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Spirituality and Religion
January 2014
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"Being a Christian is more than just an instantaneous conversion -- it is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ."
~ Billy Graham, American evangelist
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New and Recently Released!
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| When Will the Heaven Begin? by Ally BreedloveAt the age of three months, Ben Breedlove was diagnosed with a serious, incurable heart condition. His family did their best to provide him with as normal life as possible; he attended school and enjoyed listening to rap and making rap videos. His brilliant smile helped him befriend everyone he met. As a teenager, he created videos that gained a worldwide following on the Internet. His message of Christian faith inspired many, especially those who saw his final video, posted a few days before his death at age 18. When Will the Heaven Begin?, by his sister Ally Breedlove with Ken Abraham, relates Ben's inspirational story. |
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| Heretics and Heroes: How Renaissance Artists and the Reformation Priests Created our World by Thomas CahillThe period of the Renaissance and Protestant Reformation in Western Europe (the late 14th to early 17th centuries) laid the foundations for social, political, and economic systems that still dominate Europe, the Western Hemisphere, and much of the rest of the world. The Catholic Church provided the framework for intellectual inquiry and directed everyone's behavior, and even after the Protestant Reformation gained influence, social structures were informed by Christian teachings. In Heretics and Heroes, the riveting, often amusing, and thoroughly researched 6th volume of his Hinges of History series, author Thomas Cahill details how artistic expression evolved, political theorists began to question absolute monarchy, and the churches themselves were revolutionized. |
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| The Reason for My Hope: Salvation by Billy GrahamEvangelist Billy Graham, now over 95 years old, is physically frail but still able to proclaim the faith he has preached for nearly 70 years. In The Reason for My Hope, Graham explains the basis of his beliefs -- the message of the Bible, specifically, the good news of the Gospels in the New Testament. Applying biblical principles to real-life situations, he contrasts contemporary social views with Christian doctrine. His down-to-earth, refreshing style makes his latest book as accessible and inspiring as his preaching has always been. Though his standards are more conservative than those of mainstream American society, his message of salvation will continue to inspire people who are looking for reason to hope. |
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| Living the Quaker Way: Timeless Wisdom for a Better Life Today by Philip GulleyIn Living the Quaker Way, author Philip Gulley, known both for his books about religion and his Harmony series of novels about a Quaker pastor, explains the basic tenets of the Religious Society of Friends: simplicity, peace, integrity, community, and equality. As he discusses each principle, Gulley suggests how to incorporate them into an ordinary contemporary life without joining a local Friends Meeting. The last chapter of the book offers questions for self-examination that can help a seeker relate to the faith of the Quakers. If Gulley's book makes you curious about the history of the Quakers, read Thomas Hamm's The Quakers in America. |
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| The Dark Path: A Memoir by David SchicklerGrowing up in a Catholic family in upstate New York, author David Schickler often had conversations with God while walking along a pathway in the woods behind his house, asking God questions about his girlfriends and other concerns common to teenage boys. In college, Schickler seriously considered the possibility of entering the Jesuit order, though he was also sexually attracted to the women he dated and not inclined to take a vow of celibacy. The Dark Path is a sincere, touching, and funny coming-of-age memoir that compellingly explores "universal and unique, gritty and holy" questions (Kirkus Reviews). |
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| In the Name of God: The True Story of the Fight to Save Children from Faith-Healing Homicide by Cameron StauthFaith healing has many devoted believers, some of whose sects go back at least to the 19th century. The small community of Oregon City, Oregon is home to the Followers of Christ, an especially secretive fellowship. In 2008, the town experienced a major upheaval when investigations into several child deaths among the Followers attracted widespread attention. Investigators and state prosecutors, supported by some Followers inside the faith healing congregation, worked to prove that the children's deaths were homicides. In journalist Cameron Stauth's compelling account, the details of several deaths from neglect, the investigations, and the actions of both supporters and opponents of the Followers bring to light a disturbing chapter in the history of faith healing. |
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