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Wayward Saints
by Suzzy RocheFrom a folk-rock legend comes a tender, comic story of family, music, and second chances. Mary Saint, the rule-breaking, troubled former lead singer of the almost-famous band Sliced Ham, has pretty much given up on music after the trauma of her band member and lover Garbagio's death seven years earlier. Instead, with the help of her best friend, Thaddeus, she is trying to piece her life together while making mochaccinos in San Francisco. Meanwhile, back in her hometown of Swallow, New York, her mother, Jean Saint, struggles with her own ghosts. When Mary is invited to give a concert at her old high school, Jean is thrilled, though she's worried about what Father Benedict and her neighbors will think of songs such as "Sewer Flower" and "You're a Pig." But she soon realizes that there are going to be bigger problems when the whole town -- including a discouraged teacher and a baker who's anything but sweet -- gets in on the act. Filled with characters that are wild and original, yet still familiar and warm -- plus plenty of great insider winks at the music industry -- Wayward Saints is a touching and hilarious look at confronting your past and going home again.
We think What We Eat: Structuralist Analysis of Israelite Food Rules and other Mythological and Cultural Domains (The Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies)
by Seth Daniel KuninIn We Think What We Eat, Seth Kunin presents both an appreciation and critique of Professor Mary Douglas' classical work on Israelite food rules. He places her arguments into the context of related anthropological approaches and suggests a new interpretation of the food rules system based on a rigorous application of structuralist theory. Kunin then goes on to extend this analysis to other areas of Israelite culture. Through detailed analysis of texts from Genesis, Exodus and Judges, he demonstrates that the same structural pattern found in the first section in respect of ritual is also characteristic of the mythological material. This section of the book also takes up the issue of structural transformation. It examines the processes found as the myths move from the Israelite context to that of the rabbis, the authors of the New Testament and of the Book of Mormon. The arguments presented demonstrate that as the myths move from culture to culture diachronically and geographically while the same mythological elements are retained they are restructured and organized based on the structural needs of the new cultural context.Kunin is also interested in issues of structuralist theory. Thus, he addresses issues related to the processes of structural transformation - suggesting processes that lead to changes in structural emphasis and those relating to more significant transformations. This is volume 412 in the Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement series.
The Web Of Light
by Diana CooperDiana Cooper's first novel THE SILENT STONES has already proved to be a hugely popular success, and her new title continues the winning formula of weaving enlightening spiritual wisdom into a fast-paced and compelling adventure story. Set in Africa, this latest novel features an exciting quest to protect a sacred lion cub whose birth will heal the tear in the precious Web of Light surrounding the Earth. Throughout the story Diana Cooper unfolds the mystical secrets of the Sphinx, Pyramids and Bermuda Triangle, reveals the true purpose of our most sacred animals, as well as exploring the connections between our planet and others, and the pure wisdom of Atlantis.
Western Muslims and the Future of Islam
by Tariq RamadanTariq Ramadan, one of Europe's leading thinkers and one of Islam's most innovative and important voices, explores in this volume what it means to be a Western Muslim, addressing a topic that is vitally important to the futures of both Islam and the West. Ramadan claims that a silent revolution is sweeping Islamic communities in the West, as Muslims actively seek ways to live in harmony with their faith within a Western context. French, English, German, and American Muslims--women as well as men--are reshaping their religion into one that is faithful to the principles of Islam, dressed in European and American cultures, and definitively rooted in Western societies.
What Matters Most: Ten Lessons in Living Passionately from the Song of Solomon
by Renita J. WeemsUsing the work of Scripture as inspiration, Weems offers 10 lessons that teach women how to discover what their passions are, and how to create direction and meaning in their lives. Helps readers to understand that passion is not something awakened by other people, but an inner source of energy that flows out of every aspect of one's being. In doing so, Weems empowers women to fight against stereotypes and ignore the conventional way of doing things in order to find their own happiness and joy.
What the Heart Knows (Mills And Boon Love Inspired Ser.)
by Margaret DaleyKathleen Somers needed something to believe in again. Rocked by her husband' s death and her once-loving son' s transformation, she' d drifted away from God. It wasn' t until she met handsome Dr. Jared Matthews that she felt the first glimmer of hope. And something else…
What's It All About?: Philosophy and the Meaning of Life
by Julian BagginiWhat is the meaning of life? It is a question that has intrigued the great philosophers--and has been hilariously lampooned by Monty Python. Indeed, the whole idea strikes many of us as vaguely pompous, a little absurd. Is there one profound and mysterious meaning to life, a single ultimate purpose behind human existence? In What's It All About?, Julian Baggini says no, there is no single meaning. Instead, Baggini argues meaning can be found in a variety of ways, in this life. He succinctly breaks down six answers people commonly suggest when considering what life is all about--helping others, serving humanity, being happy, becoming successful, enjoying each day as if it were your last, and "freeing your mind." By reducing the vague, mysterious question of meaning to a series of more specific (if thoroughly unmysterious) questions about what gives life purpose and value, he shows that the quest for meaning can be personal, empowering, and uplifting. If the meaning of life is not a mystery, if leading meaningful lives is within the power of us all, then we can look around us and see the many ways in which life can have purpose. We can see the value of happiness while accepting it is not everything. We can see the value of success, without interpreting that too narrowly. We can see the value of seizing the day as well as helping others lead meaningful lives. We can recognize the value of love, as perhaps the most powerful motivator of all. Illustrating his argument with the thoughts of many of the great philosophers and examples drawn from everyday life, Baggini convincingly shows that the search for meaning is personal and within the power of each of us to find.
When Islam and Democracy Meet: Muslims in Europe and in the United States
by Jocelyne CesariExploring the woefully neglected reality of Islam as a major cultural and relgious facet of American and European politics and societies, Cesari examines how Muslims in the West are challenging the notion of an inevitable clash or confrontation. With nearly twelve million Muslims living in the larger countries of Western Europe and almost six million in America, the challenges of integrating newcomers within different countries, and the place of Islam in democratic and secular context in the post 9/11 context, have become more pertinent. Comparing the interaction of Muslims with their new countries, this book addresses the implications of increased Islamic visability, violent clashes, beneficial cooperation, and questions within the Muslim community about their role and the role of Islam in democratic states. Pursuing a holistic approach to Muslims as a new minority within western democracy, Cesari provides important insights.
When Life Hurts
by Philip YanceyMany strong believers begin to feel disillusioned with God or to doubt their faith when faced with great pain or suffering. Even the strongest believers may begin to wonder where God is when they need him most or why he doesn't seem to care. In this book Philip Yancey inspires those for whom life hurts to look beyond their immediate suffering and to understand that God is offering an invitation to hope and a doorway to his gracious gifts.
When the Fairy Dust Settles: A Mother and Her Daughter Discuss What Really Matters
by Janet Parshall Sarah Parshall PerryRadio show host Janet Parshall teams up with her daughter to answer common questions germane to daily Christian living.
White Theology: Outing Supremacy in Modernity (Black Religion/Womanist Thought/Social Justice)
by J. PerkinsonWhite Theology re-examines white race privilege throughout history and its relationship to black theology. James W. Perkinson articulates a white theology of responsibility responding to the claims of James Cone (and other black scholars) that serious engagement with history and culture must be at the heart of any American projection of integrity or "salvation" in the modern period. Perkinson interweaves autobiography and postcolonial analysis, history, and phenomenology to explore white supremacy and the future of religious studies. This is an essential and groundbreaking book for courses in religious studies, African American studies, and theology.
The Whitney Chronicles (Mills And Boon Silhouette Ser.)
by Judy Baerspinster:noun1 : an unmarried woman or a woman for whom marriage seems dubious2 : a woman who spins or weaves Her mother, sister and friends (?) fear spinsterhood may be thirty-year-old Whitney Blake's fate. And while she doesn't believe she'll be weaving tablecloths, Whitney wonders if Mr. Right will ever arrive.
Why Would Anyone Believe In God? (PDF)
by Justin L. BarrettBecause of the design of our minds. That is Justin Barrett's simple answer to the question of his title. With rich evidence from cognitive science but without technical language, psychologist Barrett shows that belief in God is an almost inevitable consequence of the kind of minds we have. Most of what we believe comes from mental tools working below our conscious awareness. And what we believe consciously is in large part driven by these unconscious beliefs. Barrett demonstrates that beliefs in gods match up well with these automatic assumptions; beliefs in an all-knowing, all-powerful God match up even better. Barrett goes on to explain why beliefs like religious beliefs are so widespread and why it is very difficult for our minds to think without them. Anyone who wants a concise, clear, and scientific explanation of why anyone would believe in God should pick up Barrett's book.
Wild Rose (Mills And Boon Silhouette Ser.)
by Ruth Axtell MorrenAll her life, Geneva Patterson was an outcast in Haven's End. Plain, awkward, thought to be unmarriageable, she endured the townspeople's cruel taunts in solitude. But then she encountered a man who made her dream of more….
Williams on South Asian Religions and Immigration: Collected Works
by Raymond Brady WilliamsThe dual foci for this collection of the author's most important writings are Swaminarayan Hinduism and South Asian immigrants in the United States. Both are topics of wide and growing interest in India and in many countries where South Indians have settled. Swaminarayan Hinduism's growth in the past few decades in India and among Indians abroad has been remarkable: one subsect now has 8100 centers around the world where weekly meetings are held. The second focus is on the religions of South Asian immigrants: Hindus, Muslims, Jains, Sikhs and Christians. The first section is introductory and sets the stage through an analysis of the transmission of religious traditions. The second section moves from the development of Swaminarayan Hinduism and its leadership in India to its development in the United States as exemplified in Chicago. The third section analyzes the impact South Asian religions are having in the United States, and the effects that migration and modernization are having on the religions of the immigrants.
Williams on South Asian Religions and Immigration: Collected Works
by Raymond Brady WilliamsThe dual foci for this collection of the author's most important writings are Swaminarayan Hinduism and South Asian immigrants in the United States. Both are topics of wide and growing interest in India and in many countries where South Indians have settled. Swaminarayan Hinduism's growth in the past few decades in India and among Indians abroad has been remarkable: one subsect now has 8100 centers around the world where weekly meetings are held. The second focus is on the religions of South Asian immigrants: Hindus, Muslims, Jains, Sikhs and Christians. The first section is introductory and sets the stage through an analysis of the transmission of religious traditions. The second section moves from the development of Swaminarayan Hinduism and its leadership in India to its development in the United States as exemplified in Chicago. The third section analyzes the impact South Asian religions are having in the United States, and the effects that migration and modernization are having on the religions of the immigrants.
The Wisdom Of Forgiveness
by Dalai Lama Victor Chan The Dalai LamaA huge international success, the Dalai Lama's books are bestsellers all over the world. Now, for the first time, we are able to discover the personal feelings and thoughts of this highly respected spiritual figure on subjects ranging from how the experience of profound spiritual insight actually feels, to how he has learned to love people who anyone else would consider an enemy, and under what circumstances he believes he would be capable of violence. Victor Chan came to meet the Dalai Lama through an extraordinary kidnapping experience. Since that time, over thirty years ago, he has become a close friend of the Dalai Lama and here is able to give us the most personal and intimate portrait yet of this iconic figure. In relaxed conversation, at his prayers and meals, meeting other world leaders - this up-close-and-personal account is filled with the Dalai Lama's customary insight, humour and compassion. Victor Chan's unique access to the life of this most inspiring of men gives us the closest look yet into the heart and mind of one of our greatest spiritual leaders.
Wise King, Royal Fool: Semiotics, Satire and Proverbs 1-9 (The Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies)
by Johnny MilesThis study focuses on a reading of Proverbs 1-9 as satire and argues that it alludes to two points of critique against Solomon: his political policy of socio-economic injustice and his numerous sexual (in)discretions. That Solomon abandoned his divinely proscribed duty only evinces his lack of "fear of Yahweh". First, Solomon demonstrates his lack of discernment by an inability to rule with righteousness, justice and equity because of administrative policies that bled the innocent dry of their resources for his own self-aggrandizement. Second, Solomon's sexual behavior reflects his need of Wisdom as the personification of eroticism.The absence of the "fear of Yahweh" in Solomon prompts the poet's reproof in Proverbs 1-9 that he should resume his proper role of Torah meditation. How the "son" responds to the decision posed to him remains decidedly open-ended, since satire generally offers no denouement to its plot. Nevertheless, the signs of this satiric poetry intimate the wise king as a royal fool.
Women and Media in the Middle East: Power Through Self-expression (Library of Modern Middle East Studies #Vol. 41)
by Naomi SakrAre women benefiting from current changes in the Middle East media? With media all over the world still marginalizing women and trivializing gender inequalities, how does the situation in the Middle East compare? Proliferating satellite channels have increased women's visibility in the region but visibility does not necessarily confer power. This book explores various ways in which media have been used to open up possibilities for women in the Middle East or, conversely, to restrict them. Having as their starting point the diverse experiences and multi-layered identities of women, the contributors treat media institutions and practices as part of wider power relations in society. By analyzing media production, consumption and texts, they reveal where and how gender boundaries have been erected or crossed. In eleven chapters, Women and Media in the Middle East spans both the region, from Iran to Morocco, and the media, from film and broadcasting to the press and internet. It looks back at women's journalism in pre-1952 Egypt and forward to future trends in women's internet use. One chapter shows how Maghrebi women filmmakers achieved a belated symbolic liberation for the 'colonized of the colonized'. Another reveals how Egyptian political films link the representation of women to nationalist ideals. A study of the women's press in Iran shows how it forced gender to the forefront of government concerns, while an investigation of Kuwait's mainstream press uncovers duplicity in the struggle over female suffrage. A chapter on audience reception exposes clashing identity constructions and competing knowledge systems in a rural community. Further chapters explore an experiment in gender awareness programming on Palestinian TV and women's role on Hezbollah's television station, Al-Manar. The book begins by considering whether research on women and media in other contexts can be applied to the Middle East. It ends by discussing the careers of seven well-knon Arab women journalists. Rich and illuminating, this highly original book will be useful to scholars, media professionals and general readers interested in women's studies, media and shifting power structures in the Middle East.
Women and Men in the Fourth Gospel
by Margaret BeirneThe fourth gospel presents the reader with an early Christian text in which women and men are treated as "a discipleship of equals.†? Margaret M. Beirne makes an argument for the existence in the gospel of six examples of "gender pairs†? of characters (a widely-accepted Lukan feature). The members of each pair are portrayed in a parallel or contrasting faith encounter with the Johannine Jesus, that is of substantial theological importance to the gospel's stated purpose (John 20:31). Through close examination of these pairs, Beirne offers a reading of the Gospel which gives support to the equality of women and men with respect to the nature and value of their discipleship.
Women and Religious Writing in Early Modern England (PDF)
by Erica LongfellowThis study challenges critical assumptions about the role of religion in shaping women's experiences of authorship. Feminist critics have frequently been uncomfortable with the fact that conservative religious beliefs created opportunities for women to write with independent agency. The seventeenth-century Protestant women discussed in this book range across the religio-political and social spectrums and yet all display an affinity with modern feminist theologians. Rather than being victims of a patriarchal gender ideology, Lady Anne Southwell, Anna Trapnel and Lucy Hutchinson, among others, were both active negotiators of gender and active participants in wider theological debates. By placing women's religious writing in a broad theological and socio-political context, Erica Longfellow challenges traditional critical assumptions about the role of gender in shaping religion and politics and the role of women in defining gender and thus influencing religion and politics.
Women, Ideology and Violence: The Construction of Gender in the Book of the Covenant and Deuteronomic Law (The Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies)
by Cheryl AndersonCheryl Anderson examines the laws relating to women that are found in the Book of the Covenant and the Deuteronomic law. She argues that the laws can be divided into those that treat women similarly to men (defined as "inclusive" laws) and those that treat women differently ("exclusive" laws). This study then suggests that the exclusive laws, which construct gender as male dominance/female subordination, do not just describe violence against women but constitute a form of violence against women. As a non-historical critique of ideology, critical theory is used to offer analytical insights that have significant implications for understanding gender constructions and violence in ot ancient and contemporary settings.
Women in Mark's Gospel: Women In Mark's Gospel (The Library of New Testament Studies #259)
by Susan Miller"[This] is a timely topic, one that has not yet been dealt with. Miller writes clearly and competently. The first chapter sets out her method, which draws from both literary critical and feminist work. She then treats the women of Mark's Gospel in sequence. Her work will provide a helpful supplement to the standard commentaries. It will also be useful in women's studies classes, and provides a nice example of a balanced feminist interpretation of the Gospels." -Dr. Alan Culpepper, Mercer University, Atlanta.Miller examines the accounts of women in Mark's gospel and interprets them in relation to Mark's definition of discipleship and his understanding of new creation.
Women's Faith Development: Patterns and Processes (Explorations in Practical, Pastoral and Empirical Theology)
by Nicola SleePresenting a rich account of women's faith lives and, mapping women's meanings in their own right, this book offers an alternative to dominant accounts of faith development which failed to account for women's experience. Drawing on Fowler's faith development theory, feminist models of women's faith and social science methodology, the text explores the patterns and processes of women's faith development and spirituality in a group of thirty women belonging to, or on the edges of, Christian tradition.  Integrating practical theological concern with Christian education and pastoral practice, this book will be of interest to all concerned with women's faith development, spirituality, education and formation, and those working in the fields of practical theology, pastoral care, adult theological education, spiritual direction and counselling.
Women's Faith Development: Patterns and Processes (Explorations in Practical, Pastoral and Empirical Theology)
by Nicola SleePresenting a rich account of women's faith lives and, mapping women's meanings in their own right, this book offers an alternative to dominant accounts of faith development which failed to account for women's experience. Drawing on Fowler's faith development theory, feminist models of women's faith and social science methodology, the text explores the patterns and processes of women's faith development and spirituality in a group of thirty women belonging to, or on the edges of, Christian tradition.  Integrating practical theological concern with Christian education and pastoral practice, this book will be of interest to all concerned with women's faith development, spirituality, education and formation, and those working in the fields of practical theology, pastoral care, adult theological education, spiritual direction and counselling.