Mitch Albom: Have A Little Faith

[MillysMom]

I had the opportunity recently to receive an advanced copy of Mitch's Albom's forthcoming book, HAVE A LITTLE FAITH. I've been a fan of his books since TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE, and have been anticipating this - his first non-fiction book - since its release.

In a nutshell, Mitch profiles two people: a rabbi who he has been asked to write a eulogy for, and an inner-city convict turned pastor. Two very different worlds, two very different religions, but one strongly shared similarity : FAITH.

This book REALLY made me think about my OWN spirituality and what faith means to me these days. It really opens your mind to the bigger picture of faith. The question Albom asks is: "what if faith wasn't what divided us, but what brought us together?" In a world where "holier-than-thou" prevails, and everyone's religion is the ONLY religion, I think it could benefit us all to sit back and think about what we're all really here for and what faith and belief really means.

This book is REALLY good - might be my new Albom favorite. If you've read the book already, I'd love to know what you think. And I'd love to know if it got you thinking about your own spiritual leanings as it did with me.

And if you HAVEN'T read it yet, I highly recommend you do so when it comes out at the end of the month. You won't be sorry.

LovesDaisies in Los Angeles

[Stewart]

It sounds like the typical pseudo-guff from Albom. It's bad enough that Brazil gave us Paulo Coelho, we don't really need an American version of him.

This book REALLY made me think about my OWN spirituality and what faith means to me these days. It really opens your mind to the bigger picture of faith.

In what way did it make you think, then? In what way was it closed off to be opened up?

[MillysMom]

I don't know what your religious standing is, or what your life situation is. I have had some tough things occur in my life over the past few years. I grew up CERTAIN that there was a God, that Jesus was his son, that Noah had an ark and that Mary had an Immaculate Conception. But as I got older, I started questioning my beliefs, which in turn makes you question your faith. If I don't BELIEVE what my religion tells me is true, then how can I have faith?

I really admire people who SO STRONGLY BELIEVE that there is a God and there is an afterlife and that we are on this Earth to prepare ourselves for what is next. They can then have a confidence in life that non-believers don't have. If someone dies, for instance, you don't have the same sorrow as a believer that you do as a non-believer. For instance, my neighbor's mom just died. She was sad, of course. But her FAITH is so OVERWHELMING that she knows, just knows in her heart of hearts that she will see her mom again. Me, on the other hand, doubts that this will happen.

Reading this book just tapped something in me again that made me say, "Hey, maybe I need to look at my belief system a little more closely." Maybe I'm missing something that's so clearly there to millions and millions of people. I just made me "think." It's beautifully written and and easy read and has stayed with me long after I finished the book.

So I hope I've answered your question. I'm reexamining my faith. Hoping to somehow get it back. Not just in times of trouble, but ALL THE TIME. And if this book is what triggered me to start thinking in that direction, then it did its job.

[Mirabell]

I just made me "think."

that's what I call well-applied inverted commas.

[Daniel del Real]

that's what I call well-applied inverted commas.

How precise and opportune comment Mirabell lol

[Clarissa]

Two books I read recently were most convincing, even if they were preaching to the converted:

Richard Dawkins - The God Delusion
Christopher Hitchens - God is not great

The titles say it all. I won't add to them even if I would very much like to. This would nly lead to the usual fruitless debate with each and everyone defending his/her own point of view and refuting anything that might disagree with said point of view.

[MillysMom]

Mirabelle,

In response to your snarkly comment about my use of quotation marks, I used them because I was referring back to Stewart's question to me:

"In what way did it make you think, then"

I was referring back to the word "think," as he phrased it in his question, and framing my response accordingly.

My advice to you is, "think" before you post something. Especially if you feel the need to be flip.

[Mirabell]

I was referring back to the word "think," as he phrased it in his question, and framing my response accordingly.

.

I know. Does it make it any less fitting?

[Stewart]

I don't know what your religious standing is, or what your life situation is.

Religious standing is zero, life situation is probbly stressed, but in a that's life way.

If I don't BELIEVE what my religion tells me is true, then how can I have faith?

Why would you need faith? It's empty, intangible.

I'm reexamining my faith. Hoping to somehow get it back.

Good luck with that. I'd be much happier with empirical evidence and other facts rather than accepting sense in what's not there.

[Liam]

Seriously, guys, you have shown MillysMom the warmest of welcomes, .

[Mirabell]

Liam is right, however, we/I have been discourteous. Welcome honey. We might disagree over some literature, or "literature" as the case may be, but chances are we agree on many other books or can discuss them in a more helpful manner. don't be cross (no pun intended) with us, darling.

[Clarissa]

This would only lead to the usual fruitless debate with each and everyone defending his/her own point of view and refuting anything that might disagree with said point of view.

Like I said

[MillysMom]

Liam, thank you for the only kind welcome I've received on this board. And, Mirabell, I'm still trying to figure out what I did wrong by putting quotation marks around a quote? Can you help me out with that? They weren't frivolous, they weren't "air-quotes," they were legitimate quotation marks surrounding a quoted word I pulled out of someone else's comment. So WTF did I do wrong to receive your continued snarkiness?

[Mirabell]

Liam, thank you for the only kind welcome I've received on this board. And, Mirabell, I'm still trying to figure out what I did wrong by putting quotation marks around a quote? Can you help me out with that? They weren't frivolous, they weren't "air-quotes," they were legitimate quotation marks surrounding a quoted word I pulled out of someone else's comment. So WTF did I do wrong to receive your continued snarkiness?

*sigh*

no you didn't do anything wrong that wasn't the point. i was just being mean in a different way, I think Liam saw why. Let's just let this be the only thing I wrote here that counts:

@millysmom

Liam is right, however, we/I have been discourteous. Welcome honey. We might disagree over some literature, or "literature" as the case may be, but chances are we agree on many other books or can discuss them in a more helpful manner. don't be cross (no pun intended) with us, darling.

ok?

anyone up for a drink? it's almost 11 am here.

[MillysMom]

Okay, Mirabell, truce. Let's have a drink.

On another note, my favorite book of all time: Watership Down. Bunnies, anyone?

[Mirabell]

On another note, my favorite book of all time: Watership Down. Bunnies, anyone?

I looove that book. Always meant to read others of his. Maia?

ALso, speaking of books with pets, have you read Tad Williams' Tailchaser? I loved that as a boy.