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Spirituality and Religion November 2020
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Broken Signposts: How Christianity Makes Sense of the World
by N. T. Wright
The Premise: The author argues that every world view must explain seven “signposts,” indicators inherent to humanity: Justice, Spirituality, Relationships, Beauty, Freedom, Truth, and Power.
The Problem: If we do not live up to these ideals, our societies and individual lives become unbalanced, creating anger and frustration—negative emotions that divide us from ourselves and from God.
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| Everything is Spiritual: Who We Are and What We're Doing Here by Rob BellWhat it's about: This impassioned memoir of a former evangelical Christian minister who left behind his megachurch in search of a more inclusive faith community includes his reflections on his faith journey, mysticism, and situating yourself in the universe.
About the author: Rob Bell founded the Mars Hill Bible Church near Grand Rapids, Michigan before leaving in 2011 after the publication of Love Wins. His other books include What We Talk About When We Talk About God and Jesus Wants to Save Christians. |
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| Veritas: A Harvard Professor, a Con Man, and the Gospel of Jesus's Wife by Ariel SabarWhat it is: the well-researched, thought-provoking true crime story of a fraudulent historical document that allegedly quoted Jesus as referring to Mary Magdalene as his wife and how respected Harvard religious scholar Karen King fell for the hoax.
Read it for: The author's ability to describe the events in journalistic detail while simultaneously examining King and her involvement through a humanizing lens of compassion. |
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Books You Might Have Missed
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| The Hope of Glory: Reflections on the Last Words of Jesus from the Cross by Jon MeachamWhat it's about: the final seven sayings attributed to Jesus from the cross, including the a survey of the different references to them in the gospels, important historical and theological background to consider when reflecting upon them, and what lessons Christians can take from them today.
About the author: Jon Meacham is a journalist and editor whose previous books have included religious histories of the United States and presidential biographies, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of Andrew Jackson American Lion. |
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| The Power of Ritual: Turning Everyday Activities into Soulful Practices by Casper ter KuileWhat it is: a thoughtful examination of the concept of ritual and the ways that intentionally approaching any habitual activities can enhance spiritual fulfillment.
Why you might like it: The author's deep knowledge of theology when discussing ritual in a religious context is refreshingly juxtaposed with modern ritual activities such as CrossFit, gratitude journaling, and book clubs.
About the author: Casper ter Kuile is a fellow at Harvard Divinity School who cohosts the podcast Harry Potter and the Sacred Text. |
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| Unholy: Why White Evangelicals Worship at the Altar of Donald Trump by Sarah PosnerWhat it's about: the gap between the espoused views of many "values voters" and their statistically significant backing of Donald Trump, and how some of the less savory parts of the history of Evangelical Christianity in America explain their fervent support for him.
Who it's for: anyone interested in the intersection of religion and politics, or with the ongoing fight for the soul of Evangelical Christianity in the United States. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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