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Spirituality and Religion March 2018
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| The Triumph of Christianity: How a Forbidden Religion Swept the World by Bart D. EhrmanWhat 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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| Happiness in This Life: A Passionate Meditation on Earthly Existence by Pope FrancisWhat 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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| Moral Combat: How Sex Divided American Christians and Fractured American Politics by R. Marie GriffithWhat it is: a sweeping history of how sexuality divided the American political and cultural landscape -- and how Christianity played a role. Starting in the 1920s (when birth control activist Margaret Sanger arrived on the scene) and continuing through Donald Trump's election as President, Moral Combat touches on issues fought over in churches and the voting book alike -- abortion, gay marriage, and transgender rights.
Is it for you? This timely book will please readers interested in the history of today's hot-button issues. |
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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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Focus on: Women and Religion
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The woman in the shaman's body : reclaiming the feminine in religion and medicine
by Barbara Tedlock
An intriguing study of shamanic traditions shatters long-held myths as his looks at the role of women in the history and practice of the world's oldest system of religion and healing, examining shamanic practices, past and present, as well as the shamanic mystical experience, healing rituals, symbolism, and revitalization. 25,000 first printing.
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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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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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San Mateo Public Library 55 West 3rd Avenue San Mateo, California 94402 (650) 522-7802www.smplibrary.org |
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