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Books





400 Days of Celebration
honoring the 400th anniversary
of the King James Version
of the Bible

     "This attractive, reader-friendly volume has the advantage of being written not by one author but by a group of scholars, each a well-established authority.  It thus stands out as something special compared to many other "introductions" to Islam. . . . Will certainly be very welcome to teachers, students, and general readers."   --Muhammad Abdel Haleem                                                                     
        "This factual, jargon-free, and to-the-point book tells general readers just what they need to know about Islam."
--Ingrid Mattson   



 Claiming Abraham: Reading the Bible and the Qur'an Side by Side 

 "Michael Lodahl reads the Qur'an alongside the Bible he professes and the rabbinic commentary he admires.  Through the pages of this lovingly crafted book, all Abrahamic believers are invited to feast together on God's word."







What's Right With Islam:
A New Vision for Muslims and the West

In her Foreword to Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf's book
Karen Armstrong writes:  "This book shows that the only possible way forward is by the assiduous cultivation of mutual respect.  It should be read, but then - even more important - it should be acted upon."

    



Allah: A Christian Response

Three and a half billion people - the majority of the world's population - profess Christianity or Islam.  Renowned scholar Miroslav Volf explains the hidden agendas behind today's news stories as he thoughtfully considers the words of religious leaders . . . .  Allah offers a constructive way forward by reversing the "our God vs. their God" premise that destroys bridges between neighbors and nations, magnifies fears, and creates strife.
     
    In the face of competing religious claims in our shrinking world, many turn to dialogue as a hopeful way of fostering understanding and reducing violence.  But why does actual dialogue so often fail?

       By showing the significant obstacles for dialogue within Christianity, the book also proposes ways in which these obstacles may be overcome from within.  Major themes include Humility, Conviction, Interconnection, Empathy, and Generosity.
               
 
    "Bono says it best," writes Peter Greer.  "Give a man a fish, he'll eat for a day.  Give a woman microcredit, she, her husband, her children and her extended family will eat for a lifetime."
      "Banking the 'unbankables,' microfinance brings credit and savings to people who are too poor to be served by regular banks, in most cases because they are unable to offer financial collateral."     
      Peter Greer and Phil Smith wrote The Poor Will be Glad as an "eminently practical" book focused on microfinance and employment-based solutions.
->From the publisher's  summary  



The "interfaith amigos" - a pastor, a rabbi, and a sheikh - provide a rich understanding of the road to interfaith collaboration In Getting to the Heart of Interfaith.  They share their stories, challenges, and the inner spiritual work necessary to go beyond tolerance to a vital, inclusive spirituality.    
      Together they explore:
              Five stages of the interfaith journey
              The power of our stories
              The core of our traditions
               Promises and problems of our traditions    
               New dimensions of spiritual identity




The Ecological Crisis through the Lens of Faith

edited by Andrea Cohen-Kiener

takes readers from raising congregants' awareness
of environmental problems,
through theological challenges
 of working in an interfaith movement.

 (An essay by Grace Church's Rev. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas, 
"Conversion to Eco-Justice," is included in this book.)

____________________________________________________
     
               Thomas Nelson launched a website celebrating the 400th anniversary of the King James Bible. The KJV was first published on May 5, 1611; the 400 Days of Celebration will continue to the end of 2011.  Publisher's website includes a KJV Verse of the Day widget - podcasts in partnership with History Channel Magazine - historical Bible facts - videos - event listings - church and ministry resources.  
Parishioners worshipped in Holy Trinity Church in Goodramgate, York, for some 
                        500 years before they heard the Scriptures in English.

Merton College Library

Some translators of the King James Bible did research at Merton College Library at Oxford University, a world-class research facility since 1589.    

King James translator Henry Savile was instrumental in upgrading the library and introduced to England the European method of shelving books with spines facing outward.
                                                                                                                                            Photographs by Jim Richardson
   Captions by National Geographic

RUBBLE NATION
Haiti's Pain, Haiti's Promise

       Chris Herlinger tells the story of post-quake Haiti through interviews with Haitian citizens and aid managers.  In Rubble Nation each interview adds a layer to our understanding of the suffering of the people and of the heroic efforts to ameliorate that suffering.  The narrative is set in the context of the country's history and the Haitian government's effort to repair and rebuild their nation. 

       Paul Jeffrey's photographs capture images not only of individuals struggling to survive, but also of the innate dignity and generosity that arises in the midst of the struggle.   (A study guide will be available.)