Title search results
Showing 1 - 20 of 9243 items
Media portrayals of Orthodox Jewish women frequently depict powerless, silent individuals who are at best naive to live an Orthodox… lifestyle, and who are at worst, coerced into it. Karen E. H. Skinazi delves beyond this stereotype in Women of Valor to identify a powerful tradition of feminist literary portrayals of Orthodox women, often created by Orthodox women themselves. She examines Orthodox women as they appear in memoirs, comics, novels, and movies, and speaks with the authors, filmmakers, and musicians who create these representations. Throughout the work, Skinazi threads lines from the poem “Eshes Chayil,” the Biblical description of an Orthodox “Woman of Valor.” This proverb unites Orthodoxy and feminism in a complex relationship, where Orthodox women continuously question, challenge, and negotiate Orthodox and feminist values. Ultimately, these women create paths that unite their work, passions, and families under the framework of an “Eshes Chayil,” a woman who situates religious conviction within her own power.
Two Economistwriters show how and why religion is booming around the world and reveal its vast effects on the global… economy politics and more On the street and in the corridors of power religion is surging worldwide From Russia to Turkey to India nations that swore off faith in the last century or even tried to stamp it out are now run by avowedly religious leaders Formerly secular conflicts like the one in Palestine have taken on an overtly religious cast God Is Backshines a bright light on this hidden world of faith from exorcisms in S o Paulo to religious skirmishing in Nigeria to televangelism in California and house churches in China Since the Enlightenment intellectuals have assumed that modernization would kill religion and that religious America is an oddity As God Is Backargues religion and modernity can thrive together and America is becoming the norm Many things helped spark the global revival of religion including the failure of communism and the rise of globalism But above all twenty-first century religion is being fueled by a very American emphasis on competition and a customer- driven approach to salvation These qualities have characterized this country s faith ever since the Founders separated church and state creating a religious free market defined by entrepreneurship choice and personal revelation As market forces reshape the world the tools and ideals of American evangelism are now spreading everywhere The global rise of faith will have a dramatic and far- reaching impact on our century Indeed its destabilizing effects can already be seen far from Iraq or the World Trade Center Religion plays a role in civil wars from Sri Lanka to Sudan Along the tenth parallel from West Africa to the Philippines religious fervor and political unrest are reinforcing each other God Is Backconcludes by showing how the same American ideas that created our unique religious style can be applied around the globe to channel the rising tide of faith away from volatility and violence
In modern times Amos has come to be considered one of the most important prophets, mainly for his uncompromising message… about social justice. This book provides a detailed exploration of this theme and other important elements of the theology underlying the book of Amos. It also includes chapters on the text itself, providing a critical assessment of how the book came to be, the original message of Amos and his circle, which parts of the book may have been added by later scribes, and the finished form of the book. The author also considers the book's reception in ancient and modern times by interpreters as varied as rabbis, the Church Fathers, the Reformers, and liberation theologians. Throughout, the focus is on how to read the book of Amos holistically to understand the organic development of the prophet's message through the many stages of the book's development and interpretation.
A chilling expos of youth suicide driven by faith Tony Frost Tribune … Child and teen suicide is no stranger to this author I recall gazing at the stillness of my childhood friend in a coffin and the nun telling me that God had taken him back because he had been made of sin He had killed himself because word got out that he had been born out of wedlock Then there was that girl in my high school class who took the easy way out when she found herself with child A few months after I released my biography of John Paul I a gay teen called me and told me that my book had saved his life He had planned to take his life on that day because his faith condemned the person he happened to be During my years with the Children s Home and Hospital School I ve shared in the grief left in the wake of children s notes I have gone to live with Jesus Thousands of mentally and physically impaired among countless others have left the same legacy behind Then we have tragedies like F tima where two little children are saints today because their faith encouraged them to advance their deaths in slow and agonizing ways to suffer and die for sins of the flesh against the Immaculate Heart of Mary and a Catholic world that thinks it wonderful While through the years the preacher s hatred has taken its greatest toll in unwed mothers gay and transgender teens and other outcasts of religion his lure of heaven remains the leading cause of pre-puberty suicide today As for F tima I give you much more than the Vatican s beatification investigation which found these children tortured themselves with abrasive ropes and stinging nettles and abstained from drinking water on hot days As for me I must live out my days haunted by children s lives snuffed out by the preacher s irresponsible bluff because I had not acted sooner Thousands of tiny coffins lowered into the ground so that the preacher can sell his condominiums in the sky to sheep who lust for more Lucien Gregoire Though the author dismantles traditional concepts of heaven as peddled by preachers he leaves us with far greater opportunity as he proves the salvation tenet of the 33-Day Pope Don t knock yourself out over smart monkeys and Adam and Eve Each of us is responsible for our own evolution We can either choose to remain as mortal men or we can evolve as Gods
The medieval church was founded on and governed by concepts of faith and trust--but not in the way that is… popularly assumed Offering a radical new interpretation of the institutional church and its social consequences in England Ian Forrest argues that between 1200 and 1500 the ability of bishops to govern depended on the cooperation of local people known as trustworthy men and shows how the combination of inequality and faith helped make the medieval church Trustworthy men in Latin virifidedigni were jurors informants and witnesses who represented their parishes when bishops needed local knowledge or reliable collaborators Their importance in church courts at inquests and during visitations grew enormously between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries The church had to trust these men and this trust rested on the complex and deep-rooted cultures of faith that underpinned promises and obligations personal reputation and identity and belief in God But trust also had a dark side For the church to discriminate between the trustworthy and untrustworthy was not to identify the most honest Christians but to find people whose status ensured their word would not be contradicted This meant men rather than women and usually the wealthier tenants and property holders in each parish Trustworthy Men illustrates the ways in which the English church relied on and deepened inequalities within late medieval society and how trust and faith were manipulated for political ends
The global persecution of Christians is an urgent human rights issue that remains under-reported P P This… volume presents the results of the first systematic global investigation into how Christians respond to persecution World-class scholars of global Christianity present first-hand research from most of the sites of the harshest persecution as well as the West and Latin America Their findings make clear the nature of persecution the reasons for it Christian responses to it - both non-violent and confrontational - and the effects of these responses Motivating the volume is the hope that this knowledge will empower all who would exercise solidarity with the world s persecuted Christians and will offer the victims strategies for a more effective response This book is written for anyone concerned about the persecution of Christians or more generally about the human right of religious freedom including scholars activists political and religious leaders and those who work for international organizations P Brings attention to the under-reported plight of persecuted Christians P Includes details of persecution in twenty-four countries P Will help activists and officials respond more effectively to persecution
This ground-breaking resource challenges and equips Christians to think and act biblically and compassionately in matters of sexuality.Sexual abuse, sex… addiction, gender confusion, brokenness, and shame plague today's world, and people are seeking clarity and hope. By contesting long-held cultural paradigms, this book equips you to see how sexuality is rooted in the broader context of God's heart and His work for us on earth. It provides a framework from which to understand the big picture of sexual challenges and wholeness, and helps you recognize that every sexual question is ultimately a spiritual one. It shifts the paradigm from combating sexual problems to confidently proclaiming and modeling the road to sacred sexuality. Instead of arguing with the world about what's right and wrong about sexual choices, this practical resource equips you to share the love and grace of Jesus as you encounter the pain of sexual brokenness--your own or someone else's.
Black Atlantic Religion illuminates the mutual transformation of African and African-American cultures highlighting the example of the Afro-Brazilian Candombl… religion This book contests both the recent conviction that transnationalism is new and the long-held supposition that African culture endures in the Americas only among the poorest and most isolated of black populations In fact African culture in the Americas has most flourished among the urban and the prosperous who through travel commerce and literacy were well exposed to other cultures Their embrace of African religion is less a survival or inert residue of the African past than a strategic choice in their circum-Atlantic multicultural world With counterparts in Nigeria the Benin Republic Haiti Cuba Trinidad and the United States Candombl is a religion of spirit possession dance healing and blood sacrifice Most surprising to those who imagine Candombl and other such religions as the products of anonymous folk memory is the fact that some of this religion s towering leaders and priests have been either well-traveled writers or merchants whose stake in African-inspired religion was as much commercial as spiritual Morever they influenced Africa as much as Brazil Thus for centuries Candombl and its counterparts have stood at the crux of enormous transnational forces Vividly combining history and ethnography Matory spotlights a so-called folk religion defined not by its closure or internal homogeneity but by the diversity of its connections to classes and places often far away Black Atlantic Religion sets a new standard for the study of transnationalism in its subaltern and often ancient manifestations
In this book Al-Kohlani examines fifty-five Muslim and non-Muslim countries from 1960 to 2010 in response to … religious theory that associates certain religions with gender inequality and modernization theory which downplays the role of religion on gender inequity and associates gender inequality with socioeconomic factors The author explores both schools of thought and posits that on average Muslim countries have lower educational equality in comparison to non-Muslim countries with less religious constitution An interdisciplinary study drawn from the fields of world politics public policy in education and political religion this book responds not only to debates within academia but also to larger debates in society about the role of religion in the state the specific challenges of the relationship of Islam and the public policies and the relationship between constitution and gender equality
Departing from the traditional focus on Erasmus as philologist and moralist Rhetoric and Theology shows how Erasmus attempted to… interpret Scripture by way of a rhetorical theology that focuses on the figurative metaphorical quality of language with a view to moral and theological reform Manfred Hoffmann concentrates on the theological scources of Erasmus hermeneutic from 1518 to 1535 especially the Ratio verae theologiae the Ecclesiastes and the exegesis of Old and New Testament texts He shows that Erasmus hermeneutic is based on the concept of language as mediation Words do not have the power to represent the truth unambiguously but they appeal to our understanding in ways that draw us to the truth through the process of interpretation For Erasmus it is through allegory that the divine Word carries out its mediation between letter and spirit Erasmus used the tools of rhetoric to read and understand Scripture and thereby constructed a theological framework that has a direct relationship with his hermeneutic Rhetorical theologians imitate the invention disposition inverbation and delivery of divine speech by clarifying its composition ordering its subject matter internalizing its content and communicating its transforming power of persuasion Rhetoric provided Erasmus with the tools for finding theological loci in Scripture drawing from it a repertoire for knowing and living and translating it into sacred oratory
In this book for the curious spiritual seeker Madeleine L Engle offers relevant lessons drawn from the life… of Jacob from the Old Testament P P Here the son of Isaac becomes a spiritual companion to L Engle equipping her to deal with earthly and psychological struggles Throughout her journey L Engle offers contemporary answers to questions that burden modern day readers and believers With her customary fearlessness and candor she broaches such topics as the significance of angels redemption sexual identity forgiveness and the seemingly constant conflict between good and evil P Madeleine L Engle possesses the same ambidextrous skill of storytelling as other literary giants including C S Lewis and George MacDonald Her fictional stories appeal to generations of readers and are equally embraced in both the secular and religious markets But it is her ability in her nonfiction to engage with the historical text of the Bible through a dynamic unpacking of protagonists antagonists and matters of faith that establishes the Genesis Trilogy as a highly treasured collection of spiritual writings P A Stone for a Pillow acts as a compass for those traveling through the tumultuous landscape of faith in our cynical and divisive modern culture
In the first book of her Genesis Trilogy beloved author Madeleine L Engle casts long loving and… perceptive glances not only at the created universe but also at its Creator P P L Engle often crafted stories that dealt with the complexities of the universe navigating time and space religion and science with uncanny ease and insight This skill--most famously demonstrated in A Wrinkle in Time--is showcased in this nonfiction work And It Was Good through her ability to see the connection between Made and Maker at every level She examines the vast beauty order and complexity of our world with enthusiasm and reverence illuminating the characteristics of God the first poet P Madeleine L Engle possesses the same ambidextrous skill of storytelling as other literary giants including C S Lewis and George MacDonald Her fictional stories appeal to generations of readers and are equally embraced in both the secular and religious markets P But it is her ability in her nonfiction to engage with the historical text of the Bible through a dynamic unpacking of protagonists antagonists and matters of faith that establishes The Genesis Trilogy as a highly treasured collection of spiritual writings And It Was Good beautifully approaches both the biblical text and creation itself with an intelligence and sensitivity that appeals to all seekers looking for a fresh communion with God in the natural world
Is Joseph--the deserted son of Jacob from the Old Testament--relevant in our modern age?<P><P> For Madeleine L'Engle, the answer is… a resounding yes; not solely because Joseph is an important historical character, but primarily because his experiences of disenfranchisement, tragedy, and profound betrayal resonate within our own society. <P>These thoughtful meditations on obedience, prophecy, forgiveness, and compassion are masterfully woven to bridge gaps of belief, politics, education, and even faith. In this, L'Engle's third book of her Genesis Trilogy, the author draws on the death of her husband to provide comfort and inspiration to those who suffer grief, loneliness, and doubt. <P>Madeleine L'Engle possesses the same ambidextrous skill of storytelling as other literary giants, including C. S. Lewis and George MacDonald. Her fictional stories appeal to generations of readers, and are equally embraced in both the secular and religious markets. But it is her ability in her nonfiction work to engage with the historical text of the book of Genesis through a dynamic unpacking of protagonists, antagonists, and matters of faith that establishes the Genesis Trilogy as a highly treasured collection of spiritual writings. <P>The wisdom, gentleness, and insight of Sold into Egypt offers readers practical advice on clinging to hope, even in the midst of loss and disappointment.
Good Morning God is a daily devotional encounter with Christ A book to be… read again and again dog-eared under-lined and treasured It speaks to the deepest needs of the heart ofmankind in a refreshingly unique manner This collection of treasures from the heart of God was recorded by an ordinary person who cared to listen These daily messages lifted her from fear to trust from depression to joy from anxiety to peace They can do the same for you Good Morning God is not just a book - it is an experience Taste and see that the Lord IS good
Charles Spurgeon once said that as Christians, we should become addicted to prayer. For the whole follower of Christ, there… can be no other way. Author and prayer seminar leader Ron Auch has understood this since listening to Dick Eastman speak on the subject many years ago. Auch's Pray-Tell Ministries takes him all over the world, as people hunger to develop a prayer life, not just learn to pray. Here then, in book form, is a simple, step-by-step guide for developing that elusive prayer life and turning it into a sweet fellowship with God. Auch maintains that no question is too simple, as he explains to us such things as: where do I pray? What do I say in prayer? Do I have to find a special place, or assume a certain posture to come to God's throne? The answers will relieve you and start you on the road to powerful prayer.
You have made a commitment of your life to Christ as Lord and Savior Now that you are His… what specific things can you do to grow as a Christian This book will help guide you through the important steps of Publicly confessing your faith in Christ Being baptized in water Being filled with the Holy Spirit Fellowship with others in a strong local church Getting your foundation of faith right Being grounded in God s word Developing a dynamic prayer life Reaching others for Jesus Trusting God s promise Let this book set you on the path of a fruitful life in Christ
Christians have proclaimed the good news about Jesus for centuries. But the good news isn’t sounding so good these days,… at least to some. More and more surveys show that people view Christians as bearers of bad news, judgment, and intolerance.In Vanishing Grace, bestselling author Philip Yancey acknowledges the problem and then explores how we can respond with both grace and truth. He offers a discerning look at what contributes to a hostility toward Christians, and identifies three groups—pilgrims, artists, and activists—who can show us a different way.With a reporter’s eye and a compassionate heart, Yancey suggests practical ways in which we can live as salt and light within a society that is radically changing. What can we learn from those who shun church but consider themselves spiritual? Can the good news, once spoiled, ever sound good again?As Yancey writes, “Like a sudden thaw in the middle of winter, grace happens at unexpected moments. It stops us short, catches the breath, disarms…. Yet not everyone has tasted of that amazing grace, and not everyone believes in it. In a time of division and discord, grace seems in vanishing supply. Why? And what can we do about it?”In the wake of recent events—Las Vegas, Charlottesville, Charleston, Ferguson, Islamic terrorism—people both inside and outside the church are thirsty for grace. Vanishing Grace calls us to see their thirst, and ours, in a hopeful new light as we listen, love, and offer a grace that is truly good news.
Legendary Southern Baptist missionary Charlotte "Lottie" Moon played a pivotal role in revolutionizing southern civil society. Her involvement in the… establishment of the Women's Missionary Union provided white Baptist women with an alternate means of gaining and asserting power within the denomination's organizational structure and changed it forever. In Lottie Moon: A Southern Baptist Missionary to China in History and Legend Regina Sullivan provides the first comprehensive portrait of "Lottie," who not only empowered women but also inspired the formation of one of the most influential religious organizations in the United States.Despite being the daughter of slaveholders in antebellum Virginia, Moon never lived the life of a typical southern belle. Highly educated and influenced by models of independent womanhood, including an older sister who was a woman's rights advocate, an open opponent of slavery, and the first Virginian female to earn a medical degree, Moon followed her sister's lead and utilized her extensive education to successfully combine the language of woman's rights with the egalitarian impulse of evangelical Protestantism.In 1873 Moon found her true calling, however, in missionary work in China. During her tenure there she recommended that the week before Christmas be designated as a time of giving to foreign missions. In response to her vision, thousands of Southern Baptist women organized local missionary societies to collect funds, and in 1888, the Woman's Missionary Union was founded as the Southern Baptist Convention's female auxiliary for missionary work.Sullivan credits Moon's role in the establishment of the Woman's Missionary Union as having a significant impact on the erosion of patriarchal power and women's new engagement with the public sphere. Since her initial plea in 1888, the Missionary Union's annual "Lottie Moon Christmas Offering" has raised over a billion dollars to support missionary work.Lottie Moon captures the influence and culminating effect of one woman's personal, spiritual, and civic calling.
Every week a terrorist attack riot or political scandal makes the headlines and we feel the… world around us shaking again We struggle to separate truth from biased statements and hope from na vet We wonder how we got here and where these uncertain days will take us One of the world s top investigative reporters John S Dickerson addresses this post-truth post-Christian society in Hope of Nations Hope of Nations shows us how and why the world is changing where those changes will lead and what it looks like to live like Christ in today s society With fascinating historical and political background Dickerson helps us understand The five major forces driving global change in the world todayWhy violent displays of Islam continue resurfacingThe incoming moral social and political impact of American millennialsTen ways to respond biblically to trends shaping the world right nowHow to live with Christian courage and compassion in tumultuous times Times of great social upheaval are times of great spiritual opportunity writes Dickerson You can live the adventure of this era with great purpose You can know with confidence that the Creator of the universe appointed you to bring light and life to this moment in human history Among the youngest award-winning journalists and a seminary-trained pastor Dickerson brings his reporting skills generational perspective and biblical insights to this groundbreaking book Get a larger view of what is happening with your community your government and your international neighbors in this thoughtful look at global events in light of your unique Christian calling