Download or read book Secrets Gossip and Gods written by Paul Christopher Johnson and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2002-08-15 with total page 238 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this wide-ranging book Paul Christopher Johnson explores the changing, hidden face of the Afro-Brazilian indigenous religion of Candomblé. Despite its importance in Brazilian society, Candomblé has received far less attention than its sister religions Vodou and Santeria. Johnson seeks to fill this void by offering a comprehensive look at the development, beliefs, and practices of Candomblé and exploring its transformation from a secret society of slaves--hidden, persecuted, and marginalized--to a public religion that is very much a part of Brazilian culture. Johnson traces this historical shift and locates the turning point in the creation of Brazilian national identity and a public sphere in the first half of the twentieth century. His major focus is on the ritual practice of secrecy in Candomblé. Like Vodou and Santeria and the African Yoruba religion from which they are descended, Candomblé features a hierarchic series of initiations, with increasing access to secret knowledge at each level. As Johnson shows, the nature and uses of secrecy evolved with the religion. First, secrecy was essential to a society that had to remain hidden from authorities. Later, when Candomblé became known and actively persecuted, its secrecy became a form of resistance as well as an exotic hidden power desired by elites. Finally, as Candomblé became a public religion and a vital part of Brazilian culture, the debate increasingly turned away from the secrets themselves and toward their possessors. It is speech about secrets, and not the content of those secrets, that is now most important in building status, legitimacy and power in Candomblé. Offering many first hand accounts of the rites and rituals of contemporary Candomblé, this book provides insight into this influential but little-studied group, while at the same time making a valuable contribution to our understanding of the relationship between religion and society.

Download or read book Secrets Gossip and Gods written by Paul Christopher Johnson and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 2002 with total page 250 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this wide-ranging book Paul Christopher Johnson explores the changing, hidden face of the Afro-Brazilian indigenous religion of Candomblé. Despite its importance in Brazilian society, Candomblé has received far less attention than its sister religions Vodou and Santeria. Johnson seeks to fill this void by offering a comprehensive look at the development, beliefs, and practices of Candomblé and exploring its transformation from a secret society of slaves--hidden, persecuted, and marginalized--to a public religion that is very much a part of Brazilian culture. Johnson traces this historical shift and locates the turning point in the creation of Brazilian national identity and a public sphere in the first half of the twentieth century. His major focus is on the ritual practice of secrecy in Candomblé. Like Vodou and Santeria and the African Yoruba religion from which they are descended, Candomblé features a hierarchic series of initiations, with increasing access to secret knowledge at each level. As Johnson shows, the nature and uses of secrecy evolved with the religion. First, secrecy was essential to a society that had to remain hidden from authorities. Later, when Candomblé became known and actively persecuted, its secrecy became a form of resistance as well as an exotic hidden power desired by elites. Finally, as Candomblé became a public religion and a vital part of Brazilian culture, the debate increasingly turned away from the secrets themselves and toward their possessors. It is speech about secrets, and not the content of those secrets, that is now most important in building status, legitimacy and power in Candomblé. Offering many first hand accounts of the rites and rituals of contemporary Candomblé, this book provides insight into this influential but little-studied group, while at the same time making a valuable contribution to our understanding of the relationship between religion and society.

Download or read book God Spare the Girls written by Kelsey McKinney and published by HarperCollins. This book was released on 2021-06-22 with total page 325 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Read it for twists on twists, meditations on faith, and a deeply thoughtful treatment of an evangelical community." — Glamour, Beach Reads That Are Like Summer in a Book “A thoughtful and candid meditation on faith, family, and forgiveness . . . fabulous.” —Claire Lombardo, New York Times bestselling author of The Most Fun We Ever Had Recommended by Good Housekeeping, Elle, Parade, Real Simple, Glamour,Refinery29,Bustle, Oprah Daily, The Millions, Shondaland, Yahoo!, Literary Hub, and more! A mesmerizing debut novel set in northern Texas about two sisters who discover an unsettling secret about their father, the head pastor of an evangelical megachurch, that upends their lives and community—a story of family, identity, and the delicate line between faith and deception. Luke Nolan has led the Hope congregation for more than a decade, while his wife and daughters have patiently upheld what it means to live righteously. Made famous by a viral sermon on purity co-written with his eldest daughter, Abigail, Luke is the prototype of a modern preacher: tall, handsome, a spellbinding speaker. But his younger daughter Caroline has begun to notice the cracks in their comfortable life. She is certain that her perfect, pristine sister is about to marry the wrong man—and Caroline has slid into sin with a boy she’s known her entire life, wondering why God would care so much about her virginity anyway. When it comes to light, five weeks before Abigail’s wedding, that Luke has been lying to his family, the entire Nolan clan falls into a tailspin. Caroline seizes the opportunity to be alone with her sister. The two girls flee to the ranch they inherited from their maternal grandmother, far removed from the embarrassing drama of their parents and the prying eyes of the community. But with the date of Abigail’s wedding fast approaching, the sisters will have to make a hard decision about which familial bonds are worth protecting. An intimate coming-of-age story and a modern woman’s read, God Spare the Girls lays bare the rabid love of sisterhood and asks what we owe our communities, our families, and ourselves. “A deeply felt book about love — love for family and community, for people who sustain you and people who disappoint you. And love for God, too, which Kelsey McKinney writes about with humane and incisive frankness.”—Linda Holmes, New York Times bestselling author of Evvie Drake Starts Over “The accomplishment of this canny novel is in positing coming of age itself as a loss of faith—not only in the church, but in our parents, our family, and the world as we thought we understood it.” — Rumaan Alam, New York Times bestselling author of Leave the World Behind and Rich and Pretty

Download or read book Resisting Gossip written by Matthew C. Mitchell and published by CLC Publications. This book was released on 2013-09-03 with total page 155 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With gossip being so prevalent in our culture, it can be hard to resist listening to and sharing stories about other people's business. But what does God say about gossip? In Resisting Gossip, Pastor Matt Mitchell not only outlines the scriptural warnings against gossip, but also demonstrates how the truth of the gospel can deliver believers from this temptation.

Download or read book The Secret of the Seven Pillars Building Your Life on God s Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs written by Daniel Biddle and published by Xulon Press. This book was released on 2007-08 with total page 250 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Proverbs offers incredible promises to those who seek God and live by Gods wisdom principles. This book can be used as a blueprint for building ones life after Gods wisdom principles, thereby bringing stability and success. (Christian)

Download or read book Pheme the Gossip written by Joan Holub and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2013-04-02 with total page 264 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Priding herself on having the most up-to-date information about everyone at Mount Olympus Academy, gossipy Pheme sends VIP messages that linger in cloud letters above her head, a habit that raises the ire of her fellow goddesses.

Download or read book Afro Caribbean Religions written by Nathaniel Samuel Murrell and published by Temple University Press. This book was released on 2010-01-25 with total page 432 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Religion is one of the most important elements of Afro-Caribbean culture linking its people to their African past, from Haitian Vodou and Cuban Santeria—popular religions that have often been demonized in popular culture—to Rastafari in Jamaica and Orisha-Shango of Trinidad and Tobago. In Afro-Caribbean Religions, Nathaniel Samuel Murrell provides a comprehensive study that respectfully traces the social, historical, and political contexts of these religions. And, because Brazil has the largest African population in the world outside of Africa, and has historic ties to the Caribbean, Murrell includes a section on Candomble, Umbanda, Xango, and Batique. This accessibly written introduction to Afro-Caribbean religions examines the cultural traditions and transformations of all of the African-derived religions of the Caribbean along with their cosmology, beliefs, cultic structures, and ritual practices. Ideal for classroom use, Afro-Caribbean Religions also includes a glossary defining unfamiliar terms and identifying key figures.

Download or read book The Secrets of the Kingdom written by Hugh B. Urban and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2007 with total page 248 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Secrets of the Kingdom is the first book to critically examine the complex relationship between faith and concealment in the Bush White House.

Download or read book Encouragement for Today written by Renee Swope and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 2013-09-24 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Pull away from the things that pull you down and find lasting encouragement for today. The women at Proverbs 31 Ministries offer 100 devotions of wit, wisdom, and encouragement for women. For twenty years the P31 team has equipped and encouraged nearly a million women to live in the power of God’s truths that apply to their everyday life. Written by women from every walk of life, you will find inspiration to live authentically and fully grounded in the Word of God. The P31 Team shares from the realities of everyday life including highs and lows, humorous stories and tender moments. You will be drawn toward the truths God offers and enabled to rise above and become all God created you to be.

Download or read book God Is Not One written by Stephen Prothero and published by ReadHowYouWant.com. This book was released on 2010-09-20 with total page 594 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: fascinating guide to religion and its place in the world today. In God Is Not One, bestselling author Stephen Prothero makes a fresh and provocative argument that, contrary to popular understanding, all religions are not simply ''different paths to the same God.'' Instead, he shows that the differences between the major religions are far greater than we think: they each ask different questions, tackle different problems, and aim at different goals. God Is Not One highlights the unique aspects of the world's major religions, with chapters on Islam, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Yoruba religion, Judaism, Daoism and atheism. Lucid and compelling, God Is Not One offers a new understanding of religion for the twenty-first century.

Download or read book Open and Unafraid written by W. David O. Taylor and published by Thomas Nelson. This book was released on 2020-03-10 with total page 257 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "A book you will want to read and read again." -- Eugene Peterson Afterword by Bono. How can you find a more transparent, resilient, and fearless life of faith? Open and Unafraid by David Taylor takes readers on a profound journey through the book of Psalms, which has been a central pillar for God's people for millennia, across all walks of life and cultural contexts. In reading it, we discover that we are never alone in our joys, sorrows, angers, doubts, praises, or thanksgivings. In it, we learn about prayer and poetry, honesty and community, justice and enemies, life and death, nations and creation. As a professor, pastor, author, and producer of the short film Bono and Eugene Peterson: The Psalms, David Taylor has created an accessible guide to the psalms that resonates deeply with first-time and long-time Bible readers, poets and artists, devout believers and spiritual seekers alike. Open and Unafraid shows you how to read the psalms in a fresh, life-giving way, and so access the bottomless resources for life and experience the presence of God--in order to deepen discipleship and worship. Endorsements: "David Taylor’s take is 'open and unafraid' alright. He really goes there, exposing himself before God in the most beautiful way. He might have called the book Naked, because if you don’t find your own self feeling a little exposed here, it might be time to take some armor off." -- Bono, from the Afterword "A book that you will want to read and read again, and yet again, in order to discover the wisdom of the Psalms that shows us how to walk in the life-giving way of Jesus." -- Eugene Peterson, from the Foreword "A winsome, accessible entry into the Book of Psalms…Connects the poetry of the psalms to real-life wonders and struggles." -- Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary "Taylor reads these biblical prayers with Dr. Seuss, rappers, and other poets, along with theologians and the daily news....Guides readers in tracing out patterns of holy speech that have the potential for healing our hearts and our communities." -- Ellen F. Davis, Duke Divinity School "I have always loved the psalms--for their defiant devotion, their deep joy, and their brutal yet beautiful honesty. And after reading this fantastic book about them, I love them even more." -- Matt Redman, worship leader and song writer "In these fraught and fearsome days, we need the psalms more than ever. And we need more faithful artists and thinkers like David Taylor to mine the infinite gifts the psalms offer across the ages." -- Karen Swallow Prior, author of Fierce Convictions

Download or read book PostSecret written by Frank Warren and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 2005-11-29 with total page 290 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The project that captured a nation's imagination. The instructions were simple, but the results were extraordinary. "You are invited to anonymously contribute a secret to a group art project. Your secret can be a regret, fear, betrayal, desire, confession, or childhood humiliation. Reveal anything -- as long as it is true and you have never shared it with anyone before. Be brief. Be legible. Be creative." It all began with an idea Frank Warren had for a community art project. He began handing out postcards to strangers and leaving them in public places -- asking people to write down a secret they had never told anyone and mail it to him, anonymously. The response was overwhelming. The secrets were both provocative and profound, and the cards themselves were works of art -- carefully and creatively constructed by hand. Addictively compelling, the cards reveal our deepest fears, desires, regrets, and obsessions. Frank calls them "graphic haiku," beautiful, elegant, and small in structure but powerfully emotional. As Frank began posting the cards on his website, PostSecret took on a life of its own, becoming much more than a simple art project. It has grown into a global phenomenon, exposing our individual aspirations, fantasies, and frailties -- our common humanity. Every day dozens of postcards still make their way to Frank, with postmarks from around the world, touching on every aspect of human experience. This extraordinary collection brings together the most powerful, personal, and beautifully intimate secrets Frank Warren has received -- and brilliantly illuminates that human emotions can be unique and universal at the same time.

Download or read book The Gossip written by Nancy Bush and published by Zebra Books. This book was released on 2021-06-29 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Every word you whisper In high school, rumors can make or destroy a reputation. A thoughtless nickname can turn each day into a living hell. Gossip is irresistible—and contagious. But sometimes, gossip can kill . . . Every secret you share Mackenzie Laughlin, formerly with Oregon’s River Glen police department, has reluctantly agreed to investigate a local woman’s disappearance. The case reconnects her with Jesse James Taft, a P.I. gifted at getting under Mac’s skin. But when the body is found tangled in river weeds, Mac and Taft realize that the case has changed, from one missing woman to a hunt for a terrifying and relentless killer . . . Could be your last In his old school yearbooks, they were the pretty, popular ones, confident and callous. Back then, they held the power. But now, it’s all his. He’s been waiting to teach them the lessons they should have learned long ago: that gossip and popularity have a price, and it’s time to pay . . .

Download or read book Encyclopedic Dictionary of Cults Sects and World Religions written by Larry A. Nichols and published by Zondervan Academic. This book was released on 2010-02-23 with total page 827 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Up-to-date, well-documented, comprehensive coverage of cults, sects, and world religions, from the historical to the contemporary INCLUDES • Well-known groups and world religions, such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Islam, and Baha’i • Groups with a significant North American influence, including Santeria, Rastafarians, Haitian Voodo, white supremacy groups, Wicca, and Satanism REVISED, UPDATED, AND EXPANDED TO INCLUDE NEW ENTRIES AND NEW INFORMATION • Updated information on Islam and its global impact • New entries: the Branch Davidians, Native American religions, Heaven’s Gate, Aum Supreme Truth, the Boston Movement, the Masonic Lodge, and many others • Developments in the world of cults and the occult Encyclopedic Dictionary of Cults, Sects, and World Religions is arguably the most significant reference book on the subject to be published. Formerly titled Dictionary of Cults, Sects, Religions, and the Occult, it provides reliable information on the history and beliefs of nearly every form of religion active today. This extensively revised edition includes new topics, updated information, and a brand-new format for a clearer, more organized approach. The authors evaluate the beliefs and practices of each group from the perspective of the Bible and the historic creeds of the Christian church. You’ll also find group histories, numerous illustrations, charts, current statistics, websites, bibliographies, and other useful information.

Download or read book Keep It Shut written by Karen Ehman and published by HarperChristian + ORM. This book was released on 2015-01-06 with total page 233 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Kind, encouraging, and humorous, Karen Ehman helps us learn the essential practice of using our words more effectively--alleviating heartache and regret, reducing relational tension and conflict, lessening our stress levels, and growing our relationship with God. From Bible times to modern times women have struggled with their words. What to say and how to say it. What not to say. When it is best to remain silent. And what to do when you've said something you wish you could now take back. In this book a woman whose mouth has gotten her into loads of trouble shares the hows (and how-not-tos) of dealing with the tongue. Beyond just a "how not to gossip" book, this book explores what the Bible says about the many ways we are to use our words and the times when we are to remain silent. Karen will cover using our speech to interact with friends, co-workers, family, and strangers as well as in the many places we use our words in private, in public, online, and in prayer. Even the words we say silently to ourselves. She will address unsolicited opinion-slinging, speaking the truth in love, not saying words just to people-please, and dealing with our verbal anger. Christian women struggle with their mouths. Even though we know that Scripture has much to say about how we are--and are not--to use our words, this is still an immense issue, causing heartache and strain not only in family relationships, but also in friendships, work, and church settings. Also available: Keep It Shut small group video study and study guide.

Download or read book The Big Secret to Unlocking the Power of God S Word Simply Believe It written by Nola Estwick and published by WestBow Press. This book was released on 2014-06-03 with total page 322 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Nolas first published book, which I highly recommend to readers, is a testimony to the importance of the preeminent values of trust and faith. As a writer she communicates in an engaging style, producing many powerful and deep insights dressed in the cloak of humor. H.E . The Hon Robert. L. Morris, Barbados Ambassador to CARICOM and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) This work represents a journey into a previously under-explored aspect of our spirituality. This book is a must-read, particularly for those of us who are engaged in our own struggles with a humanity that needs to be taught the lesson of faith. Pedro L.V.Welch (Professor) Dean (Faculty of Humanities), (UWI) Personal, practical, pulsating and prayer-based, a life-story that will strengthen your faith in God, change your outlook on life and how to deal with the sometimes daunting but God-allowed situations we often face. Vincent Yearwood, Church Elder and Retired Business Leader It gives me great pleasure to endorse this great feat of spiritual and emotional victory captured in almost 300 pages of beauty, style, and poise. Nolas commitment to share her journey is beyond admiration. I unreservedly endorse this book as a divinely appointed and written testimony of inspiration, guidance and love. Dr. Stephen Pilgrim, PhD, MCIM, MIMgt Former Vice President (USC) When God speaks, He desires obedience from the heart. This willing submission to Gods Word is the golden vein of truth in this inspiring work. For that reason, I recommend it without hesitation. Obedience is life. Pastor Randy Skeete, International Evangelist

Download or read book The Secret Is Out God s Truth Vs Satan s Doctrine written by Innocent Nangoma and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2020-04-16 with total page 474 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Once upon a time, a man named Godfrey White took it on himself to read the whole bible to determine its validity. Unfortunately, he could not understand it. This upset Godfrey White because he saw the positive impact it had done on other lives and wanted to know more about this “One God” so that it could impact his life too. Mr. White was extremely irritated by the bible because when he read it, he felt like it was judging him, so he felt unworthy of it. Mr. White would spend hours on hours during the day trying to figure out what God’s love was all about but felt it was too overwhelming to take in. He would sometimes read it before bed but found the stories as fictional and boring. He did his best to study it and maybe understand who God was but failed to do so. Therefore, Godfrey White placed the book in his closet, where all the other books he had finished reading were. He continued on with his life but everyday he would hear a voice calling to him, “Do you wish to know the truth?” He was not sure where the voice was coming from, so he ignored it. But the more he ignored it, the louder the voice got. Godfrey White soon began to lose his mind because the voice would not go away, so one day when he was alone in his room he spoke back to the voice, “Who is it that is speaking? Am I going crazy? What is the truth?” It was at that moment when the voice spoke back to him saying, “I heard you were searching for me, so I called back to you, but you ignored me. Go to your closet and find that book you have failed to understand, and I will guide you to the truth. Today the gospel shall be revealed to you, and you shall not only receive truth but a relationship with me.” #TheSecretIsOut