Returning to Eden

A Field Guide for the Spiritual Journey

By: Heather Hamilton

Narrated by: Heather Hamilton

Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

Do you resonate with aspects of Christianity, but struggle with the coherence of its claims? After having a mystical experience that upended her traditional evangelical beliefs, Heather Hamilton reluctantly found herself in this place. Her seeking led to the most unexpected insights.

Returning to Eden is a field guide for the journey that every true spiritual seeker ultimately takes. The highest truths that set us free are hidden in places that most people are not looking.

Returning to Eden reexamines the Bible stories of childhood and opens them up as symbolic maps into the inner world. Stories like Jonah and the Whale, the Parting of the Red Sea, Noah's Ark, and the Virgin Birth are illuminated with penetrating depth and intellectual integrity. Faith is no longer a white-knuckled grip on implausible beliefs, but a relaxation into a deep inner knowing. You may be surprised to find yourself reinvigorated and enlightened by stories you thought you knew inside and out.

Returning to Eden has the potential to cultivate a renaissance of wonder and curiosity in the most seasoned Christians to the most committed atheists, and everyone in between.

©2023 Heather Hamilton (P)2023 Heather Hamilton

Best book for deprogramming toxic religion

I’ve read so many books on deconstruction, all of them great. The best of them, she even quotes in this book. But my gosh, this book is just perfect for anyone who just can’t take it with the “the Bible is perfectly clear” crowd, or the arrogant ego of the church as it oppresses others, or the people think the Bible is “innerant”. She lays it out so simply you’ll wonder why the Bible is best understood as myth, meteohor, and allegory. And doing so, rather than diminish the value of the Bible, we actually greatly increase its value. Once you see it, you CANNOT unsee it!

Excellent book!

Beautiful book on the overlap of religion and mythology through the lens and example of Christianity. Heather did an excellent job of illustrating that the myths are all pointing to the potentials and possibilities that exist in each of us. Congratulations on a wonderful book.

A must read!

This book is so thoughtful and timely. If you're considering your faith at all, I can't recommend Heather's book enough. When I first started questioning things, I was looking for gracious voices that felt safe and open. I feel like I've lived this book before it made it to this bound offering. The grace and safety I found in Heather and her writing were transformational for me and a lifeline in a scary time.

Life changing Book!!

A healing balm to every soul, especially those wounded by harmful teachings in the church.

I can't recommend this audiobook enough!

If Carl Jung and Richard Rohr had a baby, their kid would want to be best friends with Heather.

But this book stands on its own. Why? This book speaks from the first-person, transformed and mystical place. Her words come from the "spring of water welling up within." If you have experienced this spring, you will instantly recognize it. If you have not experienced this spring, this book may awaken it within you.

If you have head full of Christianity and belly that hungers for Christ, you need to read this book. Her words melt like butter the unconscious weight of Churchianity and dogma that I hadn't realized I clung to in place of authenticity. She transmutes the weight of the Christian intellect into a light and vision that rekindles sustains the love of being on the varied paths and stages we share as humans.

I first got the Audiobook (read by Heather) and instantly knew I had to buy the physical book. The chapters are short, pithy, and easy to fly through. Each chapter is it's own nugget, but somehow they get better and better as the book progresses. Finishing the book was bittersweet—a longing once it had ended, but an excitement to live the life this book invigorates.

This book is pure heart and light. And it felt like an honor to partake in it. I cannot recommend this book enough. I hope it lights your way as it has mine. Thank you!

Powerful

This book invites the reader to dive deep into a rich reading of the Bible as metaphor, a spiritual rather than literal reading of the texts. Powerful book!

Thought Provoking

Heather wrote this book with such an authentic/raw honesty. I love hearing how she dealt with her anxieties and trauma. Having been through my own trauma and struggled for so many years, this book has given me a new outlook on how to process through them more productively. I won't lie, some things she talked about I didn't 100% grasp. That being said, all or most of it still resonates with my heart. Thank you Heather for giving us a glimpse into your healing journey!

A true Return

Heather dives into issues and teachings that make it easier to take another look into Christianity, even for those of us that have now spent the majority of our adult lives rejecting the institution.

Grateful

I am so grateful this thoughtful, eloquent look at the spirituality – the God – who connect us all exists. Thank you, Heather, for your bravery and kindness in putting words to the truth my spirit has known for many years.

So much knowledge

I love the analogies used in this book. I love the choice of scriptures and choice of examples that were using this book. I’m glad I was able to hear the book instead of reading it because the tone of the Arthur was definitely felt. Her voice was able to give me a visual and emotional sense of the words that I was hearing. it also helps to know that she comes from the same religious background and has the same spiritual hopes as me. I definitely recommend this audio and the actual paper book to anyone on a journey, looking to find themselves and looking to hold the accountability.