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Spirituality and Religion November 2018
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Everything Happens for a Reason: And Other Lies I've Loved by Kate BowlerWhat it's about: In her previous book Blessed, Kate Bowler explored the history and theology of the Prosperity Gospel. It's in this same context that she reflects on her diagnosis, at age 35, of Stage IV cancer, and how her impending mortality has affected her own faith.
Read it for: the seemingly effortless way that Bowler weaves her brand of warm, candid humor throughout a book that is as funny as it is bleak and as erudite as it is intimate.
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Celebration, Devotion, Education |
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The House of Islam: A Global History by Ed HusainWhat it is: An informed, accessible exploration of Islam's past and present, thoroughly researched but effectively condensed to provide general readers with the historical context needed to understand many of the contemporary issues the religion faces.
Read it for: The in-depth examination of the many divisions within Islamic thought and practice, something that sets this book apart from other "Islam for beginners" titles.
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A History of Religion in 5 1/2 Objects: Bringing the Spiritual to Its Senses by S. Brent PlateWhat it's about: In 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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Polishing the mirror : how to live from your spiritual heart by Ram Dass What it's about: Sometimes illumination occurs spontaneously or, as Ram Dass experienced, in a heart-wrenching moment of opening. More commonly, it happens when we polish the mirror of the heart with daily practice—and see beyond the illusion of our transient thoughts and emotions to the vast and luminous landscape of our true nature. For five decades, Ram Dass has explored the depths of consciousness and love and brought them to life as service to others. With Polishing the Mirror, he gathers together his essential teachings for living in the eternal present, here and now. For those new to Ram Dass' teachings, and for those to whom they are old friends, here is this vanguard spiritual explorer's complete guide to discovering who we are and why we are here, and how to become beacons of unconditional love. ~from amazon.com
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America's favorite holidays : candid histories by Bruce David ForbesWhat it's about: America's Favorite Holidays explores how five of America's culturally dominant holidays--Christmas, Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween, and Thanksgiving--came to be what they are today, combinations of seasonal and religious celebrations heavily influenced by modern popular culture. Distilling information from a wide range of sources, Bruce David Forbes reveals the often surprising history behind the traditions of each holiday. The book offers a comprehensive look at the Christian origins of these holidays and also touches on Passover, the religions of ancient Rome, Celtic practices, Mexico's Day of the Dead, and American civil religion. America's Favorite Holidays answers our curiosity about the origins of our holidays and the many ways in which religion and culture mix.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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