Download or read book The Religious Test Why We Must Question the Beliefs of Our Leaders written by Damon Linker and published by W. W. Norton & Company. This book was released on 2010-09-27 with total page 253 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A manifesto seeking to exhort both believers and atheists to behave better in the public sphere. The Constitution states that “no religious test” may keep a candidate from aspiring to political office. Yet, since John F. Kennedy used the phrase to deflect concerns about his Catholicism, the public has largely avoided probing candidates’ religious beliefs. Is it true, however, that a candidate’s religious convictions should be off-limits to public scrutiny? Damon Linker doesn’t think so, and in this book he outlines the various elements of religious belief—including radical atheism—that are simply incompatible with high office, and sometimes even active citizenship, in a democracy. In six forceful chapters he enlightens us to the complicated interrelations between churches and states, consistently applying a political litmus test to a range of theological views. Along the way, he clearly explains, among other topics, why the government in a religiously tolerant society must not promote a uniform, absolute code of ethics and behavior; why the conviction that America is worthy of divine attention is dangerous; and why the liberal position on the political deregulation of sex is our nation’s only hope for conciliation. In this provocative, hard-hitting manifesto, Linker exhorts both believers and atheists to behave better in the public sphere, and he offers a carefully charted road map for doing so.
Download or read book The Religious Test written by Damon Linker and published by W. W. Norton. This book was released on 2010-09 with total page 256 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A manifesto seeking to exhort both believers and atheists to behave better in the public sphere.
Download or read book The Irony of Barack Obama written by R. Ward Holder and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2016-03-09 with total page 233 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Drawing on the political theology of Reinhold Niebuhr, described by Barack Obama as 'one of my favourite philosophers', this book assesses the challenges facing the President during his first term. It evaluates his success in adhering to Niebuhr's path of 'Christian realism' when faced with the pragmatic demands of domestic and foreign affairs. In 2008 Candidate Obama used the ideas of 'Hope' and 'Change' to inspire voters and secure the presidency. Obama promised change not only regarding America's policies, but even more fundamentally in the nation's political culture. Holder and Josephson describe the foundations of President Obama's Christian faith and the extent to which it has shaped his approach to politics. Their book explores Obama's journey of faith in the context of a broadly Augustinian understanding of faith and politics, examines the tensions between Christian realism and pragmatic progressivism, explains why a Christian realist interpretation is essential to understanding Obama's presidency, and applies this model of understanding to considerations of foreign and domestic policy. By combining this theological and political analysis the book offers a special opportunity to reflect on the relationship between Christian faith and statesmanship, reflections that are missing from current popular discussions of the Obama presidency. Through consideration of Niebuhr's models of the prophet and the statesman, and the more popular alternative of the political evangelist, Holder and Josephson are better able to explain the president's successes and his failures, and to unveil the Augustinian limits of the political life.
Download or read book Mormonism and American Politics written by Randall Balmer and published by Columbia University Press. This book was released on 2015-12-08 with total page 261 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When Joseph Smith ran for president as a radical protest candidate in 1844, Mormons were a deeply distrusted group in American society, and their efforts to enter public life were met with derision. When Mitt Romney ran for president as a Republican in 2008 and 2012, the public had come to regard Mormons as consummate Americans: patriotic, family-oriented, and conservative. How did this shift occur? In this collection, prominent scholars of Mormonism, including Claudia L. Bushman, Richard Lyman Bushman, Jan Shipps, and Philip L. Barlow, follow the religion's quest for legitimacy in the United States and its intersection with American politics. From Brigham Young's skirmishes with the federal government over polygamy to the Mormon involvement in California's Proposition 8, contributors combine sociology, political science, race and gender studies, and popular culture to track Mormonism's rapid integration into American life. The book takes a broad view of the religion's history, considering its treatment of women and African Americans and its portrayal in popular culture and the media. With essays from both Mormon and non-Mormon scholars, this anthology tells a big-picture story of a small sect that became a major player in American politics.
Download or read book Convicting the Mormons written by Janiece Johnson and published by UNC Press Books. This book was released on 2023-04-06 with total page 235 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: On September 11, 1857, a small band of Mormons led by John D. Lee massacred an emigrant train of men, women, and children heading west at Mountain Meadows, Utah. News of the Mountain Meadows Massacre, as it became known, sent shockwaves through the western frontier of the United States, reaching the nation's capital and eventually crossing the Atlantic. In the years prior to the massacre, Americans dubbed the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints the "Mormon problem" as it garnered national attention for its "unusual" theocracy and practice of polygamy. In the aftermath of the massacre, many Americans viewed Mormonism as a real religious and physical threat to white civilization. Putting the Mormon Church on trial for its crimes against American purity became more important than prosecuting those responsible for the slaughter. Religious historian Janiece Johnson analyzes how sensational media attention used the story of the Mountain Meadows Massacre to enflame public sentiment and provoke legal action against Latter-day Saints. Ministers, novelists, entertainers, cartoonists, and federal officials followed suit, spreading anti-Mormon sentiment to collectively convict the Mormon religion itself. This troubling episode in American religious history sheds important light on the role of media and popular culture in provoking religious intolerance that continues to resonate in the present.
Download or read book The Case against Democracy written by Steven Michels and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2013-02-20 with total page 329 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The case for democracy is an intrinsic part of our political culture. This non-partisan book provides the other side of the story via well-researched history and current events that illuminate the theory and practice of democracy. Are the politics of the United States to blame for its current unsteady footing in the 21st century? This book aims to answer this uncomfortable but relevant question by examining the strengths and weaknesses of democracy, addressing complex topics such as the history of liberalism, the relationship between democracy and capitalism, the nature of representation, and the difference between government and politics. Each of the book's chapters focuses on a recognized shortcoming of popular government, such as inefficiency, self-interestedness, and non-participation. Each section begins by focusing on current events and tracing issues back through history—through to the American founding, and in many instances, to antiquity. In the conclusion, the author proposes a series of thought-provoking fixes.
Download or read book Religion Today written by Ross Aden and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2024-07-02 with total page 409 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Religion Today introduces students to key concepts in religious studies through a compelling problem-solving framework. Each chapter opens with a contemporary case study that helps students engage in current religious issues, explore possible solutions to difficult religious problems today, and learn key themes and concepts in religious studies. To enhance student learning, a free Student Study Guide is available for download from Rowman & Littlefield. The Study Guide features chapter summaries, definition quizzes for students to test themselves on key terms, and possible learning activities.
Download or read book Coming to God written by William F. Kraft and published by Wipf and Stock Publishers. This book was released on 2015-04-15 with total page 219 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Most academic and therapeutic programs do not include spirituality and God as essential components of health and treatment. Dr. William Kraft gives God a principal place in the house of psychology. He shows how and why God experiences are paramount in helping us live a healthy and happy life. He describes and analyzes what are healthy and unhealthy experiences of God and how activities, including religion, can help and hinder our coming to God. In short, this book is about how and why we come or do not come to God, and what difference it makes.
Download or read book The Gift of Rest written by Joseph I. Lieberman and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2012-08-07 with total page 232 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Discusses the importance of observing the Jewish Sabbath as both a practical and spiritual exercise, and provides guidelines for properly incoporating the Sabbath into everyday life.
Download or read book Test of Faith Leader s Guide written by Ruth Bancewicz and published by Test of FAITH. This book was released on 2010-09 with total page 126 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This visually stunning, award-winning, three part documentary uses interviews with ten top scientists and theologians to introduce some big questions and address the many challenging issues raised by the sciences. It shows that science is compatible with genuine faith in God. The Test of faith course comes with accompanying resources developed by the Faraday Institute for Science and Religion ideally tailored to unpack the issues raised in the documentary. The book tells the stories of the scientists featured in the video materials as they share their life, stories and reflections on science and faith. The study guide allows small groups to explore science-faith issues by choosing topics and discussing them at a level and pace that suits the group. The Leader's guide supplements the study guide with suggested responses to questions, critical background information and opportunities to go deeper while encouraging an open discussion of a range of views.
Download or read book The Final Religion written by Lee Black and published by Hillcrest Publishing Group. This book was released on 2012-01-03 with total page 155 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Did you choose your beliefs, or have you allowed others to dictate their beliefs to you? Do you know what beliefs are the most powerful and beneficial to have? The Final Religion teaches about beliefs that will improve the present and the future of mankind-and that includes you. As you turn the pages, you'll embark on a journey into your own mind, into your personal philosophies and beliefs. This journey will leave you with a better understanding of self, others, and the world; and it will set you free to create happiness in your life. Religions throughout the world have served a common purpose: they provide a set of beliefs we use to live our lives. Religious organizations have given directions on how to interact with others, to understand our environment, and to cope with the unknown. Religions were the first to attempt to answer difficult questions, such as: "Is there a God ?" "What should I believe?" "How should I live my life?" The Final Religion explores the historical influence of religion and religious -organizations-with specific examples from some of our most commonly held beliefs and celebrations-and then it helps us to think for ourselves, to follow the dictates of our own conscience, and to shape our beliefs with the help of three universal elements: truth, justice, and love. The Final Religion enables: us to answer the difficult questions and to shape our own future. Book jacket.
Download or read book Religion Truths or Fiction written by Morgan Levy and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2008-03-18 with total page 98 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Morgan Levy provides and insightful non-fiction manuscript that takes a profound look into religions of the world and the affect they have on people. While placing the blame for most of the killing that has taken place in recorded history directly on religion, he offers a challenge to religions to save Planet Earth from the loss of peace and harmony among the people and the destruction of Planet Earth that is already beginning. The author offers solutions today that may sounds as impossible to achieve as landing a man in the moon was thought to be several hundred years ago.
Download or read book The Christian Leader written by and published by . This book was released on 1927 with total page 876 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book The End of Religion written by Bruxy Cavey and published by Tyndale House. This book was released on 2014-02-27 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In The End of Religion, Bruxy Cavey shares that relationship has no room for religion. Believers and seekers alike will discover anew the wondrous promise found in our savior. And Christ’s eternal call to walk in love and freedom will resonate with readers of all ages and denominations.
Download or read book Genesis written by Terry L. Newbegin and published by Trafford Publishing. This book was released on 2008-08-06 with total page 694 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Genesis is not just the story of Adam and Eve, it's your own story and a roadmap helping you understand why you are here and how you can return home.
Download or read book 19 Shades of Gray Seeking The Heart Of Revenge Annihilate Their Faith written by Kristie Lynn Higgins and published by Kristie Lynn Higgins. This book was released on 2016-04-29 with total page 187 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Shades Of Gray Series follows the adventures of Kat, a woman with no memory of her past who is called the Pandora Project by those who hunt her, and Kim, a woman leading the life of a legal assassin called a Life Closer. The world they live in is plagued by clouds that prevent the sun from shining down on the land called Dry Clouds, making all who live in Noir forced to live in endless night. Start this series for "Free" by reading #1 Shades of Gray: Noir, City Shrouded By Darkness and then read #2 Shades of Gray: From Moscow, With Love also for "Free". Kat searches for clues to her past while androids called Un-Men and human bounty hunters try to kill her, and Kim searches for who murdered her mother. The two women's paths collide, and they form a shaky partnership to unravel the mysteries that haunt their lives and they try to protect one another from those who do not wish for them to discover the truth. Everyone's soul is marked by a color. Which shade of gray will they hold to? #19 Shades of Gray: Seeking The Heart Of Revenge: Annihilate Their Faith The craft of revenge moves forward as Kimberly and Katharine head down different paths. **Shades of Gray Series** (STARTING POINT QUADRILOGY) #1 Shades of Gray: Noir, City Shrouded By Darkness #2 Shades of Gray: From Moscow, With Love #3 Shades of Gray: Cerberus Versus Pandora #4 Shades of Gray: Sisters (ZOMBIE TWILIGHT QUADRILOGY) #5 Shades of Gray: Night Of The Twilight- The Chimera Strain #6 Shades of Gray: Dawn Of The Twilight- Outbreak #7 Shades of Gray: Day Of The Twilight- Patient Zero #8 Shades of Gray: Land Of The Twilight- Closing of Days (MYTHS AND DESPAIR QUADRILOGY) #9 Shades of Gray: Rise of the Gorgons #10 Shades of Gray: Woe To The Watcher #11 Shades of Gray: Woe To The One Who Has Held His Heart's Tongue #12 Shades of Gray: Woe To The One Who Thought They Could Only Hurt (ASSASSINS GUILD ORIGINS QUADRILOGY) #13 Shades of Gray: Creed of the Assassins Guild- Blade of the Dagger #14 Shades of Gray: Axiom of the Assassins Guild- Steel of the Dagger #15 Shades of Gray: Motto of the Assassins Guild- Hilt of the Dagger #16 Shades of Gray: Precept of the Assassins Guild- Edge of the Dagger
Download or read book John written by Gary M. Burge and published by Zondervan. This book was released on 2000 with total page 401 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Most Bible commentaries take us on a one-way trip from our world to the world of the Bible. But they leave us there, assuming that we can somehow make the return journey on our own. In other words, they focus on the original meaning of the passage but don't discuss its contemporary application. The information they offer is valuable--but the job is only half done The NIV Application Commentary Series helps us with both halves of the interpretive task. This new and unique series shows readers how to bring an ancient message into a modern context. It explains not only what the Bible meant but also how it can speak powerfully today.
