Spirituality and Religion
May 2025
Recent Releases
Righteous Strife: How Warring Religious Nationalists Forged Lincoln's Union
by Richard Carwardine

For readers interested in the entanglement of faith and politics, this exploration of the Civil War reframes the conflict through the lens of religious nationalism. Drawing on Lincoln’s own spiritual conception of the war, it highlights how competing religious visions shaped the nation -- and still echo in church–state debates today.
Believe: Why Everyone Should Be Religious
by Ross Douthat

Thoughtful skeptics and questioning believers alike may find resonance in this blueprint for rediscovering faith through reason. Tackling science, consciousness, and spiritual longing, it offers a rigorous, empathetic case for belief in a world that often favors doubt.
My Mother in Havana: A Memoir of Magic & Miracle
by Rebe Huntman

Blending memoir and spiritual pilgrimage, this lyrical narrative explores the Sacred Feminine through Afro-Cuban traditions of dance, ritual, and spirit. Ideal for readers drawn to embodied spirituality and cultural exploration, it offers a moving meditation on grief, lineage, and transformation.
Godstruck: Seven Women's Unexpected Journeys to Religious Conversion
by Kelsey Osgood

This intimate, searching portrait of modern religious conversion focuses on women who find faith in unexpected places. With curiosity and care, the author explores how belief intersects with identity, tradition, and fulfillment -- offering insight for anyone intrigued by the tension between contemporary life and ancient faith.
Miracles and Wonder: The Historical Mystery of Jesus
by Elaine Pagels

Elaine Pagels investigates how stories of Jesus’s miracles shaped the movement that followed him -- and why they still resonate today. With historical precision and narrative flair, she unpacks the tension between fact and faith, inviting spiritually curious readers to rethink the power of sacred storytelling.
Black Woman Grief: A Guide to Hope and Wholeness
by Natasha Smith

Addressing trauma and faith through a deeply personal lens, this book offers spiritual solidarity to Black women navigating generational and personal loss. Combining biblical reflection with lived experience, it speaks to those seeking space to exhale, grieve, and reclaim hope in a world that too often overlooks their pain.
Blazing Eye Sees All: Love Has Won, False Prophets and the Fever Dream of the...
by Leah Sottile

A sharp, immersive look at the rise of New Age spirituality in America -- both the earnest yearning it reflects and the darker currents it conceals. True crime fans, cultural observers, and spiritual seekers alike will be drawn to this investigation of gurus, conspiracies, and the search for healing.
The Jewish Way to a Good Life: Find Happiness, Build Community, and Embrace...
by Rabbi Shira Stutman

For readers curious about applying spiritual tradition to modern life, this accessible guide explores Jewish values as tools for self-understanding and connection. With warmth and clarity, Rabbi Shira Stutman blends ancient teachings with practical insight into relationships, generosity, and the everyday ethics of living well.
People Pleaser: Breaking Free from the Burden of Imaginary Expectations
by Jinger Duggar Vuolo

Many who have struggled with approval-seeking will find kinship and encouragement in this candid spiritual memoir. Reflecting on her own journey, Jinger Vuolo offers a faith-centered path to self-worth -- inviting readers to trade performance for presence and rediscover their identity in the eyes of God.
Contact your librarian for more great books!
Patchogue-Medford Library
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www.pmlib.org/