Church

Both the building (i.e. the place) and the concept of “church” are fundamental components of the author’s book-long contemplation of faith. The building is the place where she physically develops, practices, and questions her faith, while the concept of church is the more psychological “place” in which she explores questions of how to best practice that faith.

Food and Meals

Throughout the book, but particularly in Part IV, "Communion", the author emphasizes the potential for spiritual significance in sharing food and meals with other persons. She makes the clear suggestion that for both Christians and non-Christians, sharing food in one way or another is essential to building community, and to living life according to the teachings and practices of Jesus. The Christian faith, according to the author's reading and interpretation of both the Bible and of Christianity, was founded on ritualized and sacramental-ized sharing of...