DECENTER EVERYTHING – Book References, Resources, and Futher Reading

References according to Chapter

Decenter Everything (2025) (ISBN: 978-0-6456072-4-6)

Prologue

Alfred North Whitehead’s process and relational philosophy, and accompanying theology.
There are plenty of resources to be found on the topic of Process and Relational Theology and it’s philosophical underpinnings. Places I would start include Robert Measle’s introduction book.  Theological books by Bruce G Epperly.  Open and Relational books by Thomas Jay Oord.  Tripp Fuller’s Homebrew Christianity podcast is always interesting and contains many episodes covering the topic.

Introduction

Die Wise (2015) by Stephen Jenkinson. Stephen’s work is profound, confronting, and refreshing. Particularly his work around death. Author’s website.  |   Amazon

Nature and the Human Soul (2007). Bill Plotkins . Authors website on book.  Find the Eight stages of the wheel model here

Work by Carl Jung – there is plenty on Jung’s work on the internet. I like the JungianLife podcast and The Mythic Masculine podcast

Imagination (2005) by Ruha Benjamin – This is an amazing book with a supurb appendix. Get it here
Poetry by Audra Loure is mentioned in this same book.

Poem ‘Elders’ (from The Wrestle, 2020) by David Tensen. Find my books everywhere, including Amazon

The Great Interruption

The Chalice and the Blade (1987) by Riane Eisler. Get it here

Article in the Chicago Tribune by Marvin Hoffman (2014) about Age Ghettos. Read it here

The Sibling Society by Robert Bly. Find it here

False North

Concept of “soul size” by Dr. Bernard Loomer
Loomer, B. M. (1987). THE SIZE OF GOD. American Journal of Theology & Philosophy, 8(1/2), 20–51. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27943702
Commentary by Patricia Adams Farmer on Loomer’s work and book Fat Soul is wonderful. Find it here

The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949) by Joseph Campbell. Find it here

Hagitude (2022) by Sharon Blackie. Find the book here. Sharon’s website 

King, Warrior, Magician, Lover (1990) by Robert Moore and Douglas Gillette . Get it here

The Lord of the Rings stories by J.R.R. Tolkien. Movies and books are available everywhere

Writings by Bayo Akomolafe.   Bayo’s work is profound. His books are here.  The quote in the book comes from this LinkedIn post

Research on gerotranscendence by Lars Tornstam
Tornstam, L. (2011). Maturing into Gerotranscendence. Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 43(2), 166–180. https://www.atpweb.org/jtparchive/trps-43-11-02-166.pdf
Easy to understand Youtube lecture

Decenter God

Eccentric Identiry work by Richard Beck, including his series of blogs on Eccentric Christianity (2014)
Work on eccentric existence by David H. Kelsey included on this same blog series

Timothy (Bishop Kallistos of Diokleia) Ware, Orthodox Way (Crestwood, N.Y.: St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, 1979), 33;
see also Yannaras, Elements of Faith, 20; Meyendorff, Byzantine Theology, 182–83.

The Slavery of Death (2013) by Richard Beck. Get the book

Work and writings by C. Baxter Kruger is deep and beautiful at https://perichoresis.org/

Work and writings by Dr. Bradley Jersak. (Brad and wife Eve are beautiful people). Find Brad’s work here: https://bradjersak.com/

The Divine Dance (2016) by Richard Rohr. Find it here

Writings by Alain of Lille (12th century) are public domain

Writings by Blaise Pascal are public domain –  ebook.

Teaching on Centering Prayer by Fr. Thomas Keating, Cynthia Bourgeault, and others

Poetry ‘Kind of Way’ (from The Wrestle, 2020) by David Tensen. Find my books everywhere, including Amazon

Poetry ‘Trinity Is’ (from The Wrestle, 2020) by David Tensen Find my books everywhere, including Amazon

Work by Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905-1988) suggesting kenosis within the Godhead. Public domain writings here

Decenter Being Heard

The Life Model developed by Dr Jim Wilder and others at Life Model Works. There is a lot of resource online about the Life Model. A simple Google search like this will reveal much including links to this great little book.
I have also covered the Life Model on my podcast in regards to parenting here. 

Jane Hardwicke Collings work on archetypes in women’s season is great. Her website

Hagbergs Critical Journey . This is a FAVOURITE book of mine. Find it here.  I spoke of it on my podcast here

Poetry by John O’Donohue. Works here and an interview with the Krista Tippet here about the intersecting of monologues is lovely.

The Companioning framework created by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.  Get the 2005 book here.

Interview with Felicia Murrell on Companioning. Listen here

Research by Yorkston et al. (2010)
Yorkston KM, Bourgeois MS, Baylor CR. Communication and aging. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2010 May;21(2):309-19. doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2009.12.011. PMID: 20494279; PMCID: PMC3074568.

Observations by Media scholar Marshall McLuhan

Points made by Theorist David Altheide – Ecology of Communication PDF

Reminders by Researcher Walter Ong. Orality and Literacy PDF

Decenter Knowing

Research on wisdom by Parisi et. al (2009)
Parisi JM, Rebok GW, Carlson MC, Fried LP, Seeman TE, Tan EJ, Tanner EK, Piferi RL. Can the Wisdom of Aging be Activated and Make a Difference Societally? Educ Gerontol. 2009;35(10):867-879. doi: 10.1080/03601270902782453. PMID: 21998491; PMCID: PMC3191186.

Writings by social theorist René Girard (1923-2015) –  books and works

Exercise to stop having certain conversations presented by poet David Whyte – Interview on courageous conversations

Decenter Death

Denial of Death (2011) by Ernest Becker. Find it here.  There are plenty of videos and discussions online to be found on this prize-winning book

Die Wise (2015) by Stephen Jenkinson. Stephen’s work is profound, confronting, and refreshing. Particularly his work around death. Author’s website.  |   Amazon

Decenter Consumption

Research on gerotranscendence by Lars Tornstam
Tornstam, L. (2011). Maturing into Gerotranscendence. Journal of Transpersonal Psychology, 43(2), 166–180. https://www.atpweb.org/jtparchive/trps-43-11-02-166.pdf
Easy to understand Youtube lecture

First Nation Wisdom on Wealth, Poverty and Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
This fantastic article is worth reading and considering – especially when considering how collective cultures view place, things, and self-actualization. https://gatherfor.medium.com/maslow-got-it-wrong-ae45d6217a8c

Where to from here?

Work by Richard Rohr and others on the first half of life.
Falling Upwards (2023) . Read it here. 
Ron Pevney’s book on aging may be helpful. Find it here. His organisation Center for Conscious Eldering is here