The Peacemaker's Path: Multifaith Reflections to Deepen Your Spirituality

by Jerry Zehr

Overview

Now more than ever, people are painfully divided politically, religiously, and culturally. And yet, there is a commonality in our faith traditions that can help us turn away from polarization and create a greater sense of community in which our differences are honored.

The Peacemaker's Path brings together wisdom from the world's major religious traditions, including Bahá'í, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Native American spiritualities, Sikhism, Taoism, and Zoroastrianism, showing that we have much more in common than what divides us.

Through daily readings that explore the tenets, teachings, writings, and prayers of these diverse faith traditions, you will gain new insight, understanding, and connection with people from different religious backgrounds. Each day offers a reflection, scripture passages from the world's religions, questions to contemplate, a call to action, and a closing prayer.

May we realize the tremendous importance of building bridges of peace in our own lives, our communities, and our world. Loving our friends is easy; loving the "other" will bring shalom.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781506469133
Publisher:	Broadleaf Books
Publication date:	08/24/2021
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	201
Sales rank:	496,838
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Jerry Zehr is an ordained minister and has been a leader in interfaith ministries for over thirty years. He has helped create four interfaith organizations, including the Carmel Interfaith Alliance and the Indiana Multifaith Network. Jerry and his wife, Diane, have been married for over thirty-five years. They have two daughters and two grandchildren, and live in Carmel, Indiana.

Table of Contents

Dedication

Introduction

Theme One: Walking the Enlightened Path

Day One: Awakening

Day Two: Universal Mind

Day Three: Respecting Others' Beliefs

Day Four: Connecting to Creation

Day Five: Faith/Trust

Day Six: Wonder

Day Seven: Review and Reflection

Theme Two: The Power of Prayer

Day Eight: The Purpose of Prayer

Day Nine: Centering

Day Ten: Mindfulness

Day Eleven: Gratitude

Day Twelve: Connecting to Others

Day Thirteen: Patience

Day Fourteen: Review and Reflection

Theme Three: Loving Yourself

Day Fifteen: Created in the Image of God

Day Sixteen: Other's Expectations or True to Yourself

Day Seventeen: Acceptance or Perfectionism

Day Eighteen: Forgiveness or Punishment

Day Nineteen: Trust or Worry

Day Twenty: Courage or Resistance

Day Twenty-One: Review and Reflection

Theme Four: Loving Others

Day Twenty-Two: Listening

Day Twenty-Three: Empathy

Day Twenty-Four: Compassion

Day Twenty-Five: Generosity

Day Twenty-Six: Encouragement

Day Twenty-Seven: Forgiveness

Day Twenty-Eight: Review and Reflection

Theme Five: Actions and Impact

Day Twenty-Nine: Desire

Day Thirty: Intentionality

Day Thirty-One: Interdependence

Day Thirty-Two: Character

Day Thirty-Three: Perseverance

Day Thirty-Four: The Harvest

Day Thirty-Five: Review and Reflection

Theme Six: Quest for Peace

Day Thirty-Six: Peace Within

Day Thirty-Seven: Be an Advocate

Day Thirty-Eight: Act Justly

Day Thirty-Nine: Offer Mercy

Day Forty: Initiate Reconciliation

Review and Reflection

Epilouge

Acknowledgments

Editorial Reviews

"In Pastor Zehr's gorgeous engagement with the fundamental elements of the world's faith traditions we learn how close we all are in our efforts to honor and love God and each other. We owe a debt to Pastor Zehr for providing this road map to spiritual intimacy among the varied religions of our world." —Rabbi Steve Gutow, Visiting Scholar at NYU's Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and co-director of the Religious Leadership and Civic Engagement Project

"I thank God for the way Jerry Zehr has brought together spiritually inspiring quotations from ten different religious traditions along with many superb illustrations of spiritual truths. If you want to grow deeper spiritually and wider in compassion for all people, I encourage you to ponder the meditations in this book." —Dr. Kent Millard, president of United Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio

"In this illuminating and spiritually rich book, we are inspired to examine how our shared and common values can transcend differences, divides, and stereotyped thresholds; and together contribute to our collective peace and goodwill as enlightened beings and blessed peacemakers." —Kanwal Prakash "KP" Singh, artist, author, interfaith leader, public speaker

"Few books offer such a rich and easily understood examination of the complexity of some of the basic components of the world's major religions and spiritual belief systems. This book accomplishes this, and also provides an informed and practical set of tools to promote peace and a deepened understanding, respect, and common ground between individuals with assumed diverse faiths." —Lawrence H. Gerstein, PhD, George & Frances Ball Distinguished Professor of Psychology-Counseling and Director, Center for Peace and Conflict Studies, Ball State University

"Jerry Zehr has produced a book that can promote better understanding of various religions and, thus, contribute to peacemaking in our fractured era. Readers may be surprised at the areas of commonality and have their appreciation for other faiths expanded." —Rev. Dr. Michael Kinnamon, author of The Witness of Religion in an Age of Fear and Unity as Prophetic Witness

"The spirit of Jerry Zehr shines throughout this book. Thoughtful, insightful, and immediately and immensely helpful. You'll revisit this book time and again." —Phil Gulley, author of If the Church Were Christian

"At a time when our divisions seem to tear us apart, this book offers the secret to the unity and peace we need." —Rob Fuquay, senior pastor, St. Luke's United Methodist Church and author of The God We Can Know; Which Way, Lord?: Exploring Your Life's Purpose in the Journeys of Paul; A New Reformation; and The Passion Play: Living the Story of Christ's Last Days

"Illuminating and enlightening, The Peacemaker's Path is an outstanding gem. A beacon of hope where pluralism and religious diversity are sometimes seen as a threat to any singular claim of divine truth. The book is a wonderful introduction to the world's religions with a very pragmatic and accessible format." —Charlie Wiles, executive director, Center for Interfaith Cooperation

"Jerry Zehr has brought together immensely powerful insights from the world's great religions that demonstrate that, while we differ in some important religious practices and particulars of theology, we are all children of the Divine, called to live in love and community with each other. I commend this book to every Christian who wishes to live in the way and spirit of Christ." —The Rev. Dr. Dick Hamm, former General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in the US and Canada

From the Publisher