America's Blessings


Book Description

A few years ago, a debate between atheists and religious believers spilled out from the halls of academia and the pews of America’s churches and into the public spotlight. A crop of atheist manifestos led the charge, surmounting and holding the tops of the nonfiction bestseller lists. This debate brought on an outpouring of religious rebuttals as both sides exchanged spirited volleys, accusations were leveled; myths, stereotypes, and strawmen arguments were perpetuated; and bitter hostility filled the air. Today many of these misconceptions and myths linger on, along with the generally acrimonious spirit of the debate. In America’s Blessings, distinguished researcher Rodney Stark seeks to clear the air of this hostility and debunk many of the debate’s most widely perpetuated misconceptions by drawing from an expansive pool of sociological findings. Stark rises above the fray and focuses exclusively on facts by examining the measurable effects of religious faith and practice on American society. His results may surprise many atheists and believers alike. Starting with a historical overview, Stark traces America’s religious roots from the country’s founding to the present day, showing that religiosity in America has never been consistent, static, or monolithic. Interestingly, he finds that religious practice is now more prevalent than ever in America, despite any claims to the contrary. From here, Stark devotes whole chapters to unpacking the latest research on how religion affects the different facets of modern American life, including crime, family life, sexuality, mental and physical health, sophistication, charity, and overall prosperity. The cumulative effect is that when translated into comparisons with western European nations, the United States comes out on top again and again. Thanks in no small part to America’s rich religious culture, the nation has far lower crime rates, much higher levels of charitable giving, better health, stronger marriages, and less suicide, to note only a few of the benefits. In the final chapter, Stark assesses the financial impact of these religious realities. It turns out that belief benefits the American economy—and all 300 million citizens, believers, and nonbelievers alike—by a conservative estimate of $2.6 trillion a year. Despite the atheist outcry against religion, the remarkable conclusion is clear: all Americans, from the most religious among us to our secular neighbors, really ought to count our blessings.




Blessed


Book Description

Gospels -- Faith -- Wealth -- Health -- Victory -- American blessing -- Megachurch table -- Naming names.




Mixed Blessings


Book Description

Examines the work of contemporary Latino, Native America, African-American, and Asian-American artists, discussing how their art demonstrates the ways in which the various cultures see themselves and others.




A Book of Irish American Blessings & Prayers


Book Description

Never somber, sometimes playful, always a delight to share aloud, Father Greeley's blessings and prayers feature a dazzling array of people, places, and celebrations.




A Mother's Book of Blessings


Book Description

"With ageless wisdom for every occasion, this elegant little book is the perfect gift for moms to share with their children -- and for themselves. Time-honored proverbs, enlightening parables, and inspiring poetry, illustrated with exquisite vintage art, encourage readers to contemplate and celebrate life's milestones. These uplifting words and their invaluable lessons, drawn from cultures around the world, will resonate with families of all walks. Whether commemorating a birthday, or celebrating a housewarming or a special holiday, this timeless treasure of 100-plus blessings provides guidance and encouragement for everyone: an enduring keepsake readers will turn to again and again."--Provided by publisher.




Many Blessings


Book Description

Many Blessings: A Tapestry of Accomplished African American Women by Sonnee Weedn, Ph.D. Ten years ago, Marin County psychologist, Dr. Sonnee Weedn, was asked to treat a young, urban, African American woman. Believing that as a white woman living in the reality of de facto segregation, she was not knowledgeable enough to treat this woman in psychotherapy, she set about to learn more about African American culture. This stimulated her thinking about African American women. What was it that allowed them to survive and thrive despite the double prejudice of racism and sexism. She wondered about the historical implications of the confluence of the Civil Rights Movement and the Women's Movement on this particular cohort of women, most who had come of age during law-enforced segregation. She traveled the country for three years, interviewing many African American women, some famous and others unknown except in their own particular circles of influence. She studied these women to determine what encouraged them to transcend discrimination and other obstacles they faced in order to rise up and claim their destinies as powerful and altruistic women. Ultimately, she chose thirty-one of the women she interviewed to represent the seven strengths she identified as having sustained them and allowed them to flourish. She believes that these seven strengths are the historical legacy of all African American women today, and encourages all women, regardless of ethnicity to learn from their example to increase their own resilience and determination.




Sefer Ha-berakhot


Book Description

A collection of blessings, poems, meditations, and rituals presented in English and Hebrew offers a traditional perspective to weekday, Sabbath, and New Moon festival observances.




An American Stand


Book Description

Margaret Chase Smith was the first woman in American history elected in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the first politician to take a public stand against McCarthyism, and the first woman of a major political party to run for president of the United States. An American Stand: Senator Margaret Chase Smith and the Communist Menace, 1948-1972 explores her engagement with the 'masculine' issue of national defense. An unyielding foe of global communism, this Republican senator was the first female Cold Warrior. During the Korean War, she voiced strident anti-communist rhetoric in her newspaper column. Her energetic support for nuclear superiority in the fifties and sixties caused Nikita Khrushchev to describe her as 'Satan in the guise of a woman.' In the face of growing opposition to America's involvement in Vietnam, Smith remained committed to a clear stand against violent communist expansion. This book examines the exposition of the communist 'menace' and the Cold War as a fight between good and evil without sanitization of communist leaders' ruthless actions. For Smith and many others, America's fight against global communism, despite appalling sacrifices of lives and money, made sense because they believed that communism was a vicious, expansionist system with little respect for human life and freedom.




Everyday Blessings


Book Description

The bestselling author of the million-copy bestseller Wherever You Go, There You Are and Full Catastrophe Living joins forces with his wife, Myla, in this revised edition of their groundbreaking book about mindfulness in parenting children of all ages. Updated with new material -- including an all new introduction and expanded practices in the epilogue -- Everyday Blessings remains one of the few books on parenting that embraces the emotional, intuitive, and deeply personal experience of being a parent, applying the groundbreaking "mind/body connection" expertise from global mindfulness leader, Jon Kabat-Zinn and his wife, Myla Kabat-Zinn. Mindfulness is a way of living and there is increasing scientific evidence of its value for optimal health and well-being. A new field in psychology is devoted to mindful parenting, and mindfulness is being increasingly integrated into K-12 education. There has never been a better time for cultivating greater mindfulness in parenting and in family life.




A Table of Visions


Book Description

This book has an urgent message and vital knowledge for every American and every person who values human life, liberty, equality, and the pursuit of happiness. The basic truths and knowledge of this book have been ignored at the peril of America, as well as civilization itself. The denial, neglect and indifference to these vital core values, sound doctrines and biblical truths have put America and civilization in grave danger. The truths, sound doctrines and Biblical Scriptures that confirm the exceptionalism of America have been denied and ignored in the U. S. educational systems, government bureacracies and the secular culture. Most Americans are not aware of the exceptionalism of America. In short, American exceptionalism is based on the biblical and religiously inspired founding creeds and Constitution of America. America's founding creeds are based on the acknowledgment of God, Biblical Scripture, religious liberty, God endowed individual human rights and a democratic form of government. A Table of Visions provide a brief, potent highlighted foundational core knowledge and core biblical Scriptures of human survival values that are imbedded in the U. S. Constitution, Declaration of Independence and the pledge of allegiance of one nation under God and a motto of "In God We Trust." These sound doctrines, biblical Scriptures and core values are enlarged, highlighted and emphasized for seriousness, urgency and immediate actions for massive programs to recover, reinstitute, revitalize the teachings for the incorporation and practice of these survival values. These American adopted biblical doctrines and foundational human values are not arbitrary nor optional. They are required to maintain religious liberty, individual freedom, political stability, peace and a blessed democratic nation under God. The survival of the Nation is at stake. The solid foundations of true science, true art, just laws and the historically documented will of God must be maintained to remain a blessed nation under God.