Caught In The Pulpit

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What is it like to be a preacher or rabbi who no longer believes in God? In this expanded and updated edition of their groundbreaking study, Daniel C. Dennett and Linda LaScola comprehensively and sensitively expose an inconvenient truth that religious institutions face in the new transparency of the information age—the phenomenon of clergy who no longer believe what they publicly preach. In confidential interviews, clergy from across the ministerial spectrum—from liberal to literal—reveal how their lives of religious service and study have led them to a truth inimical to their professed beliefs and profession. Although their personal stories are as varied as the denominations they once represented, or continue to represent—whether Catholic, Baptist, Episcopalian, Methodist, Mormon, Pentecostal, or any of numerous others—they give voice not only to their own struggles but also to those who similarly suffer in tender and lonely silence. As this study poignantly and vividly reveals, their common journey has far-reaching implications not only for their families, their congregations, and their communities—but also for the very future of religion.

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What is it like to be a preacher who can no longer believe the creed? In confidential interviews, clergy reveal how their lives of service are overshadowed by hypocrisy, as they contemplate taking a leap from their faith. As religious leaders struggle to adapt to the new transparency of the information age, the phenomenon of non-believing clergy portends surprising developments in the future of religious belief.

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My wife and I love our sons unconditionally and equally. Talking with one of them about his atheism has brought me to a new dimension in my relationship with him, to a review of my own christian beliefs, to a more critical examination of the church, and to a different understanding of ministry in today's world. As personal as I make this all sound, my family represents a thousand families, a hundred thousand and more, who have sat in painful silence because religious differences have taken away their voice. They tire of confrontation, angry discussions, verse hurling and jabbing one another with theories over every conceivable divisive issue. It is a powerful idea that those who do not share our faith should know that we do, not so much in our argument as in our love. It is time to listen.

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The Philosophy of Philip Kitcher contains eleven chapters on the work of noted philosopher Philip Kitcher, whose work is known for its broad range and insightfulness. Topics covered include philosophy of science, philosophy of biology, philosophy of mathematics, ethics, epistemology, and philosophy of religion. Each of the chapters is followed by a reply from Kitcher himself. This first significant edited volume devoted to examining Kitcher's work is an essential reference for anyone interested in understanding this important philosopher.

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This is the age of atheism and agnosticism. The number of people living without religious belief and practice is quickly and dramatically rising. Some experts call nonreligion, after Christianity and Islam, the third largest "religion" in the world today. Understanding the origins, history, variations, and impact of atheism and agnosticism is crucial to getting a grasp of the meaning of the present and gaining a glimpse of the future. Exploring some of the most extraordinary people, events, and ideas of all time, this book provides a fair, comprehensive, and engaging survey of all aspects of contemporary atheism and agnosticism. An overview essay discusses the background and social and political contexts of unbelief, while a timeline highlights key events. Some 50 alphabetically arranged reference entries follow, with each providing fundamental, objective information about particular topics along with cross-references and suggestions for further reading. The volume closes with an annotated bibliography of the most important resources on atheism and agnosticism.

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Download Pulpit and Grave book written by Edward Jewitt Wheeler, available in PDF, EPUB, and Kindle, or read full book online anywhere and anytime. Compatible with any devices.

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What happens when your entire life and career are constructed around a religious faith that you no longer possess? Do you continue to promote a gospel that you have intellectually and emotionally rejected to maintain your livelihood and the support and respect you receive from your community? Or do you renounce your faith to your congregation and the public at large, putting yourself and your family at risk? From Apostle to Apostate offers a comprehensive introduction to the Clergy Project, established in 2011 to provide a safe space where clergy who have lost their faith can connect with others facing the exact same questions—often alone and in isolation. Charting the origins, growth, and goals of the project, the book draws on the author's own experience as a founding project member and on interviews with its founders. It also reveals the troubles and triumphs experienced by many of its members, whose numbers have grown from just over 50 to more than 500 in a few short years. As the book movingly demonstrates, despite the substantial personal and professional challenges nonbelieving clergy face, for many, a loss of faith has turned out not to be a loss at all—but a gain of newfound community, self-respect, and honesty with themselves and others.

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An enlightening discussion that will motivate students to think critically, the book opens with Plantinga's assertion that Christianity is compatible with evolutionary theory because Christians believe that God created the living world, and it is entirely possible that God did so by using a process of evolution.

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Download Love Affairs Or How a Flirt was Caught in His Own Trap book written by Anne Tuttle Jones Bullard, available in PDF, EPUB, and Kindle, or read full book online anywhere and anytime. Compatible with any devices.

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Welcome to the bully pulpit where opinions fly but common sense rules. Here’s where you’ll find straight talk about the most pressing issues of the day, all delivered in the trademark commonsense style of one of America’s most popular and admired television news anchors. Always resisting the political label that attempts to place people in one ideological camp or another, Greta Van Susteren speaks from the mind and the heart, not as a liberal or a conservative, but as a right-thinking, sensible citizen. “Our country is at a critical juncture,” she writes, and “too many of us are caught up in old definitions of left and right that no longer apply. If I favor the death penalty in some cases, does that make me right-wing? If I think hate crimes legislation is stupid, does that make me a conservative? If I happen to like and enjoy Ozzy Osbourne and have him on my show, does that make me a liberal? And if I believe that corporations should be held accountable if their products harm citizens and they should be subject to the rulings of a jury—ditto for doctors who commit medical malpractice—does that make me a lefty trial lawyer?” Here’s more of Greta in her own words: On the military: Liberty isn’t free. As a nation, we must provide for the men and women who put their lives on the line for us. That means good pay, adequate funding for defense, and our heartfelt support. Vietnam was a very long time ago. We Baby Boomers have to wake up and realize that today’s military is a different military from the one we grew up with, and we are fighting a very different war. Patriotism is not a conservative or a liberal thing. Patriotism, as far as I am concerned, is the duty and obligation of every American. On the Supreme Court: There should be a litmus test for Supreme Court and federal court judges, and that test should be their opinion about allowing public access to court proceedings. Let cameras inside the courthouse, or at least allow an audio feed to radio. What are they hiding? On the death penalty: It should be legal and available to courts and juries . . . but it should be used extremely rarely, and only when we are absolutely certain that a fair trial has taken place. On how you look: It’s your business and nobody else’s. Your looks and your life are not a democracy—not everybody gets a vote. Make your appearance and your choices a totalitarian regime—you are the boss. On fun: It isn’t a curse word. It’s actually quite serious business, as it makes the hard times livable and the sad times bearable. Fun should be part of a work environment, too. Stuffed shirts and snobs who can’t stop and laugh at themselves should be banished! In Greta’s company you’re guaranteed to get a fresh dose of common sense and a good hearty rant on many of the most important issues we face today. One more guarantee: you’ll have some good fun while you’re at it.

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The memoir of popular BBC Radio 4 SATURDAY LIVE presenter and former member of the Communards, the Reverend Richard Coles. 'I love @RevRichardColes SO MUCH' Caitlin Moran FATHOMLESS RICHES is the Reverend Richard Coles's warm, witty and wise memoir in which he divulges with searing honesty and intimacy his pilgrimage from a rock-and-roll life of sex and drugs in the Communards to one devoted to God and Christianity. The result is one of the most unusual and readable life stories of recent times, and has the power to shock as well as to console.

Book Description :

Poverty has several definitions, depending on who's defining and from what perspective. For this discourse, we define it as emptiness that borders on acute lack--be it spiritual, social, material, economic, financial or political; the absence of basic provisions that makes a person's life meaningful and bearable. It's not just the absence of food, shelter or clothing but also the absence of health-care (by whatever definition), social rights and access to education, justice and public political space to shape events in the social environment. It's a measure of societal development (Seers 1977). Poverty level defines social status--which determines social access. Poverty is better explained or defined fully by the person experiencing it, with the right words and/or images for others to understand. Poverty is personal yet very public, As its presence is a collective condemnation of society (secular/spiritual). Paradoxically, poverty from close quarters (trusted by us), Is like friendly fire in a combat zone. Armies train their soldiers to take on enemy fire, and prevail. Friendly fire? It's not only a different kind of fire, it's unanticipated and response is difficult. Its impact is painful and response is challenging because relationships are involved. There's a shocking devastation because of its source. Poverty from a close quarter like a pulpit is really difficult to comprehend left alone deal with. Though difficult, friendly fire requires a response and to get on with the war at hand. We need the same approach in dealing with poverty from a very close source like a pulpit. Poverty from the Pulpit is a Christian-sociological analysis of poverty within the body of Christ in this era of "prosperity theology" that pervades Christendom today. it asks Christians everywhere to question their perception of poverty and see where the source of their poverty is and where the solution lies.

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More and more pulpits are occupied by motivational speakers rather than preachers. Church congregations are not being given a comprehensive, biblical understanding of the faith. Drawing on his own experience as a pastor in Zambia, Conrad Mbewe tackles issues such as the content of pastoral preaching, how pastoral preaching relates to church life, finding the time to prepare pastoral sermons, and dealing with discouragement. Throughout the book, it is clear that the author’s conviction is to see preachers grow strong churches, to build a people for God.

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So many memories I would like to forget. But they are vividly etched in my mind, and impossible to erase. During World War II, a young Polish American girl named Cecylia was imprisoned in a Nazi labor camp. After more than sixty years, with the sincere encouragement from her friends and family, she has decided to share her extraordinary account. Hers is a story that centers around a little-known aspect of the war, and it is told here from a fresh perspective, that of a young girl facing unimaginable horror—and unexpected hope—as a prisoner in a Nazi labor camp. “This book is a must-read. ...We will all face adversity in life, and this book inspires us to live our lives and face our problems with strength and dignity. When you read this book, you will be inspired to live your life bravely like Cecylia did under the worst of circumstances. Everyone should read this book—it will help you live a better life.” —Elizabeth Cohen, MPH, CNN Senior Medical Correspondent

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Download Life Thoughts from Pulpits and from Poets book written by Alfred I. Holmes, available in PDF, EPUB, and Kindle, or read full book online anywhere and anytime. Compatible with any devices.

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We live in angry times. No matter where we go, what we watch, or how we communicate, our culture is rife with division and polarization. Unfortunately, Christians appear to be caught up in the same animosity as the culture at large. While our faith calls us to Christian unity, the hard fact remains: our churches are tragically divided across class, ethnic, gender, and political lines. As these social chasms grow--both inside and outside the church--the role of the preacher becomes paramount. This book issues a prophetic call to pastors to use the influence of their pulpits to promote reconciliation and unity in their churches and communities. Two scholar-practitioners who are experts in homiletics and reconciliation present a practical, 7-step model that empowers faithful leaders to bring healing and peace to their fractured churches and world. The book includes questions for reflection, salient illustrations, and an accountability covenant. It also includes useful appendixes on preaching themes, preaching texts, and sample sermons from three leading preachers: Ralph Douglas West, Rich Villodas, and Sandra Maria Van Opstal.

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In ZeroTheology, John Tucker argues that not only can one be a Christian without holding any traditional beliefs but that one can only be a Christian by getting out of religious belief altogether. Utilizing the philosophy of Ludwig Wittgenstein, John offers a way of escaping the belief/disbelief trap that explains why believers and unbelievers cannot understand each other and why neither understands the alternative religious path that the author promotes. Tucker addresses many of today’s most pressing religious questions and introduces his own: Why do evangelicals believe that homosexual fidelity is more harmful to marriage than heterosexual infidelity? Why are believers so bothered by science and so impressed by miracles? What if Sin and Grace are synonyms? What if Jesus is sinless in an ironic way? What is the difference between making judgments and passing judgment? Why does the literal versus metaphorical debate completely miss the point of religious language? Using Catch–22s, ZeroTheology offers a new way of looking at Christian religious life that emphasizes the non–reasonable transcendent choice over the perfectly reasonable choice of belief or unbelief.

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Download The Sizes of California Sardines Caught by the Different Fishing Gear book written by California. State Fisheries Laboratory, available in PDF, EPUB, and Kindle, or read full book online anywhere and anytime. Compatible with any devices.

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An Anthology of World Literature Volume Two: Modern World Literature from 1700. A textbook for use with Dr. Roy Bearden-White's Modern World Literature course, English 2333, at South Plains College. This textbook includes canonical works from the eras of Enlightenment, Romanticism, Existentialism, Transcendentalism, Realism, Symbolism, Regionalism, and Modernism, The authors in this anthology represent England, Germany, Russian, America, Norway, France, Scotland, and Ireland.