Christian life and practice Books

Book SynopsisRob Bell's highly-praised third book, Jesus Wants to Save Christians, is his most political yet. Published as part of the Rob Bell Classics relaunch, this is an inspiring call-to-arms for Christians to tackle poverty, inequality and oppression.There is a church not too far from us that recently added a $25 million addition to their building,' writes Rob Bell. Our local newspaper ran a front-page story not too long ago about a study revealing that one in five people in our city lives in poverty. This is a book about those two numbers.'Jesus Wants to Save Christians is a book about faith and fear, wealth and war, poverty, power, safety, terror, Bibles, bombs, and homeland insecurity.Trade Review‘The author of Velvet Elvis and Sex God teams up with fellow pastor Golden to write a manifesto that packs as much sociopolitical zing as rhetorical punch. If Americans today miss the central message of the Bible, say the authors, the reason is that the United States is an empire like those described in Scripture that build powerful armies and seek to protect what they accumulate rather than promote justice and mercy. Chapter titles such as "Swollen-bellied black babies, soccer moms on Prozac, and the mark of the beast" will provoke many readers. Likely to get a bigger rise is the suggestion that when the Bible says enemies will one day worship together, that includes today's enemies, the Taliban and al-Qaeda… This dramatic book is politically charged but not party-bent, bearing a message evangelicals need: that Jesus didn't come just to save people for heaven someday but to transform his followers and the physical world now.’ (Publishers Weekly) ‘Bell fights every impulse in our culture to domesticate Jesus [and] challenges the reader to be open to surprise, mystery and all of the unanswerables… Bell has given theologically suspicious Christians new courage to bet their life on Jesus Christ.’ (Christian Century) ‘Claiming that some versions of Jesus should be rejected, particularly those used to intimidate and inspire fear or hatred, Bell persuasively interprets the Bible as a message of love and redemption. . . . His style is characteristically concise and oral, his tone passionate and unabashedly positive.’ (Publishers Weekly) ‘One of the nation’s rock-star-popular young pastors, Rob Bell, has stuck a pitchfork in how Christians talk about damnation.’ (USA Today)

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Book Synopsis“Between Heaven and Mirth will make any reader smile. . . . Father Martin reminds us that happiness is the good God’s own goal for us.” —Timothy M. Dolan, Archbishop of New YorkFrom one of America’s most beloved spiritual leaders and the New York Times bestselling author of The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything and Jesus: A Pilgrimage Father James Martin, SJ, comes a revolutionary look at how you can change your life and save your spirit through joy, humor, and laughter. Martin shares how you can strike a healthy balance between spirituality and daily life and live as a joyful believer. In Between Heaven and Mirth, he uses scriptural passages, the lives of the saints, the spiritual teachings of other traditions, and his own personal reflections to show us why joy is the inevitable result of faith, because a healthy spirituality and a healthy sense of humor go hand-in-hand with God''s great plan for humankind. 

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Book SynopsisMinisters David Felten and Jeff Procter-Murphy, along with an all-star cast of Bible scholars and top church teachers, provide a primer to a church movement that encourages every Christian to “live the questions” instead of “forcing the answers.” Based on the bestselling DVD course of the same name, Living the Questions: The Wisdom of Progressive Christianity includes commentary from such bestselling authors as Diana Butler Bass, John Shelby Spong, Marcus Borg, John Dominic Crossan, Brian McLaren, and others. Tackling issues of faith and controversial subjects such as the church’s position on homosexuality, Living the Questions is the most comprehensive, indeed the only survey of progressive Christianity in existence today.

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Book SynopsisArchbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize winner, Chair of The Elders, and Chair of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, along with his daughter, the Reverend Mpho Tutu, offer a manual on the art of forgiveness—helping us to realize that we are all capable of healing and transformation.Tutu''s role as the Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission taught him much about forgiveness. If you asked anyone what they thought was going to happen to South Africa after apartheid, almost universally it was predicted that the country would be devastated by a comprehensive bloodbath. Yet, instead of revenge and retribution, this new nation chose to tread the difficult path of confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation.Each of us has a deep need to forgive and to be forgiven. After much reflection on the process of forgiveness, Tutu has seen that there are four important steps to healing: Admitting the wrong and acknowled

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Book SynopsisIn recent years Christian scholars have become increasingly aware of their responsibility to recognize and respond to the challenges posed by ethnic and racial diversity. Similarly, historically white Christian colleges, universities, seminaries and congregations are struggling to transform themselves into communities that are welcoming to minorities and sensitive to their needs. This collection of all-new essays is meant to enable those who are engaged in these initiatives to understand the historical linkage of race, ethnicity and Christianity and to explore the ways in which constructive change can be achieved. The volume is the product of a long-term study funded by the Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning in Theology. In the course of this study it emerged that many Christian institutions now offer courses on race and ethnicity, but that there is very little relevant literature written from the standpoint of rigorous Christian scholarship. This book is intended to fill that gap. The authors address such questions as: What has been the history of Christian churches and leaders in relation to slavery, segregation, and apartheid? Which biblical texts and doctrines have historically been employed on behalf of racial projects, and which are relevant to the racial and ethnic crises of our day? How have religious leaders constructively engaged such crises? How do congregations shape the values, civic commitments, understandings and sensitivities of their membership? How can local congregations be sites for racial reconciliation and justice initiatives? Are there positive models for how churches and other religious institutions have helped to bring healing to racial and ethnic tensions and divides? How might Christians in the professions work to bring justice to business, education, government, and other areas of society? When good intentions fail to accomplish desired ends, how do we analyze what went wrong? Written by an interracial and interethnic team of scholars representing diverse disciplines, this book will meet a pressing need and set a new standard for the discussion of race and ethnicity in the Christian context.Trade ReviewAmply documented and with helpful bibliographies, this set will appeal to all concerned about diversity in evangelical congregations, schools, and other agencies. * Choice *This Side of Heaven is a major contribution to the study of race, ethnicity, and religion. I found an incredible wealth of knowledge and insight in the book's chapters. This is a book to use in college and seminary courses, to read in your home, and to work through in small groups. Be prepared for serious discussions, as this volume if full of hard hitting chapters that cut to the core of religion, race, and ethnicity. Strongly recommended. * Michael O. Emerson, co-author of Divided by Faith and United by Faith *This Side of Heaven is unique among Christian books on multiculturalism and race because the authors combine thier social science analysis with their theological viewpoints. * Contemporary Sociology *The editors have managed to produce a volume that has unity and clarity, combining the realistic double edge of social analysis with a courageous rereading of biblical texts and a hopeful attitude in spite of discomforting facts. In short, this book represents missiology at its best. * International Bulletin of Missionary Research *

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Book SynopsisRobert Frykenberg''s insightful study explores and enhances historical understandings of Christian communities, cultures, and institutions within the Indian world from their beginnings down to the present. As one out of several manifestations of a newly emerging World Christianity, in which Christians of a Post-Christian West are a minority, it has focused upon those trans-cultural interactions within Hindu and Muslim environments which have made Christians in this part of the world distinctive. It seeks to uncover various complexities in the proliferation of Christianity in its many forms and to examine processes by which Christian elements intermingled with indigenous cultures and which resulted in multiple identities, and also left imprints upon various cultures of India. Thomas Christians believe that the Apostle Thomas came to India in 52 A.D./C.E., and that he left seven congregations to carry on the Mission of bringing the Gospel to India. In our day the impulse of this Mission Trade ReviewThe singular merit of this book is that the author does not simply present a history of Christianity in India from the beginning to today. Instead, he elaborates the socio-economic, political and religious impact of Christianity on Indian society and vice versa...This informative, analytical and comprehensive work will contribute to understanding better Christianity in India. * Indunil Janakaratne Kodithuwakku Kankanamalage, Bibliographia Missionaria *[a] well-researched and winsightful book, authored by a highly regarded historian ... Frykenberg's book is truly a great contribution to the exploration of the complicated nature of religion and society in India. * Koji Kawashima, International Journal of Asian Studies *This is a committed book, arising out of lifelong experience and study. * Paul Jenkins, Social Sciences and Missions *Frykenberg's amazing breadth of knowledge brings to life the complexity of India's Christian history ... I heartily recommend this book. * Timothy C. Tennent, Christianity Today *This is the best single-volume history of Christianity in India written so far. It is both genuinely Indo-centric and genuinely ecunemical. * John C. B. Webster, International Bulletin of Missionary Research *Table of ContentsPreface ; 1. Introduction ; 2. Contextualizing Complexity, I: India's Lands, Peoples and Social Structures ; 3. India's Dominant Religious Traditions: Santana and Dar-ul-Islam ; 4. Thomas Christians and the Thomas Tradition ; 5. Pfarangi Catholic Christians and Padroado Christendom ; 6. Evangelical Christians as Missionary Dubashis: Conduits of Cross-Cultural Communication ; 7. India's Raj and Its Political Logic: The Unification of India, A Southern Perspective ; 8. Avarna Christians and Conversion Movements ; 9. Missionaries, Colonialism and Ecclesiastical Dominion ; 10. Indian Christians and Hindu Raj ; 11. Elite Eductaion and Missionaries ; 12. Catholic Renewal and Resurgence ; 13. Trophies of Grace and Their Public Influence ; 14. Adivasi Movements in the North East ; 15. Conclusion and Epilogue ; Bibliography

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Book SynopsisA study of the ascetic teaching of 7th century writer Isaac of Nineveh (Isaac the Syrian), a popular figure in Eastern Christain tradition. Hagman uses Isaac's writings to argue that asceticism is not about punishing the body, but is a way to use the body to communicate the Christian message to society.Trade ReviewThis text is a fresh and edifying reading of Origens extant literary corpus. * Jonathan J. Armstrong, The Journal of Theological Studies, *Table of Contents1. Introduction ; 2. Isaac of Ninevah ; 3. The Concept of the Body ; 4. Uses of the Term 'The World' ; 5. Fear as the Existential Background of Asceticism ; 6. Ascetic Practice ; 7. Ecstacy, Spiritual Knowledge, and Humility ; 8. Isaac's Eschatology ; 9. Asceticism and Society ; Appendix: The Modern Study of Isaac of Ninevah

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Book SynopsisFew things are more likely to cause heartache to devout parents than seeing their child leave the faith. And it seems, from media portrayals, that this is happening more and more frequently. But is religious change between generations common? How does religion get passed down from one generation to the next? Why do some families maintain one faith while others do not? What factors are likely to push people away from their childhood faith? What role does the particular faith play? The family? The wider society? Does atheism get passed down as well? In Families and Faith, Vern Bengtson seeks to answer these questions and more by drawing on an extraordinary study, conducted over more than four decades, of more than 350 families composed of more than 2400 people whose lives span more than a century: the oldest was born in 1881, the youngest in 1988. Bengtson argues that a child is actually more likely to remain within the fold than to leave it, and, more surprisingly, that parents'' influence has remained relatively stable since the early 1970s. Even the nonreligious, in fact, are much more likely to be following their parents than rebelling against them. And while outside social forces play a role, the most important factor in whether a child keeps the faith is the presence of a strong fatherly bond. Armed with this unprecedented data, Bengtson offers remarkable insight into American religion over the course of several decades.Trade ReviewShould be included in libraries for general readership at least to the undergraduate level. Recommended. * M. G. Meacham, Choice, *solid research findings with much to ponder ... It deserves thoughtful consideration. * James J. Ponzetti, INTAMS *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; Part 1: The Emerging Religious Landscape ; 1. Families and the Transmission of Religion ; 2. Trends in Spirituality and Religion Across Seven Generations ; 3. Intergenerational Transmission of Religion, 1970 and 2005 ; Part 2: Family Ties and Religious Transmission ; 4. The Quality of Parent-Child Relationships ; 5. Grandparents and Great-Grandparents ; 6. Marriage and Divorce ; Part 3: Factors in Leaving and Staying ; 7. Religious Rebels, Zealots, and Prodigals ; 8. The "Nones": Intergenerational Transmission of Nonreligion ; 9. Tight-Knit Religious Communities: Mormons, Jews, and Evangelicals ; 10. Summing it Up: Families and Faith across Generations ; Appendix ; References ; Notes ; Index

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Book SynopsisWhat does death really mean? Is there life after death? Is that idea even intelligible?Despite our constant confrontation with death there has been little serious philosophical reflection on the meaning of death and even less on the classical question of immortality. Popular books on death and dying abound, but they are largely manuals for dying with composure, or individual near death experiences of light at the end of the tunnel.This lively conversation includes various views on these matters, from John Lachs's gentle but firm insistence that the notion of immortality is philosophically unintelligible, to Jürgen Moltmann's brave and careful examination of various arguments for what happens to us when we die. David Roochnik searches the Platonic dialogues for a metaphorical immortality which might satisfy the human longing for some meaning which does not die with us. Aaron Garrett traces the naturalization of the idea of immortality from Scotus to Locke in the historyTrade Review“...[R]anges from a light-hearted survey of myths in which mortality is preferred to endless eternity to a serious study of Locke and Spinoza. [T]he choice of this topic for a volume in the Boston University Studies in Philosophy and Religion series shows that the subject itself is not dead, but newly intriguing.” —Christian Century“Essays by philosophers, theologians, and others on death; topics include a comparison of Locke and Spinoza on immortality.” —The Chronicle of Higher Education“...[I]f one is looking for some new and stimulating reflections on life and death, then all the essays are well worth consideration.” —Choice

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Book SynopsisCatholic Greg Bourke''s profoundly moving memoir about growing up gay and overcoming discrimination in the battle for same-sex marriage in the US.In this compelling and deeply affecting memoir, Greg Bourke recounts growing up in Louisville, Kentucky, and living as a gay Catholic. The book describes Bourke's early struggles for acceptance as an out gay man living in the South during the 1980s and '90s, his unplanned transformation into an outspoken gay rights activist after being dismissed as a troop leader from the Boy Scouts of America in 2012, and his historic role as one of the named plaintiffs in the landmark United States Supreme Court decision Obergefell vs. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015. After being ousted by the Boy Scouts of America (BSA), former Scoutmaster Bourke became a leader in the movement to amend antigay BSA membership policies. The Archdiocese of Louisville, because of its vigorous opposition to marriage equalityTrade Review“Recounting confrontations with the Catholic Church to the Boy Scouts and then fighting the state of Kentucky all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States, Gay, Catholic, and American is the powerful story of a man and his family fighting tirelessly for positive change rooted in their belief in the fullness of charity.” —Jim Obergefell, co-author of Love Wins “Gay, Catholic, and American is a delightfully written journey of a fellow Notre Dame gay alum. I am proud to have played a small part in his journey calling for equal rights for the LGBTQ Catholic community.” —Jack Bergen, ND ’77, past chair of the Gay and Lesbian Alumni of Notre Dame and St. Mary’s College “Greg Bourke’s story is one of perseverance and tenacity, of refusing to settle for less and daring to dream big. LGBTQ Catholics and those who desire more welcoming institutions will be encouraged and inspired by reading this book.” —Michael J. O’Loughlin, national correspondent for America: The Jesuit Review "Gay, Catholic, and American reads as a modern 'passion' story—it is a familial and compelling story of two faith-filled men and their two children who tasted life’s bittersweet moments in their unrelenting pursuit of justice, trusting in the power of faith to guide their journey and seeking to make fullness and completion in God’s charity palpable in our country. This story witnesses the triumph of love and perseverance." —Miguel Humberto Díaz , former United States ambassador to the Holy See “Gay, Catholic, and American is a moving story about profound life, deep love, and authentic faith. Greg Bourke models for readers what it means to recognize God’s call for justice and respond with a commitment to divine love that refuses to be co-opted by others who seek to dismiss or demean difference. Through the compelling personal journey of one man, this book helps bring needed attention to the millions of other LGBTQ+ Catholics who faithfully practice their faith and love their families as much as their straight neighbors and deserve inclusion.” —Daniel P. Horan, OFM, author of A White Catholic’s Guide to Racism and Privilege"Gay, Catholic, and American is a richly detailed memoir of Gregory Bourke’s life. Throughout, the reader is struck by Bourke’s conciliatory attitude toward his opponents, his unassuming tone, and his humility—despite an impressive list of accomplishments and accolades." —Joseph Mello, author of The Courts, the Ballot Box, and Gay Rights"Greg Bourke’s memoir combines his and his family’s journey with the paths taken by the federal judiciary toward marriage equality, his local Catholic Church toward a warm embrace of gay and lesbian couples, and the Boy Scouts toward acceptance of openly gay scoutmasters. All heartwarming stories told with charity toward all, malice toward none." —William N. Eskridge, Jr., author of Equality Practice"The events described in this book could be seen as ordinary and unremarkable: a man finds a partner, forms a family, gets married, forges a career, and becomes a leader in his community, all while devotedly practicing his religious faith. But it becomes an extraordinary and exceptional story when you read what it took to pursue happiness, acceptance, and equality in all those arenas of his life while still remaining steadfast in that faith. In this way, Greg Bourke’s Gay, Catholic, and American is also both universal and personal, providing a compelling read for any audience." —Christine Becker, author of It’s the Pictures That Got Small"Greg Bourke’s remarkable memoir Gay, Catholic, and American is about how he and his husband became plaintiffs in one of the most pivotal Supreme Court cases in LGBTQ+ history. . . . Bourke’s story is directed by perseverance, grit, and faith. Throughout, he refuses to accept that his sexual orientation and his religion cannot coexist. His text is inspirational, humble, and engaging." —Foreword Reviews"In the Beatitudes, Jesus says that those who hunger and thirst for justice will be satisfied. Gay, Catholic and American is the story of one family’s journey in that quest. Greg Bourke weaves in the struggle, fear and hope of the journey to be recognized as a family and a full participant in our society. He engagingly recounts the struggles, fears and hopes of that journey that results in a compassion we can all learn from." —Simone Campbell, SSS, author of Hunger for Hope“Bourke, one of the plaintiffs in the Supreme Court case that legalized gay marriage, shares his story of activism and devout Catholicism in this detailed . . . debut. . . . . [His] smooth, tidy narrative of activism pulls back the curtain on one of the most influential Supreme Court cases of modern American history.” —Publishers Weekly"Living as an out gay man in the 1980s and ’90s, Bourke struggled to find acceptance, but he did not become an activist until his ouster as a Boy Scout troop leader in 2012. His memoir chronicles a personal journey that became public with Bourke at the forefront of the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court case, Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide." —Notre Dame Magazine"Gay, Catholic and American is a book about both past and ongoing struggles for LGBTQ+ equality, and reminds readers that these battles are important, even, and perhaps especially, when they are being waged at the most local level." —New York Journal of Books“I want to get to LGBTQ Catholics, those who have been hurt, who feel like they’ve been marginalized, who have given up, and I want to encourage them not to do that,” Bourke says. “I want to give hope to people, that they don’t have to choose between their identity as a queer person and their identity as a Catholic—they don’t have to be mutually exclusive. I hope I presented an example of what it might look like to be able to have both.” —Greg Bourke, We Are ND"Readers curious about how one devout Catholic lives with the tension among official church teaching, his personal spiritual experience and his sexual orientation will find Bourke’s detailed account thought-provoking. Gay, Catholic, and American can inspire both L.G.B.T. and straight Catholics who seek reconciliation." —America"Bourke’s memoir tells one story of how LGBTQ+ Catholics in the U.S. have navigated complexity and contradiction along the way: with faith, perseverance, and the belief that their families are equal and blessed." —New Ways Ministry"Gay, Catholic, and American is recommended for colleges, seminaries, and parish libraries where the subject is discussed, positively or negatively." —The Catholic Library World“A story that has the potential to disrupt some stereotypes.” —Society for the Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender DiversityTable of ContentsIntroduction 1. Early Years – Ready for the 80s 2. Time in New England 3. My Old Kentucky Home Again 4. Family Matters 5. Introducing the Infant to Our Church 6. The Freedom to Marry 7. Married with Children 8. Scouting 9. Back in The Closet 10. Crossing Over to Boy Scouts 11. Suffocating in the Scout Closet 12. Ousted 13. Live United 14. Scouts in Protest 15. Inclusive Scouting Summit 16. Windsor and Prop 8 17. Bourke vs. Beshear 18. Judge Heyburn’s Decision 19. Preparing for Round Two 20. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals 21. Reversal 22. Road Trip To DC 23. Michael’s Birthday, and Oral Arguments Too 24. Going Home 25. Marriage Equality Day 26. Meet the Press 27. New York Pride 28. Back to Work Scouting for Equality 29. An Audience with The Archbishop 30. Life After Scouting 31. Notre Dame Our Mother 32. PrideCats 33. Catholic Persons of the Year 34. Catholics For Fairness 35. The Freedom to Bury 36. Summer Break 37. Adoption Day – The Sequel 38. Pilgrimage of Mercy 39. Reconciliation 40. The Ancient Order of Hibernians 41. Scouting on the Fringe 42. Bourke DeLeon LGBT Catholic Endowed Scholarship 43. Notre Dame Law Forum 44. Time to Reflect 45. What Would That Even Look Like?

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