LITMIR.BIZ

Dennis Jensen looks at two very important problems that have led many to reject religious belief generally and Christianity in particular: Why has God allowed the extreme suffering we find in our world? And Can religion be blamed for much of this suffering? He looks at not only the evil so often associated with religions–inquisitions, holy wars, pograms, witch hunts–but also some of the difficulties found specifically in the Bible. Did the God of the Bible command or advocate mass murder, homophobia, slavery? Is the New Testament anti-Semitic? Jensen argues persuasively that a fully biblical teaching does not advocate subservience of women in today's society, church, or family. It does not condemn all same gender sexual relations or transgender identity. It does not teach an eternal hell.
As just one of the many fascinating topics he tackles, one of the more important biblical reasons suggested for the existence of evil is that God wants to know whether we will seek to stop or alleviate the suffering we see, whether we will learn to have God's heart, whether we will hate evil and anguish over the hurting as God does.

Подробнее

In every church–in every pew, it sometimes seems–there is someone who has been deeply hurt in the Catholic Church. And yet these people find themselves coming to church, wondering if anybody else can understand their experiences, their questions, and their needs. This book brings together twelve authors who describe the pain they've experienced in Catholic institutions–and the pathways they've found to healing and renewed faith. In poetry, memoir, pastoral guidance, and practical advice, these authors explore issues ranging from racism to sexual abuse to gossip and judgment. They share the prayers and practices which have helped them come to know the God Who is Love. They offer support and encouragement to all those for whom the church has been a place of harm as well as holiness.

Подробнее

Whether people realize it or not, the ideas in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 have had a huge impact on the role of Christian women in the church through the centuries. These fifteen verses have shaped worship practices, church structures, church leadership, marriages, and even relationships between men and women in general. They have contributed to practices that have consistently placed women in a subordinate role to men, and have been used to justify the idea that a woman should not occupy a leadership or teaching position without being under the authority or «covering» of a man. It is strange, therefore, that academics and pastors alike continue to note how confusing and difficult it continues to be to make sense of these very verses. In this little book, Lucy Peppiatt not only highlights the problems associated with using this text to justify the subordination of women, but offers a clear and plausible re-reading of the text that paints the apostle Paul as a radical, visionary, church planter who championed women in all forms of leadership.

Подробнее

The Second Vatican Council (1962-65) called for the renewal of all religious institutes in the Catholic Church. The Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans) responded initially under the leadership of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Different interpretations of Vatican II caused divisions culminating in Lefebvre's departure from the congregation. From this difficult starting-point the Spiritans sought to redefine themselves in creative fidelity to their founding intention, the spirit of Vatican II, and the «signs of the times.»
Spiritan Life and Mission since Vatican II recounts this journey of renewal in three parts: the Spiritan world before Vatican II and the election of Archbishop Lefebvre as superior general in 1962; the «ad experimentum» period culminating with a new rule of life in 1986; and the implementation of this new rule as interpreted through inter-congregational discourse, particularly the general chapters of 1992, 1998, and 2004.
The development of thinking on the church's mission and the congregation's rediscovery of the founding charisms of Claude Poullart des Places and Francis Libermann provide the parameters for this positive interpretation of the Spiritan journey of renewal. Its evolution in the third millennium into a multicultural, international missionary community of some three-thousand members from over sixty countries in service of the Missio Dei bears testimony to this.

Подробнее

Why Read Four Quartets? is offered to encourage readers unfamiliar with T. S. Eliot's masterpiece to «take up, read, and inwardly digest» these beautiful and sacred poems. Commentary is offered to hopefully make the poems more accessible to a general reader. Most critics and commentators do not seem to take Eliot's own spirituality seriously, or at least they don't choose to comment on it. Literary analysis is often emphasized to the exclusion of viewing the quartets in a personal or biographical manner. In sharp contrast to these typical studies, this book endeavors to show that the quartets, along with his earlier post-1927 poetry (Ariel Poems and Ash Wednesday), can be read as the story of Eliot's own mystical journey to the Divine.

Подробнее

Modern life has led to an increase in traumatic deaths, such as accidents, murders, suicide, and other types of unanticipated, violent death. Family members and friends grieving a traumatic death face enormous shock, numbness, and despair, as well as the need to find hope and God's mercy and grace in the midst of chaos, difficult questions, and confusion. The Christian church and faith community often do not provide appropriate pastoral care to help the bereaved overcome their despair.
Jeonghyun Park explores the unique characteristics and dynamics of traumatic grief, or grief in response to traumatic death, and present several approaches to pastoral care. The survivors of a traumatic death are likely to ask pastors spiritually despairing and tough questions, such as, Where is God in this tragic death? If we have to accept this new reality, where can we find God's grace and mercy, power, and justice? Pastors and other spiritual leaders can provide comfort to the loved ones of victims of traumatic death by assisting them with their questions concerning a «helpless God» and a «cruel God.» This book offers new insights through specific pastoral care models and guidance for families needing healing, recovery, and meaningful rituals.

Подробнее

On a Thursday morning in 1981, four thousand campesinos (fieldworkers), fleeing a US-funded Salvadoran death squad, stumbled down the rocky, overgrown side of a hill to the Lempa River. Some were mown down by machine guns and the strafing of helicopters; others drowned as they were swept away by the river. The rest escaped to live the next eight years in UN refugee camps in Honduras. In 1989 many of these refugees returned to El Salvador as the repatriated community of Valle Nuevo.
Companeros tells the stories of a twenty-five year relationship of accompaniment, healing, and forgiveness between Valle Nuevo and a small association of churches in the United States, Shalom Mission Communities. The two groups have come to embrace a transnational communion with one another despite the economic, political, and spiritual chasms that exist today.
This work is a collective, collaborative effort of storytelling and theological reflection, interweaving oral and written accounts of suffering, thanksgiving, sharing, remembering, and proclaiming the death of Christ until he comes again.

Подробнее

Spiritual Gifts: A Christ-Centered Perspective is just that, centered on Christ. It provides a new perspective on spiritual gifts, seeing the person and work of Christ as the foundation for the gifts of the Spirit. The coming of Jesus into the world opens the way for the whole people of God to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit and to share in God's work in the world. The book takes a broad New Testament approach to exploring the gifts, carefully examining the meaning of the gifts by considering the Gospels, Acts, and the epistles. The focus is on seeing each gift as an extension of what Jesus did in his ministry. The gifts of the Spirit equip the church to carry on Jesus' work. Every gift is a means of proclaiming the gospel. God gives his gifts with two purposes in mind: to build the church by bringing people to Christ, and to build up the church by maturing each believer. Consequently, Pentecostals, Charismatics, and conservative Christians alike must embrace spiritual gifts because God desires to transform the world through his equipped people.

Подробнее

Vermin. Vandalism. Violence. A foul stench pollutes the atmosphere within St. Aloysius Episcopal Church. Reverend Silas DeBassompierre is a young clergyman with a lot of enemies within his congregation; and he trusts no one, not even his capable and devoted administrative assistant, Grace. Is Satan responsible for the strange phenomena at St. Aloysius, or is a force far more subtle and sinister at work to sabotage the reverend's ministry? More than what meets the eye will inevitably be revealed when a tormented priest on the edge of the abyss performs . . . Lustration Rites!

Подробнее

Invited celebrates how God met the author during a dark time in her life when she wondered where he was and surprised her with the gift of a relationship with an aunt not previously known by her. The relationship with her aunt, who serves as a spiritual director, helped usher Diane into a new chapter of her walk with God, where she began living more and more in the reality of God with and within her. She shares honest glimpses of her life, what she is noticing about herself and God, as well as rich insights and wisdom–on topics like finding Jesus in the ordinary, entrusting others to God, forgiveness–offered over the years from her spiritual director/aunt during their sessions. As you chew on Aunt Barb's insights and as you see Diane embracing and celebrating what God has done and is doing, freeing her to be who she was made to be and seeking to live her life in response to the love of God, you will want to be on the lookout for God's invitations to you.

Подробнее