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Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Aspects of religions (non-Christian) > Religious experience > General
There are times in life when we are caught utterly unprepared: a
death in the family, the end of a relationship, a health crisis.
These are the times when the solid ground we thought we stood on
disappears beneath our feet, leaving us reeling and heartbroken, as
we stumble back to our faith. The Days of Awe encompass the weeks
preceding Rosh Hashanah up to Yom Kippur, a period in which Jews
take part in a series of rituals and prayers that reenact the
journey of the soul through the world from birth to death. This is
a period of contemplation and repentance, comparable to Lent and
Ramadan. Yet, for Rabbi Alan Lew, the real purpose of this annual
passage is for us to experience brokenheartedness and open our
heart to God. In This is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared,
Lew has marked out a journey of seven distinct stages, one that
draws on these rituals to awaken our soul and wholly transform us.
Weaving together Torah readings, Buddhist parables, Jewish fables
and stories from his own life, Lew lays bare the meanings of this
ancient Jewish passage. He reveals the path from terror to
acceptance, confusion to clarity, doubt to belief, and from
complacency to awe. In the tradition of When Bad Things Happen to
Good People, This Is Real And You Are Completely Unprepared enables
believers of all faiths to reconnect to their faith with a passion
and intimacy that will resonate throughout the year.
One of the foundational Christian beliefs is that God has
spoken. Most of the time in the Bible, God makes statements. At
other times, rather than making statements, God asks questions. And
God's questions provoke serious thought. Many people have questions
they would love to ask God. Many more have questions about God. But
the most important questions are the ones God is asking us. The God
Questions explores these and other questions God asked people in
the Bible:
- Where are you? - Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? -
Why are you so angry? - Where have you come, from and where are you
going? - Why are you so afraid? - Why do you call me "Lord, Lord,"
and do not do what I say? - Who do you say that I am? - When the
Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?
The questions God asked people of ancient times are the same
questions God is asking us today. Discover the questions God is
asking you, and in doing so, find out what God has in mind for your
life.
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