Great Texts of Faith

The books, in order

1. 1

   Spirituality · 16 min

   Mere Christianity

   C.S. Lewis

   For Lewis, accepting your own diagnosis before looking for any relief is what separates real change from a burst of motivation that cools off in a week.

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2. 2

   Spirituality · 16 min

   Nosso Lar

   Chico Xavier (through the spirit André Luiz)

   For the book's critics, the idea of a spiritual city organized into ministries and work shows how Chico Xavier projected very earthly values, like order and productivity, to explain what comes after death.

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3. 3

   Biographies and Memoirs · 18 min

   Story of a Soul

   Thérèse of Lisieux

   True nobility of human character does not lie in boasting of monumental deeds, but in welcoming one's own limitations with serenity and sincere compassion.

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4. 4

   Spirituality · 15 min

   The Imitation of Christ

   Thomas à Kempis

   According to the author, setting aside fifteen minutes of silence in the middle of a noisy day organizes your mind better than a lot of advice heard in a rush.

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5. 5

   Spirituality · 17 min

   The Reason for God

   Timothy Keller

   Respectful coexistence can recognize deep differences without turning disagreement into contempt.

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6. 6

   Spirituality · 17 min

   The Bhagavad Gita

   Anonymous (Vedic tradition)

   A responsibility deserves closer examination when its costs fall on those with the least power to refuse it.

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7. 7

   Spirituality · 14 min

   The Gospel According to Spiritism

   Allan Kardec

   For the book, facing a hard time with patience can turn into a lesson, but that doesn't replace seeking medical or professional help when it's needed.

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8. 8

   Spirituality · 17 min

   The Spirits' Book

   Allan Kardec

   The book presents a supreme intelligence as the explanation for the order of the universe, but that is a philosophical bet by the author, not a proven fact.

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9. 9

   Spirituality · 16 min

   Confessions

   Saint Augustine

   In the theft of the pears, Augustine realizes he didn't want the fruit: he wanted the thrill of breaking the rules together with his friends.

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10. 10

    Spirituality · 15 min

    The Great Controversy

    Ellen G. White

    The Great Disappointment of 1844 shows how predictions with a date tend to fail, and how faith groups can reinterpret what went wrong and move on.

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