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Spirituality and Religion July 2019
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| Cosmological Koans: a Journey to the Heart of Physical Reality by Anthony AguirreWhat it is: an engaging and thought-provoking exploration of complex, foundational questions about life and the universe, using both physics and Zen Buddhism.
Topics meditated over: scientific knowledge of something versus individual experience with it; the existence of time; what separates one being or substance from another.
About the author: Anthony Aguirre is a professor of physics and cosmology at UC Santa Cruz and a co-founder of the Future of Life Institute. |
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| American Spirit: Profiles in Resilience, Courage, and Faith by Taya Kyle and Jim DeFeliceWhat it's about: the inspiring stories of a diverse group of people who managed to bounce back in the face of adversity; how difficult times can spur a person's personal and spiritual growth.
You might also like: Unbreakable by Thom Shea, or You Will Not Have My Hate by Antoine Leiris.
About the author: Taya Kyle is best known as the widow of Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, and previously published her own memoir called American Wife. |
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America's Jewish Women: A History from Colonial Times to Today
by Pamela Susan Nadell
What does it mean to be a Jewish woman in America? In a gripping historical narrative, Pamela S. Nadell weaves together the stories of a diverse group of extraordinary people―from the colonial-era matriarch Grace Nathan and her great-granddaughter, poet Emma Lazarus, to labor organizer Bessie Hillman and the great justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, to scores of other activists, workers, wives, and mothers who helped carve out a Jewish American identity. The twin threads binding these women together, she argues, are a strong sense of self and a resolute commitment to making the world a better place. Nadell recounts how Jewish women have been at the forefront of causes for centuries, fighting for suffrage, trade unions, civil rights, and feminism, and hoisting banners for Jewish rights around the world.
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| Sacred Liberty: America's Long, Bloody, and Ongoing Struggle for Religious Freedom by Steven WaldmanWhat it is: a well-researched and accessible overview of the state of religious freedom in America, past and present.
Topics include: faith and the Founders; religion and slavery; the rise of Mormonism; and landmark Supreme Court cases.
Don't miss: the timely discussion of what challenges the separation between church and state continues to face today. |
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Books You Might Have Missed |
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Nothing to Prove: Why We Can Stop Trying So Hard
by Jennie Allen
All too many of us struggle under the weight of life, convinced we need to work harder to prove to ourselves, to others, and to God that we are good enough, smart enough, and spiritual enough to do the things we believe we should. Author and Bible teacher Jennie Allen argues that striving for perfection is fruitless and encourages people to instead admit their faults and turn to Jesus to find contentment and fulfillment.
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| Witness: Lessons from Elie Wiesel's Classroom by Ariel BurgerWhat it's about: Orthodox rabbi Ariel Burger's experiences with Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel, first as a student and later as a colleague and friend.
Read it for: Burger's palpable esteem for Wiesel and reflections on Wiesel's unique teaching methods.
You might also like: Four Men Shaking by Lawrence Shainberg, which recounts his journey with noted Zen teacher Kyudo Nakagawa. |
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The Great Shift: Encountering God in Biblical Times
by James L. Kugel
In The Great Shift, acclaimed Orthodox Jewish scholar James Kugel considers how the people of ancient times encountered God and, examining the Hebrew scriptures, traces a gradual change in human perceptions of the divine presence. These perceptions progress from literal, intimate encounters with God, through conversations mediated by heavenly messengers, to an understanding of God as distant and hard to reach. Drawing on his deep understanding of Hebrew scriptures and literature, theology, and human psychology, Kugel provides an intriguing window into ancient texts for modern readers.
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| Antisemitism: Here and Now by Deborah E. LipstadtWhat it's about: Sobering and well-researched, this examination of the possible origins of antisemitism also discusses the forces that have allowed it to continue into modern times.
Read it for: the epistolary format, which gives a difficult topic a unique intimacy; the evaluation of the unique ways antisemitism mutated when it arrived in America.
About the author: Award-winning scholar Deborah E. Lipstadt's other books include The Eichmann Trial and Denying the Holocaust. |
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Bookmarks: I, Eliza Hamilton
Friday, July 19, 2:00 pm
Library Meeting Room
I, Eliza Hamilton by Susan Holloway Scott will be reviewed by Hilda DeMuth Lutze. In this beautifully written novel of historical fiction, bestselling author Susan Holloway Scott tells the story of Alexander Hamilton’s wife, Eliza—a fascinating, strong-willed heroine in her own right and a key figure in one of the most gripping periods in American history. This program will be offered at the Westchester Township Museum in Chesterton, Thursday, July 18 at 2:00 pm.
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Movie in Washington Park: Ralph Breaks the Internet
Friday, July 19, Dusk
North Pointe Pavilion, Washington Park, Michigan City, IN
The Michigan City Parks and Recreation Department and the library collaborate for summer Movies in Washington Park. Video game bad guy Ralph and fellow misfit Vanellope von Schweetz must risk it all by traveling to the World Wide Web in search of a replacement part to save Vanellope’s video game, “Sugar Rush.” In way over their heads, Ralph and Vanellope rely on the citizens of the internet — the netizens — to help navigate their way, including an entrepreneur named Yesss, who is the head algorithm and the heart and soul of trend-making site BuzzzTube. Rated PG. The movie is shown in North Pointe Pavilion in Washington Park, and begins at dusk. Mark your calendar for August 16 for the showing of The House with a Clock in its Wall.
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Friday Afternoon at the Movies: First Man
Friday, July 26, 2:00 pm
Library Meeting Room
Join us for a summer movie. To honor the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, we will show First Man starring Ryan Gosling. It’s the riveting story of NASA’s mission to land a man on the moon, focusing on Neil Armstrong and the years 1961-1969. A visceral, first-person account, based on the book by James R. Hansen, the movie explores sacrifices and costs—on Armstrong and on the nation—of one of the most dangerous missions in history. Rated PG-13.
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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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