Compiled by Robert Dahlin and Charles Hix
Will I ever be able to write about religion publishing again without referring to The Da Vinci Code? Maybe next year. For now, the impact of Dan Brown's still-bestselling novel—and the anticipation of the film version, set to open May 19—continues to be evident, with significant numbers of spring books on Mary Magdalene and alternative views of the development of Christianity, including plenty of conspiracy theories about church cover-ups. Publishers are also gearing up for the movie's release by bringing out paperback editions of Code-related books they've published over the past couple of years. Other well-represented topics include religion and politics, with a slew of critiques of evangelical Christian entanglement in right-wing activism—some of them even coming from evangelical publishers. Spiritual practices like prayer and meditation are hot, but there are also calls for engagement with social problems ranging from prison reform to hunger. Pop culture still provides fodder for ruminations on American religiosity and, despite a spate of titles last fall, Kabbalah seems to have inspired very few books this season.
For the complete listings and more analysis of trends, go to www.publishersweekly.com/religion.
ABINGDON PRESS
Bad Hair Days, Rainy Days and Mondays (Mar., $10 paper) by Cynthia Bond Hopson contains 31 short daily meditational readings.
The Seven Next Words of Christ (Mar., $13 paper) by Shane Standford focuses on the conversations and encounters of Jesus following the Resurrection.
ACTA PUBLICATIONS
Midwives of an Unnamed Future: Spirituality for Women in Times of Unprecedented Change (Mar., $14.95) by Mary Ruth Broz, R.S.M., and Barbara Flynn shows individuals or groups of women how to deepen their spirituality.
On-the-Job Prayers: 101 Reflections and Prayers for Christians in Every Occupation (Mar., $9.95 paper) by William David Thompson is a resource for people who go to work daily.
ANCHOR BOOKS
The Tricky Part: A Boy's Story of Sexual Trespass, a Man's Journey to Forgiveness (May, $14 paper) by Martin Moran is the actor's memoir of sexual abuse at a Catholic camp. Author tour.
ANDREWS MCMEEL
When I Talk to You: A Cartoonist Talks to God (June, $10.95) by Michael Leunig is an illustrated collection of over 80 prayers from a secular world.
ASHGATE
From Human to Posthuman: Christian Theology and Technology in a Postmodern World (Apr., $29.95 paper) by Brent Waters examines technological developments from a theological viewpoint.
Christ and Human Rights: The Transformative Engagement (Aug., $29.95 paper) by George Newlands analyzes the significance of Christianity for human rights.
ATF PRESS
Theology and Law: Partner or Protagonists? (Mar., $13 paper), edited by Christine Parker and Gordon Preece, surveys the contested legal boundary between a secular society and public religion.
ATRIA
Home with God: In a Life that Never Ends (Apr., $24) by Neale Donald Walsch offers comfort on the subject of death and dying. 100,000 first printing. One Spirit Book Club selection.
The God Experiments: How Science Is Discovering God in Everything, Including Us (Apr., $25) by Gary E. Schwartz reports on the intersection of science and spirituality. 40,000 first printing. Author tour.
AUTHENTIC PUBLISHING
From the Straight Path to the Narrow Way: Journeys of Faith (Mar., $19.99 paper), edited by David Greenlee, centers on Muslims who have come to faith in Jesus Christ.
AUTHENTIC/WORLD VISION
365 Days of Hope: Encouragement for Those Facing Loss, Pain and Disappointment (Mar., $17.99) by Joni Eareckson Tada and Dave and Jan Dravecky is a daily devotional connected to contemporary stories.
AVE MARIA PRESS
Fresh Bread: And Other Gifts of Spiritual Nourishment: 20th Anniversary Edition (Mar., $11.95 paper) by Joyce Rupp contains the author's new preface.
With Open Hands: 34th Anniversary Edition (Apr., $9.95 paper) by Henri J.M. Nouwen updates the classic book on spirituality with a foreword by Sue Monk Kidd.
AVIV PRESS
A Responsible Life: The Spiritual Path of Mussar (May, $17.95 paper) by Ira Stone tells about a late 19th-century Jewish renewal movement with a focus on ethics.
BAKER ACADEMIC
Who's Afraid of Postmodernism? Taking Derrida, Lyotard and Foucault to Church (Apr., $17.99 paper) by James K.A. Smith muses on what postmodernity has to say to the church.
Christian Beginnings and the Dead Sea Scrolls (June, $16.99 paper), edited by John J. Collins and Craig A. Evans, scrutinizes how the scrolls raise issues regarding early Christianity.
BAKER BOOKS
Damage Control: How to Stop Making Jesus Look Bad (Mar., $12.99 paper) by Dean Merrill touches upon spiritual disciplines and evangelism.
Soul Virgins: Redefining Single Sexuality (May, $14.99 paper) by Doug Rosenau and Michael Todd Wilson asserts that sexuality is more about relational intimacy than sex.
Jesus Mean and Wild: The Unexpected Love of an Untamable God (July, $17.99) by Mark Galli depicts a militant Messiah who dares believers to follow Him.
BARBOUR
God's Graduate (Mar., $7.97) by Karen Moore encourages grads to walk with God for life.
The Widows' Club (May, $9.97 paper) by Joyce Livingston is a novel about women of faith overcoming loss. 30,000 first printing.
BASIC BOOKS
Without Roots: The West, Relativism, Christianity, Islam (Mar., $22) by Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) and Marcello Pera is a critique of the crisis facing the West. 75,000 first printing.
Catholic Matters: Confusion, Controversy and the Splendor of Truth (Mar., $25) by Father Richard John Neuhaus asserts that Catholicism has never been more vital and important to the cultural and political life of Americans. 40,000 first printing. Author tour.
Abraham: The First Historical Biography (Apr., $26.95) by David Rosenberg centralizes the biblical Abraham and his world. 60,000 first printing. Author tour.
Thy Kingdom Come: How the Religious Right Distorts the Faith and Threatens America—An Evangelical's Lament (July, $24) by Randall Balmer argues that evangelical leaders have hijacked the Christian faith on behalf of the Republican Party. 60,000 first printing. 7-city author tour.
BAYLOR UNIV. PRESS
Faithful Economics (Apr., $29.95 paper), edited by James W. Henderson and John Pisciotta, looks at the relationship between economics and Christianity.
The Gift of Story: Hope in a Postmodern World (Apr., $39.95 paper), edited by Emily Griesinger and Mark Eaton, finds a strong connection between hope and our cultural stories.
BEACON HILL PRESS OF KANSAS CITY
I Love God's Sense of Humor, I Just Wish He'd Let Me In on the Joke (Apr., $12.99 paper) by Stan Toler dispenses guidance on how to smile through the pain.
Living a Milk and Honey Life: Letting Go of What's Holding You Back (Apr., $12.99 paper) by Sharon Norris Elliott invites women to find spiritual freedom by abandoning materialism.
BEACON PRESS
Getting on Message: Challenging the Christian Right from the Heart of the Gospel (Apr., $16 paper), edited by Rev. Peter Laarman, disputes the would-be association between "Christian/moral" values and conservative policies.
The Tent of Abraham: Stories of Hope and Peace for Jews, Christians and Muslims (July, $24.95) by Rabbi Arthur Waskow, Joan Chittister, O.S.B., and Saadi Shakur Chishti. Three religious thinkers use the story of Abraham to deepen interfaith understanding.
BERKLEY
Promises from God for Parents (July, $14.95) by T.D. Jakes is a parenting handbook.
BETHANY HOUSE
Authority in Prayer (Apr., $19.99) by Dutch Sheets shows how to pray with greater effectiveness and strength. 30,000 first printing.
The Da Vinci Codebreaker (Apr., $9.99 paper) by James Garlow provides Da Vinci Code readers with the means to "fact check" 400 terms, events, people and places. 35,000 first printing.
BEYOND WORDS
Little Wave and Old Swell: A Fable of Life and Its Passing (Mar., $16.95) by Jim Ballard is inspired by the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda.
BLUEBRIDGE
(dist. by IPG)
A Mystic Garden: Working with Soil, Attending to Soul (Apr., $18) by Gunilla Norris is a spiritual reflection on the seasons in a New England garden.
The Friendship of Women: The Hidden Tradition of the Bible (Apr., $14 paper) by Joan Chittister delves into biblical friendships.
BRANDEIS UNIV. PRESS
Eternally Eve: Images of Eve in the Hebrew Bible, Midrash and Modern Jewish Poetry (June, $26) by Anne Lapidus Lerner employs multiple means to analyze the story of Eve.
BRAZOS PRESS
One Step Closer: Why U2 Matters to Those Seeking God (Apr., $14.99 paper) by Christian Scharen finds messages for seekers of God in the group's music and lives.
From Homer to Harry Potter: A Handbook on Myth and Fantasy (May, $19.99 paper) by Matthew Dickerson and David O'Hara views fantasy literature from a Christian perspective.
The Truth Is Out There: Christian Faith and the Classics of TV Science Fiction (June, $18.99 paper) by Thomas Bertonneau and Kim Paffenroth discovers Christian messages in six SF TV series. Advertising.
BROADMAN HOLMAN
Traditions of the Ancients: Vintage Faith Practices for the 21st Century (Apr., $14.99 paper) by Marcia Ford finds practical application of ancient worship practices for today's Christians.
A Fall Together (June, $14.99 paper) by Jennifer O'Neill is the first book in the new Circle of Friends, Just Off Main series of women's fiction from the actress.
Livin It Testimonies (July, $14.99 paper) and Livin It: What It Is (July, $16.99 paper) by Stephen Baldwin. Inspired by evangelist Luis Palau, born-again actor Baldwin celebrates Palau's upcoming Livin It TV specials.
BROOKINGS INSTITUTION PRESS
Integrating Islam: Political and Religious Challenges in Contemporary France (June; $49.95, paper $19.95) by Jonathan Laurence and Justin Vaisse pays special attention to the recent riots.
BULFINCH PRESS
Soul Sanctuary: Images of the African American Worship Experience (May, $29.95) by Jason Miccolo Johnson. For 25 years the official photographer for D.C.'s African Methodist Episcopal church, Johnson extends an insider's view through 170 four-color photographs.
CAMBRIDGE UNIV. PRESS
Satan: A Biography (Aug., $19.99 paper) by Henry Ansgar Kelly is based on the New Testament.
CATHOLIC UNIV. OF AMERICA PRESS
The Papacy, the Jews and the Holocaust (Mar., $59.95) by Frank J. Coppa is a history of the relationship between the papacy and Jews in the modern age.
CELESTIAL ARTS
Miracle Prayer: Nine Steps to Creating Prayers That Get Results (June, $14.95 paper) by Susan Shumsky endorses a full-faith technique.
CHALICE PRESS
Not So Desperate: Fantasy, Fact and Faith on Wisteria Lane (July, $14.99 paper) by Shawnthea Monroe-Mueller examines concerns of liberal Christian women.
Inside the Red Tent (Aug., $12.99 paper) by Sandra Hack Polaski unravels the facts behind the popular novel The Red Tent.
CHELSEA GREEN
Serve God, Save the Planet: A Christian Call to Action (Apr., $19.95) by Matthew Sleeth discovers a mutuality of interest between environmentalists and mainstream Christians.
CHOSEN BOOKS
Unleashing the Force of Favor: Take Your Life to the Next Level (June, $12.99 paper) by Duane Vander Klok gives guidelines for winning God's supernatural favor.
More: The Four Dimensions of Intimacy with God (June, $12.99 paper) by Marilyn N. Anderes admonishes women to enter a deeper spiritual intimacy with God.
CHURCH PUBLISHING
The Hip Hop Prayer Book (Mar., $20), edited by Rev. Timothy Holder, proposes worship that draws in the young. $30,000 ad/promo.
At Home in the World: A Rule of Life for the Rest of Us (Apr., $16 paper) by Margaret Guenther helps create a balanced life for faith seekers. $30,000 ad/promo.
Other Voices, Other Worlds: The Global Church Speaks Out on Homosexuality (Apr., $25 paper), edited by Terry Brown. Anglican writers share their notions.
CISTERCIAN PUBLICATIONS
Aelred of Rievaulx: Lives of the Northern Saints (June, $24.95 paper). A 12th-century abbot raised in the Scottish royal court recounts the deeds of his forebears.
Saint Mary of Egypt: Three Medieval Lives in Verse (June, $12.95 paper). The saint is seen through the eyes of three medieval poets.
COLUMBIA UNIV. PRESS
The Philosophy of the Daodejing (May, $19.50 paper) by Hans-Georg Moeller examines Chinese thought via the Daodejing's teachings.
Bodily Citations: Religion and Judith Butler (Aug., $24.50 paper) by Ellen T. Armour and Susan M. St. Ville. In this anthology, anthropologists, theologians and biblical scholars apply Butler's theories to religion.
CONTINUUM
Rabbi Jonathan Sack's Haggadah (Mar., $43.95) by Jonathan Sacks tells the story of Passover in Hebrew and English.
Conviction and Conflict (Apr., $24.95 paper) by Michael Nazir-Ali. The author, a consultant on Muslim affairs to the British prime minister, searches for the roots of religious conflict in the modern world.
The Paradox of Anti-Semitism (May, $24.95) by Rabbi Dan Cohn-Sherbok declares that anti-Semitism has actually played a positive role in Jewish history.
COOK COMMUNICATIONS
The Groovy Chicks Road Trip to Love (June, $12.99 paper) by Dena J. Dyer and Laurie Copeland. Pepper and Starshine share stories about love of friends, family and God. A Life Journey book.
Jack Bauer's Having a Bad Day: An Unauthorized Investigation of Faith in24: Season 1 (Aug., $13.99 paper) by Tim Wesemann notes that each episode of the TV program 24 reveals a new faith truth. A Life Journey book.
CORNELL UNIV. PRESS
The Sephardic Frontier: The Reconquista and the Jewish Community in Medieval Iberia (Mar., $35) by Jonathan Ray traces the rapid Christian expansion into the region.
COUNCIL OAK BOOKS
Essene Book of Everyday Virtues (Mar., $14.95 paper) by Kenneth Hanson. The Hebrew scholar presents a handbook for living spiritually.
Andean Awakening: An Incan Guide to Mystic Peru (May, $17.95 paper) by Jorge Luis Delgado with MaryAnn Male. The spiritual tour guide tells his own story.
COUNTERPOINT
The Scent of God: A Memoir (Apr., $24) by Beryl Singleton Bissell tells of the forbidden love between a nun and a priest on the Amalfi Coast. 50,000 first printing. 7-city author tour.
CROSSROAD PUBLISHING
The Seven Sacraments: Entering the Mysteries of God (Apr., $15.95 paper) by Stratford Caldecott explains the mystical heart of the Catholic faith.
When Women Build the Kingdom: Who We Are, What We Do and How We Relate (May, $17.95 paper) by Leslie Williams submits stories from women who demonstrate how their ministries differ from those of men.
CROSSROAD/HERDER HERDER
With Jesus Everyday: How Believing Transforms Living (Apr., $19.95) by Christoph Cardinal Schoenborn gives assurance that we are never alone.
CROSSWAY BOOKS
Spiritual Birthline (Mar., $12.99 paper) by Stephen Smallman draws a parallel between spiritual birth and physical birth.
Ten Things I Wish Jesus Never Said (Apr., $14.99 paper) by Victor Kuligan leads to a greater understanding of Christ's more difficult sayings.
Courageous Parenting (July, $17.99) by Jack and Deb Graham proposes building a biblical legacy for generations to come.
CUMBERLAND HOUSE
A Heart Promptly Offered: The Revolutionary Leadership of John Calvin (July, $14.95) by David W. Hall outlines the basic story of the Geneva reformer's life, plus numerous excerpts of his writings, commentaries and sermons.
DESERET BOOK
Holy Places: True Stories of Faith, Miracles and Latter-day Temples (Apr., $17.95) by Chad S. Hawkins includes more than 60 illustrated stories concerning temples around the world.
Mary, Martha and Me (Apr., $14.95) by Camille Fronk draws lessons from the biblical story of the sisters Mary and Martha.
Favorite Quotations from C.S. Lewis for Latter-day Saints (Apr., $17.95), compiled by Jay A. Parry, contains hundreds of quotations arranged by topic.
DOUBLEDAY
Shadow of God: A Journey Through Memory, Art and Faith (Apr., $24.95) by Charles Scribner mixes memoir and autobiography with a guided tour of the arts.
My Struggle with Faith (May, $19.95) by Joseph Girzone recalls a dark night of the soul.
Double Crossed: Uncovering the Catholic Church's Betrayal of American Nuns (June, $24.95) by Kenneth Briggs alleges that American nuns have been duped for four decades.
The Politics of Jesus: Rediscovering the True Revolutionary Nature of What Jesus Believed and How It Was Corrupted (Aug., $26) by Obery M. Hendricks, Jr. prompts readers to revitalize the revolutionary basis of Christianity.
DUFOUR EDITIONS
Prayed Out: God in Dark Places (Apr., $15.95 paper) by John Michael Hanvey. A gay priest who has known addiction and existential loneliness finds redemption.
Holy Cross: A Personal Experience (May, $23.95 paper) by Aidan Troy is the priest's insider account of sectarian violence at Holy Cross primary school in North Ireland.
WM. B. EERDMANS
Eat This Book: A Conversation in the Art of Spiritual Reading—Spiritual Theology, Vol. 2 (Mar., $20) by Eugene H. Peterson issues a challenge to read the scriptures on their own terms. 20,000 first printing.
The Sense of the Call: A Sabbath Way of Life for Those Who Serve God, the Church and the World (Mar., $18 paper) by Marva J. Dawn advocates a life of trust in God.
Face to Face: Gay and Lesbian Clergy on Holiness and Life Together (Mar., $18 paper) by Jeffrey Heskins records the views of clergy who are ordained in the Anglican church and who live with partners of the same sex.
Leading Lives That Matter: What We Should Do and Who We Should Be (Apr., $40, paper $24), edited by Mark R. Schwehn and Dorothy C. Bass, excerpts fiction, autobiography and philosophy for people seeking insight.
FARRAR, STRAUS GIROUX
The God Factor: Inside the Spiritual Lives of Public People (Mar., $24) by Cathleen Falsani. The syndicated columnist interviews well-known personages about their beliefs. A Sarah Crichton Book. Author tour.
FELDHEIM PUBLISHERS
Defending the Human Spirit: Jewish Law's Vision for a Moral Society (Mar., $39.95) by Rabbi Warren Goldstein asserts that Jewish law nurtures righteous people.
The Third Key: The Jewish Couple's Guide to Fertility (Apr., $39.95) by Rabbi Baruch Finkelstein and Michal Finkelstein is a resource guide for childless couples.
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY/TYNDALE
Wild Child, Waiting Mom (Apr., $14.99) by Wendi Hayden English and Karilee Hayden. A mother and daughter discuss their own perspectives on the younger woman's turbulent adolescence.
Trend-Savvy Parenting (May, $12.99) by Mary Manz Simon tells how to handle current ideas that are potentially challenging to child-rearing.
FONS VITAE
The Subtleties of the Ascension (Apr., $22.95 paper), trans. by Frederick S. Colby, translates a 10th-century manuscript about the teachings of Sufi mystics.
FORDHAM UNIV. PRESS
The Mosque: The Heart of Submission (May, $24.95) by Rusmir Mahmutcehajic emphasizes that the mosque is not an analogue of the Christian church but a place where one performs the daily ritual prayer of submission to God.
FORTRESS PRESS
Great Couples of the Bible (Mar., $29) by Herbert Haag et al. shares biblical stories of love, marriage, sex and death with 200 full-color illustrations.
The Bonhoeffer Legacy: Post-Holocaust Perspectives (Apr., $22 paper) by Stephen R. Haynes assesses Dietrich Bonhoeffer's significance to Jews before and after his death.
Beyond Prisons: A New Interfaith Paradigm for Our Failed Prison System (Apr., $13 paper) by Laura Magnani and Harmon L. Wray indicts our present penal system.
FREE PRESS
Simple Gifts: The Hymns of Our Life (Apr., $22) by Bill Henderson is a memoir revealing the author's search for community and grace through hymns and singing.
Language of God: A Scientist Faces the Ultimate Question (Aug., $26) by Francis Collins. A former atheist pronounces that science supports belief in God.
FULCRUM
Writing the Cross Culture: Native Fiction on the White Man's Religion (Mar., $17.95 paper) by James Treat anthologizes fictional pieces by Native Americans dealing with American Christianity.
GEORGETOWN UNIV. PRESS
Loyal Dissent: Memoir of a Catholic Theologian (May, $26.95 paper) by Charles E. Curran comes from a priest who was stripped by the Vatican of his right to teach as a Catholic theologian. The Qur'an and the West (May, $34.95) by Kenneth Cragg contends that the West must reject "spiritual imperialism" directed at the Muslim world.
GROVE PRESS
The Qu'ran (Apr., $19.95) by Bruce Lawrence. An inaugural title in the Books That Changed the World series, this analyzes the meaning the holy book has acquired for Muslims since its creation. 25,000 first printing.
HAMPTON ROADS
Jesus for the Rest of Us (June, $14.95 paper) by John Selby submits that Jesus has been hijacked by fundamentalist and evangelical Christians.
HARMONY
A Code of Jewish Ethics: Vol. 1: You Shall Be Holy (Mar., $30) by Rabbi Joseph Telushkin is the first of three volumes on personal character and integrity.
Buddha or Bust: In Search of Truth, Meaning, Happiness and the Man Who Found Them All (June, $24.95) by Perry Garfinkel is a spiritual travel adventure around the globe.
HARPER SAN FRANCISCO
The Last Week: A Day by Day Account of Jesus's Final Week in Jerusalem (Mar., $21.95) by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan narrates the events that began on Palm Sunday and concluded with the march to the cross.
Secrets in the Dark: A Life in Sermons (Mar., $24.95) by Frederick Buechner combines a collection of sermons from other books with seven new ones.
The Jesus Papers: Exposing The Greatest Cover-Up in History (Mar., $27.95) by Michael Baigent challenges all that is commonly held about the life and death of Jesus.
America v. God: Why We Must Reverse the Assault on Faith in Our Courts (May, $24.95) by Jay Sekulow charges that secularism encroaches on personal religious freedoms. 100,000 first printing. Advertising.
HARRISON HOUSE
What's on Your Mind?: Your Success Begins with Your Thinking (May, $17.99 paper) by Thomas Weeks advances habits to open the door to God's blessings and contains a CD. 20,000 first printing. $20,000 ad/promo.
HARVARD UNIV. PRESS
The Flowering of Muslim Theology (Apr., $24.95) by Josef van Ess is an introduction to classical Islam.
HARVEST HOUSE
Overcoming the 7 Obstacles to Spiritual Growth: The Journey to a Closer Walk with God (Mar., $11.99 paper) by Dwight Carlson identifies growth stages in the struggle for faith.
The Gospel According to the World's Greatest Superhero (May, $11.99 paper) by Steve Skelton notes parallels between Superman and Jesus.
HCI
The Worrywart's Prayer Book: 40 "Help-Me-Get-a-Grip" God Meditations and Prayers (Mar., $11.95) by Allian Nolan promises a safe haven for worriers. A Faith Communications book.
HEBREW UNION COLLEGE PRESS
Nelson Glueck: Biblical Archaeologist and President of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (Apr., $29.95) by Jonathan M. Brown and Laurence Kutler documents the late subject's many achievements.
HENDRICKSON
Science, Faith and Ethics (Mar., $16.95 paper) by Denis Alexander and Robert S. White navigates readers of faith to the frontiers of modern technology.
Passionate Visionary (Apr., $16.95 paper) by Richard Ascough and Sandy Cotton draws lessons about dynamic leadership from Paul's example.
HERALD PRESS
Priority Parenting: Reclaiming Your Home for Heaven's Sake (Mar., $9.99 paper) by Steve Ganger urges parents to make a home that truly worships God.
HIMALAYAN INSTITUTE PRESS
Lost Masters: The Yoga of the Ancient Greeks (Apr., $14.95 paper) by Linda Johnsen is based on historical accounts of ancient Greek pilgrimages to India.
HOHM PRESS
Yearning for the Father: The Lord's Prayer and the Mystic Way (May, $16.95 paper) by John Sack positions the prayer as the matrix for the mystical life.
Holy Madness: Spirituality, Crazy-Wise Teachers and Enlightenment (May, $29.95 paper) by Georg Feuerstein is an expanded edition surveying the tradition of holy madness from early Christianity to controversial gurus of today.
HOWARD PUBLISHING
Storm (Mar., $12.99 paper) by Bill Bright and Jack Cavanaugh is the third in the fictional Great Awakenings series about a student at Yale who stands up for his faith.
The Character of a Man (Mar., $15.99) by Bruce Marchiano. The actor who portrayed Jesus in the film Matthew shares insights about how to emulate him.
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN
The Collar: A Year of Striving and Faith Inside a Catholic Seminary (Apr., $25.95) by Jonathan Englert follows five men who leave their careers and lives behind to pursue the priesthood.
IBIS
On the Prayer of Jesus (Mar., $12.95) by Bishop Ignatius Brianchaninov demonstrates the spiritual exercise known as Hesychasm.
IDEALS PUBLICATIONS
The Blessing of a Grandmother's Love and ...of a Grandfather's Love (Mar., $8.95 each), edited by Peggy Schaefer, celebrate families. 15,000 first printings.
Daily Guideposts, Military Edition (Mar., $7.95 paper) repackages the devotional for the armed forces. 20,000 first printing.
IGNATIUS PRESS
God's Revolution: World Youth Day and Other Cologne Talks (Mar., $14.95) by Pope Benedict XVI is the pope's first book since his election. 25,000 first printing. $30,000 ad/promo.
Values in a Time of Upheaval: Meeting the Challenges of the Future (Mar., $19.95) by Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI) presents views on relativism, conscience, bioethics and more. 25,000 first printing. $25,000 ad/promo.
Christianity and the Crisis of Cultures (Mar., $14.95) by Joseph Ratzinger calls for spiritual and cultural renewal based on the historical example of St. Benedict. 20,000 first printing. $20,000 ad/promo.
INDIANA UNIV. PRESS
American Sanctuary: Understanding Sacred Spaces (Mar., $24.95 paper), edited by Louis P. Nelson, views popular belief in terms of sacred space.
INNER TRADITIONS
A New Reformation: Creation Spirituality and the Transformation of Christianity (Mar., $12.95 paper) by Matthew Fox champions radical transformation of Christianity as envisioned by Martin Luther in 1517.
The Forbidden Rumi: The Suppressed Poems of Rumi on Love, Heresy and Intoxication (Apr., $14.95 paper), with commentary by Nevit Ergin and Will Johnson, is a collection from the volume of the Divan of Rumi.
The Sacred Embrace of Jesus and Mary: The Sexual Mystery at the Heart of the Christian Tradition (May, $14.95 paper) by Jean-Yves Leloup declares that Jesus honored human sexuality as a spiritual path.
INTEGRITY PUBLISHERS
Captured by Grace (Mar., $21.99) by David Jeremiah. Stories of the writer of "Amazing Grace" and the Apostle Paul are examples of transformations from victims to victors.
Taking Care of the ME in Mommy (Apr., $19.99) by Lisa Whelchel contains practical counsel for busy mothers to nourish body, soul and spirit.
Painting in the Dark (May, $13.99) by Paul Thorson tells how to flee the performance trap.
ISLAMIC SUPREME COUNCIL OF AMERICA
The Healing Power of Sufi Meditation (Apr., $14 paper) by As-Sayyid Nurjan Mirahmadi and Hedieh Mirahmadi describes the path to divine enlightenment.
ISI BOOKS
The Life of the Mind: On the Joys and Travails of Thinking (July, $25) by James V. Schall reminds readers to delight in simply knowing. Advertising.
IVP BOOKS
Sacred Rhythms (Mar., $16) by Ruth Haley Barton pinpoints seven key spiritual disciplines.
Dark Matter (May, $15 paper) by Tony Watkins plumbs the worldview of fantasy novelist Philip Pullman.
Finding God Beyond Harvard (July, $20) by Kelly Monroe Kullberg describes how the group Veritas Forum searches for truth.
Is Belief in God Good, Bad or Irrelevant? (July, $13 paper), edited by Preston Jones, is an e-mail discussion of God, religion and more between the editor, a Christian history professor, and a zoology Ph.D. and punk rocker.
J. COUNTRYMAN
Grace for the Moment, Vol. II (Mar., $14.99) by Max Lucado uses word pictures as daily readings for a grace-filled life.
Dare to Dream (Apr., $14.99) by John Maxwell shares proven ways of bringing dreams to life.
An American Soldier (May, $14.99) by Toby Keith et al. uses word and song to pay tribute to family members in the military.
JEWISH LIGHTS
Traces of God: Seeing God in Torah, History and Everyday Life (Apr., $21.99) by Rabbi Neil Gillman details the ways that people shape their relationships with God. $15,000 ad/promo. 10-city author tour.
Foundations of Sephardic Spirituality: The Inner Life of Jews of the Ottoman Empire (Apr., $24.99) by Rabbi Marc Angel delves into the spiritual underpinning of Sephardic Judaism. $15,000 ad/promo.
The Genesis of Leadership: What the Bible Teaches Us About Vision, Values and Leading Change (May, $21.99) by Rabbi Nathan Laufer opines that the Book of Genesis presents a model for defining leadership today. $20,000 ad/promo. 10-city author tour.
JEWISH PUBLICATION SOCIETY
Megillat Esther (Mar., $18 paper) by J.T. Waldman is a retelling of the biblical tale in graphic novel form. Ad/promo.
Hills of Spices (June, $20 paper), edited by Rena Potok, is a collection of poetry from the Bible. Ad/promo.
JOSSEY-BASS
Red and Blue God, Black and Blue Church: Eyewitness Accounts of How American Churches are Hijacking Jesus, Bagging the Beatitudes and Worshipping the Almighty Dollar (Apr., $22.95) by Becky Garrison aims satirical barbs at sacred cows on both sides of the aisle.
Why the Christian Right Is Wrong: A Minister's Manifesto for Taking Back Your Faith, Your Flag Your Future (May, $22.95) by Robin Meyers repudiates the excesses of the Christian Right.
Billy Graham: An Oral and Narrative Biography (July, $21.95) by Deborah Hart Strober and Gerald S. Strober presents the evangelist's life story.
On the Road with Rabbi Steinsaltz: 25 Years of Pre-Dawn Car Trips, Mind-Blowing Encounters and Inspiring Conversations with a Man of Wisdom (Aug., $24.95) by Arthur Kurzweil recalls more than two decades of traveling with the rabbi.
JUDSON PRESS
Steal Away: Devotions for Baseball Fans (Mar., $13 paper) by Hugh Poland finds faith lessons in stories about current and former baseball players and managers.
Left Behind? The Facts Behind the Fiction (Apr., $14 paper) by LeAnn Snow Flesher challenges the theology and ideology in the Left Behind series.
KNOPF
The Great Transformation (Mar., $30) by Karen Armstrong is a history of the world's religious traditions. 100,000 first printing. 8-city author tour.
A Church in Search of Itself: Benedict XVI and the Battle for the Future (Apr., $25.95) by Robert Blair Kaiser. A man who left the Jesuit order after 10 years to pursue a career in journalism takes a look at the intensifying struggle. 60,000 first printing. 7-city author tour.
Overcoming Life's Disappointments (Aug., $21.95) by Harold S. Kushner shares spiritual insights from the author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People. 150,000 first printing. 14-city author tour.
KREGEL
SoulCare: Making Space for What Matters Most (May, $12.99 paper) by Steve Smith advocates renouncing instant gratification to attain lifelong growth. Running Barefoot on Holy Ground: Childlike Intimacy with God (June, $11.99 paper) by Jeanne Gowen Dennis observes that becoming more like a child helps one grow closer to God.
KTAV PUBLISHING
Faith and Heresy (Mar., $25) by Rabbi Reuven Agushewitz is a translation of the late rabbi's 1948 book that attacked the philosophy of materialism.
Festival of Freedom: Essays on Pesach and the Haggadah (Apr., $25) by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik includes the late rabbi's analysis of the significance of the exodus from Egypt.
LANTERN BOOKS
Common Heart: An Experience of Inter-religious Dialogue (Apr., $15 paper) by Netnael Miles-Yepez gleans interviews from 20 years of Father Thomas Keating's Snowmass Conference.
LIGUORI
Paper Bag Prayers: Finding God in Little Things: Any Time Any Place (Mar., $9.95 paper) by Bernadette McCarver Snyder recommends a quick and easy system of prayer.
Making Healthcare Decisions: A Catholic Guide (July, $14.95 paper), edited by Ron Hamel, is a practical guide on such issues as embryonic stem-cell research and cloning.
LITURGICAL PRESS
Seeking Wholeness: Women Dealing with Abuse of Power in the Catholic Church (Mar., $12.95 paper) by Marie Evans Bouclin provides accounts of adult women betrayed and sexually abused by priests.
Wisdom from the Monastery: The Rule of St. Benedict for Everyday Life (June, $15.95 paper) by Patrick Barry et al. offers a contemporary translation of the Rule of St. Benedict combined with short reflections from contributors.
LLEWELLYN
Wicca for Beginners: Fundamentals of Philosophy & Practice (Apr., $12.95 paper) by Thea Sabin outlines the basics of Wicca without advocating one path.
The Way of Four Spellbook: Working Magic with the Elements (Apr., $16.95 paper) by Deborah Lipp deals with spells and magical techniques.
Dancing the Goddess Incarnate: Living the Magic of Maiden, Mother & Crone (May, $16.95 paper) by Kristin Madden and Dorothy Morrison is a spiritual guide employing archetypes and the dances of nine goddesses.
LOYOLA PRESS
My Life with the Saints (Mar., $22.95) by James Martin, S.J. The Jesuit's memoir recalls his lifelong attachment to two dozen holy men and women. 20,000 first printing.
May Crowning, Mass, and Merton and Other Reasons I Love Being Catholic (Mar., $13.95 paper) by Liz Kelly explains why this jazz singer, writer and assistant to an Ivy League university president celebrates her faith.
The Complete Rosary: A Guide to Praying the Mysteries (Apr., $12.95 paper) by William G. Storey demonstrates how to pray the rosary as intended by Pope John Paul II.
MERCER UNIV. PRESS
When We Talk About God... Let's Be Honest (Mar., $16 paper) by R. Kirby Godsey proposes that talk about faith be straightforward.
Rounding the Bases: Baseball and Religion in America (June, $35) by Joseph L. Price maintains that baseball is "a distinct denomination of American civil religion."
MESORAH PUBLICATIONS
A Taste of Nostalgia (Mar., $24.99) by Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski, M.D., is a selection of old world recipes with traditional Chassidic stories on the Sabbath and festivals.
Chazon Ish Haggadah (April, $24.99) by Rabbi Asher Bergman is a classic Haggadah from the 20th-century commentator, the Chazon Ish.
MONKFISH
The Passion of Mary Magdalen (Apr., $29.95) by Elizabeth Cunningham is a novel introducing a Celtic woman who remembers her life with Jesus. $15,000 ad/promo.
MOODY
Madman (Apr., $12.99 paper) by Tracy Groot. The novel concerns four scholars: one murdered, one a suicide, one a worshipper of Dionysus, one mad.
Charlotte Leaves the Light on (Apr., $12.99 paper) by Annette Smith concludes the Ruby Prairie series.
MOREHOUSE
Finding Jesus, Discovering Self: Passages to Healing and Wholeness (Mar., $19.95 paper) by Caren Goldman and William Dols. The authors draw parallels between biblical stories and events in their own lives.
Grace on the Go: 101 Quick Ways to Pray (Apr., $9.95 paper) by Barbara Bartocci is organized around the premise that every task one undertakes is potentially holy.
Fabric of Faith: A Guide to the Prayer Quilt Ministry (June, $23.95) by Kimberly Winston envisions patchwork as a visible act of prayer.
MORNING LIGHT PRESS
The Practice of Presence (Mar., $14.95) by Patty de Llosa declares that tai chi, the teachings of Gurdjieff, prayer and meditation, the Alexander Technique and Jungian studies all complement each other. Author tour.
MULTNOMAH
Chazown (Mar., $19.99 paper) by Craig Groeschel. The title is Hebrew for "vision," which the author asserts God wants to share.
31 Days Toward Overcoming Adversity (Mar., $12.99) by Joni Eareckson Tada says that Philippians 4:13 is the key.
If You Don't Die to Self, I May Have to Kill You (May, $12.99 paper) by Karen Long promises marital harmony.
NAVPRESS
Coming Up for Air (Mar., $13.99 paper) by Margaret Becker. The Christian music artist rejoices in women's pursuit of authenticity.
The Evidence (Mar., $12.99 paper) by Austin Boyd is a fictional account of a NASA commander's call to serve God amid global controversy.
Queen Esther's Secrets of Womanhood (June, $11.99 paper) by Ginger Garrett recommends that mothers use the book of Esther as a springboard to shape their daughters.
NELSON BOOKS
Prepared to Be God's Vessel: How God Can Use an Obedient Life to Bless Others (Apr., $19.99) by Henry and Carrie Blackaby uses Mary as the paradigm for all women to emulate.
The New Rebellion Handbook (May, $16.99 paper) by Jerome Daley deals with worship, money, faith, health and other issues with fresh ideas and biblical insights.
How to Make the Rest of Your Life the Best of Your Life (July, $24.99) by Art Linkletter and Mark Victor Hansen contends that the second half of life can be even better than the first half.
The Missing Gospels: Unearthing the Truth Behind Alternative Christianities (Aug., $21.99) by Darrell L. Bock investigates claims about missing "secret" gospels.
NEW CITY PRESS
Silence Transformed into Life: The Testament of His Final Year (Mar., $11.95 paper) by John Paul II samples writings from his last days.
Like a Drop in the Ocean: 99 Sayings by Mother Teresa (Mar., $14.95), edited by W. Bader, collects her short writings.
NEW HOPE
Raising Moms: Daughters Caring for Mothers in Their Later Years (Apr., $11.99 paper) by Rhonda Kelley offers uplift to the caregivers.
The Mentoring Mom: 11 Ways to Model Christ for Your Child (June, $12.99 paper) by Jackie Kendall delineates the author's inspirational mentoring. 15,000 first printing.
NEW LEAF
Party of Two: Lessons for Staying in Step in Dating, Marriage and Family Life (Mar., $12.99) by Tim and Beverly LaHaye is a resource for maintaining a long-lasting relationship.
The Big Argument: Does God Exist... Twenty-Four Scholars Explore How Science, Archaeology and Philosophy Haven't Disproved God (Mar., $14.99 paper) by John Ashton and Michael Westacott lines up compelling evidence.
NEW PAGE
(dist. by Career Press)
Be Blesséd: Daily Devotions for Busy Wiccans and Pagans (May, $13.99 paper) by Denise Dumars employs humor to reinforce the importance of daily spiritual affirmations.
The Mysteries of Druidry (May, $15.99 paper) by Brendan Cathbad Myers is a training manual to bring mystical romanticism into private and social realms.
NEW WORLD LIBRARY
The Essential Wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita (Mar., $12.95) by Jack Hawley presents the essence of the form of a tale.
NEW YORK UNIV. PRESS
Deeper Shades of Purple: Womanism in Religion and Society (Aug.; $75, paper $24), edited by Stacey Floyd-Thomas, focuses on womanist thought and black women's activism.
NORTH POINT PRESS
Rumspringa: To Be or Not to Be Amish (June, $24) by Tom Shachtman reports on the Amish coming-of-age ritual of "running around" that begins at age 16.
W.W. NORTON
The Many Faces of God (Aug., $26.95) by Jeremy Campbell demonstrates how religious conceptions have been shaped by technological and scientific advances.
ONEWORLD
The Politics of Apocalypse: The History and Influence of Christian Zionism (June, $24.95) by Dan Cohn-Sherbok probes the role of Armageddon in both the Middle East peace process and the American political system.
Inside the Gender Jihad: Women's Reform in Islam (June, $19.95 paper) by Amina Wadud charts the growing significance of Muslim women's organizations.
ORBIS BOOKS
"You Will Be My Witnesses" Saints, Prophets and Martyrs (Apr., $20) by John Dear, with icons by William Hart McNichols, includes 32 full-color icons showing different angles of the face of Christ. Ad/promo.
A Brief History of Vatican II (Apr., $20) by Giuseppe Alberigo comments on key events and developments. Ad/promo.
OUR SUNDAY VISITOR
De-coding Mary Magdalene: Truth, Legend and Lies (Mar., $9.95 paper) by Amy Welborn claims to set the record straight about the early disciple of Christ.
Catholicism, Now I Get It (Mar., $12.95 paper) by Claire Furia Smith is a guide to rediscovering the doctrines and truths that never quite clicked.
7 Steps to Becoming Financially Free: A Catholic Guide to Managing Your Money (May, $19.95) by Phil Lenahan maintains that the Catholic faith supplies the base for a sound financial future.
OXFORD UNIV. PRESS
Peter, Paul and Mary Magdalene: The Followers of Jesus in History and Legend (May, $27) by Bart D. Ehrman is a close inspection of these disciples based on documentary evidence. 100,000 first printing. Author tour.
Paradise Mislaid (May, $26) by Jeffrey Burton Russell refutes prevalent arguments against heaven and all things sacred. 25,000 first printing.
Into the Silent Land: A Guide to the Christian Practice of Contemplation (June, $17.95) by Martin Laird. The Roman Catholic priest says contemplation is a path to fully experience God's presence. 20,000 first printing.
PACIFIC PRESS
A Brief History of Life (Mar., $15.99 paper) by Leonard Brand envisions science and scripture as allies in comprehending the origins of life. $15,000 ad/promo.
PALGRAVE MACMILLAN
Billy Graham and the Beloved Community: America's Evangelist and the Dream of Martin Luther King, Jr. (Aug., $35) by Michael G. Long asserts that Graham opposed King's tactics of civil disobedience and allowed political allegiances to supercede biblical Christianity.
PARACLETE PRESS
Journey in a Holy Land: A Spiritual Journal (Mar., $21.95) by M. Basil Pennington is suffused with the author's love for the Holy Land and for both Jews and Palestinians.
First Fruits of Prayer: A Forty-Day Journey Through the Canon of St. Andrew (Mar., $19.95) by Frederica Mathewes-Green welcomes readers to pray as the early Christians did.
American Pilgrimage: 10 Sacred Journeys and Spiritual Destinations (May, $16.95 paper) by Mark Ogilbee and Jana Reiss maps the spiritual landscape in America's backyard.
PARAGON HOUSE
The Experience of Meditation: Experts Introduce the Major Traditions (May, $20 paper) by Jonathan Shear is an overview of various practices.
PARALLAX PRESS
(dist. by PGW)
The Energy of Prayer: How to Deepen Our Spiritual Practice (Apr., $11.95 paper) by Thich Nhat Hanh acquaints readers with several meditation methods.
PATERNOSTER
Reading the Bible with Giants: How 2000 Years of Biblical Interpretation Can Shed New Light on Old Texts (Apr., $16.99 paper) by David Parris cites historical conclusions to enlighten contemporary readers.
PAULINE BOOKS
Lights, Camera... Faith!: The Ten Commandments (Mar., $29.95) by Rose Pacatte, F.S.P., and Peter Malone, M.S.C., considers moral life through movies, with three cited for each commandment.
Ten Ways the Church Has Changed: What History Can Teach Us About Uncertain Times (Apr., $16.95) by Christopher M. Bellitto tours 2000 years of church history.
PAULIST PRESS
Black and Catholic in the Jim Crow South: The Stuff That Makes Community (Mar., $18.95 paper) by Danny Duncan Collum regards the past.
101 Questions and Answers on the Four Last Things (Mar., $12.95 paper) by Joseph T. Kelley surveys death, judgment, hell and heaven.
101 Questions & Answers on The Da Vinci Code and the Catholic Tradition (Sept., $9.95 paper) by Nancy de Flon and John Vidmar, O.P., refutes errors in the novel while lauding the Catholic heritage.
PENGUIN
The Heart of the World: A Journey to Tibet's Lost Paradise (May, $16 paper) by Ian Baker recounts the climber's pilgrimage to an inaccessible Tibetan waterfall and also into the heart of Tibetan Buddhism.
The Prison Angel: Mother Antonio's Journey from Beverly Hills to a Life of Service in a Mexican Jail (June, $15 paper) by Mary Jordan and Kevin Sullivan tells how the former socialite became a Catholic nun at 50 and then spent 30 years ministering to the inmates of Tijuana's La Mesa prison.
PILGRIM PRESS
Put on Your Crown: The Black Woman's Guide to Living Single... and Christian (Apr., $19 paper) by Sheron C. Patterson encourages single Christian women searching for satisfying relationships.
Having Men for Dinner: Biblical Women's Deadly Banquets (May, $18 paper) by Nicole Wilkinson Duran repeats four stories of women who seduced men into killing or being killed.
PRINCETON UNIV. PRESS
Authorizing Marriage?: Canon, Tradition and Critique in the Blessing of Same-Sex Unions (Mar., $35), edited by Mark D. Jordan, analyzes religious arguments against same-sex unions and then responds to each.
The Ladder of Jacob: Ancient Interpretations of the Biblical Story of Jacob and His Children (Apr., $24.95) by James L. Kugel concludes that ancient biblical interpreters may have been misled by details.
PROMETHEUS BOOKS
The Future of Christianity: Can It Survive? (May, $25) by Arthur J. Bellinzoni cautions that Christianity must discard antiquated features to endure.
Which Koran?: Variants, Manuscripts and the Influence of Pre-Islamic Poetry (Aug., $35), edited by Ibn Warraq, compiles and explicates 32 Koranic variants available in the Islamic world.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
An Infinity of Little Hours: The Trail of Faith of Five Young Men in the Western World's Most Austere Monastic Order (Mar., $26) by Nancy Klein Maguire tells how only one of the five made the grade.
Shadowplay: The Hidden Beliefs and Coded Politics of William Shakespeare (July, $16 paper) by Clare Asquith claims that Shakespeare was a radical Catholic chronicling a turbulent time.
PUTNAM
Mama Made the Difference (Apr., $19.95) by T.D. Jakes reveals the inspirational lessons the author learned from his mother. Author publicity.
QUEST BOOKS
Hidden Wisdom: A Guide to the Western Inner Traditions (June, $17.95 paper) by Richard Smoley and Jay Kinney surveys many teachings of esotericism.
Echoes from the Gnosis: 100-Year Anniversary Edition (June, $27.95 paper) by G.R.S. Mead revises 11 seminal works on gnosticism.
REGAL BOOKS
Our Secret Paradise (May, $18.99) by Jimmy Evans asserts that God designed marriage as a healing journey.
The Warrior Within (May, $15.99) by Pat Williams with Jim Denney suggests how Christian men can become dynamically effective.
RELEVANT BOOKS
Faith and the City: A Girl's Search for Meaning (Mar., $13.99 paper) by Jennifer Ruisch. A college grad tries to fit in with people from every religion.
God's Gravity: Turning the Tables on Me-First Faith (June, $13.99 paper) by Craig Borlase deconstructs the myth of success that infects many of today's Christians.
RESURRECTION PRESS
Beatitudes, Christ and the Practice of Yoga (Mar., $8.95) by Fr. Anthony Randazzo and Madelana Ferrara-Mattheis incorporates the practice of faith with techniques of yoga.
The Spiritual Spa (Mar., $9.95) by Mary Kavanagh Sherry brings spiritual attention to daily routines for self-discovery.
REVELL
Making Peace with a Dangerous God: Wrestling with What We Don't Understand (Apr., $12.99 paper) by Linda Clare and Kristen Johnson Ingram uses dialogue and real experiences to address questions about God's goodness.
The Backward Life: In Pursuit of an Uncommon Faith (July, $12.99 paper) by Jarrod Jones dares Christians to live a bold life that seems antithetical to the ways of the world.
RODMELL PRESS
Yoga: Awakening the Inner Body (Apr., $23.95 paper) by Donald Moyer is intended to develop kinesthetic awareness. 6-city author tour.
RONIN
Discordia: Hail Eris Goddess of Chaos & Confusion (Mar., $14 paper) by Malaclypse the Younger and Lord Omar Khayyam Ravenhurst is a parody of religion.
ST. ANTHONY MESSENGER PRESS
What Jesus Said and Why It Matters Now (Mar., $13.95 paper) by Timothy D. Fallon employs contemporary examples to show how God touches us in our own lives.
Doing the Right Thing at Work (Mar., $12.95 paper) by James L. Nolan identifies what drives people in the workplace.
SAINT MARYS PRESS
Great Catholic Writings: Thought, Literature, Spirituality, Social Action (May, $17.95), edited by Robert Feduccia Jr. et al., collects ancient as well as contemporary pieces.
SCHOCKEN BOOKS
Betraying Spinoza: The Renegade Jew Who Gave Us Modernity (May, $19.95) by Rebecca Goldstein rediscovers the philosopher who was excommunicated at 23. Author tour.
Essential Torah: A Complete Guide to the Five Books of Moses (Aug., $35) by George Robinson covers Jewish theology and history and distills 2,000 years of commentaries.
SCRIBNER
Letter to a God Child (June, $15.95) by Reynolds Price. The renowned writer offers guidance to his godchild.
SERVANT BOOKS
John Paul II and the New Evangelization (Mar., $19.99 paper), edited by Ralph Martin and Peter Williamson. Twenty-two authors discuss evangelization in today's church.
The Awesome Mercy of God (Mar., $9.99 paper) by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., stresses that God stands by our side offering mercy.
SHAMBHALA
Momma Zen (July, $19.95) by Karen Maezen Miller reveals how daily challenges of motherhood can lead to greater compassion. 25,000 first printing.
Integral Spirituality (Aug., $22.95) by Ken Wilber locates the compatibility between science, postmodern culture and religion. 30,000 first printing.
SHAMBHALA/NEW SEEDS
Angelic Mistakes: The Art of Thomas Merton (Apr., $26.95) by Roger Lipsey supplies new insights into the spiritual writer through his rarely seen visual art. 15,000 first printing.
SHAMBHALA/TRUMPETER
Inviting God In: Celebrating the Soul-Meaning of Jewish Holidays (Aug., $21.95) by Rabbi David Aaron encourages recognition of God's loving presence.
SIMON SCHUSTER
The Jesus Dynasty: The Hidden History of Jesus, His Royal Family and the Birth of Christianity (Apr., $27) by James D. Tabor discloses an alternative version of Christianity that contrasts with Paul's letters and the canonical gospels. 200,000 first printing. 11-city author tour.
SKYLIGHT PATHS
Psalms: A Spiritual Commentary (Jan., $19.99) by M. Basil Pennington, O.C.S.O., reflects on the power of the Psalms to forge a connection with the Divine.
The Four Yogas: A Guide to the Spiritual Pathways of Action, Devotion, Meditation and Knowledge (Jan., $29.99) by Swami Adiswarananda teaches yoga to realize one's true identity. Copublished with the Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York. $15,000 ad/promo.
SNOW LION
The Union of Dzogchen and Bodhichitta: A Guide to the Attainment of Wisdom (Apr., $16.95 paper) by Anyen Rinpoche illuminates key aspects of Tibetan Buddhist practice.
Opening to Our Primordial Nature (Apr., $15.95 paper) by Khenchen Palden Sherab and Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal tells how to uncover our inherent wisdom and compassion.
SOFT SKULL PRESS
Going to Heaven: The Life and Election of Bishop Gene Robinson (June, $14.95 paper) by Elizabeth Adams portrays the world's first openly gay Christian bishop.
SORIN BOOKS
Let in the Light: Facing the Hard Stuff with Hope (Apr., $12.95) by Patricia H. Livingston reframes usual responses to difficulty and darkness. Spiritual Book Associates selection.
SOUNDS TRUE
Blessings of the Cosmos: Benedictions from the Aramaic Words of Jesus (Mar., $18.95) by Neil Douglas-Klotz is translated from the language of the day; includes CD.
Invoking Mary Magdalene (Mar., $19.95) by Siobhan Houston stresses the feminine heart of Christianity; includes CD.
STANDARD PUBLISHING
Living a Life on Loan: How to Make Your Moments Matter Forever (July, $19.99) by Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson shows how God is concerned about how we invest our lives.
STATE UNIV. OF NEW YORK PRESS
Living the Death of God: A Theological Memoir (May, $24.95 paper) by Thomas J.J. Altizer traces his lifelong search for a theory that is contemporary, yet biblical.
On Buddhism (June, $16.95 paper) by Keiji Nishitani contains six lectures by the Buddhist thinker.
STEEPLE HILL
Front Porch Princess (Mar., $12.95 paper) by Kathryn Springer. A Wisconsin housewife learns she is a finalist in the "Proverbs 31 Woman" pageant.
Leaves of Hope (May, $12.95 paper) by Catherine Palmer. Beth's search for her birth father takes her to a tea estate in the Himalayan foothills.
Everything's Coming Up Josey (June, $12.95 paper) by Susan May Warren. Josey follows a good-looking missionary from Minnesota to Russia.
STEINER BOOKS
Apocalypse of St. John (Mar., $30 paper) by Emil Bock studies the significance of John's rich pictorial language.
Saint Paul: Life, Epistles and Teaching (Mar., $TBA) by Emil Bock examine's Paul's life and his emphasis on an inner conscience.
STERLING
The Taoist Secrets of Long Life and Good Health: A Complete Program to Rejuvenate the Mind, Body & Spirit (Mar., $17.95 paper) by Charles Chan combines physical exercises, self-massage and meditation. A Godsfield book.
Personal Power Animals: For Guidance, Protection and Healing (May, $17.95 paper) by Madonna Gauding identifies each individual's inner companions needed to progress in this world. A Godsfield book.
STRANG/CHARISMA HOUSE
Power Thinking (May, $19.99) by Jesse Duplantis builds a mental map to bring divine destiny into daily focus. 30,000 first printing.
Standing with Israel (May, $19.99) by David Brog appeals to Christians to embrace Israel and to Jews to lose their fears of evangelicals.
Pursuit of the Good Life (July, $19.99) by Ted Haggard blends practicality and scriptural symbolism to create a stronger relationship with God.
SWEDENBORG FOUNDATION
True Christianity, Vol. 1 (Mar., $15 paper) by Emanuel Swedenborg is a newly annotated translation.
SWEDENBORG/CHRYSALIS
You Can Believe! An Introduction to the New Christianity (Apr., $14.95 paper) by Grant Schnarr elucidates a faith based on the teachings of Emanuel Swedenborg.
TARCHER/PENGUIN
The Hidden Parables: Activating the Secret Power of the Gospels (May, $24.95) by Todd Michael reinterprets Christ's 32 parables.
2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl (May, $26.95) by Daniel Pinchbeck. The year 2012 is the "end date" of the Mayan calendar.
Enduring Lives: Living Portraits of Women and Faith in Action (May, $24.95) by Carol Lee Flinders places such women as Jane Goodall and Sister Helen Prejean in the historical tradition of Saint Teresa of Avila and others.
TEMPLETON FOUNDATION PRESS
When Sickness Heals: The Place of Religious Belief in Healthcare (Apr., $19.95 paper) by Siroj Sorajjakool is based on 10 years of study relating spirituality to health benefits.
New Thought, Ancient Wisdom: The History and Future of the New Thought Movement (Apr., $19.95 paper) by Glenn R. Mosley explains the belief that seeks spiritual truths in world religions and modern science.
In the Wake of Disaster: Religious Responses to Terrorism and Catastrophe (May, $19.95 paper) by Harold G. Koenig, M.D., urges that religious organizations be more fully integrated into formal disaster responses. 25,000 first printing. $40,000 ad/promo.
TRANSACTION
Evangelicalism: An Americanized Christianity (Apr., $34.95) by Richard Kyle asks whether it can survive intact or if it will be assimilated into the mix of American religions.
Agents of Discord: Deprogramming, Pseudo-Science and the American Anticult Movement (May, $32.95) by Anson Shupe and Susan E. Darnell assesses the motives of groups opposing new religious movements.
TRAFALGAR SQUARE
From Lion UK:Laborer in the Vineyard: A Portrait of Pope Benedict XVI (Mar., $8.95 paper) by Greg Watts reviews the new pope's background, beliefs, priorities and leadership style.
From Times Books UK:World Religions: Mapping History (Mar., $29.95 paper) by Martin Palmer utilizes color maps, photos and works of art to survey all religions.
TWENTY-THIRD PUBLICATIONS
Tell Me a Story: The Role of Narrative in the Faith Life of Catholics (Apr., $13.95) by Robert Hater stresses the importance of story to the history, theology and liturgy of the Catholic Church.
The Jesus Women (July, $12.95) by Marci Alborghetti. Written as first-person accounts, these stories shed light on the women who were part of Jesus' life.
TYNDALE
Fighting for David (Mar., $14.99) by Leone Nunley concerns her son, who was thought to be in a vegetative state but who later made a remarkable recovery.
Divine (Apr., $22.99) by Karen Kingsbury is a contemporary novel about a prostitute who begins to sense God's plan for her life. 75,000 first printing.
Jesus Lover of a Woman's Soul (Apr., $14.99) by Erwin and Rebecca Lutzer rebuts the view of Jesus put forth in The Da Vinci Code.
Magdalene (Apr., $13.99) by Angela Elwell Hunt imagines Mary Magdalene's life in response to The Da Vinci Code.
TZIPORA
How We Returned to Egypt (May; $27.95, paper $19.95) by Yaakol Shirim warns against a growing threat of Israel becoming another fundamentalist state.
UNION FOR REFORM JUDAISM PRESS
Honest Answers to Your Child's Jewish Questions (Mar., $16.95 paper) by Sharon Forman suggests appropriate responses to a variety of queries.
Swords and Plowshares: Jewish Views of War and Peace (Apr., $14.95 paper) by Edwin Goldberg gathers what Judaism says regarding military conflict.
UNIV. OF ALABAMA PRESS
Sing Them Over Again to Me: Hymns and Hymnbooks in America (May; $32.50 paper), edited by Mark A. Noll and Edith L. Blumhofer, observes how Protestant hymns helped define America and American religion.
UNIV. OF CALIFORNIA PRESS
Straight to Jesus: Sexual and Christian Conversions in the Ex-Gay Movement (June; $50, paper $19.95) by Tanya Erzen examines religion-based ministries that attempt to convert gay men and lesbians to non-homosexual Christians.
UNIV. OF ILLINOIS PRESS
How Free Can Religion Be? (July, $29.95) by Randall P. Bezanson analyzes eight Supreme Court cases.
UNIV. OF NEW MEXICO PRESS
The Witches of Abiquiú: The Governor, the Priest, the Genízaro Indians and the Devil (Apr., $34.95) by Malcolm Ebright and Rick Hendricks finds similarities between an episode in New Mexico and the Salem witchcraft trials.
UNIV. OF NORTH CAROLINA PRESS
Wonder: From Emotion to Spirituality (Mar., $24.95) by Robert C. Fuller says that a sense of wonder is a primary source for belief in the unseen.
The Civil War as a Theological Crisis (Apr., $29.95) by Mark A. Noll places the Civil War at a major turning point in American religious thought.
UNIV. OF NOTRE DAME PRESS
A Church That Can and Cannot Change: The Development of Catholic Moral Teaching (Mar., $18 paper) by John T. Noonan Jr. makes the case that the Catholic Church can change without abandoning its foundation.
I Alone Have Escaped to Tell You: My Life and Pastimes (Mar., $25) by Ralph McInerny describes his seminary education, his decision not to be ordained and other experiences and views.
UNIV. OF TENNESSEE PRESS
Exiled: Voices of the Southern Baptist Convention Holy War (Apr., $25.95), edited by Carl L. Kell, compiles first-person narratives from individuals stripped of their positions within the Southern Baptist Convention between 1979 and 1995.
UNIV. OF WISCONSIN PRESS
Between the Dying and the Dead: Dr. Jack Kevorkian's Life and the Battle to Legalize Euthanasia (May, $27.95) by Neal Nicol and Harry Wylie, with Cheeni Rao. Longtime friends take a sympathetic view of Kevorkian's mission.
UNIV. PRESS OF MISSISSIPPI
The Reverend (Mar., $35) by Rev. Louis Cole combines his sermons with 90 photographs by James Perry Walker of the spiritual leader and his African-American congregations.
VISIBLE INK PRESS
The Encyclopedia of Religious Phenomena (Mar., $24.95 paper) by J. Gordon Melton records 250 occurrences of unexplained events rooted in religious beliefs.
VIKING
What Jesus Meant (Mar., $24.95) by Garry Wills argues that Jesus came from the working class and spoke to and for them, not the powerful and the wealthy.
W PUBLISHING
The Journey (Mar., $24.99) by Billy Graham touches on many aspects of Christian life from marriage to death.
The Secret Message of Jesus (Apr., $19.99) by Brian McLaren overturns conventional ideas about Jesus's message.
The Best Kept Secrets of a Happy Marriage (July, $22.99) by Charles Swindoll recommends techniques for sound marriages.
God Behind Bars (Aug., $19.99) by John Perry recalls how Watergate felon Charles Colson turned his life around in prison.
WARNER FAITH
Live, Laugh, Love Again: A Christian Woman's Survival Guide to Divorce (Mar., $12.99 paper) by Michelle Borquez et al. Four women share good news about getting through it.
Look Great, Feel Great: 12 Keys to Enjoying a Healthy Life Now (Apr., $22.99) by Joyce Meyer enables one to triumph over "self-esteem drought."
God's Trophy Women: You are Blessed and Highly Favored (May, $14.99) by Jaquelin Jakes. The sister of Bishop T.D. Jakes believes that tough times lead to victory.
The Charismatic Century: The Enduring Impact of the Azusa Street Revival (Aug., $19.99) by Jack Hayford and David Moore commemorates Azusa Street's 100th anniversary.
WATERBROOK PRESS
The Cross Examination of Jesus Christ (Mar., $12.99) by Randy Singer stands alone but also provides the key to the mystery in the novel The Cross Examination of Oliver Finney.
The Three Hardest Words in the World to Get Right (Mar., $19.99) by Leonard Sweet finds the solution to the "I love you" predicament in the teachings of Jesus.
A Day with a Perfect Stranger (July, $12.95) by David Gregory. A conversation with a stranger catalyzes a young wife to reconsider many views.
WEISER BOOKS
The God Theory (June, $21.95) by Bernard Haisch explains how the astrophysicist resolves modern science with his belief in creative intelligence.
Pagan Every Day: Finding the Extraordinary in Our Ordinary Lives (Aug., $24.95) by Barbara Ardinger submits 366 entries that promote paganism as a spiritual practice.
WELCOME BOOKS
Searching for Mary Magdalene: A Journey Through Art and Literature (Apr., $39.95), edited by Jane Lahr, is an illustrated trip through the facts and myths surrounding the disciple. 20,000 first printing. $20,000 ad/promo.
WESTBOW PRESS
House (Apr., $25.99) by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker is a supernatural thriller about a haunted house. 300,000 first printing.
Uncharted (July, $19.99) by Angel Hunt. Six college friends convene at another's funeral, then take to sea to grant the deceased's last wish.
The Best Christian Short Stories (July, $14.99 paper), edited by Bret Lott, includes tales by Homer Hickam and Larry Woiwode.
WESTMINSTER JOHN KNOX
Jesus, the Bible and Homosexuality: Explode the Myths, Heal the Church (Mar., $17.95 paper) by Jack Rogers contends that the Bible is not opposed to homosexuality and argues for the ordination of homosexuals.
Hagar, Sarah and Their Children: Jewish, Christian and Muslim Perspectives (Mar., $24.95 paper), edited by Phyllis Trible and Letty M. Russell, traces the story of Sarah and Hagar through each tradition.
The Gospel According to the Beatles (July, $TBA paper) by Steve Turner discusses the religious and spiritual influences the Beatles had on baby boomers. 50,000 first printing. Publicity.
A Jew Among the Evangelicals: A Suburban Jew Looks at Bible Belt Christianity (Aug., $TBA paper) by Mark I. Pinsky illustrates the viewpoint of a religion reporter born and bred in the northeast. 25,000 first printing. Publicity.
WHITAKER HOUSE
Public Education Against America: The Hidden Agenda (Mar., $19.99) by Marlin Maddoux asserts the educational system has been hijacked by an academic elite.
Sorcerer (Apr., $12.99 paper) by James Byron Huggins is a novel with a detective who must stop a sorcerer in ancient Egypt.
WISDOM PUBLICATIONS
12 Steps on Buddha's Path: Bill, Buddha & We (Apr., $12.95 paper) by Laura S. recounts how the author synthesized Buddhism with 12-Step programs to recover from alcohol addiction.
You Are Not Here and Other Works of Buddhist Fiction (June, $16.95 paper), edited by Keith Kachtick, is a story collection featuring new and notable authors.
Mindful Politics: A Buddhist Guide to Making the World a Better Place (Aug., $16.95 paper), edited by Melvin McLeod, gathers writings on the theme of good citizenship.
WOOD LAKE BOOKS
(dist. by Pilgrim Press)
The Emerging Christian Way: Thoughts, Stories and Wisdom for a Faith of Transformation (Apr., $18.95 paper), edited by Michael Schwartzentruber, collects 13 essays touching all aspects of "faith of transformation."
WORD AMONG US PRESS
Experiencing Jesus with Mother Teresa (Mar., $10.95 paper) by Jean Maalouf consists of meditations, prayers and words from Mother Teresa and scripture.
Taking It Personally: How Your Catholic Faith Can Transform You (Mar., $12.95 paper) by Leo Zanchettin celebrates the Catholic heritage.
ZONDERVAN
I Saw the Lord (Mar., $16.99) by Anne Graham Lotz admonishes readers to revive their lives through a refreshed commitment to holiness. 175,000 first printing.
The Myth of a Christian Nation (May, $19.99) by Gregory A. Boyd warns against the church getting too close to any political or national ideology.
Night Light (July, $14.99 paper) by Terri Blackstock finds the Brannings struggling to bring their neighborhood together in Book Two of the Restoration series. 75,000 first printing.
Just Walk Across the Room (Aug., $19.99) by Bill Hybels braces readers to initiate spiritual conversations with nonbelievers. 75,000 first printing.
