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Books > Biography > Religious & spiritual
A True-Life Thriller That Will Leave You Breathless! In the
anniversary edition of this electrifying real-life story, readers
are gripped from the first page by the harrowing account of a young
man who risked his life to smuggle Bibles through the borders of
closed nations. Now, sixty years after Brother Andrew first prayed
for God's miracle protection, this expanded edition of a classic
work encourages new readers to meet this remarkable man and his
mission for the first time. Working undercover for God, a mission
that continues to this day, has made Brother Andrew one of the
all-time heroes of the faith. His narrow escapes from danger to
share the love of Jesus will encourage and embolden believers in
their own walks of faith.
The Irish Buddhist is the biography of an extraordinary Irish
emigrant, sailor, and migrant worker who became a Buddhist monk and
anti-colonial activist in early twentieth-century Asia. Born in
Dublin in the 1850s, U Dhammaloka energetically challenged the
values and power of the British Empire and scandalized the colonial
establishment of the 1900s. He rallied Buddhists across Asia, set
up schools, and argued down Christian missionaries-often using
western atheist arguments. He was tried for sedition, tracked by
police and intelligence services, and died at least twice. His
story illuminates the forgotten margins and interstices of imperial
power, the complexities of class, ethnicity and religious belonging
in colonial Asia, and the fluidity of identity in the high
Victorian period. Too often, the story of the pan-Asian Buddhist
revival movement and Buddhism's remaking as a world religion has
been told 'from above,' highlighting scholarly writers,
middle-class reformers and ecclesiastical hierarchies. By turns
fraught, hilarious, pioneering, and improbable, Dhammaloka's
adventures 'from below' highlight the changing and contested
meanings of Buddhism in colonial Asia. Through his story, authors
Alicia Turner, Brian Bocking, and Laurence Cox offer a window into
the worlds of ethnic minorities and diasporas, transnational
networks, poor whites, and social movements. Dhammaloka's dramatic
life rewrites the previously accepted story of how Buddhism became
a modern global religion.
In Roland Allen: A Theology of Mission, a companion work with
Roland Allen: A Missionary Life, Steven Richard Rutt completes a
portrait of Roland Allen (1868-1947) in this intellectual
biography. Extensive archival evidence discloses how apostolic
principles formed the basis for Allen's missionary theology.
Although it is well-known that Allen's hermeneutical ideas were
born of Pauline principles, Steven Richard Rutt expounds the ways
in which Allen's missionary experiences had profoundly impacted
Allen's theological beliefs. Allen wrote about his findings in
letters, sermons, articles and books, some of which were never
published. Allen's writings tenaciously challenged the methodology
of colonial missionary societies and exposed the causes hindering
Church expansion: failures occurred in missions due to the
imposition of Western missionary paternalism and institutional
devolution. Allen advocated the empowerment of indigenous churches
to apply the principles of self-government and self-support. He
asserted the importance of the Pauline concept of 'Spirit and
order', which encompasses both the doctrine of the Holy Spirit as
well as that of the Church. Allen's diagnosis of the missionary
situation and the proposed ways to restore apostolic order
presented contemporary controversy but since his death, we have
seen the importance of Allen's ideas in Mission studies grow
steadily. With an expert evaluation of Allen's theological insight,
Roland Allen: A Theology of Mission also offers a superb
contribution to the discipline of historical theology and
historical missiology as Rutt delves into a contextual assay into
the missionary landscape of the nineteenth and the twentieth
centuries.
What are the origins of Ottoman Islam in the 15th century? From
what soil did it grow, and what nourished its development? This
study follows the lives and ideas of the Yaz?c?o?lu brothers Mehmed
Yaz?c?o?lu and Ahmed Bican, Sufis of the frontier city of Gelibolu
and authors of the most popular religious writings in Ottoman
Turkish.It places the Yaz?c?o?lus' durable religious vision within
their dynamic historical moment on the contested Ottoman
borderlands. Examining how these non-elite writers deployed their
own intellectual resources, it considers how they approached the
religious sciences of the wider Islamic world, and how they created
a religious synthesis appropriate for their own community, the
growing Turcophone Muslim population of the Balkans and Anatolia.
That Muhammad succeeded as a prophet is undeniable; a prominent
military historian now suggests that he might not have done so had
he not also been a great soldier. Best known as the founder of a
major religion, Muhammad was also Islam's first great general.
While there have been numerous accounts of Muhammad the Prophet,
this is the first military biography of the man.In Muhammad:
Islam's First Great General, Richard A. Gabriel shows us a warrior
never before seen in antiquity-a leader of an all-new religious
movement who in a single decade fought eight major battles, led
eighteen raids, and planned thirty-eight other military operations.
Gabriel's study portrays Muhammad as a revolutionary who introduced
military innovations that transformed armies and warfare throughout
the Arab world. Gabriel analyzes the environment in which Muhammad
lived and the religion he inspired as they relate to his military
achievements. Gabriel explains how Muhammad changed the social
composition of Arab armies by replacing traditional ways of
fighting with a new command structure. Muhammad's transformation of
Arab warfare enabled his successors to establish the core of the
Islamic empire-an accomplishment that, Gabriel argues, would have
been militarily impossible without Muhammad's innovations. Richard
A. Gabriel challenges existing scholarship on Muhammad's place in
history and offers a viewpoint not previously attempted.
Heaven Come Down is the stunningly powerful testimony of someone
growing up with severe dysmorphia and gender dysphoria, in a broken
dysfunctional family, and their discovery of hope, love and faith
through the healing power of God. Chrissie Chevasutt's tumultuous
journey has taken her through drug addiction, prostitution, and
begging on the streets of India, before being led to the feet of
Jesus. It is a story of hope for anyone who has or is suffering
from addictions, suicidal ideation, homelessness, mental illness
and the crisis of sexual or gender identity conflict, and seeks to
build bridges in places where the Church and the transgender
community have been divided.
This in-depth look at Sr. Megan Rice, the octogenarian religious
sister and anti-nuclear weapons activist, highlights the life and
work of a bold modern-day advocate for peace. She was convicted for
her role in carrying out what the "New York Times" called "the
biggest security breach in the history of the nation's atomic
complex." After breaking into a nuclear weapons facility, Rice's
only comment at trial was "I regret I didn't do this 70 years
ago."Sr. Megan's faith in a world that can transform its resources
into sustainable, alternative methods doesn't end with her own
future behind prison walls. Her cause is great and her hope is even
greater.
From the People of God series. People of God is a brand-new series
of inspiring biographies for the general reader. Each volume offers
a compelling and honest narrative of the life of an important
twentieth or twenty-first century Catholic. Some living and some
now deceased, each of these women and men has known challenges and
weaknesses familiar to most of us but responded to them in ways
that call us to our own forms of heroism. Each offers a credible
and concrete witness of faith, hope, and love to people of our own
day.
Jason Meyer highlights the life of Martyn Lloyd-Jones, regarded as
one of the most powerful preachers of the twentieth century,
teaching us the importance of the union between doctrine and life.
St. George is a figure that bridges many worlds. At the heart of
the myths and legends surrounding this English icon lies the story
of an Early Christian Martyr persecuted by the Roman Empire around
the third century AD. But England is only one country to have
adopted this legendary soldier saint as their patron. Other
countries including Germany, Armenia, Hungary, Portugal and Malta
have all claimed him as their own. The cult of St. George is
astonishingly widespread with churches being dedicated to him in
Ethiopia, Egypt, Greece and France. His heroic struggle and victory
against the dragon can be interpreted as representing the bravery
of an individual Christian or as the eternal battle been good and
evil. But closer examination of the cult of St. George yields
unexpected results. There are clear parallels between his legendary
battle and that of earlier pre-Christian heroes such as Perseus and
Beowulf. St. George is also identified with the Islamic hero Al
Khidr who is said to have discovered the fountain of youth. He has
been associated with the coming of spring and has functioned as
fertility symbol and been closely linked to the Green Man of
Pre-Christian Myth. St. George has also acted as a symbol of
chastity and served as a healing saint. His flag has been
appropriated by the far right but in recent times come to identify
a multi-cultural England. David Beckham arguably embodies many of
the contradictory aspects of St. George as sex symbol, multi-racial
icon and national hero.
"Lamott has chronicled her wacky and (sometimes) wild adventures in
faith in...the wonderful "Grace (Eventually)."" ("Chicago Sun-
Times") In "Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith," the author of
the bestsellers "Traveling Mercies" and "Plan B" delivers a
poignant, funny, and bittersweet primer of faith, as we come to
discover what it means to be fully alive.
Scholar, philosopher and political sage, Confucius lived at a
turbulent time in his country's history, the so-called 'Spring and
Autumn Period' of the sixth century BC, during which China was
wracked by warfare between rival feudal states. Against this
backdrop he developed a system of social and political behaviour
that he hoped could be used to create harmony and peace throughout
the land. The teachings of Confucius attracted a large number of
pupils, but were largely ignored by the rulers of China's various
kingdoms. As a result, he did not see his philosophical teachings
applied during his lifetime. After his death, however, his
teachings were kept alive by his followers, and within a few
centuries, his philosophy (as outlined in The Analects, which
record the words and acts of Confucius and his disciples) was
adopted by China's rulers and became the foundation for Chinese
government, education and social structure. Beyond its profound
influence on the culture and history of East Asia, Confucianism has
also exerted a powerful fascination for western thinkers and
philosophers. Meher McArthur's accessible and thoughtful biography
not only traces the outline of her subject's life, but also
examines why Confucius and his teachings are still relevant today.
Think Mother Jones meets Mother Teresa, in Mogadishu. Amid a
volatile mix of disease, war, and religious fundamentalism in the
Horn of Africa, what difference could one woman make? Annalena
Tonelli left behind career, family, and homeland anyway, moving to
a remote Muslim village in northern Kenya to live among its
outcasts - desert nomads dying of tuberculosis, history's deadliest
disease. "I am nobody," she always insisted. Yet by the time she
was killed for her work three decades later she had not only
developed an effective cure for tuberculosis among nomadic peoples
but also exposed a massacre, established homes and schools for the
deaf, advocated against female genital mutilation, and secured
treatment for ostracized AIDS patients. Months after winning the
Nansen Refugee Award from the UN in 2003, Annalena Tonelli was
assassinated at one of the tuberculosis hospitals she founded.
Rachel Pieh Jones, an American writer, was living a few doors down,
having moved to Somaliland with her husband and two children just
months before. Annalena's death would alter the course of her life.
No one who encounters Annalena in these pages will leave unchanged.
Her confounding, larger-than-life example challenges our
assumptions about aid and development, Christian-Muslim relations,
and what it means to put one's faith into practice. Brought vividly
back to life through Jones's meticulous reporting and her own
letters, Annalena presents us with a new measure of success and
commitment. But she also leaves us a gift: the secret to overcoming
the fear that pervades our society and our hearts - fear of disease
and death, fear of terrorism and war, fear of others, and fear of
failure.
The definitive biography One of the best-known and respected public
figures of modern times, The Dalai Lama's message of peace and
compassion resonates with people of all faiths and none. And yet,
for all his worldwide fame, he remains personally elusive.
Alexander Norman, acclaimed Oxford-trained scholar of the history
of Tibet and the Dalai Lamas, draws on his thirty years of special
access to His Holiness to deliver the definitive biography -
unique, revelatory, controversial. Norman gives unparalled insights
into the Dalai Lama's life, from being chosen as a young boy, his
exile from Tibet and his involvement in political negotiations, to
the present day. He confronts a dark history, revealing the
spiritual and political leader as never seen before.
Keshab Chandra Sen (1838-84) was one of the most powerful and
controversial figures in nineteenth-century Bengal. A religious
leader and social reformer, his universalist interpretation of
Hinduism found mass appeal in India, and generated considerable
interest in Britain. His ideas on British imperial rule, religion
and spirituality, global history, universalism and modernity were
all influential, and his visit to England made him a celebrity.
Many Britons regarded him as a prophet of world-historical
significance. Keshab was the subject of extreme adulation and
vehement criticism. Accounts tell of large crowds prostrating
themselves before him, believing him to be an avatar. Yet he died
with relatively few followers, his reputation in both India and
Britain largely ruined. As a representative of India, Keshab became
emblematic of broad concerns regarding Hinduism and Christianity,
science and faith, India and the British Empire. This innovative
study explores the transnational historical forces that shaped
Keshab's life and work. It offers an alternative religious history
of empire, characterised by intercultural dialogue and religious
syncretism. A fascinating and often tragic portrait of Keshab's
experience of the imperial world, and the ways in which he carried
meaning for his contemporaries.
After leading a very conventional life, a middle-aged Val told God
she was available to be used by him. Moving to an inner-city
church, God opened her eyes and heart to what was happening in
Bristol, and so began a remarkable rollercoaster ride of love,
compassion, burnout, determination, honesty, victories and defeats.
Founding the charity One25, Val worked with the female sex workers
of Bristol, offering a listening ear, acceptance, support and a
safe place to stay that has changed many lives. Val's incredible
story shows that it is never too late for God to work in your life
and will encourage you to have the faith to step out and do what
God has called you to do. Content Benefits: This inspiring
biography encourages you not to be pigeon holed by your life so far
- God can break into your life and do great things through you too!
* Demonstrates how God takes ordinary people and does extraordinary
things through them * Reveals how God loves those that society
ignores * Shows sex workers not as fallen women but women of
dignity and strength * Helps you understand issues around sex
working, addiction and homelessness * Includes a photo insert *
Perfect for anyone who loves to hear stories of God at work *
Suitable for readers who love testimonies and faith-inspiring
stories * Ideal for anyone interested in social action * An
inspirational gift idea for any occasion
Since his retirement as Archbishop of Canterbury and his return to
academic life (Master of Magdalene College Cambridge) Rowan
Williams has demonstrated a massive new surge of intellectual
energy. In this new book he turns his attention to St Augustine. St
Augustine not only shaped the development of Western theology, he
also made a major contribution to political theory (City of God)
and through his Confessions to the understanding of human
psychology. Rowan Williams has an entirely fresh perspective on
these matters and the chapter titles in this new book demonstrate
this at a glance - 'Language Reality and Desire', 'Politics and the
Soul', 'Paradoxes of Self Knowledge', 'Insubstantial Evil'. As with
his previous titles, Dostoevsky, The Edge of Words and Faith in the
Public Square this new study is sure to be a major contribution on
a compelling subject.
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