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Spirituality and Religion January 2020
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| The Lost Art of Scripture: Rescuing the Sacred Texts by Karen ArmstrongWhat it is: an incisive argument in favor of a different way of looking at scripture: not as historical documents, rulebooks, or justifications, but instead as paths to commune with the divine.
What makes it unique: The discussion takes place in the context of religious texts not usually discussed in tandem, from the Pali Canon to the Torah. |
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| Exactly as You Are: The Life and Faith of Mister Rogers by Shea TuttleWhat it's about: the experiences and religious life of beloved children's television icon Fred Rogers and how his faith informed both his career and the compassion he encouraged in others.
Why you should read it: Although the tone is one of admiration, this spiritual biography makes a point to distinguish between Mister Rogers and Fred Rogers the man, nor does it shy away from his shortcomings.
Did you know? Before beginning his career in television, Fred Rogers went to divinity school and became an ordained Presbyterian minister. |
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What it's about: What does the Bible teach and what does it not teach? Does the Bible Tell Me So? addresses this question by first examining how the Bible has been misinterpreted in the past and then asking if the same mistakes are being made today.
Reviews say: "Ralph addresses a clutch of compelling questions in the context of the Bible. . . Ralph finds evidence for her conclusions in the context of literary form; the beliefs at the time of the original author and audience; and the 2000-year process of ongoing revelation that is modeled in Scripture. Her thoughtful book will be of interest to contextualists, fundamentalists, and seekers of every persuasion."Booklist
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| For Small Creatures Such as We: Rituals for Finding Meaning in Our Unlikely World by Sasha SaganWhat it's about: This thoughtful and engaging memoir explores the rise in and value of ritual in secular life and includes advice on how to incorporate more of it into your own life.
Read it for: the author's reflections on her interest in religious topics as the daughter of noted scientist and avowed skeptic Carl Sagan.
Reviewer say: "profound" and "elegantly written" (Kirkus Reviews). |
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| The Evangelicals: The Struggle to Shape America by Frances FitzGeraldWhat it's about: the rise and development of the American evangelical movement, from its beginnings in the 18th century to its role in political life in the modern era.
Read it for: its sweeping, comprehensive scope; the impartiality of the author's analysis.
Reviewers say: "a timely and accessible contribution to the rapidly growing body of literature on Christianity in modern America" (Publishers Weekly). |
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| Genghis Khan and the Quest for God: How the World's Greatest Conqueror Gave Us... by Jack WeatherfordWhat it's about: The surprisingly light hand that Genghis Khan took toward the practice of religion in his vast empire, with an exploration of attitudes toward religious tolerance in the centuries before and after his reign.
Why you should read it: for a better understanding of the Mongol Empire, which despite its violent creation could also be strikingly cosmopolitan for the era.
Did you know? Many of the wives, extended families, and even descendants of Genghis were Nestorian Christians, and more than one group of Catholic priests traveled east to try converting the Mongols to the Roman rite. |
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Reviews say:"Ben Howe has crafted a book that lays out the rocky path the bulk of evangelical Christian movement took, going from being the arbiters of morality, to shrugging it off and embracing Donald Trump in service to power." (Jay Caruso, Deputy Editor Washington Examiner Magazine)
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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