God Is Here: Reimagining the Divine

by Toba Spitzer

Toba Spitzer's God Is Here is a transformative exploration of the idea of God, offering new paths to experiencing the realm of the sacred.Most of us are hungry for a system of meaning to make sense of our lives, yet traditional religion too often leaves those seeking spiritual sustenance unsatisfied. Rabbi Toba Spitzer understands this problem firsthand, and knows that too often it is traditional ideas of the deity—he's too big, too impersonal, and too unbelievable—that get in the way. In God Is Here, Spitzer argues that whether we believe in God or fervently disbelieve, what we are actually disagreeing about is not God at all, but a metaphor of a Big Powerful Person that limits our understanding and our spiritual lives.Going back to the earliest sources for Judaism as well as Christianity, Spitzer discovers in the Hebrew Bible a rich and varied palette of metaphors for the divine—including Water, Voice, Fire, Rock, Cloud, and even the process of Becoming. She addresses how we can access these ancient metaphors, as well as those drawn from rabbinic tradition and modern science, to experience holiness in our daily lives and to guide us in challenging times. In the section on water, for instance, she looks at the myriad ways water flows through the Biblical stories of the Israelites and emerges as a powerful metaphor for the divine in the Prophets and Psalms. She invites us to explore what it might mean to “drink from God,” or to experience godly justice as something that “rains down” and “flows like a river.”Each chapter contains insights from the Bible and teachings from Judaism and other spiritual traditions, accompanied by suggestions for practice to bring alive each of the God metaphors. Rabbi Toba Spitzer has helped many people satisfy their spiritual hunger. With God Is Here she will inspire you to find new and perhaps surprising ways of encountering the divine, right where you are.

Genres: Judaism, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Religion, Jewish, Theology, Faith

287 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 8, 2022

About the author

Rabbi Toba Spitzer is a popular teacher of courses on Judaism and economic justice, Reconstructionist Judaism, new approaches to thinking about God, and the practice of integrating Jewish spiritual and ethical teachings into daily life. She served as the President of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association from 2007-2009, and was the first LGBTQ rabbi to head a national rabbinic organization. Rabbi Spitzer has received the honor of being included in Newsweek’s Top 50 Rabbis in America list and the 2010 Forward list of 50 Female Rabbis Who Are Making A Difference. She lives in Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Kate Kaput · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Jewish American who feels deeply connected to my heritage & culture but struggles with the religious aspect — specifically belief in God — I found this book invaluable. The way is it positions God as outside our standard, boxed-in means of thinking made God seem more accessible to me, less like some absurd man in the sky & more like the universe around me, the breath within me. I’d recommend this book to anyone who identifies as agnostic or who believes in *something* but who doesn’t connect with standard portrayals & depictions of God.

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rabbi Spitzer gives helpful ways to envision God for those struggling to believe in a "conventional" viewpoint. A healing book for many who want to believe but have been stymied by such obstacles as religious language. Out now.

Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

#GodIsHere #StMartinsPress #netgalley

[Joe Stack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rabbi Spitzer makes a good attempt at dismantling the image of God as an all-knowing supreme being. The challenge to reimagining the Divine is getting past the concept of God as a Supreme Being. It will likely take multiple readings of this book to accomplish the author's objective. Even so, her exploration of the different metaphors for God succeeds more as a meaningful examination of God in the Old Testament than it is an aid for readers to sense the divine in their daily lives. She does offer some metaphors she's derived from our contemporary world that are meaningful in redefining the divine.

Rabbi Spitzer's book is comfortable, accessible reading. Her inclusion of her personal challenges on her spiritual journey keeps her discussion down to earth and relatable.

An interesting feature of her book are the exercises in meditation and other practices - focusing on each breathe for example - she suggests at the end of each chapter. These exercises will lower stress, and may lead to encountering the divine.

Five days after writing this review: I think an obstacle to reimagining the Divine, finding a new way to describe what is sacred, is the word "God" itself. Given the centuries behind the concept of God, the word has too much baggage. The image of a supreme being is nearly ingrained in our thinking making it hard to overcome. Rabbi Spitzer is on the right track for reimagining the Divine, but when she uses the term God in her discourse, this reader found it hard to get past the traditional image. I'd advise readers to substitute a different phrase, such as, a higher power (as some people do) or other something else.

[Richard Propes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have you ever read a book and found yourself thinking as you wrapped it up "This is not the book that I expected it to be?"

This was my experience with Toba Spitzer's "God Is Here: Reimagining the Divine," a book of obvious intelligence and insight that never quite fully satisfies when viewed through the lens put forth as its actual purpose.

In the marketing copy for "God Is Here," we're told that "Most of us are hungry for a system of meaning to make sense of our lives, yet traditional religion too often leaves those seeking spiritual sustenance unsatisfied. Rabbi Toba Spitzer understands this problem firsthand, and knows that too often it is traditional ideas of the deity—he's too big, too impersonal, and too unbelievable—that get in the way."

Thus, "God Is Here" is put forth as a reimagining of the divine primarily through the lens of metaphors that we often use to describe the divine, for example as a "rock," and Spitzer builds personal, exegetical, and practical lenses through which we can approach the use of metaphor to develop a sense of belief in God.

I struggled mightily with "God Is Here" while also appreciating it. I appreciated it, primarily, because I don't believe for a single moment that it's actually about what Spitzer thinks it's about and what it's actually being marketed as in terms of focus.

I expected "God Is Here" to journey into those areas that cause traditional religion to leave so many unsatisfied. I looked for, and really longed for, Spitzer to examine the ways in which the church has fallen short and the various ways in which people have experienced a disconnect from God because of theological beliefs, conflicts, structures, and organizations because, ultimately, I believe it's largely the church that is driving people away in droves and, ultimately, providing something that it's awfully hard to even want to believe in. As a known writer in the area of social justice, I expected that Spitzer would delve deeply into social justice as a theological issue and how the church's failure to embrace the scriptural call to social justice has left our desire for spiritual sustenance unsatisfied.

In other words, I expected something revelatory from "God Is Here." I expected a reimagining of who God is and how we can reimagine God even when the church fails us or hurts us.

Now then, this could be my own fault. Spitzer certainly can't be expected to live up to my own expectations - after all, it is her book and not mine. However, I would argue that the book's description is much closer to what I expected than what Spitzer actually produces here.

I would argue that a book entirely dependent on the very structures that leave us unsatisfied is not what's being put forth here and that you're not really "reimagining" anything different when you're using the same structures, beliefs, teachings, and organizations. Essentially, all you're doing is taking a different path to the same dry well. While the metaphors here aren't necessarily too big or too unbelievable, they're just as impersonal and detached as traditional theology.

This doesn't mean I completely disliked "God Is Here." I didn't. I simply don't believe it accomplishes what I expected it to accomplish. Approaching God through the metaphors is certainly a legit path toward understanding the fullness of God. While it's not a way of creating belief where there is none, another premise put forth, it is a way of creating, perhaps, tangible construction where the idea of God can so easily seem intangible. Yet, the use of metaphors in understanding God is far from a "reimagining." It's a rather common approach, certainly among seminarians, in connecting God to our daily lives. It's an approach most effective for those who already have some understanding of basic theological concepts, scriptures, and basic church teachings as this is all true here as Spitzer repeatedly refers to scripture and repeatedly immerses us in her Judaic background.

In short, I expected a book that would more approach the brokenness in the church and that would provide concrete ideas and tools for those who either don't believe or who've had their beliefs harmed either by dysfunctional theology or unhealthy church organizations. Instead, "God Is Here" is really most suited to those who already believe yet struggle to make those beliefs feel personal and relational. Using metaphors like Water, Fire, Rock, Voice, and Cloud, Spitzer explores how these metaphors create opportunities to better understand how God flows through our daily lives and calls us into better and healthier relationships.

Yet, even here at times I found myself unsatisfied. Spitzer, the first openly lesbian or gay person to head a rabbinical association, could have so deeply explored this idea of reimagining to be a God who includes many like herself whom many would say are not included. "God Is Here" could have simply gone so much more deeper even as Spitzer does spend an awful lot of time dwelling within her own experiences.

An at times frustrating read that I still found informative and beneficial, my sense is that "God Is Here" will likely resonate more deeply for those familiar with Spitzer's teachings and for those with a stronger background in Judaism in order to appreciate some of the terminology utilized. While "God Is Here" may never have become the book I expected it to be and hoped it would be, it's still a reading experience I appreciated and that allowed me to more personally examine the metaphors in my own life and how they shape my relationship with God.

[Jacqui Bloomberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will clearly be one I read over and over again. Not only does Rabbi Toba encourage her readers to do so; she also provides numerous practices to try. As a result of reading this book, I have started a daily Hebrew chanting practice. I am inspired, educated, and comforted by this book. Thank you, Rabbi Toba!

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it so much more than I was expecting. a great way to reframe religion.

[enjoyingbooksagain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Religion is something very personal to each one of us. I think this is a book that I would recommend to read a few chapters at a time to absorb and think about what the author is saying to you. I needed to read some of it and think about it, to really absorb what she was saying to me. I think everyone will get different things out of this book. I just finished reading it and I can tell I will be thinking about he words in this book and see the way I look and view things now. Thank You Toba Spitzer for letting me read this and give my review on it.

[Hilary Marcus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great premise, to explore metaphors of the Divine. I also really liked at least many of the exercises included --in fact it's a workbook that one can use and reuse. Definitely the kind of book to buy and have around the house, take on a trip, vs borrow once. Full disclosure: I happen to know the Rabbi author for more than two decades, but my review is not based on that knowledge. I find it thought, and practice provoking.

[Sarah Schwartz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Goodreads @Goodreads, and the publisher St. Martin’s Essentials @StMartinsEssentials & St. Martin’s Press @StMartinsPress for an Advanced Reader Copy of God Is Here: Reimagining the Divine by author Toba Spitzer. It was released in March 2022.
Rabbi Toba Spitzer has written a very passionate and thoughtful book that explores the enormous concept of God. In God Is Here she breaks down divine metaphors and offers new ways to think about and to better understand the sacred. It is meant for all readers, both believers and non-believers.
I’m not familiar with the Hebrew Bible, but this book appears to be well documented and well researched. There are some footnotes, and lots of verses to practice. I enjoyed the odd quote.
This is not the type of book I gravitate to, but I would recommend God Is Here: Reimagining the Divine to anyone who wants to make a better understanding of the world around us.
#GodIsHere #TobaSpitzer #StMartinsEssentials #StMartinsPress #goodreads #goodreadschallenge2023

[Zachary Houle · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the outset of first-time author Toba Spitzer’s divine new book, God Is Here, she alludes to organized religion being a restaurant where someone hungry will sit down to eat, first checking the menu. In looking at the menu, though, many people may find that nothing winds up looking all that appetizing and will ultimately decide to leave the restaurant. Spitzer — who is an openly lesbian Jewish rabbi — concludes that the problem is that we have too many outdated “metaphors” for whom God is. What she means by that is that we have ideas embedded into language that we use interchangeably. So, when we say, “time is money,” this is a non-literary metaphor for saying that time is a precious commodity, and we should use it wisely. Likewise, “time flows like a river” is a metaphor for how time stretches out endlessly. Thus, one metaphor that we use for God — “God Is a Big Person,” someone who rewards and punishes — might be the sort of thing that will turn some Jewish people (and Christians, to whom this book is also aimed) into atheists who cannot believe that someone has had something terrible happen to them because they offended “God as Punisher” in some way.

I may or may not be doing justice to the conceit of this book, but it is really an extraordinary look at reframing how we view the Divine or Something Else that is out there. By using stories from her personal life as well as from the Hebrew Bible, Spitzer uses imagery such as “God as Water,” “God as a Rock,” “God as a Cloud” and — more recently and scientifically �� “God as Electricity,” to confront readers of thinking about new ways and new metaphors for experiencing God (which she refers to as It seemingly to avoid assigning gender, male or female, to God). This is a truly remarkable book that will make readers think about engaging with God in new and less offensive ways. While I’m not sure if this book will turn an atheist into a Jewish follower or Christian, if you are already from a Jewish or Christian background and are struggling with your faith, this might be the sort of thing that you will need to read to reset and recharge you. It should be noted, too, that this is the type of book that might not be best consumed by reading it only once. This is a resource that someone can come back to again and again, to try some of Spitzer’s prompts to turn these metaphors into something physical and concrete. One suggestion I might consider trying is writing my own obituary — it’s a good way to set goals for what I might want to achieve.

Read the entire review here: https://zachary-houle.medium.com/a-re...

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I am a Jesus follower and Spitzer is a Jewish rabbi, I appreciate many of her thought provoking comments on how we think about and experience the divine.

The idea of conceptual metaphors was new to me yet I use them frequently. I might say I was “up” when excited or feeling “blue” when depressed. The metaphors are a way to think about something but do not define it. Conceptual metaphors are used of God and Spitzer explores what is problematic about them and suggests new ways of thinking about God. I am still working on understanding her view of truth. She says we do not discover pre-existing truth but rather observe the world and then formulate truths about it. (128/2865) The same goes for religion.

I appreciate the metaphors Spitzer explores. She writes about God as Water and suggests a new way of thinking of God's power. God as Place reminds us God is here. Every place is sacred. God as Voice (sound) led to insights about silence. God as Rock produced insights into God being refuge and strength. She writes about God as Cloud (by day) and Fire (by night), exploring the invisibility and visibility of God and (fire) one's anger.

Spitzer includes practices to help readers bring the metaphor into the reality of life. She suggests chants, engaging Scripture, singing, silence, and much more. I appreciate she is open to practices from the Christian tradition, such as spiritual direction.

This book is not within my normal reading for my spiritual discipline. I don't agree with everything Spitzer says, such as suggesting God is learning and growing and is continually surprised and confounded by human behavior. (2130/2865) Nonetheless, Spitzer gave me much to contemplate on how I think about God and experience Him. The book would be especially helpful to those wondering about God's existence.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

[Mike · Rating 1 out of 5]

The premise of this book is that we all “need to have language to talk about Something that is greater than ourselves”. In traditional Judeo/Christian/Muslim religions that “Something” is called God. The author, a female Jewish rabbi considers “God” to be a “conceptual metaphor” and for thousands of years that concept has been one of a giant, all powerful, male, human-like being in the sky. It is no profound observation that this concept of God does not resonate with a lot of people today, including the author. But rather than just saying God does not exist (which would not fulfill the afore mentioned “need”), the author “Reimagines” the concept. She writes, “So is it true to say that God exists? I would say God exists like love exists, like time exists, like colors exist, like good and evil exist—because all of these are fundamental aspects of human experience.” She says that “God” is just a “metaphor”, so all we have to do to make it meaningful is to throw away the metaphor of the Big Man in the Sky and adopt new metaphors. The remaining chapters of the book, each examine a particular metaphor, “God is like a river, God is like a rock, God is like fire, etc.” Ignoring for the moment the impossibility of billions of people giving up a concept that has served them for thousands of years, personally I don’t think this linguistic gymnastics adds anything to the argument of “does God exist?”.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding God Through Metaphor

Thinking of God as a big, powerful being in the sky is uncomfortable for many people. They can’t form a connection. Tobi Spitzer, as a Jewish rabbi is familiar with this problem. In this book, she uses the Old Testament to find metaphors for God that are more relatable in our world.

In the Hebrew Bible, she finds metaphors for God in the real world: Water, Voice Fire, Rock, and Cloud. Metaphor is a way to gain understand something that is difficult to comprehend directly. Spitzer’s book gives us a way to approach and understand God through the real world. I felt her most successful metaphor was water. Water is powerful and flowing, but it can also be gentle.

The use of metaphor promotes the idea that God is here in the natural world and that he can be sensed in many ways. I thought the thesis was a good one. It gives a way to think about and relate to God that is immediate and real not necessarily filtered through words and ideas that are difficult to understand.

In addition to the discussion of metaphor, each chapter has suggestions for bringing alive the ideas. She also provides textual insights from the Bible and well as spiritual traditions such as Judaism and Christianity.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

[Steve Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and brilliant walk through the practices of Judaism and the metaphors of Tenakh (the Jewish Bible, or to Christians the Old Testament) to discover the meaning and presence of God. Spitzer acknowledges the "big person in the sky" image of God at the center of much of the inherited Western tradition and draws us instead toward concrete, earth metaphors for the divine, creative presence: water, place, sound, rock, cloud, fire, and other processes and elements in the material world.

Spitzer writes with philosophical and religious depth and wisdom and yet has ability as a writer and a storyteller to pass on this depth with lucid, engaging storytelling and prose. Each chapter is eye-opening, inspirational, and invitational, while a pleasure to read.

For this Christian theologian and disciple of Jesus, Spitzer shares theology and spiritual practice which both deepen my appreciation and honor for a tradition that is not my own, while at the same time giving me permission to receive from and welcome beliefs and practices from a tradition that is adjacent to mine as well.

I am profoundly thankful for this book. I plan on reading it again by myself and with others, and I have already found myself making use of its language and practices in my own life and in conversations with others.

[Melissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I won this from Goodreads, hoping that it would change my mind about my recent move to agnosticism. The author said it that the book could also be used by those who were humanist and didn't believe in the divine, yet her sources were the Hebrew Bible. If you are a person of faith and believe the Bible is true historically speaking, the book would be good for you to look at the God of the Bible in a different way. It was interesting in that way, but I felt that since I no longer believe that the Hebrew/Christian Bible stories are literally true in a historic sense it was more of an exercise in circular logic. It had some suggestions for different meditations and mentioned Hebrew words for the divine people may be interested in using in meditative purposes. I would recommend it for people who are Jewish or Christian if they are not agnostic, atheist, or humanist.

[Marina Gaston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a very open minded Catholic and I enjoy looking at God from all angles and perspectives believing that basically those of us who believe in one God are believing in the same God from a different angle. Rabi Spitzer brings many arguments to the table on how God is viewed by the masses in metaphors of the human condition, this did not come across as necessarily a reimagining of God. Sometimes it felt like an overly clinic analysis and the first few chapters were actually hard to chew through. The synopsis claims to offer an avenue to quench spiritual hunger, but I think it fell short and somewhat cold. The personal anecdotes were the warmest parts of the narrative like an introduction to the author's personal experience and I appreciated that approach.
I won this book though Goodreads Giveaways.
Thank you St. Martin's Press for the advance reader copy.

[Margaret Klein · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important book to help people of all religions think more about the metaphors of G-d. Typically in our American society, highly influenced by Christianity (and to a lesser degree Judaism), we think of G-d as all knowing, all powerful, all good. Or the Father King, Big Person as Spitzer calls It, sitting on a heavenly throne judging us. Coming just before Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur where those two metaphors reign supreme (intended use of both words) it is comforting and reassuring that there are other metaphors for G-d. G-d as Place, Fire, Rock, Cloud, Electricity, even GPS. She does a masterful job of weaving her own story, classical Jewish texts from Bible, Talmud, Jewish mysticism with practical exercises or spiritual practices. Great way to think more deeply about G-d and how we relate (or don't) and draw closer to the One.

[Gretchen Lieberman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally finished reading this book today after savoring it, bit by bit, one beautiful delicious chapter at a time for several months. I might just start back at the beginning and nibble through it again, like the bar of special chocolate in the cupboard that I take little squares from certain evenings.

I strongly recommend this book. For those who believe in “God,” but even more for those who don’t. 🙂 I promise, it won’t make you try to believe in anything. Especially not the things that you don’t already believe in. But it might make you feel more connected and part of something and recognize the sacredness in your own lived experiences and in our choices and power.

I love when it feels like an author has been secretly eavesdropping on my inner thoughts and then shares them with the world more powerfully and succinctly than I could have done. This book is like that for me.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is the true nature of God? That’s a question that has been explored and debated over the centuries. There seems to be no satisfactory answer for everyone, even among believers, atheists and agnostics. Two recent books discuss this issue in very different ways: Francesca Stavrakopoulou’s fascinating “God: An Anatomy” (Alfred A. Knopf) offers a close look at God as the deity was originally portrayed in the Bible, while Rabbi Toba Spitzer’s excellent “God is Here: Reimagining the Divine” (St. Martin’s Essentials) presents intriguing metaphors for those seeking an increased connection to divinity in their lives.
https://www.thereportergroup.org/past...

[chrisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author provides a Jewish persepective on Biblical metaphors and ways to view Yahweh as something other the Big Angry God Person. Though I am not Jewish, I found her suggestions interesting and this is a book I would potentially like to keep around for a while to reread certain sections. I found I could easily apply her ideas about the Jewish God to my own personal beliefs which are not Jewish or Christian based. This book did spark an interest in rereading some of the Bible with a new perspective that examines and thinks about the metaphorical language used by the various authors of the Bible. Also, as a process theology nerd, I was delighted about the couple of pages in which she discusses Whitehead's ideas.

[Leslie Sherman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A depiction of God even an atheist like me can get behind! I am an atheist Jew if we are talking about the more mainstream conception of God as an all powerful humanoid being in the sky, but I do feel a sense of spirituality and interconnectedness of people and our world, so I really appreciated the Rabbi’s look at different metaphors about what “God” is that makes far more sense than some sort of powerful being with human qualities (a conception that she describes as being simply another metaphor for God, rather than a literal explanation for a concept that is really beyond human understanding). I loved her pointing out that in Hebrew there is no distinct pronoun for “it” (just he and she) so describing God as “it” would be just as accurate (and much more palatable to an atheist/agnostic!). This is a great book if you’re looking to expand your concept of what God is.

[Andrea Wenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this book, Rabbi Spitzer mines scripture for metaphors of God that take us beyond the prevalent image of a big, all-powerful man in the sky. Depicting God as water, as rock, as fire, these scriptural passages describe a God who is not remote but all around us—a source of life, of protection, of inspiration. The book also offers meditations to help the reader connect with the divine in their everyday lives.

I love how this book helps the reader see God in new ways—in ways that can bring comfort and liberation. It's an invaluable text for anyone looking to connect to the spiritual and the divine.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an electronic ARC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley.
Rabbi Spitzer shares a look at God as so much more. Shared from a Jewish perspective, readers see how God is viewed and could be viewed. Each chapter focuses on a metaphor for a view of God and offers explanations for what is written in the Hebrew Bible. Each chapter ends with recommendations to practice spiritual methods to deepen our individual relationships with God.
Spitzer's writing is clear and reflects the research done to reach her conclusions. She shares with gentle words to encourage readers to explore and learn for themselves with the ultimate goal of deeper relationships.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

God Is Here fell into my lap just at just the right time. Spitzer uses just enough Hebrew to open up a passage so that it makes more sense.

Her metaphors didn’t blow my mind, but did give me contemporary examples of how these concepts are timeless. Her personal stories were an inspiration and the applications that she provided were a helpful way to slowdown and reflect in such a busy world.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Essentials for an ARC of this book.

[Donna Beiderman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book came to me at the perfect time. I enjoyed how Rabbi Spitzer personal insight and it lends itself to her belief in God. I love Judaism and this book helped bring that to the surface. I was moved with how open Rabbi Spitzer is and how her book can contain so much wisdom. This is a book I would come to again and again when I need a recharge or am looking for something. This is a remarkable book and I’m so glad I stumbled upon it when I did. I truly think it was just meant to be.

[Erika Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up. I LOVE the premise of this book—exploring the metaphors of God in the Bible to expand our understanding of God. I also love how she explains metaphor vs definitions to dispel our typical understanding of God and why we so often have issue with who we think God is. The explanation of the main Biblical metaphors (cloud, fire, rock etc) are also great. My issue was with how repetitious it became, especially the practices. I think those would have been better on an appendix.

[Terri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are you looking for a new way to look at the divine? Trying to discover your spiritual side, but don't believe in God as a concept? Rabbi Toba Spitzer examines the concept of God and how it can seem limiting. He discusses how to look at things differently and backs this up with early sources from Judaism as well as Christianity. If you are questioning things, this is the book for you!

[Stacy Hickson · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those that love metaphorical thinking this is really a great book to viewing the divine. Each chapter focuses on a metaphor to describe how we can both imagine and interact with divine. Whether you are religious, spiritual, or view the world as a logical plane this book assist in any wisdoM teachings and traditions.

[Margaret D'Anieri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful and so needed corrective to the metaphor of God as Superman. Spitzer explores metaphor itself, and then offers other Biblical metaphors for God: Rock, Water, Breath, Cloud, Fire, and then goes further to explore some more contemporary options like electricity. It’s a brilliant and gentle book, including practices to add to our daily lives.

[Rocki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think I've ever read a book before that was so totally ready to be "here's everything you've been doing, have wanted to be doing, or have dreamed of doing but it seemed too much about God, but in approachable and actionable ways" before. I loved it, it felt so affirming to read and I want to immediately hand it off to everyone I can.