The Charlotte & William Bloomberg Medford Public Library
April, 05 2025 05:41:28
This Too Shall Last
By J., Ramsey, K.
Every Christian lives between pain and redemption. Some face suffering more acutely, but we all suffer at times, whether due to health, relational stress, loss, finances, trauma, or any other of a myriad of problems this life presents us. In a culture obsessed with ease, it's difficult to make sense of our suffering. As Christians, we can sometimes feel betrayed: Why does God allow us to hurt?Ten years ago chronic illness plunged therapist and writer K.J. Ramsey directly into this paradox. Before her illness, faith made sense. But after pain's intrusive debut, K.J. had to find a way across the widening canyon that seemed to separate God's goodness from her excruciating circumstances.What she discovered was a new place and source of surprising joy. In the midst of suffering she encountered the God who willingly took on broken, human flesh, the God who so united himself to the human experience that he is never far from our pain.
ZONDERVAN
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9780310107255
|
OtherWise Christian
By Paige, Chris R
OtherWise Christian: A Guidebook for Transgender Liberation by Mx. Chris Paige is a love letter to transgender communities, a self defense manual against Bible abuse and Christian trans-antagonism, and the beginning of a historical record of how far we have come.OtherWise Christian reviews 25 years of transgender-affirming biblical scholarship. Mx. Chris Paige argues that the Bible shows us story after story of OtherWise-gendered people being used by God to further the kingdom. Yet, we have been bamboozled by a restrictive gender ideology that is aligned with empire, white supremacy and Christian supremacy. Jesus and our biblical ancestors invite us to join a gender-full resistance!Scholarly, yet accessible, OtherWise Christian takes the Bible seriously, while presenting new vocabulary to connect modern transgender (and intersex) identities with gender non-conforming themes in the Christian Bible.
OtherWise Engaged Publishing
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9781951124007
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Paperback
The Future of the Catholic Church with Pope Francis
By Wills, Garry
The New York Times bestselling historian takes on a pressing question in modern religion - will Pope Francis embrace change?Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope and the first from the Americas, offers a challenge to his church. Can he bring about significant change? Should he? Garry Wills, the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, argues provocatively that, in fact, the history of the church throughout is a history of change. In this brilliant and incisive study, Wills describes the deep and serious changes that have taken place in the church or are in the process of occurring. These include the change from Latin, the growth and withering of the ecclesiastical monarchy, the abandonment of biblical literalism, the assertion and nonassertion of infallibility, and the erosion of church patriarchy. In such developments we see the living church adapting itself to the new historical circumstances. As Wills contends, it is only by examining the history of the church that we can understand Pope Franciss and the churchs challenges.
Viking
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9780525426967
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Hardcover
Paul
By Wright, N T
In this definitive biography, renowned Bible scholar, Anglican bishop, and bestselling author N. T. Wright offers a radical look at the apostle Paul, illuminating the humanity and remarkable achievements of this intellectual who invented Christian theology - transforming a faith and changing the world.For centuries, Paul, the apostle who "saw the light on the Road to Damascus" and made a miraculous conversion from zealous Pharisee persecutor to devoted follower of Christ, has been one of the church's most widely cited saints. While his influence on Christianity has been profound, N. T. Wright argues that Bible scholars and pastors have focused so much attention on Paul's letters and theology that they have too often overlooked the essence of the man's life and the extreme unlikelihood of what he achieved.To Wright, "The problem is that Paul is central to any understanding of earliest Christianity, yet Paul was a Jew; for many generations Christians of all kinds have struggled to put this together." Wright contends that our knowledge of Paul and appreciation for his legacy cannot be complete without an understanding of his Jewish heritage. Giving us a thoughtful, in-depth exploration of the human and intellectual drama that shaped Paul, Wright provides greater clarity of the apostle's writings, thoughts, and ideas and helps us see them in a fresh, innovative way.Paul is a compelling modern biography that reveals the apostle's greater role in Christian history - as an inventor of new paradigms for how we understand Jesus and what he accomplished - and celebrates his stature as one of the most effective and influential intellectuals in human history.
HarperOne
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9780061730580
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Hardcover
Absolute Power
By Collins, Paul
The sensational story of the last two centuries of the papacy, its most influential pontiffs, troubling doctrines, and rise in global authorityIn 1799, the papacy was at rock bottom: The Papal States had been swept away and Rome seized by the revolutionary French armies. With cardinals scattered across Europe and the next papal election uncertain, even if Catholicism survived, it seemed the papacy was finished.In this gripping narrative of religious and political history, Paul Collins tells the improbable success story of the last 220 years of the papacy, from the unexalted death of Pope Pius VI in 1799 to the celebrity of Pope Francis today. In a strange contradiction, as the papacy has lost its physical power--its armies and states--and remained stubbornly opposed to the currents of social and scientific consensus, it has only increased its influence and political authority in the world.
PublicAffairs
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9781610398602
|
Hardcover
Saying Yes
By Haase, Albert
The process of discerning God's will is one of the most important Christian practices for any contemporary disciple, and it is ongoing and ever-changing. In Saying Yes, Albert Haase, OFM, scholar of Christian spirituality and spiritual mentor to hundreds of people, emphasizes the importance of listening to your life in discerning God's will - your ordinary life is a megaphone through which God talks to you and the world. Haase. This book offers:ten attitudes for discernmenttechniques for living a discerning and reflective lifestyleways you might be sabotaging the grace of God in your lifethe designs of the devil, something no other book on discernment addresseshow to know if a person is wrestling with GodSaying Yes is a timeless, practical handbook for knowing God's will.
Paraclete Press Inc.
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9781612617619
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Print book
Morning Homilies
By Pope, Francis
From his morning homilies, Pope Francis offers his unforgettable reflections on the gospel.Each morning Pope Francis says Mass and offers a short homily for fellow residents and guests in the chapel of St. Martha's Guesthouse, where he has chosen to live. These homilies reflect the spontaneous and original style that has won hearts throughout the world, as well as his power to communicate the gospel message with depth and freshness. In these accounts of Pope Francis's morning homilies from the first five months of his papacy, it is now possible, for those who were not present, to experience and enjoy his lively manner of spaeking, and his capacity to engage his listeners and their daily lives. Thus, we hear his reflections on the Emmaus disciples who were "simmering their lives in the sauce of their grumbling"; on Christians who must keep facing reality, "ready, like the goalkeeper of a football team, to stop the ball wherever it comes from.
Orbis Books
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9781626981119
|
Print book
Like a Child
By Mooney, Rev. Timothy J.
By breaking free from our misperceptions about what it means to be an adult, we can reshape our world and become harbingers of grace."In our desire to grow up, mature, become adults, we become enamored with who we are supposed to be. When we have finally 'grown up' we realize much of who we really are has been left behind or buried under various masks and roles we play. But the knowledge of who we truly are never leaves us. To reclaim our selfhood, we must grow up again and consciously embrace all that it means to be childlike."—from Chapter 12, "It Takes a Long Time to Become Young"By restoring the childlike ways of humility, trust, awe, wonder, playfulness and more, we can recover a fuller picture of what it means to be human. This unique spiritual resource explores what Jesus may have meant when he said, "Unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
SkyLight Paths; 1 edition
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9781594735431
|
Paperback
Talking God
By Gutting, Gary
Through interviews with twelve distinguished philosophers -- including atheists, agnostics, and believers -- Talking God works toward a philosophical understanding and evaluation of religion. Along the way, Gary Gutting and his interviewees challenge many common assumptions about religious beliefs.As tensions simmer, and often explode, between the secular and the religious forces in modern life, the big questions about human belief press ever more urgently. Where does belief, or its lack, originate? How can we understand and appreciate religious traditions different from our own? Featuring conversations with twelve skeptics, atheists, agnostics, and believers -- including Alvin Plantinga, Philip Kitcher, Michael Ruse, and John Caputo -- Talking God offers new perspectives on religion, including the challenge to believers from evolution, cutting-edge physics and cosmology; arguments both for and against atheism; and meditations on the value of secular humanism and faith in the modern world. Experts offer insights on Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism, as well as Judaism and Christianity. Topical and illuminating, Talking God gives readers a deeper understanding of faith today and how philosophers understand it.From Talking God:"[Some say] Buddhism is not a religion because Buddhists dont believe in a supreme being. This simply ignores the fact that many religions are not theistic in this sense. Chess is a game, despite the fact that it is not played with a ball, after all." -- Jay Garfield, from chapter 10, "Buddhism: Religion Without Divinity""Why think that the creator was all-knowing and omnipotent? -- Maybe the creator was a student god, and only got a B minus on this project?" -- Louise Antony, from chapter 2, "A Case for Atheism""There are a large number -- maybe a couple of dozen -- of pretty good theistic arguments. None is conclusive, but each, or at any rate the whole bunch taken together, is about as strong as philosophical arguments ordinarily get." -- Alvin Plantinga, from chapter 1, "A Case for Theism""If you cease to believe in a particular religious creed, like Calvinism or Catholicism, you have changed your mind and adopted a new position -- But if you lose faith, -- everything is lost. You have lost your faith in life, lost hope in the future, lost heart, and you cannot go on." -- John Caputo, from chapter 3, "Religion and Deconstruction"
W.W. Norton & Company
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9780393352818
|
Paperback
How to Live
By Valente, Judith
The Rule of St. Benedict arose from an era when a great civilization was threatened by violence, economic forces that favored the wealthy, political leaders that lacked the trust of the public, and rampant xenophobia. Similar to the anxieties and frustrations of the 6th century, we are living in a time where societies need to stress community over competition, consensus over conflict, simplicity over self gain, and silence over the constant chatter and distractions of our lives.In How to Live, Judith Valente explores the key elements of the rule and clearly demonstrates how incorporating this ancient wisdom can change the quality and texture of our lives offering a way forward from the divisions gripping our country. These fresh and profound explorations are inspiring and thoughtful, and will motivate readers to live a meaningful life.
This Too Shall Last
By J., Ramsey, K.
Every Christian lives between pain and redemption. Some face suffering more acutely, but we all suffer at times, whether due to health, relational stress, loss, finances, trauma, or any other of a myriad of problems this life presents us. In a culture obsessed with ease, it's difficult to make sense of our suffering. As Christians, we can sometimes feel betrayed: Why does God allow us to hurt?Ten years ago chronic illness plunged therapist and writer K.J. Ramsey directly into this paradox. Before her illness, faith made sense. But after pain's intrusive debut, K.J. had to find a way across the widening canyon that seemed to separate God's goodness from her excruciating circumstances.What she discovered was a new place and source of surprising joy. In the midst of suffering she encountered the God who willingly took on broken, human flesh, the God who so united himself to the human experience that he is never far from our pain.
OtherWise Christian
By Paige, Chris R
OtherWise Christian: A Guidebook for Transgender Liberation by Mx. Chris Paige is a love letter to transgender communities, a self defense manual against Bible abuse and Christian trans-antagonism, and the beginning of a historical record of how far we have come.OtherWise Christian reviews 25 years of transgender-affirming biblical scholarship. Mx. Chris Paige argues that the Bible shows us story after story of OtherWise-gendered people being used by God to further the kingdom. Yet, we have been bamboozled by a restrictive gender ideology that is aligned with empire, white supremacy and Christian supremacy. Jesus and our biblical ancestors invite us to join a gender-full resistance!Scholarly, yet accessible, OtherWise Christian takes the Bible seriously, while presenting new vocabulary to connect modern transgender (and intersex) identities with gender non-conforming themes in the Christian Bible.
The Future of the Catholic Church with Pope Francis
By Wills, Garry
The New York Times bestselling historian takes on a pressing question in modern religion - will Pope Francis embrace change?Pope Francis, the first Jesuit pope and the first from the Americas, offers a challenge to his church. Can he bring about significant change? Should he? Garry Wills, the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian, argues provocatively that, in fact, the history of the church throughout is a history of change. In this brilliant and incisive study, Wills describes the deep and serious changes that have taken place in the church or are in the process of occurring. These include the change from Latin, the growth and withering of the ecclesiastical monarchy, the abandonment of biblical literalism, the assertion and nonassertion of infallibility, and the erosion of church patriarchy. In such developments we see the living church adapting itself to the new historical circumstances. As Wills contends, it is only by examining the history of the church that we can understand Pope Franciss and the churchs challenges.
Paul
By Wright, N T
In this definitive biography, renowned Bible scholar, Anglican bishop, and bestselling author N. T. Wright offers a radical look at the apostle Paul, illuminating the humanity and remarkable achievements of this intellectual who invented Christian theology - transforming a faith and changing the world.For centuries, Paul, the apostle who "saw the light on the Road to Damascus" and made a miraculous conversion from zealous Pharisee persecutor to devoted follower of Christ, has been one of the church's most widely cited saints. While his influence on Christianity has been profound, N. T. Wright argues that Bible scholars and pastors have focused so much attention on Paul's letters and theology that they have too often overlooked the essence of the man's life and the extreme unlikelihood of what he achieved.To Wright, "The problem is that Paul is central to any understanding of earliest Christianity, yet Paul was a Jew; for many generations Christians of all kinds have struggled to put this together." Wright contends that our knowledge of Paul and appreciation for his legacy cannot be complete without an understanding of his Jewish heritage. Giving us a thoughtful, in-depth exploration of the human and intellectual drama that shaped Paul, Wright provides greater clarity of the apostle's writings, thoughts, and ideas and helps us see them in a fresh, innovative way.Paul is a compelling modern biography that reveals the apostle's greater role in Christian history - as an inventor of new paradigms for how we understand Jesus and what he accomplished - and celebrates his stature as one of the most effective and influential intellectuals in human history.
Absolute Power
By Collins, Paul
The sensational story of the last two centuries of the papacy, its most influential pontiffs, troubling doctrines, and rise in global authorityIn 1799, the papacy was at rock bottom: The Papal States had been swept away and Rome seized by the revolutionary French armies. With cardinals scattered across Europe and the next papal election uncertain, even if Catholicism survived, it seemed the papacy was finished.In this gripping narrative of religious and political history, Paul Collins tells the improbable success story of the last 220 years of the papacy, from the unexalted death of Pope Pius VI in 1799 to the celebrity of Pope Francis today. In a strange contradiction, as the papacy has lost its physical power--its armies and states--and remained stubbornly opposed to the currents of social and scientific consensus, it has only increased its influence and political authority in the world.
Saying Yes
By Haase, Albert
The process of discerning God's will is one of the most important Christian practices for any contemporary disciple, and it is ongoing and ever-changing. In Saying Yes, Albert Haase, OFM, scholar of Christian spirituality and spiritual mentor to hundreds of people, emphasizes the importance of listening to your life in discerning God's will - your ordinary life is a megaphone through which God talks to you and the world. Haase. This book offers:ten attitudes for discernmenttechniques for living a discerning and reflective lifestyleways you might be sabotaging the grace of God in your lifethe designs of the devil, something no other book on discernment addresseshow to know if a person is wrestling with GodSaying Yes is a timeless, practical handbook for knowing God's will.
Morning Homilies
By Pope, Francis
From his morning homilies, Pope Francis offers his unforgettable reflections on the gospel.Each morning Pope Francis says Mass and offers a short homily for fellow residents and guests in the chapel of St. Martha's Guesthouse, where he has chosen to live. These homilies reflect the spontaneous and original style that has won hearts throughout the world, as well as his power to communicate the gospel message with depth and freshness. In these accounts of Pope Francis's morning homilies from the first five months of his papacy, it is now possible, for those who were not present, to experience and enjoy his lively manner of spaeking, and his capacity to engage his listeners and their daily lives. Thus, we hear his reflections on the Emmaus disciples who were "simmering their lives in the sauce of their grumbling"; on Christians who must keep facing reality, "ready, like the goalkeeper of a football team, to stop the ball wherever it comes from.
Like a Child
By Mooney, Rev. Timothy J.
By breaking free from our misperceptions about what it means to be an adult, we can reshape our world and become harbingers of grace."In our desire to grow up, mature, become adults, we become enamored with who we are supposed to be. When we have finally 'grown up' we realize much of who we really are has been left behind or buried under various masks and roles we play. But the knowledge of who we truly are never leaves us. To reclaim our selfhood, we must grow up again and consciously embrace all that it means to be childlike."—from Chapter 12, "It Takes a Long Time to Become Young"By restoring the childlike ways of humility, trust, awe, wonder, playfulness and more, we can recover a fuller picture of what it means to be human. This unique spiritual resource explores what Jesus may have meant when he said, "Unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Talking God
By Gutting, Gary
Through interviews with twelve distinguished philosophers -- including atheists, agnostics, and believers -- Talking God works toward a philosophical understanding and evaluation of religion. Along the way, Gary Gutting and his interviewees challenge many common assumptions about religious beliefs.As tensions simmer, and often explode, between the secular and the religious forces in modern life, the big questions about human belief press ever more urgently. Where does belief, or its lack, originate? How can we understand and appreciate religious traditions different from our own? Featuring conversations with twelve skeptics, atheists, agnostics, and believers -- including Alvin Plantinga, Philip Kitcher, Michael Ruse, and John Caputo -- Talking God offers new perspectives on religion, including the challenge to believers from evolution, cutting-edge physics and cosmology; arguments both for and against atheism; and meditations on the value of secular humanism and faith in the modern world. Experts offer insights on Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism, as well as Judaism and Christianity. Topical and illuminating, Talking God gives readers a deeper understanding of faith today and how philosophers understand it.From Talking God:"[Some say] Buddhism is not a religion because Buddhists dont believe in a supreme being. This simply ignores the fact that many religions are not theistic in this sense. Chess is a game, despite the fact that it is not played with a ball, after all." -- Jay Garfield, from chapter 10, "Buddhism: Religion Without Divinity""Why think that the creator was all-knowing and omnipotent? -- Maybe the creator was a student god, and only got a B minus on this project?" -- Louise Antony, from chapter 2, "A Case for Atheism""There are a large number -- maybe a couple of dozen -- of pretty good theistic arguments. None is conclusive, but each, or at any rate the whole bunch taken together, is about as strong as philosophical arguments ordinarily get." -- Alvin Plantinga, from chapter 1, "A Case for Theism""If you cease to believe in a particular religious creed, like Calvinism or Catholicism, you have changed your mind and adopted a new position -- But if you lose faith, -- everything is lost. You have lost your faith in life, lost hope in the future, lost heart, and you cannot go on." -- John Caputo, from chapter 3, "Religion and Deconstruction"
How to Live
By Valente, Judith
The Rule of St. Benedict arose from an era when a great civilization was threatened by violence, economic forces that favored the wealthy, political leaders that lacked the trust of the public, and rampant xenophobia. Similar to the anxieties and frustrations of the 6th century, we are living in a time where societies need to stress community over competition, consensus over conflict, simplicity over self gain, and silence over the constant chatter and distractions of our lives.In How to Live, Judith Valente explores the key elements of the rule and clearly demonstrates how incorporating this ancient wisdom can change the quality and texture of our lives offering a way forward from the divisions gripping our country. These fresh and profound explorations are inspiring and thoughtful, and will motivate readers to live a meaningful life.