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Spirituality and Religion November 2025 |
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Buddha, Socrates, and Us : Ethical Living in Uncertain Times
by Stephen Batchelor
A renowned Buddhist teacher explores how the parallel teachings of the Buddha and Socrates—rooted in critical self-inquiry and ethical uncertainty—offer enduring guidance for living a just, courageous and thoughtful life amid modern social and spiritual challenges.
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As a Jew: Reclaiming Our Story From Those Who Blame, Shame, and Try to Erase Us
by Sarah Hurwitz
Part memoir and part manifesto, this urgent book confronts centuries of antisemitism and its impact on Jewish identity. With clarity and conviction, Hurwitz reclaims the beauty of Jewish tradition and invites readers to live unapologetically. It is timely, impassioned, and deeply personal.
Available on Libby
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Daughters of Palestine: A Memoir in Five Generations
by Leyla K. King
Spanning five generations, this lyrical memoir traces a Christian family’s journey from Palestine to Texas. Intimate and sweeping, the account weaves loss, love, and resilience against a backdrop of war and turbulence. Readers drawn to immigrant stories and interwoven faith traditions will find much to savor.
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The Girl Who Baptized Herself: How a Lost Scripture about a Saint Named Thecla Reveals the Power of Knowing Our Worth
by Meggan Watterson
This riveting exploration of a nearly lost first-century scripture tells the story of a courageous saint named Thecla and offers us a road map to knowing our worth. Meggan Watterson writes with a prophet's vision and a mystic's heart.--Arianna Huffington, founder and CEO, Thrive Global A teenage girl named Thecla is sitting at her bedroom window listening to a man share stories nearby. Her mother and fiancé order her to stop. But Thecla, trapped in a world that expects her to marry and have children, refuses. This man, Paul, is talking about a world she wants to believe in: an inner world of freedom to define her own life. And he's talking about a kind of love she hasn't known before--a love that asks her to be true to who she is within. For Meggan Watterson, a Harvard-trained feminist theologian, Thecla's story in The Acts of Paul and Thecla has everything to do with power. Thecla's refusal to be controlled, as well as the authority she reclaims by baptizing herself, reads like a lost gospel for finding our own source of power within--a power that allows us to know who we are and to make choices based on that knowing. This hidden scripture suggests that Christianity before the fourth century was about defying the patriarchy, not deifying it. But early church fathers excluded The Acts of Paul and Thecla, along with other sacred texts such as The Gospel of Mary, from the New Testament. Watterson synthesizes scripture, memoir, and politics to illuminate a story that has been left out of the canon for far too long, one that follows a girl freeing herself from a life predicated on the expectations of others--a path that made her feel unworthy. Thecla's story offers us a path to take back the power we often give to others and live based on the truth of who we are.
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The Lost Mary: Rediscovering the Mother of Jesus
by James D. Tabor
Who was Mary before centuries of theology reshaped her story? Drawing on meticulous research, James D. Tabor reintroduces her as a strong, influential figure at Christianity’s beginnings. Rich in historical detail, this book invites readers who enjoy biblical history to see Mary -- and early faith -- in a radically new light.
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Ordinary Heroes of Racial Justice: A History of Christians in Action
by Karen J. Johnson
Uncover the untold stories of Christians who fought for equality in forgotten chapters of history. With a rich narrative and rigorous research, this book reveals how faith sparked activism -- and equips readers with ideas to advance justice now. This powerful work blends historical insight with present-day relevance.
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The Outward Path: The Wisdom of the Aztecs
by Sebastian Purcell
What if happiness is not the goal? Drawing on Aztec philosophy, this thought-provoking guide argues that a meaningful life begins with relationships and shared wisdom. Structured around lessons and exercises, it offers a refreshing alternative to Western individualism and is ideal for seekers of rooted, communal living.
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