June 18, 2025

Three New Biographies Offer Surprising Looks at Major Spiritual Figures
Forthcoming books on the life of the Buddha, St. Augustine, and the biblical villain Haman each offer new perspectives on the men behind the myths. more

Biblical Fiction Breathes Life into Scripture
Publishers and indie authors say novels featuring biblical characters and settings are growing in popularity and helping readers connect with the Bible. more

Baker Publishing Group Launches Imprint for ‘Clean’ Secular Fiction
The Christian publishing house will debut Haven in spring 2026 with six romance titles. The imprint targets readers who seek what Baker president and CEO Jesse Myers called “wholesome fiction without faith content.” more

Call for Info: New Bibles, Commentaries
Needed: Information about new Bibles and related commentaries, devotionals, and study guides publishing from August 2025 to July 2026. Highlight unique content, presentation, and noteworthy new authors. Submit not more than two devotionals. Comments from editors are welcome. Include the ISBN and the contact information for interviews. Email pitches and high-res jpegs of covers to religionfeatures@publishersweekly.com by July 14. Put “Call for Info: Bibles 2025” in the subject line. more.

Music as an Instrument of Torture: PW Talks with Anne Sebba
The historian’s new book, The Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz: A Story of Survival, brings to life the experiences of the women forced to perform music in the camp under a horrific edict: play or die. more

Religion Book Deals: June 18, 2025
Among recent book deals are titles addressing loss, burnout, and children’s online safety. more

Theologian Walter Brueggemann Dies at 92
The esteemed professor emeritus of Old Testament at Columbia Theological Seminary, and the author of more than 100 books on the Hebrew Bible and Christian theology and ethics, died on June 5, just weeks before the release of his next book. more

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‘How to Be a Saint: An Extremely Weird and Mildly Sacrilegious History of the Catholic Church’s Biggest Names’ by Kate Sidley
The Late Show writer Sidley debuts with a delightfully irreverent rundown of Catholic saints and beliefs, miracle cures, martyrs, and the complex process that led to canonization. Sidley’s ribald tone is rooted in a genuine affection for her subject that shines through in the granular, informative, and sometimes bizarre details she shares about Catholic tradition. more

‘Why Christians Should Be Leftists’ by Phil Christman
In this astute if occasionally meandering treatise, Christman, an English professor, advocates for abandoning “the old covenant between Christians and conservatism” and adopting "leftist" values closer to the ones Jesus espoused. Curious readers will appreciate his careful attention to moral nuance and clear points about the insufficiency of good intentions. more

‘AI Goes to Church: Pastoral Wisdom for Artificial Intelligence’ by Todd Korpi
In this thought-provoking manifesto, pastor Korpi sets out a theological ethic of AI technology as a part of God’s creation that should be used to promote “human flourishing” and Christian values. The author’s suggestions—aimed at pastors, parishioners, and college professors—neither demonize nor deify technology. This will provide tech-curious Christians plenty of food for thought. more

‘Designer Science: A History of Intelligent Design in America’ by C.W. Howell
Researcher Howell debuts with a fascinating survey of the late 1980s through early 2000s effort to displace Darwinian evolutionary theory. Although support for intelligent design faltered by the mid-2000s, Howell convincingly argues that it permanently influenced American conservative culture by casting doubt on “the reliability of scientific practice.” It is a trenchant examination of the contested terrain where science, religion, and politics battle. more

Leyla King, a Palestinian American Episcopal priest and author of Daughters of Palestine (Eerdmans, out now), pauses in St. Bartholomew's NYC bookstore on June 8. She spent the day at the Church, preaching for Pentecost Sunday, teaching a forum about the Palestinian Christian experience, giving a reading, and signing her book.

(Photo: Rev. Zack Nyein)

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