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Interviews | July 4, 2009

All posts by Jill Owens Powells.com Interview: Luis Alberto Urrea

2 comments By Jill Owens

Luis Alberto Urrea is a poet, novelist, journalist, and essayist who has been writing about the relationship between the United States and Mexico,... Continue »

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    Into the Beautiful North

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More copies of this ISBN:

Looking for God Within the Kingdom of Religious Confusion

by A W Schade

Looking for God Within the Kingdom of Religious Confusion Cover

ISBN13: 9780978856502
ISBN10: 0978856503
Condition: Standard
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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Following his daughter's tragic death, Jacob sets out on a gripping journey to find out why the God his daughter was taught to love and trust, deserted her when she needed Him most. His search leads him to the turbulent Kingdom of Religious Confusion, where he hopes to find God in the midst of one of the many diverse religions. Besieged with doubts of his own faith, he struggles to maintain an open-mind as he meets with scholars and parishioners of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. But the more he travels the greater his confusion and frustration, as each religion is adamant God bestowed His Word with them alone, and non-believers remain certain God is nowhere to be found. Disheartened by the steady oratory of absoluteness, Jacob wonders if he will ever find God, or reluctantly acknowledge God may not exist. What he ultimately discovers, however, will change his life forever! Editorial Review In this work of fiction, the simple but real truths that philosophers spend years contemplating are humbly presented through the journey of his characters search to find God. Though limiting his story to Western traditions, Art arrives at universal truths, which are as pertinent today to human beings as they were throughout all other periods of history. Sankara Saranam: Author of God Without Religion.

Synopsis:

RIn this work of fiction, the simple--but real truths--that philosophers spend years contemplating are humbly presented through the journey of his characters' searches to find God.S--Sankara Saranam, author of "God Without Religion."

Synopsis:

A layman's odyssey every freethinking Atheist, Jew, Christian, Muslim, Agnostic, or Spiritual seeker should ponder A fictional journey founded on religious facts] Devastated by his young daughters' tragic death, Jacob is determined to find God to ask Him why He allowed her tragedy to happen. No longer sure where to find God, or if He exists, Jacob enters the 'Ancient Gates of Abraham' to travel across the contradictory and prejudiced roads within the Kingdom of Religious Confusion. Often struggling to remain open-minded, he engages religious leaders, devout followers, agnostics, and atheists in commonsense conversations to understand why their philosophy will lead him to God, or prove God's non-existence. Yet, the more he travels the more confused he becomes, and not until his arduous journey is near its end does he find an answer - an answer he was not expecting to unearth.
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Grady Harp, May 18, 2007 (view all comments by Grady Harp)
'It is written'

And in the case of LOOKING FOR GOD WITHIN THE KINGDOM OF RELIGIOUS CONFUSION, it is written VERY well by AW Schade. There has always been a need for novels of this sort that explore the differences and similarities among religious faiths, but at this particular time in our history this book is extremely timely. While most of us are perplexed by world incidents - the terrorist attacks and threats, the seemingly interminable schism between Israel and Palestine, the fractured portions of Islam that are eroding the countries of Iraq and Afghanistan in civil wars, the splintering of the Catholic Church in various areas of the globe, the Fundamentalist versus the Liberal Christian dichotomy that divide the US - few solid answers as to why 'religions' that purport to respond to the wishes of the same God/Allah/Yahweh can wreck havoc on fellowman. Is the Supreme Being a source of love and peace or a source of wrath?

Schade approaches this question with a novel: Jacob is a single Catholic father who, after enduring the atrocities of the Vietnam War, witnesses the brutal, accidental death of his only daughter. In anguish he sets out to find God and to search for the reasons of the cruelties he is witnessing. Jacob enters through the Gateway of Abraham to the mythical Kingdom of Religious Confusion, a place with many paths to take, each named after religious groups or sects. He has enlightened conversations with a Catholic priest, a series of Protestants including a Mormon practitioner, a Lutheran minister, various clergy from the Junction of Majority (Baptist, Anglican, Methodist, Disciples of Christ, etc), an atheist, a Muslim educator, and a Jewish Rabbi. Each of the interviews reveal insights to the various religions, tying the similarities to the differences in a manner that makes the kernel beliefs clearly understandable.

Jacob wants one-on-one proof that God exists and each of the generous learned people he meets can only go so far in making the concept of 'faith' credible for Jacob. After hearing from all the resources Jacob finds his own answers within himself. And for those whose background in religious training is scant, Jacob's journey is enlightening. Schade offers the tenants of these Western religions in a sound, instructive manner. After his struggle with all of the new information he has gleaned, he offers (through Jacob) the following: 'If, however, I have chosen the incorrect paths to follow, I believe a loving God knows the chaos I am trying to reconcile, and the ease in which a seeker can lose their way. I believe if I should travel the wrong path, God will know my journey has been in a righteous direction, not perfect by a long shot, and accept me for trying.'

This is a wise little book that not only a fascinating read, but also a resource for those who wish to understand the different religions of the world. Schade writes with fluid prose and with careful concern for his reader's database. We can only hope Schade's next similar and much needed book will embrace the Eastern religions, as he has proven himself a fine teacher as well as a fine writer. Grady Harp
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Product Details

ISBN:
9780978856502
Author:
Schade, A W
Publisher:
Anotherview Publishing
Author:
Schade, A. W.
Subject:
Christianity - General
Subject:
Spirituality - New Age
Publication Date:
October 2006
Binding:
Paperback
Language:
English
Pages:
172
Dimensions:
8.50x5.50x.40 in. .50 lbs.
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