Testimonials
Jesus, Buddha, Krishna and Lao Tzu: The Parallel Sayings
“The Parallel Sayings is a priceless treasury of interfaith understanding that touches my heart. I add my prayers that this book will find its way too many open-hearted readers.” - Brother David Steindl-Rast, O.S. B., author (with Robert Aitken Roshi) of The Ground We Share
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“A much needed journey into the minds and hearts of the great prophets of our world; academic, yet heart-filled, stimulating and illuminating. At a time when too many use religion to separate, Parallel Sayings finds a way to join. This rare text answers many questions that others leave hanging, and touches the spirit as well as the mind. A book you will be proud and fulfilled to own and share - Alan Cohen, author of Chicken Soup for the Soul and A Deep Breath of Life
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“I was very much taken by the idea of this book when I first learned it was in the making, but the execution of it—the reality of it—is just wonderful. Its publication is a truly timely event, bound to nourish those who are soul-weary of combativeness in the name of religion.” - Carol Lee Flinders, Ph.D,, author of Enduring Lives: Portraits of Women and Faith in Action
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“Richard Hooper sends a powerful message that will be welcomed by all who seek the truth within, and within their own tradition. The Divine expresses itself wherever there is a transformed heart and open mind—no matter the culture, no matter the time. By venturing outside the circle of Christianity, as the author was prompted to do, we too find more that can feed us, more that illumines what we first learned so we can truly embrace the Divine as present in all, and everywhere.” - Jeffrey M. Cox, Snow Lion Publications
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“Great Souls are born among humankind to uplift them to higher consciousness, transformation and being. In this book, former minister Richard Hooper, M. Div. presents basic building blocks of world spirituality through the parallel sayings of Jesus , Buddha, Krishna and Lao Tzu. Here one finds our common thread in the universality of spirituality. World Peace might be achieved if we understood life and the divine as presented here.” - Adrian Ravarour, Ph.D., Bishop, American Catholic Church
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“Richard Hooper takes you beyond what the holy men said, and into the heart and mind that drove the likes of Gandhi, as he fell dead, blessing and forgiving the man who shot him, or Francis of Assisi tossing his clothes out the window and strolling out the back door naked to begin his quest for God. A man whose own spiritual intensity has taken him from renegade Lutheran pastor to the no-brand seek of truth he is today, Hooper can certainly irritate your comfort zones. One sometimes imagines that if James Dean, minus the cigarette, had been thoroughly educated in the great religions and a whole lot smarter, he might have been Richard Hooper.” - Larry Moffitt, Editor, ReligionAndSpirituality.com, United Press International; Vice President, the Washington Times Foundation
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“Richard’s comparative study beautifully shows us unity in diversity. In the spirit of the Gayatri Mantra – may this work illuminate our understanding and guide us to our goal.” - Mark Johnson, Vice-President Australian Association of Yoga in Daily Life.
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“We’ve come to a point in history where the boundaries among the world’s religions have become more transparent. In this great wake of change is a new understanding of a collective golden thread of consciousness running through all spiritual paths. In Jesus, Buddha, Krishna and Lao Tze: The Parallel Sayings, author Richard Hooper shatters any preconceived notions that there is only “one way” to enlightenment. Instead, he blazes a path of collective understanding beyond dogma toward finding the divinity within ourselves.” - Judy Martin, National Radio Journalist and founder of WorkLifeMonitor.com
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“I have often thought that an A-B-C Column comparison format of the
teachings of these religious icons seemed ideal for presenting a
quick understanding. Well, some things can’t be simplified, like
“what’s the meaning of life?” Have you ever listened to a reading or
a Gospel in church, and went, “Huh?” Just like Jesus, who taught in
parables and metaphors, so do the others (with good reason as Hooper
explains.) Fortunately, Hooper saves the day by clarifying the
overarching issues for each chapter. It then becomes easier to
stretch your imagination to see the common threads between the four
teachings.
Don’t expect this to be a quick read—it is intended to be thought
provoking and contemplative. I personally loved the twenty-seven
page introduction which left me starving for more. I just need to
take the book a chapter at a time and savor it. The book is a
readable intellectual work covering a complex subject. Hooper has
gone a long way toward de-mystifying some stuff that I’m sure still
baffles religious scholars. Hooper also inserts a few provocative
surprises – atta boy! Shake things up a bit.” - D. Sutton (Cape Cod, MA)
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“I loved this book. I will read and re-read it often. It makes comparisons among the wisdom based traditions so easy and places and places it in perspective.” - Gayle S. Graziano (Ormond Beach, FL)
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“What a wonderful book. I loved how it makes us realize that the different religions’ teachers are giving us the same message. The photos and illustrations are beautiful. This book would be a great gift for anyone with an interest in comparative religions.” - SSBD (AZ)
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“This beautiful book is much-needed. The profound parallel sayings are judiciously selected and demonstrate the universal insights of the major religions. The author’s commentary is searingly honest and totally unphony. We can’t think of a better holiday present for so many people on our list.” - E & W Rowe
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“What a gorgeous, meditative work of art this book is! Every time I
sit down with it to read a section or two, I feel like I’ve gone on
a personal tranquility retreat. I’m in awe of not only the parallels
of wisdom between the world’s religious teachings, but how it was
possible to find them all and bring them together. The stunning
photography and author’s comments makes this book much more than a
book of quotes and ancient teachings, but rather a beautiful
perspective on why we are here in the world.” - JGF (USA/Panama)
The Crucifixion of Mary Magdalene: The Historical Tradition of the First Apostle and the Ancient Church’s campaign to Suppress It
“Timely, insightful, accessible correction to the DaVinci Code.”
“Richard Hooper brilliantly writes a thorough overview of what is known about Mary Magdalene, complete with extensive references to the original extensive references to the original documents, a “glossary” of names, terms and sources, and an extensive subject index.
“With
rigorous attention to detail and
accuracy, Hooper presents the beauty, vision, and leadership of Mary
as apostle, restoring her to her rightful place at Jesus’ side
and, in the process, returning to us the divine feminine in
Christianity prior to Mary’s erasure and corruption by patriarchy.
“Hooper shows us with great depth and sensitivity Mary’s spiritual maturity and wisdom as a teacher in her own right, while providing a sense of the essence of Mary’s relationship with Jesus. The style and presentation is quite accessible and a good read. Still, his critical attention to detail and cultural/comparative contexts speaks, as well, to the scholar of Christianity, World Religions, and women’s studies. For me, as a cultural anthropologist, his thorough attention to relevant contexts is one of the book’s strongest points. For example, he addresses some of the commonalities between early Christianity and Hinduism, shared as the basis of all Mystery Religions and traditions of ancient wisdom.
“While humorous, outspoken, even radical in his interpretation, Richard Hooper’s work is theoretically and substantively consistent with that of the most prominent scholars in the field. It is a must-read by the lay person and scholar alike interested in the life of Mary Magdalene. The book was a powerful one for me, personally, as well as academically, as Hooper returned to me the Jesus of my childhood, who did not discriminate on the basis of class or gender, but preached only love.” —Deborah L. Neff, Ph.D.
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“This is a well written and thought provoking book . . . Hooper offers a well written and well documented discussion of early Christianity and the possible role of Mary Magdalene as an early leader of an alternate movement. He dissects the canonical Gospels and the apocryphal literature from a structural and textual point of view, and offers some interesting interpretations for many of the unusual passages.
Hooper believes that there is some
evidence to suggest that first century Christian sects were devoted
to women’s issues and had women leaders.
He gleans his evidence from several sources, and
attempts to put together a picture of this sect which, over time,
disappeared not only in fact, but also in memory.
It’s a reasonable theory and
Hooper has more than enough evidence to put forth the case.”
—Dr. James Gardner
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“This book is an excellent resource of information about the many faces of Mary Magdalene. Written with expertise, Richard Hooper’s insightful analysis is a solid contribution to the dialogue on Mary that is rapidly attracting the attention of mainstream theologians. History, religion, spirituality and mysticism are equally represented.” —Robert W. Graff, Ph.D.
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“Richard Hooper has laid open the seminal roots of patriarchy through his scholarly restoration of Mary Magdalene’s rightful place in history. The implication of Richard’s conclusions are huge and outrageously accurate—women have inspired the faith of men!
“But beyond the restoration of the original character of Mary Magdalene, Richard uncovers the essence of her teachings and exposes the essential realm of feminine divinity within spirituality. I am so grateful for his contribution.” —Susan Rangitsch, Ed.D.
The Gospel of the Unknown Jesus
Coming Soon.The Wisdom of Mary Magdalene (Inspirational card deck and guidebook)
Coming Soon.