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The Way: Meaningful Spirituality for a Modern World
"The Way" integrates religion and science and reconciles Eastern and Western worldviews, confirming with the mystics and the scientists that everyone is related, and everything is connected.
This book recognizes the perennial philosophy that underlies many spiritual traditions. Reading The Way is like having a cup of coffee with Bart Ehrman, Eckhart Tolle, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Albert Einstein.
The book has a "theory of everything" feel to it. Like a TED talk, it is deeply personal with broadly universal themes.
The Western worldview is based on separation. In the Bible, everything is separated—light and dark, land and water, animals and people. In church, people are separated too—clergy and laity, men and women, straight people and LGBTQ people.
The Eastern worldview is based on Oneness. The mystics and the scientists see the world this way too. Any perceived sense of separation between ourselves and others is illusory. In the East, God is "a part of us," not "apart from us."
The first half of the book deconstructs an old belief system based on dualistic Christian theology. The deconstruction is interesting, not angry or judgmental.
The second half reconstructs a modern belief system based on nondual Eastern religions, the mystics, and the scientists. The reconstruction is thought-provoking, not preachy or speculative.
Can we encounter God or the Universe without accepting human doctrines that no longer make sense in light of modern science?
Can we learn about God or the Universe from other spiritual teachers, such as Buddha, Krishna, or Lao Tzu—much as we learn from Jesus?
Can we think about God or the Universe as the "ground of being," rather than as a being—much as many of the mystics think about God?
Can we practice a meaningful spirituality that is truly transformational, more experiential, more open-hearted and more open-minded?
"The Way" is reporting, rather than apologetics, memoir, or polemic. Open-minded seekers, including religious people, spiritual but not religious people, and humanists will appreciate the questions that the author addresses clearly and fairly.
The book includes suggested study questions, and it works well in book clubs.
"If you read only one book to guide your deconstruction and reconstruction process, this would be the one to read."
—Jim Palmer, Founder of The Center for Non-Religious Spirituality
This book recognizes the perennial philosophy that underlies many spiritual traditions. Reading The Way is like having a cup of coffee with Bart Ehrman, Eckhart Tolle, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Albert Einstein.
The book has a "theory of everything" feel to it. Like a TED talk, it is deeply personal with broadly universal themes.
The Western worldview is based on separation. In the Bible, everything is separated—light and dark, land and water, animals and people. In church, people are separated too—clergy and laity, men and women, straight people and LGBTQ people.
The Eastern worldview is based on Oneness. The mystics and the scientists see the world this way too. Any perceived sense of separation between ourselves and others is illusory. In the East, God is "a part of us," not "apart from us."
The first half of the book deconstructs an old belief system based on dualistic Christian theology. The deconstruction is interesting, not angry or judgmental.
The second half reconstructs a modern belief system based on nondual Eastern religions, the mystics, and the scientists. The reconstruction is thought-provoking, not preachy or speculative.
Can we encounter God or the Universe without accepting human doctrines that no longer make sense in light of modern science?
Can we learn about God or the Universe from other spiritual teachers, such as Buddha, Krishna, or Lao Tzu—much as we learn from Jesus?
Can we think about God or the Universe as the "ground of being," rather than as a being—much as many of the mystics think about God?
Can we practice a meaningful spirituality that is truly transformational, more experiential, more open-hearted and more open-minded?
"The Way" is reporting, rather than apologetics, memoir, or polemic. Open-minded seekers, including religious people, spiritual but not religious people, and humanists will appreciate the questions that the author addresses clearly and fairly.
The book includes suggested study questions, and it works well in book clubs.
"If you read only one book to guide your deconstruction and reconstruction process, this would be the one to read."
—Jim Palmer, Founder of The Center for Non-Religious Spirituality
- GenresReligionNonfiction
240 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 15, 2023
188 people are currently reading
611 people want to read
About the author
Larry Jordan
1 book6 followersLarry Jordan spent 25 years in investment banking, assisting companies, governments, and non-profit agencies in issuing over $10 billion of municipal bonds for capital projects and cash flows.
In 2011, he quit his job and sold his house to spend his life in service. He drove veterans to the VA clinic, prepared 1,000 tax returns for low-income families, taught school in Africa, and volunteered for the American Red Cross.
Over the last 20 years, he traveled around the world, read over 1,000 books about spirituality, and had some powerful experiences in several spiritual traditions, including baking in a sweat lodge, chanting to Shiva, meditating in a zendo, and whirling with the dervishes.
He lives in Arlington, Texas, where he enjoys playing with his grandsons, running, traveling, volunteering, and writing.
In 2011, he quit his job and sold his house to spend his life in service. He drove veterans to the VA clinic, prepared 1,000 tax returns for low-income families, taught school in Africa, and volunteered for the American Red Cross.
Over the last 20 years, he traveled around the world, read over 1,000 books about spirituality, and had some powerful experiences in several spiritual traditions, including baking in a sweat lodge, chanting to Shiva, meditating in a zendo, and whirling with the dervishes.
He lives in Arlington, Texas, where he enjoys playing with his grandsons, running, traveling, volunteering, and writing.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
November 8, 2023
“The Way: Meaningful Spirituality for a Modern World” by Larry Jordan is the type of book I would have written had I chosen to go deeper into comparative religions and philosophy. After a number of years of trying to reconcile the peculiarities of Catholicism with my own family’s free-thinking approach to spirituality in order to relate to the “cradle Catholicism” of my husband, I found, just as my father had predicted, that I wasn’t able to shelve reason and common sense and surrender to the patriarchal authoritarianism of THE CHURCH.
Another thing Jordan does in this charmingly and simply presented study is clarify the way in which modern scientific developments like Quantum Theory cast an entirely different light on our previous materialistic worldview. I had already, back in my grad school days while pursuing my studies in organic chemistry, become enthralled by the writings of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin on the Noosphere and Cosmic Consciousness, and in subsequent years developed a contemplative practice in the Christian tradition of Centering Prayer, and again, this author gives a very neat and cohesive overview of mystical spirituality in different traditions and clarifies the overlap.
I agree that this book is beautifully attuned to the concerns and aspirations of those engaged in deconstructing previous religious practices or worldviews. Not only does it show the origins and parallels of many different traditions; it also celebrates the universal truths while clearly but gently discussing the ways in which rigid structures and misrepresentations of reality can be extremely detrimental to freedom and growth of the spirit. This narrative really is educational, reassuring, and a good companion for the true pilgrim.
Another thing Jordan does in this charmingly and simply presented study is clarify the way in which modern scientific developments like Quantum Theory cast an entirely different light on our previous materialistic worldview. I had already, back in my grad school days while pursuing my studies in organic chemistry, become enthralled by the writings of Pierre Teilhard de Chardin on the Noosphere and Cosmic Consciousness, and in subsequent years developed a contemplative practice in the Christian tradition of Centering Prayer, and again, this author gives a very neat and cohesive overview of mystical spirituality in different traditions and clarifies the overlap.
I agree that this book is beautifully attuned to the concerns and aspirations of those engaged in deconstructing previous religious practices or worldviews. Not only does it show the origins and parallels of many different traditions; it also celebrates the universal truths while clearly but gently discussing the ways in which rigid structures and misrepresentations of reality can be extremely detrimental to freedom and growth of the spirit. This narrative really is educational, reassuring, and a good companion for the true pilgrim.
August 19, 2024
A book to open your heart and mind
I have just read this book for the 3rd time. The essential idea of non-duality and spiritually is one I have been examining for many years. I have read many of the books mentioned in this book. I can truthfully say that this is the most easily accessible book on the subject of all of them and would be a great stepping off point to anyone interested. If you have the courage to look deeper into the subjects, this is the book for you. It could change your life.
I have just read this book for the 3rd time. The essential idea of non-duality and spiritually is one I have been examining for many years. I have read many of the books mentioned in this book. I can truthfully say that this is the most easily accessible book on the subject of all of them and would be a great stepping off point to anyone interested. If you have the courage to look deeper into the subjects, this is the book for you. It could change your life.
July 2, 2024
Meaningful
An unbiased read on the religions of the world, and the journey of the author navigating through his discoveries of these religions. I especially loved the ending of the book on how his journey has made him another man, more compassionate & caring. Love this book so much
An unbiased read on the religions of the world, and the journey of the author navigating through his discoveries of these religions. I especially loved the ending of the book on how his journey has made him another man, more compassionate & caring. Love this book so much
July 18, 2025
Received a Kindle copy as a GoodReads giveaway. It reflects one person's journey, but it provides lots of starting points and food for thought for the rest of us. It's so broad in coverage, though, that it's more than I can absorb in a single reading. I skimmed through the whole book, and I'll go back and read sections more carefully over time.
April 11, 2025
Amazing perspective.
This book is easy to read, but filled with lots of mind shifting information. I just finished it and I’m going to start reading it again.
This book is easy to read, but filled with lots of mind shifting information. I just finished it and I’m going to start reading it again.
April 19, 2024
Awesome read
Covers areas people who are on a spiritual journey will enjoy. If you’re one of the “drones” of Christianity and want to consider a more wholistic Jesus….enjoy.
Covers areas people who are on a spiritual journey will enjoy. If you’re one of the “drones” of Christianity and want to consider a more wholistic Jesus….enjoy.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews