About the Book
Is religion coming to an end? No, says religion scholar and interspiritual pioneer Netanel Miles-Yépez, it is an old and outworn idea of religion as "an-end-in-itself" that is coming to an end. "Religion," he says, "will go on; it is how we relate to it that will change, and must change, if we are to reclaim its genuine usefulness to us." In The End of Religion and Other Writings, Netanel Miles-Yépez has gathered a collection of his essays and interviews on the nature and purpose of religion, the depths and hope of interreligious dialogue, as well as his writings on Neo-Hasidism and Jewish Renewal from 1999-2019. In these highly original essays, we see the work of a brilliantly creative thinker in the early stage of his career, boldly asserting new frames of understanding for many of the issues spiritual seekers struggle with today.
About the Author :
Netanel Miles-Yépez is an artist, philosopher, religion scholar, and spiritual teacher. He is the current head of the Inayati-Maimuni lineage of Sufism, and is considered a leading thinker in the Interspiritual and New Monasticism movements.Netanel studied History of Religions at Michigan State University and Contemplative Religion at the Naropa Institute, before pursuing traditional studies with such spiritual luminaries as Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, founder of the Jewish Renewal movement, and Father Thomas Keating, founder of Contemplative Outreach.He is the author of In the Teahouse of Experience: Nine Talks on the Path of Sufism (2020), The Merging of Two Oceans: Nine Talks on Sufism & Hasidism (2021), and the translator of My Love Stands Behind a Wall: A Translation of the Song of Songs and Other Poems (2015).Currently, Netanel lives in Boulder, Colorado, where he is Chair of Religious Studies and Director of the Keating-Schachter Center for Interspirituality at Naropa University, a project of Charis Foundation (charisinterspirituality.org).
Review :
"Pir Netanel Miles-Yépez' latest book is a ground-breaking addition to the discourse on spirituality and its significance in shaping our future. As conventional religious establishments continue to lose their relevance, Miles-Yépez is at the forefront of a movement that is redefining the role of religion in contemporary society. His innovative ideas and profound insights are not only inspiring, but also transformative, providing a new outlook on spirituality that can serve as a roadmap for our future. This book is essential reading for anyone seeking a more profound comprehension of spirituality and its capacity to guide us through the complexities of our era."
- Rev. Adam Bucko, co-founder of The Center for Spiritual Imagination, author of Let Your Heartbreak Be Your Guide, and co-author of The New Monasticism
"Part restless visionary, part tender heart, Netanel Miles-Yépez engagingly shares his vigorous and sometimes playful interrogation of the prophetic and the contemplative. This little book of essays will intrigue and challenge you, making you want to first call a friend for a coffeeshop conversation. Then you will both want to jump up and join the enduring dance of the vitality of the human spirit."
- Dr. Judith Simmer-Brown, Distinguished Professor Emeritx at Naropa University, author of Dakini's Warm Breath, and co-editor of Meditation and the Classroom
"If you are ready for a deeply engaging and always delightful discussion about what it means to be religious and spiritual today, this is the book for you. "Religion as we have known it is breaking down," Netanel Miles-Yépez observes with startling clarity. Where do we go from here if we long for spiritual transformation and religious engagement? Miles-Yépez, a brilliant scholar and open-hearted spiritual practitioner, guides us through a profound journey
towards a shared spiritual future by addressing issues ranging from interreligious dialogue to Hasidic renewal, to the paradox of the pursuit of happiness."
- Dr. Anna Sun, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and Sociology at Duke University, author of Confucianism as a World Religion, co-author of Against Happiness, and editor of Situating Spirituality.
"Netanel's grasp of my music and writing over the years has been a special thing for me as an artist and a human. At a time when the internet was ramping up with opinions and I was feeling alone in a sea of misunderstanding, Netanel sailed into my life with an understanding of my songs that was refreshing. He continued over the years to be the only writer that I felt was understanding my music at its depth. Having deep knowledge of the worlds that I was traveling, he could often tell the seed from which the song sprouted. Having a deep understanding of the human spirit, he was able to see where my soul was swimming."
- Matisyahu, hip-hop and reggae artist, whose albums include Spark Seeker and Akeda
"Whether he's grappling with the purpose of religion, or abuses of it, the rise of interspirituality or Jewish Renewal, or discussing the rewards of interspiritual dialogue with renowned spiritual leaders, or simply sharing his own experiences, with Netanel Miles-Yépez you know you are in good hands. You want to follow his clear, crisp prose, his insightful questions and probing mind, and his honest self-reflection wherever they lead you. This is a wonderful book for seekers of all faiths and paths. By putting spirituality above dogma and creed, it serves as a bright light for those who long for the real, and are open to truth wherever they find it in our increasingly multicultural and interconnected world."
- Alejandra Warden, author of Remembrance: A Vision of the Sacred Feminine and the Renewal of the Earth
