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Spirituality and ReligionNovember 2015
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"A chaplain doesn’t have a leisurely hour in which to explain God. The suffering is right there, and its urgency demands an immediate response." ~ from Kate Braestrup's Beginner's Grace
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| Triumph of the Heart: Forgiveness in an Unforgiving World by Megan Feldman BettencourtAfter several painful experiences made journalist Megan Bettencourt feel angry and bitter, she met a man who had forgiven his son's killer and reconciled with his family. Struggling to understand how his generous response could be possible, she set out to learn more about the human ability to forgive. She looked at scientific studies on the physiological healing effects of forgiveness and interviewed several people who had offered forgiveness in especially traumatic circumstances. Weaving recollections of her own upsetting rejections into her narrative, Bettencourt offers thought-provoking conclusions that may inspire others to learn the discipline of forgiveness. |
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How's your faith? : an unlikely spiritual journey
by David Gregory
A former NBC newsperson and Meet the Press moderator explores various world traditions to further his own understanding of faith, describing his upbringing in an interfaith household, his visits to myriad houses of worship and his interviews with forefront religious leaders.
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Troublemaker : Surviving Hollywood and Scientology
by Leah Remini
Leah Remini has never been the type to hold her tongue. That willingness to speak her mind, stand her ground, and rattle the occasional cage has enabled this tough-talking girl from Brooklyn to forge an enduring and successful career in Hollywood. But being a troublemaker has come at a cost. That was never more evident than in 2013, when Remini loudly and publicly broke with the Church of Scientology. Now, in this frank, funny, poignant memoir, the former King of Queens star opens up about that experience for the first time, revealing the in-depth details of her painful split with the church and its controversial practices. Indoctrinated into the church as a child while living with her mother and sister in New York, Remini eventually moved to Los Angeles, where her dreams of becoming an actress and advancing Scientology’s causes grew increasingly intertwined. As an adult, she found the success she’d worked so hard for, and with it a prominent place in the hierarchy of celebrity Scientologists alongside people such as Tom Cruise, Scientology’s most high-profile adherent. Remini spent time directly with Cruise and was included among the guests at his 2006 wedding to Katie Holmes. But when she began to raise questions about some of the church’s actions, she found herself a target. In the end, she was declared by the church to be a threat to their organization and therefore a “Suppressive Person,” and as a result, all of her fellow parishioners—including members of her own family—were told to disconnect from her. Forever. Bold, brash, and bravely confessional, Troublemaker chronicles Leah Remini’s remarkable journey toward emotional and spiritual freedom, both for herself and for her family. This is a memoir designed to reveal the hard-won truths of a life lived honestly—from an author unafraid of the consequences.
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| Post-Traumatic Church Syndrome: A Memoir of Humor and Healing by Reba RileyAfter an apparently untreatable illness knocked author Reba Riley for a loop on her birthday, she started a quest for spiritual healing in lieu of unattainable physical wellness. In this engaging and often humorous memoir, Riley (who was raised Pentecostal) chronicles her efforts to overcome "post-traumatic church syndrome," which had left her cynical and empty of belief. Visiting 30 different religious communities before she turned 30, she worshipped at mosques and Buddhist temples; attended churches that met in movie theaters, bars, and basements; studied meditation; and attended a Yom Kippur service. Believers and skeptics alike will enjoy her inspiring account of recovery -- both physical and spiritual. |
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Grounded : finding God in the world, a spiritual revolution
by Diana Butler Bass
Argues that the apparent shift away from traditional religion in today's culture actually signals an ongoing change in how people understand God, as people replace old ideas of a distant god with an intimate understanding that is transforming religion and society
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| Choosing Hope: Moving Forward from Life's Darkest Hours by Kaitlin Roig-DeBellis with Robin Gaby FisherAuthor Kaitlin Roig-DeBellis survived the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre along with her entire first grade class by quickly packing the students into the classroom's bathroom. After the shootings, she faced professional frustration and felt despondent, but channeled her emotions into projects that would aid children in needy schools. In Choosing Hope, which includes dark accounts of the horror she endured, Roig-DeBellis offers inspiration as she recounts how her faith sustained her determination to overcome despair and allow hope to prevail in her life. |
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| America's Secret Jihad: Our Hidden History of Religious Terrorism by Stuart WexlerSince the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center, religious extremism has been associated with radical Islam. However, in America's Secret Jihad historian Stuart Wexler describes a Christian terrorist movement called Christian Identity that has its roots in the early 20th century. During the 1950s, the leaders of this anti-Semitic movement joined forces with the segregationist Ku Klux Klan in efforts to incite a race war in the U.S. Tracing specific violent events, including the 1963 bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL, and the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., back to Christian Identity, Wexler offers a thought-provoking and persuasive analysis of American religious violence. |
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Come rain or come shine
by Jan Karon
Over the course of ten Mitford novels, fans have kept a special place in their hearts for Dooley Kavanagh, first seen in At Home in Mitford as a barefoot, freckle-faced boy in filthy overalls. Now, Father Tim Kavanagh’s adopted son has graduated from vet school and opened his own animal clinic. Since money will be tight for a while, maybe he and Lace Harper, his once and future soul mate, should keep their wedding simple. So the plan is to eliminate the cost of catering and do potluck. Ought to be fun. An old friend offers to bring his well-known country band. Gratis. And once mucked out, the barn works as a perfect venue for seating family and friends.
Piece of cake, right? In Come Rain or Come Shine, Jan Karon delivers the wedding that millions of Mitford fans have waited for. It’s a June day in the mountains, with more than a few creatures great and small, and you’re invited—because you’re family. By the way, it’s a pretty casual affair, so come as you are and remember to bring a tissue or two. After all, what’s a good wedding without a good cry?
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Focus on: Spiritual Practices
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| Beginner's Grace: Bringing Prayer to Life by Kate BraestrupPrayer is not reserved for formal worship and can be part of any kind of daily experience, but people often feel they need help learning to pray. In response to this need, author Kate Braestrup, a Unitarian Universalist minister, gives examples of prayers derived from many faith traditions, organizing them according to situations Braestrup herself has experienced -- including a "Hospital Prayer" invented alongside the anxious mother of a newborn. Braestrup's anecdotal style vividly portrays the uses of prayer in real-life situations. You may find her earlier memoir, Here if You Need Me, equally inspiring. |
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| The Greatest Prayer: Rediscovering the Revolutionary Message of the Lord's Prayer by John Dominic CrossanThe prayer most Christians know by heart, called the "Lord's Prayer" or the "Our Father," offers much more than a rote summary of the needs Jesus taught his disciples to pray about. In The Greatest Prayer, biblical scholar John Dominic Crossan examines the prayer phrase by phrase, interpreting it in the historical context of Jesus' times and opening up a rich landscape of human and Godly concerns. The regular practice of repeating the Lord's Prayer, either during public worship or as part of private devotions, receives a new depth of meaning from Crossan's straightforward and accessible discussion. |
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| One Perfect Word: One Word Can Make All the Difference by Debbie MacomberThrough much of her life, bestselling novelist Debbie Macomber has made it her practice to choose a single word to study and make part of her daily religious practice for a year. In One Perfect Word, she explores the power of words to inspire, guide, console, and reveal one's inmost desires. Drawing on her journals, the writings of others, and remembered anecdotes, she connects the significance of individual words to the power of faith. While Macomber is a Christian and draws from Christian writings, readers seeking more depth in any spiritual practice will find her book inspiring. |
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The God of intimacy and action : reconnecting ancient spiritual practices, evangelism, and justice
by Anthony Campolo
Praise for The God of Intimacy and Action "Tony Campolo...and Mary Darling...are like gunpowder and a spark. The result is a dynamite book that many have been waiting a long time for." -Relevant Magazine "In 25 years, when we look back as journalists chronicling this era of religious reawakening-this book likely will turn up as a classic...This book is both a manifesto-and a sturdy guidebook-for the journey of reclaiming much that has been lost." -David Crumm, founder of Read the Spirit "Tony Campolo and Mary Darling...are two first rate minds grappling with classical and contemporary theology, and then adding to that a set of concrete practices...The Network of Spiritual Progressives (including those of us who are not Christian) can draw much wisdom and guidance from this book." -Tikkun Magazine "I know both Tony and Mary personally and can testify to the genuineness of their search for spiritual wholeness. It is a search that always holds in creative tension a profound intimacy with God through Christ with a vigorous engagement in the social realities of our day." -Richard J. Foster, author of Celebration of Discipline "Darling and Campolo sift through the dirt of Christendom and uncover the precious treasures of our faith." -Shane Claiborne, founding member of The Simple Way community; author of The Irresistible Revolution; and recovering sinner
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Happiness : essential mindfulness practices
by Nhãát Hòanh
Encouraging readers to be intelligent and skillful in their practice, this new collection by Thich Nhat Hanh outlines the essential steps by which we can all obtain real and lasting happiness. Each day, we perform the tasks of everyday life without thought or awareness — walking, sitting, working, eating, driving, and much more. But Hanh points out that if we remain truly aware of our actions, no matter the task we’re performing, we can stay engaged in our lives and better our outlook through mindfulness. This key practice is the foundation for this accessible, easy-to-understand volume, and an invaluable tool for change for both seasoned Buddhist practitioners and lay readers interested in bettering their lives through full awareness.
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| The Sabbath World: Glimpses of a Different Order of Time by Judith ShulevitzThe weekly observance of Sabbath is an essential component of Judaism that has asserted its influence by making the seven-day week nearly universal. The Sabbath's exacting requirement of six work days and a day of rest may clash with modern 24-7 schedules, but in The Sabbath World journalist Judith Shulevitz engagingly details the spiritual and cultural advantages of Sabbath practice for busy people, since it can offer a change of pace even if not undertaken for religious purposes. For another accessible book on the Sabbath, try Joseph Lieberman's The Gift of Rest. |
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Fasting : Exploring A Great Spiritual Practice
by Carole G. Rogers
Everything you need to know about fasting -- a universal spiritual practice that plays a part in almost every religious tradition. This practical guide is packed with practice helps, historical perspectives, and inspiring personal stories.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Prince George's County Memorial Library System 6532 Adelphi Rd. Hyattsville, Maryland 20782 301-699-3500http://www.pgcmls.info/ |
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