Religious Book Reviews

An older mentor writes to a boy named Sammy to explain why and how our views of morality and spirituality have changed since the founding of America, basing his case on the biblical creation story, in Mr. Smitty Notes: Genesis 1-11.

The author introduces this lively viewpoint by explaining to the reader that Mr. Smitty, the “author” of the narrative, would be someone with whom Sammy has “an important relationship,” expressing his concern for the boy’s future by acquainting him with elements of the past with which Sammy may not be entirely familiar. He reminds the reader that the […]

Businessman George Vasilca turns mentor and guides readers through the process of becoming a more upstanding, self-reliant and generous person in the dynamic manual, The Diamond Soul: 5 Stepping Stones to Christlike Character.

Vasilca traces his own search for a balanced, conscientious character to childhood: his mother urged him to be tender and loving, while his father equated Christian principles with strength and will. In contemplating how to combine the two, he creates two potent metaphors. First, based on his hiking adventures, he imagines stepping stones that can be traced out to plan a journey. Second is the image […]