|
|
Spirituality and Religion January 2021
|
|
|
|
Julian of Norwich : Wisdom in a Time of Pandemic and Beyond
by Matthew Fox
Julian of Norwich lived through the dreadful bubonic plague that killed close to 50% of Europeans. Being an anchoress, she 'sheltered in place' and developed a deep wisdom that she shared in her book, Showings, which was the first book in English by a woman. A theologian way ahead of her time, Julian develops a feminist understanding of God as mother at the heart of nature's goodness. Fox shares her teachings in this powerful and timely and inspiring book.
|
|
| I Am Restored: How I Lost My Religion But Found My Faith by LecraeWhat it's about: the author's faith journey and the obstacles he has faced along the way; the power of self-awareness and reflection in developing an authentic relationship with God.
Reviewers say: "This personal story of faith lost and found is especially recommended to Christians who are struggling to comprehend God's complex ways" (Library Journal).
About the author: Grammy-winning hip-hop artist Lecrae has also published Unashamed, a memoir about his traumatic childhood experiences and how his faith helped him cope. |
|
|
Live not by lies : a manual for Christian dissidents
by Rod Dreher
"In Live Not By Lies, Dreher amplifies the alarm sounded by the brave men and women who fought totalitarianism. He explains how the totalitarianism facing us today is based less on overt violence and more on psychological manipulation. He tells the stories of modern-day dissidents--clergy, laity, martyrs, and confessors from the Soviet Union and the captive nations of Europe--who offer practical advice for how to identify and resist totalitarianism in our time. Following the model offered by a prophetic World War II-era pastor who prepared believers in his Eastern European to endure the coming of communism, Live Not By Lies teaches American Christians a method for resistance: SEE: Acknowledge the reality of the situation. JUDGE: Assess reality in the light of what we as Christians know to be true. ACT: Take action to protect truth."
|
|
| Reading While Black: African American Biblical Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope by Esau McCaulleyWhat it's about: the unique lens through which the Black church tradition has viewed the Bible and what it has meant for both theology and the wider society.
Chapters include: "The South Got Somethin' to Say," "Tired Feet, Rested Souls," and "What Shall We Do with This Rage?"
Reviewers say: This book is "an exercise in hope that speaks powerfully to readers of every race and ethnicity" (Booklist). |
|
| Toil & Trouble by Augusten BurroughsWhat it is: the candid and darkly humorous account of the author's experiences with ritual and his family's relationship with witchcraft and the supernatural.
Who it's for: Burroughs fans; anyone interested in the informal ways that beliefs from the past can find their way into the present.
About the author: Writer Augusten Burroughs has published essays, fiction, and nonfiction, and is best known for his memoirs Running With Scissors and Dry. |
|
| American Harvest: God, Country, and Farming in the Heartland by Marie Mutsuki MockettWhat it is: an engaging and descriptive memoir of life in the "flyover states" that also raises timely issues about religious and political identity and the problematic underpinnings of the American farming industry.
Read it for: the nuanced view author Marie Mutsuki Mockett brings to polarizing conversations and her humane portraits of people who are often stereotyped.
Reviewers say: "A revealing, richly textured portrait of the lives of those who put food on our tables" (Kirkus Reviews). |
|
| Wiving: A Memoir of Loving then Leaving the Patriarchy by Caitlin MyerWhat it's about: growing up in and eventually leaving the Mormon church and how those experiences intersect with childhood trauma, mental illness, sex, and identity.
Don't miss: the parallels author Caitlin Myer draws between the difficulties of being a woman both inside and outside of the Mormon faith.
For fans of: The candid reflections on childhood trauma in The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls; Judith Freeman's The Latter Days, another memoir of self-discovery after leaving the Mormon church. |
|
|
The art & science of respect : a memoir
by James Prince
For decades, serial entrepreneur James Prince presided over Rap-A-Lot Records, one of the first and most successful independent rap labels. In his memoir, he explains how he earned his reputation as one of the most respected men in Hip Hop. By staying true to his three principles of heart, loyalty, and commitment, and an unwavering faith in God, he has defeated many adversaries. Whether battling the systemic cycle of poverty, record label executives, boxing promoters, or corrupt DEA agents, Prince has always emerged victorious. Respect isn't given, it's earned. In recounting his compelling life story, Prince analyzes the art and science of earning respect - and giving respect - and how to apply these principles to your own life.
|
|
Contact your librarian for more great books!
|
|
|
|
|
|