Beyond Belief: My Secret Life Inside Scientology and My Harrowing Escape
UNABRIDGED (12 hrs)
By Jenna Miscavige Hill
Narrated By Sandy Rustin
Whispersync for Voice-ready
Overall
(291)
Performance
(261)
Story
(262)
Jenna Miscavige Hill, niece of Church of Scientology leader David Miscavige, was raised as a Scientologist but left the controversial religion in 2005. In Beyond Belief, she shares her true story of life inside the upper ranks of the sect, details her experiences as a member Sea Org - the church's highest ministry - speaks of her "disconnection" from family outside of the organization, and tells the story of her ultimate escape.
Tim says:
"The Despicable Truth Behind Scientology"
Spurred by personal tragedy, Elaine Pagels turns to a consideration of the Gnostic Gospels, in particular, the Gospel of Thomas. As opposed to the Gospel of John, which asserted that Jesus was an eternally existing aspect of God who came to earth to save humankind, the "secret" Gospel of Thomas agrees that Jesus was in some sense divine, but says that a streak of divinity can be found in all of us.
Buford says:
"Gospel of Thomas is somewhat a misnomer"
Josh Hamilton was the first player chosen in the first round of the 1999 baseball draft. He was destined to be one of those rare "high-character" superstars. But in 2001, working his way from the minors to the majors, all of the plans for Josh went off the rails in a moment of weakness. What followed was a four-year nightmare of drugs and alcohol, estrangement from friends and family, and his eventual suspension from baseball.
Linda Harrell says:
"A Texas who "still" loves Josh Hamilton"
Parenting Beyond Belief: On Raising Ethical, Caring Kids Without Religion
UNABRIDGED (10 hrs and 13 mins)
By Dale McGowan
Narrated By Milton Bagby
Overall
(44)
Performance
(14)
Story
(15)
Its hard enough to live a secular life in a religious world. And bringing up children without religious influence can be even more daunting. Despite the difficulties, a large and growing number of parents are choosing to raise their kids without religion.In Parenting Beyond Belief, Dale McGowan celebrates the freedom that comes with raising kids without formal indoctrination and advises parents on the most effective way to raise freethinking children.
Elaine Pagels, one of the world's most important writers and thinkers on religion and history, and winner of the National Book Award for her groundbreaking work The Gnostic Gospels, now reflects on what matters most about spiritual and religious exploration in the 21st century. This bold new book explores how Christianity began by tracing its earliest texts, including the secret Gospel of Thomas, rediscovered in Egypt in 1945.
Let Yourself Go: The Freedom & Power of Life Beyond Belief
ABRIDGED (6 hrs and 55 mins)
By Arjuna Ardagh
Narrated By Arjuna Ardagh
Overall
(68)
Performance
(10)
Story
(10)
If you took your hands off the steering wheel of your life (or at least relaxed your grip a bit), what would happen? On Let Yourself Go, Arjuna Ardagh invites listeners to find out, as they discover how to identify and dissolve the hidden points of view that obscure the true nature of reality and the essence of what we are.
Drawing from his leadership and ministry experience as president of Alpha USA and Vineyard Churches USA and from his own life experiences as an ordinary Christian, Hunter calls us to reframe our salvation and discipleship. He believes that God intends us to become cooperative friends of Jesus, living in creative goodness for the sake of others through the power of the Holy Spirit.