God of Love: A Guide to the Heart of Judaism, Christianity and Islam

Seeking to embrace the themes that tie the three Abrahamic faiths together, Mirabai Starr's book 'The God of Love' is not for those tied to their beliefs. Instead, it is for those who stand at the edges, adherents of ecumenical dialogue, seekers of a spirituality that crosses the boundaries that separate us.Mirabai Starr attempts to find common ground by focusing on what unites instead of divides, relaying a spirituality that is accessible to both lay reader and scholar alike. Demonstrating that all three faiths contain a wisdom tradition, she shows how at their core, all three traditions uphold a concept of God as love, all three focus on compassionate action, and in all three traditions there is a contemplative aspect that correlates with East Asian meditation.In finding common ground, Mirabai Starr concentrates on particular themes, dividing the book's content into chapters corresponding to each theme. Themes discussed include the illusion of separation, forgiveness and reconciliation, the feminine aspect of god, transcendence vs. immanence of the sacred within creation and the sacredness of nature, suffering and the dark night of the soul, and walking an inter-spiritual path. Each chapter is further divided into 4 parts including sacred scripture and poetry from each tradition, each tradition's relationship with the particular theme discussed, memoir and anecdotes from Mrs. Starr's personal life, and finally exemplary heroes of the traditions who personify the chapter's theme.Along the way readers encounter Hildegard de Bingen, Saint Francis of Assisi, Teresa of Avila, Rumi, Saint John of the Cross among a host of other saints and religious heroes.For a reader academically inclined who is just skimming through, this book may feel too much like a generalized account of the themes tying the three monotheistic faiths together. However, contained within are many nuggets of profound wisdom that would appeal to the more academically inclined as well as a lay reader delving into the topic for the first time. These nuggets, when contemplated can lead a reader to a deeper understanding of the wisdom teachings bisecting the three faiths. Different ideas will resonate with each reader. However, I will relay a few themes and quotes that I particularly relished.I liked how Mrs. Starr invites us to challenge our concepts of 'God' and I found these quotes to be particularly relevant to this challenge, 'the one transcends all form, all description, all theory, categorically refusing to be defined or confined by our human impulse to unlock the mystery. The holy one is a dynamic, ever-present reality, rather than a remote deity.' 'It is the ground of being, the absolute, beyond all form yet dwelling within the multiplicity of creation.'Here, a reader is invited to reflect on how they perceive 'God' and to contemplate a 'God' that manifests throughout creation, is both transcendent and immanent, pantheistic yet personal; a mystery not limited to the contradictions inherent in the human thought process. Challenging a reader to contemplate 'God' in this manner allows us to re-sacralize nature and possibly break the spell of dis-enchantment with nature which has corroded the western philosophical tradition.She had some profound thoughts about the 'gender' of 'God'. Again, concepts of gender impede understanding. Patriarchal archetypes of judgement get in the way of seeing the nurturing aspects of the sacred. In relation to this theme I found this quote relevant: 'Your god transcends form. And yet she also dwells within every created thing. She animates all that is growing and going to seed, all that is ripened and fragrant, all that is raw and and undomesticated. She dwells in creativity, in beauty, in chaos.'Another idea that resonated with me was Mrs. Starr's thoughts on the purpose of creation conveyed through this quote from Inayat Khan, 'the Sufis say that the reason of the whole creation is that the perfect being wished to know himself, and did so by awakening the love of his nature and creating out of it, the object of love, which is beauty.'I felt her reflections on suffering were the strongest part of the book. Suffering is one thing that unites us all. However, in the midst of our own personal suffering it seems to be particularly difficult to reach out, express our vulnerability, and connect with our neighbors. We respond to it in separation, furthering our misunderstandings of each other.In an act of courage, through personal memoir, Mrs. Starr demonstrates her own suffering, and through this suffering she shows how she communed with a sacred source that transcended yet shone through Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.In the process of relating her account she provides the reader with profound wisdom that these two quotes cannot begin to do justice to: 'our wounds can serve as signs of our inter-connectedness with all beings, and motivate us to continue striving to make things right between us.' 'at the heart of your deepest loss you discover your forgotten wholeness.'I also enjoyed reading what Mrs. Starr had to say about the contemplative tradition. She discussed the centering prayer method of father Thomas Keating, illustrating correlations to Judaism and Muslim methods of contemplation as well as the Buddhist tradition of meditation.Finally, I liked what she had to say about interfaith dialogue, but I am not sure if I would go as far as she does in adopting particular methods from different traditions. The reason for my disagreement with this approach is to me it has the feel of a smorgasboard, buffet approach to religion. I fear too many seekers would pick out the most appetizing components while leaving out what may be less appetizing yet as necessary. For example, a seeker may practice yoga while disregarding what a particular tradition says about eating in moderation. The result is that the practitioner would still gain weight. Each tradition is holistic, organic, and should be approached that way. Interfaith dialogue allows us to see the beauty of each tradition and gems of wisdom that transcend, yet practice and methods allow us to treasure a particular tradition more fully.Despite differences on method, I feel this work will go a long way toward promoting interfaith understanding and help to heal the wounds separating us; wounds not caused by a 'God' of Love, but instead - human imperfection.

The book was essentially new which I liked.

This book is also offered in other languages. It was simple to read, integral to growing in my spiritual life.

This book changed my life in so many ways and opened my heart to the Spirit of Possibilities. After reading this the first time and highlighting almost every other line, I recommended it to my spiritual book club and I was blown away with how the Spirit works in each if us alike and differently.Thank you Maribi, I have your translations of Julian of Norwich and John of the Cross and I've followed you through the Shift Network. You are my favorite spiritual author, thinker, prayer companion.

This book appears that it has only been read once. Great shape the a good book!

Once again, a person with a sense of reason has examined the content and values of these three major spiritual paths and found them remarkably similar in the aspects that matter - how to treat one's fellow man, how to regard those who suffer, how to show love and regard for others, how to explore a relationship with the concept of God, etc. Her research and journey reveal great truths about who we are supposed to be, and why it is always understanding and communication that triumph over suspicion and separatism.

Mirabai Starr's quest is my quest. To experience the unity of love in the religions of the world especially Christianity Judaism and Islam.

A very accessible faith resource for personal and pastoral use. Mirabai Starr focuses on the commonality of these 3 traditions and the richness and Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. For those familiar with these faiths, as well as those who have not been exposed to these traditions, this will be a book to read and re-read. I highly recommend it.

This book had landed on my Kindle thanks to a string of remarkable coincidences, and it touched me deeply. It's not "about religions", it's singing out of their Heart. A book written not by a seeker but somebody who has found. Beautiful...

Good. Blend of all religions.

Parfait !

Well done

Wonderful book so beautiful a must read for anyone interested in spirituality