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Spirituality and ReligionNovember 2014
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"The Bible shows the way to go to heaven, not the way the heavens go." ~ Galileo Galilei (1564-1642), Italian astronomer
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New and Recently Released!
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| Infidel Kings and Unholy Warriors: Faith, Power, and Violence in the Age of... by Brian A. CatlosIn this fresh and vivid history of the Mediterranean region during the Middle Ages, author Brian Catlos depicts the relationships among Muslims and Christians as complex and subtle, arguing that the Crusades were motivated as much by economics and politics as by religion. Showing that accounts of certain heroes (such as el Cid) portrayed them as either Muslim or Christian, depending on who wrote the account, he also highlights internal violence within Christian and Muslim factions. Moreover, collaboration among Christians, Jews, and Muslims was common. In a starred review, Booklist says that Infidel Kings and Unholy Warriors "opens prospects for interfaith realism in the future." |
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| Joan of Arc: A Life Transfigured by Kathryn HarrisonJoan of Arc, the 15th-century girl who went to battle for France against the invading British, provides an endless source of fascination for writers -- both skeptics and believers. Taking on the challenge of writing a biography that offers something different for 21st-century readers, author Kathryn Harrison provides a compelling historical account of Joan's life with a believable psychological interpretation. Whether you're already familiar with many earlier accounts or you're looking for an engaging historical introduction to the saint, pick up Harrison's Joan of Arc for "memorable writing and an energetic approach" (Kirkus Reviews). |
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| Eager to Love: The Alternative Way of Francis of Assisi by Richard RohrIn Eager to Love, Franciscan priest Richard Rohr presents themes from Francis of Assisi's life that he hopes will motivate readers to examine their spiritual lives and imitate the 12th-century saint's outwardly focused ministry. While Francis took the Gospel's teachings as a mandate to love others, live in solidarity with the poor, and care for the suffering, building a community around these ministries, Rohr sees as problematic some tendencies in contemporary spirituality that emphasize individualistic relationships with God. Eager to Love offers an inspiring corrective to this trend, which Rohr believes is too much in tune with secular, consumerist lifestyles. |
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| The Imperfect Marriage: Help for Those Who Think It's Over by Darryl Strawberry and Tracy Strawberry with A.J. GregoryYankees baseball star Darryl Strawberry and his wife, Tracy, have, like many couples, faced difficult challenges to their relationship. In this inspirational book, they offer their understanding of marriage as a faith-driven, Bible-based enterprise, courageously detailing their own struggles. In the book's first section, the Strawberrys advise troubled couples to look at their spiritual failings, and they offer suggestions about how to repair damaged relationships. They continue in Part Two by explaining how following God's design can strengthen the "we" in a marriage. The Imperfect Marriage provides inspiration through its honest, realistic portrayal of the Strawberrys' relationship, though their explicit religious message will appeal more to Christian readers. |
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Here are some engaging and accessible works that approach reading the Bible from Christian and Jewish perspectives.
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| The Bible: A Biography by Karen ArmstrongIf you're looking for an introduction to the history of the Bible, author Karen Armstrong offers a thoughtful, thorough, and clear presentation. Detailing the origins of Hebrew scripture and the development of the Torah, the Writings, and the prophets, she adds information about Kabbalistic and Talmudic interpretations. Discussing the roots of the Christian scriptures, she compares the teachings of Jesus to the Rabbinic traditions and explains how the books of the New Testament were written and became scripture. Then she moves on to the history of how Christians have used the Bible in devotional practices, the Protestant Reformation's influence, and modern historical-critical studies. "This is one terrific little book," says Booklist. |
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| How to Read the Bible: A Guide to Scripture, Then and Now by James L. KugelJewish biblical scholar James Kugel taught an introductory course on the Hebrew Bible at Harvard for two decades. In How to Read the Bible, he offers an engaging presentation of the materials in that course, covering the history of ancient Israel and the contents of the Hebrew Scriptures, the significance of prophets in the Ancient Near East, both traditional and modern Jewish interpretive methods, and much more. Kugel concludes with his personal takeaway message: the real point of studying the Bible is to find God. |
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Who's who and where's where in the Bibleby Stephen M. MillerShouldn't every Bible come with a handy tool like Who's Who & Where's Where in the Bible? This illustrated, easy reading A-Z dictionary is loaded with fresh and surprising insights about the most important people and places in the Bible-five hundred in all. Not a dry textbook, it's written in magazine style by critically acclaimed Christian journalist and Bible history author Stephen M. Miller. Color maps, photos, and paintings transport readers to sacred lands. There, they'll meet fascinating people: lovers and liars, healers and hoodlums, warriors and wimps. This captivating book will appeal to Bible newcomers as well as long-time Christians.
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| Good Book: The Bizarre, Hilarious, Disturbing, Marvelous, and Inspiring... by David PlotzAfter attending a bat mitzvah so boring that he felt compelled to pick up the Torah in front of him, Slate editor David Plotz decided to read the entire Old Testament. His frequently irreverent observations about the book include amusing lists (such as "The Bible's 12 Best Pickup Lines" and "My Favorite Prostitutes") and other witty commentary. At the same time, he grapples with deep spiritual questions while trying to make sense of the instances when God seems cruel, erratic, or just unconcerned about humans. Some of Plotz's conclusions are decidedly unorthodox, but if you can take matters of faith with a grain (or perhaps a pillar) of salt, you'll find "a laugh on every page" (Booklist) as well as food for thought. |
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A visual history of the English Bible : the tumultuous tale of the world's bestselling book by Donald L. BrakeThe fascinating journey of the Bible from the pulpit to the people Dozens of English translations of the Bible are available today, but Scripture was not always so easy to obtain. Donald L. Brake invites you to discover the tumultuous tale of how the Bible was transformed from medieval manuscripts read only by clergy to a bestseller widely available in contemporary languages. Includes bibliographical references and indexes.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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