Religious Life

From one of the foremost medievalists of our time, a groundbreaking work on history and memory that goes well beyond the life of this influential saint.

From classics such as the Odyssey and the Aeneid to fifth-century Christian apocrypha, narratives that described guided tours of the afterlife played a major role in shaping ancient notions of morality and ethics. In this new account, acclaimed author Bart Ehrman contextualizes early Christian narratives of heaven and hell within the broader intellectual and cultural worlds from which they emerged.

Family, friends, an unexpected sisterhood, the magic of new beginnings...mothers, daughters, brothers and sisters, sons and cousins...all finding their inner strength, facing life’s unexpected challenges, and sometimes starting over after tragedy and heartbreak, and every once in a while...finding the one true love of a lifetime. Everyone has a story... Amanda’s legacy was simple and unbelievably complicated...her sons were determined to make it happen exactly as she wanted. Hannah was distraught and in a downward spiral after her father’s death...her cousin Patricia understood but ...

He's been so busy trying to find Miss Right. She's been standing right in front of him the whole time. This Christmas, can Mister and Libby take their relationship out of the best friend zone? Mister Glover has been inspired by his brothers and cousins as they've all found someone to spend their lives with. He's made a real effort too, even going so far as to ask his best friend, Liberty Bellamore, to set him up with the women in Three Rivers. Libby has done what Mister asked, though each date he goes on that's with another woman breaks off another piece of her heart. She's loved Mister for...

Monastic life and its counter-cultural wisdom come alive in the stories and lessons of Br. Paul Quenon, OCSO, during his more than five decades as a Trappist at the Abbey of Gethsemani. He served as a novice under Thomas Merton, and he also welcomed some of the monastery's more well-known visitors to Merton's hermitage. In Praise of the Useless Life includes Quenon's quiet reflections on what it means to live each day with careful attentiveness. The humble peace and simplicity of the monastery and of Quenon's daily life are beautifully portrayed in this memoir.

Bishop John Shelby Spong, author of Jesus for the Non-Religious, Why Christianity Must Change or Die, Sins of Scripture, and many other books, is known for his controversial ideas and fighting for minority rights. In Eternal Life: A New Vision, a remarkable spiritual journey about his lifelong struggle with the questions of God and death, he reveals how he came to a new conviction about eternal life.

Each of us struggles with the existential questions of meaning, purpose, and responsibility. In The Meaning of Life, the Dalai Lama examines these questions from the Buddhist perspective, skillfully guiding us to a clearer understanding which can liberate us from the prison of selfishness and suffering. Also from the Dalai Lama:
The Art of Happiness.

This book is a memoir of an unlikely relationship between the author, Karen Hall — a television writer and producer of hit shows like M*A*S*H, Hillstreet Blues, Moonlighting and The Good Wife — and conservative Jesuit biblical scholar Fr. Paul Mankowski, SJ, who died in September 2020. It exposes the silencing of Fr. Mankowski by his religious order for airing its dirty laundry and for upholding the two-thousand-year magisterium of the Catholic Church.

Noll's Jesus Christ and the Life of the Mind shows how the orthodox Christology confessed in the ancient Christian creeds, far from hindering or discouraging serious scholarship, can supply the motives, guidance, and framework for learning. Christian faith, Noll argues, can richly enhance intellectual engagement in the various academic disciplines - and he demonstrates how by applying his insights to the fields of history (his own area of expertise), science, and biblical studies in particular.

This book has two religious romance stories: In 'Dating a Single Minister', Derrick Hamilton a single Baptist minister found himself fascinated with Summer Reed a gorgeous fashion mogul. Although a mutual attraction existed between Minister Hamilton and Summer the minister maintained his involvement with another woman. The minister's ex further intensified the drama as she's accused of sabotaging Summer's entry into an elite fashion competition. And in the short story 'Megans Fools Paradise', Minister Terrell Crutchfield of Tabernacle Baptist Church deals with life consequences when his ...

In "The Gift of With," Janelle McGuckin invites listeners on an intimate journey of faith, resilience, and profound transformation. Through deeply personal stories, Janelle shares how she discovered the treasures of living a "with-God" life, even in the midst of struggles, uncertainties, and heartache. From navigating the trials of a cancer diagnosis to uncovering unexpected moments of divine presence on an oceanfront bench, Janelle’s honest reflections remind us that God is always near, offering love and hope in every season of life.

Large numbers of atheists, humanists, and conspiracy theorists are raising one of the most pressing questions in the history of religion: "Did Jesus exist at all?" Was he invented out of whole cloth for nefarious purposes by those seeking to control the masses? Or was Jesus such a shadowy figure - far removed from any credible historical evidence - that he bears no meaningful resemblance to the person described in the Bible?

She's had a crush on him for decades. He's finally in a place where he feels ready to date the boss's daughter. Can Cord and Jane take their relationship to the next level without getting burned? Jane Hammond has grown and matured a lot over the years. So much so that she's now working in the accounting department at the massive family company in downtown Denver. But she's living on her family's farm, which her older brother now owns. Her father lives in the generational house, and he still has his eye on Jane's wild streak. That, and that alone, has kept her from pursuing Cord Behr, the ...

Twenty-four of the Buddha's most distinguished disciples are brought to life in ten chapters of rich narration. They include monks who were very close to him throughout his life, including Sariputta and Mahamoggallana; his cousin and companion Ananda; his principal women disciples, including the nun Isidasi and his lay disciple, the courtesan Ambapali; and the serial killer Angulimala, whose character was transformed after meeting the Buddha.

Shunryu Suzuki, author of the beloved classic Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, is lovingly remembered as one of the greatest spiritual teachers of the 20th century - whose legacy is felt in every facet of American Zen. This monumental biography of Suzuki, written and read by his student David Chadwick, weaves together a rich tapestry of stories and memories of Suzuki’s students, family, and friends. In this updated and revised audiobook edition, Chadwick also offers rare excerpts from archived recordings of Suzuki’s teachings in the great Zen master's own voice.

Most people assume that life after death depends on the existence of God—if you don’t believe in God, then you can’t believe in the afterlife. Atheists in the Afterlife shows how that assumption is completely wrong. In this exciting book, Sea Kimbrell explains that there are eight paths to life after death, even if God does not exist. In plain language, Sea describes the scientific and philosophical concepts underlying each of those eight paths. Atheists in the Afterlife is an extraordinary book, illustrating that what we think we know about life—and death—may be only the ...

There are times when looking back helps to fuel our future. Looking back at the life of evangelist Maria Woodworth-Etter, you will be emboldened by the truth that nothing is impossible to the believer who surrenders to God. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Maria Woodworth-Etter, the grandmother of the Pentecostal movement, astounded many Americans as she traveled across the country holding revivals. At these meetings, the worst sinners in the town were saved, the most diseased were healed, and her biggest critics were proven wrong.

2022 Readers' Favorite silver medal winner for best religious themed fiction This novel, written from a Christian worldview, was inspired by Imagine Heaven, The New York Times Best Seller, by Pastor John Burke. Every year, thousands of people cheat death and come back to life. Many people have near-death experiences that offer a glimpse of Heaven. But none of these can compare to the remarkable near-death experience of Justin Parks. The past three years haven't been easy for Justin, causing him to lose faith in a loving, personal God. His fiancée gets killed by a drunk driver a week before...

After five hectic years of retirement from Lord's Chapel, Father Tim Kavanagh returns with his wife, Cynthia, from a so-called pleasure trip to the land of his Irish ancestors. While glad to be at home in Mitford, something is definitely missing: a pulpit. But when he's offered one, he decides he doesn't want it. Maybe he's lost his passion. His adopted son, Dooley, wrestles with his own passion - for the beautiful and gifted Lace Turner, and his vision to become a successful country vet.

St. Benedict was not interested in fame, power, or legacy. He was only interested in living the Christian life to the fullest and helping those around him do the same. The rest is history - and the work of Providence. Not only consecrated religious, but also many lay people, find inspiration in his call to balance, discipline, and prayer. Historically, St. Benedict helped bridge the early Church with the medieval period by standing on the shoulders of the fathers of the monastic tradition.