"Sacred Sites of Minnesota"   
 John-Brian & Teresa Peneguy Paprock
         Trails Books     2004

Like a satellite view from space, this book gives an overview of a variety of sacred sites throughout the state of Minnesota. Even a reader who have spent her/his entire life in the state of 10 thousand lakes will discover places of interest that they never heard of before.

Taking a regional approach, the Paprocks look at the Twin Cities Area, Southeastern Minnesota, Southwestern Minnesota, and Northern Minnesota. Several indexes enable the reader to quickly locate place by name and location.

A unique contribution of the book is the comprehensive coverage of Native American and Natural sites, especially in northern Minnesota where the history is one of adventure and ancient spiritual practice that still lives among native peoples. The concentration of Pictographs and Petroglyps in Minnesota will amaze those who think of the state as simply fly-over-country.

Churches, synagogues, centers, shrines, colleges, retreat centers are representative by Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal, Jewish, Muslim, Methodist, Presbyterian, Eastern Orthodox, Baptist, Buddhist, Hindu, Unitarian/Universalist religious traditions.

The Paprock's bring a vision of interfaith understanding across traditional lines and across time from ancient to modern. Knowledge of local traditions other than ones own is a unique starting point on the global religious journey. .

Some of the sites are given brief attention beyond name and location. And it takes a stretch to consider some sites as "spectacular". However the reviewer, being a native Minnesotan, is not accustomed to high flown praise for the local scene and perhaps needs to lighten up.

The grand buildings of various traditions are pictured and described, some in detail. Retreat Centers are a growing presence and receive deserved attention.

All who wish to understand the spiritual atmosphere of the Minnesota landscape will find this book to be an introduction and guide to exploration. The remarkable mix of world religions in the center of the North American continent is a treasure that is waiting for discovery. This book opens the way.

Delton Krueger
Bloomington, Minnesota
dkrueger@piper.hamline.edu  
www.interfaithcalendar.org

July 30, 2007

Available at book stores and from Trails Media Group of Black Earth, Wisconsin
info@wistrails.com