“If I could introduce you to ten amazing people whose influence could transform your life by energizing your spiritual quest, they would be the nine visionaries featured in The Great Search . . . plus a tenth, John Philip Newell himself. What a treasure this book is. Enthusiastically recommended!”—Brian D. McLaren, author of Life After Doom
In the great tradition of authors who leave church but remain spiritual—such as Barbara Brown Taylor, Rob Bell—the author of Sacred Earth, Sacred Soul forges a new path toward a true spiritual home, embracing a deep connection to the natural world.
The story of Adam and Eve’s fall from innocence in the Garden of Eden is a mythical account of humanity’s broken relationship with the divine, with Earth, and with themselves.
In contrast, Celtic wisdom is built on a strong bond with Earth. In the prophetic figures that Newell draws from, the Garden of Eden represents the inner garden of our souls and the outer garden of Earth, which are seen as essentially one. To live in relation to what is deepest in us is to live in relation to the ground from which we and all things have come. Where are we today, in relation to our true selves and the sacredness of Earth? And how are we to find our way home again?
This life-affirming, nourishing book of interfaith wisdom contemplates these questions at a moment of great spiritual awakening, an era characterized by religious exile on a vast scale. For those who are spiritual but not religious, and for all who feel displaced, we need a new sense of home spiritually, deeply rooted within ourselves and in our shared journey with each other and Earth.
Drawing on the world’s deep wells of wisdom, The Great Search offers a new compass for the soul:
- Celtic Wisdom: Discover an ancient spirituality rooted not in humanity’s fall from grace, but in our unbreakable bond with the sacredness of the Earth.
- Interfaith Wisdom: Journey alongside nine prophetic figures—including Thomas Berry, Rumi, and Etty Hillesum—who light the path away from religious division and toward universal truth.
- Eco-Theology for Today: Explore a new vision for faith that addresses the most urgent challenges of our time, from ecological crisis to social injustice, by honoring the planet as our primary spiritual text.
- A New Spiritual Home: For the millions in religious exile or for those who feel spiritually homeless, this book offers a pathway back to a faith that is rooted in the soul and in the soil.