religious life

"From the acclaimed author of Spoonbenders comes the gripping tale about a family's mysterious religion, and the daughter who turned her back on their god. In 1933, nine-year-old Stella is left by her father in the care of her grandmother, Motty, in the backwoods of Tennessee. The remote hills of the Smoky Mountains are home to dangerous secrets, and upon her arrival, Stella wanders into a dark cavern where she encounters the presence of the family's personal god, an entity known only as Ghostdaddy. Fifteen years later, after a tragic incident causes her to flee, Stella--now a professional moonshiner and bootleg runner--returns for Motty's funeral, only to find a mysterious ten-year-old girl named Sunny living on the property. Though she appears innocent enough, Sunny is more powerful than Stella can ever know and a direct link to Stella's buried past. Haunting and wholly engrossing, Revelator is the story of a prodigal coming home to put an end to her family's destructive faith, which summons mesmerizing voices and gives shape to the dark. It's a southern gothic tale for the ages"--Provided by the publisher.

"No matter who you are or where you're from, step in and discover all the rituals and wonders of the mosque, from grandmothers reading lines of the Qur'an and the imam telling stories of living as one to meeting new friends and learning to help others, mosques are centers for friendship, community, and love"--Jacket flap.

Presents an introduction to Buddhism, providing a practical guide to the basic tenets of the Buddha's teachings, from how to eliminate hindrances to enlightenment, to cultivating mindfulness with wisdom and compassion.

A biography of Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, examining his position as the founder of Buddhism, as well as his emphasis on compassion and the lifestyle of the Middle Way.

Silvano and Chiara, teens sent to live in a friary and a nunnery in Renaissance Italy, are drawn to one another and dream of a future together, but when murders are committed in the friary, they must discover who is behind the crimes before they can realize their love.

A Hindu girl introduces her faith, describing a mandir, Lord Shree Swaminarayan, how she worships, Diwali, food, prayer, and scriptures.

As one of the world's oldest still practiced religions, Judaism has an illustrious history of fascinating, yet often misunderstood, beliefs and practices. Though it has only fourteen million followers today, Judaism is the basis of the Abrahamic religions, and as such influenced the core teachings of Christianity and Islam. Offers readers a clear, yet thorough survey of Judaism's history, practices, and teachings. The significance of Rosh Hashana, Passover, and other Jewish festivals is covered, as well as cultural movements such as Zionism. Readers will also learn of atrocities carried out against the Jewish people, including the Holocaust, and learn about episodes of Anti-Semitism.

Built around the teachings of the Buddha, who lived in modern-day Nepal about 2,500 years ago, Buddhism is one of the world's largest and oldest spiritual traditions. In addition to its adherents in southern, central, and eastern Asia, today Buddhism has many followers in the Western world who seek through it a peaceful mind, freedom from expectations, and spiritual enlightenment. In this accessible text, the basic beliefs of Buddhism, including the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, are presented.

Over 1,400 years ago, the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad gave way to a community of followers who have since grown to the second-largest religion in the world today. The word "Islam" itself means "submission," and Muslims are those who submit themselves to the teachings of Muhammad and the Koran. Introduces readers to the primary beliefs and practices of a widely misunderstood religion, including the role of prayer, Mecca, and holidays such as Ramadan. In addition to its history, there is a spread dedicated to the important role of Muslim-Americans in U.S. society.

A Buddhist girl introduces her faith, describing a vihara, Buddha and his teachings, Dana, food, and festivals.