuasions will find both challenging and highly rewarding. Questions at the end of each chapter encourage personal reflection or group discussion.

Dwight Hopkins, whose important work in Black Theology has mediated class theological concerns through the prism of African American culture, here offers a fresh take on theological anthropology. Rather than define "the human" as one eternal or inviolable essence, however, Hopkins looks to the multiple and conflicting notions of the human in contemporary thought, and particularly three key variables: culture, self, and race. Hopkins' critical reframing of these concepts firmly locates human endeavor, development, transcendence, and liberation in the particular messiness of struggle and strife.

In THE ART OF BEING HUMAN, Father McNamara has taken a new, vital approach to effective socially oriented Christian living in tune with the needs and demands of our times. He takes for his theme the basic traditional truth: grace builds upon rather than destroys human nature, and develops this theme with extraordinary understanding and eloquence. The first chapter—“Becoming Human”—sets the tone of the book. For Father McNamara the sanctifying process is the humanizing process and the way by which one can cultivate “the art of being human” within oneself. He then probes into the very roots of the conditioning processes which daily shape our lives, and poses for the reader some incisive questions which demand reflection and inner search. Discussions on faith, hope, love, religion, mental prayer, and spiritual growth follow. The final chapters on leisure and leadership are especially provocative since they direct the reader’s attention to where the responsibility for the self-accomplishment of this “art” truly lies. Father McNamara has the knack of putting his finger directly on the problems of today’s living. THE ART OF BEING HUMAN does not pretend to have all the answers but it goes a long way toward taking the reader in the right direction. “Here is a book to read, to ponder and to act as its message challenges us to do.”—Magnificat