Behind the Altar

""In Behind the Altar, Linda Olds opens a window on her lifelong exploration of the world's religions, sharing discoveries that shaped her spiritual growth. Each chapter focuses on a dimension of religion's intersection with psychology, showing how spiritual insight can reveal to us who we are--in body, mind, soul, and spirit--and guide us toward lives of compassion and gratitude. The book stands out for its cross-cultural breadth, depth of insight, scholarship, and eloquence."" --Michael Washburn, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy, Indiana University South Bend ""Writing with the personal voice of a life-long seeker, and the commitments of a disciplined and prophetic scholar, Linda Olds meets our spiritual and moral moment. She works the edges and plumbs the depths of religions as dynamic systemic fields of connectivity and meaning-making evolving through time and cultures--all in dialogue with psychology, the study of the mind/soul. Essential bridge building across disciplinary boundaries--a trove of insight for both the academy and serious seekers willing to look behind the altar."" --Sharon Daloz Parks, author of Big Questions, Worthy Dreams: Mentoring Emerging Adults in Their Search for Meaning, Purpose, and Faith ""What I most enjoy and admire about Linda Olds's book is its foundation in her own life experience. Her life-long commitment to questions about soul and spirit and their connections to ordinary life has given us a book useful to an academic audience and more importantly to all those seeking a life that makes sense. I'll be making regular use of it myself in my ongoing journey. The bibliography alone is a treasure chest."" --Tom Parisi, Professor of Psychology Emeritus, Saint Mary's College, Indiana