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.
The Courage to Change: Saying Goodbye to Good Enough and Embracing the Promise of What Can Be
by Joyce Meyer

We've all heard the saying, "The only constant is change." Sometimes the changes we face, both expected and unexpected, can make our lives feel ungrounded and unsteady. And when we react to change with fear, an opportunity for growth can turn into overwhelming anxiety that locks us into situations, relationships, and ways of thinking and being that prevent us from living in the fullness of who we truly are in Christ. Beloved Bible teacher and #1 New York Times bestselling author Joyce Meyer wants us to know that even when we feel like the ground beneath our feet is shifting, we can stand firm on the promise of God's Word that He will see us through.
Why I'm Still a Christian : After Two Decades of Conversations With Skeptics and Atheists--the Reason I Believe
by Justin Brierley

A compelling and intriguing discussion of why believing in God makes the most sense of human existence and our purpose on earth by one of the most respected Christian thinkers of our time.
What We Find in the Dark : Loss, Hope and God's Presence in Grief
by Aubrey Sampson

None of us is exempt from loss. We lose what we expected, what we thought we believed, our sense of security or identity. We lose friendships. We lose people we love.
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.
The Witch Studies Reader
by Soma Chaudhuri

 The Witch Studies Reader brings together a diverse group of scholars, practitioners, and scholar-practitioners who examine witchcraft from a critical decolonial feminist perspective that decenters Europe and departs from exoticizing and pathologizing writing on witchcraft in the global South. 
Voice for the Voiceless: Over Seven Decades of Struggle with China for My Land and My People
by Bstan-®dzin-rgya-mtsho

In this unique book offering personal, spiritual, and historical reflections--some never shared before--His Holiness the Dalai Lama tells the full story of his struggle with China to save Tibet and its people for nearly seventy-five years.
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!
Benicia Public Library
150 East L Street, Benicia, California 94510
(707) 746-4343
https://benicialibrary.org/