God of Love: A Guide to the Heart of Judaism, Christianity and Islam

by Mirabai Starr

God of Love is Mirabai Starr’s passionate and personal exploration of the interconnected wisdom of the three Abrahamic faiths. She shares an overview of essential teachings, stories of saints and spiritual masters, prophetic calls for peace and justice, and for the first time in print, deeply engaging narratives from her own spiritual experiences. She guides readers to recognize the teachings and practices that unify rather then divide the three religions, and sheds light on the interspiritual perspective, which celebrates the Divine in all paths. It is Mirabai’s hope that this book will serve as a reminder that a dedication to lovingkindness is the highest expression of faith for all three religions.


EARLY REVIEWS FOR God of Love

“Mirabai Starr takes us out dancing with the One. God of Love is a confluence of the currents of Judaism, Islam and Christianity all emptying into the great ocean of Love.”
—Ram Dass, Author Be Here Now

“In a time of division between people, this book — which is a masterful blend of research, storytelling, poetry, and memoir — is like a sacred magnet, pulling on the spiritual heart of all seekers.”
—Elizabeth Lesser, Cofounder, Omega Institute; Author, Broken Open: How Difficult Times Can Help Us Grow

“Mirabai Starr writes of the divine from a luminous gene inherited by only a few. We hear The True Song in each word she attributes to the holy. It is more than just her song; it is the Melody of the Spheres translated by an astute musician. We are always touched by the genuine in her call to the reader to love and love well, to see with the sacred eye of beauty.”
-Ondrea & Stephen Levine, Authors Embracing the Beloved

"Mirabai's book has brought me great consolation."
-Daniel Berrigan, S. J. activist-priest; Author, No Gods but One

“This book brilliantly reminds us that in the heart of the Abrahamic traditions there burns a singular divine flame.”
-Rev. Robert V. Thompson, Author A Voluptuous God

“A wonderful and ‘perfect’ book. Highly recommended.”
-Rabbi David A. Cooper, Author God Is a Verb

“[God of Love] will expand your vision and inspire your search; I recommend it with great joy.” -Andrew Harvey, Author The Hope: A Guide to Sacred Activism

“At home in the three great Abrahamic traditions, Mirabai Starr takes us on a deeply personal journey 'Toward the One,' exploring aspects of the 'God of Love' as seen through the eyes of Jewish, Christian and Muslim mystics. This is a book which will delight the seeker of sacred connections between these traditions and those who look forward to a day when Jerusalem, the city shared by all these faiths, will be a house of prayer for all people."
-Reb Netanel Miles-Yepez, Co-Author A Heart Afire: Stories and Teachings of the Early Hasidic Masters

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Christianity, Judaism, Religion, Theology, Islam

240 pages, Paperback

First published April 10, 2012

About the author

Mirabai Starr is an award-winning author, internationally acclaimed speaker, and interspiritual teacher. In 2020, she was honored on Watkins’ list of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People. Drawing from 20 years of teaching Philosophy and World Religions and a lifetime of practice, Mirabai shares her wisdom worldwide on contemplative living, writing as a spiritual practice, and the transformational power of grief and loss. She has authored over a dozen books including Wild Mercy, Caravan of No Despair, and renowned translations of sacred literature. Her most recent book, Ordinary Mysticism, has been praised by Anne Lamott as “a gorgeous, transformative, welcoming book is for anyone who longs to feel more present, more alive, more joyful and aware of the holiness of daily life”. She lives with her extended family in the mountains of northern New Mexico. For more, visit www.mirabaistarr.com.

Reviews

[India M. Clamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

If one can observe in silence (distant waves and particulate realities of nature) they may witness something strange occurring. In the realization that someone else's happiness, success or achievements becomes our own---or their sadness too---we learn. In the knowledge that a central core may unite us all---as all three religions share a core faith in the absolute singularity of the divine. A belief in a higher form beyond classification is a huge undertaking. Regardless of where in the world we find ourselves we may venture further to ask: is light owned by a religion, country, person or the area? Is love exclusive to one specific place?

"Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are the worlds primary monotheistic faiths, and they each trace their spiritual lineage to a common ancestor: the biblical patriarch, Abraham."
---Mirabai Starr

Starr defines the divine differently e.g. imagine an architect or one who could recite the coordinates in marble where he gently guided his beloved to a light that caressed and warmed her at the precise moment of need. Dancing with "God of Love: A Guide to the Heart of Judaism, Christianity and Islam" was not awkward and inspired innate movement (sans blood in pink pointe shoes). Author Mirabai Starr educates us about a deity that may be witnessed in actions of compassion, forgiveness and reconciliation. She contends the face of God to be a feminine one---living in our prayers, songs and submission to her. Starr encourages us to regard the deity in three religions to be the same as one.
---
Wenn man die fernen wellen und partikulären realitäten der natur in aller stille beobachten kann, können sie zeugen werden, die etwas seltsames passieren. In der erkenntnis, dass das glück, der erfolg oder die errungenschaften eines anderen zu unserem eigenen werden oder auch zu seiner Traurigkeit, lernen wir. In dem wissen, dass alle drei religionen einen kernglauben an die absolute einzigartigkeit des göttlichen teilen. Der glaube an eine höhere form, die sich der klassifizierung entzieht, ist ein riesiges unterfangen. Unabhängig davon, wo auf der welt wir uns befinden, gehört das licht einer religion, einem land, einer person oder einem gebiet? Ist liebe exklusiv an einem bestimmten ort?

"Judentum, Christentum und Islam sind die wichtigsten monotheistischen glaubensrichtungen der Welt, und sie alle führen ihre spirituelle abstammung auf einen gemeinsamen vorfahren zurück: den biblischen patriarchen Abraham.“
---Mirabai Starr

Starr definiert das göttliche anders z.B. stellen Sie sich einen architekten vor oder wer könnte die koordinaten in marmor aufsagen, in denen er seine geliebte sanft zu einem licht führte, das sie im genauen moment der not streichelte und wärmte. Tanzen mit "God of Love: A Guide to the Heart of Judaism, Christian and Islam" war keine peinliche und inspirierte angeborene bewegung (ohne blut in unseren rosa spitzenschuhen). Die autorin Mirabai Starr informiert uns über eine Gottheit, die in Handlungen des mitgefühls, der vergebung und der versöhnung bezeugt werden kann. Sie behauptet, dass das antlitz gottes ein weibliches ist – sie lebt in unseren gebeten, liedern und unterwerfung unter sie. Starr ermutigt uns, die gottheit in drei religionen als dieselbe zu betrachten.

[Persephone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightful, delicious, soul-satisfying... a book I will return to many times with delight.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

She speaks of her own spiritual/human experiences and dares us to be open to the Heart of it all ourselves. This book does not compare doctrines, but goes much deeper to draw us into our own journey of discovery.

I loved how she brought to mind the sacred in the everyday and how she expressed the reality of powerful experiences as well. One example was a two-page description of the process of forgiveness which finally came as pure gift. It resonated with my own years of going through such a process and she it the feeling of release that came for me seemingly out of the blue. So often I had that sense that someone knows and understands what my experience was like.

While I don't feel I want to try out what she suggests at the end of the book, I am grateful for her own experience of interspirituality which has helped me understand more of why my experience of spirituality has left my doctrinal stance very open ended. The book tells a lot about these religions and their rituals and shows at the core how these and some other religions seek the same goals.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this sooo much!! It’s informative, biographical, personal, and lyrical. Highly recommend for spiritual seekers everywhere!

[Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful book on walking the interspiritual path. I highly recommend it.

[Craig Bergland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read a second time for a book study, absolutely love it!

[Diane Dreher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating book that shows how the spiritual streams of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all flow into the sea of love. Inspiring and enlightening book, especially in these troubled times.

[Infinidimincorp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was lovely. Starr takes on a variety of themes within the major Abrahamic religions, approaching them from her "inter-spiritual" perspective. Each chapter involves quotes from sacred scripture and poetry, a moving address to the imagined reader in the second person, glimpses of Starr's own experiences and her thoughts on exemplars of virtue throughout the ages.

And it's good. Not especially challenging, and the rhythmic structure meant that I think you could re-arrange the chapters into just about any order without changing the feel of the book. Moments of grace and praise shine out of this book, and the epilogue that brings things together felt like a much needed grounding. I'm not sure I retained or remembered much of the text though - this was the literary equivalent of the spiraling dance of the whirling dervish, meditative, holy, graceful, serene. I guess I just need a bit more grit sometimes!

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am always in awe that the right book comes to me at the right time. This is true of Mirabai Starr’s God of Love. Starr writes with deep compassion from a soul that experiences God in many faith traditions. There is history of the three Abrahamic religions woven with poetic beauty into the practicality of living a life that honors and loves God and humankind.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author gives readers an in-depth look at the common threads, “the heart” as the author calls it, of Judaism, Christianity and Islam religions. Some chapters seemed weighty but other chapters were a little easier for me to understand, or maybe I resonated with those topics better.

[Trinki Brueckner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend this book to those interested in spirituality. Mirabai wants us to re-label "interfaith" as "interspiritual." I gained a deeper appreciation of all three Abrahamic faiths. I read a library copy and then bought my own for my library - I will definitely re-read parts of this book.

[Reji M · Rating 5 out of 5]

As one of the 5 books I am reading, I finished it, but I’m not finished with it. For me a second read is necessary because it is full of really good stuff. Much to reflect on. A great book for deepening your connection to The Holy.

[Eve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always inspired by Mirabai’s worship and intrigue of all spiritual paths and ability to find the Divine in both small and big experiences. Learned a lot about what these particular traditions have in common, especially threads related to service and social justice calls to action.

[Shatika Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting

This book held some interesting concepts on religion. It challenged me to think past religion and more inwardly. Great read.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four and a half stars. This is a really lovely, very sweet book. I've had a crazy year so it has taken me a long time to read it, but that is no reflection on the book at all.

[Anne-marie Emanuelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

A go-to book on spirituality. Beautifully written.

[Donita Qualey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bible study book. Our group loved this one. Focused on important principles of the Christian, Jewish and Muslim faiths.

[Winifred · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book flows

Mirabai Starr's quest is my quest. To experience the unity of love in the religions of the world especially Christianity Judaism and Islam.

[Jeffrey N. Hora · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much to absorb...I will be letting this work continue its message and view into myself for a long time.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

219 pp.
I love the inclusiveness of the author when she writes about different faith traditions and styles. She encourages everyone to share the love of God.

[Anna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking for a book to help me engage with the commonalities between these three religions, but the author seemed really fixated on feelings of spirituality and on the mystic branches of these faiths rather than the more common practices and beliefs that the average practitioner of any of these three religions would actually be concerned with on a daily basis. It's not that I disagree with the emotional and more mysterious aspects of faith in an Abrahamic God, but it's presented on such a basic level with such an emotionally experiential bent (as opposed to intellectual or practical) that I found myself wondering if the author herself had "lost the plot," so to speak. I just don't think this book really says very much about any of the topics that head the chapters. I made it 34% through the book before deciding to stop reading because it felt like a waste of time -- a lot of common sense about humanity in general wrapped up in a "spiritual" veneer. Maybe it gets better (the reviews are all very good, so it's clearly speaking to someone), but the first third that I read didn't have as much depth or complexity as I had been expecting from a book on this topic.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. According to Starr, at the heart of all three Abrahamic religions are teachings about love for God, other humans and the entire creation. She skillfully shows many of these parallels under different themes such as prayer, service, etc. mostly using the sacred literature of each group. She combines her personal research with her personal experiences which makes the book something to learn from and to be inspired by. I will defintely read this book again.

[Hawley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a deeply spiritual journey to seeing God in all things. It is healing for anyone tired of religious boundaries, spiritual but not religious, or confused about seemingly incompatible dogma of different religions. Readers from every faith tradition and background can learn something from Starr.

[Tracy Blanchard · Rating 2 out of 5]

Keep really wanting to like this book. Met the author at the Spiritual Directors' Int'l conference. She's cool and her story is cool and I really want to like this book. It's not that I dislike it. But it's just on the edge of . . . . hokey, I guess and it keeps me from really liking it.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A pleasure to read. Insightful. Inspirational. Informative. There is so much to absorb, I will definitely need to read it a second and maybe a third time! Doing so will most certainly be a most enjoyable experience. I am drawn to Starr's style of writing, one that is from the heart.

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very readable book that focuses on the common thread of love in the three great monotheistic religions. This is one of those books that doesn't really have anything new or earth shattering to say but it's just a good reminder to approach life in a loving way.

[Michele Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains soft beauty within the wisdom of its words. It conveys a most meaningful intention at this critical juncture of humanity, to embrace the God of Love, which exists universally at the heart of all faiths. Recommended reading!

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is confirmation

This book confirmed my own feelings about religion and spirituality. It was a big whisper from the One that indeed he/she is drawing all beings to his/herself through the mystical traditions of all major religions.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. Just what I need right now. It was nice to see how the three faiths are the same, and how you can use some things from the others, no matter where you are yourself.

[Kari · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting to see the three religions side by side. There really isn't that much difference between them.