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Spirituality and Religion May 2017
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Thursday, May 18 The library will open at 10:00 am on Thursday, May 18, due to a staff meeting. Sunday, May 28 The library will be closed on Sunday, May 28 and all Sundays through September 3. Monday, May 29 The library will be closed on Monday, May 29 in observance of the Memorial Day holiday.
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| The Islamic Jesus: How the King of the Jews Became a Prophet of the Muslims by Mustafa AkyolAccording to Turkish journalist Mustafa Akyol, the first Muslims drew significantly from early Jewish-Christian belief that Jesus was a prophet rather than God in human form. Accessibly analyzing early Christian texts, the Qur'an, and archaeological evidence, Akyol discusses a possible connection (identified by scholars) between the Jewish-Christian movement and the origins of Islam. He also details Qur'anic texts about Mary the mother of Jesus and about Jesus the man. This thought-provoking study offers a theological basis from which Christians and Jews can learn from Islamic teaching and Muslims can benefit from a deeper understanding of Jesus. |
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God's Red Son: The Ghost Dance Religion and the Making of Modern America
by Louis S Warren
In 1890, on Indian reservations across the West, followers of a new religion danced in circles until they collapsed into trances. In an attempt to suppress this new faith, the US Army killed over two hundred Lakota Sioux at Wounded Knee Creek. Louis Warren's God's Red Son offers a startling new view of the religion known as the Ghost Dance, from its origins in the visions of a Northern Paiute named Wovoka to the tragedy in South Dakota. To this day, the Ghost Dance remains widely mischaracterized as a primitive and failed effort by Indian militants to resist American conquest and return to traditional ways. In fact, followers of the Ghost Dance sought to thrive in modern America by working for wages, farming the land, and educating their children, tenets that helped the religion endure for decades after Wounded Knee. God's Red Son powerfully reveals how Ghost Dance teachings helped Indians retain their identity and reshape the modern world.
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The Science of Enlightenment: How Meditation Works
by Shinzen Young
“Enlightenment”—is it a myth or is it real? Shinzen Young brings to readers a guide to mindfulness meditation: how it works and how to use it to enhance your cognitive capacities, your kindness and connection with the world, and the richness of all your experiences. Merging scientific clarity, his grasp of the source-language teachings of many spiritual traditions and his rare gift for sparking insight upon insight, the author presents a guide to using mindfulness mediation to enhance cognitive capacities, compassion and experience happiness independent of conditions.
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Focus on: Spiritual Memoirs
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Anchor and Flares: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hope, and Service
by Kate Braestrup
In this warm, evocative memoir, author Kate Braestrup, a Unitarian Universalist minister, recalls her parenting experiences, focusing on how she taught her children compassion and sensitivity to the needs of others. When her eldest, Zach, decided to enlist in the Marines, Braestrup feared that military training could shift Zach's faith-based moral center. She gracefully addresses those fears in Anchor and Flares, sharing her trust in God with others who may have similar concerns for their loved ones. Anyone looking for spiritual courage will appreciate this memoir as well as Braestrup's earlier book, Here if You Need Me.
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| Mennonite Meets Mr. Right: A Memoir of Faith, Hope, and Love by Rhoda JanzenIn Mennonite Meets Mr. Right, author Rhoda Janzen follows up her previous memoir, Mennonite in a Little Black Dress, with another humorous, poignant, and insightful chronicle. Having moved back into her Mennonite parents' home, she unexpectedly falls for and marries a Pentecostal "Jesus-nail-necklace wearing manly man" named Mitch. Diving into his church's traditions despite their unfamiliarity, she discovers new ways to express her beliefs. She also learns a lot about love when Mitch stands by her at every step of her cancer diagnosis and treatment. Forthright and humorous, this book offers inspiration to people from a wide range of backgrounds. |
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An Unquenchable Thirst: A Memoir
by Mary Johnson
As Sister Donata, author Mary Johnson belonged to the Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa's religious order that serves the poorest of the poor. Inspired to join by an article she read when she was in high school, Johnson was devoted to the order for 20 years, but ultimately left not only the order but the Catholic Church. In this memoir she describes her devoted spiritual life while depicting the severe challenges of belonging to an intensely committed group. Though some of her story may be controversial, her devotion is inspiring; An Unquenchable Thirst is an absorbing and eloquent memoir.
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| Nine Essential Things I've Learned about Life by Harold S. KushnerLooking back on his life and his career as a rabbi, well-known author Harold Kushner offers a compendium of lessons he's learned about faith. He emphasizes that learning is more important than knowing and recounts events that taught him to listen well and discern the deep questions that lead to God. With chapters such as "Forgiveness Is a Favor You Do Yourself" and "Leave Room for Doubt and Anger in Your Religious Outlook," Kushner grounds his theology in the realities of human existence, just as he did in his now-classic When Bad Things Happen to Good People. Kushner's fans and those new to his writing will appreciate this "balm for the skeptical and the religious" (Publishers Weekly). |
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Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation
by Eboo Patel
Author Eboo Patel is an American Muslim of Indian descent who grew up in suburban Chicago. In this memoir, he explains how he came to found Interfaith Youth Core, an organization that brings together youth from different religious traditions to work towards common goals. Subjected as a child to racist slurs from his classmates, Patel at first directed his anger into radical politics, but eventually came to understand that it was healthier to work for the benefit of others. This inspiring book offers a compelling account of "youth activism, interfaith cooperation, and how to be both authentically American and Muslim" (Library Journal).
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Bookmarks: What the Lady Wants
Friday, May 19, 2:00pm
Library Meeting Room
Patricia Klewer will review What the Lady Wants: A Novel of Marshall Field and the Gilded Age by Renee Rosen. In late-nineteenth-century Chicago, visionary retail tycoon Marshall Field made his fortune wooing women customers with his famous motto: “Give the lady what she wants.” His legendary charm also won the heart of socialite Delia Spencer and led to an infamous love affair. The night of the Great Fire, as seventeen-year-old Delia watches the flames rise and consume what was the pioneer town of Chicago, she can’t imagine how much her life, her city, and her whole world are about to change. Nor can she guess that the agent of that change will not simply be the fire, but more so the man she meets that night. The program will also be offered at the Westchester Township Historical Museum on Thursday, May 18 at 2:00pm.
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Mo Javi in Concert
Sunday, May 21, 2:00pm
Library Meeting Room
Celebrate National Music Month with a performance by Mo Javi. Mo is a Chicago based fiddler, screenwriter, actor and entrepreneur with a passion for love and kindness. Classically trained and with 12 years of experience, Mo can read and write music, improvise, and play by ear. His skills cover all genres, but he specializes in Classical and Folk music. He describes his style as “baroque folk music,” crediting composers like Bach and Mozart as his inspirations, which most certainly translates in his music. He has been featured on Chicago television and recently released his first single recording. Join us in welcoming a true talent and music visionary!
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Great Decisions
Monday, May 22, 6:30pm
Library Meeting Room
The foreign policy discussion program Great Decisions concludes its 19th season. The final topic is Nuclear Security: The Enduring Challenge of Nuclear Weapons. For more information, call 873-3049.
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Axis 360 eBooks
Find popular fiction, non-fiction, and picture e-books and e-audiobooks for children, teens, and adults! It's simple--just download the app on your device, search for "Michigan City Public Library", and log in with your library card number and PIN.
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Library Catalog
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Library Services
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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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