PONDERING THE MYSTERY OF LIFE

Shields offers a quick guide to various theological systems in this debut work.

No matter what tradition we were raised in, we all find ourselves asking the big questions at some point in life: Does God exist? Is there a grand design to the universe? Why are we here? What happens after we die? “Over millennia, spiritual leaders and philosophers have devoted their lives to developing worldviews that could help us achieve enlightened and happier lives,” writes the author in her introduction. “While religious worldviews are most frequently inculcated in childhood, other secular or spiritual viewpoints can be developed as we mature and question ‘the meaning of life.’” With this book, Shields offers a brief introduction to a number of divergent belief systems, exploring the ways in which they seek to address those big questions. She helps readers to familiarize themselves with the differences between literal and non-literal interpretations of the Christian God, the non-anthropomorphic God of pantheism, and the completely non-theological teachings of secular Buddhism. The author also details the peaceful abyss of existential mysticism and the eternal reason of stoicism. Along the way, Shields stops to explore deceptively complex concepts such as hope, love, wonder, and mystery. By the end, readers may discover that their beliefs aren’t quite as tidy and certain as they initially thought. The author’s precise, sometimes academic prose cuts right to the heart of her topics, as here, where she discusses faith: “Three components are fundamental to religious faith: (a) a psychological state, (b) a cognitive comprehension of the ‘truth,’ accepted without evidence, and (c) a practical commitment to one’s religion…Believers find support for their faith by placing emphasis on one of the components, without neglecting the others.” The chapters are short, and the pages fly by despite the heady material. Readers looking for a survey of various theologies—and who don’t mind some dense reading—could do much worse than Shields’ primer.

A nimble, thoughtful introduction to various philosophies regarding faith and God.