The Bishop & The Seeker - Softcover

Passionate praise heard down the block drew "New Ager" Teri Murphy to a Black church outside Washington, DC, where she tells the pastor, Bishop Phil Thomas, that his "plan of salvation" sounds more like the "plan of an insecure person without much imagination." But instead of taking offense, the Bishop engages Teri in a two-year dialogue on religion, politics, psychology, and sex that busts stereotypes in all directions. Calling on everyone from C.S. Lewis to Buddha and Ken Wilber, their story is a ring-side seat to an extraordinary head and heart encounter. It lights a path for easing religious tension in our families, community, and world while teaching us how to better express our own values and drawing us all closer to our own spiritual home.

"A personal and spiritual tour de force. I learned something in every chapter, and it often made me laugh out loud with joy." - Amy Roth, Emmy-winning NBC correspondent, formerly of the U.S. Embassy to the Vatican

"Was I offended? Yes. Did I laugh? Oh yes! Especially when they took Bishop Thomas to that New Age movie. I am a dyed-in-the-wool Christian, and Bishop Thomas is my ideal pastor; I would LOVE to meet both him and Teri." - Lindsey Antle, Parker, CO

"This is really an amazing and eye-opening work. Christians may not come away with a greater acceptance of New Age thought, but they will come away with a clearer vision of how the two belief systems both support and challenge one another. This, in itself, is a great accomplishment and has potential to help smooth some of the rough spots between the two groups." - Laurie Higgs, former Couples Ministry Director, McLean Baptist Church

"This renewed my zeal for the Lord. I loved the transparency, like I was eavesdropping on their very private thoughts. This book will touch many lives." - Caroline June, Upper Marlboro, MD

"Wow. Couldn't put the book down last night until I finished it. Very engrossing, very easy to read, very thoughtful - even though I disagree with almost everything you say about New Age and New Thought." - Kay Pentecost RScP, New Thought Practitioner, Religious Science

"Important and Profound. From my time in Iraq I can tell you that in many parts of the world, the only way to peace will be bridging efforts like this across ideologies." - Carol Haave, former Deputy Assist. Secretary of Defense for Counterintelligence and Security

"In keeping with her 'integral' principles, Teri's growth was not abandonment of the places she'd been, but an invitation to come along. It's as if one hand is reaching back to where she's been, and the other hand is reaching out to where she's going; and in the middle is Teri, weaving the old and the new into a seamless garment and holding the space for the people she loves." - Laurie S. Hall, author of "An Affair of the Mind"

"I love this Bishop. He really knows the Bible. But why are you asking all these niggling questions? 'Fear of the Lord' is just an expression. Everybody knows that. Nobody is actually afraid of him. I don't understand the purpose of this book. Could you just send me some tapes of the Bishop, please?" - Elodie Ling, Anglican, retired British school teacher living in the Bahamas