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Kidnapped in Montana
by Sharon DunnA case of mistaken identity… leads to a lethal wilderness chase Believing he&’s tracked down his missing informant in a gem-smuggling investigation, FBI agent Ryan McCloud unwittingly leads deadly assassins to Catherine Reed&’s mountain hideout. As the informant&’s identical twin, and already hiding from her abusive ex-husband, Catherine now has two threats to her life. With danger at every turn, can Ryan protect Catherine and find her missing sister…before it&’s too late?From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.
Kidnapping Cold Case
by Laura ScottThe key to staying alive lies buried in forgotten memories Ten years ago, forensic artist Jacy Urban escaped her abductor with no memory of that night. Now two teenage girls are missing, and all signs indicate that the same kidnapper is back on the hunt. When Jacy is attacked, it&’s clear she&’s the assailant&’s next target. Only Detective Cash Rawson is there to rescue her—again. Can Cash help Jacy recover her memories before she&’s silenced for good?From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.
Kidnapping Cold Case & Cold Case Target: Two Thrilling Suspense Novels
by Laura Scott Jessica R. PatchLove Inspired Suspense brings you two full-length novels in one collection! From USA Today bestselling author Laura Scott and Jessica R. Patch, discover stories filled with suspense, romance and faith.Kidnapping Cold Caseby Laura ScottTen years ago, forensic artist Jacy Urban escaped her abductor with no memory of that night. Now two teenage girls are missing, and all signs indicate that the same kidnapper is back on the hunt. When Jacy is attacked, it&’s clear the assailant is after her. Only Detective Cash Rawson is there to rescue her—just as he did a decade ago. Can Cash help Jacy recover her memories and bring a criminal to justice before she&’s silenced for good?Cold Case Targetby Jessica R. PatchInterrupting an attempted murder—and leaving with incriminating evidence—makes Sissy Spencer a serial killer&’s next target. With a flash drive in her possession containing disturbing proof of multiple murders, Sissy has no choice but to trust her ex-boyfriend, private investigator Beau Brighton, to keep her safe. But unraveling the clues to track down a criminal mastermind could be the last thing they do…From Love Inspired Suspense: Find strength and determination in stories of faith and love in the face of danger.
Kiki Finds Her Voice: Be True to You and Embrace Your God-Given Gifts
by Kierra Sheard-KellyWhen the school talent show creates an issue between her and her friends, little Kiki learns what it means to follow your heart and be a leader. Based on a true story from the life of Grammy-nominated singer and actress Kierra Sheard-Kelly, this inspiring picture book helps kids discover how to best use their God-given gifts and what it means to be true to yourself even when it&’s not the popular thing to do.The school talent show is a big deal, and Kiki is thrilled when the popular girls ask her to perform with them. But when the song her new friends choose turns out to be one Kiki&’s parents don&’t want her singing, she must decide if it&’s more important to be popular and please her friends or speak up and do what she knows is right for her. Kiki Finds Her Voice helps children ages 4-8:Learn how to stand up to peer pressureEmbrace their differences and love what makes them uniqueBetter understand how their faith plays a part in their everyday lives In addition, Kiki Finds Her Voice is ideal for:birthday, back-to-school, Christmas, and holiday giftsbedtime and story time readingencouraging faith development, and building character and self-confidence
The Kindness of God: Beholding His Goodness in a Cruel World
by Nate PickowiczKindness has fallen on hard times. Almost daily, we witness or experience cynicism, impatience, or incivility. And it begins to wear on a soul. Overall, we&’re not doing well. We need hope. We need truth. We need God.In The Kindness of God, pastor and teacher Nate Pickowicz shows how our lives must be understood and lived in light of God&’s kindness. Pickowicz brings the reader along a joy-filled journey of discovering God&’s lifegiving lovingkindness and compassion.This book is for Christians overwhelmed with their life circumstances. It&’s for anyone who is feeling disappointment or hurt from a fractured relationship. It&’s for all those who are discouraged by caustic political discourse. And it&’s for those who are saddened or frustrated, desiring more from life . . . more from God. This book offers biblical salve to spiritual wounds and answers how God's own character remains intact even when wounds are inflicted by others.You will come away from this book, marveling and thanking God for His immeasurable kindness. And you will come to reflect His kindness more deeply in your own life toward others. In a world that can feel dark and cold, this resource is a light of God&’s kindness!
Kingdom of Rage: The Rise of Christian Extremism and the Path Back to Peace
by Elizabeth NeumannA former counterterrorism official explores how modern evangelicalism and right-wing conservatism intermingled to form the combustible ideology that resulted in the January 6 attacks on the Capitol—and which threatens to destroy the American Church from within. How did a Church that purports to follow the teachings of Jesus - the Prince of Peace - become a breeding ground for violent extremism? When Elizabeth Neumann began her anti-terrorism career as part of President George W. Bush&’s Homeland Security Counsel in the wake of the September 11 attacks, she expected to spend her life protecting her country from the threat of global terrorism. But as her career evolved, she began to perceive that the greatest threat to American security came not from religious fundamentalists in Afghanistan or Iraq but from white nationalists and radicalized religious fundamentalists within the very institution that was closest to her heart – the American evangelical church. And she began to sound the alarm, raising her concerns to anyone in government who would listen, including testifying before Congress in February of 2020. At that time, Neumann warned that anti-Semitic and white supremacist terrorism was a transnational threat that was building to the doorstep of another major attack. Shortly after her testimony, she resigned from her role as Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary for Counterterrorism and Threat Prevention in protest of what she believed was then-President Trump&’s failure of leadership and his stoking of the hatred, anger, and division from which she had dedicated her life to protecting her country. Her worst fears came true when she witnessed the attack on the capital on January 6, 2021. In Kingdom of Rage, Neumann explores the forces within American society that have encouraged the radicalization of white supremacist, anti-government and other far-right terrorists by co-opting Christian symbols and culture and perverting the faith&’s teachings. While Neumann offers decades of insights into the role government policies can play to prevent further bloodshed, she believes real change must come from the within the Christian church. She shines a bright light on the responsibility of ordinary Americans – and particularly American Christians – to work within their families and their communities to counteract the narrative of victimization and marginalization within American evangelicalism. Her goal for this book is not only to sound a warning about one of the greatest threats to our security but to rescue the Church from the forces that will, if left unchecked, destroy it – culturally, morally, and ultimately quite literally. This is a book for anyone who wants to understand the unholy marriage of right-wing politics and Christian exceptionalism in America and who wants to be a part of reversing the current path towards division, hatred, violence and the ultimate undermining of both evangelical Christianity and American democracy.
Know the Theologians (KNOW Series)
by Jennifer Powell McNutt David McNuttKnow the Theologians is an introduction to the most important thinkers throughout church history and a demonstration of their ongoing relevance for believers today.The Bible describes the church as a kind of family. Those who believe in Christ are sisters and brothers in the faith, whether they live at the same time or are separated by centuries. For that reason, believers today need to know our family members who have come before and shaped our beliefs and practices now. In Know the Theologians, professors and authors Jennifer Powell McNutt and David W. McNutt introduce the most significant thinkers in the church's history.McNutt and McNutt survey over a dozen primary figures, including Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant theologians, who represent the breadth and depth of the church's theology. The book explores how they fit into their own time period and also draws attention to the theological voices of women throughout the church's history. Every chapter includes short sidebars on figures contemporary to the main theologians, bringing in additional important voices.This book has everything you need for a full personal or group study experience.As part of the KNOW series, Know the Theologians is designed for either personal study or classroom use, and it will also be an accessible resource for small groups and adult education in churches. Chapters end with reflection questions and recommended reading for further study.An individual access code to stream all video sessions online. (You don&’t need to buy a DVD!)Sessions:PART 1: EARLY CHRISTIAN THEOLOGIANS1. Irenaeus of Lyons2. Athanasius of Alexandria3. The Cappadocian Four4. Augustine of HippoPART 2: MEDIEVAL THEOLOGIANS5. John of Damascus6. Anselm of Canterbury7. Julian of Norwich8. Thomas AquinasPART 3: REFORMATION THEOLOGIANS9. Martin Luther10. John Calvin11. Menno Simons12. Teresa of AvilaPART 4: MODERN THEOLOGIANS13. The Wesley Brothers14. Friedrich Schleiermacher15. Karl Barth16. Gustavo GutiérrezStreaming video access code included.?Access code subject to expiration after 4/2/2029. Code may be redeemed only by the recipient of this package. Code may not be transferred or sold separately from this package. Internet connection required. Void where prohibited, taxed, or restricted by law. Additional offer details inside.
Knowing Who We Are: The Wesleyan Way of Grace
by Laceye C. WarnerDiscover what sets United Methodism apart. In this book, Laceye C. Warner invites you to a richer understanding of Wesleyan Christianity so you can have a clear sense of identity, better express your own beliefs, and deepen your connection with The United Methodist Church. She introduces you to important values and characteristics that make the Wesleyan way distinctive, including emphasizing God’s grace for all and sanctification as tangible transformation in your life, your community, and all creation. You’ll see how The United Methodist Church today is deeply rooted in the Christian tradition and a legacy of care, compassion, and active response to injustice in the world. And you’ll find that Christian faith in the Wesleyan tradition holds together personal faith and community life, along with a commitment to justice through ministry and service. Pick up this book and study it with your small group and discover a way of being Christian that fills you with joy, moves you to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, and spurs you to live with compassion and grace. The book can be read alone or used by small groups anytime throughout the year. Components include video teaching sessions featuring Laceye Warner and a comprehensive Leader Guide, making this perfect as a six-week group study. A companion book, Who We Are and What We Believe: 50 Questions about The UMC, is also available.
Kokoro: Japanese Wisdom for a Life Well Lived
by Beth Kemptonkokoro [n.] intelligent heart, feeling mind One year. Two devastating losses. Three sacred Japanese mountains. A major life transition, a heart full of grief and a revelation that changes everything. Join Japanologist Beth Kempton on a pilgrimage through rural Japan in search of answers to some of life's biggest questions: How do we find calm in the chaos and beauty in the darkness? How do we let go of the past and stop worrying about the future? What can an awareness of impermanence teach us about living well?Together you will journey to the deep north of Japan, hike ancient forests, watch the moon rise over mountains of myth and encounter a host of wise teachers along the way - Noh actors, chefs, taxi drivers, coffee shop owners, poets, philosophers and the spirits that inhabit the land. You will contemplate the true nature of time at one of the world's strictest Zen temples and nothing will be quite the same again.This book is an invitation to cultivate stillness and contentment in an ever-changing, uncertain world. It all begins with the kokoro, a profound Japanese term which represents the intelligent heart, the feeling mind and the embodied spirit of every human being.To explore the kokoro is to explore the very essence of what it means to be human in this tough yet devastatingly beautiful world. When you learn to live guided by the light in your kokoro, everything changes, and anything is possible.
Koran für Dummies (Für Dummies)
by Sohaib SultanAlles Wissenswerte über die heilige Schrift des Islam Der Koran ist die heilige Schrift von über 1,8 Milliarden Muslimen auf allen Kontinenten. Er ist die Offenbarung Allahs an den Religionsstifter Mohammed, hohe Literatur und zugleich Leitfaden für das tägliche Leben der Gläubigen. Was sagt der Koran über den Glauben, über Frauen, über die Familie, über Andersgläubige, über Verbrechen und ihre Bestrafung? Sohaib Sultan berichtet über die Entstehung der heiligen Schrift und erläutert die Sprache des Koran. Er räumt Missverständnisse über den Koran aus dem Weg und eröffnet damit Möglichkeiten zu einem besseren Verständnis des Islam. Sie erfahren Wie der Koran entstanden und wie er aufgebaut ist Wie vielfältig sich der Koran interpretieren lässt Wie ein Leben nach dem Koran heute aussieht Was der Koran zu gesellschaftlichen Fragen sagt
Kosher Lust: Love is Not the Answer
by Shmuley BoteachAs many as one in three long-term marriages in America are sexless, and most people accept this as the inevitable course of a romantic relationship. In this groundbreaking book, Rabbi Shmuley Boteach explains why the prioritizing of love and companionship in marriage is all wrong, and why we should not go quietly into that dark night of celibate marriage. It is not love, Rabbi Shmuley shows, but lust that is the glue of a marriage. In this book you will learn how to restore lust to its rightful place as the central pillar of marriage. You will learn about the three principles of lust, and how to tap into them to keep the flames burning in the family hearth. Finally, you will discover the incredible emotional and spiritual potential of the intimate marital bond. In a wide-ranging discussion that plumbs the depths of the erotic mind, Rabbi Shmuley delivers a revolutionary message with the power to completely transform your most important relationship.
Lady of Disguise (A Dericott Tale #6)
by Melanie DickersonOnly the hidden treasure will allow Louisa and her sister to gain their freedom.England, 1388: All her life, Louisa has dreamed of finding the rumored &“Giant&’s Treasure,&” a collection of ancient, lost riches said to be hidden on a mountaintop in Scotland, guarded by a fierce monster. It&’s a story her father used to tell her, and when he dies and she and her younger sister have to go live with their shiftless, greedy uncle, Louisa is determined to find that treasure. It&’s the hope that has kept her defying her uncle&’s efforts to marry her off to the highest bidder.After her uncle starts to parade Louisa&’s twelve-year-old sister Margaret in front of potential husbands, Louisa realizes she has no time to waste. She disguises herself as a boy and takes off for Scotland. But the road is a harsher place than she&’d imagined, and she is relieved to find a friend in the knight, Sir Charles, who goes along with her on her journey.Charles is intrigued by this young woman who claims her name is &“Jack&” and is set on going to Scotland. He goes along, pretending to believe she is a boy, in order to make sure nothing bad happens to her. As they meet new friends along the road, and as Louisa comes clean about her identity, the pair find themselves falling in love. But what will happen when they reach Scotland? Will they find their independence and the freedom to marry in the form of a buried treasure, or will the monster from Louisa&’s own past keep the young couple apart?A delightfully charming reimagining of &“Jack and the Beanstalk&” from New York Times bestselling author Melanie Dickerson.Sweet historical medieval romancePart of the Dericott series: Book 1: Court of Swans; Book 2: Castle of Refuge; Book 3: Veil of Winter; Book 4: Fortress of Snow; Book 5: Cloak of Scarlet; Book 6: Lady of DisguiseBook length: 73,000 wordsIncludes discussion questions for book clubs
The Last Hours Of Jesus: From Gethsemane to Golgotha
by Fr. Ralph Gorman“Each of the four Gospels tells only part of the story of Jesus….and all of them leave out background facts that are essential to understanding events surrounding Jesus' arrest, trial, and crucifixion.That's because the Gospels were written for readers already familiar with many of the persons, places, parties, and politics that governed events in those long-past days. Not so modern readers, twenty centuries later!Which is why Fr. Ralph Gorman has here crafted a single, unforgettable, detailed account that combines material from all four Gospels with critically-important Old Testament passages, plus relevant facts from Jewish and Roman history, laws, traditions, and practices. He also includes helpful first century military, political, geographical, and archaeological information and keen depictions of Gospel places based on his three years residence there.The result?A richly-textured, moment-by-moment account that brings to vivid life the powerful events that transpired between Jesus' Agony in the Garden and His death on the Cross—a narrative that actually provides a fuller treatment of the events of Passion Week than is found in any of the Gospels.From The Last Hours of Jesus, you'll come to learn scores of new—and often surprising—things, including:—The exact moment that Satan entered Judas—The dangerous political currents in Palestine that fueled the fatal events of Holy Week—Why Jesus refused to answer many of His accusers—Pontius Pilate: why he admired—but condemned—Jesus—Why, so quickly, Palm Sunday's "Hosannas" led to Good Friday's "Crucify him!"—Why, after His death, the Sanhedrin still feared Jesus—And much more to enrich your knowledge, understanding, and love of Jesus!”-Print ed.
The Last Ta'ifa: The Banu Hud and the Struggle for Political Legitimacy in al-Andalus (Medieval Societies, Religions, and Cultures)
by Anthony H. MinnemaIn The Last Ta'ifa, Anthony H. Minnema shows how the Banu Hud, an Arab dynasty from Zaragoza, created and recreated their vision of an autonomous city-state (ta'ifa) in ways that reveal changes to legitimating strategies in al-Andalus and across the Mediterranean. In 1110, the Banu Hud lost control of their emirate in the north of Iberia and entered exile, ending their century-long rule. But far from accepting their fate, the dynasty adapted by serving Christian kings, nurturing rebellions, and carving out a new state in Murcia to recover, maintain, and grow their power. By tracing the Banu Hud across chronicles, charters, and coinage, Minnema shows how dynastic leaders borrowed their rivals' claims and symbols and engaged in similar types of military campaigns and complex alliances in an effort to cultivate authority. Drawing on Arabic, Latin, and vernacular sources, The Last Ta'ifa uses the history of the Banu Hud to connect the pursuit of legitimacy in al-Andalus to the politics of other emerging kingdoms and emirates. The actions of Hudid leaders, Minnema shows, echoed across the region as other kings, rebels, and adventurers employed parallel methods to gain power and resist the forces of centralization, highlighting the constructed nature of legitimacy in al-Andalus and the Mediterranean.
Latter-day Saint Perspectives on Atonement
by Deidre Green Eric Huntsman Nicholas Frederick Fiona Givens Sharon Harris J. B. Haws Benjamin Keogh Ariel Laughton Adam Miller Jenny Reeder T. Spackman Joseph SpencerNew approaches to a central area of Latter-day Saint belief The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and other Christians have always shared a fundamental belief in the connection between personal salvation and the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. While having faith in and experiencing the atonement of Christ remains a core tenet for Latter-day Saints, some thinkers have in recent decades reconsidered traditional understandings of atonement. Deidre Nicole Green and Eric D. Huntsman edit a collection that brings together multiple and diverse approaches to thinking about Latter-day Saint views on this foundational area of theology. The essayists draw on and go beyond a wide range of perspectives, classical atonement theories, and contemporary reformulations of atonement theory. The first section focuses on scriptural and historical foundations while the second concentrates on theological explorations. Together, the contributors evaluate what is efficacious and ethical in the Latter-day Saint outlook and offer ways to reconceive those views to provide a robust theological response to contemporary criticisms about atonement. Contributors: Nicholas J. Frederick, Fiona Givens, Deidre Nicole Green, Sharon J. Harris, J.B. Haws, Eric D. Huntsman, Benjamin Keogh, Ariel Bybee Laughton, Adam S. Miller, Jenny Reeder, T. Benjamin Spackman, and Joseph M. Spencer
The Law of Riba in Islamic Banking: Conventional and Unconventional Approaches to Interest-Free Financing (Islamic Business and Finance Series)
by Hasan GürakThe issue of riba, that is, interest/the "excess" or "surplus" on loans is crucial for both Islamic and non-Islamic countries. Western economic systems use interest to distribute financial resources efficiently for investment and/or consumption, while Islamic economies pursue a completely different strategy for financing loans, which adheres to Islamic laws and prohibits the activities of conventional banking systems with regard to interest. This book argues that there is scope for new definitions and analysis based on alternative concepts which respect Islamic values and principles, yet pave the way for modification and debate.The book comprises of two parts. Theoretical issues are dealt with in the first section. The first two chapters examine conventional Islamic views on the prohibition of riba, while Chapters 3 and 4 contain unprecedented and alternative theoretical analysis based on concepts such as "earned" (halal-permitted-legal) vs. "unearned" (haram-impermissible-illegal) income and SUKUK, that is, Islamic interest-free bonds. The second part of the book tackles another unconventional aspect of Islamic finance, that is, the concept of NAS. The book considers whether the NAS-influenced anti-inflationary interest policy was a success or failure. Empirical data is evaluated in terms of bank incomes, inflation rate, interest rate, and the distribution of income.This book will be a useful guide for students, scholars, and researchers of Islamic banking and finance.
Laws of the Spirit: Ritual, Mysticism, and the Commandments in Early Hasidism (Stanford Studies in Jewish History and Culture)
by Ariel Evan MayseThe compelling vision of religious life and practice found in Hasidic sources has made it the most enduring and successful Jewish movement of spiritual renewal of all time. In this book, Ariel Evan Mayse grapples with one of Hasidism's most vexing questions: how did a religious movement known for its radical views about immanence, revelation, and the imperative to serve God with joy simultaneously produce strict adherence to the structures and obligations of Jewish law? Exploring the movement from its emergence in the mid-1700s until 1815, Mayse argues that the exceptionality of Hasidism lies not in whether its leaders broke or upheld rabbinic norms, but in the movement's vivid attempt to rethink the purpose of Jewish ritual and practice. Rather than focusing on the commandments as law, he turns to the methods and vocabulary of ritual studies as a more productive way to reckon with the contradictions and tensions of this religious movement as well as its remarkable intellectual vitality. Mayse examines the full range of Hasidic texts from the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, from homilies and theological treatises to hagiography, letters, and legal writings, reading them together with contemporary theories of ritual. Arguing against the notion that spiritual integrity requires unshackling oneself from tradition, Laws of the Spirit is a sweeping attempt to rethink the meaning and significance of religious practice in early Hasidism.
Lay Zen in Contemporary Japan: Tradition, Interpretation, and Invention (Routledge Contemporary Japan Series)
by Erez JoskovichThis book explores the emergence and growth of Zen as a non-monastic spiritual practice in modern Japan. Focusing on several prominent lay Zen associations, most notably Ningen Zen, it explores different aspects of lay Zen as a lived religion, such as organization, ideology, and ritual. Through a combined approach utilizing Buddhist text, historical sources, and ethnographic fieldwork, it explains how laypeople have appropriated religious authority and tailored Zen teachings to fit their needs and the zeitgeist. Featuring the findings of three years of fieldwork, interviews, and archival research, the book comprehensively describes various Zen practices and explores their contemporary meaning and functions. It undermines the distinction between traditional or established Buddhism and the so-called New Religions, emphasizing instead the dynamic relations between tradition and interpretation. Written in accessible language and offering insightful analysis, this book brings to light the essential role of lay Zen associations in modernizing Zen within Japan and beyond. It will be of interest to scholars and students of religious studies, particularly those studying Buddhism, Japanese society, and culture.
Lay Zen in Contemporary Japan: Tradition, Interpretation, and Invention (Routledge Contemporary Japan Series)
by Erez JoskovichThis book explores the emergence and growth of Zen as a non-monastic spiritual practice in modern Japan. Focusing on several prominent lay Zen associations, most notably Ningen Zen, it explores different aspects of lay Zen as a lived religion, such as organization, ideology, and ritual. Through a combined approach utilizing Buddhist text, historical sources, and ethnographic fieldwork, it explains how laypeople have appropriated religious authority and tailored Zen teachings to fit their needs and the zeitgeist.Featuring the findings of three years of fieldwork, interviews, and archival research, the book comprehensively describes various Zen practices and explores their contemporary meaning and functions. It undermines the distinction between traditional or established Buddhism and the so-called New Religions, emphasizing instead the dynamic relations between tradition and interpretation.Written in accessible language and offering insightful analysis, this book brings to light the essential role of lay Zen associations in modernizing Zen within Japan and beyond. It will be of interest to scholars and students of religious studies, particularly those studying Buddhism, Japanese society, and culture.
Lead with Prayer: The Spiritual Habits of World-Changing Leaders
by Ryan Skoog Peter Greer Cameron DoolittleDiscover the prayer habits of world-changing ministry leaders that will transform your life and your leadership. Experienced leaders will tell you that you can&’t lead on your own. The pressure, the impossible decisions, the high risks, the temptations, the people, the overwhelming schedule—it&’s too much. Some leaders seek outside help. They pray. Looking for help in their own leadership, entrepreneur Ryan Skoog, CEO Peter Greer, and executive advisor Cameron Doolittle set out to investigate how leaders pray. What do they say to God? How often do they pray, and for how long? Where do they pray? And how on earth do they make time for prayer? Skoog, Greer, and Doolittle spent three years researching. They logged over one hundred hours of interviews with leaders in six continents who collectively serve in over one hundred countries. They researched or spoke with global entrepreneurs and business executives of Fortune 500 companies, as well as some of the most influential pastors and ministry leaders in the world—leaders such as Joni Eareckson Tada Francis Chan John Mark Comer Christine Caine David Green Mark Batterson Among countless others. Here in this book, the authors share the spiritual habits, techniques, and practices of these world-changing leaders, revealing specific details of their prayer lives. In addition, the book includes prayers for leaders to use in their own prayer time as well as tools for how to cultivate a personal and organizational commitment to prayer. By allowing these men and women to lead us in prayer, we learn not only how to pray but also how to build a culture of prayer wherever we lead. It is only when our businesses, ministries, and churches pray that they will be transformed.
Leading the Hare Krishna Movement: The Crisis of Succession in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (Routledge New Religions)
by Angela R. BurtThis book examines issues of leadership and succession in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) which was founded in by A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada in 1966. After the founder’s death in 1977, the movement was led by a group of gurus in a "zonal system" until their authority was challenged and reformed in the mid-1980s. At the heart of the book is an exploration of the developments, conflicts, and defining characteristics of leadership in ISKCON in this decade. Themes of hierarchy, status, power and authority, and the routinisation of charisma are shown to be keys to understanding the events of the time. With careful analysis of interviews and documentary evidence, the research offers a unique insight into ISKCON as an organisation and the broader religious community in which ISKCON is located. The book will be of particular interest to scholars of new religious movements and those concerned with religious leadership.
Leading with Heart and Soul: 30 Inspiring Lessons of Faith, Learning, and Leadership for Educators
by Irvin L. ScottA spiritually grounded source of inspiration and answers for education leaders in troubling times Public confidence in schools is waning, and there remains an unprecedented teacher shortage in the United States. Leading with Heart and Soul: 30 Inspiring Lessons of Faith, Learning, and Leadership for Educators shows leaders how to use spiritual principles to care for teachers, students, and other stakeholders despite these obstacles. Principals, superintendents, and others will gain motivation from the stories and strategies inside. Drawing on spiritual principles and Dr. Irvin Scott's experience as a classroom, school, district, and non-profit leader, this book will reinvigorate you and your team as you try to answer your most pressing questions about the future of education, including: How do we empower innovative, servant-hearted educational leaders to meet the needs of students? How do we inspire whole communities to support the learning journeys of their youth? How do we engage the entire educational ecosystem—including nonprofits and other organizations—to uplift equitable opportunities to learning and ensure that every student has the resources needed to thrive? This is not a time for leaders to turn away from our children, their caregivers, and the educators who teach and nurture them. Instead, it is a time to lift them up and celebrate the work they do while navigating our own administrative mandates and challenges. Leading with Heart and Soul speaks directly to the individuals in a position to achieve that goal. It is perfect for book clubs; personal study; and within public, Christian private, and faith-based charter schools.
Learning to Disagree: The Surprising Path to Navigating Differences with Empathy and Respect
by John InazuAre you discouraged by our divided, angry culture, where even listening to a different perspective sometimes feels impossible? If so, you're not alone, and it doesn't have to be this way. Learning to Disagree reveals the surprising path to learning how to disagree in ways that build new bridges with our neighbors, coworkers, and loved ones--and help us find better ways to live joyfully in a complex society.In a tense cultural climate, is it possible to disagree productively and respectfully without compromising our convictions? Spanning a range of challenging issues--including critical race theory, sexual assault, campus protests, and clashes over religious freedom--highly regarded thought leader and law professor John Inazu helps us engage honestly and empathetically with people whose viewpoints we find strange, wrong, or even dangerous.As a constitutional scholar, legal expert, and former litigator, John has spent his career learning how to disagree well with other people. In Learning to Disagree, John shares memorable stories and draws on the practices that legal training imparts--seeing the complexity in every issue and inhabiting the mindset of an opposing point of view--to help us handle daily encounters and lifelong relationships with those who see life very differently than we do.This groundbreaking, poignant, and highly practical book equips us to:Understand what holds us back from healthy disagreementLearn specific, start-today strategies for dialoguing clearly and authenticallyMove from stuck, broken disagreements to mature, healthy disagreementsCultivate empathy as a core skill for our personal lives and our whole society If you are feeling exhausted from the tattered state of dialogue in your social media feed, around the country, and in daily conversations, you're not alone. Discover a more connected life while still maintaining the strength of your convictions through this unique, often-humorous, thought-provoking, and ultimately life-changing exploration of the best way to disagree.
Learning to Think: A Memoir of Faith, Superstition, and the Courage to Ask Questions
by Tracy KingSet in 1980s Birmingham, England, a piercing memoir about the liberating power of a scientific view of the world. Tracy King was raised in a house of contradictions—her family was happy and creative, yet shadowed by debt, phobias, her father’s alcoholism, and the illusory promises of a born-again Christian church. The uneasy balance of the King household was irrevocably upended on a rainy spring night in 1988, when her father was killed by teenagers just blocks from their public housing estate. Her mother’s dysfunctional reliance on the church deepened following the tragedy, and King, suffering from undiagnosed anxiety, stopped attending school. The account of her father’s death remained hazy, made worse by the fact that four of the accused teenagers—neighborhood boys she could not avoid—were never charged. What could have triggered such an act of aggression? Clinging to hearsay and what little information she had from the police, King allowed her imagination to fill in the rest. Over the years, in a bid to balm her grief and gaps in formal education, King journeyed through multiple belief systems: she distanced herself from fundamentalism, searching for clarity instead in the occult, paranormal beliefs, and conspiracy theories. Amid the chaos of her coming of age, she stumbled upon a copy of Carl Sagan’s The Demon-Haunted World on the shelves of a Birmingham bookshop —a discovery that proved transformative. Sagan’s sage caveat, “But I could be wrong,” became King’s guiding light, empowering her to confront her demons. An eloquently written and often sharply funny account that is ever sensitive to the fallibility of memory and the nuances of truth, Learning to Think is a resounding battle cry for the value of education and the freedom to think critically, imaginatively, and for oneself.
Leaving Islam, Ex-Muslims and Zemiology
by Weronika LenartowiczCases of ex-Muslims in Europe being punished by their former fellow Muslims constitute an unacceptable practice from the standpoint of democratic societies in which human rights are respected and individuals have the freedom to choose their religion, or none at all. Ex-Muslims’ fear of punishment by their former community should prompt an open, candid, and measured discussion of the issue.Leaving Islam, Ex-Muslims and Zemiology presents the reasons for and consequences of consciously leaving Islam, based on interviews with 80 ex-Muslims currently living in Germany and Sweden. In their view, many of the practices and beliefs of Islam are harmful and unfair. Many parts of the Islamic world regard apostasy as treason or a crime. As a result, emphasis in the book is shifted from “crime” to “harm” and a thesis is put forward concerning the “decriminalization” of apostasy from the perspective of zemiology. The book highlights how a broader shift of interest in the democratic structures of Europe could allow ex-Muslims to join the discussion on the guaranteed right to religious liberties and freedom of speech in the context of the apostasy law in Islam. This should happen without fear for their own security and without facing potential suppression or social exclusion. It will appeal to scholars with interest in Islam and the conflict between religious values and an individual’s aspirations and needs.