Doubleday » DOUBLEDAY RELIGION

Michael Novak’s “No One Sees God”

Kelli — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 21:20:18 +0000

On Monday, Michael Novak, author of upcoming book, No One Sees God (on sale August 5th) shared his perspective on USA Today online, where he stated “Judaism and Christianity seem very good religions for those who suffer because they bestow on them justice and dignity. The realistic point of Judaism and Christianity is that suffering is a normal part of every human life. Lamentations are a native language. But evil does not mean that God loves us less, or that all is lost, or that good does not win out in the end.”

And, today, a wonderful commentary and interview are featured on David Crumm’s website, Read the Spirit. Here, David claims “Novak’s new book is an important contribution to building bridges between believers and unbelievers. It’s also a great book for small-group study, especially for religious groups trying to grapple with the acidic waves of neo-atheist writing over the past year.”

Love as a Way of Life by Gary Chapman

Jillian — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 19:23:55 +0000

Click here to learn more about Love as a Way of Life

Michael Novak “On Faith”

Kelli — Tue, 24 Jun 2008 18:26:10 +0000

Michael Novak, author of upcoming book, “No One Sees God” (on sale August 5th) shares his perspective on Washington Post’s On Faith column.

So far, Michael has received winning praise, including these kudos:

“Over the years, Michael Novak has explored with great insight the relationship between religion, society, and the individual. Here he engages with the recent intellectual challenges to religion and provides the perspective of a profound believer who knows what it is like to wrestle with doubt.”
— Walter Isaacson, CEO of the Aspen Institute and author of Einstein: His Life and Universe

“The word ‘dialogical’ might have been invented to describe Michael Novak. With great patience and lucidity he engages believers, unbelievers, and those who don’t know what they believe in a conversation about the things that matter most.”
— Fr. Richard Neuhaus, Editor-in-chief of First Things

“Michael Novak’s new book counts as both significant and moving. He deploys logic and love, emotion and erudition, to address the most enduring questions of our existence.”
—Michael Medved Nationally Syndicated Talk Radio Host, Author of Right Turns

To learn more about No One Sees God, check out Michael’s interview with First Things, or if you are in Washington D.C. on September 9th, come to his lecture at the American Enterprise Institute at 5:30 p.m.

Moving Up by Suzan Johnson Cook

Jillian — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 21:35:11 +0000

Click here to learn more about Suzan Johnson Cook’s Moving Up

God in the Wilderness by Rabbi Jamie Korngold

Kelli — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 18:57:04 +0000

Jamie Korngold, the “Adventure Rabbi,” had a great turnout at her Central Park hike last month.

One of the hikers was journalist Ari Goldman of the New York Daily News. Check out his article here.

And, in the latest Denver Post article, Sandra Dallas describes Jamie as a Jewish Ann Lamott.

Learn more about Rabbi Jamie on her website or on Jewcy.com, where you can find her Q&A and a God in the Wilderness excerpt; or if you’re passing through her hometown in Boulder, Colorado, check out her book signing at Boulder Books on June 19th at 7:30pm.

Readers’ Guide for Sexless in the City

Mara — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:24:29 +0000

In a funny, thought-provoking first-person account, a young Christian woman describes the challenges of keeping one’s faith while looking for romance in the big city. Here are some questions for discussion.

While Anna “knows in her head” that marriage shouldn’t be the basis of her purpose in life, she can’t seem to find an alternate source of identity. Do you think that it is possible to change this ourselves? Or does the change have to happen to us? What do you tend to most find your identity in (relationships, work, family, etc.)?
In the book, Anna admits that she thinks heaven sounds kind of lame. What do you think heaven will be like — is it someplace you would genuinely like to be? What do you think has shaped your ideas of heaven?
One thing Anna struggles with throughout the book is a tendency to fragment herself and share only certain parts with other people — which she sees as bad. Do you agree that this is unhealthy? How have you seen this tendency — for good or bad — in your own life or that of friends?
Throughout the book, Anna gradually realizes she has had a lot of naive or unrealistic expectations about men, relationships, sex and romance. Have you had that experience? What are some expectations you’ve had to reject or reconsider?
In part 1 of the book, Anna talks about both the things she learned from her father and what she wished their relationship had provided. What are the blessings and shortcomings you’ve experienced with your own father?
After moving on from her crush on the Married Man, Anna winds up dating a string of unsuitable men. Has there been a time in your life when disappointment or bitterness led you to make some similar choices?
On her date with Ad Weasel, Anna suddenly realizes she had a sexual standard she’d not been aware of. Do you agree with what that standard is? Why or why not? How might thinking through her standards beforehand have been a help? How were her early high school standards short-sighted?
Etta James taught Anna to associate inner sadness with romantic disappointment or need. What do you usually attribute emotional downturns to? Are there any particular comforts, thoughts or images that you usually turn to in times like that?
After her summer project, Anna goes through a serious phase of spiritual questioning. Do you think it’s healthy to do that? Have you ever had a season like that? How did people respond to your questions?
Even though Anna experiences disappointment in her involvement with the group College Students, she never stops going to church. How important do think community is in the life of faith? Have you ever had times when a community let you down or played a significant role in your growth as a person?
Throughout the book, Anna struggles with trusting that God knows what is best for her sex and romantic life. What is it hardest for you to trust God about?
During her spiritual crisis, Anna admits that certain changes in behavior stemmed more from anger toward God than anything else. In times where you felt you were drifting, what was the cause in your changed behavior? Does it make a difference?
What would you do if a friend of yours was interested in a married man? How would you council her? What do you think of how Anna handled her crush?
In the book, Anna has several different experiences with evangelism (summer project, a trip to India, neighborhood outreach with Poster Boy’s church). What factors seemed to make a difference in whether these experiences were positive or negative?
Throughout the book, Anna talks about ways books, music and movies shaped her expectations and ideas about relationships, sex and romance. Do you agree that these things can influence our ideas, even if we aren’t aware of it? What books, movies or songs have had the biggest impact on you? What have they taught you?

Visit Anna Broadway’s blog, the inspiration for Sexless in the City.

We Plan, God Laughs by Sherre Hirsche

Jeffrey — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:37:10 +0000

Click here to learn more about this book.