THE HUMAN SPIRIT COLLECTION As part of our partnership with the Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council to create the Human Spirit library collection, faith leaders and teachers from various faith philosophies in the community joined to create a suggested reading list for anyone interested in learning about those philosophies. While there are many books available about most all religions, some have the distinction of being considered as “core” treatises for the religion and our faith partners suggest that a comprehensive reading program should include the books on the GKCIC suggested reading list (see below). The Human Spirit collection contains many books on various religions, philosophies and cultural issues, including some of the books on the suggested reading list, as well as books chosen by experts in the field of library science. We encourage everyone to read as much as possible on all philosophies in order to arrive at a well-rounded understanding of our world, not just these specific books, but also other books you will find in theHuman Spirit library collection and from other sources. Only by exposing one’s mind and heart to all the world’s wisdom can one hope to approach a depth of understanding in one’s lifetime. Enhancements to the collection continue Through ongoing partnership with the Kansas City Public Library system, additional books are added to the collection, as they become available. We encourage library patrons to visit the Human Spirit collection often to be acquainted with this new additions. From its inception, it was anticipated that the collection would include materials for children as well as adults. In 2018, the Human Spirit collection reached a new audience as the children’s section of the collection was introduced, with the addition of books on multifaith and multicultural topics, designed with a young audience in mind. Several library programs planned for the early months of 2018 will highlight the addition of the children’s section and be designed to bring excitement to young readers. Suggested reading list from Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council (Not shown in order of importance, but categorized for easy reference) THE BAHA’I FAITH Writings of Baha’u’llah: Kitab-i-Aqdas: The Most Holy Book The Book of Certitude: The Kitab-i-Iqan Hidden Words Gleanings from the Writings of Baha'u'llah Prayers and Meditations Writings from other authors: Baha'i Basics, by Frances Worthington Baha'u'llah and the New Era, by J. E. Esslemont Story of Baha'u'llah, The: Promised One of All Religions, by Druzelle Cederquist Abraham: One God, Three Wives, Five Religions, by Frances Worthington BUDDHISM The Dharmapada The Middle Length Discourses (teachings of the Buddha) The Long Discourses (teachings of the Buddha) The Connected Discourses (teachings of the Buddha) The Abhidharma The Way to Freedom: Core Teachings of Tibetan Buddhism, by the Dalai Lama CHRISTIANITY (all sects) The Orthodox Church: New Edition, by Timothy Ware (Orthodox) New Revised American Bible or New Revised Standard Version (Roman Catholic) United States Catechism for Adults (Roman Catholic) Early Christian Writings: The Apostolic Fathers, edited by Andrew Louth A Layman's Guide to Protestant Theology, by William Hordern Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy (Christian Science) HINDUISM and VEDANTA Bhagavad Gita (Swami Nikhilananda's translation) The Yogas and Other Works of Swami Vivekananda, edited by Swami Nikhilananda Sermon on the Mount according to Vedanta, by Swami Prabhavananda Vedanta: Voice of Freedom, by Swami Vivekananda The Major Upanishads: The Upanishads, translated by Swami Nikhilananda (four volumes or abridged version) The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, translated by Swami Nikhilananda (complete or abridged edition) The Essentials of Hinduism, by Swami Bhaskarananda The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Hinduism, by Linda Johnsen Hinduism — Its Meaning for the Liberation of the Spirit, by Swami Nikhilananda The Spiritual Heritage of India, by Swami Prabhavananda The Upanishads, translated for the modern reader by Eknath Easwaran Ramayana, by Rajagopalachari Mahabharata, by Rajagopalachari The Universe, God and God Realization, by Swami Satprakashananda The Goal and the Way, by Swami Satprakashananda FREETHINKING AND QUESTIONING PHILOSOPHIES Atheism: A Philosophical Justification, by Michael Martin Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism, by Susan Jacoby Atheist Universe: The Thinking Person’s Answer to Christian Fundamentalism, by David Mills ISLAM What's Right with Islam: A New Vision for Muslims and the West, by Feisal Abdul Rauf The Essential Koran, by Thomas Cleary JUDAISM The Torah The Talmud The Jewish Bible Living Judaism: The Complete Guide to Jewish Belief, Tradition, and Practice, by Wayne D. Dosick NATIVE AMERICAN SPIRITUALITY Black Elk Speaks Warriors of the Rainbow The Trail of Tears, by Dee Brown Mother Earth Spirituality: Native American Paths to Healing Ourselves and Our World, by Ed McGaa, Eagle Man SIKHISM The Sikh Religion by Max Arthur Macauliffe (four-volume set or one-volume version) SUFISM Unity of Religious Ideals, by Hazrat Inayat Khan Inner Life, by Hazrat Inayat Khan Physicians of the Heart: A Sufi View of the Ninety-Nine Names of Allah, by Wali Ali Meyer and Bilal Hyde Jerusalem Trilogy, by Samuel Lewis The Essential Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks The Gift — Hafiz, translated by Daniel Ladinsky The Red Book (Rumi poetry) The Sufis, by Idries Shah UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM Universalist Pocket Guide by Peter Morales Welcome, by Patricia Frevert UNITY Myrtle Fillmore’s Healing Letters The Essential Charles Fillmore by Rev. James Gaither The Unity Movement by Neal Vahle Good Questions by Rev. Dr. Thomas Shepherd ZOROASTRIANISM Gathas, the hymns of Zarathushtra INTERFAITH, MULTIFAITH AND BASIC RELIGIOUS PHILOSOPHY Religions: Belief, Ceremonies, Festivals, Sects, Sacred Texts (Visual Reference Guides) by Philip Wilkinson The Norton Anthology of World Religions, ed. Jack Miles A Biography of God, by Jack Miles America: Religions and Religion, by Catherine L Albanese A History of God, Karen Armstrong God in the White House: How Faith Shaped the Presidency from John F. Kennedy to George W. Bush, by Randall Balmer Religion and Science, by Ian G Barbour Sourcebook of the World’s Religions: An Interfaith Guide to Religion and Spirituality, by Joel D Beversluis The Hero with a Thousand Faces, by Joseph Campbell The Masks of God, by Joseph Campbell (four volumes: Primitive Mythology, Oriental Mythology, Occidental Mythology, Creative Mythology) So Help Me God: The Founding Fathers and the First Great Battle Over Church and State, by Forrest Church Other People’s Myths, by Wendy Doniger (O'Flaherty) A New Religious America: How a “Christian Country” Has Become the World's Most Religiously Diverse Nation, by Diana L Eck Encyclopedia of Religion, by Mircea Eliade (16 volumes; also available on CD A History of Religious Ideas, by Mircea Eliade (three volumes) Patterns in Comparative Religion, by Mircea Eliade Cosmos and History: The Myth of the Eternal Return, by Mircea Eliade From Primitives to Zen, by Mircea Eliade (four-volume set or one-volume version) The Eliade Guide to World Religions, by Mircea Eliade and Ioan P Couliano New Essays in Philosophical Theology, by Anthony Flew and Alasdair MacIntyre Sacred Sexuality, by Georg Feuerstein A Primer on Postmodernism, by Stanley J Grenz The Essential Mystics: The Soul’s Journey into Truth, by Andrew Harvey Religion and the Critical Mind: A Journey for Seekers, Doubters and the Curious, by Anton Jacobs InterActive Faith: The Essential Interreligious Community-Building Handbook, by Bud Heckman The Essential Guide to Religious Traditions and Spirituality for Health Care Providers by Steven L Jeffers, Michael E Nelson, Vern Barnet, Michael C Brannigan Introducing Theologies of Religions, by Paul F Knitter How to Be a Perfect Stranger: The Essential Religious Etiquette Handbook, by Stuart M Matlins and Arthur J Magida The One and the Many: America’s Struggle for the Common Good, by Martin E Marty The World's Wisdom: Sacred Texts of the World's Religions, by Philip Novak Worship in the World’s Religions, by Geoffrey Parrinder New Religions: A Guide, by Christopher Partridge Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation, by Eboo Patel Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know — and Doesn’t, by Stephen Prothero God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions That Run the World — and Why Their Differences Matter, by Stephen Prothero Exploring Religion, by Roger Schmidt Our Religions, by Arvind Sharma The World’s Religions: Our Great Wisdom Traditions, by Huston Smith

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