The Rise and Fall of Belief and the Coming Age of the Spirit There is an essential change taking place in what it means to be “religious” today. As religious people shift their focus to ethical guidelines and spiritual disciplines—not doctrine—we are seeing a universal trend away from hierarchical, regional, patriarchal, and institutional religion. Now, legendary Harvard scholar Harvey Cox offers a new interpretation of the history and future of religion, revealing how doctrines and dogma are giving way to new grassroots movements based in community, social justice, and spiritual experience. The Future of Faith is a major statement and a hopeful vision from one of the most revered theologians today.

With the world changing so rapidly in the 21st century, what is there left to believe in? Do traditional religions, science and philosophy still have anything left to offer - something that promises measurable hope? Are the words "faith," "trust" and "belief" still meaningful? Rev. Jim Willis believes that the next thrust of human evolution needs to be in the realm of the spirit; the human heart. He puts forth the argument that this step is natural and to be expected, because humankind is growing into a potential inherent since the beginnings of consciousness.

Belief – Faith – Trust – Hope By: M. R. Sobers Young people search for fulfillment in a variety of ways. Many will do whatever it takes to be popular, rich, or famous. If you’re a young person, what will your life look like? What if you knew that before you were even born, there was a journey designed for you to follow, one that was handcrafted for you specifically? In Belief – Faith – Trust – Hope: The Ultimate Journey for the Youth of Our World, you will learn more about this journey. It won’t be an easy road, but the treasure you will find will definitely be worth it. This book will help you get the most out of this journey by helping you see the four actions that will be required of you: believe; have faith; humbly trust; and provide hope to others. So grab this book, sit back, and enjoy finding yourself through losing yourself in God.

A small town doctor’s prescription for mending her broken heart: one reclusive, battle-scarred hero Ex-SEAL Rowe Hardy deserves every last bad thing that happened to him on that final mission, especially the scars on his face. After all, it’s his fault that he and the other guys on his team were kicked out of the Navy. Losing his hearing is his penance, same as being single forever. No woman would be interested in a half-deaf beast anyway. Especially not the beautiful new doctor in town…the one he can’t stop dreaming about. Dr. India Kingston didn’t get the memo that Rowe is supposed to be repulsive. Her secret crush on the reclusive handyman is only heightened by his obvious scars—physical and emotional. But she fled big city medicine in favor of Superstition Springs where she hopes to reclaim lost pieces of herself after ending a bad relationship. Love should be the last thing on her mind. Until Serenity Force throws a love prediction into the mix, matching her with Rowe. How can he be her destiny when he’s made it oh-so-clear he’s not interested in her? Beauty and the Beast is a fairy tale. Not reality. Unless you’re in Superstition Springs. Tropes · Beauty and the Beast · Doctor heroine · Fish out of water · Soulmates · Matchmaker · Alpha cinnamon roll SEAL hero · Wounded warrior (his scars are on the inside) · Found family · Slow burn · Closed door/kissing only

Ortberg demonstrates how doubt is very much a part of faith and how uncertainty can lead to trust. "The beliefs that really matter," he writes, "are the ones that guide our behavior. We cannot hope without faith, and so we must not hope for something but someone--Jesus Christ.

Trusting Others, Trusting God is an investigation of the concepts of moral and religious trust. The question of why or how it is rational to trust anyone has been the typical focus of philosophers, with an underlying assumption that trust must be justified. In most cases, trust (even - or perhaps especially religious trust) is portrayed as irrational. Sheela Pawar argues that a grammatical investigation of the concept of trust can help rectify this mistreatment.

Atheism's leading lights have long been intellectuals raised in the secular and academic worlds: Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, and the late Christopher Hitchens. By contrast, Jerry DeWitt was born and bred into the church and was in fact a Pentecostal preacher before arriving at atheism through an extraordinary dialogue with faith that spanned more than a quarter of a century. Hope After Faith is his account of that journey. DeWitt was a pastor in the town of DeRidder, Louisiana, and was a fixture of the community. In private, however, he'd begun to question his faith. Late one night in May 2011, a member of his flock called seeking prayer for her brother who had been in a serious accident. As DeWitt searched for the right words to console her, speech failed him, and he found that the faith which once had formed the cornerstone of his life had finally crumbled to dust. When it became public knowledge that DeWitt was now an atheist, he found himself shunned by much of DeRidder's highly religious community, losing nearly everything he'd known. DeWitt's struggle for identity and meaning mirrors the one currently facing millions of people around the world. With both agnosticism and atheism entering the mainstream—one in five Americans now claim no religious affiliation, according to a recent study—the moment has arrived for a new atheist voice, one that is respectful of faith and religious traditions yet warmly embraces a life free of religion, finding not skepticism and cold doubt but rather profound meaning and hope. Hope After Faith is the story of one man's evolution toward a committed and considered atheism, one driven by humanism, a profound moral dimension, and a happiness and self-confidence obtained through living free of fear.

The Bible resounds with affirmations that God is faithful and trustworthy. But might he also exhibit faith and trust? Wm. Curtis Holtzen contends that because God is a being of relational love and exists in relationship with humans, then God is a God who trusts. Holtzen argues that understanding the relationship between divine trust and human faith can give us a fuller, truer picture of who God is and who we are.

Resistance and distractions came come in different ways, whether through people or circumstances. They can take us by surprise and cause us to ponder. Life has a way of presenting detours that can make you doubt the path you are on. You think you have it all figured out and then realize you do not have a clue. When this happens, we need FAITH to run the race with our eyes on the prize. We all need friends and family that will help push us out of our comfort zone and to the finish line. I Had a Conversation with Faith is a unique book filled with reminders to help you adjust your mindset. This book will also encourage you to set your face like flint on the promises of God and reaching your goals. Donna R. Rutherford Be Made Whole Ministries https: //bemadewholeministries.org

From the author of the acclaimed Simply Christian and Surprised by Hope comes a book that addresses the question that has plagued humans for centuries—what is our purpose? As Christians, what are we to do with that ambiguous time between baptism and the funeral? It's easy to become preoccupied with who gets into heaven; the real challenge is how we are going to live in the here and now. Wright dispels the common misconception that Christian living is nothing more than a checklist of dos and don'ts. Nor is it a prescription to "follow your heart" wherever it may lead. Instead, After You Believe reveals the Bible's call for a revolution—a transformation of character that takes us beyond our earthly pursuit of money, sex, and power into a virtuous state of living that allows us to reflect God and live more worshipful, fulfilling lives. We are all spiritual seekers, intuitively knowing there is more to life than we suspect. This is a book for anyone who is hoping there is something more while we're here on Earth. There is. We are being called to join the revolution, and Wright insightfully encourages readers to find new purpose and clarity by taking us on an eye-opening journey through key biblical passages that promise to radically alter the work of the church and the direction of our lives.