A Place at the TableA mixture of Studs Terkel's oral histories and the Dalai Lama's "The Art of Happiness," this charming chronicle of William Elliott's quest to understand Jesus interweaves his personal, often quirky epiphanies with the insights of well-known men and women of every spiritual tradition. Raised in the Catholic Church, William Elliott's faith was shattered at the age of twelve when both his parents died. Many years later, he embarked on a journey to find answers to the questions that continued to haunt him-What is the purpose of life? Does God exist? What happens after death? His travels resulted in "Tying Rocks to Clouds," an engaging narrative about the renewal of faith he achieved through the simple act of presenting his questions to a broad spectrum of thinkers and spiritual leaders. The review in "Publishers Weekly "summed it up this way: "This invaluable record deserves to be a bestseller, not only for its inherent wisdom but also for its clarity and respect for the many ways there are to be and to believe." "A Place at the Table "is an account of Elliott's latest pilgrimage, and like its predecessor, it is a magical blend of humor and idealism. Triggered by the memory of praying for his dying mother beneath an ornately framed painting of "The Last Supper" in their living room, Elliott set out to discover the role Jesus plays in people's lives. Over the course of several years, he interviewed such spiritual teachers and icons as Deepak Chopra, Neale Donald Walsch, Marianne Williamson, and Billy Graham. He went to Jerusalem to walk in the footsteps of Jesus, and even conceived of a bold (if ultimately unsuccessful ) plan to meet with Pope John Paul II in Rome. Each encounterilluminates another facet of Jesus' teachings, but it is Elliott's wry and sincere commentary on his own spiritual journey that reveals the most insight. " A Place at the Table "is at once down to earth and rich in spirit. The story of one man's persistent search for answers, it provides invaluable guideposts for everyone seeking to understand Jesus' centrality in Western civilization and the meaning of Christianity in today's world. |
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