Religious book with Minnesota ties

Last update: July 4, 2008 - 8:18 PM

Local authors are prolific producers of religious books. Here are some of the new books with Minnesota roots:

"More Cat Psalms: Prayers My Cats Have Taught Me" and "More Dog Psalms: Prayers My Dogs Have Taught Me" both by Herbert Brokering (Augsburg Fortress, $8.99). These sequels to the 2003 originals offer a second helping of wit and whimsy from the animal-loving Bloomington pastor.

"Twentieth-Century Global Christianity: A People's History of Christianity" by Mary Farrell Bednarowski (Fortress Press, $35). This is the seventh and final book in this history series by the professor emeritus of religious studies at United Theological Seminary.

"Covenantal Conversations: Christians in Dialogue With Jews and Judaism" by Darrell Jodock (Fortress Press, $22). A professor of religion at Gustavus Adolphus College, Jodock tapped both Christian and Jewish scholars for this examination of the modern Jewish-Christian relationship.

"Crazy Talk: A Not-So-Stuffy Dictionary of Theological Terms" by Rolf Jacobson (Augsburg Fortress, $12.99). Jacobson rounded up several of his fellow professors at Luther Seminary to come up with this book of comical definitions.

"An Irish Tragedy: How Sex Abuse by Irish Priests Helped Cripple the Catholic Church" by Joe Rigert (Crossland Press, $10.99). Rigert, a veteran investigative journalist, is retired from the Star Tribune. His search for the roots of the Roman Catholic church's sex-abuse scandal led him to Ireland and a society, he argues, that fostered criminal sexual activity.

"40-Day Journey With Martin Luther" by Gracia Grindal (Augsburg Fortress, $11.99). A professor at Luther Seminary, Grindal muses on 40 of Luther's inspiring messages.

"Reclaiming the 'E' Word: Waking Up to Our Evangelical Identity" by Kelly A. Fryer (Augsburg Fortress, $10.99). Fryer is a preacher-turned-professor who currently oversees a business that offers organizational consulting and leadership coaching. This is the third book in her "Reclaiming" series, joining volumes on the "L Word" (Lutheran) and "C Word" (church).

"An Essay Toward the Other" by John Streed (iUniverse, $25.95). This Twin Cities author, who usually writes about ethics, explores God's role in what he considers the foundation of the human experience: the true, the good and the beautiful.

"The Arrogance of Nations: Reading Romans in the Shadow of Empire" by Neil Elliott (Fortress Press, $29). Elliott is an Episcopal priest and instructor at United Theological Seminary. He re-examines Paul's letter to the Romans in the context of Roman imperial ideology.

JEFF STRICKLER

Recent Faith + Values stories

Conn. church creates stir by trying to cast out teen's 'homosexual demon,' posting video - July 4, 2008

Conn. church creates stir by trying to cast out teen's 'homosexual demon,' posting video - The video shows the 16-year-old boy lying on the floor, his body convulsing, as elders of a small Connecticut church cast a "homosexual demon" from his body. More