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Spirituality and Religion March 2022 |
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| The Invention of Power: Popes, Kings, and the Birth of the West by Bruce Bueno de MesquitaWhat it's about: the somewhat obscure but incredibly monumental 1122 Concordat of Worms, which set into motion a series of social and political changes that completely transformed the relationship between the medieval Catholic Church and the rising nation-states of Europe.
The power players: Popes Paschal II and Calixtus II; Holy Roman Emperor Henry V.
You might also like: The Birth of the West by Paul Collins; God's Shadow by Alan Mikhail. |
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| God: An Anatomy by Francesca StavrakopoulouWhat it is: a thought-provoking exploration of the concept of God through ancient eyes.
Read it for: the evocative, tangible portrait of God and the divine that author Francesca Stavrakopoulou manages to pull through the mists of time, putting scriptural imagery in its original cultural context.
Reviewers say: "Stavrakopoulou has drawn a masterful line from the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to that of Augustine, Anselm, and Aquinas" (Library Journal). |
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| Accidental Gods: On Men Unwittingly Turned Divine by Anna Della SubinWhat it's about: mortal men so revered that they became divine figures, and the social forces that motivated their followers to grant them this exalted status.
Why you should read it: Author Anna Della Subin's thoroughly researched scholarly analysis is rich in detail and will provoke powerful questions in readers.
Book buzz: Accidental Gods is "a stimulating and challenging look at a fascinating historical phenomenon" (Publishers Weekly). |
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| The Good Life Method: Reasoning Through the Big Questions of Happiness, Faith... by Paul Blaschko and Meghan SullivanWhat it is: a candid, accessible exploration of big, existential questions and the roles faith and philosophy play in determining what it means to live a "good life."
Is it for you? the engaging material in The Good Life Method deals with religion alongside the secular work of philosophers like Kant and Descartes, which may not appeal to readers looking for something with a more spiritual focus.
About the authors: Notre Dame professors Meghan Sullivan and Paul Blaschko write and research religious philosophy topics and co-teach a noted undergraduate course called "God and the Good Life." |
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Books You Might Have Missed
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| To My Beloveds: Letters on Faith, Race, Loss, and Radical Hope by Jennifer BaileyWhat it's about: This candid and thoughtful collection of essays contains spiritual reflections about topics like trauma recovery, community building, and Black womanhood.
About the author: Reverend Jennifer Bailey is an African Methodist Episcopal minister, public theologian, and founder of the community organizing nonprofit the Faith Matters Network. |
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| Wholehearted Faith by Rachel Held EvansWhat it is: a poignant and thoughtful collection of essays from columnist and Year of Biblical Womanhood author Rachel Held Evans, who passed away in 2019.
Reviewers say: " Evans's honest questioning of Christian teachings and a God she mostly (but doesn't always) believe in will strike a chord with believers and agnostics alike" (Library Journal). |
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| Brujas: The Magic and Power of Witches of Color by Lorraine MonteagutWhat it's about: the increasing popularity of ancestral spiritual practices among young Black, Latinx, and indigenous people looking to connect with and celebrate their cultures.
Topics include: the melding of indigenous and West African faith traditions in Central and South America; the legacy of colonialism; and the power of spiritual practice as a community building tool. |
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| The Making of the Bible: From the First Fragments to Sacred Scripture by Konrad Schmid; translated by Jens SchröterWhat it is: a well-researched, comprehensive account of the development of Hebrew Bible and Christian Bible.
Don't miss: the discussion of the Bible as a text object and how it fits into the history of bibliography and publishing.
About the author: Swiss theologian and professor Konrad Schmid teaches Hebrew Bible studies and ancient Judaica at the University of Zurich. |
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| Filled with Fire and Light: Portraits and Legends from the Bible, Talmud, and Hasidic... by Elie WieselWhat it is: the thought-provoking collected wisdom of notable figures in Jewish history including rabbis, sages, kings, and prophets.
Appearances by: the prophet Elisha; Josiah, King of Judah; scholar Reish Lakish; and Rabbi Schneur Zalman.
Reviewers say: Late Nobel Prize-winning author Elie Wiesel "casts a wide net" and "astounds with these timeless lessons drawn from ancient texts" (Publishers Weekly). |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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