Summary
In today’s world, you don’t have to look far to find violence, hatred, and deep spiritual rifts. From discouraging headlines of religious upheaval splashed across the front pages to quiet tensions among people you encounter everyday, divergences in the way humans lead their spiritual lives crop up in many different ways.
Holding the firm belief that our likenesses vastly outnumber our differences, Dr. Patrick Swift compiled One Mountain, Many Paths in the wake of the September 11th attacks. A spiritual companion or gift for family and friends, One Mountain, Many Paths is filled with uplifting quotes from the sacred texts of all of the great religious traditions - organized into chapters such as 'Love Your Neighbor as Yourself' and 'Love Your Enemy.'
Serving as a collection of guideposts for the reader’s spiritual journey, the book illuminates the common threads of faith, hope, and love that weave together all the great religious traditions – including Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, indigenous proverbs, and many others.
About the Author
Dr. Patrick Swift is the author of One Mountain, Many Paths and a Freemason (George Washington Lodge 285 in New York, NY & Highland Park Lodge 1150 in Dallas, TX). He holds a faculty appointment at NYU Medical Center where he works as a psychologist. Prior to his career in healthcare, Patrick studied to become a Jesuit priest and completed the Ignatian 30-day silent retreat. He has studied Eastern Philosophy and meditation as well as completed a pilgrimage to India on a 75-day trip around the world. A witness to the World Trade Center attacks on 9/11 who cared for some of the victims, Patrick is a passionate advocate for interfaith dialogue and religious tolerance.
Here's the author on The O'Reilly Factor:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qw1djiEEARA
Here's an excerpt from www.patrickswift.com:
"Working for peace in the world is not just the job of diplomats and politicians. It involves you, me, and our neighbors next door - even if they live on the other side of the planet. True and lasting peace for the world can only be attained through mutual respect and understanding for one another - not through violence. I believe that we all have a part in supporting peace in our communities and in our world. As Mahatma Gandhi said, "Be the change you want to see in the world."
Although I am a Freemason, the book is not about Freemasonry. Freemasonry is a world-wide fraternity of men who believe in God and respect one another's different ways of believing in God. This philosophy makes sense in a world threatened with religious extremism on both sides of the aisle - and I happen to think it's pretty darn important. Here's a great YouTube link on Freemasonry if you are interested in learning more: http://tinyurl.com/46hu74
