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Inventing Hebrews: Design and Purpose in Ancient Rhetoric (Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series #171)
by Michael Wade Martin Jason A. WhitlarkInventing Hebrews examines a perennial topic in the study of the Letter to the Hebrews, its structure and purpose. Michael Wade Martin and Jason A. Whitlark undertake at thorough synthesis of the ancient theory of invention and arrangement, providing a new account of Hebrews' design. The key to the speech's outline, the authors argue, is in its use of 'disjointed' arrangement, a template ubiquitous in antiquity but little discussed in modern biblical studies. This method of arrangement accounts for the long-observed pattern of alternating epideictic and deliberative units in Hebrews as blocks of narratio and argumentatiorespectively. Thus the 'letter' may be seen as a conventional speech arranged according to the expectations of ancient rhetoric (exordium, narratio, argumentatio, peroratio), with epideictic comparisons of old and new covenant representatives (narratio) repeatedly enlisted in amplification of what may be viewed as the central argument of the speech (argumentatio), the recurring deliberative summons for perseverance. Resolving a long-standing conundrum, this volume offers a hermeneutical tool necessary for interpreting Hebrews, as well as countless other speeches from Greco-Roman antiquity.
Inventing Hell
by Jon M. SweeneyHell: The word means terror, darkness, and eternal separation from God. Some people think the Bible is clear about hell, but what if they're mistaken? With gripping narrative and solid scholarship, Sweeney charts hell's "evolution" from the Old Testament underworld Sheol, through history and literature, to the greatest influencer of all: Dante's Inferno. He reveals how the modern idea of hell is based mostly on Dante's imaginative genius-but in the process, he offers a more constructive understanding of the afterlife than ever before. Disturbing and enthralling, Sweeney will forever alter what we think happens to us after we die-and more importantly, he will make us reconsider how we live. Bible really says about heaven and hell, giving us a clearer, more hopeful understanding of the afterlife than ever before.
Inventing New Beginnings
by Asher D. BiemannBiemann (modern Jewish thought and intellectual history, U. of Virginia) explores the multiple connotations of "renaissance" in relation to the Jewish Renaissance that suffused much of German- speaking Jewry between 1890 and the rise of Nazism in the late 1930s, partly as a backlash to the earlier assimilationist Jewish Enlightenment. Drawing on the thinking of Franz Rosensweig in the New Learning, Mircea Eliade, Hegel, Buber, and other philosophers on the meaning of time and beginnings, he argues that this movement was less a return to traditional Judaism than a renewal of self-awareness and questioning in the encounter with modernity. Annotation ©2009 Book News, Inc. , Portland, OR (booknews. com)
Inventing William of Norwich: Thomas of Monmouth, Antisemitism, and Literary Culture, 1150–1200 (The Middle Ages Series)
by Heather BlurtonWilliam of Norwich is the name of a young boy purported to have been killed by Jews in or about 1144, thus becoming the victim of the first recorded case of such a ritual murder in Western Europe and a seminal figure in the long history of antisemitism. His story is first told in Thomas of Monmouth's The Life and Miracles of William of Norwich, a work that elaborates the bizarre allegation, invented in twelfth-century England, that Jews kidnapped Christian children and murdered them in memory and mockery of the crucifixion of Christ.In Inventing William of Norwich Heather Blurton resituates Thomas's account by offering the first full analysis of it as a specifically literary work. The second half of the twelfth century was a time of great literary innovation encompassing an efflorescence of saints' lives and historiography, as well as the emergence of vernacular romance, Blurton observes. She examines The Life and Miracles within the framework of these new textual developments and alongside innovations in liturgical and devotional practices to argue that the origin of the ritual murder accusation is imbricated as much in literary culture as it is in the realities of Christian-Jewish relations or the emergence of racially based discourses of antisemitism. Resisting the urge to interpret this first narrative of the blood libel with the hindsight knowledge of later developments, she considers only the period from about 1150-1200. In so doing, Blurton redirects critical attention away from the social and economic history of the ritual murder accusation to the textual genres and tastes that shaped its forms and themes and provided its immediate context of reception. Thomas of Monmouth's narrative in particular, and the ritual murder accusation more generally, were strongly shaped by literary convention.
Inventing the Universe: Why we can't stop talking about science, faith and God
by Alister McGrathWe just can't stop talking about the big questions around science and faith. They haven't gone away, as some predicted they might; in fact, we seem to talk about them more than ever. Far from being a spent force, religion continues to grow around the world. Meanwhile, Richard Dawkins and the New Atheists argue that religion is at war with science - and that we have to choose between them. It's time to consider a different way of looking at these two great cultural forces. What if science and faith might enrich each other? What if they can together give us a deep and satisfying understanding of life?Alister McGrath, one of the world's leading authorities on science and religion, engages with the big questions that Dawkins and others have raised - including origins, the burden of proof, the meaning of life, the existence of God and our place in the universe. Informed by the best and latest scholarship, Inventing the Universe is a groundbreaking new primer for the complex yet fascinating relationship between science and faith.
Inventing the Universe: Why we can't stop talking about science, faith and God
by Dr Alister E McGrathWe just can't stop talking about the big questions around science and faith. They haven't gone away, as some predicted they might; in fact, we seem to talk about them more than ever. Far from being a spent force, religion continues to grow around the world. Meanwhile, Richard Dawkins and the New Atheists argue that religion is at war with science - and that we have to choose between them. It's time to consider a different way of looking at these two great cultural forces. What if science and faith might enrich each other? What if they can together give us a deep and satisfying understanding of life?Alister McGrath, one of the world's leading authorities on science and religion, engages with the big questions that Dawkins and others have raised - including origins, the burden of proof, the meaning of life, the existence of God and our place in the universe. Informed by the best and latest scholarship, Inventing the Universe is a groundbreaking new primer for the complex yet fascinating relationship between science and faith.
Invention of Tradition and Syncretism in Contemporary Religions
by Stefania Palmisano Nicola PannofinoThis book explores manifestations of creativity in the religious domain. Specifically, the contributions focus on the nexus of the sacred and the creative, and the mechanisms of syncretism and (re)invention of tradition by which this manifestations occur. The text is divided into two sections. In the first, empirical cases of spirituality characterized by syncretistic processes are highlighted; in the second, examples which can be traced back to forms of the (re)invention of tradition are examined. The authors document possible forms of adaptations and religious enculturation. In the second, the authors demonstrate that spiritual traditions, whether ancient or historically fictitious, are suitable for reframing in the context of critical interpretative frameworks related to cultural expectations which challenge them and call their continuity into question.
Invention: Break Free from the Culture Hell-Bent on Holding You Back (The WiRE Series for Men)
by Justin CampThe universe&’s Inventor designed us like he did the world: with passion and precision and purpose. He made us for confidence and significance, joy and relationship. He made us to be part of something massive and majestic—to contribute to his work of remaking this world and to play vital parts in his Kingdom.But we have a vicious enemy, hell-bent on thwarting us. Our enemy spins lies that convince us into distraction and dependence—on alcohol, drugs, pornography, success-at-all-cost. But Jesus said, &“I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.&” (MSG, John 10:10) He said that about us.Invention is an invitation to join a band of renegades and revolutionaries, change-makers and troublemakers—men who won&’t be daunted, because they know there is more. It&’s a guide for living, finally, with depth and purpose. It will expose the lies that obscure God&’s intent, and will help reveal His design for your life. There is so much more. Come and see.
Inversiones con futuro
by Edwin SantiagoLa economía celestial es la más rentable a corto y largo plazo, por lo tanto, te animo a que te transformes en un «inversionista del reino». Debes saber que en el cielo hay un banco donde puedes acumular tesoros y obtener la rentabilidad más importante que jamás hayas tenido, porque las cuentas del reino están envueltas de fe. ¡Conoce las características de un inversionista del cielo y transfórmate en uno!
Investigación sobre Jesús
by Mauro Pesce Corrado AugiasLa figura de Jesús de Nazaret ha sido, desde el mismo momento de su muerte hace dos mil años, centro de interés y fuente de inspiración de todo tipo de disciplinas que van desde la filosofía, la ciencia, la religión, la política o la historia hasta la literatura o el cine. A lo largo de los siglos han proliferado numerosas leyendas sobre Jesús y alguna que otra invención muestra de la curiosidad, del ansia de saber. Porque ¿quién era en realidad el hombre de carne y hueso que recorrió la tierra de Israel hablando con los locos, curando a los enfermos y lanzando un mensaje de esperanza hasta morir en un patíbulo infame antes de que el manto de la teología lo cubriera ocultando la figura histórica?En los últimos cincuenta años, análisis filológicos e investigaciones arqueológicas han ampliado la posibilidad de acercarse a la verdadera personalidad del hombre llamado Jesús. Muchas cuestiones hasta ahora irresolubles se acercan a una respuesta en esta Investigación sobre Jesús, donde Augias y Pesce buscan acercarse al hombre y desvelar qué es real y qué es mito, respondiendo a las preguntas que se formulan tanto cristianos como no cristianos.
Investigación sobre Jesús: ¿Quién era el hombre que cambió el mundo?
by Mauro Pesce Corrado AugiasUna investigación para esclarecer el Jesús histórico a la luz de los nuevos hallazgos. La figura de Jesús de Nazaret ha sido, desde el mismo momento de su muerte hace dos mil años, centro de interés y fuente de inspiración de todo tipo de disciplinas que van desde la filosofía, la ciencia, la religión, la política o la historia hasta la literatura o el cine. A lo largo de los siglos han proliferado numerosas leyendas sobre Jesús y alguna que otra invención muestra de la curiosidad, del ansia de saber. Porque ¿quién era en realidad el hombre de carne y hueso que recorrió la tierra de Israel hablando con los locos, curando a los enfermos y lanzando un mensaje de esperanza hasta morir en un patíbulo infame antes de que el manto de la teología lo cubriera ocultando la figura histórica? En los últimos cincuenta años, análisis filológicos e investigaciones arqueológicas han ampliado la posibilidad de acercarse a la verdadera personalidad del hombre llamado Jesús. Muchas cuestiones hasta ahora irresolubles se acercan a una respuesta en esta Investigación sobre Jesús, donde Augias y Pesce buscan acercarse al hombre y desvelar qué es real y qué es mito, respondiendo a las preguntas que se formulan tanto cristianos como no cristianos.
Investigación sobre María
by Corrado Augias¿Quién es María? <P><P>La verdadera historia de la joven que se convirtió en mito Entre las diferentes figuras celestiales, divinas y semidivinas santificadas por las religiones mundiales María es, sin lugar a dudas, la más compleja, tierna y conmovedora. Una muchacha judía que recibió la visita del ángel, que se comprometió y se casó con un hombre que no era el padre de su hijo, virgen y madre de Dios, símbolo de la gracia y Mater dolorosa, que sufre el terrible destino de ver morir a la criatura que ha engendrado, poco citada en los evangelios y poco menos que ausente en los Hechos de los apóstoles y en las Cartas de Pablo, objeto de un culto inigualable, concebida sin pecado original y que ascendió al cielo: comprender a María significa penetrar en el corazón de la fe católica. <P><P>En Investigación sobre María, Corrado Augias dialoga con un gran estudioso de mística y de historia de las religiones, Marco Vannini, para profundizar en la historia y en el mito de la Virgen, tocando todos los aspectos que sitúan a María en el centro de la experiencia cultural y religiosa de nuestra civilización: las fuentes (de los evangelios canónicos a los apócrifos), las hipótesis sobre su biografía, la relación con la situación de las mujeres en la Palestina de hace dos mil años, con las demás mujeres de la Biblia y con la mitología de la Gran Madre, el nacimiento de los dogmas y el desarrollo del culto, los milagros y las apariciones, la presencia constante de la Virgen en la cultura y en el arte. <P><P> El resultado es un volumen sin precedentes que, en tono narrativo, responde a las preguntas cruciales de los creyentes y de los no creyentes, indaga las bases mismas de nuestra cultura y mentalidad, y compone el relato de una extraordinaria historia humana.
Investigating God's World (4th Edition)
by Matilda Nordtvedt Gregory Rickard Julie Rickard Stephen McalisterThe book investigates the things that you see every day and to know the laws that these objects of nature obey and how they all fit together in God's creation.
Investigating Prayer
by Ian OlverThis book relates the experience of researching, planning, and conducting a scientific study into intercessory prayer (prayer for others). The purpose of the study was to ascertain whether the impact of prayer could be measured in a formal study, based on the large number of anecdotal reports of efficacy. The study was a prospectively randomized double-blind trial that added prayer by an established Christian prayer group to conventional therapy for cancer. The unique design feature was that the primary endpoint was a change in a validated scale of spiritual well-being. The patients were informed that they were participating in a study about spiritual well-being and quality of life but remained blinded to the intervention. The initial observation from the baseline data was that spiritual well-being made a unique contribution to quality of life. The final outcome of the study was that there was a statistically significant difference in spiritual well-being favoring the prayer group. The background includes a fascinating review of the medical literature on the topic, which contains positive and negative studies that each attracts a vigorous debate about methodology, endpoints, and whether metaphysical phenomena can or should be studied using scientific methodology. The complementary and alternative medicine literature is also equivocal as to whether prayer, arguably the most common complementary medical therapy, should be included in the range of interventions grouped under that heading. In addition to reporting the background and results of the study, the book explores the reactions of a range of individuals to the trial, all of which help reflect on the nature of prayer.
Investigating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ: A New Transdisciplinary Approach (Routledge New Critical Thinking in Religion, Theology and Biblical Studies)
by Andrew LokeThis book provides an original and comprehensive assessment of the hypotheses concerning the origin of resurrection Christology. It fills a gap in the literature by addressing these issues using a transdisciplinary approach involving historical-critical study of the New Testament, theology, analytic philosophy, psychology and comparative religion. Using a novel analytic framework, this book demonstrates that a logically exhaustive list of hypotheses concerning the claims of Jesus’ post-mortem appearances and the outcome of Jesus’ body can be formulated. It addresses these hypotheses in detail, including sophisticated combinations of hallucination hypothesis with cognitive dissonance; memory distortion; and confirmation bias. Addressing writings from both within and outside of Christianity, it also demonstrates how a comparative religion approach might further illuminate the origins of Christianity. This is a thorough study of arguably the key event in the formation of the Christian faith. As such, it will be of keen interest to theologians, New Testament scholars, philosophers, and scholars of religious studies.
Investigating the Supernatural: From Spiritism and Occultism to Psychical Research and Metapsychics in France, 1853–1931
by Sofie Lachapelle“A convincing account of science’s flirtation with the marginal and the marvelous” from the author of Conjuring Science (Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences).Séances were wildly popular in France between 1850 and 1930, when members of the general public and scholars alike turned to the wondrous as a means of understanding and explaining the world. Sofie Lachapelle explores how five distinct groups attempted to use and legitimize séances: spiritists, who tried to create a new “science” concerned with the spiritual realm and the afterlife; occultists, who hoped to connect ancient revelations with contemporary science; physicians, psychiatrists, and psychologists, who developed a pathology of supernatural experiences; psychical researchers, who drew on the unexplained experiences of the public to create a new field of research; and metapsychists, who attempted to develop a new science of yet-to-be understood natural forces.An enlightening and entertaining narrative that includes colorful people like “Allan Kardec”—a pseudonymous former mathematics teacher from Lyon who wrote successful works on the science of the séance and what happened after death—Investigating the Supernatural reveals the rich and vibrant diversity of unorthodox beliefs and practices that existed at the borders of the French scientific culture in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.“What is science? . . . In her engaging book, Sophie Lachapelle probes for an answer by looking at the liminal realm between science and superstition and the attempt to render the supernatural explicable in naturalistic terms.” —Isis“A welcome addition to the growing literature on spiritism, occultism and physical research in modern France.” —French History
Investing In Islamic Funds
by Noripah KamsoA guide to Islamic investment opportunities from the CEO of the world's leading Islamic finance bankOffering an insider's perspective on a rapidly growing sector of the financial industry, Investing in Islamic Funds details the basic principles of Islamic investing for Muslims and non-Muslims alike. It explains how Islamic equity and fixed-income products differ from traditional funds, and how they deliver excellent results while still conforming to Sharia principles. Using hard data from the last six years, the book also reveals how Islamic funds have offered predictable, reliable returns in volatile markets and turbulent financial times. For institutional investors as well as sophisticated individual investors, the book serves as an excellent introduction to the subject and surveys the full range of products available. Additionally, the book will arm financial services professionals with the knowledge they need to explain this new investment opportunity to clients.One of the few books available that offers comprehensive data on the performance of Islamic funds in addition to the underlying theory that governs themWritten by the CEO of CIMB-Principal Islamic Asset Management, the world's leading Islamic finance bankFeatures charts, case studies, comparative analysis, and a tabular data formatDebunks the misconceptions traditional investors may have about the profitability Islamic fundsFor professional and institutional investors, as well as private investors looking for new opportunities, Investing in Islamic Funds offers a much-needed primer on this fast-growing market.
Invincible Christianity: Empowered by the Word, Transformed by the Spirit
by Steven BriooksExperience Faith That Cannot Be Shaken—Power That Cannot Be Stopped!Step into the victorious, Spirit-empowered life God has designed for you. In Invincible Christianity, best-selling author, pastor and gifted teacher, Dr. Steven Brooks provides a practical guide to achieving unshakable faith, supernatural breakthrough, and divine empowerment.Through powerful biblical insights, compelling personal testimonies, and Spirit-led teaching, you’ll discover how to:• Activate faith as a dynamic force that unlocks miracles and overcomes every challenge• Experience the transformative power of speaking in tongues, breaking addictions, and aligning with God's will• Walk in the anointing that impacts health, finances, and relationships• Leverage modern tools and global influence to expand God’s kingdom• Live with supernatural peace, confidence, and boldnessThis book isn’t just about knowledge—it’s about powerful, life-changing application. Whether you’re a new believer or seasoned in faith, Invincible Christianity will equip you to rise above obstacles and experience the fullness of God’s promises.You can be empowered by the Word and transformed by the Spirit. Step into the supernatural life you were destined for!What Leading Theologians Are Saying:“Through his writing, Pastor Steven transmits no less than his very life. It is sacred—a holy impartation. As you open this book, approach it with reverence and a heart overflowing with thanksgiving to the Lord for such an extraordinary gift—a living gift to the body of Christ.” ~Father Geoffroy de Lestrange, Hermit Monk and Benedictine Parish Priest of 40 Years, Cerdon, France“This powerful volume is victory-based living made clear and simple. With scriptural authority and spiritual insight, believers will be speaking out their destiny to the amazement of this dark world. For those in my tradition, Pastor Steven embodies the spirit of St. Padre Pio, whose gifts have inspired us for decades. How lovely that God is uniting us all in fidelity, faith, and power!” ~Rev. Dr. Ronald Thomas, Ph. D. University of Cambridge in England, Associate Professor, Canonical Mandatum from the Diocese of Charlotte, TheologyDr. Steven Brooks is a best-selling author, dynamic minister, and renowned teacher of God’s Word, known for operating in signs, wonders, and miracles. His powerful yet lucid teachings equip believers to walk in unwavering faith and experience the supernatural. As the host of Pure Gold, a global television program reaching over 200 nations, he shares the gospel with clarity and conviction. His books, translated into multiple languages, impact lives worldwide, including underground churches in persecuted regions. With a doctorate in theology, Pastor Brooks is passionate about empowering believers to live victoriously, transformed by God’s love and power.
Invincible Wisdom: Quotations from the Scriptures, Saints, and Sages of All Times and Places
by William StoddartThe guiding idea of this book has been to gather together sayings, maxims, and aphorisms, which, in some respect or other are of profound and permanent spiritual value. Moreover, the net has been cast wide, with the result that the selected items are extremely variegated; for, in the present age, protective dividing walls have crumbled; the whole world has become our parish, and our gaze must now be universal. The quotations here presented were collected during the course of a lifetime. Each quotation was hand-picked for a particular purpose, and anything deemed superfluous was excluded. Wise and useful quotations are of course endless, but a selection is what it is and, far from being arbitrary, this anthology, taken as a whole, amounts to a succinct, but powerful, affirmation of "the True, the Good, and the Beautiful". This is its purpose-and may it bear fruit.
Invisible Acts of Power: The Divine Energy of a Giving Heart
by Caroline MyssFor more than two decades, internationally renowned pioneer in energy medicine Caroline Myss has been studying how people use their personal power. Through her special brand of spiritual insight and intuition, her popular workshops, and her bestselling books, Myss has helped hundreds of thousands of people meet the lifelong challenge of managing their spiritual energy and improving their lives. Now, in this inspiring new book, Myss expands her message about power in an entirely new spiritual direction. With characteristic originality, she explains how we become channels for divine grace and a conduit for miracles through kind, compassionate, generous actions, or, as she calls them, invisible acts of power. When we act compassionately, without a private agenda or expectation of credit or reward, God works invisibly, anonymously through us. And as we move from visible acts, such as giving a friend a helping hand, to invisible acts, such as prayer and healing, we undergo a profound journey of personal empowerment. The myriad simple but profound ways that people connect to create small miracles, gain a greater sense of spirituality, and transform their own -- and others' -- lives in an instant will inspire you to your own invisible acts of power...and attract them to you.
Invisible Boy: A Memoir of Self-Discovery (Truth To Power Ser.)
by Harrison MooneyA narrative that amplifies a voice rarely heard—that of the child at the centre of a transracial adoption—and a searing account of being raised by religious fundamentalistsHarrison Mooney was born to a West African mother and adopted as an infant by a white evangelical family. Growing up as a Black child, Harry’s racial identity is mocked and derided, while at the same time he is made to participate in the fervour of his family’s revivalist church. Confused and crushed by fundamentalist dogma and consistently abused for his colour, Harry must transition from child to young adult while navigating and surviving zealotry, paranoia and prejudice.After years of internalized anti-Blackness, Harry begins to redefine his terms and reconsider his history. His journey from white cult to Black consciousness culminates in a moving reunion with his biological mother, who waited twenty-five years for the chance to tell her son the truth: she wanted to keep him.This powerful memoir considers the controversial practice of transracial adoption from the perspective of families that are torn apart and children who are stripped of their culture, all in order to fill evangelical communities’ demand for babies. Throughout this most timely tale of race, religion and displacement, Harrison Mooney’s wry, evocative prose renders his deeply personal tale of identity accessible and light, giving us a Black coming-of-age narrative set in a world with little love for Black children.
Invisible Boy: A Memoir of Self-Discovery (Truth to Power)
by Harrison MooneyAn unforgettable coming-of-age memoir about a Black boy adopted into a white, Christian fundamentalist familyPerfect for fans of Educated, Punch Me Up to the Gods, and Surviving the White Gaze&“An affecting portrait of life inside the twin prisons of racism and unbending orthodoxy.&” --Kirkus ReviewsA powerful, experiential journey from white cult to Black consciousness: Harrison Mooney&’s riveting story of self-discovery lifts the curtain on the trauma of transracial adoption and the internalized antiblackness at the heart of the white evangelical Christian movement.Inspired by Ralph Ellison&’s Invisible Man the same way Ta-Nehisi Coates&’s Between the World and Me was inspired by James Baldwin, Harrison Mooney&’s debut memoir will captivate readers with his powerful gift for storytelling, his keen eye for insight and observation, and his wry sense of humor.As an adopted and homeschooled Black boy with ADHD at white fundamentalist Christian churches and tent revivals, Mooney was raised amid a swirl of conflicting and confusing messages and beliefs. Within that radical and racist right-wing bubble along the U.S. border in Canada's Bible Belt, Harrison was desperate to belong and to be "visible" to those around him.But before ultimately finding his own path, Harrison must first come to understand that the forces at work in his life were not supernatural, but the same trauma and systemic violence that has terrorized Black families for generations. Reconnecting with his birth mother--and understanding her journey--leads Harrison to a new connection with himself: the eyes looking down were my true mother&’s eyes, and the face was my true mother&’s face, and for the first time in my life, I saw that I was beautiful.
Invisible City: A Novel (Rebekah Roberts Novels #1)
by Julia Dahl“An absolutely crackling, unputdownable mystery told by a narrator with one big, booming voice. I loved it.” —Gillian Flynn, #1 New York Times–bestselling author of Gone GirlOne of The Boston Globe’s Best Books of the YearIn her riveting debut, journalist Julia Dahl—a finalist for the Edgar and Mary Higgins Clark Awards—introduces a compelling new character in search of the truth about a murder and an understanding of her own heritage Just months after Rebekah Roberts was born, her mother, an Hasidic Jew from Brooklyn, abandoned her Christian boyfriend and newborn baby to return to her religion. Neither Rebekah nor her father have heard from her since. Now a recent college graduate, Rebekah has moved to New York City to follow her dream of becoming a big-city reporter. But she’s also drawn to the idea of being closer to her mother, who might still be living in the Hasidic community in Brooklyn.Then Rebekah is called to cover the story of a murdered Hasidic woman. Rebekah’s shocked to learn that, because of the NYPD’s habit of kowtowing to the powerful ultra-Orthodox community, not only will the woman be buried without an autopsy, her killer may get away with murder. Rebekah can’t let the story end there. But getting to the truth won’t be easy—even as she immerses herself in the cloistered world where her mother grew up, it’s clear that she’s not welcome, and everyone she meets has a secret to keep from an outsider.“Fast-paced, suspenseful . . . rises above the crime-novel genre in its unusual psychological, spiritual and sociological dimensions, entering a world unfamiliar to most people.” —The Washington Post
Invisible Companions: Encounters with Imaginary Friends, Gods, Ancestors, and Angels (Spiritual Phenomena)
by J. Bradley WiggerFrom the US to Nepal, author J. Bradley Wigger travels five countries on three continents to hear children describe their invisible friends—one-hundred-year-old robins and blue dogs, dinosaurs and teapots, pretend families and shape-shifting aliens—companions springing from the deep well of childhood imagination. Drawing on these interviews, as well as a new wave of developmental research, he finds a fluid and flexible quality to the imaginative mind that is central to learning, co-operation, and paradoxically, to real-world rationality. Yet Wigger steps beyond psychological territory to explore the religious significance of the kind of mind that develops relationships with invisible beings. Alongside Cinderella the blue dog, Quack-Quack the duck, and Dino the dinosaur are angels, ancestors, spirits, and gods. What he uncovers is a profound capacity in the religious imagination to see through the surface of reality to more than meets the eye. Punctuated throughout by children's colorful drawings of their see-through interlocutors, the book is highly engaging and alternately endearing, moving, and humorous. Not just for parents or for those who work with children, Invisible Companions will appeal to anyone interested in our mind's creative and spiritual possibilities.
Invisible Jesus: A Book about Leaving the Church and Looking for Christ
by Scot McKnight Tommy Preson PhillipsIn recent years, we've seen an increase in the number of Christians who are "deconstructing" their faith, critically analyzing Christianity and finding that it falls short. Many end up leaving behind the beliefs and commitments they formerly held. While many have written on how to reverse this trend, Scot McKnight and Tommy Preson Phillips believe that rather than dismissing these concerns we need to listen more carefully.Deconstructors are uncovering serious weaknesses in today's church--a renewed fundamentalism, toxic leadership, and legalistic thinking among them. Utilizing the results of recent studies by Pew, Gallup, and others, McKnight and Phillips take a careful look at what deconstructors are really saying, seeking to better understand why many are shedding elements of the faith and church of their youth but also engaging in a reconstruction process, finding Jesus afresh. They are losing their religion, but not losing Jesus.Filled with stories of those who have walked the path of deconstruction without losing their faith, Invisible Jesus is a prophetic call to examine ourselves and discern if the faith we practice and the church we belong to is really representative of the Jesus we follow. Each chapter looks at a different topic and offers biblical reflections that call for us to not only better listen, but to change how we live out our faith as followers of Jesus today.