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Waters (Stakes Is High), an African American pastor and civil rights activist, delivers a blistering critique of white supremacy and racial injustice in this trenchant collection of sermons, poems, and commentaries. Waters quotes extensively from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speeches to argue little has changed regarding American racial equality in more than half a century. Noting the silence of many church communities in the face of racial injustice, he proclaims that King’s mission has failed and suggests white supremacy is growing stronger in America, as “the waters that define the social, political, theological, and economic landscapes of our nation are contaminated with the pollution of racism.” He seamlessly connects historical lessons, like African Americans’ mistrust of authorities stemming from the “elected officials, judges, policemen, ministers, and businessmen” who aided in the formation of the KKK, to contemporary police brutality, mass shootings, and income disparities. He ends with an urgent and persuasive call to action for people of all backgrounds to come together and reform society into something resembling Dr. King’s dream through collective action and legislation that would act “as a corrective to historic harms and oppressive systems.” This concise, incisive work should be a wake-up call to Americans in general and the church in particular. (Jan.)

Reviewed on 12/18/2020 | Details & Permalink

In this vibrant work, TV and radio host Fusco (Upward, Inward, Outward) explores notions of living a good life by taking a close look at the Beatitudes and the nine attributes (“love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control”) that compose the Fruits of the Spirit. By pairing each of the Beatitudes (“blessed are the hungry” or “blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice”) with one of the nine Fruit of the Spirit attributes, Fusco offers insights on living a better life: “mourning produces joy in the kingdom of God” and “comes from lives that allow God to meet us and work through brokenness.” Fusco’s Christian devotion is evident throughout (“true beauty works itself out in our lives only as we are made one with Jesus”) as he illustrates how, even in adverse or difficult circumstances, hope can be found. Fusco acknowledges that embracing negative experiences may sound “crazy,” but assures readers that one must “unlearn the cultural doctrines we’ve inherited” to “live in the beauty of God’s kingdom.” Christian readers longing for happiness will connect with Fusco’s uplifting reflections. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 12/18/2020 | Details & Permalink

Christian writer Glaspey (75 Masterpieces Every Christian Should Know) makes a powerful case that engagement with the arts can be “a tool for spiritual growth and formation” in this eloquent work. Glaspey speaks to a diverse Christian audience, addressing both those who consider any art without a specific Christian message possibly dangerous as well as those who regularly engage with secular arts. Though developing an appreciation for the arts can take time, Glaspey writes, doing so is worth the work and can yield spiritual fruits: still life paintings invite attention to the “sacredness of everyday objects”; poetry evokes wonder; a number of visual artists, such as Sadao Watanabe, offer fresh interpretations of biblical stories; and country music gives voice to life’s hardships. Many specific examples of the ways art can “expand our empathy” are included, such as Lewis Hine’s early-20th-century photographs of children working in factories, which led to the passage of child labor laws, and Pablo Picasso’s Guernica, which testifies to the trauma and evil of war. Glaspey shares stories of how these artworks have shaped his own faith, leading to a richer, more contemplative prayer life. This expansive guide will inspire Christians to embrace arts appreciation as a spiritual discipline. (Feb.)

Reviewed on 12/18/2020 | Details & Permalink

Occultist and folklore blogger Hedera debuts with an illuminating history of folklore and witchcraft in the United States. Hedera identifies three major cultural influences—European, Indigenous, and African—as well as beliefs that came together through “adversity, theft, enslavement, expansion, love, war and liberty” to form the American concept of witchcraft. The book is organized into sections that cover beliefs relating to witches, including their relationship to the devil (a conceit informed by Christianity), and the use of spells, tricks, and charms. For example, the use of “pillow charms” (objects placed under the pillow to inspire clairvoyant dreams or bring good luck) comes from German immigrants, while “conjuring” has roots in African American folk magic. Hedera also includes information on how to honor witchy holidays, such as by creating a “dumb supper” (food left for the dead) for Halloween or performing “holly leaf divinations” around the winter solstice. Any reader interested in the origins of the occult will enjoy this guide to American witchcraft. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 12/18/2020 | Details & Permalink

British historian Freedman (Kabbalah) gives his late teacher Rabbi Louis Jacobs (1920–2006) his due in this definitive biography. Despite Jacobs’s upbringing as a traditional ritually observant British Jew and ordination as an Orthodox rabbi, he lived his life committed to finding a confluence between his faith and the critical questions he had about sacred texts; that approach led him to credit the documentary hypothesis, which attributed the Hebrew Bible to multiple human sources, rather than being the literal word of God. Jacobs had pulpits at Manchester Central Synagogue and London’s New West End Synagogue before becoming moral tutor at Jews’ College, London, where he taught Talmud and homiletics. But, despite his growing renown, it was his defense of the documentary hypothesis that led to controversy in 1961 when Jacobs was invited to assume the helm of Jews College–the Orthodox United Synagogue’s rabbinical seminary. He never did so, thanks to Israel Brodie, then the U.K.’s chief rabbi, who strenuously objected to Jacobs’s views. The Jacobs Affair became news outside the Jewish world, and revealed deep schisms in Anglo-Jewry about the power of the chief rabbinate, as well as what Orthodox Jews could believe. This engrossing, richly detailed look at a major British religious leader will appeal to any academic reader interested in modern Judaism. (Feb.)

Reviewed on 12/18/2020 | Details & Permalink

Barmash (Homicide in the Biblical World), director of Jewish, Islamic, and Near Eastern Studies at Washington University, takes an illuminating and original look at the Laws of Hammurabi, “the first documentation we have of law in human society, thousands of years earlier than Roman law.” Barmash offers a comprehensive history of these laws (composed in the 1700s BCE), examining their origins, the impact they had on biblical and Hittite law, and the role of justice in Mesopotamian culture. The Laws were first believed to be royal legislation, but other theories arose in the 20th century, including that they were actually propaganda intended to demonstrate that King Hammurabi had fulfilled his mandate to act justly. Barmash makes a convincing new argument—that the Laws were the work of an unnamed Babylonian scribe whose work copying other laws and studying cases gave him a sense of what was equitable, and enabled him to derive statutes from what he’d analyzed. Barmash argues that this pioneering scribe went further than his predecessors, including explanations for prescribed punishments and expanding reasoning in ways that anticipated Roman thought. Barmash’s persuasive scholarship puts the ancient code of law in an entirely new light. (Nov.)

Reviewed on 12/18/2020 | Details & Permalink

In this accessible and insightful work, Buddhist nun and former physician Nghiem (Healing) outlines an approach to healing from trauma by using Buddhism-inspired mindfulness. Embracing Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh’s principle that “the way out is in,” Nghiem instructs readers in meditation, breathing techniques, and self-love affirmations that address the emotional and physical aftereffects of traumatic experiences. Nghiem supplements the book’s theoretical principles with scientific information from her training as a physician and personal stories both from her own life and of those pursuing healing at her monastery. These small vignettes deepen the book’s emotional impact, especially when Nghiem shares her own experiences as a survivor of sexual and physical abuse. While Nghiem’s techniques can be valuable to anyone seeking personal growth or comfort for pain, those who have experienced severe traumas will find those treated here with sensitivity and compassion, and may find reasons to hope. (Feb.)

Reviewed on 12/18/2020 | Details & Permalink

In this handy work, psychic counselor Campion (Psychic Reiki) teaches energy management techniques to her fellow empaths. Campion claims that empaths (those with heightened intuitive or psychic awareness) are prone to absorbing the emotional energy of others, which can bring unexpected difficulties. She highlights issues of empathetic overload, and urges readers to let go of feeling victimized by their sensitivity and take charge of managing energy and maintaining boundaries. The book’s strength are the skills Campion shares, such as a “system check” scan to separate one’s emotions from those of others and ways to create personal boundaries through visualization and meditation. She also describes the nature of “energy vampires” (people one finds “most draining”) and gives suggestions to disentangle from them (such as establishing boundaries and finding support if one has troubling saying “no”). But the message gets muddied as Campion wanders into topics such as old and new souls, soulmates, and “the energetics of sexuality.” Campion’s breezy, approachable style and clearly described methods make this book valuable to anyone who considers themselves an empath. (Feb.)

Reviewed on 12/11/2020 | Details & Permalink

Gary follows up her memoir Loves God, Likes Girls with this illuminating testament that argues faith communities should be more accepting of LGBTQ members and invites readers to recognize that, for many LGBTQ people, sexual and romantic relationships are an essential part of life. Growing up in the Church of Christ during the 1960s and ’70s, where sexuality was taboo and “talking about homosexuality was unheard of, unless it involved hateful condemnation or jokes,” Gary was confused by her attraction to girls. After she came out at 35, Gary writes, she wrestled with how to reconcile her faith with her sexuality, and, as covered in her previous memoir, came to the conclusion that, while God accepted her, she was called to be celibate. Here, Gary explains her change of opinion about living in a “faithful covenant” with another woman, and uses her story to consider the Christian practice of radical hospitality (which is about “welcoming strangers, people who don’t fit in with the rest of society”), the role of scripture in understanding sexuality and sin (which evangelicals interpret to instill “the myth that... someone who is gay has rebelled against God”), and the importance of relationships. In the end, she challenges Christians to reckon with the damage done by anti-LGBTQ beliefs and practices. “What if LGBTQ people never had to worry about not being wanted?” she asks. “What if [that energy] was directed toward deepening their relationship with God?” Gary’s surprising, forthright story uncovers the damage of anti-LGBTQ religious beliefs and policies. (Mar.)

Reviewed on 12/11/2020 | Details & Permalink

In this cheerful debut, O’Hara describes how friendships and her Christian faith have buoyed her through infertility and expanding her family with the help of a gestational surrogate. O’Hara and her husband, after the birth of their first child, suffered seven pregnancy losses. A friend volunteered to be a surrogate, but after she didn’t respond to treatment, O’Hara and her husband turned to surrogacy agencies to find a carrier. Tiffany, an experienced surrogate who approached the work as a ministry, gave hope to the O’Haras and eventually gave birth to twins. During O’Hara’s struggles to have another child, her pastor supported her in establishing a daily prayer ritual, a life coach taught her to focus her energy on the positive, and friends prayed with her or surprised her with impromptu outings for karaoke. Though faith is an important aspect of O’Hara’s life, her account offers little theological nuance, providing only the answer “God had invented science” from a conversation with her pastor on the morality of surrogacy and in-vitro fertilization. O’Hara’s unquestioned faith and tenacity in seeing the positive in any situation shine throughout. Christians who have struggled with loss will appreciate O’Hara’s remarkable story. (Self-published)

Reviewed on 12/11/2020 | Details & Permalink