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Spirituality and Religion March 2017
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A Charlie Brown Religion: Exploring the Spiritual Life and Work of Charles... by Stephen J. LindWhile 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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A History of Religion in 5 1/2 Objects: Bringing the Spiritual to Its Senses by S. Brent PlateIn A History of Religion in 5 1/2 Objects, author Brent Plate, who teaches religious studies at Hamilton College, considers the significance of five specific objects in a variety of religious and spiritual experiences throughout history. First delving into the concept of "half," which represents humans' sense of incompleteness, he then describes how the five (stones, incense, drums, crosses, and bread) have enhanced religious experience through the senses and through their use in organized rituals and individual devotions. This compact and accessible volume illuminates the appreciation of religious practices and offers inspiration to those looking for insight into spiritual matters.
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A Call to Mercy: Hearts to Love, Hands to Serve by Mother TeresaMother Teresa of Calcutta, canonized (declared a saint) by Pope Francis earlier this year, never wrote an autobiography -- she was too busy helping others. This collection of short, previously uncollected pieces offers information about her life's ministry through her own words in correspondence, interviews, and speeches. Organized according to the 14 traditional "works of mercy," her words, accompanied by comments from those who observed her ministries, provide examples of feeding the hungry, giving shelter to the homeless, bearing wrongs patiently, comforting the afflicted, and more. A Call to Mercy offers inspiration to Christians and opens windows into Teresa's life for those interested in learning about her.
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| Vaster Than Sky, Greater Than Space: What You Are Before You Became by MoojiHindu teacher and spiritual guide Mooji offers challenging but accessible ways to go deeper into the spiritual life in this exploration of pathways to enlightenment. Recounting his own travels in India to illustrate what he has learned, he explains stages in the search for truth but doesn't demand adherence to specific beliefs. According to Mooji's approach, self-actualization, rather than following a prescribed journey, will lead more surely to peace and understanding. If you're unfamiliar with Mooji's approach to spirituality, this is a good place to start, and this book will also satisfy his experienced followers. |
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| Love Hurts: Buddhist Advice for the Heartbroken by Lodro RinzlerIn this book on emotional healing, Buddhist teacher and columnist for the Huffington Post Lodro Rinzler offers advice based on the Buddha's precepts about suffering -- including but not limited to solace for the lovelorn. Built on his notes from short sessions during which Rinzler listened to people who came to share their heartbreaks, each chapter offers spiritual counsel for specific experiences, from "What Is Heartbreak?" to "If You Need to Hear a Joke" to "If You Feel Acceptance." Introductory and concluding chapters frame these anecdotal teachings on spiritual self-care. Publishers Weekly calls this a "superb book for any heartbroken reader." |
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| The Forgetting River: A Modern Tale of Survival, Identity, and the Inquisition by Doreen CarvajalSuspecting that her family history might harbor a centuries-old secret, veteran journalist Doreen Carvajal, who writes for the International Herald Tribune and the New York Times, turned her reporter's eye on herself. Though she grew up Catholic in California, she felt there were clues that she was descended from Sephardic Jews who'd been forced to convert during the Inquisition and who'd kept remnants of their old faith. Tracing her family's roots to Arcos de la Frontera in southern Spain, she left her Paris home and moved to the Spanish town to find out more. Kirkus Reviews calls The Forgetting River "a mesmerizing journey through time, across cultures, and into one woman's rich personal history." |
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| Called Again: A Story of Love and Triumph by Jennifer Pharr DavisIn this inspiring account of author Jennifer Pharr Davis' record-time completion of the Appalachian Trail, we read of her emotional and physical challenges on the 272-mile journey. Sustained not only by her partner and husband, Brew, but also by her Christian faith, Davis walked from Maine to North Carolina in 46 days. She also came to a deeper understanding of her relationship with God. This memoir may motivate you to undertake long hikes, but even if it doesn't, it could encourage you to make the most of your own spiritual gifts. |
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| Paris to the Pyrenees: A Skeptic Pilgrim Walks the Way of Saint James by David Downie; photographs by Alison HarrisThough food writer David Downie wasn't interested in the religious aspects of the pilgrimage to the shrine of St. James in Compostela, Spain, he decided to trace the ancient route for its historic significance and in order to improve his health. Setting off on the Rue Saint-Jacques in Paris (the medieval but not the modern pilgrims' starting point) and walking through France with his wife, photographer Alison Harris, Downie found inspiration despite his skepticism. Noting intersections between Celtic and Roman history, Christian churches and other shrines, and the modern people he met, he began to reflect more deeply on philosophical questions he found important. Harris' photographs accompany this thought-provoking chronicle. |
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| Heirs to Forgotten Kingdoms: Journeys into the Disappearing Religions of the Middle East by Gerard RussellThough Islam is the most common religion practiced in the Middle East, there are dozens of others that most Westerners know very little about. In this engaging book, a curious former British diplomat who lived in the area for over a decade provides an accessible introduction to several minor religions that have survived for centuries but are now in danger of extinction. Traveling around the Middle East, Gerard Russell learns about and meets Yazidis, Zoroastrians, Copts, Druze, Samaritans, Kalasha, Mandaeans, Manicheans, and others. For another lighthearted and informative religious tour, try William Dalrymple's From the Holy Mountain, which explores Christian communities in the region. |
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| Mecca: The Sacred City by Ziauddin SardarPakistani-born Londoner Ziauddin Sardar introduces the history of Islam and its cultural influences in this witty and personal study of Mecca. The holiest city for Muslims, who are expected to visit there at least once in their lives, Mecca's primary function as a religious symbol contrasts with the reality that it's a modern city. Recounting intriguing stories about individuals (such as the Dutch spy who was expelled after his false conversion was exposed), warring political factions, and archaeological travesties, Sardar pays tribute to the deep spiritual and historical roots of the site in this "beautifully written and revealing" (Booklist) study. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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