Rating: 
Summary: A bit of light in a seemingly dark world
Review: This tiny little pocket book seems a bit overpriced at first -- but it isn't something you read and then put away. This is a book to carry with you, and to read again and again. (Note: we made a small cloth book cover for this book to make sure it will last longer!)This book is more of an inspiration than documentation (in the back there is a list of the sources used), but then if every quote had a reference number attached to it, this would no longer be a truly "pocket-sized" book. As the introduction, by the Dalai Lama, says: "Every major religion of the world has similar ideals of love, the same goal of benefitting humanity through spiritual practice, and the same effect of making their followers into better human beings. As this book shows, the religious teachers wanted to lead people away from paths of misdeeds caused by ignorance and introduce them to paths of goodness." And even beyond that, this book shows that beneath the surface differences between religions, there is a unifying message. If we all could accept this connection, and not argue about the really insignificant external differences, individuals might attain enlightenment, and the world might find peace. Under each category "Blessed are the Peacemakers," for example, there are first some thoughts on that topic, followed by short quotes from major world religions: Christianity (Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God); Islam (Shall I tell you what acts are better than fasting, charity and prayer? Making peace between enemies are such acts; for enmity and malice tear up the heavenly rewards by the roots); Hinduism (The nobleminded dedicate themselves to the promotion of peace and the happiness of others--even those who injure them); Buddhism (When righteousness is practiced to win peace, he who so walks shall gain the victory and all fetters utterly destroy) ; Judaism (How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace). Until that happens (before we blow each other up or destroy the planet) this little book will offer much peace and joy to those who read it.
Rating:
Summary: Nice gift book, nice to have...
Review: This tiny little pocket book seems a bit overpriced at first -- but it isn't something you read and then put away. This is a book to carry with you, and to read again and again. (Note: we made a small cloth book cover for this book to make sure it will last longer!) This book is more of an inspiration than documentation (in the back there is a list of the sources used), but then if every quote had a reference number attached to it, this would no longer be a truly "pocket-sized" book. As the introduction, by the Dalai Lama, says: "Every major religion of the world has similar ideals of love, the same goal of benefitting humanity through spiritual practice, and the same effect of making their followers into better human beings. As this book shows, the religious teachers wanted to lead people away from paths of misdeeds caused by ignorance and introduce them to paths of goodness." And even beyond that, this book shows that beneath the surface differences between religions, there is a unifying message. If we all could accept this connection, and not argue about the really insignificant external differences, individuals might attain enlightenment, and the world might find peace. Under each category "Blessed are the Peacemakers," for example, there are first some thoughts on that topic, followed by short quotes from major world religions: Christianity (Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be called the children of God); Islam (Shall I tell you what acts are better than fasting, charity and prayer? Making peace between enemies are such acts; for enmity and malice tear up the heavenly rewards by the roots); Hinduism (The nobleminded dedicate themselves to the promotion of peace and the happiness of others--even those who injure them); Buddhism (When righteousness is practiced to win peace, he who so walks shall gain the victory and all fetters utterly destroy) ; Judaism (How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good tidings, who publishes peace). Until that happens (before we blow each other up or destroy the planet) this little book will offer much peace and joy to those who read it.
Rating:
Summary: Common ideas, uncommon faith
Review: What if you could get a quick reference to quotes from the world's religions on an array of issues, from murder to Creation?And what if the similarities were striking? Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, even Native American religions are represented in this volume. The reader can't help but be hopeful and inspired by the inherent message: On many things, we're not so far apart. Moses expanded this book in 2002, after the evnts of Sept. 11, and the event looms large as one reads it. Perhaps "Oneness" won't settle the debate over whether Islam is, at its core, a religion of tolerance or hate, but it offers helpful glimpses of a faith now at the heart of America's consciousness.
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