{"product_id":"book-cajw","title":"Traveling Light","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this inspiring manifesto, the \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestselling author of \u003cem\u003eReligious Literacy\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eGod Is Not One\u003c\/em\u003e calls us to embrace an ancient practice at the heart of many religions and cultures-wandering-to help us reconnect with our own souls and find renewed meaning in our lives\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe \u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e bestselling author asks: what would it mean to reclaim the notion of wandering-the trust in strangers, the rejection of materialism-a principle foundational to most of the world's major faiths?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn the spirit of other 'big think, big picture' books like \u003cem\u003eSapiens\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eTraveling Light\u003c\/em\u003e examines a fascinating religious commonality among Christianity, Buddhism, Daoism, and other faiths: Each began with its founder wandering from civilization to pursue the true worship of God on the road, without destination. Stephen Prothero, author of eleven acclaimed books including the equally expansive \u003cem\u003eGod Is Not One\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eReligious Literacy\u003c\/em\u003e, brings his renowned scholarship and deep knowledge of the world's faiths to explore what that renunciation meant in its deepest sense.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eProthero reveals how these spiritual pioneers-Jesus, Buddha, Laozi and more-meant their departures to be revolutionary statements about the confines of cities and towns and a critique of a sedentary agricultural life within empires. These founders embraced lives of personal transformation. But, over time, their followers institutionalized their spiritual practices into rigid, power-driven structures, constructing monastic institutions, political alliances, and systems of material accumulation, thus straying from the radical lifestyles and teachings of their founders. Prothero explores:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhy the renunciation of family was particularly painful and countercultural in Jesus' time\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe wealth divide in that era and the debates that raged about how to respond to poverty\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cp\u003eWandering as an act of trust in fellow man versus an act of never returning home\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eTraveling Light\u003c\/em\u003e offers an eye-opening perspective on religious evolution, appealing to listeners disillusioned with organized faith but eager to deepen their connections to its origins, spiritual wanderers, and history enthusiasts examining ancient cultures.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"HarperCollins","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":49276702064944,"sku":"BDcajw","price":26.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Audio CD","offer_id":49276702097712,"sku":"ZEcajw","price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Audio MP3-CD","offer_id":49276702130480,"sku":"ZMcajw","price":45.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/cajw-Square-cover.jpg?v=1771527244","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-cajw","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}