It is not very often that a substantive film comes along that probes the nature and meaning of faith. We were immensely impressed with Vera Farmiga's Higher Ground (2011) which in our eyes "enables viewers to map their journey of faith from childhood to adulthood asking questions, entertaining doubts, rejoicing in epiphanies, assessing community, and walking the talk of faith."

To complement our coverage of this feature film, we have selected some of the best books on faith formation and development to illustrate the journey of faith. Here are how 10 different spiritual teachers, preachers, and academics have interpreted this adventure.

In Growing Up Religious: Christians and Jews and Their Journeys of Faith Robert Wuthnow, Director of the Center for the Study of American Religion at Princeton University, reports on his findings from interviews with more than 200 individuals about their childhood experiences of the sacred. He explains what the term "journey of faith" refers to:
"To speak of one's journey is to emphasize changing conceptions and experiences of faith rather than a once-and-for-all-time grasp of religious truth. Journeys unfold, leading variously into the wilderness or the promised land. But all journeys have a starting point, and most stories about journeys include as prehistory a time of dwelling and of preparation. For those who have experienced it, growing up religious is the inevitable moment of preparation that must be described."

In Finding Your Religion: When the Faith You Grew Up with Has Lost Its Meaning Scotty McLennan, an Unitarian college chaplain, relates the stories of a variety of individuals and the different aspects of their spiritual journeys. He outlines six stages of faith development as "the stage of magic where God is all powerful; the stage of reality where God is cause and effect; the stage of dependence where God is parent; the stage of independence where God is distant; the stage of interdependence where God is paradoxical; and the stage of unity where God is all pervasive." McLennan's admirable mix of openness and hospitality makes this a fine resource for seekers of all stripes.

In A Faith of Your Own: Naming What You Really Believe Ronald J. Allen, a theology professor, writes: "Faith is not something you put in a box and tape shut. . . . [It] is a living set of relationships and ideas that sometimes change in response to new circumstances." He examines different aspects of the Christian faith and concludes with a suggestion that readers design their own creed using the elements of God, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Trinity, God's ultimate purposes, the church, evil, and Christianity and other religions.

In Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith Anne Lamott observes: "It's funny: I always imagined when I was a kid that adults had some kind of inner toolbox, full of shiny tools: the saw of discernment, the hammer of wisdom, the sandpaper of patience. But then when I grew up I found that life handed you these rusty bent old tools — friendships, prayer, conscience, and honesty — and said, Do the best you can with these. They will have to do. And mostly, against all odds, they're enough." In her candid and always surprising book, this accomplished author conveys both the rigors and the vigor of her unusual journey of faith as a Christian convert.

In Why Faith Matters: God and the New Atheism Rabbi David Wolpe sets out to make a case for religion and faith that is neither blind nor bigoted. He writes: "Faith is where we stand in the universe, not an idea that is checked off in the truth or illusion column. Losing one's faith is stepping off the planet to find oneself spinning in a new orbit." He concludes: "Only faith that understands human frailty and human nobility, that believes holiness is not separate from compassion, offers the possibility of a path out of the wilderness."

In Faith Styles: Ways People Believe John Mabry, a teacher of spiritual direction, identifies six styles: traditional believers, spiritual eclectics, ethical humanists, liberal believers, religious agnostics, and jack believers known in some communities as "backsliders" or "apostates"). His hospitable approach reveals his respect for pluralism and his intention to give interfaith ministry a boost.

In Shopping For Faith: American Religion in the New Millennium Richard Cimino and Don Lattin salute the "mixture of practicality and personal faith" that are part and parcel of twenty-first century pluralism. They also discuss the phenomenon of experiential spirituality and the pick-and-choose approach to faith which has become the model for millions of Americans.

In Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation Eboo Patel, the founder and executive director of the Interfaith Youth Core, gives us a fascinating and timely memoir about his calling to educate a new generation to the values of religious tolerance and service to all humanity. Patel emphasizes "acts of faith" as the key to creating a better and more peaceful future with all religions working together on common practices such as love, compassion, hospitality, and justice.

In The Future of Faith Harvey Cox, a Christian theologian, charts the three major periods in the history of Christianity and the shift that is taking place today from religious beliefs and dogma to an emphasis on spirituality and social justice. The movement from the age of creeds, orthodoxy, and correct doctrine has given way to the age of the Spirit. Reading this book we see that faith indeed has a future.

In Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Experience Buddhist writer and teacher Sharon Salzberg defines the term:
"I want to invite a new use of the word faith, one that is not associated with a dogmatic religious interpretation or divisiveness. I want to encourage delight in the word, to help reclaim faith as fresh, vibrant, intelligent, and liberating. This is a faith that emphasizes a foundation of love and respect for ourselves. It is a faith that uncovers our connection to others, rather than designating anyone as separate and apart. . . . Faith does not require a belief system, and is not necessarily connected to a deity or God, though it doesn’t deny one. This faith is not a commodity we either have or don't have — it is an inner quality that unfolds as we learn to trust our deepest experience."

This is one of the best books on faith in a long time due to Salzberg's view that mystery and faith belong together along with wonder, questing, and connections.

Book Excerpts on the Journey of Faith

• Joan Chittister's defense of the so-called challengers of faith
• Bruce G. Epperly on faith and affirmations
• Fenton Johnson on faith as a theological virtue
• Brian McLaren on strengthening faith through spiritual practices
• Eboo Patel on faith in action and the youth of tomorrow
• Jonathan Sacks on faith and celebration
• Sharon Salzberg on the differences between beliefs and faith.