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

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.

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.

Poignant, thoughtful, revealing, and reassuring

I’m so glad Heather (the author) chose to do the audiobook herself. Her authenticity truly comes through and is a joy for listening. The book itself is thoughtful and reassuring. It brings a voice to unspoken thoughts that I’ve had, and brings a level of poignancy to conversations I’ve had.
Both the lived experience and research involved come through in each chapter. It hits home for me and I believe anyone who is thinking about God, spirituality, heaven, and hell , good and evil … the list goes on. It’s not an answer to all these questions, and doesn’t pretend to be - but it does provide a pathway to a new way of thinking about them and serves as a guide for many conversations to come.

Profound

I just finished reading Heather Hamilton's book, Returning to Eden. I hit the 30 second rewind a hundred times at least. It's a thought provoking book to say the least. I recommend it, One of the most profound books I have read. Talk about blowing up your evangelical roots even more! But in a good way. Everything I knew about Jesus got better as I read it! I am still digesting, but honestly, it shifted me towards even more love of people and a better view of God. I listened to the audio version; the narration is excellent and by the author.

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!