Episode 005 – Religion (non-fiction)

In our ongoing quest to become better librarians by reading every genre (regardless of our actual interest) we tackle Religion (non-fiction).  

Listen to your hosts Anna Ferri, Meghan Whyte, and Matthew Murray discuss how/whether reading non-fiction is different than fiction, Scientology, new religious movements, travelogues, biographies, how religion interacts with different cultures, accessibility, and Meghan geeks out about charismatic Christianity.

Your Hosts This Episode

Anna Ferri | Meghan Whyte | Matthew Murray

Religion (Non-Fiction) We Read (or kinda):

Recommended

• Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wright (Scientology)

Read

• Silence and Noise: Growing Up Zen in America by Ivan Richmond (Buddhism)
• Holy Laughter and the Toronto Blessing: An Investigative Report by James A. Beverley (Christianity)
• Generation J by Lisa Schiffman (Judaism)
• Speaking of Faith by Krista Tippett (interfaith)
• Heirs to Forgotten Kingdoms: Journeys Into the Disappearing Religions of the Middle East by Gerard Russell (Various – Middle East)
• How Good Do We Have to Be?: A New Understanding of Guilt and Forgiveness by Harold S. Kushner (interfaith?)

Did Not Finish

• From Stone to Flesh: A Short History of the Buddha by Donald S. Lopez Jr.
• Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith by John Krakauer

More “books” we mentioned

• Buddha by Osamu Tezuka

Other Links

• Should atheists read the great books of religion?
• Oh, Dewey Decimal – you so screwy  
• Two-Fisted Librarians

Interpreting Meghan

• Eschatology
• One Church Problem

Check out our Pinterest board and Tumblr posts for all the Religious non-fiction people in our club read (or tried to read), and follow us on Twitter!