Science and Religion v Spirituality and Health v Character Development v Business and Spirituality
September 2002
Issue 12
Most religions share common principles for the search for “that which is concealed,” including meditation, contemplation, and prayer. Whatever the path one takes, whatever religion or personal route, the search for God may bring us some answers. Swedish professor and physician Stefan Einhorn concludes that two themes are central to this search: first is that God is both concealed and simultaneously omnipresent; the other is that only with utter humility and an awareness of our inability to fully understand may we approach the divine.
Highly acclaimed in Sweden where it was originally published, A Concealed God: Religion, Science, and the Search for Truth, poses two intriguing questions: Does God truly exist? If so, is the concept of God logical and in agreement with the knowledge of the world that science has provided to date?
Author Einhorn hypothesizes that if God truly exists, then many different religions would have discovered this. He finds a common denominator in the concept of a hidden or indescribable God in seven major religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. But even with this shared belief, can we know if God exists? Did humankind create the idea of God to fulfill basic needs and to answer the (at one time) unexplainable? What about evil and suffering, the absence of meaning in life, loneliness and insecurity? And most importantly, how do we go about searching for a concealed God?
In the end, there are no definite answers. But the questions, hypotheses, and search shed light on the many paths to enlightenment offered by the world’s religions.
Special Offer: Purchase a copy of A Concealed God and receive a free copy of The God Who Would Be Known. A $5.50 shipping and handling cost will be applied to all domestic orders. Please add an additional $5.00 for international orders. Refer to Code RN23 when ordering.
Visit our website for more information about this exciting new addition to our spring list:
To order special offer: http://www.templetonpress.org/specialoffers.asp
As people prepare for retirement, another question arises: What will I do with my time? In today’s world people live longer lives and will have more years in retirement than ever before. So, while we deal with concerns about portfolios and health, we cannot neglect what may in fact become the most important component: living a life of purpose.
At one time, many of us thought of retirement as days of relaxing, catching up on reading and golf, days and years for doing everything we always wanted to do but couldn’t because we didn’t have the time. Soon enough we realize perhaps there might be something more than this. Harold Koenig, M.D., an expert in the areas of aging and mental health, covers just this in his new book, Purpose and Power in Retirement: New Opportunities for Meaning and Significance.
People need a vision—a goal that takes into account their experience, wisdom, and strengths, and gives purpose to their lives. Dr. Koenig draws on scientific and medical research to illustrate how having a purpose motivates, energizes, and empowers people in their retirement years. For many who retire, the greatest luxury is returning to work—on their own terms. Figuring out what kind of work they want to do is often the dilemma. Priorities, values, and goals of the past may be less important today. Dr. Koenig coaches us on how to let go of the old goals and how to identify new ones that take into account strengths, abilities, personality, and what one enjoys.
Dr. Koenig writes that another key factor in having a meaningful retirement is spirituality: Scientific research shows that people who are more involved in religious and spiritual practices experience greater well-being, less depression, and generally fuller and happier lives. He also encourages people to cultivate generosity (one can be generous with more than money); gives tips for reducing stress; and urges people to exercise and eat well. He summarizes his guidelines with ten steps to a purpose-filled retirement.
Retirement years can add up to a full one-third of our lives. Having a purpose and knowing power in these years has been shown to positively affect both mental and physical health, and possibly even contribute to how long we live. Benjamin Mays once said: “The tragedy of life
doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach.” Koenig adds: “As long as you’re conscious, you can have a goal.” Helping us find the goal is just what he does.
Special Offer: Purchase a copy of Purpose and Power in Retirement and receive a free copy of Golden Nuggets. A $5.50 shipping and handling cost will be applied to all domestic orders. Please add an additional $5.00 for international orders. Refer to Code RN24 when ordering.
Visit our website for more information about this exciting new addition to our spring list:
To order special offer: http://www.templetonpress.org/specialoffers.asp
The site, www.scienceandreligionbooks.org, now offers over 650 books from more than 200 publishers, along with links to the latest news and information on science and religion topics. Sponsored by Templeton Foundation Press, the online store is designed to be a full-service resource for scholars, researchers, libraries, and general readers.
Books can be purchased at a 10 percent discount through a secure e-commerce server and normally ship within 24 hours.
Please visit the website at: http://www.scienceandreligionbooks.org/
The current best sellers for Templeton Foundation Press are listed below. The statistics are an accumulation of both domestic and foreign sales and are updated monthly.
1. A Concealed God
http://www.templetonpress.org/book.asp?book_id=52
2. The Unity Movement
http://www.templetonpress.org/book.asp?book_id=53
3. Wisdom from World Religions
http://www.templetonpress.org/book.asp?book_id=44
4. Parish Nursing
http://www.templetonpress.org/book.asp?book_id=46
5. The Hand of God
http://www.templetonpress.org/book.asp?book_id=1
6. Spirituality in Patient Care
http://www.templetonpress.org/book.asp?book_id=47
Harold G. Koenig, M.D.
Well-researched and packed with statistics and studies (and 286 endnotes!), his book observes that "baby boomers will be the healthiest, most physically active, best-educated group of retirees in history." In an academic tone, he encourages retirees to "make a meaningful difference for at least one other person" in the world. Yes, retirees have earned the right to relax, but while "recreation and a little self-indulgence are definitely part of the picture…they are not at the center of the picture." Koenig writes more as a social scientist . . . thus his book is more suitable for academic libraries. —Library Journal
Edited by Michael Reagan
Introduction by Sharon Begley
There’s a world in intricate beauty to be found beneath human skin, and in this compact and brilliantly illustrated book, Reagan presents mesmerizing color photographs of DNA samples, crystals of progesterone, leukemia blood cells, X chromosomes, cancer cells, embryos and other wonders of inner space. In the introduction, Wall Street Journal science editor Sharon Begley discusses different views of God’s presence in nature. . . In these fantastic photographs, nerve cells in the human cerebral cortex look like a tangle of overgrown vines; sperms clustered over a human embryo are reminiscent of sea urchins and anemones; and female sex chromosomes look like yellow dancing snakes. Quotes from the Bible, scientists, novelists, philosophers, spiritual leaders and others give perspective to the images, while captions provide scientific details. Two main forces—birth and decay—are on display here, and the images and text should resonate with readers dealing with either. —Publishers Weekly
Harold G. Koenig, M.D.
Spirituality in Patient Care is intended as a guide for physicians, medical students, nurses and health practitioners. As emerging research demonstrates the effect of one’s spiritual beliefs on a person’s health, it’s important to perform a spiritual profile on a patient in addition to physical and lifestyle assessments. This book is a valuable resource to anyone in the healthcare profession. —Share Guide
Neal Vahle
An intriguing overview of a movement that, despite its relatively small numbers (some 170,000 by its own official count), has significantly influenced popular religious thought in the U.S. —Booklist
Mariano Artigas
The crux of this study is the concept of “self-organization and divine action” uniting the multifarious processes and phenomena of the world. This rich, masterful study gives a perspective which makes sense of human life, nature, and spirituality; and gives thoughtful readers things to ponder indefinitely. —The Small Press Book Review
Books from Templeton Foundation Press are available at bookstores, Internet bookstores, and through our website at www.templetonpress.org. You may also order by calling our distribution center at 1-800-621-2736. Please Note: In order to take advantage of our monthly specials orders must be placed via our website or by calling the Chicago distribution center with the applicable code number.
Templeton Foundation Press
5 Radnor Corporate Center
100 Matsonford Road, Suite 120
Radnor, PA 19087
Email: tfp@templetonpress.org
TFP Newsletter is a periodic news communication from Templeton Foundation Press.
Do you know someone who would like to become a friend of the Press? Please, forward this email to their attention or have them visit our website for easy registration.
To subscribe: http://www.templetonpress.org/friendsofthepress.asp
To unsubscribe or to change your email address, send an email to: pvergilio@templetonpress.org
©2002 Templeton Foundation Press. All rights reserved.