A Theology for the Rest of Us

If God exists and is good, why is there evil? Avoiding such questions underlies the spiritual emptiness and anxiety in today's world. A Theology for the Rest of Us explores how to approach the divine through Eastern and Western religious traditions without dogma, challenging readers to "be you lamps unto yourselves." In a time of internecine wars and all kinds of abuse of authority and trust, too many good, thoughtful people are "voting with their feet" and turning away from organized religion. Popular "spirituality"-a sort of mysticism-lite articulated in memes-is often unsatisfying as well. A Theology for the Rest of Us is a straightforward approach to the fundamental questions of religion and philosophy: - Does God exist? - Is there free will? - What is 'evil'? This book draws on the traditions of the East as well as the West-Taoism, Buddhism and Hinduism in addition to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam-to see what can make sense in today's world. Whether exploring the implications of 17th century Enlightenment philosophers, quantum physics, or the insights of writers such as Dostoyevsky and Alan Watts, the reader is offered a rational, coherent approach that can provide understanding and a basis for hope in a world where the spirit has been all but decimated by doubt and worse. Most important, the reader is encouraged to sift through these sources and choose what resonates and what does not. As the Buddha taught so many years ago, the Prime Directive is "Be ye lamps unto yourselves." A Theology for the Rest of Us makes teachings accessible to those who have already begun their spiritual journeys, validating their questions and showing that reasonable answers are available. RECOMMENDED by the US Review of Books Best Indie Book Award (BIBA) /Theology Literary Titan Silver Award

About the Author :
Arthur Yavelberg's impressive 40-year career as an educator includes: Head of School (The Tucson Hebrew Academy) Dean of Students (Sir Manasseh Meyer International School Singapore), M.A./B.A. Philosophies of Judaism (Jewish Theological Seminary of America), M.A. Educational Administration (Northeastern Illinois University) A.A. (Miami-Dade).

Review :
US Review of Books (reviewed by Carol Anderson, D.Min., ACSW) In this "little book" regarding theology, the author begins by stating that what he's written is probably nothing new but perhaps examined in a different manner. This is because the focus is on helping others find their own paths and insights without religious dogma. The author achieves this by exploring in twelve chapters issues such as identifying the Divine, free will, the dilemma of the body/mind connection, eschatology, and reincarnation. He utilizes work from various religions and belief systems as well as teachings from various philosophers while looking at the issues of suffering, grief, impermanence, science, and evil. He notes that he does not use the term "God," for it has become a confusing word. Instead, he uses Divine Intelligence (DI). Well-written, the book gives thought to a number of questions, including examining the DI and free will, which are the most interesting aspects of the book. In using various thoughts and beliefs related to the DI, he adds meaning to his discussion of how understanding the DI helps us to live our lives in a healthy manner. The chapters "Who to Believe," "Reincarnation," and the summary chapter are the strongest ones. Asking questions throughout the book also keeps the reader on their toes, for these questions help readers examine their own beliefs. A rather quirky hodgepodge of such information could be confusing, but the author manages to make it work. Yavelberg's book would serve as a good companion text to similar works or perhaps be suitable for those on a beginning path into spirituality. In short, it is simply engaging. RECOMMENDED by the US Review Tucsonlocalmedia There are questions that have answers, questions without answers, and questions that just lead to more questions. In his new book, "A Theology for the Rest of Us," local writer Arthur Yavelberg tackles all these types of questions in the hopes of providing some religious illumination in these uncertain times. Now that's not to say the book aims to convince anyone of anything, but by examining various religions' insights on topics like free will, the identity of the creator, and why evil exists, Yavelberg provides a map for spiritual awareness. Yavelberg, who has worked as a teacher of history and comparative religion, as well as the head of Tucson Hebrew Academy, describes the book as "the sum total of his religious theological insight over a lifetime." But for a book that gathers sources as diverse as the Bible, Buddhist teachings, Dostoevsky's novels, the Koran and even The Terminator, it's condensed down to a surprisingly easy-to-read 100 pages. As Yavelberg states in the book's opening, "We may never reach absolute certainty, but we are reasonably confident that we can make enough progress to make a difference in living our day-to-day lives." Contemplative Life Bookstore An educator, holding an M.A./B.A. Philosophies of Judaism (Jewish Theological Seminary of America) and M.A. Educational Administration (Northeastern Illinois University), Yavelberg writes in a conversational tone that makes complex ideas easy and accessible.