Spiritual Leaders Who Changed the World: The Essential Handbook to the Past Century of Religion

by Ira Rifkin

Who Were the Most Innovative Spiritual Leaders of the Past Century? Fascinating profiles of the most important spiritual leaders of the past one hundred years. An invaluable reference of twentieth-century religion and an inspiring resource for spiritual challenge today. Black Elk, H. H. the Dalai Lama, Mary Baker Eddy, Abraham Joshua Heschel, J. Krishnamurti, C. S. Lewis, Thomas Merton, Elijah Muhammad, Meher Baba, Joseph Campbell, Simone Weil, Pope John XXIII, Shunryu Suzuki, Aimee Semple McPherson, Billy Graham, Dorothy Day, Thich Nhat Hanh, Martin Luther King, Jr. … these are just some of the spiritual leaders who have changed our world. The result of a nationwide survey of experts in leading universities and seminaries, as well as leading representatives of dozens of religious traditions and spiritual persuasions, this authoritative list of seventy-five includes martyrs and mystics, intellectuals and charismatics from East and West. Their lives and wisdom are now easily accessible in this inspiring volume. A celebration of the human spirit, ideal for both seekers and believers, the curious and the passionate, thinkers and doers, this book is an authoritative guide to the most creative spiritual ideas and actions of the past century―a challenge for us today.

Genres: Spirituality

304 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2008

Reviews

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fuck .. There were revolutionary theologists in the last century.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

from the library
2008
Each bio is two to four pages. I don't know enough to judge the veracity of the facts, but they sound ok. From the ones that I do know the main ideas as presented seem good. Each bio includes a list of books written and often lists a website for further reference.


Part 1 They Shook things up
14 people (I read only one, but was influenced by two)
chogyam Trungpa, Mary Daly, Mary Baker Eddy, Robert Funk,
GI Gurdjieff, Aimee Simple McPherson, Elijah Muhammad, Bhajtivedanta Prabuphada, Bertrand Russell, Zalman Schachter Shalomi, William J Seymour, Shirdi Sai Baba, Starhawk, Desmond Tutu

Part 2 They bore witness(I read one and was influenced by two)
8 people

Part 3 Their Presense changed the world (I read three)
8 people
Part 4 They made intellect a spiritual force (I read or listened to five)
part 5 They changed the world by writing ( I read five)
part 6 They showed us love in action (I read two and was influence by three)
part 7 They brought the traditions together (I read two)
10 people
part 8 They spoke from the power of silence (I listened to one)
8 people