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Penelope 
Doctorate
Silver Contributor
Joined: 02 Oct 2007
Posts: 511
Gender: 
Location: Cheshire, England
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 Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:44 pm Post subject: Book Recommendations Please!!
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I am an English woman in my early 60's. Interested in exchanging ideas with American free thinkers of any age.
I have always been interested in psychology and spirituality, but the older I get the less I know.
I believe I have been deeply conditioned by Christian teaching - no very bad thing, but not satisfactory in the light of recent world events and recent scientific discovery.
I decry fundamentalism in any belief system - whether it be religious or political and lean more and more towards Budhist and Hindu philosophy.
Do we agree that we need to seek a moral pathway and to feel that we are growing in wisdom, if we are not to feel powerless and despairing, not to say fearful. Does morality and hope and courage come from our own intellect or is there really an outside influence? I believe there is, because of what experience has taught me and to a lesser degree through what men's eloquent words have taught me.
Recommended reading please!  |
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irishrose
Freshman
Joined: 22 Sep 2007
Posts: 215
Gender:
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| Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 10:42 am Post subject:
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Welcome aboard, Penelope. Are you looking for a recommendation in a specific genre? If not, you’ve come at the perfect time. We are just starting two new reading selections: The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil, by Philip Zimbardo and Responsibility and Judgment by Hannah Arendt. That should give you some material for the next few weeks.
If you are looking for fiction books, MadArchitect and I both recently read Cormac McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men, which I am hoping to find some time to start discussing early next week. And there are the beginnings of rumblings for interest in Ron Currie’s God is Dead.
Hope to see you in one of the current or upcoming book discussions, or even just hanging about the general discussion threads. Again, welcome. |
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seeker
I can enter The Chamber
Joined: 16 Oct 2007
Posts: 56
Gender: 
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| Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 6:56 pm Post subject:
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Welcome, Penelope. I am a new member as well, and I'm looking forward to discussing our new books. I do agree that "we need to seek a moral pathway and to feel that we are growing in wisdom." With regard to your second question:
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| Does morality and hope and courage come from our own intellect or is there really an outside influence? I believe there is, because of what experience has taught me and to a lesser degree through what men's eloquent words have taught me. |
I'm not sure whether you are referring to experience and learning as the outside influences, or something else. If the former, I agree.
Again, welcome to the community. |
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Chris OConnor
Rhodes Scholar
BookTalk.org Owner
Joined: 20 Oct 2000
Posts: 6484
Gender: 
Location: Florida
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| Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 3:35 am Post subject:
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Welcome to BookTalk!
What is it about Hinduism that appeals to you?
Last edited by Chris OConnor on Sun Nov 18, 2007 3:36 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Penelope
Doctorate
Silver Contributor
Joined: 02 Oct 2007
Posts: 511
Gender:
Location: Cheshire, England
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| Posted: Fri Dec 07, 2007 5:25 pm Post subject:
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Well, what a long time I have been in responding to your kind comments.
Sorry - I do apologise.
I have been trying to get hold of those titles which you mentioned. I work in an enormous bookstore - but of second hand books. I search for specific titles - like the ones you recommend and then get sidetracked because I find absorbing old and out of print stuff.
I think I am attracted to Hindu because the Hindu Indian people seem to be such dynamic and happy people, even when they have nothing materially, they seem to have an inner joy in life. I found this when I went to India a couple of years ago, but also among those immigrants in this country. 'By their fruits - ye shall know them' - I was taught - the fruits of the spirit being love, joy and peace. |
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