Praise For A Truth versus The Truth

Rabbi Roberts introduces new language and a different lens to understand the diversity of religious expression. He identifies key markers that can aid practitioners in determining how to best meet the needs of parishioners and patients. It challenges spiritual caregivers to focus on the individual expressions of faith and religion, rather than on the labels traditionally ascribed to various religious groups. This easy-to-read guide will be a valuable resource for anyone providing ministry and care in diverse, multicultural settings.
     Bishop Teresa E. Snorton

            Ecumenical Officer, The CME Church

            ACPE Educator (retired), former Executive Director, ACPE

This is a book of true belonging, helping all of us people rooted in our diverse faith traditions keep our collective eyes on the Ultimate prize: to listen and learn from one another’s Truths not some particularistic dogma. It’s a spiritual guide to seeing the possibility, the divinity of every other human so we don’t “other” any human.

     Rabbi Jonah Dov Pesner

     Director, Religious Action Center - Union for Reform Judaism

Rabbi Stephen Roberts has given us a courageous, compassionate, and clear-eyed guide to navigating the fault lines of modern faith. With the wisdom of a chaplain and the heart of a healer, he invites us to move beyond othering and toward understanding. This book is essential reading for anyone seeking to live faithfully in a fractured world.
    Rev. Dr. Willard W C Ashley, Sr
            Dean (Retired) New Brunswick Theological Seminary (NBTS)
             Adjunct Lecturer - NYU, DSW Program 

Stephen is a genuine and caring religious leader who has dedicated his life to pastoral care. In this book he takes his lifelong expertise and shares a framework that can assist anyone working across the broad spectrum of religious communities to establish meaningful connections across lines of difference.  
   Rabbi Ashira Konigsburg
                Chief Movement Strategy Officer & COO | Rabbinical Assembly

A Truth versus The Truth: How Religious People Embrace or Resist the Modern World is insightful, enjoyable and easy read. Thank you for your steadfast, honest and knowledgeable conveyance of the human experience in modern religious, cultural and spiritual life. Well done!  
    Imam Yusuf Hasan, BCC
                    First Board Certified Muslim Chaplain

An engaging and insightful exploration of the tension between one's beliefs and lived faith across the modernity spectrum, essential for chaplains and disaster spiritual care responders who navigate life's tragedies and disasters. 
     Timothy G. Serban, MA, BCC
                   Chaplain, Author, and Disaster Spiritual Care Leader

A Truth versus The Truth is informative and accessible. With Rabbi Stephen Roberts’ help, those of us who aspire to offer wholehearted care and connection will be better able to meet people where they are. He offers a heuristic toolkit for noticing how religion shows up in everyday life today. Readers of this book, given a glimpse of the full spectrum of religious identity markers, have many more opportunities for curiosity and wonder rather than disdain or confusion. May A Truth versus The Truth create bridges of understanding, moments of recognition, and openings for peace and compassion. 
     Koshin Paley Ellison Sensei and Robert Chodo Campbell Sensei
                      Co-Founders and Guiding Teachers of the 

                      New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care 

Chaplain Stephen Roberts has just written something novel and valuable.  In A Truth versus The Truth:  How Religious People Embrace or Resist the Modern World, he has developed a tool for explaining and analyzing traits [he calls them “markers” or “identifiers”] held by people of various faiths /worldviews.  These markers help identify the influences on people from all sorts of faith backgrounds from Amish, to Hindu, to Muslim, to Christians, to Jewish, to Buddhist, to even psychologically destructive or physically violent cult members – and to the various range of extremes within them all.  He also covers adherents to such diverse religions who see themselves as modern or non-modern.  

This is an important book with good analyses that ultimately need to be a part of every Clinical Pastoral Education program’s library. I would especially consider it mandatory reading for chaplains and pastoral care clinicians who come from faith traditions that tend to isolate themselves from the rest of the religious and non-religious world.
    Rev. David Plummer, BCC, LMFT
                      The Coalition of Spirit-filled Churches