Download or read book Catholic Guilt and the Joy of Hating Men written by Regan Wolfrom and published by Wolfrom Writes. This book was released on 2012-11-27 with total page 315 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Nine Women. Nine Stories. And nothing ordinary about them. From the slightly askew mind of Regan Wolfrom comes this collection of hilariously dark tales of love, death, and horrible timing. Heather Smythe Pretty. Shy. About as lapsed as a Catholic can get. Heather's trapped in the a cult of killer succubi with a taste for East Hollywood douches. ("High Times at the Sixth Annual Succubus Sisters Garage and Bake Sale") Amanda Hackensack Somewhat tall. Can't dunk. Never knew her father. Amanda wakes up in a world of voodoo and zombies that she knows shouldn't exist. ("The Zombification of Amanda Hackensack") Marguerite Frunkel Lonely. Awkward. Painfully ginger. Marguerite finds two strange little gnomes who show her just what she's been missing. ("Gnome on Girl on Gnome: A Love Story") Laura Daniels Political outsider. Maverick. Avowed crazy cat lady. Laura learns the sinister truth behind her unexpected electoral success. ("The Siamese Candidate") Stephanie Munro Hard working. Hard drinking. Hard to please. Stephanie comes to regret taking a trip on the edge of the world with people she knows she shouldn't trust. ("The Raven's Head Dagger and the Custom of the Seas") Marie-Claire Grimson Pink hair. Pretty smile. Likes to eat people. Marie-Claire may soon discover that meat is murder no matter how you slice it. ("Vegans Are F**king Delicious") Maddy McKay A little lonely. A little self-conscious. Starving to death. Maddy's trying to slim down to starving model size, but her little housemates don't seem all that supportive. ("Maddy McKay and the Elves in Her House") Vanessa Dervoe Softball legend. Proud Yooper. Breathes underwater. Vanessa's strange gift has gotten her nowhere in life, stuck in a sad amusement park and surrounded by death. ("The Ocean Goddess and The Home Run Queen") Kara Hermin Mysterious. Troubled. Loads of fun at parties. Kara's lived a long and dangerous life, and may be forced to live it all over again. ("Born Again at Granny's Cave")
Download or read book The Joy of the Gospel written by Pope Francis and published by Image. This book was released on 2014-10-07 with total page 164 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The perfect gift! A specially priced, beautifully designed hardcover edition of The Joy of the Gospel with a foreword by Robert Barron and an afterword by James Martin, SJ. “The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus… In this Exhortation I wish to encourage the Christian faithful to embark upon a new chapter of evangelization marked by this joy, while pointing out new paths for the Church’s journey in years to come.” – Pope Francis This special edition of Pope Francis's popular message of hope explores themes that are important for believers in the 21st century. Examining the many obstacles to faith and what can be done to overcome those hurdles, he emphasizes the importance of service to God and all his creation. Advocating for “the homeless, the addicted, refugees, indigenous peoples, the elderly who are increasingly isolated and abandoned,” the Holy Father shows us how to respond to poverty and current economic challenges that affect us locally and globally. Ultimately, Pope Francis demonstrates how to develop a more personal relationship with Jesus Christ, “to recognize the traces of God’s Spirit in events great and small.” Profound in its insight, yet warm and accessible in its tone, The Joy of the Gospel is a call to action to live a life motivated by divine love and, in turn, to experience heaven on earth. Includes a foreword by Robert Barron, author of Catholicism: A Journey to the Heart of the Faith and James Martin, SJ, author of Jesus: A Pilgrimage
Download or read book Hating God written by Bernard Schweizer and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2010-11-04 with total page 257 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: While atheists such as Richard Dawkins have now become public figures, there is another and perhaps darker strain of religious rebellion that has remained out of sight--people who hate God. In this revealing book, Bernard Schweizer looks at men and women who do not question God's existence, but deny that He is merciful, competent, or good. Sifting through a wide range of literary and historical works, Schweizer finds that people hate God for a variety of reasons. Some are motivated by social injustice, human suffering, or natural catastrophes that God does not prevent. Some blame God for their personal tragedies. Schweizer concludes that, despite their blasphemous thoughts, these people tend to be creative and moral individuals, and include such literary lights as Friedrich Nietzsche, Mark Twain, Zora Neale Hurston, Rebecca West, Elie Wiesel, and Philip Pullman. Schweizer shows that literature is a fertile ground for God haters. Many authors, who dare not voice their negative attitude to God openly, turn to fiction to give vent to it. Indeed, Schweizer provides many new and startling readings of literary masterpieces, highlighting the undercurrent of hatred for God. Moreover, by probing the deeper mainsprings that cause sensible, rational, and moral beings to turn against God, Schweizer offers answers to some of the most vexing questions that beset human relationships with the divine.
Download or read book The Catholic Gentleman written by Sam Guzman and published by Ignatius Press. This book was released on 2019-04-24 with total page 186 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What it means to be a man or a woman is questioned today like never before. While traditional gender roles have been eroding for decades, now the very categories of male and female are being discarded with reckless abandon. How does one act like a gentleman in such confusing times? The Catholic Gentleman is a solid and practical guide to virtuous manhood. It turns to the timeless wisdom of the Catholic Church to answer the important questions men are currently asking. In short, easy- to-read chapters, the author offers pithy insights on a variety of topics, including • How to know you are an authentic man • Why our bodies matter • The value of tradition • The purpose of courtesy • What real holiness is and how to achieve it • How to deal with failure in the spiritual life
Download or read book Choosing Joy written by Dan Lord and published by Our Sunday Visitor. This book was released on 2012-11-15 with total page 83 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What is joy? Ask ten different people and you'll get ten different answers. Yet if you asked: a man who grew up fatherless and destitute in the slums of Atlanta a young widow who decided to bring a neglected garden back to life in spite of agonizing physical pain and a deeply wounded spirit or author Dan Lord himself, ex-frontman for a popular indie rock band each would point to the one source of their joy: Jesus. They made the choice for joy, against all odds, and so can you, though the obstacles might seem insurmountable. Worry and anxiety, pain and suffering, the daily grind -- all these and more can block your path. When faced with such challenges, is it possible to get past the barriers, let go, and experience God's joy? When you look around, you might wonder -- although joy is a fruit of the Spirit, it doesn't seem to be hanging visibly from many Christian boughs. Choosing Joy aims to change that -- and change your life in the process -- as it helps you discover the key to this most attractive but seemingly elusive gift. Choosing Joy will help you overcome the obstacles and focus your heart, mind and strength on God so that you can receive the happiness and peace that the world cannot give.
Download or read book Visioning written by Marianne Stevens and published by Heartland Publishing House. This book was released on 2008-11 with total page 135 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: " Visioning] speaks to our hearts, mind, and spirit with a delightful, lyrical, and wise guidance to help us shift from the separated to the divine self that we really are." Barbara Marx Hubbard. We can create the life of our wildest dreams, a life that serves ourselves and humanity, the life we were born to live. Do you have a great dream but it never gets beyond the dreaming stage? Are you being called to do great work but are frustrated that it's not happening? Visioning shows you that yes, it's really true - you are being called to fulfill yourself and better the world at the same time. And you can. By mastering the art of visioning, you can live your dreams. LEARN: How to use the power of the Law to create what you want; the five steps of affirmative prayer; the six steps of visioning; how to strengthen your commitment to your vision; how to set your intention; how to create sacred covenants. Our soul yearns for expression. It's time to soar.
Download or read book On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering written by Pope John Paul II and published by . This book was released on 2014-01-01 with total page 107 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Published on February 11, 1984, Salvifici Doloris addresses the question of why God allows suffering. This 30th anniversary edition includes the complete text of the letter plus commentary by Myles N. Sheehan, SJ, MD, a priest and physician trained in geriatrics with an expertise in palliative care. Acknowledgments of recent episodes of violence bring the papal document into a modern context. Insightful questions suited for individual or group use, applicable prayers, and ideas for meaningful action invite readers to personally respond to the mystery of suffering.
Download or read book I Love Jesus But I Want to Die written by Sarah J. Robinson and published by WaterBrook. This book was released on 2021-05-11 with total page 257 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A compassionate, shame-free guide for your darkest days “A one-of-a-kind book . . . to read for yourself or give to a struggling friend or loved one without the fear that depression and suicidal thoughts will be minimized, medicalized or over-spiritualized.”—Kay Warren, cofounder of Saddleback Church What happens when loving Jesus doesn’t cure you of depression, anxiety, or suicidal thoughts? You might be crushed by shame over your mental illness, only to be told by well-meaning Christians to “choose joy” and “pray more.” So you beg God to take away the pain, but nothing eases the ache inside. As darkness lingers and color drains from your world, you’re left wondering if God has abandoned you. You just want a way out. But there’s hope. In I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die, Sarah J. Robinson offers a healthy, practical, and shame-free guide for Christians struggling with mental illness. With unflinching honesty, Sarah shares her story of battling depression and fighting to stay alive despite toxic theology that made her afraid to seek help outside the church. Pairing her own story with scriptural insights, mental health research, and simple practices, Sarah helps you reconnect with the God who is present in our deepest anguish and discover that you are worth everything it takes to get better. Beautifully written and full of hard-won wisdom, I Love Jesus, But I Want to Die offers a path toward a rich, hope-filled life in Christ, even when healing doesn’t look like what you expect.
Download or read book Gay and Catholic written by Eve Tushnet and published by Ave Maria Press. This book was released on 2014-10-20 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Winner of a 2015 Catholic Press Award: Gender Issues Category (First Place). In this first book from an openly lesbian and celibate Catholic, widely published writer and blogger Eve Tushnet recounts her spiritual and intellectual journey from liberal atheism to faithful Catholicism and shows how gay Catholics can love and be loved while adhering to Church teaching. Eve Tushnet was among the unlikeliest of converts. The only child of two atheist academics, Tushnet was a typical Yale undergraduate until the day she went out to poke fun at a gathering of philosophical debaters, who happened also to be Catholic. Instead of enjoying mocking what she termed the “zoo animals,” she found herself engaged in intellectual conversation with them and, in a move that surprised even her, she soon converted to Catholicism. Already self-identifying as a lesbian, Tushnet searched for a third way in the seeming two-option system available to gay Catholics: reject Church teaching on homosexuality or reject the truth of your sexuality. Gay and Catholic: Accepting My Sexuality, Finding Community, Living My Faith is the fruit of Tushnet’s searching: what she learned in studying Christian history and theology and her articulation of how gay Catholics can pour their love and need for connection into friendships, community, service, and artistic creation.
Download or read book Passion Pursuit written by Linda Dillow and published by Moody Publishers. This book was released on 2013-07-22 with total page 233 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A Bible study about sex for women? Now that’s different! This new study, Passion Pursuit: What Kind of Love Are You Making?, lets God’s Word speak about sex as being holy and erotic, blessed by God, and satisfying far beyond what the world can even imagine. Picture that as a headline on the cover of Cosmopolitan! By using scripture throughout the Bible, Passion Pursuit not only urges women to pursue passion but details how God has given them permission to do so. Though there is fun to be had along the way in this study, it hits hard on the questions women have but are hesitant to ask, like: What does God say is okay and not okay in the bedroom? I’m 54 years old; how can my husband still be attracted to me? Why did God make men and women so different? This audaciously bold study combines the psychological expertise of Dr Juli Slattery, formerly of Focus on the Family, along with moving stories from trusted Bible teacher and best-selling author Linda Dillow. The groups who have already done this study have seen their marriages come alive, whether they’ve been married four months or forty years; be next! PLUS! Check out the Passion Pursuit DVD for even more great teaching from Lisa Dillow and Dr. Slattery. It's the perfect resource for individuals or small groups.
Download or read book Men of Dialogue written by Ernest William Rollins and published by . This book was released on 1969 with total page 330 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Martin Buber, one of the most significant philosophers of the 20th century, and Albrecht Goes, a major literary figure in post-World War II Germany (who served as a Protestant chaplain in Hitler's armed forces) came to know and respect each other during the dark days culminating in the Nazi murder of 6 million Jews. Across this seemingly vast gulf they engaged in dialogue, carried by letters and in their separate writings.
Download or read book REBUILDING A LOST FAITH BY AN AMERICAN AGNOSTIC written by JOHN L. STODDARD and published by . This book was released on 1826 with total page 260 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Jesus Religion written by Jefferson Bethke and published by HarperChristian + ORM. This book was released on 2013-10-14 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Abandon dead, dry, religious rule-keeping and embrace the promise of being truly known and deeply loved. Jefferson Bethke burst into the cultural conversation with a passionate, provocative poem titled "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus." The 4-minute video became an overnight sensation, with 7 million YouTube views in its first 48 hours (and 23+ million in a year). Bethke's message clearly struck a chord with believers and nonbelievers alike, triggering an avalanche of responses running the gamut from encouraged to enraged. In his New York Times bestseller Jesus > Religion, Bethke unpacks similar contrasts that he drew in the poem--highlighting the difference between teeth gritting and grace, law and love, performance and peace, despair, and hope. With refreshing candor, he delves into the motivation behind his message, beginning with the unvarnished tale of his own plunge from the pinnacle of a works-based, fake-smile existence that sapped his strength and led him down a path of destructive behavior. Along the way, Bethke gives you the tools you need to: Humbly and prayerfully open your mind Understand Jesus for all that he is View the church from a brand-new perspective Bethke is quick to acknowledge that he's not a pastor or theologian, but simply an ordinary, twenty-something who cried out for a life greater than the one for which he had settled. On this journey, Bethke discovered the real Jesus, who beckoned him with love beyond the props of false religion. Praise for Jesus > Religion: "Jeff's book will make you stop and listen to a voice in your heart that may have been drowned out by the noise of religion. Listen to that voice, then follow it--right to the feet of Jesus." --Bob Goff, author of New York Times bestsellers Love Does and Everybody, Always "The book you hold in your hands is Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz meets C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity meets Augustine's Confessions. This book is going to awaken an entire generation to Jesus and His grace." --Derwin L. Gray, lead pastor of Transformation Church, author of Limitless Life: Breaking Free from the Labels That Hold You Back
Download or read book Why I Love the Apostle Paul written by John Piper and published by Crossway. This book was released on 2019-01-17 with total page 178 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Besides Jesus, no one has kept me from despair, or taken me deeper into the mysteries of the gospel, than the apostle Paul." —John Piper No one has had a greater impact on the world for eternal good than the apostle Paul—except Jesus himself. For John Piper, this impact is very personal. He does not just admire and trust Paul. He loves him. Piper gives us thirty glimpses into why his heart and mind respond this way. Can a Christian-killer really endure 195 lashes from a heart of love? Can a mystic who thinks he was caught up into heaven be a model of lucid rationality? Can an ethnocentric Jew write the most beautiful call to reconciliation? Can a person who lives with the unceasing anguish of empathy be always rejoicing? Can a man's description of the horrors of human sin be exceeded by his delight in human splendor? Can a man with a backbone of steel be as tender as a nursing mother? If we know this man—if we see what Piper sees—we too will love him. Paul's testimony is a matter of life and death. Piper invites you into his relationship with Paul in the hope that you will know life, forever.
Download or read book 50 Things You re Not Supposed to Know Religion written by Daniele Bolelli and published by Red Wheel Weiser. This book was released on 2011-12-20 with total page 191 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This compendium of obscure facts about the world’s religions highlights the political, cultural, and philosophical aspects of the history of religion. If you’re waiting for the world’s “Holy Men” to tell you the truth about their religions, do you suppose they’ll mention that: The Tao Te Ching was only created because Lao Tzu was thrown in jail by a disciple who didn’t want to let him leave town without writing down his teachings? “Passover” celebrates God killing all firstborn Egyptian kids while Jewish homes were “passed over” by the angel of death? Shinto, a natureloving, mellow religion, was transformed by the Japanese government into a nationalistic ideology promoting “holy” war? Adding to its popular “50 Things You’re Not Supposed To Know” series, Disinformation has teamed with Daniele Bolelli—writer, professor of comparative religion, and renowned martial arts practitioner and philosopher—to tackle an ever more serious and important topic: popular misconceptions about religion. Among other revelations: Carpocrates, an early Christian, argued that sex orgies were a key to heaven. Prostitution was a religious duty in Mesopotamian temples. The two major Chinese religions (Taoism and Confucianism) are completely at odds with each other and yet are often practiced together. Despite having persecuted Jews for two thousand years, Christian fundamentalists are Israel’s biggest supporters. Capturing just the right balance of in-depth knowledge, respect, humor, and irreverence, Bolelli takes an ecumenical approach to the task, revealing surprising, shocking, and little-known facts about the “big three” religions but also many more, including Zen Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, and, of course, the increasingly popular nonreligion: atheism.
Download or read book Gospelbound written by Collin Hansen and published by Multnomah. This book was released on 2021-04-06 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A profound exploration of how to hold on to hope when our unchanging faith collides with a changing culture, from two respected Christian storytellers and thought leaders. “Offers neither spin control nor image maintenance for the evangelical tribe, but genuine hope.”—Russell Moore, president of ERLC As the pressures of health warnings, economic turmoil, and partisan politics continue to rise, the influence of gospel-focused Christians seems to be waning. In the public square and popular opinion, we are losing our voice right when it’s needed most for Christ’s glory and the common good. But there’s another story unfolding too—if you know where to look. In Gospelbound, Collin Hansen and Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra counter these growing fears with a robust message of resolute hope for anyone hungry for good news. Join them in exploring profound stories of Christians who are quietly changing the world in the name of Jesus—from the wild world of digital media to the stories of ancient saints and unsung contemporary activists on the frontiers of justice and mercy. Discover how, in these dark times, the light of Jesus shines even brighter. You haven’t heard the whole story. And that’s good news.
Download or read book Creating Cultural Synergies written by Birgit Breninger and published by Cambridge Scholars Publishing. This book was released on 2012-11-15 with total page 250 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The past several decades have seen the re-invigoration of the concept of “intercultural competence” as one of the fundamental and most promising approaches towards studying culture in a respectfully complex way. The introduction of this concept, which has been defined and adapted in manifold ways in various disciplines, offers new ways of exploring the inherent multiplicity and versatility of cultural encounters and mutual understanding. This book brings together a stellar group of international researchers working in such diverse fields as business studies, religious studies, educational studies and communication studies. In critical pursuit of how to set intercultural competence to work in today’s society, the contributors to this indispensible volume elucidate with passion and astuteness the challenges and potentials of interculturality and interreligiosity.
