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Spirituality and Religion November 2020
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"I realized then that even though I was a tiny speck in an infinite cosmos, a blip on the timeline of eternity, I was not without purpose." – R.J. Anderson Visit our website and check out great programming through our Virtual Library where you'll find crafts, book talks, and more for all ages. Prefer to stay home? Our To-Go Library service will continue while our open hours increase. Place your holds online or by calling your local library and pick them up contact free. |
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In the Name of God: The Role of Religion in the Modern World: A History of Judeo-Christian...
by Selina O'Grady
What it is: a sweeping, thought-provoking history of different societies' attempts at religious pluralism and the varying results those efforts have delivered.
Topics include: the role of nationalism in religious identity; the similarities between the Christian Reformation and the Sunni-Shia split; the dramatic cultural and religious fallout of Napoleon's invasion of Egypt.
Reviewers say: "This perceptive, masterly history will change how many readers think about toleration and the supposed clash between Christian and Muslim worlds" (Publishers Weekly).
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| White Too Long: The Legacy of White Supremacy in American Christianity by Robert P. JonesWhat it is: a comprehensive, well-researched exploration of racism in American Christianity and a compelling call to action for modern Christians to address the sins of the past and work for a more inclusive present.
You might also like: The Color of Christ by Paul Harvey and Edward J. Blum; Reconstructing the Gospel by Jonathan Wilson-Hargrove. |
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For All Who Hunger: Searching for Communion in a Shattered World
by Emily M.D. Scott
What it is: the reflective and inspiring memoir of Lutheran minister Emily M.D. Scott and the unique church community she founded, St. Lydia's Dinner Church, which serves as a welcoming place for people who feel out of place in more traditional church environments.
For fans of: Rachel Held Evans, Nadia Bolz-Weber, Katie Hayes, and other memoirist ministers with unique approaches to their faith.
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| Veritas: A Harvard Professor, a Con Man, and the Gospel of Jesus's Wife by Ariel SabarWhat it is: the well-researched, thought-provoking true crime story of a fraudulent historical document that allegedly quoted Jesus as referring to Mary Magdalene as his wife and how respected Harvard religious scholar Karen King fell for the hoax.
Read it for: The author's ability to describe the events in journalistic detail while simultaneously examining King and her involvement through a humanizing lens of compassion. |
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The Hope of Glory: Reflections on the Last Words of Jesus from the Cross
by Jon Meacham
What it's about: the final seven sayings attributed to Jesus from the cross, including the a survey of the different references to them in the gospels, important historical and theological background to consider when reflecting upon them, and what lessons Christians can take from them today.
About the author: Jon Meacham is a journalist and editor whose previous books have included religious histories of the United States and presidential biographies, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of Andrew Jackson American Lion.
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Books You Might Have Missed
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A call to mercy : hearts to love, hands to serve
by Mother Teresa
A collection of unpublished material from the Nobel Peace Prize-winning holy woman who is being canonized as a Saint by the Vatican in September 2016 offers her wisdom on showing compassion in our daily lives and working to create a heaven on earth.
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A call to action : women, religion, violence, and power
by Jimmy Carter
"The world's discrimination and violence against women and girls is the most serious, pervasive, and ignored violation of basic human rights: This is President Jimmy Carter's call to action. President Carter was encouraged to write this book by a wide coalition of leaders of all faiths. His urgent report covers a system of discrimination that extends to every nation.
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Advice Not Given: A Guide to Getting Over Yourself
by Mark Epstein
Learn about a combined positive effects of Buddhist teachings and psychotherapy techniques on an individual's struggles with self-doubt and unrealized potential. Mark Epstein is a graduate of Harvard Medical School and has published other books on Buddhism and psychology, such as Going to Pieces Without Falling Apart and The Trauma of Everyday Life.
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A Charlie Brown Religion: Exploring the Spiritual Life and Work of Charles...
by Stephen J. Lind
While Charles Schultz's Peanuts comic strip can be read simply as a humorous take on the challenges and vicissitudes of life, it often includes lighthearted philosophical and theological commentary. Although Christianity clearly has influenced the strip's content, Peanuts alone doesn't offer a spiritual profile of Schultz the man. In A Charlie Brown Religion, author Stephen Lind draws on written records and interviews, as well as the Peanuts comics and television specials, to create a religious portrait of the iconic artist and author. If you're interested in Schultz and his religious thought, be sure to pick up this book.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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