2 comments about Walking on a Rolling Deck: Life on the Ark.

1. Walking on a Rolling Deck: Life on the Ark
   
   Berken's first book is amazing! I didn't want to put it down! It hits on everything: spirituality, disability, family, community, cancer, humor and simply living life. Life on the Ark is very real and very down to earth.
   
   What makes this book so great is that anyone can read it, and find something to relate to. Anyone who knows someone who has dealt with cancer. Anyone who knows someone with a disability. Anyone who has dealt with divorce, and family, and starting over, and then incorporating the power of spirituality into all of those things.
   
   This book is amazing, and no matter who you are, or where you are on your journey, you will learn something from this book... and no doubt you will laugh and cry.



2. Walking on a Rolling Deck: Life on the Ark is the true-life memoir of author Kathleen C. Berken, of her life-changing choice to work as a live-in assistant in a L'Arche community in Clinton, Iowa, aiding men with developmental disabilities. A deeply spiritual testimony, Walking on a Rolling Deck tells of the inevitable difficulties of adjusting to change, confronting the specter of breast cancer, but most of all, of the benevolent power of God's love - a power all too often ignored, neglected, or obscured in today's world. Ultimately a simple story of Christian life and the resonance of faith, illustrated with a handful of black-and-white photographs, Walking on a Rolling Deck is highly recommended for Christian readers and anyone seeking to quietly contemplate the mystery of God that permeates even the most mundane aspects of daily life.

5 comments about A Land Unknown: Hell's Dominion.

1. After an interesting, even remorse-inducing start, I became increasingly disappointed.
   
   As I read through this book, I gained a sense of the reality of the mockery and perversions to be found in the hells but I'm far from convinced that this was an NDE and what the author "perceived" (note: during the critical stage of cholera) may have been a vision of parabolic symbolism - that utter selfishness and wickedness always receives inescapable like-for-like consequences.
   
   The "cubes" appear to symbolise the self-imposed imprisonment of the spirit where the wicked receive their just reward with a precision that displays perfect and inviolable universal laws - the sowing and the reaping. As Christ said: "...with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you..." - but, in contrast to the book, not everlastingly. Hell is spiritually restorative i.e. it is used to purify the character of evil.
   
   The author says he uses a "creative non-fiction" style. It appears that the "creative" part of "creative non-fiction" is given a very liberal scope in the author's noble attempt to proclaim his own concept of limited salvation.
   
   Receiving the "discourses", states Mr Melvin, was like "reading several long novels in a split second" and they "were added to aid literary flow". This certainly creates an enormous vacuum to be filled with words coming directly from a "creative" human mind. The author states that the "thoughts began to speak to me" and that the "words of thought rained down" on him - yet all in a "split second". Indeed, he states that the discourses "happened in a far different manner than I have recorded". All this leads me to believe the author has written what he feels he should write.
   
   The needlessly repetitive "words of thought" are "mysteries" we are told. However, they are fundamentalist doctrine expounded in a modern creative style. To cut to the chase, the author states in the last pages of the book that all spiritual pathways - except the one he is expounding - are deceptions, and lead not to God but, by suggestion, to eternal torture.
   
   Mr Melvin appears to explain that the reason why inhabitants are in Hell is because they had performed wicked and evil deeds. But this truth is negated by the "words of thought" which repeatedly refer to not choosing the "exchange" as the reason for their predicament - "exchange" undoubtedly referring to a one-time acceptance of the fundamentalist concept of salvation. But the law of consequences cannot be can be circumvented by an affirmation of faith.
   
   This book does possess a redemptive essence concerning the wicked motives, thoughts and actions of the lesser self, and the inescapable experiencing of consequences that abusing Divine Law brings. But in contrast, God's children should abide by His laws (not sin) out of love for Him - and not out of fear for themselves (selfishness).
   
   This book turns this principle on its head and I feel that its portrayal of God is somewhat machine-like as if all Creation was governed by some giant computer that plays out a heartless game that has no end. In this version of Hell, God cannot prevent children created in His own image from being tortured eternally.
   
   The book claims that the fate of Hell's inhabitants has been "sealed in eternity" and that character change is impossible because "...intellect and reason would continually pervert the change renewing detestation towards God". This strays wildly from Biblical demonstration (1 Peter 3:18-20 & 4:6).
   
   Character change enables a soul to "live according to God in the Spirit" once physical death has occurred. If this was not feasible then Christ, immediately after His own physical death on the Cross, would not have bothered to preach to "wicked" people who died centuries before.
   
   It is reasonable that God has created redemptive laws, and when God's universal laws of love are violated, consequences are attached "until" ("ewv": passing of time - Matt. 18:34) they are paid in full. This process ultimately enables a deep character change through remorse and expiation.
   
   The descriptions of Hell in texts such as "Paul and Albert" (Rev. Vale Owen), various accounts found in "The Life Beyond The Veil" series, Book III of "Gone West", and a number of other similar texts, give a more comprehensive understanding of the hells of misery, despair - but most importantly - the spiritual restoration processes involved. I have concluded - after decades of prayer - that the manner such texts are recorded is less prone to human interference and misinterpretation by far.
   
   A bizarre question is asked by the "words of thought" in this book, as to how the justice of God could remain justice if there was no eternal torture in an everlasting Hell? This is a self-defeating question because finite sins receive finite punishment and an infinite punishment is manifestly unjust. Hell is redemptive. That is Divine Justice. If humans can see this wonderful plan of God to redeem all fallen souls, then surely we can credit the Creator of all Life with the ability to save His own creations?
   
   In this book, in my opinion, there has been a lowering of the status of God's Wisdom, masking the fullness of the Love of God which is so complete that none of His creations shall be lost to an "everlasting punishment" - a term barely used in the Bible that one wonders how half a doctrine of salvation is based on it.
   
   The ultimate test for me is: If something does not come up to the highest standard of love then it is certain that the mind of man, in contrast to the Mind of God, has played a greater or lesser part in what is being presented. I fail to understand how a loving Christian can experience real joy and contentment knowing that his or her brother or sister is subjected to eternal torture. The mind truly boggles.



2. In the spirit (if not the quality) of Dante's The Divine Comedy: Inferno; Purgatorio; Paradiso (Everyman's Library) or the modern re-imagining of Thigpen's Gehenna, Melvin promises to take the reader on a journey through the afterlife realm of the dead. It was published by an on-demand printing house (this is often erroneously referred to as "self-publishing" although it is not), and as can be expected it bears some marks of poor editing (for example, the use of all-caps for emphasis makes it occasionally look more like an e-mail than a novel).
   
   As far as story telling, Melvin started off pretty well. His use of flashback holds the interest and the first time he referenced "the cubes" it gave me a shudder (unfortunately by the third or fourth time in the same chapter I was getting bored). After some rather tedious background information it started to pick up again once we finally got to his Near-Death-Experience (NDE). However this quickly disintegrated into mind-numbing repetition of words and phrases. Whole passages seemed to be cut-and-pasted with only a few details changed. I don't know how many times Melvin mentioned that he knew about people's pasts in the cubes, or that he could see what they saw, or repeated phrases like "a name and a title," or, "make life, live" (I still am not sure what that even means).
   
   The writing is average to below-average with offerings like, "I was pale as an ashen-gray sheet and weak as a fresh-cooked noodle," or, "While thus engaged, like a bolt out of the blue, discernment hit my mind like a ton of bricks." Some of this comes out in Melvin's reports of God's alleged dialogue, such as this brain twister: "God fashions and squeezes light by initiating darkness in order to refine harmony and balance to a desired haven." Huh??? This style was not helped by the multitude of goofy demonic rhymes such as, "A Most High...just is he? Ha! Ha! wait and see." These made the demons sound more like cartoon pirates than evil angelic beings. Even God's voice did not seem particularly grammatical at times. Most of the time God was said to offer speech "riddles" that were very often difficult to take seriously (for example: "You, over there, snarling mean, know not what a not is, . . ." Again, huh???)
   
   There are some questionable theological issues present in the text. The basic thrust of the messages that Melvin reports are that his objections to God's goodness were without foundation and that God is not responsible for what His creation does with the freedom it has. Theologians continue to struggle with the interplay between the two clear truths of God's sovereignty and man's free will. Taking the book as only Melvin's opinion this is allowable, taking it as a genuine revelation from God is much more problematic. Melvin states several times that sin is "whatever makes life ugly." This definition is not so much false as it is weak. Sin is taking rebellious action against the moral will God. This is like saying syrup is what makes a table sticky. Melvin's view on the eternal state seems to follow the popular view that at this time "hell" is basically a compartment for the lost who are awaiting final judgment and the lake of fire. This is a controversial position but not beyond orthodoxy. Melvin also states quite clearly that he saw no children or mental incompetents during his tour. Melvin does not mention Satan per se, although he reports being followed around by a three headed purple figure whose identity he states remained unknown to him. But he does refer to Satan as "the head honcho" - thus implying that this realm of the dead was more of a torturous playground for demons with satan running the show. Again, Melvin's implications are not heretical but one should exercise caution when considering them.
   
   Concerning the truthfulness of the story, Melvin offers the following challenge to the reader: "What I am about to reveal happened; it's true. You have the right to believe it or not. It does not matter if you agree or disagree. All I know is that the souls I saw there are still there; judge by the merit of the message." This is troublesome. If it "happened," if "it's true," if he "knows" it . . . then do we really have the right to believe it or not? Melvin seems to be implying that these things are true whether or not anyone believes them. But if that is the case then does it not matter if we agree or disagree? And how are we to judge by "the merit of the message"? What does this mean? A message is not judged by its "merit" - it is judged by whether or not it is true. It would be a simple thing to revert to naturalistic explanations of the experience much like atheists attempt to do when confronted with supernatural evidence. This might make us more comfortable but without good reason it hardly seems fair. Theologically there seems no contradiction inherent with someone visiting the place of the dead and coming back to tell about it (although technically this would not be a near death experience - if one's soul actually separates from the body they are dead by definition). So while I may be suspect of Melvin's explanation for his experience I cannot rule out the possibility a priori.
   Assuming he is truthfully recounting his experience we still must judge his interpretation of it. We should not simply equate Melvin's experience with his interpretation and let them stand or fall together. Of course the story can function parabolically even if it is not accepted literally.



3. I hadn't sat down and read a book in about twenty years until my wife bought this book. The title intrigued me and when I started reading it I couldn't put it down. I finished it in two days.
   
   The descriptions of hell and the things that happen there really made me sit back and evaluate how I was living and this was after my conversion/reversion to the faith. Beyond the horrific scenes and stories of the people in hell (and how they got there) was the doctrine handed down from God. This was the part of the book that really got me. It is so sound and answers so many questions there is no doubt that it came from God Himself to B.W.
   
   This book is a must read for anyone who questions the reality of hell and even better for any lukewarm Christians out there. Great book all the way around.



4. B.W. Melvin is a man like any other in American society. Living his life, doing what he wants, a regular guy. But one day he finds himself coming up short in Eternity's value system. Put into a place he proclaimed didn't exist, yet he was there. He finds that all he once espoused wasn't really true. Find out what he saw, heard, and why he changed his views when he awoke in the hospital. An interesting book and an interesting person from an ordinary guy.



5. Mr. Melvin's story provides many important insights into what lies beyond the threshold of death.
   
   The people who read this book will learn the reality of hell and thus how to avoid it, which is much better that learing about hell after eternity has placed its seal on their lives.
   
   His journey through hell witnesses to the effects that one's earthly life has on their eternal fate. Many Biblical references and messages from Jesus and the Blessed Mother also describe hell as "pit" thus corroborating his testimony.
   
   His description of the illusions created by evil spirits within the cubes appears similar to the effects of nightmares suggesting that these spirits affect sleeping humans in a similar way. His book strongly supports the conclusion that evil spirits behavior similarly whether they are operating in the pit or on earth, namely creating illusions, stimulating negative emotions and thoughts.
   
   One of the most striking ideas presented in the book is that evil spirits originating from the pit would come to earth, pester someone through their life and then continue tormenting them for eternity if the person ended up in the pit after they died.
   
   I frequently think about different ideas presented in this book when reading the stories of mystics and visionaries.
   
   The book is well worth reading several times to fully grasp the material presented.
   
   Finally, Mr. Melvin's rescue at the end of the book speaks clearly about the extent to which a Shepherd will go to rescue a lost sheep and how the Shepherd can only rescue the sheep if the sheep responds willingly to mercy, even with only a slight movement of their will.

No comments about D. L. Moody: The Greatest Evangelist of the Nineteenth Century.

5 comments about When Hell Was in Session.

1. And I just came upon it by accident at a friend's house in his "Shaklee Store" in his basement back in the early 80's. It was just sitting over to the side on top of some other books. I historically have Never purchased a book "because, well, it just looked interesting". In this instance, however, I did. It changed my whole outlook on life. There was a one page magazine advertisement that one of Denton's "Hotel mates" (Everett Alvarez) did for Phillip Morris after he had returned to the U.S. and became successful. It talked about "everything tasting better" and "smelling better" in Freedom and that "nothing in life was a problem" (or something to that effect) after what he had gone through and survived. That advertisement and the book "When Hell Was in Session" should be required reading for every high school and college social studies class.



2. This book is intensely disturbing, gut-wrenching and horrific... That being said, it may sound cliche, but Jeremiah Denton provides an entirely new insight into what our servicemen have endured for our country -- what he went through will hit you hard. I dare anyone to read this book and not come away a changed person in some way...



3. I was impressed by Denton's horrifying experiences as a POW in Hanoi for 7+ years. He accurately describes the torture he and his fellow POWs experienced for several years before the tides of war slowly changed in the early '70s which lessened the tortures they were receiving. You, as a reader, are right there with Denton in his cell as he learns the tap codes and other methods of communication; how he is horribly punished and tortured for communicating and not cooperating. One has to ask oneself, "How would I have handled this situation?" To be locked in Alcatraz for several years in solitary confinement and wondering how to cope with it...what would YOU do?
   
   I had seen the film of Denton's return in the movie, Dear America: Letters Home from Viet Nam and never really understood his horrible times in the Hanoi Hilton. Now, I do. A treasure of a read to add to any library. The only drawback...not enough maps to put his location in perspective.
   
   Nevertheless, fascinating. In the words of his captors, "Shut mouth. Read book!"



4. This is one of the best books I've ever read. I have so much respect for Denton and the prisoners of war he was held in captivity with for over 7 years. It amazes me that anyone could survive within that environment. These soldiers helped each other survive under great distress -- even while many of them were in solitary confinement and their story is amazing. This book isn't just a recap of Denton's experience; it contains deeply thoughtful content throughout the book about love, patriotism, encouragement and more. There is much wisdom contained in this book. I learned a lot and highly recommend it to others.



5. Mr. Denton and his fellow POWs are the very definition of the the word hero. In this book, Mr. Denton tells the story of his 7+ years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam with grace, dignity, and courage. His great love for the United States and his pride in being an American are evident again and again. He endured unspeakable agony and conditions so horrible they are beyond my comprehension, yet he never wavered in his love for his country, his family, and his God. I am humbled and overwhelmed at the sacrifices this man (and many others) have made on my behalf. The despicable act of the California state "leadership" and Fabian Nunez in barring Mr. Denton from speaking before a California Assembly on Independence Day 2004 is reprehensible and disgusting.
   
   Thank you, Mr. Denton! You deserve our undying gratitude.

5 comments about In the Name of Elijah Muhammad: Louis Farrakhan and The Nation of Islam (C. Eric Lincoln Series on the Black Experience).

1. The self styled 'Nation of Islam' is often subject due intense media scrutiny.To his credit the author gives a balanced view of the Nation of Islam, highlighting some of it's good points, contextualizing some of it's controversial issues and mentioning problems intrinsic to the 'Nation'. I would recommend this book to people intersted in getting to know the 'Nation of Islam'.



2. but you needn't be one to enjoy this book. Mattias Gardell does an excellent job of explaining the history of and contradictions within the Nation of Islam. He explains their beliefs in a very straight forward manner. As a previous reviewer mentioned, you're best off ignoring Gardell's opinions on the NOI and drawing your own conclusions. To his credit, the author allows you to do just that.



3. Gardell�s impressive research results in a far richer and more subtle account of the NOI and Farrakhan. Immersing himself in the writings of the movement and in much else related to it (such as its connections to the FBI, Mu�ammar al-Qadhdhafi, and rap musicians) he has produced an impressively thorough account. The study usefully covers other NOI branches, including the Lost Found Nation of Islam, the Five Percent Nation of Islam, and the Ansaaru Allah Community. Here�s where to find out about the NOI�s tentative moves toward mainstream Islam, its connections to American neo-Nazis, and its challenge to the black Christian churches. Gardell�s book is highly unusual in one way: although the author has many strange and tendentious ideas (that Reagan planned �for a war on Libya� in 1986, that Farrakhan is not an anti-Semite, that a mistress of Elijah Muhammad�s was his �Islamic wife,� that the 1992 Rodney King riots were �the bloodiest uprising of the twentieth century�), he does not slant the evidence but scrupulously offers information that directly disproves his own arguments. Most readers of In the Name of Elijah Muhammad will want to read the study for its facts while keeping a distance from Gardell�s conclusions.

   Middle East Quarterly, March 1997




4. I was rather appalled at how an obviously intelligent man could get basic facts mixed up. The author has some selective problems with reading comprehension and misquotes some of the literature of NOI. I used to live near the NOI headquarters in Chicago(I was a student at U of Chicago) and am in no way affiliated withthe NOI(i.e. I'm white)-I've read a couple of there books and this author simply couldn't accurately represent their position. I can't help but wonder what other errors there were lurking in here.

   Frankly, whoever was this guy's Ph.D. advisor ought to be ashamed of themselves.




5. This is, from an academical point of view, the best writtn book on the subject of "The Nation". Professor Gardell shows of a great deal of insight, and has managed to write a balanced book on Nation of Islam and Minister Farrakhan, and their justified claim for an improvement of the conditions for the blackman in the U.S. If you`re only reading one book on this subject, then read this one!

2 comments about Living With Wisdom: A Life of Thomas Merton.

1. This is one of my favorite "Merton" books. Other than Merton's own work, this is a real taste of Merton. I loved it! Jim Forest knew Tom Merton and gives a real insight into his life and thought.



2. As a Catholic monk living in the United States during the turbulent second world war and the sixties, Tomas Merton's strong faith in his God shines brightly in his writing. While his autobiography, " The Seven Storey Mountain " might be the correct entry point into his more than 50 books, this book summarizes well Merton's life and times, and provides more pictures of of the places and friends that effected Merton than most of his no illustrations books.

5 comments about Never: Jens Pulver And the Wednesday Group that Will Change the World.

1. Jens Pulver's life story is amazing. Only his determination and personal strength has allowed him to survive his upbringing, and succeed in a very tough and competitive career. "Never" is a good read about a great guy.



2. This book was more than I expected. McKinnon was able to capture Jens and the Wednesday group as if you were an intimate friend of these guys. It was the perfect blend of Jens' upbringing, the context of the group that meets at the Pat Miletich gym and Tim's unique and often hilarious perspective on both. As the USA Today wrote in review, some books are a page turner, this book is a page stopper - I could not put it down. After reading this story, you are filled with hope and inspiration, that whatever you are facing in life, you can overcome those obstacles and be resilient. Jens and these guys have left an indelible mark on me, and I will strongly recommend this book to others. Thank you Jens for allowing McKinnon to capture this amazing story. Well done guys.



3. Jens Pulver is an idol of mine, but I found that his other book which talks from the first person is a better choice.
   
   "Never" is taken from the author's point of view - who is in the "Wednesday Group" with Jens - and I found that a lot of the book concentrates on Tim's life. The author talks about himself personally and other experiences that really have nothing to do with Jens Pulver. In fact in the beginning of the book I found myself flipping through pages just so I could come across some area which involved Jens Pulver.
   
   Not only that, there is a religious undertone throughout the book which is not what I expected. It is still a good read if you are a fan, but it may not be what you expect.



4. This book is about faith and what ordinary men that aren't mixed martial arts champions can do in to change the world around them. Pulver's story is more of a backdrop to the story of mutual faith in the Lord.



5. I love the way the author captured the subject in this rendition of the life of a child brought up in his own personnal hell. He showed all the facets, not just the polished, but the ruddy and cracked as well, and that is how it is for Jens today. There will always be residual from his upbringing, but the choices he makes to rise above are shown clearly in this book and it gave me a sense of hope that the message may reach more young men with similar situations. I've read it a few times and love it each time. I am, by the way, Jens' mother.

3 comments about Letters of C. S. Lewis.

1. Reading through this book gives excellent insight into one of the greatest thinkers of the 20th Century. The letters are arranged in chronological order, so reading through them gives a perspective on Lewis' life that I found to be better than any biography. This is a very enjoyable collection, and if you are a fan of C.S. Lewis: Read these letters and get inside this great philosopher's mind!



2. This is fine reading for the tired hours of the day. The little biography by his brother Warren is first rate, and the letters themselves are windows looking into the garden of C.S. Lewis' life and thought. They are varied, usually insightful or edifying, sometimes splendid. This edition, edited and enlarged by Walter Hooper, includes a few marvelous additions but also what appear to be some errors in the text, especially in the (fortunately rare) bits of Greek. Let's hope that the Collected Letters (published by Fount in the UK and apparently available through UK) will become available in the USA.



3. While standard biographies are the medium people often turn to to find out more about someone, the letters an author pens often more revealing. I thoroughly enjoyed this (much needed) updated version of the letters of C.S. Lewis from 1916 - 1963 to his various correspondents. They are at various times funny, full of good advice, intentional nonsense, great learning, wit, homely (talking about the every day events that go on in life), and all in all intensely interesting. In addition to this fine volume, you might want to try his volume of Letters to Arthur Greeves (originally published as They Stand Together), C.S. Lewis Letters to Children, or The Latin Letters of C.S. Lewis. They are all quite good.

5 comments about Standing Alone in Mecca: An American Woman's Struggle for the Soul of Islam.

1. Asra Nomani is a talented writer. Her descriptive language creates pictures in the mind of the reader. One feels they have accompanied Nomani on her spiritual and political pilgrimage to negotiate the dichotomous life of being a Westerner with an Eastern faith. This book evokes concepts of humanity, feminism, family values, tolerance and above all the universal quest of us all to find the meaning of life.
   
   Well done Sister Asra! Well done!



2. Beside portraying a wrong picture of Islam and denying the rules of the religion for legitmizing somthing inexcusable, Asra Nomani also lied about her paternal connection with Allama Shibli Nomani, the historian and author of the Biography of Prophet Mohammad(PBUH)"Seerat-un-Nabi". She claimed to be the direct descendent of Allama Shibli Nomani, after whom she named the son she had out of wedlock. Infact, she is not related to him at all.
   
   Here I copy a letter from MOMNA SOHAIL SULTAN (Karachi) published in Dawn of April 22, 2005 which claims Asra has no relation with Allama Shibli Nomani.
   
   "Asra Nomani no kin of Allama Shibli
   
   We were extremely embarrassed to read in 'Books & Authors' (April 17) about Asra Nomani, a controversial personality, who claims to be a direct descendant of Allama Shibli, after whom she has named her son. Asra is in no way connected to the Shibli family.
   
   We five real granddaughters are the real direct descendants of Maulana Shibli, who had one son and two daughters, Rabia Khatoon and Jannutul Fatima. Both the daughters died in their youth in 1904 and 1909. They were married and their family lived in their ancestral villages in Azamgarh.
   
   Allama Shibli had only one son, Hamid Hassan Nomani. He was born in 1882 and died in 1942. He had no sons but five daughters. They are: A) Dr Nasim Jehan, retired director of health, Bangladesh, died in Karachi in 1997. She was married to Dr Zafrul Huda of Dhaka University. He died in 1978 at Dhaka. They have one daughter Shahla living in the US.
   
   B) Shamim Jehan, married to Ehtesham Ahmed, who died in Azamgarh in 1982. They have eight sons and seven daughters all married and living in Pakistan, except one, who is in Kuwait.
   
   C) Tahsin Jehan, married to Shaukat Sultan, principal of Shibli College, Azamgarh. He died in 1986. They have three sons and four daughters, living in India, the UAE and Karachi. The above three daughters were married in 1940 at Azamgarh.
   
   D) Mohsina Sultana, married in 1950 to Amanullah Khan, director of industries, India. They have five children, all married, one daughter and three sons living in the US and one son in India.
   
   E) Momna, the youngest, was born in 1935 and married in 1952 to Capt. Khan Sohail Sultan, who retired as general manager of Pan-Islamic Steamship Co., Karachi in 1993, now living in North Nazimabad.
   
   They have four sons, all married. Eldest Maj Khalid Sultan, Sitara-i-Jur'at, met 'Shahadat' at Siachin in 1992, Capt. Danish Sultan is managing director of Pac Marine Singapore, Wamiq Sultan, MD, living in the US, youngest Capt. Toaha Sultan is serving in the Pakistan Army.
   
   Considering our sentiments and Maulana Shibli's fame as writer of Seerat-un-Nabi, we hope you will publish this clarification. "
   
   Momna Sultan is the one of the two surviving granddaughters of Allama Shibli Nomani.
   Any questions about this matter can be answered by emailing her on [...]
   Zehra Wamiq Sultan



3. I picked up this book just on the spur of the moment from my local library. I'll admit that the title grabbed me. Not knowing what it was really about, or what to expect, I began to read with half-interest. I was quickly gripped, however, with the honesty and heart from which this woman has told her story. Many of us choose to withold those things we consider too personal, painful, or private for public view, but Asra Nomani pushes this norm aside in her pursuit to share a journey she felt the world needed to hear.
   
   Nomani, a daughter of Indian immigrant parents, grows up in a typical American lifestyle. At a young age, she begins to come aware of some of the tensions between that of her Islamic and American upbringings. As an adult, she becomes pregnant outside of marriage and is suddenly hurled into the heart of these matters as she struggles to find her place in a religion, which at first appears to reject her situation and struggle. Undaunted, Nomani begins a journey with her year-old son to Mecca, the holiest city in Islam. This journey parallels a travel made by both her body and her spirit as she goes physically to the heart of Mecca during the holy pilgrimage of Hajj, and spiritually as she plunges to the very heart of her spiritually, faith, and definition of self. Her honesty is both riveting and inspiring.
   
   The only drawbacks I saw with the book: a lot of name-dropping. As an accomplished journalist and traveler, Nomani has met and built lasting friendships with numerous big names. She doesn't hesitate to sprinkle them all over throughout the book. Also, she digresses, at times, into side and back-stories that don't seem to really be necessary. But this is a biography, of sorts, so both these issues are not that bothersome.
   
   I am forever moved by Nomani's courage and sincerity to seek harmony between all the aspects of herself, her faith, and her American values. By reading this book, you do not need to be a woman or Muslim to be inspired to take on your own journey of self-discovery and clarity. As a Muslim woman myself, I don't agree with all of Nomani's statements and views, but I don't have to. This is her story, not mine, and I applaud her heartful journey to the very soul of herself and her place in Islam and the world. This book is well worth the read for anyone seeking to better understand religion in the modern world, Islam, or women's struggle of self-definition the world-around.



4. This book is excellent! If you want to understand the moderate voice within Islam and the struggle for women's rights, this is the book to read. Nomani's story contains so many compelling themes and lessons. To me, her story was first and foremost about the difficulty of changing well-engrained traditions and how individuals can have a great impact on creating equity in their communities. Although this book is not faultless (and I agree with many of the other reviewer's critiques), I have yet to find a book that covers the topic of women in Islam in such a digestable way. Overall, I found Nomani's narrative to be a positive and inspiring story. It has deepened my understanding of Islam -both its past and its present, and it has done so in a highly entertaining manner. I highly recommend this.



5. Their is nothing revolutionary about ms normani,her ideology is founded on two the most common psyhcological frailties of a conformist/ sell out.
   
   1To erase my guilt i must legitimise what i have done and encourage the right of others to do so.
   2)If everybody else is doing it,why cant we?..This the 21st century after all?
   
   ..yawn.....
   
   
   The fact ofthe matter is that this book does not speak for muslim women,most muslim women have no issue with preying seperately from men,actually they welcome it ,just as the men do.!Dont men have a right to prey exclusivly?
   
   Certainly the book has raised many issues that the Islamic world needs to confront ,but the problem is that she tackles these issues at a level as equallly, if not more ignorant, than her detractors.Her scholarship is of the most amateur level and just as her oppresors use the scriptures to justify their cultural conditioning,normani is manipulating scholars and scripture to find justification for her world view, a view that is formed by her western conditioning.
   Anybody who believes theat western society does not condition you is absolutely conditioned and beyond help.!
   
   In attempting to make Islam fit her world view rather than trying to understand it on its own terms,she gets a big fat zero.
   Their is no attempt to understand the spirit,context and cosmological reality behind the scriptures.Their is no atttempt to answer fundamental questions about the nature of men and women or more precisely the relaitionship between man (is that sexist) and the universe in islam.Without a fundamental understanding of that, all further searching is doomed to be reactionary and equally damaging.
   
   The fact that she wears a jilbab on the cover,but not in real life (promising a sincerity and religousness that isnt there), shows her in her true light:someone masquerading as a religionist when they arent.
   Most muslim women can see through that and that is why her appeal will always be limited.
   The reason why nomani recives support from certain quaters,is due to the sympathy vote,however because someone struggles,does not mean they are sincere.Struggle in fact can be the biggst sign of insincerity.
   
   If a book could ever be judged by its cover this is it!
   Their is no need for muslims to get worried about this shoddy piece of superficial religous debate.the only ones who would be are the type of people that made her what she is,and so the circle of ignornce continues.

1 comments about Ling Shu or The Spiritual Pivot.

1. This translation includes valuable information in physical, psycho-emotional and spiritual issues that arise with illness. Often the more esoteric information is "lost in translation"