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Spirituality and Religion March 2018
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The Bible book : Big Ideas Simply Explained
by Inc. Dorling Kindersley
Combines accessible text and bold graphics in a comprehensive introduction to the stories, events and teachings of 100 major passages from the Old and New Testaments, explaining their theological significance and key concepts while offering profiles of major figures and important locations.
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The Triumph of Christianity: How a Forbidden Religion Swept the World
by Bart D. Ehrman
What it is: the 400-year story of Christianity's growth, from a fringe sect of 20 illiterate peasants into Western civilization's dominant faith. New Testament scholar Bart Ehrman follows the birth of the religion from Galilee to the Roman Empire, including the conversion of Emperor Constantine in 312 AD. Further reading: The Triumph of Christianity: How the Jesus Movement Became the World's Largest Religion by Rodney Stark.
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The Face of Water: A Translator on Beauty and Meaning in the Bible
by Sarah Ruden
Realizing that English translations of the Hebrew scriptures and Greek New Testament fail to convey the texts' brilliance and complexity, classical scholar and poet Sarah Ruden decided to retranslate some key passages. Both to enhance her own understanding and enjoyment and to help others, she delves into grammar and the contextual richness of certain words. She presents her technical explanations as gems discovered in an entertaining treasure hunt. Whether you're a language lover or you're intrigued by the Bible, you'll appreciate Ruden's vivid and entertaining explanations.
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Happiness in This Life: A Passionate Meditation on Earthly Existence
by Pope Francis
What it is: a collection of homilies, addresses, and writings by Pope Francis, leader of the Roman Catholic Church, about finding joy and happiness in life.
Why you might like it: The short entries touch on topics ranging from humility to family; while aimed at Catholics, it's approachable for those of other faiths too. "A book as loving and encouraging as the man himself seems to be," says Booklist.
You might also like: The Book of Joy by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
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Breaking toxic soul ties : healing from unhealthy and controlling relationships
by Tom Brown
"Tom Brown describes his own story of rejection and the process of inner healing he experienced. He helps readers to diagnose toxic relationships and explains the difference between positive and negative soul ties, why they develop, and how they can onlybe broken by a process of inner healing through confession, forgiveness, and prayer"
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The women of Easter : encounter the Savior with Mary of Bethany, Mary of Nazareth, and Mary Magdalene
by Liz Curtis Higgs
This Bible study for the Lenten season explores the stories of three women who played a vital role in the life and ministry of Jesus, as well as in the events of that first Holy Week that first Easter.
With unforgettable insights and powerful life application for today's women, Liz Curtis Higgs delves into the biblical text to help us view Easter through the eyes of three women named Mary, each of whom has a life-changing encounter with Jesus: Mary of Bethany, who prepares the way for the Lord’s burial when she anoints His feet and fills the air with her perfume; Mary of Nazareth, who remains by His side from His first breath to His last, her loyalty unwavering; and Mary Magdalene, delivered of seven demons, who bravely supports her Teacher through His darkest hours, then proclaims the glorious news of His resurrection
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The Evangelicals : the struggle to shape America
by Frances FitzGerald
A dramatic history of the Evangelical movement in America traces the revivals of the 18th and 19th centuries that rendered evangelism a dominant religious force, describing the rise and fall of denominations and how they influenced American agendas ranging from civil rights and gender equality to climate change and immigration reform.
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The Last Arrow: Save Nothing for the Next Life
by Erwin Raphael McManus
What it is: Author Erwin McManus, the founder of Mosaic, a Los Angeles Christian community, exhorts the faithful to give their best efforts to serving God and the needs of others. This spiritual autobiography builds on the story of Elijah and Elisha from the Hebrew scriptures, as McManus provides examples of where a leap of faith can take you.
Is it for you? For Christians, the book's real-life illustrations and scriptural basis are thought-provoking and inspirational.
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Bliss more : how to succeed in meditation without really trying
by Light Watkins
A meditation practitioner and trainer clears up myths and misunderstandings about meditation and offers tips, tricks and hacks to help beginners learn how to get started in an effort to improve health, patience, stress levels, mental acuity and happiness.
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Stalking God : my unorthodox search for something to believe in
by Anjali Kumar
The Head of Social Innovation at Warby Parker describes her unorthodox spiritual pilgrimage to search for the meaning that took her to the shamans of Peruvian mountains, the Burning Man festival and exposure to saints, goddesses, witches and faith healers.
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Breaking free : how I escaped polygamy, the FLDS cult, and my father, Warren Jeffs
by Rachel Jeffs
The daughter of the self-proclaimed prophet of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints describes the abusive patriarchal culture in which she was raised by sister wives and dominating men, sharing insight into how her father remains a powerful influence on his followers in spite of his life prison sentence.
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Focus on: Women and Religion
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| American Saint: The Life of Elizabeth Seton by Joan BarthelWhat it's about: Mother Elizabeth Seton, the first American-born Catholic saint, was canonized in 1975, two centuries after her birth to a prominent Episcopalian family in New York City.
Don't miss: A professor of American Studies, author Joan Barthel highlights the significance of Elizabeth's contributions to American education, the Catholic Church, and women's roles in the Church.
You might also like: Alice Camille's Fearless: Stories of the American Saints, for profiles of other American Catholic saints. |
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| Accidental Saints: Finding God in All the Wrong People by Nadia Bolz-WeberWhat it is: Bestselling author Nadia Bolz-Weber, a tattooed former stand-up comic and recovering addict who is now an ordained Lutheran minister, shares stories of finding grace in the most surprising people and everyday situations. Tying her memoir to the liturgical calendar, Bolz-Weber writes in a witty, humorous, and "compulsively readable" (Booklist) style, but be advised that she also includes rough language and the occasional vulgarity.
Who it's for: Fans of Anne Lamott and Brian McLaren; feminist Christians. |
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| Exodus: A Memoir by Deborah FeldmanWhat it's about: Author Deborah Feldman picks up where she left off in her bestselling 2012 memoir Unorthodox, continuing her voyage of self-discovery as a former member of a strict Satmar Hasidic Jewish sect and as a single mother. Feldman revisits her past and travels from the American South to locations in Europe, where she retraces her grandmother's experiences during the Holocaust.
You might also like: Devotion by Dani Shapiro and Cut Me Loose by Leah Vincent. |
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| May I Be Happy: A Memoir of Love, Yoga, and Changing My Mind by Cyndi LeeWhat it is: Though she danced professionally in the 1980s and has been a well-known yoga teacher for years, Cyndi Lee had always hated her body. In May I Be Happy, Lee recounts both her lifelong struggles to achieve self-acceptance and how the tenets of Buddhism and yoga helped her quiet the critical voice inside her head.
Read it for: An empowering message about body image and self-love.
Is it for me? This memoir will appeal to those who strive to make peace with their bodies. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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