"God Without Religion opens a door to spiritual practice that organized religions have closed for centuries. Sankara Saranam has written a spiritual masterpiece. I highly recommend it to all spiritual seekers."
- Rev Dr Michael Ellner
President, HEAL (Health Education AIDS Liaison-NYC),
Co-author of Quantum Focus, and winner of the IMDHA Pen and Quill Award
"As never before, the world needs serious and bold reflection on religious belief and practice. God Without Religion asks some difficult questions and advocates a more intelligent and thoughtful approach to the spiritual life. At the same time it offers positive ways to develop a spiritual viewpoint. Take it on a retreat. Read it slowly, in sections, and become a positive influence toward religious understanding in the world."
- Thomas Moore
Author of Care of the Soul and Dark Nights of the Soul
"It is clear that one of the darkest forces menacing the future of humanity is old-style religion with its outmoded dogma and exclusivist practices. This fine, fierce, wise, and deeply helpful book challenges everyone to find a direct relationship with the divine beyond the confines of the past, and offers rich advice and a bevy of powerful practices that can sustain such a relationship and continue to expand it."
- Andrew Harvey
Author of The Direct Path and Sun at Midnight
"In this day when religions seem to be caught in stages of mind-numbing dogma, justification of violence, and meaningless ritual that do no more than sanctify greed and secular superiority, Sankara Saranam's book offers hope and relief. You don't have to be Jewish, Christian, or Muslim to see the real message here-God is part of us all and Western religions may be getting in the way of that realization if they continue on their present paths."
-Fred Alan Wolf, PhD
Theoretical physicist, author of The Yoga of Time Travel,
and a National Book Award winner
"All religions, it seems, inevitably give way to the excesses of religious zeal and exclusivity. That is why the 'contributions' of religion have so often been horrific and disastrous, and why every major religion has dirty hands. Currently our world is aflame with religious hatred and shows no sign of abating, and the narrow
religious fundamentalisms within our own society are a major part of the problem. Our civilization is at a crossroads. The hour is late and there is no time to tippy-toe around the obvious: we urgently need an alternative link with the divine that bypasses the pitfalls of traditional religion. That is the significance of God Without Religion. This book's bold message is vital. It is a path straight up the mountain that avoids the swamps of religious dithering, divisiveness, and destructiveness. It is a way out of darkness. It affirms the unity of all humans not only with one another, but with all of life and the Absolute. If we are to survive on the earth, heeding this message is not merely optional but required.
"
-Larry Dossey, MD
Author of Healing Beyond the Body and Reinventing Medicine
"In God Without Religion, Sankara Saranam charts a brave course for spiritual seekers no longer served by religious doctrine (if indeed they ever were) and eager to create deep, authentic, meaningful relationship with the sacred by methods Saranam clearly describes as a 'direct path to God.' This is a courageous, stand-out book for readers ready to part the veil of illusion and see the truth that every religious tradition must periodically and systematically reexamine itself and account for its teachings"
- Meredith Jordan
Author of Embracing the Mystery
"Twenty-first century humanity has inherited the historical struggle between Dark Age religious fundamentalism, which proclaims the world to be the kingdom of a remote, transcendent, authoritarian God, in opposition to the spiritually-awakened views of the secular humanists, who perceive an accessible, immanent, egalitarian God existing within all of creation. In exploring this ideological conflict, Sankara Saranam has created one of the most extraordinary books of our time-a time in which misguided religious zealots have the capacity to decide that the world will be their God's Kingdom . . . or nothing. God Without Religion is Saranam's response, presenting us with a historical perspective on the political underbelly of our organized religions, then drawing science and spirituality together to offer us a new profile of divinity-one that casts light on the relationship between human existence and the Cosmos, one that extends salvation to us all."
-Hank Wesselman, PhD
Anthropologist and author of The Spiritwalker Trilogy
and
The Journey to the Sacred Garden
"God Without Religion is a rare book, combining spiritual insight and practice with social criticism and an appreciation of the many contradictions of modern life. I highly recommend this book for anyone seeking to maintain intellectual integrity while simultaneously retaining reverence for the unity of all things"
- Jeffrey Mishlove, PhD
President, Intuition Network; author of he PK Man;
and former host of Thinking Allowed, a national public television series
"The full body-count may not be in, but we can certainly imagine the numbers:
the millions upon millions of our species who have been killed in war, hanged, burned at the stake, tortured to death, and otherwise silenced in the name of religion over the centuries. Sankara Saranam's God Without Religion makes the point that we can have a profound and rewarding personal spiritual life without religion, which has been so terribly destructive, and which we may have actually outgrown. Unlike other books that tear religion down without offering anything in its place, God Without Religion sets out helpful alternative approaches to personal spirituality. This is an inspiring, positive, wonderful book that emphasizes the truth that we are spiritual beings making a human journey. Reading it will greatly enhance your personal relationship with the Creator-Energy.
"
- Joseph Dispenza
Author of The Way of the Traveler and Live Better Longer
"The pursuit of a personal connection with God has been the ultimate challenge of seekers throughout the millennia. The Buddha's and Jesus's examples teach that we must sometimes turn our backs on the social organizations that at one time may have offered us support in our quest. Nevertheless, leaving the path forged by others before us can be both bewildering and frightening. Like a guide in the wilderness, Sankara Saranam helps us bridge the gap between organized religion and progressive spirituality, encouraging us to ask our own questions about the nature of God, so that our experience of our own divinity might expand. This work is a breath of fresh air at a time when seekers everywhere are questioning the limits of organized religion."
- Hal Zina Bennett, Ph.D.
Author of Writing Spiritual Books
"Avoiding all kinds of extremism and exclusiveness of the so-called institutionalized religions, Sankara's God Without Religion enlightens us with an unusual approach toward understanding religion as a form of life with special emphasis on its human face. Spirituality instead of religiosity has been initiated as the central point of this form of life, and this is a significant departure from the oft-trodden track of understanding religion. Sankara's book inspires us with a proper perception of our present concerns, a clear understanding of the significance of the past, and commitments to and vision of the future. It seems to be an inspiring source and hope for the survival of peace-loving people in the world."
-Dilipkumar Mohanta
Professor of Philosophy, University of Calcutta
Editor of The Journal of the Indian Academy of Philosophy
"God Without Religion. Those words grabbed my attention and spoke to my spirit before I even opened the pages. This book is timely, for we live in an age of so much religion without God. Sankara Saranam presents us with the opportunity to declare our independence from dusty, petrified religious structures and forge vibrant, meaningful relationships with our brothers and sisters, as well as the Creator. I love the way Sankara writes. His style is both scholarly and approachable, a rare accomplishment, indeed. When I read the section "Celebrating Apostasy," I knew this book would become an old friend, to be read and reread throughout the years. God Without Religion is a treasure, a pearl of great price. Sankara's gift of literary prasada enriches us all, and is a worthy companion on anyone's path."
-Robert Ransom Odom
Internationally published author, columnist, and spiritual teacher
"Within a rough order of magnitude there have been over the past 10,000 years 10,000 different religions with as many accompanying gods. The number one predictor of anyone's religion, then, is not just their parents (the usual sociological explanation) but their epoch and place of birth on the planet. How anyone can observe this simple fact of history and come to the conclusion that theirs is the One True Religion or God and the other 9,999 are False Religions or Gods is almost incomprehensible. . . . There are many ways to be spiritual. For me, the awe provoked by nature, the cosmos, and the scientific worldview is transcendently spiritual. There are so many other paths to spiritual enlightenment as well, and Sankara Saranam has beautifully articulated some of these through his book God Without Religion, a work appropriate for anyone in search of spiritual meaning, regardless of their official 'faith.' A truly inspiring work."
-Michael Shermer
Publisher of Skeptic magazine; columnist with Scientific American;
and author of Why People Believe Weird Things and The Science of Good and Evil
"God Without Religion is a provocative challenge to the smug assertions of those who would claim to know the truth."
-Robert S. Alley
Professor of Humanities, Emeritus
University of Richmond
"The founder of the Pranayama Institute has written a most timely book: God Without Religion. The author, a son of Iraqi Jewish parents, unsatisfied with the religiosity he so effectively describes throughout, embarked on his own quest to gain insights into how institutionalized spirituality restricts rather than expands our views on god. Using Kriya Yoga techniques, primarily in the form of pranayama or breath control, one of the most powerful means for quieting the mind and gaining insight into the ultimate nature of things, Sankara has come to believe that God is an actual substance pervading the universe (and not some anthropomorphic deity lording over human beings). It is this very substance that we can all access primarily through the meditations and visualizations which he offers throughout his book. It is obvious that the author has grounded out his spiritual experiences in God without Religion which is perfect for anyone who is dissatisfied with organized religion in its many guises. Sankara also describes the dangers of New Age cults and how they are really no different than other organizations which rely on the regulation of the group mind, absolve the individual of any responsibility (other than to the organization which they belong to) and promote exclusivity. God Without Religion is a well balanced, non-reactionary approach to a very touchy subject indeed. Sankara has done an exceptional job of transcending reactiveness in the form of emotionality and argumentativeness and offers us some very tangible means for accessing and integrating the god substance he talks about and has touched upon. I would recommend this tactful and informative book to not only those subjected to religious indoctrination, but also to the fortunate individuals who never had to endure spiritual dogma in its many oppressive and distorting forms as it may show them alternatives in how to deal with Christian, Muslim, Judaic and Buddhist fundamentalists in a way that is constructive and enlightening, rather than destructive."
-Jaye Beldo
freelance reviewer
"Religions are dangerous. No matter what good they produce, one must admit that these cultural institutions bring with them great risks to humanity at large. It takes no historian to recount the numerous ways in which religion has gone bad and insulted humanity and the notion of God with its bloody actions. All of the great spiritual leaders taught criticism of tradition as a way toward revitalizing the sacred. Sankara Saranam rekindles this vital flame in his book God Without Religion. For the critic, Saranam offers fine insights into the dangers and errors that religious intolerance provokes, and for the mystic his book teaches practical techniques for spiritual development. The genuine seeker must utilize both the critical mind and the generous heart. God Without Religion honors both."
—John J. McGraw
Author of Brain & Belief: An Exploration of the Human Soul
"God Without Religion by Sankara Saranam is a courageous attempt to present a serious, nonreductive spirituality that avoids the divisive impact of institutionalized religions. Drawing on the wisdom of ancient mystical traditions, the author passionately argues for the need to transcend those very traditions. Combining various disciplinary approaches, God Without Religion offers a sensitive alternative to organized religion, an alternative that seeks to overcome the prejudices and biases of the different traditions. What is most impressive is that the way to God Without Religion is a deepening of the very paths that must be abandoned. There is no question that this is a timely work inspired by eternal truths."
—Elliot R. Wolfson
Abraham Lieberman Professor of Hebrew and Judaic Studies, New York University
"Sankara Saranam has written a powerful book, and one that, if it were taken seriously and allowed to reform global attitudes, could liberate the world of religious strife and lay a sound foundation for a global ethic. Saranam suggests we stop relying on revelation, tradition, prejudices, dogma, and authority. Instead, we should trust our human critical and intuitive faculties and become 'spiritual investigators' who learn through open-ended dialogue in which all participants are free to doubt, challenge, and explore. . . . While Saranam smashes the idols of institutional religion, he clearly believes in a meaningful cosmos and the spiritual potential of humanity. . . . It is to be hoped that followers of the religions Saranam attacks will not dismiss him as an enemy calling believers to apostasy but rather as one who challenges believers to break through the hard shells of fundamentalism and become change agents within their respective faiths. Religious followers can take Saranam's challenge and show the world that their religions need not be rigid and that there is no reason why people of all faiths cannot learn to be critical, thoughtful, proactive weavers of their traditions."
—Ingrid Shafer, PhD
Professor of Philosophy and Religion
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma
"God Without Religion leads the reader to true spirituality. It is extraordinary, elegant, beautiful, informed, practical. It is good medicine in a troubled world."
—David Carson
Author of Medicine Cards
"Religious fundamentalism is the biggest spiritual threat to society. This practical as well as theoretical volume encourages people to have direct, firsthand experience of the divine, unmediated by the trappings of organized religion. Sankara Saranam promotes the spiritual discipline of 'active wondering' and the triumph of reason over revelation. There is much to question about all religious writing, and the author hopes readers question his book as well."
—Mary E. Hunt, PhD
Co-director of Women's Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual
"Sankara Saranam argues for an 'expansive sense of self' which can get rid of narrow, sectarian divisions that characterize most of human society today. His approach has strong resonances to the Vedic/Upanishadic concept of 'an expansive sense of the self,' and many yogic practices like pranayama are advocated to gradually realize this 'expanded self.' Regardless of one's personal views on religion, changing the outlook of societies that identify themselves within a paradigm of narrow, ethnic boundaries is an imperative that needs to be taken seriously."
-T. S. Rukmani
Concordia University, Montreal
"At a time when suicide bombers kill in the name of God, when religious teachings are distorted to spread hatred, and when the clergy peddle theological doctrines for personal gain, here is a book that restores God's place in the human heart. God Without Religion offers, through exquisite prose and profound substance, a way out of religious shackles and abuse-a direct path to God. This path of self-discovery reveals humanity's capacity to reach unparalleled new heights guided by a force that resides within the soul of every human being."
-Alon Ben-Meir, PhD
Professor of International Relations
The Center for Global Affairs, New York University
Syndicated columnist; Middle East Project Director at The World Policy Institute
Author of A War We Must Win and The Middle-East, Imperatives and Choice
"God Without Religion is a genuine contribution to the religion and spirituality debate raging today. . . . This thoughtful and insightful book will help increase the spiritual literacy that is a necessary part of our true higher education if we are going to individually and collectively find the peace and freedom, harmony and love that we seek. I heartily recommend it to anyone striving to further refine and develop both inner spiritual life and social activism in today's volatile world."
-Lama Surya Das
Author of Awakening the Buddha Within
and founder of the Dzogchen Meditation Center
"I had the pleasure of having Mr. Sankara Saranam as a guest on our August 1, 2005, edition of "A Story to Tell". Sankara was a terrific guest, full of ideas and very pleasant to work with. I would highly recommend him as a guest on other talk radio shows, and his book ("God Without Religion") is certain to earn respect as a controversial - if not socially challenging - book!"
-Kevin Dawson
Host, A Story to Tell
GlobalTalkRadio.com
"In these complex and troubled times Sankara Saranam's book is uplifting and gentle. Written with clarity and elegance, the book explores the mysteries of faith and spiritual commitment with sensitivity and wisdom, and succeeds largely because it does not seek to deride or convert, but to educate and inspire."
-Ahrar Ahmad, PhD
Professor of Political Science
Black Hills State University
"Sankara Saranam makes it possible for readers to discover within themselves, that which is holy. By refining ourselves, by having compassion for all life, Gd without religion is not denouncing religion, but instead, finding what it is that 'binds' each one of each to the Creator. For those seeking inner peace in a world full of turmoil, Sankara presents ancient ways of spiritual unfoldment, in a modern world and in a modern way."
-Zohara M. Heironimus
Host of Nationally Syndicated Talk Show, Future Talk
"God Without Religion transcends dogma with a commonsense approach that leads the way to inner peace, spiritual solidarity, and the clear understanding that we are all one."
-Melissa Etheridge
Musician
