Physicians of the Soul

I have not read anything before that does such a careful, insightful, and interesting job of analyzing and comparing the world's great religions and their founders. PHYSICIANS OF THE SOUL by Dr. Robert May also brings a wealth of psychological insights to spiritual claims and experiences and an enrichment of spiritual light to psychological phenomena. In a world where religious fanatics continue to attack one another and everyone else, mislead their followers, and spread confusion and hostility everywhere, PHYSICIANS OF THE SOUL is a refreshing, clarifying and much needed work. I hope it will be widely used in classrooms as well as for individual enlightenment. Rev. Luther E Peterson B.A., M.Div, Pastor Emeritus of St. Olaf Lutheran Church, Minneapolis Minnesota

This rich experiential study of the wondrous relationship of the great spiritual teachings of Lao-Tzu, Moses, Jesus, Siddhattha Gotama, Krishna and Muhammed expanded my experience with these Great Ones. It is so personal, so readable, and so well laid out that it was a great joy to read. I have been working with the souls and egos of my surgical patients for a quarter-century, and May has given me a gift that I now share both directly and indirectly with them. The experience of reading his book is immensely helpful in understanding the difference between soul and spirit. Indeed, May is a shaman helping us recover the loss of our species' soul that occurred when we entered the Age of Reason, could not prove the soul's existence, and threw it out.

Robert May shares with us his search for the authentic self, the self realized. He sets before us some spiritual teachings of the world. From Taoism, Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and Islam he takes us through these teachings and also gives us his own spiritual history. Other author's that I consider worth reading in the quest of the spiritual life are Henri Nouwen, Morton Kelsey, John Sanford (both Jungian) and M. Scott Peck.

As a Christian, taught that mine was the one true religion, when I learned of the other major religions I was suddenly skeptical about them all. In fact, I became an atheist. This book answered for me, some of my questions and doubts and I find myself a believer again. There is unity in all of the religions and the differences are cultural rather than spiritual. This book is written from the heart, by someone who actually experienced the religions, rather than an academic. It's very well written and I recommend it highly.