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Spirituality and Religion July 2020
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Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife by Bart D. Ehrman What it is: an accessible and thought-provoking look at historical conceptions of heaven and hell across continents, cultures, and faiths.
Topics include: the Epic of Gilgamesh, Homeric Hades, Plato's views on the idea of an immortal soul, and what the Bible actually says about the afterlife.
About the author: Noted biblical scholar Bart D. Ehrman is the author of numerous books about early Christianity, including Misquoting Jesus and Jesus Before the Gospels. | |
Roadmap to reconciliation 2.0 : moving communities into unity, wholeness and justice
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Brenda Salter McNeil
"We can see the injustice and inequality in our lives and in the world. But how, exactly, does one reconcile? Based on her extensive work with churches and organizations, Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil has created a roadmap to show us the way. This revised and expanded edition shows us how to take the next step into unity, wholeness, and justice"
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Gather Us in : Leading Transformational Small Groups
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Angela D. Schaffner
The church can become a place where people want to run to instead of away from during times of suffering. Small groups offer a safe space for individuals to connect meaningfully with one another, and they also provide an environment where relational healing can begin.
This comprehensive guide to leading small groups provides eight strategies for leading transformative small groups, dispels common myths about leading groups, and helps readers understand how groups work and the life stages of a group. The author suggests practical ways to lead groups effectively, using examples from scripture of how Jesus worked to transform people spiritually and emotionally. Gather Us In will equip small-group leaders with wisdom for relating to others, knowledge for helping others talk about their unfolding faith journeys, and confidence in their newly acquired facilitation skills. They will realize they don't need to know all the answers to be able to lead well.
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Free at Last? : The Gospel in the African American Experience
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Jr. Ellis, Carl F.
The words of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech have become enshrined in US history. But after the end of King's generation of leadership, what happened to the African American struggle for freedom?Free at Last?
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Anchor and Flares: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hope, and Service by Kate Braestrup What it is: the popular author's candid, bittersweet memoir detailing the intersections of her Christian faith, work as a chaplain, inclusive social beliefs, and her role as a mother (and stepmother).
Reviewers say: "Sensitive and wholesomely charming" and "another appealing, tenderhearted memoir braiding faith and family" (Kirkus Reviews). | | Joan of Arc: A History by Helen Castor What it's about: the life and legend of Joan of Arc, the devout peasant girl who galvanized a divided France to defeat their English occupiers and later became a Catholic saint.
What sets it apart: rather than a biography, this history of the Hundred Years' War examines the "Maid of Orléans" as a social force, from the circumstances that allowed for her ascent to the later attempts to control her legacy. | | Headscarves and Hymens: Why the Middle East Needs a Sexual Revolution by Mona Eltahawy What it is: a well-researched, impassioned critique of difficulties faced by women in parts of the Arab world, with an exploration of their social and religious origins and the continued efforts of women to advocate for themselves.
Is it for you? Egyptian-American author Mona Eltahawy isn't afraid to discuss distressing topics in depth, from her own experiences with sexual harassment and assault to the difficult-to-eradicate practice of genital mutulation. | | The Witches: Suspicion, Betrayal, and Hysteria in 1692 Salem by Stacy Schiff What it's about: the road to and fallout of the notorious witch trials that took place in Salem, Massachusetts in 1692.
Read it for: the analysis of the social, political and religious forces that created the perfect circumstances for paranoia and superstition to spiral out of control.
Author alert: Guggenheim fellow and Pulitzer Prize winner Stacy Schiff has also written biographies of historical and cultural notables such as Cleopatra, Vera Nabokov, Benjamin Franklin, and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. | |
Contact your librarian for more great books!
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