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Dependent Origination in Plain English
by Bhante Gunaratana Veronique ZieglerIn his famously accessible language, the author of Mindfulness in Plain English unpacks the foundational Buddhist theory of dependent origination, showing the reader how by eliminating ignorance we can eliminate suffering.Nothing happens by accident. All things, no matter how mundane or meaningful, arise based on causes and conditions. And without those causes and conditions they would not arise at all. This, in short, is the Buddha&’s teaching of dependent origination. Embedded in this fundamental theory are central teachings such as nonself, impermanence, and the four noble truths. And from it we can see for ourselves how suffering and rebirth, the great problems lying at the heart of the dhamma, arise—and how they pass away. In Dependent Origination in Plain English, the venerable scholar-monk Bhante Gunaratana and his student Veronique Ziegler break down this keystone Buddhist teaching from the Pali canon into its core components, guiding the reader step by step from ignorance to suffering and its end. The process leading to future rebirths may seem far off, but it&’s not some distant event. It&’s happening now, with every breath you take.
Depth Psychology, Cult Survivors, and the Role of the Daimon: Oppression, Agency, and Authenticity (Advances in Mental Health Research)
by Linda R. QuennecThis book explores the possibilities that exist for navigating out of and away from multiple levels of oppression through memoir-based research. It considers how those raised in oppressive, high-demand communities, colloquially referred to as “cults,” can emancipate themselves from controls and expectations inculcated from early childhood and examines processes surrounding the psychological reclamation of self. Exploring and metaphorically tending to an orienting psychological dynamic that the ancient Greeks related to as “the daimon” and using the perspectives of Jungian and post-Jungian depth psychology, the author investigates how subjects can reclaim agency and avoid excessive control over their thoughts, attention, and life’s intentions. They suggest that depth psychologically oriented modes can be used to this attunement and explore this notion through a study of memoirs of individuals who were raised in “cults.” Suggesting a more aligned approach to working with varying levels of psychological constraint and utilizing a phenomenological hermeneutic study, it will appeal to scholars and professionals in depth psychology and other psychological orientations, as well as individuals who are interested in more deeply understanding the psychological mechanisms involved in leaving a high-demand group or other oppressive situations.
Descartes’ Meditative Turn: Cartesian Thought as Spiritual Practice (Cultural Memory in the Present)
by Christopher J. WildWhy would René Descartes, the father of modern rationalist philosophy, choose "meditations"—a term and genre associated with religious discourse and practice—for the title of his magnum opus that lays the metaphysical foundations for his reform of all knowledge, including mathematics and sciences? Why did he believe that the immortality of the soul and the existence of God, which the Meditations on First Philosophy set out to demonstrate, can only be made self-evident through meditating? These are the question that Christopher Wild's book answers. Descartes discovered the "foundations of a marvelous science" through a dramatic conversion in southern Germany in the winter of 1619. The spiritual and cognitive exercises, derived from ancient philosophy and the Christian meditative tradition, which Descartes deployed in the Meditations, enable readers to discover metaphysical truths with the same degree of self-evidence with which Descartes did during his own conversion. Descartes' meditative turn, Wild argues, brings to a culmination a lifelong preoccupation with the practice or craft of thinking, known as Cartesian method. By joining meditation to method the Meditations becomes the founding document for a Cartesian "art of turning," a new practice of both thought and life.
Desire and Mental Health in Christianity and the Arts (Routledge New Critical Thinking in Religion, Theology and Biblical Studies)
by David TorevellThis book considers the connection between the world of mental health in the twenty-first century and the traditional concept of desire in Christianity and the Arts. It draws parallels between the desire for rest from anxiety among mental health sufferers with the longing for peace and happiness in Religion and the Arts. The author presents Biblical, philosophical and theological insights alongside artistic ones, arguing that desire for rest remains at the heart of spiritual living as well as mental health recovery. The chapters draw from historical and contemporary voices, including Plato, Augustine of Hippo, Julian of Norwich, Gerard Manley Hopkins, Simone Weil, Samuel Beckett, Tennessee Williams, Jean-Louis Chrétien, Eric Varden and others. The study demonstrates why longing continues to fascinate and grip individuals, creative endeavour and society at large, not least in the development of the understanding of mental health. It is valuable for scholars and advanced students of Christian theology and those interested in spirituality and the arts in particular.
Devotion to the Administrative State: Religion and Social Order in Egypt
by Mona OrabyWhy the pursuit of state recognition by seemingly marginal religious groups in Egypt and elsewhere is a devotional practiceOver the past decade alone, religious communities around the world have demanded state recognition, exemption, accommodation, or protection. They make these appeals both in states with a declared religious identity and in states officially neutral toward religion. In this book, Mona Oraby argues that the pursuit of official recognition by religious minorities amounts to a devotional practice. Countering the prevailing views on secularism, Oraby contends that demands by seemingly marginal groups to have their religious differences recognized by the state in fact assure communal integrity and coherence over time. Making her case, she analyzes more than fifty years of administrative judicial trends, theological discourse, and minority claims-making practices, focusing on the activities of Coptic Orthodox Christians and Baháʼí in modern and contemporary Egypt.Oraby documents the ways that devotion is expressed across a range of sites and sources, including in lawyers&’ offices, administrative judicial verdicts, televised media and film, and invitation-only study sessions. She shows how Egypt&’s religious minorities navigated the political and legal upheavals of the 2011 uprising and now persevere amid authoritarian repression. In a Muslim-majority state, they assert their status as Islam&’s others, finding belonging by affirming their difference; and difference, Oraby argues, is the necessary foundation for collective life. Considering these activities in light of the global history of civil administration and adjudication, Oraby shows that the lengths to which these marginalized groups go to secure their status can help us to reimagine the relationship between law and religion.
The Devotional for Black Women: 52 Weeks of Affirmations, Bible Verses, and Journal Prompts to Strengthen Your Spirituality and Embrace Black Girl Magic
by Chelsea La'Nere BrownA Simon & Schuster eBook. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every reader.
Devout: A Memoir of Doubt
by Anna Gazmarian&“This moving memoir is always attuned to the possibilities of community and spiritual sustenance, even as it refuses to efface the struggles at its core—believing that this struggle, too, can be a thing of beauty.&” —Leslie Jamison, author of The RecoveringIn this revelatory memoir, Anna Gazmarian tells the story of how her evangelical upbringing in North Carolina failed to help her understand the mental health diagnosis she received, and the work she had to do to find proper medical treatment while also maintaining her faith. When Anna is diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2011, she&’s faced with a conundrum: while the diagnosis provides clarity about her manic and depressive episodes, she must confront the stigma that her evangelical community attaches to her condition. Over the course of ten years, we follow Anna on her journey to reframe her understanding of mental health to expand the limits of what her religious practice can offer. In Devout: A Memoir of Doubt, Anna shows that the pursuing our emotional health and our spiritual well-being is one single mission and, in both cases, an act of faith.
„Die drei Kulturen“ reloaded: Neue Perspektiven auf einen Klassiker der Literatursoziologie (Literatur und Gesellschaft. Literatursoziologische Studien)
by Christine Magerski Christian SteuerwaldDas Buch legt eine aktuelle Bestandsaufnahme der Aufgaben und der Reichweite der Literatursoziologie vor.
Die Theorien in der Kulturproduktion: Aspekte der Performativität von Kultur- und Sozialwissenschaften (Soziologie der Konventionen)
by Guy SchweglerKultur- und sozialwissenschaftliches Wissen hat über die letzten 50 Jahre eine beständige Verbreitung erfahren und wurde zu einem festen Bestandteil gegenwärtiger Gesellschaften. Dies bezieht sich allerdings nicht nur auf die Ergebnisse der Disziplinen, sondern trifft im besonderen Maße auf deren grundlegende theoretische Konzepte zu. In verschiedensten gesellschaftlichen Bereichen repräsentiert dieses Wissen eine Ressource für die Akteur*innen, um Produktionsprozesse anzuleiten. Die Theorien liefern daher nicht nur Beschreibungen des Sozialen, sondern sie wirken „performativ“. Diese Open-Access-Publikation fokussiert auf den Bereich der Kulturproduktion und zeigt auf, welche Bedingungen zur Verwendung der theoretischen Konzepte außerhalb der Wissenschaft geführt haben, wie die Theorien in Prozessen zur Anwendung kommen und welche Veränderungen daraus folgen. Hierzu wird zuerst ein konzeptioneller sowie methodologischer Rahmen präsentiert, bevor die empirische Studie einer Kulturwelt detaillierte Einblicke in die Wirkungsweisen ermöglicht. Anhand der so verdeutlichten Aspekte der Performativität von kultur- und sozialwissenschaftlichen Theorien lässt sich schlussendlich aufzeigen, wie Kulturproduktion in gegenwärtigen Gesellschaften eine zentrale Stellung einnehmen konnte.
Die urbanen Wurzeln der Mafia: Mafiose Akteure und Strukturen im Sizilien des 16. und 17. Jahrhunderts (Interkulturelle Studien)
by Roberto LlaryoraAusgehend von Roberto Llaryoras Fallstudien und seiner Kritik an dem in den Medien und der Wissenschaft vorherrschenden, historisch und ethnographisch verkürzten Mafiabild geht das Buch folgenden Fragen nach:Erstens: Was verbirgt sich eigentlich hinter dem mafiosen Dispositiv, hinter der offenbar sehr eindeutig stadtgesellschaftlich eingebetteten Form gewaltsamer Machtausübung, was macht seine “DNA” aus? Zweitens: Welchen gesellschaftlichen Konstruktionselementen verdankt sich dieses ungewöhnlich flexible und dauerhafte Dispositiv? Drittens: Warum ist das bis in die Öffentlichkeit hinein gepflegte deutlich nostalgisch-kulturalistisch geprägte Mafiabild so resilient gegen jeden Versuch, einen sachadäquaten Zugang zu gewinnen?
Die Wissenschaft vom Leben nach dem Tod
by Alexander Moreira-Almeida Marianna de Costa Humberto Schubert CoelhoDieses Buch untersucht die besten verfügbaren empirischen Beweise für eine der schwierigsten und allgegenwärtigsten Fragen in allen Zeitaltern, Kulturen und Religionen: das Überleben des menschlichen Bewusstseins nach dem Tod. Es beginnt mit einem kontextuellen Überblick über den Glauben an ein persönliches Überleben und widerlegt fehlgeleitete historische und erkenntnistheoretische Argumente gegen die Vorstellung eines Überlebens nach dem Tod (z. B. irrational, rein religiös, wissenschaftlich unmöglich, von der Neurowissenschaft als falsch erwiesen). Das Buch gibt einen Überblick über die wissenschaftlichen Beweise für das Fortleben des menschlichen Bewusstseins nach dem Tod und konzentriert sich dabei auf Studien über Medialität, Nahtoderfahrungen, außerkörperliche Erfahrungen und Reinkarnation.Zu den behandelten Themen gehören:Der Glaube an ein Leben nach dem Tod in der heutigen Welt sowie in der Geschichte der Religionen und der Philosophie.Die wichtigsten fehlgeleiteten Argumente und Vorurteile gegen die wissenschaftliche Erforschung des Überlebens nach dem Tod.Was sind empirische Beweise für ein Überleben nach dem Tod?Die wichtigsten alternativen Erklärungshypothesen für das Überleben nach dem Tod.Die wichtigsten kulturellen Hindernisse für eine faire Untersuchung der verfügbaren Beweise für das Weiterleben des Bewusstseins nach dem Tod.Science of Life After Death ist ein unverzichtbares Hilfsmittel für Forscher, Professoren und Doktoranden sowie für Kliniker, Therapeuten und andere Fachleute in den Bereichen Entwicklungs- und klinische Psychologie, Spiritualität, Religions- und Bewusstseinsforschung, Psychiatrie, Neurowissenschaft/Neurologie, Phänomenologie/Philosophie, Komplementär- und Alternativmedizin und allen damit verbundenen Disziplinen.
Disappearance in Pinecraft
by Lenora WorthHer sister has disappeared…and now her life is on the line.When Adina Maas arrives in Pinecraft to find her missing sister, she&’s blindsided by abductors who attempt to kidnap her. To her surprise, Nathan Kohr, a familiar face from her past, is there to save her. And it&’s clear that whatever trouble Adina&’s sister is in, Adina is now a target, too. But with Nathan&’s help, can they find out who&’s after the Maas sisters before Adina is the next to disappear?From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.
The Disappearance of Ethics: The Gifford Lectures
by Oliver O'DonovanThe capstone lectures of esteemed ethicist Oliver O&’Donovan What is the future of ethics? Oliver O&’Donovan addresses a discipline in crisis in The Disappearance of Ethics. Based on the 2021 Gifford Lectures, this book contends that contemporary ethics has lost its object (good), frontier (time), and agent (person). O&’Donovan traces the development of these concepts from Greek philosophy through early Christianity, the Enlightenment, and into the modern era. Engaging with a range of thinkers including Aristotle, Augustine of Hippo, Max Scheler, Karl Barth, and more, O&’Donovan shows how ethics has lost its heart and how the field can regain its purpose. He completes his lectures by integrating theology and philosophy to recover ethics. Contemplating theological concepts such as creation, divine law, and justification undergirds ethics by generating &“existential wonder.&” With characteristic warmth and scholarly precision, O&’Donovan reinvigorates ethical argument with theological insight. Scholars and students of Christian ethics will find his lectures equally provocative and inspiring.
Disciples of Chaos
by M.K. LobbIn this thrilling sequel to Seven Faceless Saints, Roz and Damian must face their destiny as the world crumbles around them—perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Kerri Maniscalco. Damian Venturi isn't aware of it yet. But as small shifts start to crack the foundations of the Ombrazian power structure after the Rebellion's attack, cracks are beginning to show in Damian's own facade. Uncontrollable anger is bubbling to the surface and can't always be pushed down. Can he keep everyone safe, even from himself? Rossana Lacertosa should feel victorious. She accomplished everything she set out to do, and more. The Rebellion's attack set countless prisoners free and brought attention to the unfairness in the Palazzo's structure. And Damian is back by her side where he belongs. Yet the war with Brechaat rages on and government officials are hellbent on keeping the status quo. Then an Ombrazian general arrives from the front lines, and orders dozens of arrests, shipping Roz and Damian's friends up north. Determined to free those who matter most, Roz and Damian set their sights on Brechaat. But their journey is dogged by strange magic, and Damian shifts further from the boy he used to be. The complications of love, magic, faith, and war will keep readers eagerly turning the pages as they head towards the gripping conclusion in the Seven Faceless Saints duology.
Disenfranchised Grief: Examining Social, Cultural, and Relational Impacts
by Renee Blocker Turner Sarah D. StaufferDisenfranchised Grief expands the professional helper’s understanding of the grief experiences that result from social, cultural, and relational oppression, microaggressions, disempowerment, and overt violence. The authors blend trauma-informed practice and recent research on critical race theory, cultural humility, and intersectionality to both broaden mental health professionals’ conceptualization of disenfranchised grief and its impacts and promote equity and inclusion among populations that have been marginalized.
Dissenting Church: Exploring the Theological Power of Conflict and Disagreement (Pathways for Ecumenical and Interreligious Dialogue)
by Michael Schüßler Judith Gruber Ryszard BobrowiczThis book challenges the prevailing notion of stability, cohesiveness, and uniformity within Christian communities, inviting readers to view contestation and disagreement as integral to theological reflection and church identity. While the volume focuses predominantly on the Roman Catholic Church as a case study, various chapters broaden the exploration across other Christian and non-Christian traditions. Beginning with the philosophical and theological foundations of conflict, contestation, and community, the book subsequently focuses on four main conflict fields: liturgy, canon law, gender, and sexuality, as well as race and postcolonial critical theory. The book finishes with a constructive proposal on how to think theologically about identity and antagonisms, as well as how to construct an ecclesiology of dissent. Contributors employ diverse methodological perspectives to offer constructive theological reflections, enhancing both understanding and practice of theology in the context of polarised public debates.This is an open access book.
The Divine Economy: How Religions Compete for Wealth, Power, and People
by Paul SeabrightA novel economic interpretation of how religions have become so powerful in the modern worldReligion in the twenty-first century is alive and well across the world, despite its apparent decline in North America and parts of Europe. Vigorous competition between and within religious movements has led to their accumulating great power and wealth. Religions in many traditions have honed their competitive strategies over thousands of years. Today, they are big business; like businesses, they must recruit, raise funds, disburse budgets, manage facilities, organize transportation, motivate employees, and get their message out. In The Divine Economy, economist Paul Seabright argues that religious movements are a special kind of business: they are platforms, bringing together communities of members who seek many different things from one another—spiritual fulfilment, friendship and marriage networks, even business opportunities. Their function as platforms, he contends, is what has allowed religions to consolidate and wield power.This power can be used for good, especially when religious movements provide their members with insurance against the shocks of modern life, and a sense of worth in their communities. It can also be used for harm: political leaders often instrumentalize religious movements for authoritarian ends, and religious leaders can exploit the trust of members to inflict sexual, emotional, financial or physical abuse, or to provoke violence against outsiders. Writing in a nonpartisan spirit, Seabright uses insights from economics to show how religion and secular society can work together in a world where some people feel no need for religion, but many continue to respond with enthusiasm to its call.
Divine Generosity: The Scope of Salvation in Reformed Theology
by Richard J. MouwA brief, accessible inquiry into the wideness of God&’s mercy in Reformed theology How broad is the scope of salvation? To explore this question, Richard J. Mouw draws on Scripture and a rich heritage of Calvinist theology. Mouw brings voices like the old Princeton theologians, Kuyper, and Bavinck into conversation with more recent voices such as David Engelsma on pertinent topics, including: • The salvation of unbaptized infants • God&’s wrath and love for sinners • Problems with universalism • The number of the elect Learned yet approachable, Mouw explains how Christians can affirm God&’s justice while holding hope for the wideness of his saving mercy. Congregations today face pressing questions about how to reconcile orthodoxy with empathy in increasingly pluralist neighborhoods and communities. For Reformed pastors, students, and interested laypeople, Divine Generosity serves as a biblically based, doctrinally sound guide.
Divine Lives: The Descending Current of Bhakti
by Mandala PublishingDivine Lives recounts the lives and teachings of the venerated spiritual masters His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Thakura, the founder acarya of the entire Gaudiya community, and His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Gosvami Thakura, the founding acarya of Sri Gopinatha Gaudiya Matha. The Gaudiya Vaisnava tradition stresses the importance for spiritual seekers to receive transcendental knowledge in a bona-fide current of devotion. Genuine spiritual teachers retain the power and glory of this divine flow in their hearts and manifest it through their unadulterated words and proper conduct. Divine Lives highlights the descriptions of two such sublime personalities, His Divine Grace Srila Prabhupada Bhakti Siddhanta Sarasvati Gosvami Thakura, and his disciple, His Divine Grace Srila Bhakti Pramode Puri Gosvami Thakura. In the time of the Gaudiya revolution led by Srila Prabhupada, Srila B. P. Puri Goswami carried a pen and paper wherever he went. His impeccable notes from that time will surely be of great service for many generations to come. Some of his writings are included within in the form of heart-touching glorifications to his spiritual master that have been organized into separate categories for the reader's benefit. After the biography of Srila Prabhupada and an autobiography of Srila B. P. Puri Goswami, Divine Lives concludes with the words of Srila B. P. Puri Goswami Thakura&’s successor and disciple, Srila B. B. Bodhayan Maharaja. In this last section, we learn specific details about Srila B. P. Puri Goswami&’s first meetings with Srila Prabhupada and how he joined this spiritual movement. Also included within are historical articles from the Gaudiya and Chaitanya Vani that have been translated from the original Bengali into English for the first time, as well as rare photos and artifacts from this transformational time in Gaudiya history.
Do It Anyway: Don't Give Up Before It Gets Good
by Tasha Cobbs LeonardIn this inspiring guide to the power of faithful resilience, Tasha Cobbs Leonard—Grammy Award winner and Billboard&’s Gospel Artist of the Decade—shares the secret that helps her persevere: When saying yes to God doesn&’t make sense, do it anyway.&“Prepare to be invigorated to claim every promise, realize every dream, cast aside every excuse, and embrace every God-given desire within your heart.&”—Travis and Jackie Greene, pastors of Forward City ChurchPastor, entrepreneur, and gospel music icon Tasha Cobbs Leonard tells of journeying through moments of unforeseen challenges while holding to an unshakable God and discovering that our greatest breakthroughs come when we make the courageous choice to show up and do hard things anyway. Tasha tells remarkable stories of experiencing this firsthand when she committed to dreams even when they seemed unrealistic, pursued adoption though it looked impossible, navigated the dynamics of a blended family despite challenges, and watched God move in each step of endurance through infertility and depression.With true testimony and conviction, Tasha inspires you toward a bolder way of life with the promise that it will always be worth it on the other side. Along the way, she equips you with practical tools to help you • Dream big with God again• Focus on God&’s direction over the loudness of the world • Never forget God&’s faithfulness, especially in the midst of your hopelessness• Don&’t let fear of failure force you to quit on your miracle too soon• Believe firmly that no mess and no amount of pain is beyond God&’s redemptionWhether you&’re feeling stuck, stressed, or simply weary—there&’s a more a hopeful way to live, a bolder way to believe. To follow God when the way seems impossible, persevere in faith even when the odds are stacked—this is what it means to &“do it anyway.&”
Do the New You: 6 Mindsets to Become Who You Were Created to Be
by Steven FurtickNew York Times bestselling author and pastor Steven Furtick shows readers how to find their God-given identity and to grow into the person God designed them to be all along. Do you ever get a glimpse of yourself that is exactly who you want to be, but always seems just out of reach? The happier, kinder, less stressed, more courageous you? The ideal version of you isn't imaginary at all. It's actually the authentic you trying to break through. And it&’s not a future version of yourself you have to chase. The true you may be new to you, but it&’s not new to God. It's the you he knew all along. In Do the New You, New York Times bestselling author and pastor Steven Furtick speaks directly to the challenge of living out your God-given identity and calling. He explores and unpacks six practical mindsets everyone can adopt to get from who you are today to where God is taking you. These six statements are truths you can speak over yourself any time and anywhere: • I&’m not stuck unless I stop. • Christ is in me. I am enough. • With God there's always a way and by faith I will find it. • God is not against me, but he's in it with me, working through me, fighting for me. • My joy is my job. • God has given me everything I need for the season I&’m in. These simple, powerful, memorable phrases will shift your focus, feelings, and actions to align with God&’s vision of you. God isn&’t just calling you to do you. He&’s calling you to do the new you—the unique and powerful person he created you to be. A Study Guide is also available for purchase. A Spanish edition, ¡Renuévate!, is also available for purchase.
Doctrine, Spirit, and Discipline: A History of the Wesleyan Tradition in the United States
by Kevin M. WatsonThe definitive history of the Wesleyan movement in the United States.An expansive, substantive history of the Wesleyan tradition in the United States, Doctrine, Spirit, and Discipline offers a broad survey of the Methodist movement as it developed and spread throughout America, from the colonial era to the present day.It also provides an theological appraisal of these developments in light of John Wesley's foundational vision. Beginning with Wesley himself, Watson describes the distinctiveness of the tradition at the outset. Then, as history unfolds, he identifies the common set of beliefs and practices which have unified a diverse group of people across the centuries, providing them a common identity through a number of divisions and mergers.In the midst of the sweeping changes happening in Methodism and the pan-Wesleyan movement today, Watson shows that the heart of the Wesleyan theological tradition is both more expansive and substantive than any singular denominational identity."A fresh, panoramic overview of the history of the Methodist movement. . . Promises to be a standard textbook on the history of Methodism for years to come." —TIMOTHY C. TENNENT, Asbury Theological Seminary
A Dog Named Mattis: 12 Lessons for Living Courageously, Serving Selflessly, and Building Bridges from a Heroic K9 Officer
by Mark TappanTake a ride-along with Sergeant Mark Tappan and his amazing K9 partner Mattis, whose heroic actions will inspire you to live courageously, serve selflessly, and love passionately because every human (and dog) has a purpose.Sergeant Mark Tappan shares a unique bond with his K9 partner Mattis, one of the most decorated police K9s of all time. Mark knew from the first time they interacted that Mattis was something special. As a man of deep faith, Mark also knew that God's most profound teaching often comes through the most unexpected sources, and he soon realized that Mattis was going to teach him about loyalty, selfless service, and so much more.In A Dog Named Mattis, Mark shares twelve life lessons he's learned from working with Mattis. Through these first-hand accounts of bravery and service, you will learn profound lessons, like:being willing to 'go all in' and work with all your heart even when things are uncertain,how persistence pays off when you are willing to stick with what you know is right,how to be strong and courageous in the face of adversity,and much more. You will also get a behind-the-scenes look at the world of police K9s and gain a deeper understanding of:the many ways that K9 units assist police departments,what a K9 officer's daily life looks like,what kind of training police dogs and their handlers must go through,how a police dog is tested and selected,and the lengths a dog will go to in order to complete their mission. A Dog Named Mattis will capture the hearts of dog lovers everywhere and remind you that true success is built on relationships filled with trust, communication, and love.
Doing Justice Together: Fresh Expressions Pathways for Healing in Your Church
by Michael Adam Beck Stephanie Moore HandTransform your church with grace.Doing Justice Together introduces a process using Scripture as a souce of inspiration and instruction for pastors and church people to move through together, to re-envision and reorient themselves away from old, harmful habits. Beck and Hand show pastors how they can, over time, lead the congregation to become a place where racial harmony, justice, and liberation are intrinsic to the structure and life of the church. The authors lay out four pathways for discerning and correcting the unjust patterns that often sneak into church life unnoticed. They also share other leaders’ stories from a variety of settings where this process has led to healing, revival, and hope.Following the pathways, pastors and congregants will be equipped to thoughtfully transform their church. They’ll make changes with grace and care, honoring and including longtime members. And they’ll begin new ministries—perhaps reaching people they could never have imagined reaching before--becoming a fresh expression of church in their community.
Done: How to Flourish After Leaving Religion (APA LifeTools Series)
by Daryl R. Van TongerenThis book draws from cutting-edge psychological research to provide advice for people who are undergoing religious change. Americans today are leaving religion in record numbers. For many, the faith, practices, and institutions that once provided comfort and guidance no longer fit their beliefs and values. This shift often comes with a price, however. While turning away from religion can bring about freedom, awe, and wonder, it can also engender a profound loss of meaning, purpose, community, and identity. It can threaten our relationships with friends and family. And it can pose a significant challenge to the mental health of even the most resilient among us. How can people who are no longer served by traditional religion find new meaning and purpose? How can they process the grief that often accompanies religious or spiritual change? And how can they address challenging interpersonal relationships with people who do not support or understand their religious change? In this book, psychologist Daryl Van Tongeren draws from psychological theories and research to examine the emotional and social processes involved with religious change and offers science-based guidance for building a new life—with or without religion. If you are rethinking your religious beliefs, have experienced religious loss or struggle, or have undergone a significant religious change, you are not alone. By understanding how people before us have left or transformed their religion, we can discover new ways of finding peace, experiencing meaning, and, if desired, engaging with the transcendent. Let their wisdom—and this book—be your guide.