awed and amazed

In 'A Secular Age', Charles Taylor explores the transformation of Western society from a pre-modern world where belief in God was inescapable to a modern secular age where believing in God is just one option among many. Taylor argues against the 'subtraction story' of secularization, which posits that religion has been removed from society. Instead, he describes a complex historical process involving the Reform movement in Christianity, the rise of disciplinary society, and the emergence of exclusive humanism. The book examines how these changes have affected the conditions of belief and unbelief, and how they have shaped modern social forms, moral orders, and spiritual experiences.

In 'The Tao of Pooh,' Benjamin Hoff uses the beloved characters from A.A. Milne's Winnie-the-Pooh stories to explain the principles of Taoism. Hoff argues that Pooh Bear embodies the Taoist ideals of simplicity, natural living, and harmony with the world. The book introduces key Taoist concepts such as P’u (the Uncarved Block) and Wu Wei (acting without effort), using Pooh and his friends to illustrate these principles in an accessible and engaging way. Hoff's work aims to show how Taoist teachings can lead to a life of wisdom, happiness, and self-improvement.