BinghamBooks

INNER TREASURE is a collection of brief essays that offer psychological insight into the teachings of Jesus. It is for individuals who want a fresh way of thinking about familiar texts. Study groups find it stimulating. 

My writings are for those interested in learning more about the intertwining of psychology and spirituality. I am an Episcopal priest and retired Marriage and Family Therapist. I write for all who seek.

 

Michael Drouilhet wrote: "John is that rarest of men: a combination of deep insightful intelligence and a loving heart and soul. He is an artful and compassionate therapist and also exhibits a very deep spirituality that embraces all religions and all people. I recommend John very highly as a spiritual resource."

 

Seventeen elderly men reflect on their spiritual journeys. Some are Christian churchgoers, while others are not. One is Jewish, and others identify as spiritual, agnostic, or atheist. The open-mindedness of the group allowed the different paths to be shared at an annual gathering these men have had for decades. The vibrancy of their journeys, each unique, leaps off the page. Buddies is not a 'how-to' book, a guide to a better life, or an effort to change the world. It is not an academic study of the spiritual lives of men approaching death. It does not argue for a particular lifestyle or insist the reader think like the writers. Instead, Buddies is a collection of personal narratives written to paraphrase Saint John of the Cross, "with no other light or guide than the one which burns in their heart." Buddies is a must-read for anyone interested in personal narrative, spirituality, and diverse life experiences.

 

Here are five reviews:

 

"In these touching and poignant stories by seventeen men, we encounter a rich exploration of faith. The variety of experiences is likely to offer readers some narratives that resonate deeply and others that challenge. But all these stories invite reflection on one's own spiritual journey and beliefs." Bingham Powell, rector, St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Eugene, Oregon

 

"A group of articulate men consider their lives, their 'spiritual journeys' and essentially tell us how and what brings body and soul into a healthy union. They ask, how important is your early childhood experience of the holy? What's a 'religion?' Does church play a role in a healthy journey? What shatters your relationship to the sacred and what are the experiences that knit you into healing and wholeness? Their stories help us notice where and how you become aware of the mysteries of your soul and how you might build a healthy union to your inner life. The men are generous in sharing their experiences with us and their stories offer a compelling invitation to examine our own sacred journeys."  Gertrude Mueller Nelson, author of To Dance with God

 

"Buddies is a well-crafted, moving collection of insights and stories of spiritual journeys shared by members of a men's group led by John Bingham. They discuss the important distinction between the influences of organized religion and the direct spiritual encounters that shaped their lives. John combines his wisdom as an Episcopal priest and his insights as a psychotherapist to create a unique and very engaging read."  Alexander Shester, MD, Jungian analyst

 

"This book is exactly what it says on the cover. It is an account of seventeen male friends getting together to share their spiritual journeys. In an age of toxic masculinity, it is refreshing to read these frank, honest, and emotional stories. They are all very different, because the men come from different backgrounds and have different spiritual experiences. The narrator lets the men speak for themselves, so what we get is an insight into how men think about God." Mark Hargreaves, rector, St. James by-the-Sea, La Jolla, California

 

"We live impoverished when disconnected from individual soundings of the 'Other' in the unvarnished holiness of our friends' lives. John Bingham bridges this gap with a remarkable connective sharing during a retreat among friends-vulnerably and honestly sharing life stories centered on the holy as individually experienced. The reader is privileged to 'listen in' upon a polyphony of transcendence in these seventeen men's separate journeys, a remarkable blessing that is not to be missed."  Scott Starbuck, senior pastor, Manito Presbyterian Church, Spokane, Washington

 

 

At one time when people wanted a direct, personal experience of God, they turned to their dreams. Today religious writing ignores dreams and their spiritual dimensions. God and Dreams explores what happened that caused this change. Particular attention is given to Jewish, Christian, and Islamic thought and to psychological, philosophical, and scientific attitudes about dreams.

The year was 1851 and the place was Hangtown, the California mining camp that today is known as Placerville. It was here that the unpredictable and entertaining story of Zach Johnson's search for gold takes place. Zach, the son of an Episcopal priest, was a gentle man who'd come to Hangtown from Virginia to get rich. What did he do that so many men wanted him dead?

 

It was in Hangtown's El Dorado Hotel that Zach met Claire McCarthy, a feisty, independent beauty. Claire came to Hangtown from Boston to get away from her abusive father. Zach and Claire fell in love, but their bond frayed when Zach couldn't accept that Claire was a prostitute. Despondent, Zach turned to Kay, the waitress at Red's who knew how to please him, and his life evolved in ways he never imagined possible.

 

Hangtown is an action-packed adventure of personal growth the combines history, intrigue, and romance to create a gripping tale. Hangtown is intended for mature readers. The story contains sexual content and moderate language.

 The adventures of Zach and Claire continue. In Book Two they battle the adherents of the Nativist Party and their secret society, the Order of the Star-Spangled Banner (OSSB). Zach's spiritual growth is challenged by why a God of love allows suffering? Claire has a series of dreams she doesn't understand, so she turns to a Gypsy for guidance. The entanglements make the book a page-turner.

California's early history had a dark side. The California Constitutional Convention considered making slavery legal. State funds were used to pay for the scalps of Native Americans. The Native American Party's campaign to make the United States a whilte, Protestant nation found California receptive to its message. The California Legislature passed laws that banned Chinese immigration and punished Asians who were already residents.

 

Zach Johnson, the son of an Episcopal priest and owner of a mining camp's newspaper, opposed policies that constrained women, Negroes, Indians, and immigrants. He believed all people should have the same legan rights as native-born men. The conflict between Zach and the 1850s' prevailing attitudes was venomous and uncompromising.

 

Zach's personal life was contentious also. Two women give birth to a child he fathered. Zach's brother, a priest, insisted Zach amend his ways and get right with the Lord. Zach's pursuit of righteousness was enabled by his dreams but impeded by his bullheadedness.

 

Hangtown, The Dark Night, completes Bingham's Hangtown trilogy and Zach's quest to be close to God.