Book Review: The Peacemaker’s Path
The Peacemaker’s Path: Multifaith Reflections to Deepen Your Spirituality by Jerry Zehr
(Minneapolis: Broadleaf Books, 2021). 201 pages. $18.99, hardcover.
Reviewed by Charlie Wiles.
Jerry Zehr’s new book The Peacemakers Path: Multifaith Reflections to Deepen Your Spirituality, published by Broadleaf Books in 2021, is a treasure chest filled with pearls of wisdom that have the power to broaden the consciousness of anyone who is open to reading, reflecting, and putting thought into action. Reverend Zehr has created a manual that provides forty-eight daily religious texts to read and consider. The book offers commentary on each text, questions to reflect on, and examples of putting thought into practice. The daily readings originate from all corners of the globe and from many faith traditions. In the book, you will find sacred text from Baha’i, Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Sikh, Jain, and Zoroastrian origins. The collection of texts in The Peacemakers Path represents over three millennia of human endeavor to explain the cosmos and our place in it, and as the title implies, offers us a guide to help expand our consciousness and lead us to a deeper spirituality.
The book is divided into six themes: Walking the Enlightened Path, The Power of Prayer, Loving Yourself, Loving Others, Actions and Impact, and Quest for Peace. Along with a cornucopia of modern and ancient religious text, The Peacemakers Path includes prayers from local faith and community leaders, and examples on how these themes have inspired others to action, making positive change in our community and in our world. In one example, Reverend Zehr points to a collaboration of community leaders from diverse faith backgrounds who came together to support a local Muslim community that was petitioning to build a new mosque. The petition for a building permit faced vocal and organized opposition. After two public hearings, the petitioners prevailed, and the permit to build the mosque narrowly passed through the ordinance committee. It is an inspiring story of solidarity from people across faith lines working together to defend religious diversity and the value of pluralism which represents the foundation of the American story.
The Peacemakers Path is an education. You will learn about faith traditions that you may never have heard of, and you will grow to appreciate the religious diversity that exists across the country and in our own backyard. The challenge before us, is to recognize that many of the same faith traditions referenced in the book are also a threat to an inclusive society. A threat by claiming exclusive access to divine guidance and the insidious effort to use political and military power to impose that belief onto others. We have always lived in difficult and challenging times. Following The Peacemakers Path does not guarantee a peaceful existence. Many of the amazing quotations and examples of bravery in the book will attest to that. The shadow reality presenting by the beautiful and glowing example of The Peacemakers Path is that we must be vigilant in supporting freedom of religious expression and recognizing that most of that work must focus internally on the traditions we claim to follow.
The question brought to us through a Cherokee elder is as relevant today as ever. It describes the feeling of having a battle between two wolves within each of us. One wolf demands attention, is jealous, insecure, and unyielding in anger. The other wolf is gentle, humble, steadfast, patient, and nurturing. When a grandson asked the elder which wolf won the battle, the grandfather explained—the one that we feed.
The Peacemakers Path provides an incredible smorgasbord of human wisdom, intelligence, and goodwill. We are indebted to Reverend Jerry Zehr for his diligent work of bringing this wisdom together in a thoughtful, accessible, and challenging book.
Charlie Wiles holds a degree in Political Science from Indiana University and spent several years working for the Indiana State Legislature. He operated a general contracting business renovating older homes, served as a combat medic in the US Army Reserves, and is the founding director of Peace Learning Center. In 2011, Charlie became the founding director of Center for Interfaith Cooperation (CIC). Charlie is a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, he serves on the Chaplaincy Advisory Board at St. Vincent Hospital and works with several community organizations including “Veterans for Peace,” “Keep Indianapolis Beautiful,” and “OBAT Helpers,” supporting marginalized communities in Bangladesh. Happily married to Sachiko Utsumi Wiles since 1995, they live near Broad Ripple in Indianapolis, Indiana with their three daughters Lena, Aya, and Mia Utsumi Wiles.