Religious Culture

Thirty years ago, "mindfulness" was a Buddhist principle mostly obscure to the west. Today, it is a popular cure-all for Americans' daily problems. A massive and lucrative industry promotes mindfulness in every aspect of life, however mundane or unlikely: Americans of various faiths (or none at all) practice mindful eating, mindful sex, mindful parenting, mindfulness in the office, mindful sports, mindfulness-based stress relief and addiction recovery, and hire mindful divorce lawyers.

The Babylonian Empire, one of the greatest civilizations in human history, left an enduring legacy of cultural achievements, monumental architecture, and military conquests. But beyond its impressive power and influence, Babylon holds a pivotal place in the biblical narrative, serving both as a historical empire and a profound symbol of human defiance against Jehovah. In The Babylonian Empire, Edward D. Andrews offers a detailed exploration of Babylon’s rise to dominance, its lasting impact on the ancient world, and its role in Scripture. From the grandeur of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign to ...

This work brings various important topics and groups in American religious history the rigor of scholarly assessment of the current literature. The fruitful questions that are posed by the positions and experiences of the various groups are carefully examined. American Denominational History points the way for the next decade of scholarly effort.

The education system is broken. People are quick to agree with that statement. They might even have their own opinions on why it's true. Yet they keep feeding kids into that broken system hoping to get better results. Why is anyone surprised that broken systems create broken kids? We wring our hands, point fingers, and never get around to fixing the system. Angie Taylor has spent more than 30 years in education and knew firsthand what wasn't working. She watched as kids with potential were lost in the system.

The Book of Chronicles and the Book of Kings depict different versions of King's Solomon's rise to power after the death of King David. Each book emphasizes critical elements which relate the theological concerns and agenda of their authors. Discover the fascinating differences between these texts and what they convey to the listener regarding the importance of kingship, monotheism, idolatry, intermarriage, and much more.

In this lucid explanation of perennial philosophy, Arthur Versluis reveals this tradition - so often described as esoteric and inaccessible - to be closer to our interests and experience than many of us have realized. Versluis has distilled an immense amount of scholarship into this small volume, but its brevity is deceiving. Like the culmination to any alchemical work, Perennial Philosophy is a powerful tincture that - once imbibed - transports receptive listeners to a world in which they are part of a spiritual hierarchy that links heaven to earth.

It's time for a reality check. Ecopiety offers an absorbing examination of the intersections of environmental sensibilities, contemporary expressions of piety and devotion, and American popular culture. Ranging from portrayals of environmental sin and virtue such as the eco-pious depiction of Christian Grey in Fifty Shades of Grey, to the green capitalism found in the world of mobile-device "carbon sin-tracking" software applications, to the socially conscious vegetarian vampires in True Blood.

Akiva is just a poor shepherd living an ordinary life, until he falls in love with Rachel. Rachel thinks her husband could become a great man of learning - but Akiva can't even read! Is he too old to be a scholar, or can he follow the example of the water in the nearby brook? Water is soft, yet drop by drop, it can soften the hardest stone.

Nineteenth-century America was rife with Protestant-fueled anti-Catholicism. Elizabeth Hayes Alvarez reveals how Protestants nevertheless became surprisingly and deeply fascinated with the Virgin Mary, even as her role as a devotional figure who united Catholics grew. Documenting the vivid Marian imagery that suffused popular visual and literary culture, Alvarez argues that Mary became a potent shared exemplar of Christian womanhood around which Christians of all stripes rallied.

The Bible is the world's best-known text. Yet, it is a book that never was - its original form does not exist and likely never did. What we have is the inheritance of generation after generation of Christians who have sought to hear God speak. Available in over 3,000 languages and taking innumerable forms, each version is a revelation, evolving as a reflection of its own culture and moment.

Marr reveals a cleric at ease with power and aggressive in asserting the prerogatives of the Vatican. His account of Pell’s career focuses on his response as a man, a priest, an archbishop and prince of the church to the scandal that has engulfed the Catholic world in the last 30 years. This is the story of a cleric slow to see what was happening around him; torn by the contest between his church and its victims; and slow to realise that the Catholic Church cannot, in the end, escape secular scrutiny.

Through sublime landscapes and warm images of a boy and his family, this adaptation of the beloved folk song creates a dazzling, intimate interpretation that rejoices in the connectedness of people and nature.

John Kasich calls it like he sees it. A former long-time U.S. congressman, a respected author, and popular television host, Kasich has been around the neighborhood a few times. In his first book, Courage Is Contagious, he celebrated the under-the-radar accomplishments of ordinary people doing extraordinary things to change America. Now, in Stand for Something, he tackles head-on the erosion of long-standing, hard-earned values upon which our nation is built.

As the relationship between the two swiftly develops, so does the danger. It’ll be a test of the young couple’s fledgling romance and their faith in God as things rapidly escalate. Just graduated from high school, Wendy Lucas takes an internship at a local news show’s offices, hoping to fulfill her dream of becoming an anchor someday. Another dream she has is to solve the mystery of who continues to harass her family on their ranch, resorting to everything from sabotage to assault to perpetrate an unclear vendetta. But she can’t do it alone. Ken Field wants to be a camera guy. He ...

Aaron Campbell is the founder and lead pastor of Antioch Christian Fellowship (ACF) located in the heart of Philadelphia. ACF is said to be one of the most ethnically diverse churches in the region. Their massive events and outreaches - including free citywide carnivals, fish fry, clothing drives, academic forums and lectures, and more - have gained them regional recognition from colleges, to housing projects, to corporate spaces and city hall.

when she offers to work beside him in his trade, he digs in his own heels, struggling with the notion of changing his business model Just as he and Camelia are starting to see eye to eye and Herman is realizing how blessed he is to have found her, an accident endangers their lives Now it will be up to Camelia to save both of them. Can Herman place his trust in the woman he’s swiftly falling in love with? Read all the books in Christmas Glory Bound Frontier Mail Order Bride Romance Series by bestselling authors Katie Wyatt with Kat Carson! Book 1 Holly's Hope Book 2 Daphne’s Dream Book 3...

Unlock the mysteries of a unique and harmonious belief system with Caodaism for Beginners: An Introduction to a Unique Belief System. This book is your gateway to understanding a religion that seamlessly blends the wisdom of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and more. Discover how this fascinating faith, born in Vietnam, unites diverse spiritual teachings under one roof, offering a path to unity, peace, and enlightenment. Explore the origins of Caodaism, rooted in divine revelation and mystical experiences. Learn about the key figures who played pivotal roles in the development of this ...

During the last three decades of the 20th century, evangelical leaders and conservative politicians developed a political agenda that thrust "family values" onto the nation's consciousness. The family values agenda created a bond between evangelicalism and political conservatism. Family Values and the Rise of the Christian Right chronicles how the family values agenda became so powerful in American political life and why it appealed to conservative evangelical Christians.

As Christy's students are preparing for a school play, she reveals her dream to act on stage. Little does she know that Dr. MacNeill's aunt is the artistic director of the Knoxville Theater. Before long, just as Christy is about to debut on stage, several mysterious incidents threaten both her dreams and her pride.

Available as a value box set (Frontier Valentine Romance Complete Series) amazon.com/dp/B08TG1Y4GZ (copy and paste the link into your browser) When the small town of Silver Ridge needs a math teacher, the high school calls Brad Maxwell, the prodigal son who left town years ago, after a terrible end to his engagement, and never looked back. Now, Brad sees an opportunity to fix his mistakes and win back the love of his life. When Mayor Valentine Anderson finds out that her former fiancé has returned to town—in the middle of the insanely busy Valentine’s season—she has little time to ...