Atheists and agnostics may nurture own religion

Today's blog post, "A Religion of One's Own" by Thomas Moore describes his approach in this new book to be published by Gotham Books later this year:

"I wrote this book for people who are finished, as I was, with the familiar organized religions but still want a religious life of some kind. I’ve never wanted to leave behind the monasticism of my early years. I found it fulfilling in almost every way. I love its particular kind of spirituality and its aesthetics. So I bring a monastic style to my everyday life.

My ideal is to saturate my secular living with the lessons and qualities I have learned from my Catholicism and my study of the world’s spiritual traditions. I also want to saturate my spirituality, my own personal religion, with the secular lifestyle that I love so much. My ideal is a spiritual secular life or a secular spiritual life. I like situations where you can’t separate the two."

Moore's book is for members of a traditional religions and for people of no religion:

"Whether you are a church member, a seeker, or an atheist or agnostic, you can still nurture a religion of your own. I don’t mean a self-centered, introspective religion, but one that you have made your own through your own values, tastes and understanding."

He writes about community as all people creating ways to honour transcendence in this world.

Moore releases promo video and March newsletter

Thomas Moore releases a short video to promote his golf retreat in Killarney, Ireland scheduled for 12 May to 17 May 2013. To register for this event, visit Golf with a Soul Retreat. Non-golfers are welcome. In his video Moore says, "I have a sense that this could be the best event that I will have done, I mean, at any time. I'm getting quite excited about it."


In his March 2013 Newsletter, Moore invites readers to "Meet me in NY, at Kripalu or in Ireland" as he describes events planned for the first half of this year. He is finishing his new book, A Religion of One's Own with publisher Gotham Books (Penguin). It may be available in Fall, 2013.

"... a unique guide to rediscovering deep, personal meaning in the modern world by embracing secular life as a religion in its own right. For agnostics, atheists, seekers, and religious devotees alike, Moore offers an alternative: a religion inspired by the practices of formal traditions [and] built around ordinary yet soulful activities ... In this singular primer, Moore provides gentle suggestions and luminous anecdotes of individuals who have forged their own religions — such as Martin Sheen and his son Emilio Estevez’s pilgrimage on the sacred path of Santiago de Compostela, and the story of a Brooklyn housewife whose sublime renditions of Bach’s Goldberg Variations rise to the level of epiphany."

"I use the word religion, fully redefined, because 'spirituality' tends to be too vague, abstract and self-centered."

Moore talks about the book he is writing now

In Your Right Mind host Moksha Lea interviews Thomas Moore at "IYRM with Thomas Moore" for KOS.FM in California. While talking about the book, A Religion of One's Own he is writing, Moore recommends that people:
* Be open to mystical experiences,
* Practice spiritual reading (lectio divina) daily, and
* Consider their dreams.

Moore answers questions about his book The Soul of Sex: Cultivating Life as an Act of Love (1998) and he touches on death at the end of the interview. The audio file runs approximately one hour beginning with relaxation and affirmation exercises. Moore's interview starts at 16:26.

Meridian University hosts Thomas Moore, Jan. 30

Meridian University hosts a public program featuring Thomas Moore during the evening of Wednesday 30 January 2013 on campus at the Sonoma Center in Petaluma, California. University President Aftab Omer talks with Moore about The Depth of Religious Experience: The Heart of Secular Life, Moore's new book about a religion of one's own. During this conversation Moore explores how "we shape our lives around certain spiritual experiences that define us and put us in relation to the greater life and world. We all have such intuitions and inspirations but may not see their importance to our spiritual lives. This deeper religion is in no way separate from secular life. In fact, it is the heart and soul of secular existence."

This free event is co-sponsored by St. John's Episcopal Church. Although offered at no cost, registration is required because space is limited. Please register online. Meridian University’s Sonoma Center is at 47 Sixth Street, Petaluma, California, 30 miles north of San Francisco.

Thomas Moore in conversation with Aftab Omer  
The Depth of Religious Experience: 
The Heart of Secular Life
Wednesday 30 January 2013
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sonoma Center
Meridian University
47 Sixth Street
Petaluma, California