Religious aspects of sexuality, gender and relationships Books

Book SynopsisMaking the Right Choice unravels the entangled relationship between marriage, morality, and the desire for modernity as it plays out in the context of middle-class status concerns and aspirations for upward social mobility within the Sinhala-Buddhist community in urban Sri Lanka. By focusing on individual life-histories spanning three generations, the book illuminates how narratives about a gendered self and narratives about modernity are mutually constituted and intrinsically tied to notions of agency. The book uncovers how "becoming modern" in urban Sri Lanka, rather than causing inter-generational conflict, is a collective aspiration realized through the efforts of bringing up educated and independent women capable of making "right" choices. The consequence of this collective investment is a feminist conundrum: agency does not denote the right to choose, but the duty to make the "right" choice; hence agency is experienced not as a sense of "freedom," but rather as a burden of responsibility.Trade Review"In Making the Right Choice, Abeyasekera navigates the micro-politics of class and gender in contemporary Sri Lanka with skill and grace, providing the reader with a compelling picture of the fraught territory of marriage in twenty-first century Sri Lanka. Throughout, the argument is highly original and incisive, yet written with a novelist’s eye for the telling detail."— Jonathan Spencer, co-editor of The Intimate Life of Dissent: Anthropological Perspectives "With delicate prose and thoughtfulness, Abeyasekera draws us into the heart of middle-class Colombo, where personal choices on who to love reflect back on family narratives of progress and social mobility. Offering fresh perspectives on agency and responsibility, she moves between life stories across generations to unravel how, in South Asia, marriage is inexorably tied to crafting a self that is both modern and moral."— Ammara Maqsood, author of The New Pakistani Middle Class "Asha Abeyasekera gives us exquisitely wrought portraits of three generations of women in modernizing Sri Lanka as they navigate decisions of who, when, how, and why to marry. Attending to their stories about their marriages, Abeyasekera reveals the repertoires of meaning that enable the women to produce selves that honor traditional kin obligations while embodying modern values of personal choice and self-determination."— Jeanne Marecek, co-author of Gender and Culture in Psychology: Theories and PracticesTable of ContentsContents Series Foreword by Péter Berta Introduction 1 – Sinhala Marriage Practices: Then and Now 2 – Making the ‘Right’ Choice 3 – Structuring the ‘Right’ Choice 4 – The Virtuous Self: Failed Marriages 5 – The Valued Self: Singleness 6 – The Vindicated Self: Divorce Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisMaking the Right Choice unravels the entangled relationship between marriage, morality, and the desire for modernity as it plays out in the context of middle-class status concerns and aspirations for upward social mobility within the Sinhala-Buddhist community in urban Sri Lanka. By focusing on individual life-histories spanning three generations, the book illuminates how narratives about a gendered self and narratives about modernity are mutually constituted and intrinsically tied to notions of agency. The book uncovers how "becoming modern" in urban Sri Lanka, rather than causing inter-generational conflict, is a collective aspiration realized through the efforts of bringing up educated and independent women capable of making "right" choices. The consequence of this collective investment is a feminist conundrum: agency does not denote the right to choose, but the duty to make the "right" choice; hence agency is experienced not as a sense of "freedom," but rather as a burden of responsibility.Trade Review"In Making the Right Choice, Abeyasekera navigates the micro-politics of class and gender in contemporary Sri Lanka with skill and grace, providing the reader with a compelling picture of the fraught territory of marriage in twenty-first century Sri Lanka. Throughout, the argument is highly original and incisive, yet written with a novelist’s eye for the telling detail."— Jonathan Spencer, co-editor of The Intimate Life of Dissent: Anthropological Perspectives "With delicate prose and thoughtfulness, Abeyasekera draws us into the heart of middle-class Colombo, where personal choices on who to love reflect back on family narratives of progress and social mobility. Offering fresh perspectives on agency and responsibility, she moves between life stories across generations to unravel how, in South Asia, marriage is inexorably tied to crafting a self that is both modern and moral."— Ammara Maqsood, author of The New Pakistani Middle Class "Asha Abeyasekera gives us exquisitely wrought portraits of three generations of women in modernizing Sri Lanka as they navigate decisions of who, when, how, and why to marry. Attending to their stories about their marriages, Abeyasekera reveals the repertoires of meaning that enable the women to produce selves that honor traditional kin obligations while embodying modern values of personal choice and self-determination."— Jeanne Marecek, co-author of Gender and Culture in Psychology: Theories and PracticesTable of ContentsContents Series Foreword by Péter Berta Introduction 1 – Sinhala Marriage Practices: Then and Now 2 – Making the ‘Right’ Choice 3 – Structuring the ‘Right’ Choice 4 – The Virtuous Self: Failed Marriages 5 – The Valued Self: Singleness 6 – The Vindicated Self: Divorce Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisEmbracing Age: How Catholic Nuns Became Models of Aging Well examines a community of individuals whose aging trajectories contrast mainstream American experiences. In mainstream American society, aging is presented as a “problem,” a state to be avoided as long as possible, a state that threatens one’s ability to maintain independence, autonomy, control over one’s surroundings. Aging “well” (or avoiding aging) has become a twenty-first century American preoccupation. Embracing Age provides a window into the everyday lives of American Catholic nuns who experience longevity and remarkable health and well-being at the end of life. Catholic nuns aren’t only healthier in older age, they are healthier because they practice a culture of acceptance and grace around aging. Embracing Age demonstrates how aging in the convent becomes understood by the nuns to be a natural part of the life course, not one to be feared or avoided. Anna I. Corwin shows readers how Catholic nuns create a cultural community that provides a model for how to grow old, decline, and die that is both embedded in American culture and quite distinct from other American models.Instructor's Guide is available at no cost (https://d3tto5i5w9ogdd.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/26120146/corwin_instructor_guide_final.pdf).Open access edition funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The text of this book is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Download open access ebook here. Trade Review"The question of why and how religious commitment seems to improve the body’s health is one of the deepest puzzles in social science. Embracing Age suggests that one answer lies in the way people of faith use language to describe their lives and worlds. This beautifully written book will change the way you think about aging." -- Tanya Marie Luhrmann * author of How God Becomes Real: Kindling the Presence of Invisible Others *"The modern world urges us to outrun age, numb pain, and ignore death, but perhaps the secret to longevity and contentedness lies within the walls of a convent, where nuns practice a timeless model of gracious living. Anna Corwin, with a novitiate’s curiosity and an anthropologist’s precision, investigates the source of nuns’ grace and sparkle—and presents it as something we can tap into, too." -- Dan Zak * author of Almighty: Courage, Resistance, and Existential Peril in the Nuclear Age *"Corwin’s lush ethnography of convent life unlocks how elderly nuns experience aging in ways that render them healthier and happier than those of us who have taken a secular path. Embracing Age brings readers into nuns’ daily spiritual (intercessory prayers) and peer support (pastoral visits to the infirm). Observations, in-depth interviews, and clinical health measures are brought together to illuminate nuns’ sense of the life-death transition." -- Elinor Ochs * co-editor of Fast-Forward Family: Home, Work, and Relationships in Middle-Class America *"In Embracing Age, Anna Corwin tells us of aging and death through the eyes and experiences of American Catholic nuns. It is revealing, enlightening, a balm for those contemplating what is too often thought of as the pain and indignity of old age. The remarkable part, though, is how much it tells of life itself, and the things that really matter." -- John Archibald * author of Shaking the Gates of Hell: A Search for Family and Truth in the Wake of the Civil Rights Revolution *"Embracing Age is a sensitive and illuminating study of the pro-aging alternative offered by Catholic nuns. Through their emphasis on the interdependence of life and the value they place on 'being' rather than 'doing,' the nuns demonstrate a culture of acceptance and grace that can inspire us all." -- Sarah L. Kaufman * author of The Art of Grace and Pulitzer Prize-winning critic for the Washington Post *"Embracing Age reveals the ways in which the culture of American convents embraces aging as a positive process, providing sustenance for mind, body, and spirit. Vividly written, this book brings the reader deep into nuns' everyday experiences of life. Astute and accessible, it will be valuable reading for anyone interested in alternative age-positive ways of living and being." -- Jeanne Shea * co-editor of Beyond Filial Piety: Rethinking Aging and Caregiving in Contemporary East Asian Societies *"Anna Corwin on her book, Embracing Aging" * Camp Anthropology *"[Corwin's] deeply researched book is a model of scholarship while also engaging nonacademic readers as well with its insightful and eloquent portrayal of convent life." * Union of Catholic Asian News *"Catholic nuns are role models for long and productive lives," by Marlene A. Zloza * NWI Catholic *"Anna Corwin’s book, Embracing Age invites us to ponder some very important questions: What does it mean to be old? What is the meaning in diminishment? How can we all 'do' this human process of aging best?...Perhaps the most potent take-away or 'secret' of aging is, as the book title asserts, not to avoid but to embrace aging." * Review for Religious *"This synthetic work culminates Corwin’s previous publications into a central claim that anthropological methods and theory illuminate the way nuns socially and linguistically embrace age to experience well-being despite age-related decline. The compelling applicability of Corwin’s conclusions make Embracing Age a critical read for social scientists, clinicians, and thoughtful humans alike. In a society obsessed with “successful aging,” but caught in a paradox that inhibits its realization, scholars like Corwin serve as trustworthy guides as they blend humanities and science into works of vital significance." * Anthropology Book Forum *"The question of why and how religious commitment seems to improve the body’s health is one of the deepest puzzles in social science. Embracing Age suggests that one answer lies in the way people of faith use language to describe their lives and worlds. This beautifully written book will change the way you think about aging." -- Tanya Marie Luhrmann * author of How God Becomes Real: Kindling the Presence of Invisible Others *"The modern world urges us to outrun age, numb pain, and ignore death, but perhaps the secret to longevity and contentedness lies within the walls of a convent, where nuns practice a timeless model of gracious living. Anna Corwin, with a novitiate’s curiosity and an anthropologist’s precision, investigates the source of nuns’ grace and sparkle—and presents it as something we can tap into, too." -- Dan Zak * author of Almighty: Courage, Resistance, and Existential Peril in the Nuclear Age *"Corwin’s lush ethnography of convent life unlocks how elderly nuns experience aging in ways that render them healthier and happier than those of us who have taken a secular path. Embracing Age brings readers into nuns’ daily spiritual (intercessory prayers) and peer support (pastoral visits to the infirm). Observations, in-depth interviews, and clinical health measures are brought together to illuminate nuns’ sense of the life-death transition." -- Elinor Ochs * co-editor of Fast-Forward Family: Home, Work, and Relationships in Middle-Class America *"In Embracing Age, Anna Corwin tells us of aging and death through the eyes and experiences of American Catholic nuns. It is revealing, enlightening, a balm for those contemplating what is too often thought of as the pain and indignity of old age. The remarkable part, though, is how much it tells of life itself, and the things that really matter." -- John Archibald * author of Shaking the Gates of Hell: A Search for Family and Truth in the Wake of the Civil Rights R *"Embracing Age is a sensitive and illuminating study of the pro-aging alternative offered by Catholic nuns. Through their emphasis on the interdependence of life and the value they place on 'being' rather than 'doing,' the nuns demonstrate a culture of acceptance and grace that can inspire us all." -- Sarah L. Kaufman * author of The Art of Grace and Pulitzer Prize-winning critic for the Washington Post *"Embracing Age reveals the ways in which the culture of American convents embraces aging as a positive process, providing sustenance for mind, body, and spirit. Vividly written, this book brings the reader deep into nuns' everyday experiences of life. Astute and accessible, it will be valuable reading for anyone interested in alternative age-positive ways of living and being." -- Jeanne Shea * co-editor of Beyond Filial Piety: Rethinking Aging and Caregiving in Contemporary East Asian Societi *"Anna Corwin on her book, Embracing Aging" * Camp Anthropology *"[Corwin's] deeply researched book is a model of scholarship while also engaging nonacademic readers as well with its insightful and eloquent portrayal of convent life." * Union of Catholic Asian News *"Catholic nuns are role models for long and productive lives," by Marlene A. Zloza * NWI Catholic *"Anna Corwin’s book, Embracing Age invites us to ponder some very important questions: What does it mean to be old? What is the meaning in diminishment? How can we all 'do' this human process of aging best?...Perhaps the most potent take-away or 'secret' of aging is, as the book title asserts, not to avoid but to embrace aging." * Review for Religious *"This synthetic work culminates Corwin’s previous publications into a central claim that anthropological methods and theory illuminate the way nuns socially and linguistically embrace age to experience well-being despite age-related decline. The compelling applicability of Corwin’s conclusions make Embracing Age a critical read for social scientists, clinicians, and thoughtful humans alike. In a society obsessed with “successful aging,” but caught in a paradox that inhibits its realization, scholars like Corwin serve as trustworthy guides as they blend humanities and science into works of vital significance." * Anthropology Book Forum *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Introduction Part I Being Well in the Convent: Prayer and Care in Interaction 1 Life in the Convent 2 Being Is Harder Than Doing: The Process of Embracing Aging 3 Talking to God: Prayer as Social Support 4 Care, Elderspeak, and Meaningful Engagement Part II Shaping Experience: The Convent in Sociohistorical Context 5 Changing God, Changing Bodies: How Prayer Practices Shape Embodied Experience 6 Spiritual Healing, Meaningful Decline, and Sister Death 7 Kenosis: Emptying the Self Conclusion Appendix: Transcription Conventions Acknowledgments Notes References Index

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Book SynopsisEmbracing Age: How Catholic Nuns Became Models of Aging Well examines a community of individuals whose aging trajectories contrast mainstream American experiences. In mainstream American society, aging is presented as a “problem,” a state to be avoided as long as possible, a state that threatens one’s ability to maintain independence, autonomy, control over one’s surroundings. Aging “well” (or avoiding aging) has become a twenty-first century American preoccupation. Embracing Age provides a window into the everyday lives of American Catholic nuns who experience longevity and remarkable health and well-being at the end of life. Catholic nuns aren’t only healthier in older age, they are healthier because they practice a culture of acceptance and grace around aging. Embracing Age demonstrates how aging in the convent becomes understood by the nuns to be a natural part of the life course, not one to be feared or avoided. Anna I. Corwin shows readers how Catholic nuns create a cultural community that provides a model for how to grow old, decline, and die that is both embedded in American culture and quite distinct from other American models.Instructor's Guide is available at no cost (https://d3tto5i5w9ogdd.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/26120146/corwin_instructor_guide_final.pdf).Open access edition funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The text of this book is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ Download open access ebook here. Trade Review"The question of why and how religious commitment seems to improve the body’s health is one of the deepest puzzles in social science. Embracing Age suggests that one answer lies in the way people of faith use language to describe their lives and worlds. This beautifully written book will change the way you think about aging." -- Tanya Marie Luhrmann * author of How God Becomes Real: Kindling the Presence of Invisible Others *"The modern world urges us to outrun age, numb pain, and ignore death, but perhaps the secret to longevity and contentedness lies within the walls of a convent, where nuns practice a timeless model of gracious living. Anna Corwin, with a novitiate’s curiosity and an anthropologist’s precision, investigates the source of nuns’ grace and sparkle—and presents it as something we can tap into, too." -- Dan Zak * author of Almighty: Courage, Resistance, and Existential Peril in the Nuclear Age *"Corwin’s lush ethnography of convent life unlocks how elderly nuns experience aging in ways that render them healthier and happier than those of us who have taken a secular path. Embracing Age brings readers into nuns’ daily spiritual (intercessory prayers) and peer support (pastoral visits to the infirm). Observations, in-depth interviews, and clinical health measures are brought together to illuminate nuns’ sense of the life-death transition." -- Elinor Ochs * co-editor of Fast-Forward Family: Home, Work, and Relationships in Middle-Class America *"In Embracing Age, Anna Corwin tells us of aging and death through the eyes and experiences of American Catholic nuns. It is revealing, enlightening, a balm for those contemplating what is too often thought of as the pain and indignity of old age. The remarkable part, though, is how much it tells of life itself, and the things that really matter." -- John Archibald * author of Shaking the Gates of Hell: A Search for Family and Truth in the Wake of the Civil Rights Revolution *"Embracing Age is a sensitive and illuminating study of the pro-aging alternative offered by Catholic nuns. Through their emphasis on the interdependence of life and the value they place on 'being' rather than 'doing,' the nuns demonstrate a culture of acceptance and grace that can inspire us all." -- Sarah L. Kaufman * author of The Art of Grace and Pulitzer Prize-winning critic for the Washington Post *"Embracing Age reveals the ways in which the culture of American convents embraces aging as a positive process, providing sustenance for mind, body, and spirit. Vividly written, this book brings the reader deep into nuns' everyday experiences of life. Astute and accessible, it will be valuable reading for anyone interested in alternative age-positive ways of living and being." -- Jeanne Shea * co-editor of Beyond Filial Piety: Rethinking Aging and Caregiving in Contemporary East Asian Societies *"Anna Corwin on her book, Embracing Aging" * Camp Anthropology *"[Corwin's] deeply researched book is a model of scholarship while also engaging nonacademic readers as well with its insightful and eloquent portrayal of convent life." * Union of Catholic Asian News *"Catholic nuns are role models for long and productive lives," by Marlene A. Zloza * NWI Catholic *"Anna Corwin’s book, Embracing Age invites us to ponder some very important questions: What does it mean to be old? What is the meaning in diminishment? How can we all 'do' this human process of aging best?...Perhaps the most potent take-away or 'secret' of aging is, as the book title asserts, not to avoid but to embrace aging." * Review for Religious *"This synthetic work culminates Corwin’s previous publications into a central claim that anthropological methods and theory illuminate the way nuns socially and linguistically embrace age to experience well-being despite age-related decline. The compelling applicability of Corwin’s conclusions make Embracing Age a critical read for social scientists, clinicians, and thoughtful humans alike. In a society obsessed with “successful aging,” but caught in a paradox that inhibits its realization, scholars like Corwin serve as trustworthy guides as they blend humanities and science into works of vital significance." * Anthropology Book Forum *"The question of why and how religious commitment seems to improve the body’s health is one of the deepest puzzles in social science. Embracing Age suggests that one answer lies in the way people of faith use language to describe their lives and worlds. This beautifully written book will change the way you think about aging." -- Tanya Marie Luhrmann * author of How God Becomes Real: Kindling the Presence of Invisible Others *"The modern world urges us to outrun age, numb pain, and ignore death, but perhaps the secret to longevity and contentedness lies within the walls of a convent, where nuns practice a timeless model of gracious living. Anna Corwin, with a novitiate’s curiosity and an anthropologist’s precision, investigates the source of nuns’ grace and sparkle—and presents it as something we can tap into, too." -- Dan Zak * author of Almighty: Courage, Resistance, and Existential Peril in the Nuclear Age *"Corwin’s lush ethnography of convent life unlocks how elderly nuns experience aging in ways that render them healthier and happier than those of us who have taken a secular path. Embracing Age brings readers into nuns’ daily spiritual (intercessory prayers) and peer support (pastoral visits to the infirm). Observations, in-depth interviews, and clinical health measures are brought together to illuminate nuns’ sense of the life-death transition." -- Elinor Ochs * co-editor of Fast-Forward Family: Home, Work, and Relationships in Middle-Class America *"In Embracing Age, Anna Corwin tells us of aging and death through the eyes and experiences of American Catholic nuns. It is revealing, enlightening, a balm for those contemplating what is too often thought of as the pain and indignity of old age. The remarkable part, though, is how much it tells of life itself, and the things that really matter." -- John Archibald * author of Shaking the Gates of Hell: A Search for Family and Truth in the Wake of the Civil Rights R *"Embracing Age is a sensitive and illuminating study of the pro-aging alternative offered by Catholic nuns. Through their emphasis on the interdependence of life and the value they place on 'being' rather than 'doing,' the nuns demonstrate a culture of acceptance and grace that can inspire us all." -- Sarah L. Kaufman * author of The Art of Grace and Pulitzer Prize-winning critic for the Washington Post *"Embracing Age reveals the ways in which the culture of American convents embraces aging as a positive process, providing sustenance for mind, body, and spirit. Vividly written, this book brings the reader deep into nuns' everyday experiences of life. Astute and accessible, it will be valuable reading for anyone interested in alternative age-positive ways of living and being." -- Jeanne Shea * co-editor of Beyond Filial Piety: Rethinking Aging and Caregiving in Contemporary East Asian Societi *"Anna Corwin on her book, Embracing Aging" * Camp Anthropology *"[Corwin's] deeply researched book is a model of scholarship while also engaging nonacademic readers as well with its insightful and eloquent portrayal of convent life." * Union of Catholic Asian News *"Catholic nuns are role models for long and productive lives," by Marlene A. Zloza * NWI Catholic *"Anna Corwin’s book, Embracing Age invites us to ponder some very important questions: What does it mean to be old? What is the meaning in diminishment? How can we all 'do' this human process of aging best?...Perhaps the most potent take-away or 'secret' of aging is, as the book title asserts, not to avoid but to embrace aging." * Review for Religious *"This synthetic work culminates Corwin’s previous publications into a central claim that anthropological methods and theory illuminate the way nuns socially and linguistically embrace age to experience well-being despite age-related decline. The compelling applicability of Corwin’s conclusions make Embracing Age a critical read for social scientists, clinicians, and thoughtful humans alike. In a society obsessed with “successful aging,” but caught in a paradox that inhibits its realization, scholars like Corwin serve as trustworthy guides as they blend humanities and science into works of vital significance." * Anthropology Book Forum *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Introduction Part I Being Well in the Convent: Prayer and Care in Interaction 1 Life in the Convent 2 Being Is Harder Than Doing: The Process of Embracing Aging 3 Talking to God: Prayer as Social Support 4 Care, Elderspeak, and Meaningful Engagement Part II Shaping Experience: The Convent in Sociohistorical Context 5 Changing God, Changing Bodies: How Prayer Practices Shape Embodied Experience 6 Spiritual Healing, Meaningful Decline, and Sister Death 7 Kenosis: Emptying the Self Conclusion Appendix: Transcription Conventions Acknowledgments Notes References Index

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Book SynopsisForeword by Dave and Ashley Willis, authors of The Naked Marriage and hosts of The Naked Marriage Podcast A husband-wife team offers practical advice for married couples to end the cycle of reactionary arguments by examining the most common issues that trigger disagreements and applying God’s Word to radically transform relationships.Many couples know their marriage has room for improvement, but it is hard to pinpoint exactly why a relationship is suffering. Often times everyday triggers are the culprit. If you are wondering how to break out of the cycle of reactionary outbursts, cold shoulders, resentment, and pain that harms your relationship, you are not alone. Experiencing peace and joy rather than anger and frustration is not as hard as you think! Marriage Triggers walks you through thirty-one of the most common marital issues that sabotage great relationships, like poor communication, lack of spiritual leadership, busy schedules, and different parenting styles. Married for fourteen years, authors Amber and Guy Lia are your typical couple and they share tips for countering negative reactions to triggers with gentle, biblical responses. Rather than run from the things that cause conflict, Amber and Guy believe these triggers are opportunities for growth, both individually and as a couple. They challenge you to let Marriage Triggers renew your commitment to responding gently and biblically towards your partner.Trade Review“‘But how do we stop fighting?’ A question we, as marriage mentors, are often asked. Guy and Amber Lia have an answer! With a refreshing transparent and biblical approach, Marriage Triggers is an amazing resource to help you discover practical ways to exchange anger for kindness and conflict for peace. This book will help you and your spouse discover: you’re not alone in your struggle, how to resolve conflict without shouting, ways to re-establish friendship in marriage, hope for real happiness—and so much more! Well done, Guy and Amber. In a world desperate for answers, I pray your biblically sound message transforms marriages to joyfully reflect God’s love, joy, hope, and peace.” —Rhonda Stoppe, “No Regrets Woman,” author of six books, including The Marriage Mentor: Becoming the Couple You Long to Be“From the day we published Triggers for parents, Amber and I have received hundreds, if not thousands, of requests from husbands and wives asking for this book! How wonderful that the Lias took up the challenge! Together, they offer biblical insight into our marriages’ most common triggers and give us practical application so that we might learn to respond with gentleness and love rather than bitterness and strife. Even if you don’t struggle with big, explosive anger, recognizing these common triggers will safeguard your marriage and help you grow in your communication skills as husband and wife. Truly. If you knew that your marriage could be transformed through the reading of this book, wouldn’t you do it? Well, it can! So grab a copy of the book and grab your spouse today.” —Wendy Speake, co-author with Amber Lia of Triggers and Parenting Scripts, and author of The 40-Day Sugar Fast“Marriage Triggers is a must-have resource for any couple who desires a thriving marriage. With a well-balanced approach, Guy and Amber give your marriage a fighting chance by addressing triggers that threaten to divide you. Confront angry patterns with grace-infused conversations as you move toward a healthier, hope-filled relationship.” —Adam Reid, lead pastor at Central Church and Katie M. Reid, author of Made Like Martha and co-hosts of the live marriage show Stop! Hammock Time "In today's world full of stress with couples bringing dysfunction and baggage into their marriage, EVERY Couple needs to know proven tools and tips for handling the triggers that so often pop up in EVERY relationship. We know Guy and Amber Lia, they are top-notch relationship coaches and their wisdom is just what EVERY couple needs to keep love alive." —Pam and Bill Farrel, authors of 50 books including bestselling Men Are Like Waffles, Women Are Like Spaghetti"I love this book! The Lias have put their finger on the pulse of the most difficult issues of most marriages and then given us inspiration and practical ways to cultivate a more mature and peaceful partnership. Filled to the brim with stories and examples that bring sympathy to our own struggles, and yet, the chapters leave us with very practical and insightful ways forward. You will leave this book empowered to grow in communication with your spouse.” —Sally Clarkson, bestselling author of The Lifegiving Home“Marriage is rarely what we expect, but it is good because God says it is good. So how do we protect what is precious in God’s eyes? Leaving no stone unturned, Guy and Amber dive deep into the common issues that plague couples everywhere. Their transparency and practical advice is a breath of fresh air. Marriage Triggers reminds us we aren’t alone and gives us the courage to fight for the marriage we’ve always dreamed of. And the one God wants for us.” —Patrick and Ruth Schwenk, founders of TheBetterLifeMinistry.com, and authors of For Better or for Kids and Faith Forward Family Devotional

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Book SynopsisThe Catholic Church still takes an ambivalent stance toward homosexuality, declaring that homosexuals should be respected and not discriminated against while morally condemning their intimate relationships. This volume presents exegetical, theological, and ethical arguments as well as evidence from the human sciences to advocate for the recognition of homosexuality as a natural variant of the human capacities to love and to form relationships.

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Book SynopsisSex, Media and theology a provocative mix. Reactions can vary from rejection to openness and curiosity. This volume follows the latter path: on the background of changes in contemporary sexual culture and theological developments in the reflection on sexuality, three media internet, advertising and film are analysed with respect of their representation of sexuality and their contribution to theological reflections on sex. This shows: sex in media is more than a provocation; it provides an inspiration for theological thinking about human beings, their relationships with others, and also with God.

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Book SynopsisJust Gender Relations in Church and Society â more than just a Dream

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Book SynopsisIn central Thailand, a flamboyantly turbaned gay medium for the Hindu god of the underworld posts Facebook selfies of himself hugging and kissing a young man. In Myanmar’s largest city Yangon, a one-time member of a gay NGO dons an elaborate wedding dress to be ritually married to a possessing female spirit; he believes she will offer more support for his gay lifestyle than the path of LGBTQ activism. The only son of a Chinese trading family in Bangkok finds acceptance for his homosexuality and crossdressing when he becomes the medium for a revered female Chinese deity. And in northern Thailand, female mediums smoke, drink, flaunt butch masculine poses and flirt with female followers when they are ritually possessed by male warrior deities. Across the Buddhist societies of mainland Southeast Asia, local queer cultures are at the center of a recent proliferation of professional spirit mediumship. Drawing on detailed ethnographies and extensive comparative research, Deities and Divas captures this variety and ferment. The first book to trace commonalities between queer and religious cultures in Southeast Asia and the West, it reveals how modern gay, trans and spirit medium communities all emerge from a shared formative matrix of capitalism and new media. With insights and analysis that transcend the modern opposition of religion vs secularity, it provides fascinating new perspectives in transnational cultural, religious and queer studies.

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Book SynopsisThe diversity of family models presents great challenges for contemporary Christians, from ethical point of view, as well as the spiritual level and the living together. Family patterns are in continuous mutation which is a potential source of conflict. Many scholars, including sociologists, theologians, psychologists, and philosophers take this subject to heart. They meet to discuss a number of issues concerning the family: the forms of contemporary family, the future of the family or families, their challenges and needs. This book is to promote conversation about the family between secular perspectives and Christian approaches. In three parts, this volume deals with current research in the field of human sciences. The first part discusses the structural dimension, treating the impact of attachment theory, analyzing the investigations concerning family separation and taking into consideration contemporary parenting ethical issues. In the second part, relevant ethical, pastoral and psychological issues related to contemporary tensions in the field are processed. As for the third part, it seeks the indices, the spiritual and therapeutic pathways in the heart of the great diversity that is lived. La diversité de modèles familiaux contemporains présente de grands défis aux chrétiens, de point de vue éthique, spirituel ainsi qu'au niveau du vivre-ensemble. Les modéles familiaux sont en mutation continue. Par ce fait même, cette mutation est une source potentielle de conflit. Plusieurs penseurs, sociologues, théologiens, psychologues et philosophes, prennent à c÷ur ce sujet. Chercheurs, universitaires et practiciens se réunissent pour échanger sur de multiples questions concernant la famille contemporaine plurielle, ses formes, son avenir, ses défis et ses besoins. Ce collectif favorise la conversation au sujet de la famille entre les perspectives séculières et les approches de la tradition chrétienne. Dans ses trois parties, il tient à l'articulation très précise des recherches actuelles dans le domaine des sciences humaines. La première partie évoque une dimension plus structurale et traite des impacts des théories de l'attachement, analyse les enquêtes concernant la famille et la séparation et prend en compte des questions éthiques contemporaines autour de la parentalité. Dans la deuxième partie, des questions éthiques, pastorales et psychologiques liées aux champs où elles s'exercent sont traitées. Quant à la troisième partie, elle cherche des indices, des chemins spirituels et thérapeutiques au c÷ur même de la grande diversité qui se vit.

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Book SynopsisHave you ever wondered how Eve experienced the new world God created at the beginning of time? Or what Hagar went through as a slave girl bearing the child of her owner? And how Martha felt when Jesus seemed to favour her lazy sister? This Bible study book is about women, written by women and for women. It is a tool to discover and apply the life lessons from women in the bible in our daily lives. Based on stories about women in the Bible, daily practical examples from African context and the discovery of biblical values, we hope that our sisters recognise themselves in it and that this may strengthen our faith, help in the struggles of everyday and above all that we may know we are valued by God.  

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