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Confessions of St. Augustine
by Bishop PuseyOne of the most valued books in Christian literature, St. Augustine of Hippo's Confessions are an intensely revealing picture of the saint's difficult search for the truth. Translated by Bishop Pusey.
Confessions of a Born-Again Pagan
by Anthony T. KronmanIn this passionate and searching book, Anthony Kronman offers a third way--beyond atheism and religion--to the God of the modern world "An astonishing, . . . epically ambitious book. . . . An intellectual adventure story based on the notion that ideas drive history, and that to dedicate yourself to them is to live a bigger, more intense life. "--David Brooks, New York Times We live in an age of disenchantment. The number of self-professed "atheists" continues to grow. Yet many still feel an intense spiritual longing for a connection to what Aristotle called the "eternal and divine. " For those who do, but demand a God that is compatible with their modern ideals, a new theology is required. This is what Anthony Kronman offers here, in a book that leads its readers away from the inscrutable Creator of the Abrahamic religions toward a God whose inexhaustible and everlasting presence is that of the world itself. Kronman defends an ancient conception of God, deepened and transformed by Christian belief--the born-again paganism on which modern science, art, and politics all vitally depend. Brilliantly surveying centuries of Western thought--from Plato to Augustine, Aquinas, and Kant, from Spinoza to Nietzsche, Darwin, and Freud--Kronman recovers and reclaims the God we need today.
Confessions of a Boy-Crazy Girl: On Her Journey From Neediness to Freedom (True Woman)
by Paula HendricksSound familiar?1. You spot a cute boy (we&’ll call him Boy A). 2. You dream about Boy A. 3. You do whatever it takes to make Boy A notice you. 4. Even though Boy A doesn&’t pursue you, you hang on to your dream of Boy A until he (a) moves to the North Pole with no access to a cell phone or computer, (b) dies and is buried or cremated, or (c) begins dating another girl.5. You mend your broken heart by hating Boy A and finding another cute boy (Boy B). You replace Boy A with Boy B and begin all over again . . .Paula has gone through an entire alphabet—and more—of boys over the years. As she shares her journal entries and stories—the good, the bad, and the ugly—you&’ll be encouraged to trust God with your love life and buckle up for the ride! Written for teen girls, Confessions of a Boy-Crazy Girl will help you on your own journey from neediness to freedom. Part of the True Woman publishing line, whose goal is to encourage women to exude God&’s beauty by embracing his design for womanhood
Confessions of a Boy-Crazy Girl: On Her Journey From Neediness to Freedom (True Woman)
by Paula HendricksSound familiar?1. You spot a cute boy (we&’ll call him Boy A). 2. You dream about Boy A. 3. You do whatever it takes to make Boy A notice you. 4. Even though Boy A doesn&’t pursue you, you hang on to your dream of Boy A until he (a) moves to the North Pole with no access to a cell phone or computer, (b) dies and is buried or cremated, or (c) begins dating another girl.5. You mend your broken heart by hating Boy A and finding another cute boy (Boy B). You replace Boy A with Boy B and begin all over again . . .Paula has gone through an entire alphabet—and more—of boys over the years. As she shares her journal entries and stories—the good, the bad, and the ugly—you&’ll be encouraged to trust God with your love life and buckle up for the ride! Written for teen girls, Confessions of a Boy-Crazy Girl will help you on your own journey from neediness to freedom. Part of the True Woman publishing line, whose goal is to encourage women to exude God&’s beauty by embracing his design for womanhood
Confessions of a Christian Mystic: Discovering The Divine On The Labyrinth Journey
by River JordanFrom the author of Praying for Strangers and four Southern gothic novels comes a chronicle of faith and spirituality that is personal, raw, wise, revelatory - and very funny.With a unique mix of passionate revelation and quirky humor, River Jordan takes us on a journey through her Southern childhood to her present-day life as a novelist. Her stories run the gamut from dancing disco nights and midnight desert rides to surprise visitations with the Divine. Included are comforting letters to personal friends and loved ones about faith, death, heartbreaks and their futures. Confessions of a Christian Mystic is a highly original work about an extraordinary faith that never loses touch with current culture or everyday realities. Jordan invites us to join in on her wild ride searching for the holy mysteries of God. This haunting work will leave you deeply comforted and full of hope. Hailed as "a book for our times," Confessions gently leads us closer to that Divine mystery that shapes us and gives us life.
Confessions of a Christian Spinster: Finding Purpose in a Perplexed and Paired-Up Church
by Alisha PlummerEncourages, challenges, and orients singles and ministry leaders to the role of the unmarried in churchBeing single in today's church often feels like a waiting game. You're put on hold in ministry, service, even spiritual growth until you say "I do," and you're either pitied or not seen at all. Unlike today's church, God is not mystified by the presence of unmarried Christ-followers in the pews. In fact, he has masterful plans for those without a ring on their finger. Alisha Plummer points out how God is eager to empower them with purpose and passion.In Confessions of a Christian Spinster, Alisha explores God's design specifically for Christian singlehood through amusing tales and scripturally based truths. She tackles the difficult questions the church often ignores, like: Where do I fit in? Does the church even want me? Has God forgotten about me? What happens if I never get married? Further, she confronts the church, calling for an adjustment to its couple-centric culture, and asking Christians to understand that their single brothers and sisters are not only valued by God but integral to his kingdom.Singles will feel seen through Alisha's words; they'll be encouraged to seize their role in the church and inspire their pastoral staff to reinvent their culture on singleness. is a powerful resource for those seeking to live and thrive in a perplexed church--and a way forward for the church itself.
Confessions of a Female Rabbi: Relevant Religion in an On-Demand World
by Rabbi Rebecca JablonskiOne of NYC's most sought-after female rabbis shares the key to keeping religion relevant in an on demand world in this tell-all guideBelieve it or not, all religions evolve and change. As church and synagogue attendance is in record decline, this young female rabbi has found a way to meet families from a variety of backgrounds in the modern world and help them connect with the traditions and practice that they crave. Rabbi Rebecca Keren Jablonski has served world-wide, bringing bespoke and creative religious experiences to those who sought spirituality outside of institutions and denominational confines. With disruptor brands changing the way we consume products and information, religion is also in need of a 3,000 year-old facelift, or at least a mini makeover. There is room in the pews for new leaders with innovative strategies and approaches to keep religion relevant and meaningful in today&’s times. Confessions of a Female Rabbi will trace the changes in our current multi-faith landscape, hone in on what&’s happening with the Jewish American community, and demonstrate through case studies how she&’s been successful delivering transformations for families through the prism of religious practice and observance. These confessions will express her unique perspective, personal and collective shortcomings, and reveal her insights as a reflective and relatable spiritual facilitator. Touching universal stories of birth, coming of age, weddings, divorce, conversion, and sacred times affirm the deeper meaning we all can find if we make space for something holy in the circle of life.
Confessions of a Fumbling Believer
by Margaret Mary SicklesOrganized religion is both lauded and scorned these days. Spirituality, rather than formal religion, is often cited as religious expression of choice. These essays combine both and examine them from the viewpoint of someone who has lived within the confines of an organized religion and who has moved away from it.
Confessions of a Funeral Director: How Death Saved My Life
by Caleb Wilde“Wise, vulnerable, and surprisingly relatable . . . funny in all the right places and enormously helpful throughout. It will change how you think about death.” —Rachel Held Evans, New York Times–bestselling author of Searching for SundayWe are a people who deeply fear death. While humans are biologically wired to evade death for as long as possible, we have become too adept at hiding from it, vilifying it, and—when it can be avoided no longer—letting the professionals take over.Sixth-generation funeral director Caleb Wilde understands this reticence and fear. He had planned to get as far away from the family business as possible. He wanted to make a difference in the world, and how could he do that if all the people he worked with were . . . dead? Slowly, he discovered that caring for the deceased and their loved ones was making a difference—in other people’s lives to be sure, but it also seemed to be saving his own. A spirituality of death began to emerge as he observed the family who lovingly dressed their deceased father for his burial; the nursing home that honored a woman’s life by standing in procession as her body was taken away; the funeral that united a conflicted community. Through stories like these, told with equal parts humor and poignancy, Wilde’s candid memoir offers an intimate look into the business of death and a new perspective on living and dying.“Open[s] up conversations about life’s ultimate concerns.” —The Washington Post“As a look behind the closed doors of the death industry, as well as a candid exploration of Wilde’s own faith journey, this book is fascinating and compelling.” —National Catholic Reporter“[A] stunner of a debut.” —Rachel Held Evans, author of Inspired
Confessions of a Good Christian Girl: The Secrets Women Keep and the Grace That Saves Them
by Tammy MaltbyIn this powerful book, prominent Christian speaker and TV personality Tammy Maltby gets specific about the brokenness and pain in her own life and the lives of other "good Christian girls." This book is not a lurid exposé, but an honest and courageous look at the secrets that often lurk behind a "victorious" Christian façade-secrets that range from feelings of inadequacy to sexual sins, shopping addictions and thoughts of suicide. It is also a passionate testimony to the Lord's eagerness to cleanse and heal those who turn to Him. And it is a fervent appeal to God's people to own up to the sin, brokenness and shame in our midst and to extend to each other the same persistent, healing grace that Jesus extends to us.
Confessions of a Good Christian Guy
by Tom DavisDealing with the secret pain in the lives of many "good Christian" men.In a continuation of Confessions of a Good Christian Girl, Tammy Maltby is back with coauthor Tom Davis to get specific about the brokenness and pain in the lives of good Christian men. This isn't a lurid expose but an honest and courageous look at the secrets most often lurking behind "victorious" Christian facades. Chapters include:I've got a dirty mindI'm a self-made manI want more stuffI need my dadI love boozeI don't like to feel I'm so ticked offI want to give upIn addition to the transparent stories and insight from Davis, Matlby concludes each chapter with reflections for those who care-practical insight for individuals walking beside a man struggling with these issues.
Confessions of a Gypsy Yogini
by Tulku Thondup Marcia Dechen WangmoConfessions of a Gypsy Yogini is a collection of teachings taken from the author's own life, gained from "experience through mistakes, learning the hard way." After an early life as a "quasiradical, hippie, horse trainer, and environmentalist," Marcia Dechen Wangmo became a Buddhist. Over the next three decades, through encounters with respected Tibetan masters and an enduring student-teacher relationship with a famed yogi, she moved deep into the hidden world of Vajrayana Buddhism.Written as a guidebook for others and presented within a Buddhist framework, Confessions offers a fresh approach to traditional teachings. The author turns an unflinching eye on her own shortcomings and painful experiences in a series of revelations proving that, despite appearances to the contrary, she has been a far from ideal student. "I confess to not eradicating ignorance from the core," she begins. Interweaving insights gained from her personal experience, step by step she draws readers closer to the fruits of Buddhist practice: the ability to see things as they truly are.From the Trade Paperback edition.
Confessions of a Gypsy Yogini
by Marcia Schmidt Thondup TulkuConfessions of a Gypsy Yogini is a tale of experience through mistakes, learning the hard way. It is a guidebook to help find ourselves, offering a fresh approach to traditional teachings in a non-adulterated way, adapted to modern characters. Presented within the Buddhist framework, it will draw the reader closer to seeing things as they truly are, assisting in ascertaining and validating our inherent beauty and combating any feeling of worthlessness while acknowledging anxiety as a part of the path. To overcome negative perceptions, we need to study our confusion and find tools to clear some of it away. Learning how to meditate begins the road to healing and training in various simple formulas directs us to becoming better people. We can meet life's challenges with humor and triumph over them.Included are several opinions of major Tibetan Teachers:Confessions of a Gypsy Yogini is a vivifying account of the ambrosia-like Buddhist path with brilliant imagery and clear voices of many renowned Masters recorded by the author, who lived at the feet of one of the greatest Tibetan Masters of meditation for 17 years at the epicenter of unfolding events of Dharma that crossed many oceans. May this volume reach many to ignite the light of love and wisdom - the true meaning of Dharma - in the hearts of many.Tulku Thondup RinpocheMarcia [Dechen Wangmo] has followed many great lamas, some of the best of this century. Her account of her experience as an American amidst this older generation of lamas is quite important for Dharma students from the West.Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche
Confessions of a Happily Married Man: Finding God in the Messiness of Marriage
by Joshua L. RogersDiscover God in the messiness of your marriage, as popular marriage and family columnist Joshua Rogers offers spouses hope with real-life stories from his own marriage and helps you see how God is at work in the ordinary and extraordinary of your relationship.Confessions of a Happily Married Man is a husband's painfully honest account of his first ten years of marriage. It offers a window into the perspective of a man who went from "hello" to "I do" in nine months and then figured out how hard marriage could be. When Joshua Rogers thought back on the marriage books he had read or sermons about marriage he had heard, it occurred to him that he could only remember one thing about them: the stories. That's why this book is anchored by stories that other couples will relate to and can easily learn from. The stories are cringe-worthy, humorous, inspiring, heart-breaking, and full of wisdom--but the author isn't telling the reader what to do with that wisdom. He's letting the reader learn along with him as he's gradually becoming more self-aware, increasingly grateful for his wife, and surprised to discover what God is doing in the middle of it all.
Confessions of a Latter-day Virgin: A Memoir
by Nicole HardyWhen Nicole Hardy's eye-opening "Modern Love" column appeared in the New York Times, the response from readers was overwhelming. Hardy's essay, which exposed the conflict between being true to herself as a woman and remaining true to her Mormon faith, struck a chord with women coast-to-coast.Now in her funny, intimate, and thoughtful memoir, Nicole Hardy explores how she came, at the age of thirty-five, to a crossroads regarding her faith and her identity. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Nicole had held absolute conviction in her Mormon faith during her childhood and throughout her twenties. But as she aged out of the Church's "singles ward" and entered her thirties, she struggled to merge the life she envisioned for herself with the one the Church prescribed, wherein all women are called to be mothers and the role of homemaker is the emphatic ideal.Confessions of a Latter-day Virgin chronicles the extraordinary lengths Nicole went to in an attempt to reconcile her human needs with her spiritual life--flying across the country for dates with LDS men, taking up salsa dancing as a source for physical contact, even moving to Grand Cayman, where the ocean and scuba diving provided some solace. But neither secular pursuits nor LDS guidance could help Nicole prepare for the dilemma she would eventually face: a crisis of faith that caused her to question everything she'd grown up believing.In the tradition of the memoirs Devotion and Mennonite in a Little Black Dress, Confessions of a Latter-day Virgin is a mesmerizing and wholly relatable account of one woman's hard-won mission to find love, acceptance, and happiness--on her own terms.
Confessions of a Meddlesome Economist
by Ian HarperIan Harper just cannot stop meddling. During his 35-year career as a professional economist, he has worked with governments, banks, corporates and leading professional services firms at the highest level. Whether it be reviewing Australia’s competition policy, Victoria’s state finances or chairing the Australian Fair Pay Commission, he acts out of a passionate belief that economists can actually be useful.Ian’s career in economics has enabled him to participate in some of the most important debates over the future of Australia and influence some of the nation’s most talented emerging leaders. In Confessions of a Meddlesome Economist, the long-awaited revised and updated edition of his prize-winning book Economics for Life, published in 2011, Ian revisits some old debates and introduces new ones – including the purpose of place – all in the context of his professional life. There is no trace of self-indulgence or self-congratulation in this narrative, rather a thoughtful account of choices, successes and disappointments.The aim the same: to illustrate the power of good economics to improve people’s material lives and the power of the Christian faith in helping this practising economist keep his professional life in proper perspective.
Confessions of a Murdered Pope: Testament Of John Paul I
by Lucien GregoireAs a bishop, the 33-day Pope John Paul I had ordered his priests to melt down their golden chalices and other implements of idol worship to build an orphanage. As a Pope, he lifted a chalice to worldwide television cameras: "This chalice contains one hundred and twenty of the world's most pristine diamonds. Do you really think this is what Christ meant by His Church?" The little boy Albino Luciani had grown up in a tug-of-war. His mother, a devout Catholic, prayed before crucifixes made of bits of wood. She told him, the only path to heaven was on his knees mumbling vain repetitions and asking for selfish favors. His father, an atheist, burned his mother's crucifixes in the stove. He told him, the only path to heaven was on his feet helping others. Under his father's guidance, he grew up free of prejudices peddled by religion. He reasoned atheists have a better chance of heaven than do the faithful. He wondered how faith had come about to begin with. When his father placed him in a seminary with the commission to bring change to the Church, he traced the evolution of Christianity from the Neanderthal to the Eucharist. His investigation culminated in his doctoral thesis dissertation: "If we are ever to determine what happens to us after we are gone--we must first determine the truth of the God we are born into. Then, we must define the human soul. Precisely what is this thing we are trying to save? These things we will do now..." Here in Confessions of a Murdered Pope, the reincarnated Albino Luciani--in the voice of a precocious ten year old boy--in a wealth of entertaining chats with his bewildered father, traces the evolution of Christianity from the Neanderthals, to the Grecians, to the Egyptians, to the Hebrews, to those who wrote of Jesus. He finds that religion evolves just like any other social practice, each prophet building on the creativity of those who came before him...
Confessions of a Not-So-Supermodel: Faith, Friends, and Festival Queens (Invert Ser.)
by Brooklyn E. LindseyWho you are and who you want to be don’t always match up. Like most teenage girls, you’ve probably spent lots of time in front of the mirror wondering what you’ll be when you grow up—or dreaming of who you’ll become. Is it a supermodel, an actress, a dancer, or is it a businesswoman, a mom, or even a pastor? Brooklyn Lindsey grew up dreaming of being a supermodel. She even had a chance to do some modeling and became a festival queen. Her experiences taught her a lot about what she did and didn’t want in life. But it wasn’t until she became a youth pastor that she realized God had already set her “supermodel” dream in motion. God had plans for her to be a different kind of “supermodel.” God has a plan for you, too—and it’s probably bigger than anything you could ever imagine. Read along as Brooklyn shares stories of triumph and tragedy as an aspiring model, and learn how your faith and your friends play a significant role in who you are and who you’ll become. In Confessions of a Not-So-Super Model you’ll begin to reshape the way you see yourself and the way you dream. You’ll discover that being a supermodel doesn’t always require fabulous hair and a great figure.
Confessions of a Pastor
by Craig GroeschelThe Dark Side of a Pastor's Life-A Breath of Fresh Air Are you tired of pretending? Living walled up? Going only skin deep? Craig Groeschel , pastor of the thriving LifeChurch. tv, sure was. And in his refreshingly raw and real book, he comes clean. Not that he has anything other than typical, humanstuffto confess. Check out a few of his musings:I have to work hard to stay sexually pure, I hate prayer meetings, sometimes I doubt God, andI can't stand a lot of Christians. Through his incredible hones...
Confessions of a Prayer Wimp: My Fumbling, Faltering Foibles in Faith
by Mary PierceIs your spiritual life more like a fast-food run than an intimate dinner for two? Whether it’s the busy mother’s wish to be Wonder Woman—minus the metal bra—or battles with an exploding hot water heater, or fighting the “Resolutionary War” of New Year’s Day, Mary Pierce understands the dilemmas of being a woman in today’s 24/7 world. From disorganized misery to extreme organizational mania (she used to refer to her children by their household chores: Cat Box Boy, Dishwasher Girl, and Garbage Can Baby), Pierce deals with our fumbling attempts to grow closer to God, encouraging us as she invites us to laugh, cry, love, embrace life, and pray! In her humorous, conversational style, Pierce laughs at her mistakes and her prayers that seem more like advertising jingles (Lord, I need a break today, and Can you hear me now, Lord?). In Confessions of a Prayer Wimp, you’ll come to understand that faith is less about what you are or do or say, and more about who God is—someone who loves you no matter what you do.
Confessions of a Rebel Angel: The Wisdom of the Watchers and the Destiny of Planet Earth
by Timothy WyllieA rebel angel’s observations from her half-million years on Earth and her perspective on the spiritual journey of her human charge • Explains the hidden motivations behind Lucifer’s angelic rebellion 203,000 years ago and watcher Georgia’s participation in it • Explores the benevolent intentions of the Multiverse both in quarantining our planet to contain the rebellion and in now allowing our return • Describes how the coming spiritual transition will be gentle and our future positive More than two hundred millennia ago the high angel Lucifer launched a revolution among the angelic hierarchy, which led to the quarantine of 37 planets, including our own, from the rest of the Multiverse. Now, after eons of isolation, the rebel angels are being redeemed and we are being welcomed back into the benevolent and caring Multiverse with a massive transformation of consciousness and a reconnection to our celestial destiny. Writing through Timothy Wyllie, rebel angel Georgia describes her half a million years stationed on Earth as a watcher. Arriving 500,000 years ago as part of the first angelic expedition to Earth--sent here to prepare the indigenous inhabitants for higher consciousness--she details the archaic roots of humanity and explains the connections between the 7 dimensions of intelligent life and the chakras as well as how beauty and creativity are vehicles for angelic inspiration. Interweaving her story with parallel observations of Wyllie’s youth in World War II England and his spiritual journey beginning with the Process Church, Georgia explains the motivations behind Lucifer’s uprising and the lasting impact it has had among the angels on Earth and on humanity’s natural spiritual development. Revealing that there are more than 90 million rebel angels currently incarnated on Earth--almost all of whom are unaware of their previous celestial lives--Georgia explains how this is their opportunity to personally redeem the past and contribute their particular talents to the world. She calls on all of us, especially these incarnate angels, to wake up to who we truly are and embrace our spiritual heritage as earthly vessels for God’s presence. In this way we can prepare for the imminent transformation of global consciousness and embrace the astonishing and wondrous destiny facing our world.
Confessions of a Reformission Rev.: Hard Lessons from an Emerging Missional Church (Leadership Network Innovation Series)
by Mark DriscollThis is the story of the birth and growth of Seattle's innovative Mars Hill Church, one of America's fastest growing churches located in one of America's toughest mission fields. It's also the story of the growth of a pastor, the mistakes he's made along the way, and God's grace and work in spite of those mistakes. Mark Driscoll's emerging, missional church took a rocky road from its start in a hot, upstairs youth room with gold shag carpet to its current weekly attendance of thousands. With engaging humor, humility, and candor, Driscoll shares the failures, frustrations, and just plain messiness of trying to build a church that is faithful to the gospel of Christ in a highly post-Christian culture. In the telling, he's not afraid to skewer some sacred cows of traditional, contemporary, and emerging churches. Each chapter discusses not only the hard lessons learned but also the principles and practices that worked and that can inform your church's ministry, no matter its present size. The book includes discussion questions and appendix resources. "After reading a book like this, you can never go back to being an inwardly focused church without a mission. Even if you disagree with Mark about some of the things he says, you cannot help but be convicted to the inner core about what it means to have a heart for those who don't know Jesus. "-Dan Kimball, author,The Emerging Church " will make you laugh, cry, and get mad school you, shape you, and mold you into the right kind of priorities to lead the church in today's messy world. "-Robert Webber, Northern Seminary
Confessions of a Reluctant Ghost Hunter: A Cautionary Tale of Encounters with Malevolent Entities and Other Disembodied Spirits
by Von Braschler Jim HaroldA how-to primer on safe ghost removal with accounts of the author’s most dangerous spirit confrontations • Includes lists of what to do and what to avoid and explains how to identify what kind of spirit you are dealing with and whether it is safe to attempt removal • Details the author’s difficult attempts to remove spirits from haunted buildings • Reveals how haunting spirits may not simply be ghosts of deceased people but may be powerful entities manifested from rage, hatred, and frustration Despite early recognition of his own psychic sensitivities and ability to see spirits, Von Braschler did not seek to become a ghost hunter. He entered on this path through a chance encounter with a professional ghost hunter. After training with her, he returned to Oregon where he began exorcising ghosts for friends and acquaintances and, as he reveals in these pages, quickly stumbled upon forces far beyond his level of experience. Sharing his true story of what can go wrong when ghost hunting, Braschler describes his training sessions with the professional ghost hunter and details his most difficult and dangerous attempts to remove spirits from haunted buildings, including an old church in Portland and an herbalist’s trailer on Mount Hood, where he encountered a spirit known to choke people in their sleep. He explains how not all spirits are simply ghosts of deceased people reluctant to move on from this plane of existence. They may be entities created from the rage, hatred, or frustrations of a building’s current or former inhabitants, and disturbing them can lead to dark confrontations without easy resolution. Offering a primer on ghost removal, Braschler provides practical lists of what to do and what to avoid when removing ghosts from a haunted building. He outlines how to identify what kind of spirit you are dealing with, whether it is safe to attempt removal, and how to approach the ghost and convince it to leave. Detailing his own intense and sometimes hellish battles with unseen spirits, he also includes an impassioned plea of caution to those who try to contact ghosts and spirits purely for entertainment.
Confessions of a Secular Jesus Follower: Finding Answers in Jesus for Those Who Don't Believe
by Tom KrattenmakerAn award-winning USA Today columnist makes the case for how a Jesus freed from religion and politics meets the need for meaning and purpose in secular America. Tom Krattenmaker is part of a growing conversation centered at Yale University that acknowledges--and seeks to address--the abiding need for meaning and inspiration in post-religious America. What, they ask, gives a life meaning? What constitutes a life well led? In Confessions of a Secular Jesus Follower, Krattenmaker shares his surprising conclusion about where input and inspiration might best be found: in the figure of Jesus. And Jesus, not only as a good example and teacher, but Jesus as the primary guide for one's life. Drawing on sociological research, personal experience, and insights from fifteen years studying and writing on religion in American public life, Krattenmaker shows that in Jesus, nonreligious people like himself can find unique and compelling wisdom on how to honor the humanity in ourselves and others, how to build more peaceful lives, how generosity can help people and communities create more abundance, how to break free from self-defeating behaviors, and how to tip the scales toward justice. In a time when more people than ever are identifying as atheist or agnostic, Confessions of a Secular Jesus Follower is a groundbreaking and compelling work that rediscovers Jesus--and our own best selves--for the world of today.