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Spirituality and Religion November 2020
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The King of Confidence: A Tale of Utopian Dreamers, Frontier Schemers, True Believers...
by Miles Harvey
Introducing: Lawyer and committed atheist James Strang, who disappeared from his small New York town in 1843 only to reemerge as part of the fledgling Latter-Day Saint movement, eventually declaring himself Joseph Smith's successor.
Read it for: the surprising moments of dark humor that come from the truly farcical nature of parts of Strang's story, including forgery, piracy, and creating a private kingdom for himself on an island in Lake Michigan.
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You Are Never Alone: Trust in the Miracle of God's Presence and Power
by Max Lucado
The best-selling author of How Happiness Happens draws on the Gospel of John in an impassioned guide to finding biblical inspiration, strength and comfort in the face of life’s more daunting challenges. When life feels depleted, does God care? I'm facing an onslaught of challenges, will God help? When life grows dark and stormy, does God notice? I'm facing the fear of death, will God help me? The answer in the life-giving miracles in the Gospel of John is a resounding yes, argues Lucado.
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When Truth Is All You Have: A Memoir of Faith, Justice, and Freedom for the Wrongly...
by Jim McCloskey
What it is: the inspiring memoir of Presbyterian minister Jim McCloskey, who was inspired to found the inmate advocacy nonprofit Centurion Ministries after serving as chaplain at a New Jersey state prison.
You might also like: other memoirs at the intersection of faith and the prison system, such as After Life by Alice Marie Johnson or River of Fire by Sister Helen Prejean.
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Books You Might Have Missed
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The Art of Solitude: A Meditation on Being Alone With Others in This World
by Stephen Batchelor
When Buddhist writer Stephen Batchelor turned sixty, he took a sabbatical from his teaching and turned his attention to solitude, a practice integral to the meditative traditions he has long studied and taught. He aimed to venture more deeply into solitude, discovering its full extent and depth. Spending time in remote places, appreciating and making art, practicing meditation and participating in retreats, drinking peyote and ayahuasca, and training himself to keep an open, questioning mind have all contributed to Batchelor's ability to be simultaneously alone and at ease. Mixed in with his personal narrative are inspiring stories from solitude's devoted practitioners, from the Buddha to Montaigne, from Vermeer to Agnes Martin.
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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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| In the Name of God: The Role of Religion in the Modern World: A History of Judeo-Christian... by Selina O'GradyWhat it is: a sweeping, thought-provoking history of different societies' attempts at religious pluralism and the varying results those efforts have delivered.
Topics include: the role of nationalism in religious identity; the similarities between the Christian Reformation and the Sunni-Shia split; the dramatic cultural and religious fallout of Napoleon's invasion of Egypt.
Reviewers say: "This perceptive, masterly history will change how many readers think about toleration and the supposed clash between Christian and Muslim worlds" (Publishers Weekly). |
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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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Michigan City Public Library 100 E. 4th Street Michigan City, Indiana 46360 219-873-3044mclib.org/ |
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