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christineshubin's review
5.0
This isn't a book to read so much as it's a book to take your time and meander through, reading each chapter in whatever order you need and feel like and letting each chapter sit in your heart, soul and mind.
I finished all the chapters and at the end of the last chapter, my whole body took a breath, my heart, soul and mind felt so calmed and taken care of.
I finished all the chapters and at the end of the last chapter, my whole body took a breath, my heart, soul and mind felt so calmed and taken care of.
emilyholladay's review
5.0
Just finished An Altar in the World a second time (first time I read it was when I was in seminary). Barbara Brown Taylor has such a beautiful way with words. I love revisiting her works and seeing how the thoughts impact me even years later.
gbdill's review
5.0
Took me over a month to read. But, this is one of those books that you can read one chapter at a time and be inspired for a week. Barbara Taylor, an Episcopal priest tells of her own stories along with ways to connect with the Divine through everyday circumstances and everyday things. If you don't connect with God while in church, then look outside of it. He's there.
smbcoffee's review
3.0
A slow read for me, but it was well worth it. Bringing together the long-held gap between the sacred and the ordinary, the spiritual and the physical, Brown Taylor’s book was eye opening and challenging to me in many ways.
nrt43's review
4.0
Barbara Brown Taylor is wonderful. Insightful. Down-to-earth. I plan on reading more of her books.
Some favorite quotes:
In quoting Hauerwas, she says, "Christianity is not a set of beliefs or doctrines one believes in order to be a Christian," he says, "but rather Christianity is to have one's body shaped, one's habits determined in such a way that the worship of God is unavoidable."
"When I hear people talk about what is wrong with organized religion or why their mainline churches are failing, I hear about bad music, inept clergy, mean congregations, and preoccupation with institutional maintenance. I almost never hear about the intellectualization of faith, which strikes me as a far greater danger than anything else on that list."
"When someone asks us where we want to be in our lives, the last thing that occurs to us is to look down at our feet and say 'here I guess since this is where I am.'"
"While it is sometimes possible to turn your love into your work, especially if you can figure out how to live on less, that is not always the best idea. When the music you love to play becomes the music you have to play to pay the rent the rent, your heart can suffer from alienation of affection."
"'The glory of God is a human being fully alive' wrote Irenaeus of Lyon, some 2000 years ago."
"I no longer call such tasks 'house work.' I call them the 'domestic arts:' paying attention to all the ways they return me to my senses."
"Most people I know want to talk about why it is impossible for them to practice Sabbath, which is an interesting spiritual exercise in itself.... Make two lists on one piece of paper. On one side of the paper, list all of the things you know give you life that you never take time to do. Then on the other side, make a list of all the reasons why you think it is impossible for you to do those things. That's all there is to it. Just make the two lists and keep the piece of paper where you can see it. Also promise not to shush your heart when it howls for the list it wants."
"It is hard to understand why so many people put 'thou shalt not do any work' in a different category from 'thou shalt not kill' or 'thou shalt have no other gods before me' especially since those teachings are all on the same list."
"If all life is holy, then anything that sustains life has holy dimensions too. The difference between washing windows and resting in God can be a simple decision. Choose the work and it becomes your spiritual practice."
In discussing prayer, she writes:
"God is not obliged to show up but if God does, I will be ready. At the same time I am aware that prayer is more than something I do. The longer I practice prayer the more I think it is something that is always happening, like a radio wave that carries music through the air whether I tune into it or not."
Some favorite quotes:
In quoting Hauerwas, she says, "Christianity is not a set of beliefs or doctrines one believes in order to be a Christian," he says, "but rather Christianity is to have one's body shaped, one's habits determined in such a way that the worship of God is unavoidable."
"When I hear people talk about what is wrong with organized religion or why their mainline churches are failing, I hear about bad music, inept clergy, mean congregations, and preoccupation with institutional maintenance. I almost never hear about the intellectualization of faith, which strikes me as a far greater danger than anything else on that list."
"When someone asks us where we want to be in our lives, the last thing that occurs to us is to look down at our feet and say 'here I guess since this is where I am.'"
"While it is sometimes possible to turn your love into your work, especially if you can figure out how to live on less, that is not always the best idea. When the music you love to play becomes the music you have to play to pay the rent the rent, your heart can suffer from alienation of affection."
"'The glory of God is a human being fully alive' wrote Irenaeus of Lyon, some 2000 years ago."
"I no longer call such tasks 'house work.' I call them the 'domestic arts:' paying attention to all the ways they return me to my senses."
"Most people I know want to talk about why it is impossible for them to practice Sabbath, which is an interesting spiritual exercise in itself.... Make two lists on one piece of paper. On one side of the paper, list all of the things you know give you life that you never take time to do. Then on the other side, make a list of all the reasons why you think it is impossible for you to do those things. That's all there is to it. Just make the two lists and keep the piece of paper where you can see it. Also promise not to shush your heart when it howls for the list it wants."
"It is hard to understand why so many people put 'thou shalt not do any work' in a different category from 'thou shalt not kill' or 'thou shalt have no other gods before me' especially since those teachings are all on the same list."
"If all life is holy, then anything that sustains life has holy dimensions too. The difference between washing windows and resting in God can be a simple decision. Choose the work and it becomes your spiritual practice."
In discussing prayer, she writes:
"God is not obliged to show up but if God does, I will be ready. At the same time I am aware that prayer is more than something I do. The longer I practice prayer the more I think it is something that is always happening, like a radio wave that carries music through the air whether I tune into it or not."
allisonseverson's review
5.0
I put this book on my "read" shelf, though it could also be on my "currently-reading" list, as I have read most of the chapters, albeit not in order.
I loved the chapter on pain and suffering (which sounds strange), but I read it when I had been mildly-ill for a few weeks. Certainly put my illness in perspective, and she really articulated how we are awakened and called to when we're sick (at least that's how I interpreted it having read it months ago now).
The book was a gift from a mentor and friend, and I will continue to read chapters, sometimes twice. I have read the chapter on prayer a few times.... I usually pray throughout my day anyway, but she reminds us... If you talk to God all the time, you're always going to have something to say. I have read it slow, because I'm always thinking a lot when I finish reading parts of it.
I also really like this author, at least from what I've read so far. She seems to me to approach her spiritual writing without a "I am greater than thou" attitude, or even a preacher-type voice. I appreciate her openness and kindness. She seems to me like she would be a peaceful person.
I loved the chapter on pain and suffering (which sounds strange), but I read it when I had been mildly-ill for a few weeks. Certainly put my illness in perspective, and she really articulated how we are awakened and called to when we're sick (at least that's how I interpreted it having read it months ago now).
The book was a gift from a mentor and friend, and I will continue to read chapters, sometimes twice. I have read the chapter on prayer a few times.... I usually pray throughout my day anyway, but she reminds us... If you talk to God all the time, you're always going to have something to say. I have read it slow, because I'm always thinking a lot when I finish reading parts of it.
I also really like this author, at least from what I've read so far. She seems to me to approach her spiritual writing without a "I am greater than thou" attitude, or even a preacher-type voice. I appreciate her openness and kindness. She seems to me like she would be a peaceful person.
kealex02's review
5.0
This book will stay with me for a long time. I love the diversity of approaches to spiritual practices that BBT lays out. She shows how spiritual practices can easily be integrated into our everyday lives--we only need to pay attention. I will reread this book again and again. Its meanings and ideas resonate, challenge, and inspire.
nerdyrev's review against another edition
4.0
Fantastic. Just amazing. Highly recommend and will read again. Only 4 because there were some parts I did not connect with, but a powerful book.
vanitar's review
5.0
I loved this book and although I originally checked it out from the library, I ended up buying it because I know it is one I will return to time and time again. Barbara Brown Taylor has a way of articulating the spiritual life in such a way that it is embodied and deeply experienced. It is a reminder that God is omnipresent if only I were to pay more attention and pause to notice and respond. I love how it permeates into all spheres of life. I especially appreciated the chapter on being fully present to God in each moment and how prayer is often us being fully alive and aware of what and who is in front of us. Lots to think and meditate on and I will definitely be picking this book up again.