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Blameless
by Thom LemmonsIs it possible to find unconditional love in a world of expectations?Professor Joseph Barnes is attractive, intelligent, and successful-beloved by both his students and fellow university faculty. Despite her professional reservations, Alexis, the dean of Joe's college, finds herself drawn to him and recognizes his interest in her. But when Joe's career begins to crumble, Alexis has to decide whether or not to rescue Joe from his circumstances. If she does save him, how can she be sure he loves her for herself-and not for what she can do for him? Can she fight the ghosts of the past that haunt them both? Three well-intentioned friends and an ambitious department secretary complicate the delicate situation between Alexis and Joe in this modern retelling of the biblical story of Job. Thoughtful and clever, Blameless asks, what does it mean to love without expectations? And in the midst of losing it all, is it possible to find everything you've been looking for?From the Trade Paperback edition.
Blameless Desire
by Jenny CartwrightDesire and DeceptionIt seemed that Christie had always loved Lucas Merrick. He was so tall, so handsome, so wonderful. Then, one night, all Christie's dreams came true....But it was soon clear to Christie that Lucas wasn't interested in happily-ever-after, so she fled to London-pregnant and unwed.Four years later, circumstances force her to return-with her daughter. And she can't help wondering if Lucas will ask who Sara's father is...or if he'll even care.
Blaming Islam (Boston Review)
by John R. BowenWhy fears about Muslim integration into Western society—propagated opportunistically by some on the right—misread history and misunderstand multiculturalism. In the United States and in Europe, politicians, activists, and even some scholars argue that Islam is incompatible with Western values and that we put ourselves at risk if we believe that Muslim immigrants can integrate into our society. Norway's Anders Behring Breivik took this argument to its extreme and murderous conclusion in July 2011. Meanwhile in the United States, state legislatures' efforts to ban the practice of Islamic law, or sharia, are gathering steam—despite a notable lack of evidence that sharia poses any real threat.In Blaming Islam, John Bowen uncovers the myths about Islam and Muslim integration into Western society, with a focus on the histories, policy, and rhetoric associated with Muslim immigration in Europe, the British experiment with sharia law for Muslim domestic disputes, and the claims of European and American writers that Islam threatens the West. Most important, he shows how exaggerated fears about Muslims misread history, misunderstand multiculturalism's aims, and reveal the opportunism of right wing parties who draw populist support by blaming Islam.
Blaming the Jews: Politics and Delusion (Studies in Antisemitism)
by Bernard HarrisonIn recent years Western countries have seen a proliferation of antisemitic material in social media, and attacks on Jews such as that on the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh in 2018. Much of this has stemmed, not from personal hostility to Jews on the part of this or that individual, but from a resurgence in groups at both ends of politics of the ancient delusion that "the Jews" collectively dominate world affairs and lie at the root of all the world's evils. In Blaming the Jews author Bernard Harrison, offers a new and unique analysis of this second and far more dangerous form of antisemitism and its persistence as a cultural phenomenon. Questioning the assumption that antisemitism affects or targets only Jews, he demonstrates that, allowed to go unrecognised or unchecked, antisemitism is potentially damaging to us all. In a world where rhetoric is fashioned on stereotypes and driven by political ideology, Harrison argues it is our responsibility to be vigilant in exposing the delusions of antisemitism and their consequences for Jews and non-Jews alike.
Blanche Cleans Up
by Barbara NeelyFrom the dust jacket: From the dust jacket: Blanche is back! Blanche White-first featured in Blanche on the Lam and Blanche Among the Talented Tenth-is a very black, middle-aged woman who cleans white people's houses for a living. Tart-tongued and shrewd, with a keen nose for trouble, she's also a queen-sized snoop-who sees at a glance what people are really up to-especially if it's criminal. And heaven help you if Blanche has taken against you! Most of the people Blanche doesn't like are the "haves" of this world- and in Blanche Cleans Up, this domestic-worker-bychoice will encounter some "haves" with a vengeance. The funny thing is, Blanche had just been thinking that her life had finally settled down. It's been three years since she had to grab the kids and scurry out of Farleigh, North Carolina. Now they've all settled into life in the Roxbury section of Boston, and Blanche herself is feeling like she may finally be free to enjoy life-at least a little. But before Blanche can say,"Breakfast is ready," she gets suckered into standing in as cook-housekeeper to one Allister Brindle, a Boston Brahmin politician, and his do-gooder wife. Blanche is quickly enmeshed in a festering canker of a scandal that moves from the Bundles' house (a.k.a. Prozac House) to her own black community as she tries to figure out the truth behind the swimming-pool death of a young black man who knew a little too much With life suddenly getting just a bit too interesting on both the home and work fronts, Blanche finds herself dealing with a love triangle with bent angles, teen pregnancy, phony spirituality, environmental skulduggery, homophobia, a letter she wishes she hadn't read, a friend whose life she might have saved, and at least one person who doesn't mean her any good. To protect herself and safeguard her family, Blanche will have to rely on her own hard-to-beat intuition-and call on her community network for information, her Ancestors for guidance, and above all, her own well-established ability to listen at doors for the poop on who has what on whom. This time, Blanche sees more than she ever wanted to. but she also cleans up-in more ways than one-and does so with humor, good sense, and her own sharp social commentary. ...
Blank Slate: Write Your Own Rules for a Twenty-Second Century Church Movement
by Lia McIntosh Jasmine Smothers Rodney Thomas SmothersBlank Slate is a leadership resource with millennials, generation Z, and generation Alpha at the center. This book helps leaders envision and create ministries and faith communities with and for those current and upcoming generations. Old rules of engagement are contrasted with the new rules of engagement. Unless the church addresses the context of younger generations and gets "unstuck" from it's current context, it will not be relevant to younger people and it will die with the older generations. As an example - a letter to Baby Boomers: Dear Baby Boomers, Thank you for all you've done, but I don't want your church. I want you, our relationship, our engagement, but not your church structure and outdated assumptions. The Younger Generations
Blasphemies Compared: Transgressive Speech in a Globalised World (Routledge Studies in Religion)
by Anne StensvoldThis volume examines both historical developments and contemporary expressions of blasphemy across the world. The transgression of religious boundaries incurs more or less severe sanctions in various religious traditions. This book looks at how religious and political authorities use ideas about blasphemy as a means of control. In a globalised world where people of different faiths interact more than ever before and world-views are an increasingly important part of identity politics, religious boundaries is a source of controversy. The book goes beyond many others in this field by widening its scope beyond the legal aspects of freedom of expression. Approaching blasphemy as effective speech, the chapters in this book focus on real life situations and ask: who are the blasphemers; who are their accusers and what does blasphemy accomplish? Utilising case studies from Europe, the Middle East and Asia that encompass a wide variety of faith traditions, the book guides readers to a more nuanced appreciation of the historical roots, political implications and religious rationale of attitudes towards blasphemy. Incorporating historical and contemporary approaches to blasphemy, this book will be of great use to academics in Religious Studies and the Sociology of Religion as well as Political Science, Media Studies, History.
Blasphemous Art?: Religion, Gender and Sexuality in Arts and Popular Culture (ISSN)
by Adriaan Van Klinken van den Brandt, Nella van den Berg, MarieckeThis book explores the critical and transformative potential of arts and popular culture for constructions of religion, gender and sexuality. Doing so, it deploys and develops the notion of blasphemous art, honouring and building on the work of Anne-Marie Korte. Deliberately articulated with a question mark, Blasphemous Art? raises questions about the spaces, methods and resources available to individuals and communities at the gendered, sexual and racialized margins of society to tell their stories, claim their bodies and perform symbolic and sacred meaning, and it analyses the productive effects – both aesthetically, politically and theoretically – of such provocative work. The book focuses on a wide range of artistic and cultural expressions, featuring case studies from across Europe, South Africa, Israel and the United States. Drawing on feminist, queer and postcolonial perspectives, the book reveals the critical, constructive and imaginative potential of the creative arts (broadly defined) and popular culture in its complex and diverse representation of, and engagement with, religious life, belief, text, ritual and practice.
Blasphemy (Wyman Ford #2)
by Douglas PrestonThe world's biggest supercollider, hidden deep in an Arizona mountain, will probe what happened at the very moment of creation: the Big Bang itself.
Blasphemy and Freedom of Expression: Comparative, Theoretical and Historical Reflections after the Charlie Hebdo Massacre
by Jeroen Temperman András KoltayThe tension between blasphemy laws and the freedom of expression in modern times is a key area of debate within legal academia and beyond. With contributions by leading scholars, this volume compares blasphemy laws within a number of Western liberal democracies and debates the legitimacy of these laws in the twenty-first century. Including comprehensive and up-to-date comparative country studies, this book considers the formulation of blasphemy bans, relevant jurisprudential interpretations, the effect on society, and the ensuing convictions and penalties where applicable. It provides a useful historical analysis by discussing the legal-political rationales behind the recent abolition of blasphemy laws in some Western states. Contributors also consider the challenges to the tenability of blasphemy laws in a selection of well-balanced theoretical chapters. This book is essential reading for scholars working within the fields of human rights law, philosophy and sociology of religion, and comparative politics.
Blasphemy, Islam and the State: Pluralism and Liberalism in Indonesia (ICLARS Series on Law and Religion)
by Stewart FenwickThis book draws on the work of Rawls to explore the interaction between faith, law and the right to religious freedom in post-Soeharto Indonesia, the world’s largest democracy after India and the United States. It argues that enforcement of Islamic principles by the state is inconsistent with religious diversity and the country’s liberal constitution. The book thus contributes to understanding the role of religion in the development of democracy in the world’s largest Muslim nation. A key objective is to test the argument that Rawls’ thinking about public reason cannot apply to the case of Indonesia, and Muslim states more broadly. The book therefore contributes to emerging scholarship that considers Rawls in a Muslim context. In addition to examining public reason in detail and considering critiques of the concept, the work highlights the fact that the theory was created to deal with value pluralism and is therefore relevant in any religious setting, including an Islamic one. In doing so, it emphasises that Islam is multifaceted and demonstrates the difficulties, and negative consequences, of integrating faith and law in a liberal state.
Blasphemy: Sentenced to Death Over a Cup of Water
by Asia Bibi Anne-Isabelle TolletIn June 2009 a Pakistani mother of five, Asia Bibi, was out picking fruit in the fields. At midday she went to the nearest well, picked up a cup, and took a drink of cool water, and then offered it to another woman. Suddenly, one of her fellow workers cried out that the water belonged to Muslim women and that Bibi--who is Christian--had contaminated it. "Blasphemy!" someone shouted, a crime punishable by death in Pakistan. In that instant, with one word, Bibi's fate was sealed. First attacked by a mob, Bibi was then thrown into prison and sentenced to be hanged. Since that day, Asia Bibi has been held in appalling conditions, her family members have had to flee their village under threat from vengeful extremists, and the two brave public figures who came to Bibi's defense--the Muslim governor of the Punjab and Pakistan's Christian Minister for Minorities--have been brutally murdered. In Blasphemy, Asia Bibi, who has become a symbol for everyone concerned with ending an unjust law that allows people to settle personal scores and that kills Christians and Muslims alike indiscriminately, bravely tells her shocking and inspiring story and makes a last cry for help from her prison cell. Proceeds from the sale of this book support Asia Bibi's family, which has been forced into hiding.
Blaze of Light: The Inspiring True Story of Green Beret Medic Gary Beikirch, Medal of Honor Recipient
by Marcus BrothertonFor fans of Unbroken and Hacksaw Ridge comes the powerful true story of a Medal of Honor recipient who faced more than his fair share of battles—and overcame them through perseverance and faith. &“What Gary Beikirch did to receive his medal is unforgettable—and the story of what he overcame afterward is as big and moving as they come.&”—Gary Sinise After dawn the siege began. It was April 1, 1970, and Army Green Beret medic Gary Beikirch knew the odds were stacked against their survival. Some 10,000 enemy soldiers sought to obliterate the twelve American Special Forces troops and 400 indigenous fighters who stood fast to defend 2,300 women and children inside the village of Dak Seang. For his valor and selflessness during the ruthless siege, Beikirch would be awarded a Medal of Honor, the nation&’s highest and most prestigious military decoration. But Gary returned home wounded in body, mind, and soul. To find himself again, Gary retreated to a cave in the mountains of New England, where a redemptive encounter with God allowed Gary to find peace. New York Times best-selling author Marcus Brotherton chronicles the incredible true story of a person who changed from lost to found. Gripping and unforgettable, and written with a rich and vivid narrative voice, Blaze of Light will inspire you to answer hurt with ingenuity, to reach for faith, and to find clarity and peace within any season of storm.
Blaze of Silver
by K. M. GrantCan a knight sacrifice everything he holds sacred in service to his king? King Richard is being held for ransom in Germany, and England is in chaos without a sovereign. The de Granvilles must deliver the treasure that will win their King's freedom. But the Old Man of the Mountain, leader of the Assassins, is ready to take his revenge on Kamil. To do so he will orchestrate a great betrayal, and his tentacles of treachery reach far and deep. Kamil is determined to prevail -- the Old Man must not win. But when all trust has been shattered, who can he turn to for help? The fate of a king, the bonds of a friendship, and the depth of an enduring love will all be in jeopardy as Will, Ellie, Kamil, and Hosanna face the ultimate loyalty test, and their final battle.
Blazing Eye Sees All: Love Has Won, False Prophets, and the Fever Dream of the American New Age
by Leah SottileIn this "unflinching and wildly entertaining" investigation of the modern New Age movement in America, a journalist aims to understand how women like Amy Carlson (the leader of Love Has Won) and others become devoutly invested in their beliefs (Talia Lavin, author of Culture Warlords). Today, tarot cards, astrology and crystals are everywhere — on Instagram and TikTok, and sold at upscale boutiques and pricey wellness retreats. Journalist Leah Sottile turns her investigative eye toward the recent surge of New Age influencing American Culture. She looks at self-professed gurus like Love Has Won's Mother God and the mysterious channeler Ramtha, who have built devout followings based on their teachings. For more than a century, this pastel-colored world of love, light and enlightenment has been built upon a foundation of conspiracies, antisemitism, nationalism and a rejection of science. In Blazing Eye Sees All, Sottile seeks to understand the quest for New Age spirituality in an era of fear that has made us open to anything that claims to bring relief from war, the climate crisis, COVID 19, and the myriad of other issues we face. At the same time, she attempts to draw a line between truly helpful, healing ideas and snake oil—helping us sort through the crystals to find true clarity.
Blazing Splendor: The Memoirs of Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
by Daniel Goleman Sogyal Rinpoche Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche Michael TweedBlazing Splendor paints an intimate portrait of the lost culture of Old Tibet and of a remarkable man who inspired thousands. A memoir in the form of tales told by Rinpoche toward the end of his life, the book spans his lifetime -- a lifetime rich in adventures of both spirit and body. His reminiscences weave a rich tapestry of family history and also describe the lives of some of the most realized and genuine practitioners of Tibetan Buddhism.
Blazing Splendor: The Memoirs of the Dzogchen Yogi Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche
by Tulku Urgyen RinpocheAn insightful memoir illuminating the profound experiences and magical world of a Tibetan Buddhist master.&“Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche was among Tibetan Buddhism&’s greatest teachers of the twentieth century. His memoir, Blazing Splendor, invites us to join him as he looks back over a life that put him at the center of an unparalleled spiritual abundance. Through his unblinking eyes we meet remarkable contemplative adepts. And through the lens of his awakened awareness, we see the world from a fresh, eye-opening perspective. It is a sweeping account that shares with readers a world where miracles, mystery, and deep insight are the order of the day—a world as reflected through the open, lucid quality of Tulku Urgyen&’s mind.&” —from the foreword by Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence Blazing Splendor is a rare and profound gift: an intimate view into the world of one of the most celebrated and influential meditation masters of the last century. In these memoirs, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche (1920–96) recounts with incredible lucidity and humility his unique spiritual and familial heritage, his training in Tibetan Buddhism, and remarkable encounters with some of the most renowned masters of Tibet. This wide-reaching narrative stretches across generations to provide insight into the lived experience of contemplative adepts and into life before and after the Cultural Revolution, which left Tibet changed forever. Born the great-grandson of the seminal terma-revealer Chokgyur Lingpa and a holder of both Nyingma and Kagyu lineages, Tulku Urgyen Rinpoche tells us of his unique family legacy, in which each generation has been saturated with spiritual accomplishments. He tells of how he, in time, became responsible for learning and then transmitting this lineage of Buddhist teachings, which continues today in the flourishing activities of his surviving sons Chokyi Nyima Rinpoche, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, and Tsoknyi Rinpoche. Blazing Splendor is a window into the life of a Mahamudra and Dzogchen master that illuminates the transmission of sacred teachings in a modern world—a world we inhabit too, where the miraculous and the mundane exist side by side.
Blended Amish Blessings (Redemption's Amish Legacies #5)
by Patricia JohnsSometimes a little disaster can be a great blessing. The last thing widower Paul Ebersole needs after discovering he has a teenage daughter and a granddaughter is for his kitten to cause havoc in Haddie Petersheim&’s Amish creamery. Yet working with Haddie to repair her store might be the answer to his prayers…if he and the widowed mother join forces on their parenting problems. But what happens when their two little families start to feel like one?From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.Redemption's Amish Legacies Book 1: The Nanny's Amish FamilyBook 2: A Precious Christmas GiftBook 3: Wife on His DoorstepBook 4: Snowbound with the Amish BachelorBook 5: Blended Amish Blessings
Blended Families: Creating Harmony as You Build a New Home Life
by Maxine MarsoliniWhen re-married couples bring their families together, they face unique challenges. Somehow, they must bring unity out of diversity. Maxine Marsolini points to biblical solutions to the conflict commonly found in divorce and remarriage situations. 'Growth and Application' questions make this an excellent resource for small groups or Christian counseling.
Blended Families: Creating Harmony as You Build a New Home Life
by Maxine MarsoliniWhen re-married couples bring their families together, they face unique challenges. Somehow, they must bring unity out of diversity. Maxine Marsolini points to biblical solutions to the conflict commonly found in divorce and remarriage situations. 'Growth and Application' questions make this an excellent resource for small groups or Christian counseling.
Bless Her Heart
by Debby MayneAs Priscilla Slater's 15-year class reunion approaches, she decides to attend out of curiosity... and to flaunt her latest achievement--taking her business to a national level with the possibility of a TV show. As if getting ready for the event and putting up with the pranks of her former classmates isn't enough, Priscilla's hometown visit is further complicated by her parents' separation. With the once-solid sanctuary of her home broken at the foundation, there's only one thing Priscilla's parents can agree on: no matter what sort of accolades their daughter receives as a hair stylist, she's not living up to her potential. Eager to escape the painful reality of her childhood home, Priscilla bolts as soon as a call from New York brings good news: her offer to purchase one of the best salons in the country is likely to come through. But returning to New York means returning to Tim, Priscilla's best friend and business pal who has been impatiently suggesting their relationship should be more than a friendship. Despite her recent achievements, will Priscilla learn that success doesn't always result in popularity--or love?
Bless Her Heart
by Debby MayneAs Priscilla Slater's 15-year class reunion approaches, she decides to attend out of curiosity... and to flaunt her latest achievement--taking her business to a national level with the possibility of a TV show. As if getting ready for the event and putting up with the pranks of her former classmates isn't enough, Priscilla's hometown visit is further complicated by her parents' separation. With the once-solid sanctuary of her home broken at the foundation, there's only one thing Priscilla's parents can agree on: no matter what sort of accolades their daughter receives as a hair stylist, she's not living up to her potential. Eager to escape the painful reality of her childhood home, Priscilla bolts as soon as a call from New York brings good news: her offer to purchase one of the best salons in the country is likely to come through. But returning to New York means returning to Tim, Priscilla's best friend and business pal who has been impatiently suggesting their relationship should be more than a friendship. Despite her recent achievements, will Priscilla learn that success doesn't always result in popularity--or love?
Bless Me Again, Father: Bless Me, Father; A Father Before Christmas; Father In A Fix; Bless Me Again, Father; And Father Under Fire (Bless Me, Father #5)
by Neil BoydFrom the series that inspired the hit London Weekend Television sitcom Bless Me, Father: St. Jude&’s parish is as lively as ever After finishing his first year at St. Jude&’s, Father Neil finally feels as if he has his feet firmly planted underneath himself. His rapport with Father Duddleswell is as strong as ever, and even Mrs. Pring is showing him a softer side. Things are looking up for this young curate. But St. Jude&’s is still full of surprises. In this uproarious installment of Neil Boyd&’s semiautobiographical series, the clergy of St. Jude&’s is confronted with all manner of crisis: personal, political, and cricket-related. There is the dilemma of Dr. Daley, whose drinking is causing his health to deteriorate but who worries that becoming a teetotaler will ruin his personality. Then there are the animals overrunning the church, much to Father Duddleswell&’s chagrin, as a new donkey is followed by a fresh litter of kittens. Sharp yet poignant, Boyd&’s stories are a pleasant return to a simpler era.
Bless Me, Father: Bless Me, Father; A Father Before Christmas; Father In A Fix; Bless Me Again, Father; And Father Under Fire (Bless Me, Father #1)
by Neil BoydThe inspiration for the hit London Weekend Television series of the same name, this is one confessional you&’ll want to make a point of visiting Young Neil Boyd has just finished divinity school and has been newly ordained as a priest. His first post? St. Jude&’s parish, a corner of London with a raucous congregation full of Irish immigrants. The flock is an odd pairing with the gentle Father Boyd, but he just might be both mad enough and tender enough to get through to them. Later adapted into a beloved British sitcom, Bless Me, Father is a humorous and sweet-natured look at Catholicism in the 1950s. Joining Boyd is the cantankerous, scheming, and brilliant Father Duddleswell, a man who is willing to do anything to make sure the Lord&’s will be done, and Mrs. Pring, the sharp-tongued housekeeper who both coddles and cajoles her priestly family of two. If the church needs money, Duddleswell will place a bet to get it. If a Catholic wants to marry a Protestant . . . well, maybe he won&’t go that far. Father Neil&’s adventures with his parishioners are sure to delight readers of all creeds.