Does anyone need more evidence that America today is a sharply divided country? Voices from opposing camps shout over each other on talk radio, on TV and from the pages of books. The war in Iraq, global warming, stem cell research, gay marriage, abortion, the coming election, the very vision for the future of the nation—have authors squaring off.
In the runup to the presidential race, there are once again plenty of books this spring on the role of faith in politics. While some are the kind of critiques of the religious right's influence that were plentiful last year, two train a scholarly eye on the election process itself: A Matter of Faith: Religion and Presidential Elections (Brookings Institution, Apr.) and The Faith Factor: How Religion Influences American Elections (Praeger, Apr.).
Aside from traditional topics such as prayer and spiritual self-help, books attempting to reconcile science with religion are particularly abundant this season, as arguments rage on about origins and whether the claims of science and religion cancel each other out. Books on ecology and faith are also much in evidence, a reflection of the debate on global climate change that continues to generate heat.
But it's not only politics, science and social issues that inspire authors. The value of religion itself, in any form, has become controversial. A trend we spotted here last year ("New in Religion: Anti-Religion," July 10, 2006) is still going strong, with several new titles decrying the primacy of faith and citing religion's negative effects. Prometheus used to have this topic pretty much to itself, but in the past few publishing seasons houses like Norton and Knopf have entered the arena. The highest-profile among the antireligion books this spring likely will be Christopher Hitchens's gloves-off God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything (May), from the new Warner/Twelve imprint. (PW is sponsoring a panel on the topic at this year's BEA.)
Naturally, the defenders of faith will not be far behind. Already there are plenty of articles in the Christian press on "angry atheists," and books refuting last year's bestsellers are beginning to appear (for example, IVP's The Dawkins Delusion, June). That is a trickle that is sure to become a flood.
ABINGDON PRESS
Strong Was Her Faith: Women of the New Testament (Mar., $13) by J. Elsworth Kalas focuses on 11 women in a follow-up to The Thirteen Apostles.
Writing Tides: Finding Grace and Growth Through Writing (June, $19) by Kent Ira Groff advocates the use of words to deepen the experience of grace.
ADAMSMEDIA
Scripture to Live By: True Stories and Sermons Inspired by the Word of God (Mar., $12.95 paper), edited by Aaron Chambers, teaches readers how to keep God's word with them throughout the day.
ALLEN & UNWIN
(dist. by IPG)
Unintelligent Design: Why God Isn't as Smart as She Thinks She Is (Apr., $14.95 paper) by Robyn Williams provides a humorous argument against creationism and intelligent design.
ANDREWS MCMEEL
King James Games: Study Puzzles Crafted for the Learning and Memorization of God's Word (Apr., $19.95 paper) by Timothy E. Parker contains more than 200 scripture-teaching puzzles.
ATRIA
Reposition Yourself (Apr., $24) by T.D. Jakes underscores the spiritual principles of prosperity and success. 6-city author tour.
AVE MARIA PRESS
Chasing Joy: Musings on Life in a Bittersweet World (Mar., $12.95 paper) by Edward Hays cultivates a deeply rooted spirit of joy despite less-than-joyful conditions.
AVONINSPIRE
Defiant Heart (May, $12.95 paper) by Tracey Bateman. A servant for a cruel storekeeper flees, and chases after a wagon train with her twin siblings. 100,000 first printing.
Wedding Bell Blues (June, $12.95 paper) by Linda Windsor. The man who broke a home decorator's heart 16 years earlier turns up again.
BAKER ACADEMIC
Everyday Theology: How to Read Cultural Texts and Interpret Trends (Mar., $23.99 paper), edited by Kevin J. Vanhoozer et al., launches the Cultural Exegesis series.
Hope in Troubled Times: A New Vision for Confronting Global Crises (May, $19.99 paper) by Bob Goudzwaard et al. suggests faith-based solutions to global poverty, environmental woes and terrorism.
BAKER BOOKS
An Emergent Manifesto of Hope (Apr., $19.99), edited by Doug Pagitt and Tony Jones, collects articles from more than 20 leaders of the Emergent Village movement, including Brian McLaren and Dan Kimball.
Disconnected (July, $12.99) by Chap Clark and Dee Clark helps parents nurture their kids through adolescence.
BALLANTINE
Take This Bread: A Radical Conversion (Mar., $24.95) by Sara Miles is a spiritual memoir by an atheist turned religious activist against hunger.
B&H BOOKS
Raising Dad: What Fathers & Sons Learn from Each Other (May, $17.99) by Thom S. Rainer and Art Rainer. Two generations share memories of their lives together.
Career Crossover: Leaving the Marketplace for Ministry (May, $12.99 paper) by Tom Harper offers practical advice for those considering a second career in vocational ministry.
From Tyndale to Madison: How the Death of an English Martyr Led to the American Bill of Rights (July, $24.99) by Michael Farris traces the history of religious freedom across three centuries and two continents.
BARBOUR
The Illustrated Guide to Bible Customs and Curiosities (May, $9.97 paper) by George Knight answers more than 750 scriptural questions. 25,000 first printing.
A Sister's Secret (July, $9.97 paper) by Wanda E. Brunstetter. In this novel, Grace leaves her shameful past behind and joins the Amish church. 20,000 first printing.
BASIC BOOKS
Left at the Altar: How the Democrats Lost the Catholics and How the Catholics Can Save the Democrats (June, $26) by Michael Sean Winters asserts that the Democratic Party must win back the Catholic vote in order to survive. Author tour.
BAYLOR UNIV. PRESS
Troubled Waters: Rethinking the Theology of Baptism (Apr., $19.95) by Ben Witherington III is a reassessment.
Facing a Pandemic: The African Church and the Crisis of AIDS (May, $39.95 paper) by Elias K. Bongmba confronts the challenges that the disease brings.
BEACON PRESS
Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation (July, $22.95) by Eboo Patel explains how to counter the recruitment of youth by religious fundamentalists. Author publicity.
The Bone Gatherers: The Lost Worlds of Early Christian Women (July, $27.95) by Nicola Denzey visits the Roman catacombs to encounter evidence of powerful women, both pagan and Christian.
BEAR & CO.
Jesus After the Crucifixion: From Jerusalem to Rennes-le-Chateau (Mar., $18 paper) by Graham Simmans maintains that Jesus survived the cross, went to Egypt, then settled in France.
BERKLEYPRAISE
Heaven Is Real: Lessons on Earthly Joy—from the Man Who Spent 90 Minutes in Heaven (Aug., $21.95) by Don Piper with Cecil Murphy. After dying in a 1989 car accident, Piper returned to life when a minister prayed over him.
BETHANYHOUSE
The Divine Mentor (July, $19.99) by Wayne Cordeiro revolutionizes the concept of daily quiet time by helping readers learn how to hear God's voice. 25,000 first printing.
BEYOND WORDS
John of God: Portrait of a Loving Healer (May, $22.95) by Karen Leffler and Heather Cumming uses photos and text to create a full portrait of the man who heals.
BLUEBRIDGE
(dist. by IPG)
Wise Choices: A Spiritual Guide to Making Life's Decisions (Apr., $14 paper) by Margaret Silf is a calm and compassionate primer.
BRAZOSPRESS
Following Jesus in a Culture of Fear (June, $17.99 paper) by Scott Bader-Saye presents an antidote to anxiety and a basis for peace.
Finding Your Plot in a Plotless World: A Little Direction (Aug., $14.99 paper) by Daniel de Roulet aims to enable the reader to recover God's intended narrative.
BROOKINGS INSTITUTION PRESS
A Matter of Faith: Religion and Presidential Elections (Apr., $26.95 paper), edited by David E. Campbell, reviews the 2004 election and discusses the role religion will play in future American politics.
Journey into Islam: The Crisis of Globalization (May, $26.95) by Akbar S. Ahmed. Although Muslims fear that Islam is under attack from the West, this Islamic scholar brings hope for peaceful coexistence.
CAMBRIDGEUNIV. PRESS
An Introduction to Quakerism (Apr., $19.99 paper) by Pink Dandelion balances a history of Quaker theology with an overview of contemporary practices.
The Cambridge Companion to the Talmud and Rabbinic Literature (May, $24.99 paper) by Charlotte E. Fonrobert deciphers historical-interpretive and culture-critical issues that scholars use when studying ancient texts.
CANONGATE
Looking in the Distance: The Human Search for Meaning (Apr., $21) by Richard Holloway celebrates the possibilities that life affords us all.
CARROLL & GRAF
The Power and the Glory: The Inside Story of Pope John Paul II and the Failure of the Vatican (Apr., $26.95) by David Yallop is described as "the true history" of John Paul II's papacy.
CHALICE PRESS
Finding Intimacy in a World of Fear (Mar., $14.99 paper) by Eric H.F. Law proposes that following Jesus will overcome fears aroused by 9/11 and hurricane Katrina.
MySpace to Sacred Space: God for a New Generation (Aug., $19.99 paper) by Christian Piatt and Amy Piatt stresses the importance of reaching younger people in the church community.
CHICAGOREVIEW PRESS
(dist. by IPG)
Little Book of Big Ideas: Religion (May, $14.95) by Trevor Barnes sheds light on crucial religious concepts to enhance cultural sensitivity and global understanding.
CHOSEN
Dancing with Destiny (May, $12.99) by Jill Austin. The prophetic leader asks readers to discover their deepest dreams and to move in divine strategies.
CHURCH PUBLISHING
The Bishop Is Coming! (Apr., $12 paper) by Paul V. Marshall equips bishops to minister effectively as the chief pastor in the diocese.
COLLINS & BROWN
(dist. by Sterling)
Spirit Roads: An Exploration of Otherworldly Routes (June, $17.95 paper) by Paul Devereux locates spiritual and magical landscape features in Britain, Ireland, Mexico and the U.S.
COLUMBIAUNIV. PRESS
Practicing Science, Living Faith (Mar., $29.50), edited by Philip Clayton and Jim Schaal. Scientists from diverse backgrounds and disciplines consider the role of faith in the pursuit of science.
After the Death of God (May, $24.50) by John D. Caputo and Gianni Vattimo ruminates on the changes, distortions and reforms that shape the religious imagination today.
CONTINUUM
Catholicism at the Crossroads: Why the Laity Must Step Up to the Plate (Mar., $19.95 paper) by Paul Lakeland develops a path for an open church in an open society.
The Mary Magdalene Cover Up (Aug., $19.95 paper) by Esther A. de Boer places historical texts in their contexts, allowing the reader to reach a conclusion.
COOK COMMUNICATIONS
Fathers of Influence: Inspiring Stories of Men Who Made a Difference in Their Children and Their World (Mar., $15.99). Various authors profile men throughout history who have had a powerful impact.
Names to Live By: Over 1000 of the Best and Most Meaningful Baby Names (June, $10.99 paper) helps Christian parents choose appropriate names.
COUNCIL OAK BOOKS
The Word of God upon My Lips: A Messenger Speaks (Apr., $21.95) by Michael Olin Hitt answers such questions as: Is there an actual heaven? What is the purpose of the soul?
CROSSROAD PUBLISHING
Broken Trust (Apr., $19.95) by Patrick Fleming et al. presents the words of abusive priests and their victims.
From Sand to Solid Ground: Questions of Faith for Modern Catholics (Apr., $14.95 paper) by Michael Morewood seeks to separate perennial truths from what may be only tradition.
CROSSWAY BOOKS
The Faith of Condoleezza Rice (Mar., $19.99) by Leslie Montgomery considers how the spiritual seeds planted in Rice's early life grew to spiritual maturity. 35,000 first printing.
Creation and the Courts (Mar., $22 paper) by Norman Geisler exhorts Christians to battle for creationism in the classroom.
CRYSTALCLARITY
Karma & Reincarnation (Apr., $9.95 paper) by Paramhansa Yogananda contains previously unpublished material on death and the afterlife. $25,000 ad/promo.
The Revelations of Christ, Proclaimed by Paramhansa Yogananda, Presented by His Disciple, Swami Kriyananda (June, $24.95) provides a new perspective. 25,000 first printing. $100,000 ad/promo.
DESERETBOOK
Men of Valor: The Powerful Impact of a Righteous Man (Mar., $15.95) by Robert L. Millet asks men to set themselves apart from worldliness to counter a society where moral values are rapidly eroding.
If God Loves Me, Why This? Finding Peace in God's Plan for Us (Mar., $14.95) by Kim A. Nelson illuminates the truths that lead to happiness even amid painful times. $15,000 ad/promo.
DESTINY BOOKS
The Yoga of Truth: Jnana: The Ancient Path of Silent Knowledge (July, $14.95 paper) by Peter Marchand represents a direct contemplation of the unchangeable.
DEVORA
The Godfile: Ten Approaches to Personalizing Prayer (Apr.; $16.95, paper $12.95) by Aryeh Ben David introduces the reader to different methods of prayer developed over the past 200 years of Jewish history.
Understanding the Afterlife in this Life (Apr.; $21.95, paper $16.95) by Bernie Kastner soothes those preoccupied with a fear of death.
DISINFORMATION CO.
Everything You Know About God Is Wrong: The Disinformation Guide to Religion (June, $24.95 paper), edited by Russ Kick, peers into the "wild and woolly world of organized belief."
DOUBLEDAY
Mother Angelica's Little Book of Life Lessons and Everyday Spirituality (Mar., $16.95) by Raymond Arroyo offers words of wisdom from both her public and most personal moments.
Grace Under Fire: Letters of Faith in Times of War (Mar., $16.95), edited by Andrew Carroll, collects letters and e-mails written by U.S. soldiers and their families during every major conflict in American history.
Ten Prayers God Always Says Yes To: Divine Answers to Life's Most Difficult Problems (May, $18.95) by Anthony DeStefano promises to change readers' lives.
Shattered Tablets: Why We Ignore the Ten Commandments at Our Peril (Aug., $24.95) by David Klinghoffer observes how different our culture is from the model described in the commandments.
DUFOUR EDITIONS
Judaism: An Introduction to the Beliefs and Practices of the Jews (Apr., $25.95) by Michael Maher is addressed primarily to Christians.
Praying with the Women Mystics (Apr., $15.95) by Mary Malone contemplates issues ranging from the gender naming of God to the stigma of original sin.
WM. B. EERDMANS
The Jesus Way: A Conversation on the Ways that Jesus Is the Way (Spiritual Theology, volume 3) (Apr., $22) by Eugene H. Peterson directs the reader to the correct path. 20,000 first printing.
Muhammad, Prophet of God (Apr., $15 paper) by Daniel Peterson is an account of the life and influence of the first Muslim.
The Mystery of the Child (May, $24) by Martin E. Marty draws upon biblical and philosophical insights to reconsider the child as a mystery who evokes wonder and elicits creative responses.
FAITHWORDS
The Power of Simple Prayer: How to Talk with God About Everything (Apr., $22.99) by Joyce Meyer suggests that prayer can dramatically transform our lives.
The Penny (June, $21.99) by Joyce Meyer and Deborah Bedford recounts a story of restoration and forgiveness.
How to Make Love Work: The Guide to Getting it, Keeping it, and Fixing What's Broken (June, $19.99) by Michelle McKinney Hammond equips both genders with ways to approach love with confidence and hope.
Knit Together: Discover God's Pattern for Your Life (Aug., $22.99) by Debbie Macomber. In her first nonfiction, Macomber encourages readers to dream big.
FELDHEIM PUBLISHERS
Reasons Why Jews Don't Believe in Jesus (Mar., $24.95) by Asher Norman charges that the Christian Bible mistranslated key verses of the Old Testament. A Black, White, and Read Publishing book.
In the Jewish Kingdom of Kuzar (Apr., $22.95) by Zelig Shachnowitz is a historical novel describing a Balkan kingdom's conversion to Judaism in the eighth century.
FOCUS ON THE FAMILY
Grown-Up Girlfriends (Apr., $13.99 paper) by Erin Smalley and Carrie Oliver. Two counselors tell how to develop nine characteristics of a "grown-up" friend.
FONS VITAE
Merton and Buddhism—Wisdom, Emptiness and The Every Day Mind (Mar., $26.95) sums up Merton's final spiritual transformation.
The Holy Cities, the Pilgrimage and the World of Islam: A History from the Earliest Traditions Until 1925 (Mar., $37.95) by Sultan Ghalib Al-Quaiti is written with first-hand knowledge of the Middle Eastern political environment.
FORDHAM UNIV. PRESS
Ecospirit: Religions and Philosophies for the Earth (Mar., $32 paper), edited by Laurel Kearns and Catherine Keller, probes the possibility of a green shift radical enough to affect the destructiveness of our material world.
On Love: In the Muslim Tradition (Apr., $25) by Rusmir Mahmutcehajic considers the relationships between love and knowledge, multiplicity and unity, heart and intellect.
FORGE BOOKS
Jesus: A Meditation on His Parables (Mar., $17.95) by Andrew M. Greeley aims to strip away centuries of false interpretations of the stories Jesus taught. 100,000 first printing.
FORTRESS PRESS
Creating a Habitat for Humanity: No Hands but Yours (Mar., $10 paper) by Jonathan T.M. Reckford. The organization's new leader details the biblical and theological basis for the work of providing housing.
FREE PRESS
The Edge of Evolution: The Search for Darwinism's Limits (June, $28) by Michael J. Behe analyzes Darwin's research and uses it to argue for the theory of intelligent design.
GEFEN PUBLISHING
I Didn't Know That (Mar., $12.95 paper) by Joe Bobker. From burial in Israel to blessing George Bush, Bobker takes a humorous look at the Torah and Talmud.
GEORGETOWNUNIV. PRESS
Let Them Go Free: A Guide to Withdrawing Life Support (Mar., $6.95) by Thomas A. Shannon and Charles N. Faso, O.F.M., scrutinizes ethical and religious resources to help families making the difficult decision.
Faith & Force: A Christian Debate About War (May, $26.95) by David L. Clough and Brian Stiltner. Two friends find themselves on opposite sides of the Iraq war.
GODSFIELD
(dist. by Sterling)
Working with Karma: Understanding and Transforming Your Karma (June, $12.95 paper) by Bill Sarrer-Halls explodes myths and explains karma's true influence on relationships, career, prosperity and health.
GUIDEPOSTS
When Faith Meets Fame: Inspiring Personal Stories from the World of TV (Mar., $16.99). Famous television personalities share what really matters to them.
A Simple Wedding (Mar., $14.95 paper) by Sharon Hanby-Robie enables the bride to realize her dreams within the realities of family, friends and the expectations of her church and community.
HAMPTONROADS
Master of Secrets (Mar., $19.95) by Danny Lliteras. In this novel that takes place after the crucifixion, a young boy seeks his father, a disciple of Jesus.
HARPER SAN FRANCISCO
The Jesus Family Tomb: The Discovery, The Investigation, and the Evidence That Could Change History (Mar., $27.95) by Simcha Jacobovici and Charles Pellegrino. An archeological find contains bone boxes bearing the names of Jesus of Nazareth, the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene and Judas, the son of Jesus.
Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know (Mar., $24.95) by Stephen Prothero advances the notion that religion should be taught in public schools.
Jesus for the Nonreligious (Mar., $24.95) by John Shelby Spong breaks Jesus free from the idol that religion has created, thereby restoring a revolutionary and life-giving figure.
Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment (May, $24.95) by Deepak Chopra takes a new view of the Buddha's life. 100,000 first printing.
HARVARD UNIV. PRESS
Scribal Culture and the Making of the Hebrew Bible (Mar., $35) by Karel van der Toorn reveals how the books of the Bible and the authors associated with them were products of the social and intellectual world of the scribes.
Green Sisters: A Spiritual Ecology (Apr., $29.95) by Sarah McFarland Taylor studies environmentally active Catholic nuns working to heal the earth.
Playing with God: Religion and Modern Sport (Apr., $29.95) by William J. Baker. This history proceeds from the Puritan condemnation of games to the near-deification of athletic contests today.
HARVEST HOUSE
God Crazy (Apr., $12.99 paper) by Michelle Borquez. A popular TV host testifies to the joyful life awaiting when a woman seeks God as her source of fulfillment and identity.
Praying Through the Deeper Issues of Marriage (July, $13.99 paper) by Stormie Omartian offers prayers for married couples about such matters as trust and selflessness.
HCI
Will the REAL You Please Stand Up? 7 Spiritual Strategies to Help You Discover Your Purpose and Live It with Passion (Mar., $19.95) by Fran Harris trades what we think we know about authenticity for the real thing.
StandLike Mountain, Flow Like Water: Reflections on Stress and Human Spirituality Revised and Expanded (July, $14.95 paper) by Brian Luke Seaward is a 10th anniversary edition.
HENDRICKSON
Dietrich Bonhoeffer: An Introduction to His Thought (Mar., $19.95 paper) by Sabine Dramm shows that his thinking is pertinent to the 21st-century postmodern church.
Users Guide to the Bible (July) by Stephen M. Miller, Searching 4 Faith (July) by Brian Draper, Why Do People Suffer? (July) by James Jones and Exploring Prayer (July, $14.95 each paper) by Sue Mayfield are four new entries in the Questions of Faith series.
HERALD PRESS
The Mennonite Handbook (Mar., $14.99), edited by Sarah Kehrberg, blends historical and theological information with fun facts and practical tips.
Crisis: The Captivity of the CPT 4 (Mar., $17.99), edited by Tricia Gates Brown, assembles stories from the Christian Peacemaker Team members held hostage in Iraq.
HOHM PRESS
Yoga Morality: Ancient Teachings at a Time of Global Crisis (Apr., $19.95 paper) by Georg Feuerstein points the way to becoming a mature, moral person even while humanity seems to be going astray.
HOWARD BOOKS
101 Amazing Truths About Jesus that You Probably Didn't Know (Mar., $12.99 paper) by Mark Littleton contains snippets of truth easily read in less than a minute.
The Busy Mom's Guide to Bible Study (Aug., $12.99) by Lisa Whelchel. Spiritual refreshment requires only 10 minutes a day.
IGNATIUS PRESS
The Well and the Shallows (Mar., $14.95 paper) by G.K. Chesterton diagnoses many of the social and moral problems we face today.
Jesus of Nazareth (Apr., $21.95) by Pope Benedict XVI affirms the pope's personal insights on Jesus of the Gospels as the true Jesus of history. 35,000 first printing. $30,000 ad/promo.
Honey from the Rock (Apr., $16.95 paper) by Roy Schoeman recalls 16 Jews who converted to Catholicism and thus became "fulfilled Jews."
INNER TRADITIONS
Judas and Jesus: Two Faces of a Single Revelation (Mar., $14.95 paper) by Jean-Yves Leloup radically reinterprets the relationship between the two men.
INTEGRAL BOOKS
Soulfully Gay: How Harvard, Sex, Drugs and Integral Philosophy Drove Me Crazy and Brought Me Back to God (May, $16.95 paper) by Joe Perez. A personal memoir about the conflict between being gay and being Christian. 15,000 first printing. Author tour.
INTEGRITY PUBLISHERS
Confessions of a Good Christian Girl (Mar., $18.99) by Tammy Maltby and Anne Christian Buchanan asks Christians to own up to the sin and shame hidden behind "victorious" Christian facades.
Every Day Deserves a Chance (Apr., $19.99) by Max Lucado outlines Jesus' formula for upgrading each day to blue-ribbon status. Ad/promo.
INTERVARSITY PRESS
Getting Your Feet Dirty: A Down-to-Earth Look at Following Jesus (Apr., $7 paper) by Don Everts examines the experiences of the earliest Christians.
Ancient Christian Devotional: A Year of Weekly Readings (Apr., $17 paper) by Cindy Crosby and Thomas C. Oden. Commentary from early church fathers accompanies the scriptural passages.
The Dawkins Delusion (June, $16) by Alister McGrath. A former atheist takes on Richard Dawkins, author of the bestselling The God Delusion.
JEWISH LIGHTS
The Bridge to Forgiveness: Stories and Prayers for Finding God and Restoring Wholeness (Mar., $19.99) by Rabbi Karyn D. Kedar travels through loss, anger, acceptance and learning to reach forgiveness.
The Ethiopian Jews of Israel: Personal Stories of Life in the Promised Land (Mar., $34.99) by Len Lyons. Photos and interviews attest to struggles in becoming Ethiopian Israelis.
A Wild Faith: Jewish Ways into Wilderness, Wilderness Ways into Judaism (Apr., $16.99 paper) by Rabbi Mike Comins is a spiritual primer on the partnership between wilderness and Judaism.
JEWISH PUBLICATION SOCIETY
Inventing Jewish Ritual: New American Traditions (May, $25 paper) by Vanessa L. Ochs delves into innovative and creative adaptations.
I Will Wake the Dawn: Illuminated Psalms (Aug., $60) by Debra Band. The artist adorns 36 popular psalms with full color and scholarly analysis.
JOSSEY-BASS
The Culturally Savvy Christian: A Manifesto for Deepening Faith and Enriching Popular Culture in an Age of Christianity-Lite (Apr., $21.95) advises Christians to live their faith by engaging fully with the world.
Knowing God Intimately: Reconnecting Ancient Spiritual Practices, Evangelism, and Justice (July, $21.95) by Tony Campolo and Mary Darling stresses that contemplative practice can fuel Christians' enthusiasm for evangelism and social justice.
Understanding the Tanya: Volume Three in the Definitive Commentary on the Moral and Mystical Teachings of a Classic Work of Kabbalah (Aug., $27.95) by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz adds further clarification.
JUDSON PRESS
God in Her Midst: Preaching Healing to Wounded Women (Mar., $12 paper) by Elaine M. Flake crafts a womanist theology for an overlooked and overwhelmed population in the pews.
KNOPF
Peace Be upon You: The Story of Muslim, Christian, and Jewish Coexistence (Mar., $26.95) by Zachary Karabell affirms the legacy of coexistence and cooperation from the advent of Islam in the seventh century to the present day. Author tour.
KODANSHA INT'L
The Essence of Shinto: Japan's Spiritual Heart (May, $22) by Motohisa Yamakage discusses the core values of the country's traditional belief system.
KREGEL
Najila (Apr., $12.99 paper) by C.J. Illinik is a novel continuing the story of an 11th-century Persian princess last seen in The Tables of Ararat. Ad/promo.
Daddy's Girls: Discover the Wonder of the Father (June, $11.99 paper) by Sue Edwards is an eight-week, daily study of the Bible.
KTAV PUBLISHING
Days of Deliverance: Essays on Purim and Hanukkah (Mar., $25) by Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik. Both holidays serve as subtext for a classic search for religious meaning.
War and Peace and the Jewish Tradition (Apr., $39.50), edited by Lawrence Schiffman and Joel Wolowelsky, focuses on the U.S. involvement in Iraq and Israel's ongoing war against terrorism.
LIGUORI
Sr. Wendy's Meditations on the Mysteries of Our Faith (Mar., $9.95) by Sr. Wendy Beckett employs inspirational text and images by Renaissance painter Duccio di Buoninsegna to show how mysteries of faith in the Middle Ages are still with us today.
LITURGICAL PRESS
To Thank and Bless: Prayers at Meals (Mar., $7.95 paper) by Michael Kwatera, O.S.B., and Dietrich Reinhart, O.S.B., reminds families of the connection between the dining-room table and the eucharistic table.
The Art of the Saint John's Bible: A Reader's Guide to Pentateuch, Psalms, Gospels and Acts (from the Saint John's Bible) (June, $14.95) by Susan Sink. Illuminations and calligraphy allow Scriptures to be experienced in a new way.
LLEWELLYN
The Gnostic Judas (May, $14.95 paper) by Tau Malachi. A Gnostic elder interprets the Gospel of Judas.
LOYOLA PRESS
By Way of Grace: Moving from Faithfulness to Holiness (Mar., $19.95) by Paula Huston discloses how to rise to new and unimagined spiritual heights.
Bumping into God in the Kitchen: Savory Stories of Food, Family and Faith (Apr., $12.95 paper) by Fr. Dominic Grassi. Stories revealing God's love are garnished with the author's favorite recipes.
LYONSPRESS
The Jesus Mystery (Apr., $24.95) by Lena Einhorn. A filmmaker and medical doctor looks at the historical Jesus.
MCGILL-QUEEN'S UNIV. PRESS
Christian Attitudes Towards the State of Israel (Mar., $24.95 paper) by Paul Charles Merkley maintains that the attitudes reflect fundamental theological positions to be studied against long-held feelings about Judaism and Islam.
MERCER UNIV. PRESS
Inside the Church of Flannery O'Connor: Sacrament, Sacramental, and the Sacred in Her Fiction (Mar., $38), edited by Joanne Halleran McMullen and Jon Parrish Peede. Leading scholars judge O'Connor to be a writer preoccupied with religious, especially Catholic, themes.
When All God's Children Get Together: A Memoir of Race and Baptists (June, $18 paper) by Emmanuel McCall. An African-American minister relates how racial reconciliation has progressed after 53 years of ministry in the South.
MESORAH
A Daily Dose of Torah, Volume 7 (Apr., $15.99) by Rabbi Yosef Asher Weiss supplies four weeks of brief and insightful installments of daily learning. 20,000 first printing.
Stories for a Jewish Heart Vol. 2 (May, $21.99) by Rabbi Binyomin Pruzansky. Tales of real people aim to transform Jewish living.
MITCHELL BEAZLEY
(dist. by Sterling)
Inner Magic: A Guide to Witchcraft (Apr., $17.95 paper) by Ann-Marie Gallagher explains how traditions and rituals of witchcraft are relevant to today's world.
MONKFISH
Magdalen Rising: The Beginning (Apr., $24.95) by Elizabeth Cunningham. The prequel to The Passion of Mary Magdalen in the Maeve Chronicles series follows the Celtic woman's life from birth to Druid college, where she meets Jesus. $25,000 ad/promo. 8-city author tour.
MOODY
Discerning the Voice of God (Mar., $13.99 paper) by Priscilla Shirer sets God's communications apart from the noisy voices of culture. 20,000 first printing. $25,000 ad/promo.
Stealth Attack (Apr., $13.99 paper) by Ray Pritchard uses the war on terror to illustrate our vulnerability to spiritual warfare and tells how to guard against it.
MOREHOUSE
A Wing and a Prayer (Mar., $15) by Katharine Jefferts Schori. The first female primate in the 500-year history of Anglicanism pilots her plane to remote parishes in Nevada.
The Desert Mothers (Mar., $13.95 paper) by Mary C. Earle popularizes the thinking of these early church women and applies it to life today.
Welcome to the Bible (Apr., $12.95 paper) by Vicki K. Black and Peter W. Wenner. For new Episcopalians, this book notes that the Bible's texts and doctrines are embedded in the church's prayers, liturgies and creeds.
MULTNOMAH
Stripped (Mar., $19.99) by Jud Wilhite with Bill Taaffe declares that if God can happen in Las Vegas, there are no geographical limits to an appearance anywhere.
Deception (Apr., $19.99) by Randy Alcorn. A murder mystery travels to heaven and hell and back again. 50,000 first printing.
