Talk of 'spirituality' and 'individual religion' is proliferating both in popular discourse and scholarly works. Increasingly people claim to be 'spiritual but not religious, ' or to prefer 'individual religion' to 'organized religion.' Scholars have for decades noted the phenomenon - primarily within the middle class - of individuals picking and choosing elements from among various religious traditions, forming their own religion or spirituality for themselves. While the topics of 'spirituality' and 'individual religion' are regularly treated as self-evident by the media and even some scholars of religion, "Capitalizing Religion" provides one of the first critical analyses of the phenomenon, arguing that these recent forms of spirituality are in many cases linked to capitalist ideology and consumer practices. Examining cases such as Eckhart Tolle's "The Power of Now," and Karen Berg's "God Wears Lipstick," Craig Martin ultimately argues that so-called 'individual religion' is a religion of the status quo or, more critically, 'an opiate of the bourgeoisie.'"Capitalizing Religion: Ideology and Opiate of the Bourgeoisie" is a landmark publication in critical religious studies.

We all long for an ever-deepening fellowship with God. But how do we find it? The mystery is not great. Experience shows that those who are close to God have set time aside each day with him. Over a million Christians have turned again and again to this classic introduction to daily devotions. Here they have found simple, sound and practical advice on quiet time with their Lord.

This Element reviews the state of the question regarding theories of cultic violence. It introduces definitions and vocabulary and presents relevant historical examples of religious violence. It then discusses the 1960s and 1970s, the period immediately before the Jonestown tragedy. Considerations of the post-Jonestown (1978), and then post-Waco (1993) literature follow. After 9/11 (2001), some of the themes identified in previous decades reappear. The Element concludes by examining the current problem of repression and harassment directed at religious believers. Legal discrimination by governments, as well as persecution of religious minorities by non-state actors, has challenged earlier fears about cultic violence.

You've just heard a diagnosis that shakes your world: It's cancer. And what you long for most is the hope that everything will be okay. You are not alone. As a longtime cancer survivor, Lynn Eib knows firsthand how that feels. And as a patient advocate helping thousands facing cancer, she also knows what gives people hope. In "50 Days of Hope," Lynn shares amazing, true stories of those who have been in your shoes and discovered that when God and cancer meet, hope is never far away. Whether you're a cancer patient or walking with a loved one on a cancer journey, you'll find "50 Days of Hope" packed with the daily dose of encouragement you need.

A short reading for every day. Spurgeon wrote this selection of readings to encourage believers to enter into the full provision that their relationship to Jesus entitled them to realise, on a daily basis. He explains we have to present the promises of Scripture to God in prayer and faith, anticipating that he will honour what he has said. Beautiful volume in burgundy leather.

Finding hope can sometimes feel like a daunting, almost impossible task. How refreshing to be able to experience glimpses of hope in the simplest of daily interactions with others-even animals. All Creatures challenges the reader to see beyond the ordinary to the extraordinary treasures hidden by our Creator in the least of his creations. This collection of twenty-five devotions focuses on learning to look for God's promises of hope regardless of your current circumstances.

Do you want to discover the riches of Scripture? Do you want to draw closer to God? Based on IVP's bestselling LifeGuide Bible Study series, the Quiet Time Bible Guide helps you dig into Scripture for yourself, developing a deeper and stronger relationship with God in the process. Instead of being told what the Bible says, you'll begin with questions to put you in a worshipful frame of mind. You'll move on to interpretive questions that help you explore what the Bible says, and then consider application questions to help you act on what you learn. Suggestions for personal prayer conclude your time of worship and study--and launch you into the rest of your day. Millions have benefited from the thoughtful experience of Scripture found in IVP's LifeGuide Bible Studies. This material was adapted from those guides and originally published as The NIV Quiet Time Bible. Millions more have since used these devotionals online on IVP's Quiet Time Bible Study website. Now 365 of the studies, leading you through the New Testament and Psalms, have been gathered together in one volume again. Whether you're new to the idea of quiet times or you've enjoyed them for years, theQuiet Time Bible Guide provides you with a fresh opportunity to read all of the New Testament and Psalms in one year--and draw close to God every day.

This devotional study, designed to guide women through a month of quiet times, emphasizes the joy and the importance of abiding in Christ. Written by Navigator author and Bible teacher Cynthia Heald, each of the 31 daily meditations in this collection emphasizes your relationship with God and includes the following:

• A Bible passage
• Insights from the author
• A thought-provoking quote from a classic Christian writer or thinker
• A question to ponder
• A short topical prayer