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The Sacred Universe: Earth, Spirituality, and Religion in the Twenty-First Century
by Thomas BerryA leading scholar, cultural historian, and Catholic priest who spent more than fifty years writing about our engagement with the Earth, Thomas Berry possessed prophetic insight into the rampant destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of species. In this book he makes a persuasive case for an interreligious dialogue that can better confront the environmental problems of the twenty-first century. These erudite and keenly sympathetic essays represent Berry's best work, covering such issues as human beings' modern alienation from nature and the possibilities of future, regenerative forms of religious experience. Asking that we create a new story of the universe and the emergence of the Earth within it, Berry resituates the human spirit within a sacred totality.
The Sacred Universe: Earth, Spirituality, and Religion in the Twenty-First Century
by Thomas Berry&“Dedicated readers of ecology, theology, or religious philosophy will want to savor each one [of these essays]&” from the renowned environmental thinker (Library Journal). A leading scholar, cultural historian, and Catholic priest who spent more than fifty years writing about our engagement with the Earth, Thomas Berry possessed prophetic insight into the rampant destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of species. In this book he makes a persuasive case for an interreligious dialogue that can better confront the environmental problems of the twenty-first century. These erudite and keenly sympathetic essays represent Berry&’s best work, covering such issues as human beings&’ modern alienation from nature and the possibilities of future, regenerative forms of religious experience. Asking that we create a new story of the universe and the emergence of the Earth within it, Berry resituates the human spirit within a sacred totality. &“This book addresses how the history and diversity of world religions offer ways to engage with Earth; how it is necessary to connect with a spirituality that is Earth derived; how science can be in conversation with the religious sensibilities of wonder and awe; and how our relationship to the natural world is crucial to our spirituality. In the earliest essays, Berry sounds most optimistic and urges readers to reconcile modern impulses and technology with religious traditions.&”—Publishers Weekly &“Thomas Berry demonstrates in these papers the qualities he calls for: humanist vision and imagination.&”—Resurgence
The Sacred Us: A Call to Radical Christian Community
by Justin KendrickFor every person who has felt lonely or isolated, The Sacred Us explores a new way of living through the practice of biblical community. In a world that celebrates individuality and autonomy, too many of us struggle to form deep, meaningful relationships. Loneliness is the norm, rich friendships are rare, and the church is no exception. We long for real community but often don&’t know how to get there. What will it take to develop healthy friendships? The Bible gives us a compelling blueprint for community, but it must be built on more than shared interests or Sunday-morning smiles. This book explores the substance of biblical community through seven principles: Proximity that provides opportunityVulnerability that creates connectionDiscipleship that sets directionFun that amplifies graceMission that drives adventureSacrifice that matures loveBoundaries that sustain growth These principles seek to guide the reader beyond loneliness and isolation into a life of rootedness and connection.
Sacred Violence
by David Martin Jones M.L.R. SmithSacred Violence and Religious Violence examines the place that ideology or political religion plays in legitimizing violence to bring about a purer world. In particular, the book examines Islamism and the western secular, liberal democratic responses to it.
A Sacred Voice Is Calling: Personal Vocation And Social Conscience
by John NeafseyWhat does it mean to find and follow our personal calling? How do we distinguish between the "still, small voice" of our authentic vocation and all of the other competing counterfeit voices in our hearts and the needs of our world? Drawing widely on the wisdom of saints, sages, and the traditions of spiritual direction, Neafsey describes a path to living in the place, as Frederick Buechner has put it, "where our deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."
Sacred Voices: Essential Women's Wisdom Through the Ages
by Mary Ford-GrabowskyMoving chronologically through millennia of women's history from the earliest times to the present, this unique collection contains writings from over 173 of the world's women sages and saints. Containing poetry, prayers, chants, meditations, and contemplative prose from all great religious traditions, this treasure trove gathers together for the first time the best of women's spiritual wisdom.Women's spiritual experience has been suppressed through much of modern history and is only now been recovered in its full richness. This anthology contains writings from hundreds of women from the past five millennia and a wide range of cultures. The collection encompasses all areas of women's sacred experience from the most radically mystical encounters with the divine-including visions, locutions, and auditions-to simply daily awareness of the holy in all things.
Sacred Waiting: Waiting on God in a World That Waits for Nothing
by David TimmsExamines waiting on God as an aspect of spiritual formation, showing that we learn patience, obedience, and trust through waiting. Includes biblical examples of waiting as well as illustrations from the church calendar.
The Sacred Way: Spiritual Practices for Everyday Life
by Tony JonesBroaden your spiritual horizons. How has spirituality changed in the last 500, 1,000, or even 2,000 years? How can ancient approaches to faith help my relationship with God today? In The Sacred Way, popular author and speaker Tony Jones mines the rich history of 16 spiritual disciplines that have flourished throughout the ages and offers practical tips for implementing them in your daily life. Find encouragement and challenge through time-tested disciplines such as: •Silence and solitude •The Jesus prayer •Meditation •Pilgrimage Explore these proven approaches to deepening your faith. As you do, your way of living your spiritual life will never be the same.
The Sacred Wilderness of Pastoral Ministry: Preparing a People for the Presence of the Lord
by David RohrerPastors often find themselves struggling to survive in the wilderness of the contemporary church scene. How do they remain faithful in light of the marginalization of organized religion, denominational strife, rapid demographic change, falling numbers and a general malaise among church members? Many pastors feel helpless, others hopeless. Sociologists and pollsters diagnose the problem but can't seem to come up with a solution. Is there hope? Author and pastor David Rohrer believes there is. John the Baptist also lived in the wilderness, yet crowds journeyed there to hear him. Why? Because John "affirmed what people already knew: that they were in desperate need of something more than the mundane practices of a religion that had been cut off from its source of life." John called people to remember their covenant relationship with God, which was established in the wilderness, and to let God guide them once again across the Jordan and into the Promised Land. Pastors, says Rohrer, "don't primarily exist to build and maintain the institution of the church. We exist to do a particular work through the church. In short, we don't simply have an institution to create, refine or maintain; we have a gospel to preach." John's prophetic voice prepared hearts to be receptive to Christ's work among them, to be transformed by the power of God. Herein lies hope! Using illustrations from everyday church life and decades of ministry experience, Rohrer carefully crafts a lively and realistic pastoral theology for ministry in the sacred wilderness. If you are a new pastor you have a sure guide here. If you are a veteran preacher you'll find just the refresher course you need to invigorate your ministry.
Sacred Woman, Sacred Dance: Awakening Spirituality Through Movement and Ritual
by Iris J. StewartShows how dance, the highest expression of spirituality in cultures and traditions all over the world, is being integrated into the lives of women today • The first book to explore women's spiritual expression--women's ways--through a study of dance• Investigates how dance came to be excluded from worship, and reveals how dance is once again being brought into spiritual practices• Includes resources for further instruction in sacred danceToday we primarily think of dance as a form of entertainment or as a way to exercise or socialize. There was a time, however, when dance was considered the way to commune with the divine, a part of life's journey, celebrating the seasons and rhythms of the year and the rhythms of our lives. Dance is a language that reunites the body, mind, and soul. While the role of women's sacred dance was most valued in goddess-worshipping cultures where women served as priestesses and healers, dance was once an integral part of religious ritual and ceremonial expression in cultures all over the world, including Judaism and Christianity. In this book the author investigates how dance came to be excluded from worship and reveals how dance is once again being integrated into spiritual practices. Sacred Woman, Sacred Dance is the first book to explore women's spiritual expression--women's ways--through a study of dance. It describes sacred circles, birth rituals, ecstatic dances, and dances of loss and grief (in groups and individually) that allow women to integrate the movements of faith, healing, and power into their daily life.
Sacred Work: A Christian Woman's Guide to Leadership in the Marketplace
by Peggy BoddeIt&’s possible for women to be strong Christians and confident leaders. There are more female professionals in the workforce than ever. But working women are also time-starved, stressed, and tired. And they often feel alone in their professional struggles.If you&’re trying to do a million things at once and feel like you&’re not doing any of them well, you&’re not alone. Mentor and longtime corporate leader Peggy Bodde views work as sacred and has invested her life in showing women how to thrive in the workplace. In Sacred Work, Peggy provides an invaluable and practical resource that answers all your leadership challenges and questions.With business and biblical savvy, you&’ll learn how to:Overcome Imposter SyndromeMake Difficult DecisionsManage Workplace ConflictPromote Yourself with ConfidenceNegotiate to WinYou&’ll also learn about what to do:When You FailWhen You and Your Boss DisagreeWhen Peers DisappointWhen You&’re Passed Over for a PromotionWhen You Need to Address Performance . . . and so much more!Women bring unique talents to the workplace, and they face specific challenges. Friend and mentor Peggy Bodde walks beside Christian women providing scriptural truth, personal examples, and practical teaching, equipping us to lead with wisdom and strength.
Sacred World: The Shambhala Way to Gentleness, Bravery, and Power
by Karen Hayward"This is the first book to offer step-by-step instruction in Shambhala warriorship. Combining Buddhist mindfulness practice and pre-Buddhist shamanic teachings, Shambhala warriorship training teaches ways to call on powerful, natural energies for personal and collective transformation. It shows us how to use everyday situations to unite mind, body, and emotions in a harmonious whole.
The Sacred Year: Mapping The Soulscape Of Spiritual Practice -- How Contemplating Apples, Living In A Cave And Befriending A Dying Woman Revived My Life
by Mike Yankoski"In his life and writing, Michael Yankoski walks a tightrope between action and contemplation, and, behold, in ways we can all learn from, he manages to find a sort of essential balance."—Philip Yancey, author of What's So Amazing About Grace"This book is a joy to the soul and a delight to the heart. It is destined to become a classic within the genre of contemporary spiritual and religious writing."—Phyllis Tickle, compiler of The Divine HoursFrustrated and disillusioned with his life as a Christian motivational speaker, Michael Yankoski was determined to stop merely talking about living a life of faith and start experiencing it. The result was a year of focused engagement with spiritual practices—both ancient and modern—that fundamentally reshaped and revived his life. By contemplating apples for an hour before tasting them (attentiveness), eating on just $2.00 a day (simplicity), or writing letters of thanks (gratitude), Michael discovered a whole new vitality and depth through the intentional life.Guided by the voice of Father Solomon—a local monk—Yankoski's Sacred Year slowly transforms his life. Both entertaining and profound, his story will resonate with those who wish to deepen their own committed faith as well as those who are searching—perhaps for the first time—for their own authentic encounter with the Divine.
The Sacredness of Human Life: Why an Ancient Biblical Vision Is Key to the World's Future
by David P. GusheeThis authoritative book is the most comprehensive examination ever of the sacredness of human life. Never before has one volume explored this subject in such a multifaceted way, encompassing biblical roots, theological elaborations, historical cases, and contemporary ethical perspectives. Tracing the concept of the sacredness of human life from Scripture through church history to the present day, David Gushee argues that viewing human life as sacred is one of the most precious legacies of biblical faith — albeit one that the church has too often failed to uphold. Besides providing a masterful historical survey, Gushee’s discussion covers the many current ethical challenges and perspectives that will impact the survival and flourishing of human life, including biotechnology, the death penalty, abortion, human rights, nuclear weapons, just war theory, women’s rights, and creation care.Gushee’s Sacredness of Human Life is a game-changing book that will set the standard for all future discussions of this key ethical concept.
The Sacredness of Questioning Everything
by David DarkThe freedom to question—asking and being asked—is an indispensable and sacred practice that is absolutely vital to the health of our communities. According to author David Dark, when religion won’t tolerate questions, objections, or differences of opinion, and when it only brings to the table threats of excommunication, violence, and hellfire, it does not allow people to discover for themselves what they truly believe. The God of the Bible not only encourages questions; the God of the Bible demands them. If that were not so, we wouldn’t live in a world of such rich, God-given complexity in which wide-eyed wonder is part and parcel of the human condition. Dark contends that it’s OK to question life, the Bible, faith, the media, emotions, language, government—everything. God has nothing to hide. And neither should people of faith. The Sacredness of Questioning offers a wide-ranging, insightful, and often entertaining discussion that draws on a variety of sources, including religious texts and popular culture. It is a book that readers will likely cherish—and recommend—for years to come.
The Sacredness of Secular Work: 4 Ways Your Job Matters for Eternity (Even When You're Not Sharing the Gospel)
by Jordan RaynorFrom a leading voice in the faith and work movement and author of Redeeming Your Time comes the revolutionary message that God sees our daily work—in whatever form it takes—with far more value than we ever imagined.&“The Sacredness of Secular Work does an extraordinary job of being both personally relevant and, more importantly, biblically faithful.&”—Randy Alcorn, New York Times bestselling author of HeavenDoes your work matter for eternity? Sadly, most believers don&’t think so. Sure, the 1 percent of the time they spend sharing the gospel with their co-workers matters. But most Christians view the other 99 percent of their time as meaning very little in the grand scheme of things. But that&’s not how God sees it. Jordan Raynor, a leading voice in the faith and work movement and bestselling author, offers a revolutionary message about how our daily jobs—from baristas and entrepreneurs to stay-at-home parent and coaches—have intrinsic and eternal value. In The Sacredness of Secular Work, he reveals unexpected ways our work truly matters. In these pages you&’ll discover• How a low regard of our work limits our understanding of God and His Kingdom • Inspiring ways your work can reveal God&’s kingdom on earth here and now • Surprising strategies for ensuring your vocation has an eternal legacy• Vital insights on what God&’s view of work tells us about heavenCombining research, Scripture, and storytelling, Jordan Raynor proves that work, in its diverse forms, is one of the primary activities that brings God delight. This biblical perspective will set you free to pursue your passions and skills and—perhaps for the first time—experience the Creator&’s delight in the work of your hands.
SacredSecular: Contemplative Cultural Critique
by Lata ManiWhat would it mean to conceive of the sacred as a source of knowledge that is as vital as the secular? What insights does a contemplative approach yield in analysing neoliberal globalisation or Hindu fundamentalism? Is a dew drop sacred, or is it secular? In today’s charged atmosphere many believe that the sacred is best kept firmly apart from the realm of the secular. SacredSecular: Contemplative Cultural Critique offers a contrasting view. It argues that the two are indivisible and can productively interweave in illuminating key contemporary issues. Essays investigate the quotidian (trash, cut flowers), the philosophical (advaita, karma), the economic (work, globalisation) and the political (war, violence). Mani invites us to rethink the prevailing view that secularism is the only progressive response to religious authoritarianism. SacredSecular proposes a conceptual approach in which body, mind, heart, nature, matter and spirit are not merely equals, but equally crucial to crafting an inclusive vision and practice. This book addresses several audiences: scholars of contemporary Indian society and culture, spiritual practitioners striving to integrate their practice with their politics, and all those interested in contemplating the present and what it portends for our collective future.
Sacrifice (Virtues & Vices #2)
by J. L. CampbellGuilt is a bitter enemy when you sacrifice one precious gift for another. Dane’s two-year-old daughter is the center of his world, and doubly precious because of her health challenges. When he discovers a son from a previous relationship, his world implodes. No matter what path he takes, everything he holds dear is at stake, and life will never look the way it did before tragedy knocked at his door. Between family drama and her weight issues, Sophie is struggling to cope. Then, her greatest fear becomes reality when she loses her daughter. Making it from one day to the next seems impossible, her trust in Dane is at an all-time low, and so is her morale. All she has is her faith, an unlikely stopgap, and the hope that everything will fall together rather than apart. ****** Sacrifice is inspirational fiction that features a couple grappling with profound loss that can end a marriage. It brings a message of faith during a time when so many are dealing with unexpected losses of one kind or another.
Sacrifice: A spellbinding historical saga perfect for fans of Ken Follett (The Hebraica Trilogy)
by Christine Jordan&“Loved this book, had me hooked from the first page.&” —Amazon reviewer, five stars &“Epic . . . echoes of Game of Thrones.&” —Amazon reviewer, five starsA young couple struggles to build a life together in this suspenseful saga . . . Zev, a humble butcher&’s son, has always loved Arlette but she is promised to another. When the death of a Christian boy is blamed on the local Jews, Arlette is caught up in the ensuing chaos and mob violence leading her betrothed to reject her. Throughout the ordeal, Zev remains steadfast and refuses to abandon Arlette while she struggles to overcome her trauma. But their troubles are far from over as they endure continuing harassment and are drawn into intrigue involving the Irish king. Can the pair continue to battle and survive against all the odds?Sacrifice is a rich historical drama filled with danger, love and betrayal.
Sacrifice: Themes, Theories, and Controversies (Elements in Religion and Violence)
by Margo KittsAfter over a century of grand theorizing about the universal dimensions to the practice of ritual sacrifice, scholars now question the analytical utility of the notion writ large. The word 'sacrifice' (Latin sacrificium) itself frequently is broken down into its Latin roots, sacer, sacred, and facere, to do or to make – to do or to make sacred – which is a huge category and also vague. Presuming it is people and places that are made sacred, we must question the dynamics. Does sacrifice 'make sacred' by summoning the presence of gods or ancestors? By offering gifts to them? By dining with them? By restoring or establishing cosmic order? By atoning for personal or collective sins? By rectifying social disequilibrium through scapegoating? By inducing an existential epiphany about life and death? While this short Element cannot cover all complexities and practices, it does treat critically some prominent themes, theories, and controversies concerning sacrifice, from ancient to present times.
The Sacrifice (Abram's Daughters Series, #3)
by Beverly LewisLeah Ebersol has no choice but to believe the worst: Her older sister, Sadie--and Leah's own beloved Jonas--have betrayed her. Now, two years later, Leah still misses them both, though loyal neighbor Gid continues to bide his time. But when tragedy befalls the Ebersols, Leah must make a difficult choice.
The Sacrifice: The Trial, The Sacrifice, The List
by Robert WhitlowThe most powerful weapon against evil is sacrifice.Attorney Scott Ellis is defending Lester Garrison, a 16-year-old accused of opening gunfire on a Sunday afternoon church gathering.At the same time, Scott's volunteer work at the local high school brings him into contact with Kay Wilson, an English teacher and former girlfriend. Unknown to either of them, Catawba High School is not just a place of learning--it's a battleground for an age-old struggle between good and evil. On one side are praying students and a simple janitor with an extraordinary faith. On the other side is a deeply troubled young man intent on mass destruction.Caught in the middle, Scott and Kay learn that lasting victory will require the ultimate sacrifice.
Sacrifice and Gender in Biblical Law
by Nicole J. RuaneThis book examines the Hebrew Bible's numerous laws about sacrificial procedure to understand the significance of gender in sacrificial rituals and the reasons that gender distinctions are so vital in these acts. Gender selection of both victims and participants is an intrinsic aspect of the nature and purpose of each rite, affecting its form and function, as well as its legitimacy. Sacrifice and Gender in Biblical Law considers the laws of the firstborn, the rite of the red cow, laws of slaughter, rituals of purification, and other offerings. It shows that these laws regulate material wealth and contribute to the construction of social roles.
Sacrifice and Regeneration: Seventh-day Adventism and Religious Transformation in the Andes
by Yael MabatAt the dawn of the twentieth century, while Lima&’s aristocrats hotly debated the future of a nation filled with &“Indians,&” thousands of Aymara and Quechua Indians left the pews of the Catholic Church and were baptized into Seventh-day Adventism. One of the most staggering Christian phenomena of our time, the mass conversion from Catholicism to various forms of Protestantism in Latin America was so successful that Catholic contemporaries became extremely anxious on noticing that parts of the Indigenous population in the Andean plateau had joined a Protestant church. In Sacrifice and Regeneration Yael Mabat focuses on the extraordinary success of Seventh-day Adventism in the Andean highlands at the beginning of the twentieth century and sheds light on the historical trajectories of Protestantism in Latin America. By approaching the religious conversion among Indigenous populations in the Andes as a multifaceted and dynamic interaction between converts, missionaries, and their social settings and networks, Mabat demonstrates how the religious and spiritual needs of converts also brought salvation to the missionaries. Conversion had important ramifications on the way social, political, and economic institutions on the local and national level functioned. At the same time, socioeconomic currents had both short-term and long-term impacts on idiosyncratic religious practices and beliefs that both accelerated and impeded religious change. Mabat&’s innovative historical perspective on religious transformation allows us to better comprehend the complex and often contradictory way in which Protestantism took shape in Latin America.
Sacrifice and Sharing in the Philippine Highlands: Religion and Society among the Buid of Mindoro
by Thomas P. GibsonThis book is about the relationship between the Buid value system and their history of resistance to the lowland world.