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Spirituality and Religion May 2022 |
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| Witch Queens, Voodoo Spirits, and Hoodoo Saints: A Guide to Magical New Orleans
by Denise Alvarado
What it is: an accessible, engaging tour of the traditions of folk magic in Louisiana.
Featuring: iconic figures like Marie Laveau, Papa Legba, and Annie Christmas; St. Expedite, an Armenian Catholic martyr who gained an unexpectedly large following in New Orleans.
Reviewers say: Witch Queens is a "rollicking party of spirits that should appeal to tourists, contemporary spell casters, and armchair historians" (Publishers Weekly). Available on Hoopla |
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| Faithful Antiracism: Moving Past Talk to Systemic Change
by Christina Edmondson
What it is: an accessible and persuasive analysis of the past, present, and potential future of racism in the church.
Why you might like it: Research-based arguments are presented alongside practical steps to counter the negative impact of racism inside and outside the church.
Reviewers say: "This timely, always relevant content makes Faithful Antiracism a must-read for all those who profess Christian faith" (Booklist). Available on Hoopla |
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| The Believer: Encounters with the Beginning, the End, and Our Place in the Middle
by Sarah Krasnostein
What it's about: the human drive to believe and seek meaning; the relationship between shared (or divergent) beliefs and interpersonal bonds.
Is it for you? Though belief as a concept is the central focus of The Believer, relevant non-religious topics are included in the discussion.
You might also like: How God Becomes Real by T.M. Luhrmann; Unlearning God by Phillip Gulley. |
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The Awakened Brain: The New Science of Spirituality and Our Quest for an Inspired Life
by Lisa Miller, PhD
What it is: an accessible and thought-provoking look at the intersection between spirituality and science, steeped in years of clinical research.
Topics include: the correlation between spiritual practice and reduced rates of depression and addiction; genetic variables that may predispose someone toward spirituality.
Why you might like it: the author's definition of spirituality (or "heightened awareness") is refreshingly open and allows her to include a broad spectrum of faith traditions, from Lakota healing ceremonies to monastic cloisters.
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The Vanishing: Faith, Loss, and the Twilight of Christianity in the Land of the Prophets
by Janine Di Giovanni
What it's about: the dwindling number of Christians in regions where the religion first took hold, such as Syria and Egypt, and the forces behind the disappearance of communities that have existed for centuries.
About the author: War correspondent Janine Di Giovanni is a fellow of both the Guggenheim Foundation and Yale University's Jackson Institute for Global Affairs. Her previous work includes The Quick and the Dead (about the siege of Sarajevo) and The Morning They Came For Us (about the war in Syria).
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Shoutin' in the Fire: An American Epistle
by Danté Stewart
What it is: a lyrical and thought-provoking blend of memoir and social meditation that delves into topics like anti-Blackness, identity, and the complex relationship that evangelical Christianity has with racism.
Don't miss: the moving interspersed stories author Danté Stewart gathered from his grandmother about her personal experiences with prejudice.
You might also like: Faith After Ferguson by Leah Gunning Francis; If God Still Breathes, Why Can't I? by Angela N. Parker.
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The Good Life Method: Reasoning Through the Big Questions of Happiness, Faith...
by Paul Blaschko and Meghan Sullivan
What it is: a candid, accessible exploration of big, existential questions and the roles faith and philosophy play in determining what it means to live a "good life."
Is it for you? the engaging material in The Good Life Method deals with religion alongside the secular work of philosophers like Kant and Descartes, which may not appeal to readers looking for something with a more spiritual focus.
About the authors: Notre Dame professors Meghan Sullivan and Paul Blaschko write and research religious philosophy topics and co-teach a noted undergraduate course called "God and the Good Life."
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| If All the Seas Were Ink
by Ilana Kurshan
What's inside: a reflective and engaging description of author Ilana Kurshan's experiences with daf yomi, a multi-year commitment to daily Talmud study, and how it serves as a grounding ritual during chaotic times.
Read it for: the moving portrait Kurshan paints of belonging to a worldwide network of fellow readers who read the same page every day.
Did you know? Each new daf yomi cycle takes more than seven years to complete, with the next cycle set to begin on June 8, 2027. |
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| The Very Worst Missionary: A Memoir or Whatever
by Jamie Wright
What it's about: the ups and downs of author Jamie Wright's efforts to reconcile her individual Christian faith with institutional problems that can surround organized religion, especially around missionary work.
Topics include: how missionary presence can disrupt local economies; financial irregularities in fundraising; manipulative recruitment tactics to encourage conversions.
For readers who: welcome tough conversations about the gaps between their relationships with God and the structural obstacles that prevent many faith communities from practicing what they preach. Available on Hoopla |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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