Before the Door of God, edited by Jay Hopler and Kimberly Johnson

The devotional lyric has been adapted for various artistic explorations. This generous collection includes selections of the form that invoke, praise, beseech, ridicule or abandon faith. The selections range from seventh-century versions of Hebrew psalms, to stirring 18th-century hymns, to atheistic and ironic 21st-century poems. Arranged chronologically and indexed, the volume includes sensitive and succinct editorial comments. While most selections reflect a Chris­tian orientation, poems from other traditions and  perspectives are included.