Reaching Beyond the Religious: Seven Universal Wisdom Themes from Seven Thousand Years of Human Experience

In a groundbreaking comparison between the Biblical and Hindu traditions, Reaching Beyond the Religious reveals a wisdom that transcends time, culture, and creed, and which has the power to transform the way we think about religion in the 21st century. Taking issue with New Age concepts such as The Secret and the idea that we can create our destinies by tapping into the power of our intentions, the book flips the paradigm on its head and challenges our basic assumptions about the world, God, and the human enterprise. Moving between mythology and reality, East and West, the book unearths seven universal wisdom themes from across the religious spectrum and maps these onto the complexities of modern day life. It covers topics from Genesis, Job, and the Hindu god, Shiva, to the dramatic Presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama; from the life stories of Biblical patriarchs and Hindu icons to those of contemporary greats such as J.K. Rowling, Oprah Winfrey, and Warren Buffett. It charts the teachings of the past into the present while exploring humankind's most pressing and difficult questions. Supported by compelling examples taken from nature, pop culture, and religious text; prepare to be enlightened, entertained, and inspired by Reaching Beyond the Religious.

Elan Divon is a religious scholar, educator, and entrepreneur in the field of conflict resolution and personal development. He holds advanced graduate degrees from Harvard and Brandeis Universities and currently resides in Toronto. He teaches evening courses on Jewish Wisdom, is an avid photographer and poet, and is in the midst of writing his next book.