An Altar in the World.

Book Review.
Taylor Brown, Barbara. An Altar in the World. A geography of faith. Harper One 2009.
BTB- an Episcopal parish priest for fifteen years. Now a professor at Piedmont College. Also teaches at Columbia Theological Seminary.
Comment. Henry
On the pendulum of postmodern/emergent literature this resource would be in the (extreme) left quadrant. Although I do not consider myself anywhere near this position I was amazed, maybe even shocked, at how often I resonated with what I was reading. Some of that response came from my spiritual experience as a child and young person. There is a much in this book that would make ready ‘cannon fodder’ for a conservative who sees postmodernity and emergence as apostasy and heresy, e.g. Roger Oakland. This is “a book about practices not ideas”. (194) Barbara really pushes the envelope for me when it comes to tolerance and inclusiveness. That being said I did enjoy the read. I am thankful that I experience no pressure about the need to defend or attack this author’s thesis.

Using the story of Jacob’s experience at Bethel the author suggests that an altar, a place of worship, can be anywhere, even a rock in a wilderness. It is certainly limited to an acceptable ‘house of God’. As God came to Jacob, where he was so, he will come to us if we watch for him.
Reverence can be learned by the very young. It can take many forms and is often learned by observing nature. (I think that was my experience as a child.) “The first criteria for reverence- is to remind ourselves that we are not gods.” (24) When we pay attention we will discover many altars that provoke reverence.
We do well to learn to accept our (physical) bodies as an important part of our spiritual well being. God became flesh. He lived in a body. The “practice of wearing skin” will become an important part of healthy spiritual well-being.
Simple activities such as walking can become meaningful spiritual exercises. There are lessons that can be learned from becoming lost, i.e. wilderness experiences.
Have a purpose for living. Know the discipline and the level of freedom that comes from knowing when it is appropriate to say no. There is great value in a work ethic. When we decide to engage pain and give it our full attention we can learn things about reality.
The chapter on prayer reads more like a search than a spiritual exercise or discipline. There is great value in “blessing prayers” (208) that are directed to even the insignificant things.
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