Exploring Poverty & Wealth This Lent
Like many of us, Elizabeth Mae Magill struggles to wrap her head around the tensions involving wealth, responsible planning for the future, and how God wants us to care for those less fortunate than ourselves. How does a Christian with money respond in a country where over 36 million people live below the poverty line?
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Antisemitism Draws Attention at AAR/SBLScholars and authors in multiple sessions at the American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature joint conferences, held in Boston November 22–25, focused on antisemitism and the role of the academics in addressing it.
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Religion Book Deals: Dec. 3, 2025Among recent religion book deals are a faith-based historical romance series set in the American West and a podcaster’s guide to paring down one’s possessions to make room for what really matters.
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Bridgett A. Green Takes the Helm at WJKWestminster John Knox Press has appointed Green, who has been VP of publishing and editorial director since 2022, as the next president and publisher at the nearly 200-year-old Christian house. She succeeds David Dobson, who retired earlier this year.
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'When Did We See You?' New Lent Book
In a world of both abundance and inequality,
When Did We See You? guides us through a crucial and timely conversation about our money, economic justice, and God's call for a world with enough for all. This Lent, may we have eyes to truly see Christ in our neighbors, and respond with love and action.
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‘Becoming Neighbors: The Common Good Made Local’ by Amar D. PetermanPeterman, a PhD candidate at the University of Chicago Divinity School, debuts with an optimistic call for readers to build more cohesive communities with practices such as showing compassion to all and communicating across cultural divides in ways that make “God’s presence” known without evangelizing. Christian do-gooders will find this worth a look.
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‘The Gospel of John: A Biography’ by Kim Haines-Eitzen Haines-Eitzen, a professor of religion at Cornell, traces the complex “afterlives” of the gospel of John and its role in Christian history. The author reveals how religious texts serve as vital sites for thinkers and movements to negotiate their theories and differences. The result is a robust study of a foundational Christian text.
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‘Beyond Deconstruction: Building a More Expansive Faith’ by James F. McGrathButler University religion professor McGrath outlines in this pensive guide how former Christian evangelicals can refashion their faith to be more flexible and individualized. Suggestions include practicing “compassion and empathy” toward friends and enemies alike, seeking beauty in music and nature, and starting nonjudgmental conversations about faith with others. Curious exvangelicals will get a lot of mileage out of this.
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Mitri Raheb, Palestinian pastor, author, and university president from Bethlehem, spoke at the Boston meeting of American Academy of Religion and the Society of Biblical Literature as part of a panel session Nov. 23 on the spiritual, social and political impact of detention and incarceration of migrants, refugees, political prisoners and others.
Photo: Cathy Lynn Grossman