|
Showing 1 - 25 of
27 matches in All Departments
A Quaker mystic and social activist, Rufus Jones won a Nobel Prize
as co-founder of the American Friends Service Committee. Widely
considered one of the most significant religious voices in America
at the time of his death in 1948, his writings impart an Emersonian
vision of the ever-present reality of God in our souls and in our
world. Indeed, his quintessentially American "affirmative
mysticism" infuses all contemporary spirituality and offers an
uplifting, positive, and powerful message today.
|
We Say NO! (Hardcover)
H. R. L. Sheppard; Edited by Kerry Walters
|
R999
R813
Discovery Miles 8 130
Save R186 (19%)
|
Ships in 10 - 15 working days
|
Full of true stories more dramatic than any fiction, The
Underground Railroad: A Reference Guide offers a fresh, revealing
look at the efforts of hundreds of dedicated persons-white and
black, men and women, from all walks of life-to help slave
fugitives find freedom in the decades leading up to the Civil War.
The Underground Railroad provides the richest portrayal yet of the
first large scale act of interracial collaboration in the United
States, mapping out the complex network of routes and safe stations
that made escape from slavery in the American South possible. Kerry
Walters' stirring account ranges from the earliest acts of slave
resistance and the rise of the Abolitionist movement, to the
establishment of clandestine "liberty lines" through the eastern
and then-western regions of the Union and ultimately to Canada.
Separating fact from legend, Walters draws extensively on
first-person accounts of those who made the Railroad work, those
who tried to stop it, and those who made the treacherous journey to
freedom-including Eliza Harris and Josiah Henson, the real-life
"Eliza" and "Uncle Tom" from Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's
Cabin. Original documents, from key legislation like The Fugitive
Slave Act of 1850 to first-person narratives of escaping slaves
Biographical sketches of key figures involved in the Underground
Railroad, including Levi Coffin, William Lloyd Garrison, Robert
Purvis, and Mary Ann Shadd
This title moves beyond the polemics to present an overview of
atheism that is rigorous yet accessible. Interest in atheism has
surged since the 'New Atheism' trinity of Sam Harris, Richard
Dawkins, and Christopher Hitchens launched their attack on
religious belief. Their militant, in-your-face style has delighted
readers who are already nonbelievers and infuriated theists, and in
the process made them best-selling authors. But the cost of their
approach is that the current cultural and intellectual dialogue
about atheism frequently generates more heat than light: acrimony
replaces reasoned investigation, polemic overpowers philosophical
analysis, and too often the outcome is confusion rather than truth.
"Atheism: A Guide for the Perplexed" moves beyond the polemics to
present an overview of atheism that is rigorous but still
accessible to the educated layperson as well as the undergraduate
student in philosophy and theology courses. After a preliminary
investigation of what atheists mean when they use the words
'atheism' and 'God' - a much more complex investigation than one
might suspect - the book: explores the differences and similarities
between 'old' and 'new' atheism (the primary distinction is that
the latter relies heavily on science whereas the former relied on
philosophy and is uncompromisingly hostile to religion); places
atheism of either variety in context by examining the naturalistic
worldview that grounds it; provides a short historical sketch of
atheism; examines a number of arguments against God-belief;
investigates whether an atheist worldview is consistent with ethics
and a sense of purposefulness; asks is an atheist 'spirituality' is
possible; inquires into whether the current militancy against
religious belief is pertinent or a red herring; and, concludes with
a few suggestions for continued dialogue between believers and
nonbelievers. The goal throughout is to present a balanced,
non-partisan introduction to the worldview, principles, and
arguments of atheism that highlights the positions strengths as
well as its weaknesses. "Continuum's Guides for the Perplexed" are
clear, concise and accessible introductions to thinkers, writers
and subjects that students and readers can find especially
challenging - or indeed downright bewildering. Concentrating
specifically on what it is that makes the subject difficult to
grasp, these books explain and explore key themes and ideas,
guiding the reader towards a thorough understanding of demanding
material.
This succinct and readable account of the heated debate over the
expansion of slavery provides readers with a thorough understanding
of how the Civil War was precipitated. This book vividly depicts
and clearly explains the events in the decades leading up to the
Civil War that resulted from the controversy over expansion of
slavery into the western territories. The chapters describe how
this single issue drove a wedge through the country and spawned the
creation of several new political parties, including the Republican
Party; caused furious congressional debates; sparked violence in
Kansas; increased sectional discord between North and South; and
allowed Abraham Lincoln to rise from relative obscurity to become
the first Republican president of the United States. The work also
supplies two-dozen thumbnail sketches of the period's greatest
statesmen and less-than-great presidents, including individuals
such as James Buchanan, John C. Calhoun, Salmon P. Chase, Henry
Clay, Stephen Douglas, and William Henry Seward. Supplies a
concise, blow-by-blow account of the famous debates between Abraham
Lincoln and Stephen Douglas in 1858 Documents the first two
Republican campaigns for the presidency, John C. Fremont in 1856
and Abraham Lincoln in 1860 Explores the points of disagreement
between the North and South over slavery expansion Includes an
appendix of documents and political speeches from the period,
including excerpts from the Lincoln-Douglas debates
Harriet Tubman: A Life in American History is an indispensable
resource for high school and college students about the life and
times of anti-slavery activist Harriet Tubman, who exemplifies how
slaves took the initiative to free themselves and others. Harriet
Tubman served a pivotal role in leading slaves to freedom in the
decade before the Civil War. This biography offers a demythologized
chronicle of her life and work with information about her life as a
slave, role as conductor on the Underground Railroad, work as a
military scout during the Civil War, and postwar activism for
blacks and women. The book provides valuable context that situates
Harriet Tubman against the backdrop of the slavery debate in
antebellum America, and the hardships endured by ex-slaves in
postbellum America. As such, the timeframe covers nearly a full
century, from the first quarter of the 19th to the first quarter of
the 20th. In addition to ten biographical chapters and a short
timeline, Harriet Tubman includes an interpretive essay reflecting
on her importance in American history. The volume also includes an
appendix of primary documents about Tubman's life and work, a
bibliography, and a number of sidebars and short commentaries
embedded in the text, inviting readers to explore connections
between Tubman's life and political, intellectual, and social
culture. Provides readers with a comprehensive but readable account
of Tubman's life Provides readers with an overview of American
abolitionism and the Underground Railroad Explores the pivotal role
of religious faith in Tubman's activism Suggests several
comparisons between Tubman's activism and current struggles for
social justice
Provides a comprehensive overview of 10 major slave revolts and
examines how those uprisings and conspiracies impacted slaveholding
colonies and states from 1663 to 1861. Hundreds of slave revolts
and conspiracies occurred during the two centuries that North
America engaged in slavery. None were successful, but certain
campaigns were significant enough to inspire other revolts, fuel a
chronic fear of uprising in slaveholders and politicians, and keep
alive the perennial desire for freedom felt by black slaves. Kerry
Walters examines 10 representative revolts and offers narratives,
primary materials, chronologies and biographies of participants for
high school and undergraduate students. The book also contains an
annotated bibliography of print and online primary and secondary
sources for students seeking material for research papers and
projects, as well as an examination of fictional depictions of
slave revolts in novels and film. Walters offers information on a
compelling topic that will be of interest to students of American
history or sociology as well as anyone engaging in multicultural
studies. Offers an overview of American slave revolts and
conspiracies to revolt Explores the context of chronic fear of
uprising in slaveholding colonies and states in North America from
1663 to 1861 Offers accounts gleaned from primary resources
regarding slave leaders and their lieutenants, and of the trials
that condemned them Describes the climate of fear in which
slaveholding whites lived, as well as the various social practices
and legal statutes they enacted to minimize the risk of slave
revolt Includes a narrative, primary materials, biographics, a
chronology, and an annotated bibliography-all of which will be
helpful to students writing papers on the topic
"There are no words foul and filthy enough to describe war." So
declared Geoffrey Studdert Kennedy (1883-1929), the
cigarette-smoking padre "Woodbine Willie" whose battlfield
experiences in World War I made him his generation's most eloquent
defender of Christian pacicism. A tireless champion of the social
gospel, he wrote a dozen books, scores of articles, hundreds of
poems, and promoted economic justice in Britain and America by
preaching. Studdert Kennedy's writing and preaching influenced an
entire generation. Archbishop William Temple described him as a
"true prophet." Although he has fallen into obscurity over the
years, Studdert Kennedy's message has helped inspire the likes of
Desmond Tutu and Jurgen Moltmann. This collection of his work, the
first in sixty years, introduces this most relevant of thinkers to
new readers. The book pulls together Studdert Kennedy's most
important writings on war and peace, poverty, the problem of evil,
the church's role in the world, sin and atonement, the suering God,
love versus force as world powers, and the beloved community. Kerry
Walters, the editor, introduces the texts with a biographical and
thematic essay. "Kerry Walters deserves thanks for his accessible
presentation of Studdert Kennedy's religious thought on war and its
aftermath. Earning the nickname 'Woodbine Willie' from the British
soldiers he served as chaplain in the 'Great War to end all wars',
the knew first-hand the unspeakable horrors of war. He also knew
that faith was not only possible after the hostilities ceased; it
was necessary. His was not a disembodied or privatized faith. He is
especially helpful in linking the Eucharist with social justice.
Readers will appreciate his passionate love for the poor, wounded,
and dying Christ and his commitment to the church, where he and
others can insist that, indeed, after war faith is possible." -John
Perry, SJ Associate Professor, Arthur V. Mauro Center for Peace and
Justice, St. Paul's College, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg KERRY
WALTERS is William Bittinger Professor of Philosophy and Professor
of Peace and Justice Studies at Gettysburg College. He is the
author of 19 previous books on philosophy, theology, and peace, and
has been a peace activist since the Vietnam War era.
Genuine, life-giving spirituality calls us to be our best selves
and to bring out the best in others, each and every day. It calls
us to care_for God, others, and ourselves. In Practicing Presence,
popular spiritual writer Kerry Walters shows us how to integrate
care into our daily lives on the road to happiness and holiness. As
Walters reveals, we do not need to be professional caregivers to
nurture a creative, intimate, and meaningful openness to our
deepest selves, to others, and to God. We simply need to be
OpresentO to who God is and who we are as images of God.
Harriet Tubman served a pivotal role in leading slaves to freedom
in the decade before the Civil War. This biography offers a
demythologized chronicle of her life and work, providing
information about her life as a slave, role as conductor on the
Underground Railroad, work as a military scout during the Civil
War, and postwar activism for blacks and women. Harriet Tubman: A
Life in American History provides valuable context that situates
Harriet Tubman against the backdrop of the slavery debate in
antebellum America, and the hardships endured by ex-slaves in
postbellum America. As such, the timeframe covers nearly a full
century, from the first quarter of the nineteenth to the first
quarter of the twentieth. In addition to ten biographical chapters
and a short timeline, Harriet Tubman includes an interpretive essay
reflecting on Tubman's importance in American history, an appendix
of primary documents about Tubman's life and work, a bibliography,
and a number of sidebars and short commentaries embedded in the
text that invite readers to explore connections between Tubman's
life and political, intellectual, and social culture.
About the Contributor(s): Kerry Walters is William Bittinger
Professor of Philosophy and Professor of Peace and Justice Studies
at Gettysburg College. He is the author of thirty books in
philosophy, peace studies, theology, and history. He has also
edited After War, Is Faith Possible? (Cascade, 2008) and with Robin
Jarrell, Blessed Peacemakers (Cascade, 2013).
Synopsis: All of us yearn for a peaceable and just world, but some
roll up their sleeves and set to work to make the dream real.
Blessed Peacemakers celebrates 365 of them, one for each day of the
year. Their stories are richly diverse. They share a commitment to
peace and justice, but the various contexts in which they work make
each of their stories uniquely instructive. The peacemakers include
women, men, and children from across the globe, spanning some
twenty-five hundred years. Many are persons of faith, but some are
totally secular. Some are well known, while others will be
excitingly new. They are human rights and antiwar activists,
scientists and artists, educators and scholars, songwriters and
poets, film directors and authors, diplomats and economists,
environmentalists and mystics, prophets and policymakers. Some are
unlettered, but all are wise. A few died in the service of the
dream. All sacrificed for it. The world is a better place for the
presence of blessed peacemakers. Their inspiring stories embolden
readers to join them in nonviolent resistance to injustice and the
creative pursuit of peace. Endorsements: "Blessed Peacemakers is
quite astonishing in its breadth and depth, examining 365 noble
souls who devoted large parts of their lives to peacemaking and
without whom the world would be a much poorer place." --Helen
Caldicott, Founding President of Physicians for Social
Responsibility "This inspiring and wonderful book gives a concise
account of the core ideas, passions, and acts of the world's
peacemakers over the last twenty-five hundred years. . . . These
engaging essays deserve a read by anyone committed to making our
world a more just and peaceful place." --Donald B. Kraybill,
Distinguished Professor at Elizabethtown College "One excellent way
to start the day is to read just one page of Blessed
Peacemakers--read it in silence to yourself if you eat breakfast
alone; read it aloud if there's more than one at the table. In some
cases, you will already be aware of the person whose story is
assigned to the day, in many cases not. In every case, you are in
for encouragement and inspiration." --Jim Forest, International
Secretary of the Orthodox Peace Fellowship "Walters and Jarrell
provide exemplars who encourage this world toward longevity and
high quality of life. Like it or not, we need these exemplars
because they remind us that self-sufficiency does not work outside
of healthy communal practices--chief of which is peacemaking Read
Walters and Jarrell's excellent work and understand what I mean."
--Michael Battle, Founder of PeaceBattle Institute Author
Biography: Kerry Walters teaches Philosophy as well as Peace and
Justice Studies at Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania. The author
or editor of more than twenty-five books, he is also a longtime
peace activist. Robin Jarrell is an Episcopal priest in the Diocese
of Central Pennsylvania. She is past coeditor (with Kerry Walters)
of Episcopal Peace Witness.
The choice of whether or not to consume animals is more than merely
a dietary one. It frequently reflects deep ethical commitments or
religious convictions that serve as the bedrock of an entire
lifestyle. Proponents of vegetarianism frequently infuriate
nonvegetarians, who feel that they're being morally condemned
because of what they choose to eat. Vegetarians are frequently
infuriated by what they consider to be the nonvegetarians'
disregard for the environment and animal-suffering.
Vegetarianism: A Guide for the Perplexed offers a much needed
survey of the different arguments offered by ethical vegetarians
and their critics. In a rigorous but accessible manner, the author
scrutinizes the strengths and weaknesses of arguments in defense of
vegetarianism based on compassion, rights, interests, eco-feminism,
environmentalism, anthrocentrism, and religion. Authors examined
include Peter Singer, Tom Regan, Carol J. Adams, and Kathryn Paxton
George.
As the global climate crisis worsens, population increases, and
fossil fuels disappear, ethical and public policy questions about
the ethics of diet will become ever more urgent. This book is a
useful resource for thinking through the questions.
This title moves beyond the polemics to present an overview of
atheism that is rigorous yet accessible. Interest in atheism has
surged since the 'New Atheism' trinity of Sam Harris, Richard
Dawkins, and Christopher Hitchens launched their attack on
religious belief. Their militant, in-your-face style has delighted
readers who are already nonbelievers and infuriated theists, and in
the process made them best-selling authors. But the cost of their
approach is that the current cultural and intellectual dialogue
about atheism frequently generates more heat than light: acrimony
replaces reasoned investigation, polemic overpowers philosophical
analysis, and too often the outcome is confusion rather than truth.
"Atheism: A Guide for the Perplexed" moves beyond the polemics to
present an overview of atheism that is rigorous but still
accessible to the educated layperson as well as the undergraduate
student in philosophy and theology courses. After a preliminary
investigation of what atheists mean when they use the words
'atheism' and 'God' - a much more complex investigation than one
might suspect - the book: explores the differences and similarities
between 'old' and 'new' atheism (the primary distinction is that
the latter relies heavily on science whereas the former relied on
philosophy and is uncompromisingly hostile to religion); places
atheism of either variety in context by examining the naturalistic
worldview that grounds it; provides a short historical sketch of
atheism; examines a number of arguments against God-belief;
investigates whether an atheist worldview is consistent with ethics
and a sense of purposefulness; asks is an atheist 'spirituality' is
possible; inquires into whether the current militancy against
religious belief is pertinent or a red herring; and, concludes with
a few suggestions for continued dialogue between believers and
nonbelievers. The goal throughout is to present a balanced,
non-partisan introduction to the worldview, principles, and
arguments of atheism that highlights the positions strengths as
well as its weaknesses. "Continuum's Guides for the Perplexed" are
clear, concise and accessible introductions to thinkers, writers
and subjects that students and readers can find especially
challenging - or indeed downright bewildering. Concentrating
specifically on what it is that makes the subject difficult to
grasp, these books explain and explore key themes and ideas,
guiding the reader towards a thorough understanding of demanding
material.
For some eighty-five years--between, roughly, 1725 and 1810--the
American colonies were agitated by what can only be described as a
revolutionary movement. This was not the well-known political
revolution that culminated in the War of Independence, but a
revolution in religious and ethical thought. Its proponents called
their radical viewpoint "deism." They challenged Christian
orthodoxy and instead endorsed a belief system that celebrated the
power of human reason and saw nature as God's handiwork and the
only revelation of divine will. This illuminating discussion of
American deism presents an overview of the main tenets of deism,
showing how its influence rose swiftly and for a time became a
highly controversial subject of debate in the colonies. The deists
were students of the Enlightenment and took a keen interest in the
scientific study of nature. They were thus critical of orthodox
Christianity for its superstitious belief in miracles, persecution
of dissent, and suppression of independent thought and expression.
At the heart of his book are profiles of six "rational infidels,"
most of whom are quite familiar to Americans as founding fathers or
colonial patriots: Benjamin Franklin (the ambivalent deist), Thomas
Jefferson (a critic of Christian supernaturalism but an admirer of
its ethics), Ethan Allen (the rough-edged "frontier deist"), Thomas
Paine (the arch iconoclast and author of The Age of Reason), Elihu
Palmer (the tireless crusader for deism and perhaps its most
influential proponent), and Philip Freneau (a poet whose popular
verses combined deism with early romanticism). This is a
fascinating study of America's first culture war, one that in many
ways has continued to this day.
|
|