Mary Blye Howe

Mary Blye Howe is the award-winning author of two books: A Baptist Among the Jews (Jossey-Bass, 2003), and Sitting With Sufis (Paraclete Press, 2005). Her first book received a starred review from Publisher's Weekly and the Reviewer's Choice from the Dallas Morning News. Mary's second book was named the Best Book for 2005 from Spirituality and Health under the category of Multifaith. See http://www.spiritualityhealth.com/newsh/items/blank/item_10218.html.

More than 100 of Mary's articles have appeared in various periodicals, including the Chicago Tribune, Entrepreneur, American Heritage of Invention & Technology, AAA Going Places, the Dallas Morning News, Writer's Digest, and many others.

Speaking engagements have included the Distinguished Author and Speaker series, Mensa's Regional Conference, Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies, Baylor University, the University of Texas at Dallas, Ad Lib Writers' Conference, and others.

Mary has appeared on radio and television programs across the country, including NPR's All Things Considered, the Glenn Mitchell show, NPR's Common Threads, the Ian Punnett show, and Talkline.

For a complete list of media appearances, click on the air. For a complete list of speaking engagements, click on events.

"The great Jewish theologian Martin Buber once wisely observed that religions are like houses of worship and that you can only look through the windows from the outside of those other than your own. Mary Blye Howe comes disturbingly close to proving him wrong. She...has peered through the windows of so many different Jewish prayer halls that she has acquired a remarkably clear vision of American Judaism. Or, to put it another way, Ms. Howe seems simply to have done it all and got it right...this book is kosher."

- Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, Rabbi-in-Residence at Hebrew Union College, Jewish Institute of Religion, and author of several bestselling books for children and adults including Honey from the Rock and The Book of Letters

"I hope some bright young independent film director will be alert to the potential of Howe's story, which could become another Big Fat Greek Wedding. "

- John Wilson, editor of Books & Culture

"I savored every page of Mary Blye Howe's fascinating and instructive book."

- Harvey Cox, Ph.D., Victor S. Thomas Professor of Divinity, Harvard University, and author of The Seduction of the Spirit and Common Prayers

" A Baptist Among the Jews is an exuberant, uplifting and inspiring read for all of us who have found ourselves embarking on a spiritual journey. Its pages reveal the author's excellent grounding in Jewish belief and practice, making it one of those rare books that not only engages and absorbs but educates as well."

- Karen J. Prager, Ph.D., A.B.P.P.; Professor of Psychology, The University of Texas at Dallas

"A fascinating journey of religious and spiritual identity"

- Rabbi Karyn D. Kedar, regional director, Great Lakes Council and Chicago Federation of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, and author of God Whispers and The Dance of the Dolphin

"Mary Blye Howe's [book]...is one that should be read by Jews who, by and large, have lost touch with the power, majesty, and soul-expanding qualities of their faith.

- William A. Gralnick, Southeast regional director, American Jewish Committee

is the story of Mary's newly-found love for Judaism, to which she ultimately converts. After an interfaith service, Mary begins her quest, studying with Reform, Orthodox, Hasidic, Conservative and Jewish Renewal groups. In A Baptist Among the Jews , Mary tells of dancing through the streets of Dallas with an Orthodox congregation carrying a new Torah scroll, synagogue-hopping all night on the holiday of Shavuot, and discovering the mystical and spiritual depth of Judaism as she studies for ten years with a Hasidic rabbi.

In Sitting With Sufis, Mary takes you along on her spiritual journey as she discovers the depths of the Sufi tradition. Experience with Mary the joyous spirituality of the Turkish Sufis as she travels to this country with 50 dervishes, staying in homes of the locals. Explore with her the mysteries of the sema - the dance that Rumi made famous - as she whirls at midnight under a starlit sky on a ranch in the Texas Hill country. But most importantly, accept the invitation to enter the world of the mystics - a realm that is open to all sincere spiritual seekers - who make it their goal to live a life full of the Divine Beloved.

"At a time when Sufism is coming to the West, Mary Blye Howe's book fills a need for first hand accounts from Westerners who have experienced its fragrance, its taste, and its beauty. In the Sufi way of life, in its knowledge and love, are many gifts for our culture."

- Kabir Helminski, Sufi teacher and author of Living Presence , The Knowing Heart and The Pocket Rumi

"Sitting With Sufis...is our book of the month, and offers a generous personal account capturing many experiences of Sufism - from being immersed in the tradition of Hazrat Inayat Khan to taking hand with our beloved Sherif Baba of the Rifa'i Marufi Order of Sufis."

- Omega Publications, Inc.

"This brief but poignant account of Howe's spiritual journey with Sufis is an interfaith gem that ought to embolden others to act upon their deepest yearnings to draw closer to God."

- Spirituality & Health, March/April 2005

"Sitting With Sufis is an enlivening account of one woman's journey to the sacred. The language and images bring to life Mary's meetings with remarkable men...and women, so that you will feel like you are dancing with the mystics."

- Robert Gass, EdD, composer and recording artist of more than 20 CDs, including the best-selling Om Namaha Shivaya, and the author of Chanting: Discovering Spirit in Sound.

"Mary Blye Howe takes us into Sufi mysticism, a place where worshipers dance and dervishes whirl and ordinary seekers can experience spiritual ecstasy. Challenging, humble and eloquent."

- Lauren F. Winner, author of Girl Meets God

"One senses the joy and enthusiasm Howe brings to her lifelong search...for a deeper connection with God. This is a fine introduction to mysticism, told through Howe's personal odyssey and her deepening appreciation for Sufism."

- Hartford Courant, June 12, 2005

"An inspirational work that brings Sufism from the shadows into the light."

- Laleh Bakhtiar, Ph.D., author of Sufi Expressions of the Mystic Quest

"This second spiritual memoir is a readable and interesting introduction to Sufi mysticism and an exotic interfaith experience."

- Dallas Morning News, April 30, 2005

"Howe engages the Sufi tradition and discovers the mysticism that is within every faith and that transcends the doctrinal differences which separate religions. In an age when religion is being used as a wedge between people, Howe's personal account of praying with Sufis and learning their spiritual practices...offers an inspiring and practical antidote to religious divisiveness and exclusivity."

- Murray Bodo, Franciscan priest, and author of The Place We Call Home: Spiritual Pilgrimage as a Path to God, and other books.

"those seeking to affirm the universalism of core teachings of different religions, and those drawn to the mystical religious path, will welcome this...memoir."

- Publishers Weekly, Jan 17, 2005

For samples of Mary's published articles, click on "read published articles" on the right sidebar.