LibraryAware September 2025

Spirituality and ReligionSeptember 2025

Recent Releases

Twelve Churches: An Unlikely History of the Buildings That Made Christianity
by Fergus Butler-Gallie

From blood-soaked stones to hangar megachurches, this globe-trotting history of Christianity explores 12 unforgettable places of worship. With humor and insight, Fergus Butler-Gallie reveals how these sacred spaces reflect the messy, beautiful, and often controversial legacy of faith across continents and centuries.

Augustine the African
by Catherine Conybeare

This revelatory biography re-centers St. Augustine’s African heritage, offering a fresh lens on one of Christianity’s most influential thinkers. Catherine Conybeare’s scholarly yet accessible portrait highlights how Augustine’s outsider status shaped his theology -- and why his legacy deserves a more global, nuanced understanding.

The Missionary Kids: Unmasking the Myths of White Evangelicalism
by Holly Berkley Fletcher

What happens when the children of evangelical heroes speak up? Drawing on personal experience and deep research, Holly Berkley Fletcher uncovers the hidden stories of missionary kids -- revealing how their lives illuminate the tensions, ideals, and contradictions at the heart of American Christianity.

Mid-Faith Crisis: Finding a Path Through Doubt, Disillusionment, and Dead Ends
by Catherine McNiel and Jason Hague

When belief falters, what comes next? This compassionate guide offers solace and insight for those navigating spiritual doubt. Through personal stories and practical wisdom, Catherine McNiel and Jason Hague show how crisis can lead to transformation, and how faith can evolve into something deeper and more authentic.

Rescue at the reef : the miraculous true story of a little boy with big faith
by Jameson Reeder

"A two-week vacation to the Florida Keys meant Mary and Jameson Sr. could share the beauty of their favorite turquoise-blue waters with their four children. On that serene day at Looe Key Reef, their oldest, ten-year-old Jameson Jr., was swimming among the marine life, capturing breathtaking footage of a sea turtle when a massive bull shark attacked. Nine miles from shore and even farther from a hospital, their son weakening, the Reeders prayed for help-and it came through a miraculous chain of events. Rescue at the Reef is the true story of a young boy who defied death with an unshakable faith in the power of Jesus to save him. Even in immense suffering, he focused on caring for those around him, so much that it surprised even hospital staff. His unshakeable peace made an impact on patients and visitors, and his story quickly spread, drawing the attention of strangers and the media. With reflections on faith, suffering, and the hidden gifts that often go unnoticed, Rescue at the Reef is a living reminder that with God, even the most fearsome challenges can be faced-and conquered. This unforgettable story will leave you on the edge of your seat, inspired by the ripple effects of hope that overcome impossible odds"-- Provided by publisher

How to Be a Saint: An Extremely Weird and Mildly Sacrilegious History of the Catholic...
by Kate Sidley

History meets hilarity in this irreverent guide to sainthood. With wit and weirdness, Kate Sidley explores the bizarre lives of saints and the quirky process of canonization. This will delight anyone who loves religious history with a twist -- and a few severed heads.

I don't believe in astrology : a therapist's guide to the life-changing wisdom of the stars
by Debra Silverman

"An accessible guide to the life-changing benefits of astrology by renowned psychotherapist and astrologer, Debra Silverman. In a chaotic, confusing, and divisive world, Debra Silverman introduces astrology as the medicine for accepting our human nature--its idiosyncrasies and dilemmas. Through an application of both therapy and astrology, this breakthrough guide equips readers with tools that release self-judgment, inner criticism, negativity, and misunderstanding. Every sign struggles with psychological issues. Understanding the unique topics relative to your sign, it's no surprise you are quirky. Learning how to accept who you are and love yourself unconditionally through the lens of astrology is at the heart of this book. Debra Silverman teaches you how to step away from the struggle of your ego and see yourself with the calm objectivity of your soul. You will learn to love what you see-not just your best qualities but everything about you. She shows you how to aim for the high road of your personality. Most of all, you will cultivate compassion for all the other signs in the zodiac. Learn the meaning of the sun, moon, rising sign, Mercury, and Saturn. Using Debra's method combining the wisdom of astrology and psychology, readers will remember the truth of their soul's expression, seen through the eyes of self-love"

I Just Wish I Had a Bigger Kitchen and Other Lies I Think Will Make Me Happy
by Kate Strickler

Feeling stuck in comparison mode? Kate Strickler offers ten gentle mindset shifts to help you love the life you’re already living. With humor and honesty, she shares practical tips to quiet the “just wish” voice and embrace joy in the everyday.

The girl who baptized herself : how a lost scripture about a Saint named Thecla reveals the power of knowing our worth
by Meggan Watterson

Blends theology, memoir, and cultural critique to reexamine the apocryphal story of Thecla as a narrative of spiritual and personal resistance, arguing that early Christianity offered models of female empowerment that challenge patriarchal traditions, and inviting readers to reclaim inner authority and self-defined identity.

Contact your librarian for more great books!