The World Wisdom Bible: A New Testament for a Global Spirituality

by Rami M. Shapiro (Editor)

A groundbreaking spiritual conversation that invites you to step beyond the limits of any one faith into a global spirituality. Long description: The World Wisdom Bible is a global spiritual conversation about the nature of life and how best to live it. Drawing on ancient and timeless texts from Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, and Taoism, this compendium of sacred texts juxtaposes seemingly divergent teachings to create a spiritual collage of wisdom that crosses religious boundaries, and invites the reader to step beyond the limits of any one faith into a global spirituality. Organized by themes--The Absolute, Justice, Wisdom, Compassion, Spiritual Practice, Ethical Living, and more--The World Wisdom Bible is more than an anthology of diverse teachings; it is a new scripture for those who describe themselves as spiritual independents, spiritual but not religious, and nones. Where conventional Bibles and scriptures speak to believers of one religion or another, The World Wisdom Bible speaks to seekers of every faith and none.

Genres: Spirituality

218 pages, Paperback

Published February 21, 2017

About the author

Rami Shapiro is one of the most innovative rabbis of the last thirty years. An award-winning author of two dozen books on religion and spirituality, he received rabbinical ordination from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and holds a PhD from Union Graduate School. A congregational rabbi for twenty years, for the last fifteen he has been writing, leading retreats, co-directing One River Wisdom School, blogging at rabbirami.com, and writing a regular column for Spirituality and Health magazine called "Roadside Assistance for the Spiritual Traveler."

Reviews

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this to be a worthwhile read and really appreciated the range of different scriptural texts from various religions. While there are many valuable ideas presented in the book, a good number of the texts struck me as out of context and probably not supportive of the author's ideas about perennial wisdom. The appendix on "Scriptures of Hate, Fear and Violence" underscores the mixed nature of religious traditions and was a very valuable addition to the text. The final appendix with the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights was a fitting ending in my view-- and highlighted for me the ethical progress in human societies through the millenia. (This is mainly because the Declaration seems to generally have more ethical clarity and consistency than the scriptures cited in the book do.)

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great reference book—

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rabbi Rami and his co-editors have done a magnificent job of revealing how very close we all are spiritually.

[Brian Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book collects sacred text from over 50 sources including Christian, Hebrew, Islam, Buddhist, Hindu, Confucian and Taoism. It is enlightening the read so many perspectives expressing the same idea. The texts are organized by idea so that Chapter 1 shows many different perspectives on Ultimate Reality or the One that is All. Ending with wisdom themes got a little repetitive. Liked idea that wisdom is most effectively shared with kindness. Also noted Romans 12:2 and Proverbs 19:11