Authors: Solihin and Alicia Thom and Alexandra ter Horst

ISBN: 0-9713172-0-8

The following review was contributed by:  Jim  Curtiss: Click Here To Read More Of Jim’s Reviews

Being human in a spiritual sense means something very different than
just adhering to a certain religion. Indeed, by drawing on the wisdom of
many different faiths in their book titled Being Human, the authors not
only respect the amalgam of the human condition, they also pay homage to
it by presenting the accrued knowledge of various belief systems as
equally valuable, with each one contributing to the overall spiritual
well-being of the human race. In fact, the authors exhibit such a
diversity of thought that most readers are sure to be impressed with
their spiritual and cultural acumen.

Regrettably, though perhaps understandably, many people have negative
opinions of organized religion; it is easy for fundamentalists or
malpractitioners to taint our views. As the authors write on page 50,
"Some of us may have had our feeling for religion or spirituality
colored or tainted by negative experience. As a consequence, we might
seek a connection with the Great Life in some other way. Perhaps it is
time to take another look at our spiritual foundation in order to get in
touch with the wholeness that each of us seeks."

This "wholeness that each of us seeks" is the ultimate goal in most
theological systems, and the pursuit of this goal is what the authors of
Being Human, through lucid and illuminating personal anecdotes and
explanatory texts, encourage the reader to undertake.

At the risk of revealing his own beliefs, the reviewer thinks this is
exactly the sort of book that a 21st century seeker is after. For not
only does Being Human respect and embrace myriad religions and
traditions, it seeks to reconcile those faiths by illustrating the
following premise: though they may have different names for it, all
religions are (or should be) in pursuit of  the same goal - human beings
living in peace, with respect and love for all.

That premise is perfectly worded on Page 142, when the authors state,
"We may judge one another according to our own value systems, but if we
widen our consciousness to see beyond our own map, we then create the
possibility of understanding how the values of others have been shaped."

Reading the book Being Human may not be enough to bring about such a
goal, but it sure is a fine place to start.