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| secular work: The Sacredness of Secular Work Jordan Raynor, 2024-01-30 From a leading voice in the faith and work movement and author of Redeeming Your Time comes the revolutionary message that God sees our daily work—in whatever form it takes—with far more value than we ever imagined. “The Sacredness of Secular Work does an extraordinary job of being both personally relevant and, more importantly, biblically faithful.”—Randy Alcorn, New York Times bestselling author of Heaven Does your work matter for eternity? Sadly, most believers don’t think so. Sure, the 1 percent of the time they spend sharing the gospel with their co-workers matters. But most Christians view the other 99 percent of their time as meaning very little in the grand scheme of things. But that’s not how God sees it. Jordan Raynor, a leading voice in the faith and work movement and bestselling author, offers a revolutionary message about how our daily jobs—from baristas and entrepreneurs to stay-at-home parent and coaches—have intrinsic and eternal value. In The Sacredness of Secular Work, he reveals unexpected ways our work truly matters. In these pages you’ll discover • How a low regard of our work limits our understanding of God and His Kingdom • Inspiring ways your work can reveal God’s kingdom on earth here and now • Surprising strategies for ensuring your vocation has an eternal legacy • Vital insights on what God’s view of work tells us about heaven Combining research, Scripture, and storytelling, Jordan Raynor proves that work, in its diverse forms, is one of the primary activities that brings God delight. This biblical perspective will set you free to pursue your passions and skills and—perhaps for the first time—experience the Creator’s delight in the work of your hands. |
| secular work: A Secular Age Charles Taylor, 2018-09-17 A New York Times Notable Book of the Year A Times Literary Supplement Book of the Year A Globe and Mail Best Book of the Year A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year A Tablet Best Book of the Year Winner of a Christianity Today Book Award One finds big nuggets of insight, useful to almost anybody with an interest in the progress of human society. --The Economist Taylor takes on the broad phenomenon of secularization in its full complexity... A] voluminous, impressively researched and often fascinating social and intellectual history. --Jack Miles, Los Angeles Times A Secular Age is a work of stupendous breadth and erudition. --John Patrick Diggins, New York Times Book Review A culminating dispatch from the philosophical frontlines. It is at once encyclopedic and incisive, a sweeping overview that is no less analytically rigorous for its breadth. --Steven Hayward, Cleveland Plain Dealer A] thumping great volume. --Stuart Jeffries, The Guardian Very occasionally there appears a book destined to endure. A Secular Age is such a book. --Edward Skidelsky, Daily Telegraph It is refreshing to read an inquiry into the condition of religion that is exploratory in its approach. --John Gray, Harper's A Secular Age represents a singular achievement. --Christopher J. Insole, Times Literary Supplement A determinedly brilliant new book. --London Review of Books |
| secular work: Secular Work Is Full Time Service Larry Peabody, 1980-01-01 |
| secular work: The Sacredness of Secular Work Jordan Raynor, 2024-01-30 From a leading voice in the faith and work movement and author of Redeeming Your Time comes the revolutionary message that God sees our daily work—in whatever form it takes—with far more value than we ever imagined. “The Sacredness of Secular Work does an extraordinary job of being both personally relevant and, more importantly, biblically faithful.”—Randy Alcorn, New York Times bestselling author of Heaven Does your work matter for eternity? Sadly, most believers don’t think so. Sure, the 1 percent of the time they spend sharing the gospel with their co-workers matters. But most Christians view the other 99 percent of their time as meaning very little in the grand scheme of things. But that’s not how God sees it. Jordan Raynor, a leading voice in the faith and work movement and bestselling author, offers a revolutionary message about how our daily jobs—from baristas and entrepreneurs to stay-at-home parent and coaches—have intrinsic and eternal value. In The Sacredness of Secular Work, he reveals unexpected ways our work truly matters. In these pages you’ll discover • How a low regard of our work limits our understanding of God and His Kingdom • Inspiring ways your work can reveal God’s kingdom on earth here and now • Surprising strategies for ensuring your vocation has an eternal legacy • Vital insights on what God’s view of work tells us about heaven Combining research, Scripture, and storytelling, Jordan Raynor proves that work, in its diverse forms, is one of the primary activities that brings God delight. This biblical perspective will set you free to pursue your passions and skills and—perhaps for the first time—experience the Creator’s delight in the work of your hands. |
| secular work: How (Not) to Be Secular James K. A. Smith, 2014-05-01 How (Not) to Be Secular is what Jamie Smith calls your hitchhiker's guide to the present -- it is both a reading guide to Charles Taylor's monumental work A Secular Age and philosophical guidance on how we might learn to live in our times. Taylor's landmark book A Secular Age (2007) provides a monumental, incisive analysis of what it means to live in the post-Christian present -- a pluralist world of competing beliefs and growing unbelief. Jamie Smith's book is a compact field guide to Taylor's insightful study of the secular, making that very significant but daunting work accessible to a wide array of readers. Even more, though, Smith's How (Not) to Be Secular is a practical philosophical guidebook, a kind of how-to manual on how to live in our secular age. It ultimately offers us an adventure in self-understanding and maps out a way to get our bearings in today's secular culture, no matter who we are -- whether believers or skeptics, devout or doubting, self-assured or puzzled and confused. This is a book for any thinking person to chew on. |
| secular work: Africa Study Bible, NLT John Jusu, 2017 The Africa Study Bible brings together 350 contributors from over 50 countries, providing a unique African perspective. It's an all-in-one course in biblical content, theology, history, and culture, with special attention to the African context. Each feature was planned by African leaders to help readers grow strong in Jesus Christ by providing understanding and instruction on how to live a good and righteous life--Publisher. |
| secular work: Work Matters Tom Nelson, 2021-07-08 Work. For some this word represents drudgery and the mundane. For others work is an idol to be served. If you find yourself anywhere on the spectrum from workaholic to weekend warrior, it’s time to bridge the gap between Sunday worship and Monday work. Striking a balance between theological depth and practical counsel, Tom Nelson outlines God’s purposes for work in a way that helps us to make the most of our vocation and to join God in his work in the world. Discover a new perspective on work that will transform your workday and make the majority of your waking hours matter, not only now, but for eternity. |
| secular work: Living the Secular Life Phil Zuckerman, 2015-10-27 “A humane and sensible guide to and for the many kinds of Americans leading secular lives in what remains one of the most religious nations in the developed world.” —The New York Times Book Review Over the last twenty-five years, “no religion” has become the fastest-growing religious preference in the United States. Around the world, hundreds of millions of people have turned away from the traditional faiths of the past and embraced a moral yet nonreligious—or secular—life, generating societies vastly less religious than at any other time in human history. Revealing the inspiring beliefs that empower secular culture—alongside real stories of nonreligious men and women based on extensive in-depth interviews from across the country—Living the Secular Life will be indispensable for millions of secular Americans. Drawing on innovative sociological research, Living the Secular Life illuminates this demographic shift with the moral convictions that govern secular individuals, offering crucial information for the religious and nonreligious alike. Living the Secular Life reveals that, despite opinions to the contrary, nonreligious Americans possess a unique moral code that allows them to effectively navigate the complexities of modern life. Spiritual self-reliance, clear-eyed pragmatism, and an abiding faith in the Golden Rule to adjudicate moral decisions: these common principles are shared across secular society. Living the Secular Life demonstrates these principles in action and points to their usage throughout daily life. Phil Zuckerman is a sociology professor at Pitzer College, where he studied the lives of the nonreligious for years before founding a Department of Secular Studies, the first academic program in the nation dedicated to exclusively studying secular culture and the sociological consequences of America’s fastest-growing “faith.” Zuckerman discovered that despite the entrenched negative beliefs about nonreligious people, American secular culture is grounded in deep morality and proactive citizenship—indeed, some of the very best that the country has to offer. Living the Secular Life journeys through some of the most essential components of human existence—child rearing and morality, death and ritual, community and beauty—and offers secular readers inspiration for leading their own lives. Zuckerman shares eye-opening research that reveals the enduring moral strength of children raised without religion, as well as the hardships experienced by secular mothers in the rural South, where church attendance defines the public space. Despite the real sorrows of mortality, Zuckerman conveys the deep psychological health of secular individuals in their attitudes toward illness, death, and dying. Tracking the efforts of nonreligious groups to construct their own communities, Zuckerman shows how Americans are building institutions and cultivating relationships without religious influence. Most of all, Living the Secular Life infuses the sociological data and groundbreaking research with the moral convictions that govern secular individuals and demonstrates how readers can integrate these beliefs into their own lives. A manifesto for a booming social movement—and a revelatory survey of this overlooked community—Living the Secular Life offers essential and long-awaited information for anyone building a life based on his or her own principles. |
| secular work: Soldiers of God in a Secular World Sarah Shortall, 2021-10-19 A revelatory account of the nouvelle thologie, a clerical movement that revitalized the Catholic ChurchÕs role in twentieth-century French political life. Secularism has been a cornerstone of French political culture since 1905, when the republic formalized the separation of church and state. At times the barrier of secularism has seemed impenetrable, stifling religious actors wishing to take part in political life. Yet in other instances, secularism has actually nurtured movements of the faithful. Soldiers of God in a Secular World explores one such case, that of the nouvelle thologie, or new theology. Developed in the interwar years by Jesuits and Dominicans, the nouvelle thologie reimagined the ChurchÕs relationship to public life, encouraging political activism, engaging with secular philosophy, and inspiring doctrinal changes adopted by the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s. Nouveaux thologiens charted a path between the old alliance of throne and altar and secularismÕs demand for the privatization of religion. Envisioning a Church in but not of the public sphere, Catholic thinkers drew on theological principles to intervene in political questions while claiming to remain at armÕs length from politics proper. Sarah Shortall argues that this Òcounter-politicsÓ was central to the mission of the nouveaux thologiens: by recoding political statements in the ostensibly apolitical language of doctrine, priests were able to enter into debates over fascism and communism, democracy and human rights, colonialism and nuclear war. This approach found its highest expression during the Second World War, when the nouveaux thologiens led the spiritual resistance against Nazism. Claiming a powerful public voice, they collectively forged a new role for the Church amid the momentous political shifts of the twentieth century. |
| secular work: Work Book Cooke Tony, 2015-06-09 Do you know why you re here? Do you know what you re supposed to accomplish? Your work what you do in this life matters greatly to God. Whether it is our everyday work or the work of the ministry, there are no second-class assignments from Him. In The Work Book, you will find answers to important questions.How can I learn to find joy, purpose... |
| secular work: The Good Book A. C. Grayling, 2011-04-04 Drawing on the wisdom of 2,500 years of contemplative non-religious writing on all that it means to be human - from the origins of the universe to small matters of courtesy and kindness in everyday life - A. C. Grayling, Britain's most popular and widely read philosopher, has created a secular bible. Designed to be read as narrative and also to be dipped into for inspiration, encouragement and consolation, The Good Book offers a thoughtful, non-religious alternative to the many people who do not follow one of the world's great religions. Instead, going back to traditions older than Christianity, and far richer and more various, including the non-theistic philosophical and literary schools of the great civilisations of both West and East, from the Greek philosophy of classical antiquity and its contemporaneous Confucian, Mencian and Mohist schools in China, down through classical Rome, the flourishing of Indian and Arab worlds, the European Renaissance and Enlightenment, the worldwide scientific discoveries of the 19th and 20th centuries to the present, Grayling collects, edits, rearranges and organises the collective secular wisdom of the world in one highly readable volume. Contents: Genesis Proverbs Histories Songs Wisdom Acts The Lawgiver Lamentations Concord Consolations Sages The Good Parables |
| secular work: God Loves Your Work Larry Peabody, 2022-03-03 If you know God loves your work, you can--as Paul put it--work at it with all your heart. But too often even Christians find it hard to engage fully with what occupies them for hours every day. This book will help you relate your work to God's eternal kingdom purposes. Here you will find not just one or two but several biblical reasons for getting up and going to work. During your lifetime you will spend, perhaps, 100,000 hours working in paid or unpaid work. Will you see spiritual significance in those hours? In the end, will they really matter? These easy-to-read chapters will help you view your daily work within a new and much larger perspective. For example, what if you were to begin seeing your work as a worship offering that God gladly receives? Or what if you were to discover how he intends to use your work to further your own spiritual growth? Get set to move from Thank God, it's Friday! to Wonderful, it's Monday again! |
| secular work: The Golden Cord Charles Taliaferro, 2012-12-15 The title of Charles Taliaferro’s book is derived from poems and stories in which a person in peril or on a quest must follow a cord or string in order to find the way to happiness, safety, or home. In one of the most famous of such tales, the ancient Greek hero Theseus follows the string given him by Ariadne to mark his way in and out of the Minotaur’s labyrinth. William Blake's poem “Jerusalem” uses the metaphor of a golden string, which, if followed, will lead one to heaven itself. Taliaferro extends Blake’s metaphor to illustrate the ways we can link what we see, feel, and do with deep spiritual realities. Taliaferro offers a foundational case for the recognition of the experience of the eternal God of Christianity, in which God is understood as the fount of all goodness and the subject and object of our best love, revealed through scripture, tradition, philosophical reflection, and encountered in everyday events. He addresses philosophical obstacles to the recognition of such experiences, especially objections from the “new atheists,” and explores the values involved in thinking and experiencing God as eternal. These include the belief that the eternal goodness of God subordinates temporal goods, such as the pursuit of fame and earthly glory; that God is the essence of life; and that the eternal God hallows domestic goods, blessing the everyday goods of ordinary life. An exploration of the moral and spiritual riches of the Christian tradition as an alternative to materialism and naturalism, The Golden Cord brings an originality and depth to the debate in accessible and engaging prose. |
| secular work: The Secular Paradox Joseph Blankholm, 2022-06-07 Choice Outstanding Academic Title 2023 A radically new way of understanding secularism which explains why being secular can seem so strangely religious For much of America’s rapidly growing secular population, religion is an inescapable source of skepticism and discomfort. It shows up in politics and in holidays, but also in common events like weddings and funerals. In The Secular Paradox, Joseph Blankholm argues that, despite their desire to avoid religion, nonbelievers often seem religious because Christianity influences the culture around them so deeply. Relying on several years of ethnographic research among secular activists and organized nonbelievers in the United States, the volume explores how very secular people are ambivalent toward belief, community, ritual, conversion, and tradition. As they try to embrace what they share, secular people encounter, again and again, that they are becoming too religious. And as they reject religion, they feel they have lost too much. Trying to strike the right balance, secular people alternate between the two sides of their ambiguous condition: absolutely not religious and part of a religion-like secular tradition. Blankholm relies heavily on the voices of women and people of color to understand what it means to live with the secular paradox. The struggles of secular misfits—the people who mis-fit normative secularism in the United States—show that becoming secular means rejecting parts of life that resemble Christianity and embracing a European tradition that emphasizes reason and avoids emotion. Women, people of color, and secular people who have left non-Christian religions work against the limits and contradictions of secularism to create new ways of being secular that are transforming the American religious landscape. They are pioneering the most interesting and important forms of secular “religiosity” in America today. |
| secular work: Clergy Women Barbara Brown Zikmund, Adair T. Lummis, Patricia M. Y. Chang, 1998-01-01 Perhaps the most significant event in twentieth-century American Protestant churches has been the entry of tens of thousands of women into the church's ordained ministry. How are these women's experiences as ministers different from those of their male counterparts? What are their callings and careers like? What are their prospects for employment, income, and satisfaction? Based on a wealth of statistical data as well as in-depth personal interviews, this book offers the most authoritative information ever about the real experiences of clergy women (and men), along with anecdotes that show what the life of American clergy today is really like. |
| secular work: Preaching Timothy Keller, 2015-06-09 Pastor, preacher, and New York Times bestselling author of The Prodigal Prophet Timothy Keller shares his wisdom on communicating the Christian faith from the pulpit as well as from the coffee shop. Most Christians—including pastors—struggle to talk about their faith in a way that applies the power of the Christian gospel to change people’s lives. Timothy Keller is known for his insightful, down-to-earth sermons and talks that help people understand themselves, encounter Jesus, and apply the Bible to their lives. In this accessible guide for pastors and laypeople alike, Keller helps readers learn to present the Christian message of grace in a more engaging, passionate, and compassionate way. |
| secular work: Working Blessedly Forever, Volume 1 R. Paul Stevens, 2024-02-20 Work, whether from home, in cyberspace, or in a factory or office, occupies a major chunk of our time, energy, and soul. This book seeks to make sense of our work in the world through adapting the pithy statement of the Puritan William Perkins to define marketplace theology as the science of working blessedly forever. It is a science involving investigation, but not just with the head (thought), but also with heart (prayer) and hand (practice). But it is a science of working. So the book investigates a theology of work undertaken in the light of God's blessing and purpose. And our work is not just for this life but forever, since some of it could last into the new heaven and new earth where, guess what, Scripture says we will work as fully human and resurrected beings. Stevens gathers his lifetime of research and teaching into this book showing through biblical research and contemporary analysis the meaning of work and human enterprise. It could change your lifestyle, your work style, and your soul. |
| secular work: Evangelism for Normal People John Bowen, 2002-07-01 Noted author and teacher John Bowen takes a unique look at what it means to witness to one's faith. Evangelism is something that all Christians can do as a normal part of being a follower of Jesus. Witty, wise, and biblically grounded, the book challenges in a gentle way. Includes study questions for congregational use. |
| secular work: Religious Difference in a Secular Age Saba Mahmood, 2015-11-03 How secular governance in the Middle East is making life worse—not better—for religious minorities The plight of religious minorities in the Middle East is often attributed to the failure of secularism to take root in the region. Religious Difference in a Secular Age challenges this assessment by examining four cornerstones of secularism—political and civil equality, minority rights, religious freedom, and the legal separation of private and public domains. Drawing on her extensive fieldwork in Egypt with Coptic Orthodox Christians and Bahais—religious minorities in a predominantly Muslim country—Saba Mahmood shows how modern secular governance has exacerbated religious tensions and inequalities rather than reduced them. Tracing the historical career of secular legal concepts in the colonial and postcolonial Middle East, she explores how contradictions at the very heart of political secularism have aggravated and amplified existing forms of Islamic hierarchy, bringing minority relations in Egypt to a new historical impasse. Through a close examination of Egyptian court cases and constitutional debates about minority rights, conflicts around family law, and controversies over freedom of expression, Mahmood invites us to reflect on the entwined histories of secularism in the Middle East and Europe. A provocative work of scholarship, Religious Difference in a Secular Age challenges us to rethink the promise and limits of the secular ideal of religious equality. |
| secular work: Worldly Saints Leland Ryken, 1990-10 Dr.Ryken's presentation of the Puritan view and style of life is perceptive and accurate. He allows them to speak for themselves on topics ranging fromChurch and Worship to Money and Marriage and Sex. While criticizing the Puritans for their faults, the author paints a sympathetic portrait of them. |
| secular work: How Now Shall We Live? Charles W. Colson, Nancy Pearcey, 1999 Discusses how a person's view of the world influences how a person lives and argues that Christians are called not only to personal faith but to a biblical worldview. |
| secular work: The Zeal of Thy House Dorothy Leigh Sayers, 1937 The story of William of Sens, the architect commissioned to rebuild the central portion (the choir) of Canterbury Cathedral after the fire of 1174. Over-weeningly proud of this honour and his abilities, just as he places the keystone in place, William plummets to the floor from the high scaffold. Despite months of painful recuperation, William will only relinquish the finishing of his work to others after a visitation from Michael the Archangel. |
| secular work: Secular Review , 1877 |
| secular work: An Infinite Journey Dr. Andrew M. Davis, 2014-01-09 After we’ve come to faith in Christ, God leaves us in this world for a very clear purpose: his own glory. But how are we to glorify God for the rest of our lives? The Bible reveals that God has laid before every Christian two infinite journeys which we are to travel every day: the internal journey of growth into Christlike maturity, and the external journey of worldwide evangelism and missions. This book is a road map for the internal journey, laying out how we are to grow in four major areas: knowledge, faith, character, and action. In this book, we’ll learn how God grows us in knowledge, faith, character, and action. We’ll also discover that spiritual knowledge constantly feeds our growing faith, faith will transform our character, our transformed character will result in an array of actions more and more glorifying to God, and our actions will feed our spiritual knowledge. This upward spiral will lead us to become more and more like Jesus Christ in holiness. And not only will this book help us understand Christian growth in detail, it will also give us a passion to grow every day for his glory. |
| secular work: Where's God on Monday? Alistair MacKenzie, Wayne Kirkland, 2022-05-03 What does God have to do with your nine to five existence? Everything! Bridging the gap between Sunday and Monday, MacKenzie and Kirkland's accessible biblical theology of work shows how to integrate your faith with your job so that you can serve and worship God every day of the week. Includes exercises for small groups and individuals. |
| secular work: Pierre de la Rue and Musical Life at the Habsburg-Burgundian Court Honey Meconi, 2003 Pierre de la Rue, composer at the grande chapelle of the Habsburg-Burgundian court for nearly a quarter of a century, composed for one of the leading musical institutions of his day. Serving successive rulers Maximilian I, Philip the Fair, Juana of Castile, Marguerite of Austria, and the future Charles V, La Rue surpassed a dozen composer colleagues in his creation of polyphony to meet the needs of the court and its extravagant liturgy. Honey Meconi presents the first ever study in English of la Rue's life and career, exploring aspects of his compositional output and highlighting the reawakening of modern scholarship to his unique contribution. Extensive documentation of the events of his life and a complete record of the transmission of his music across Europe make this study essential for everyone studying the musical court in Europe at the turn of the 16th century. |
| secular work: Family Worship John D. Garr, 2013-12-04 Family Worship offers solid solutions to the increasingly dysfunctional family in today's secularized society, and it provides constructive suggestions to those who want to reestablish their homes on biblical foundations. The Hebraic foundations fo the Christain faith establish the home as a small temple. This insight dramatically changes the dynamics of the home for those who believe in the God of the Bible and in his will for their lives. The Christian family was always designed by God to be the center for social, educational, and spiritual growth and maturity--a place of fellowswhip, study, and prayer. Now, you, too can experience these same powerful dyunamics that made the home the center of sanctity and security that it was for the biblical peoples. Family Worship presents these vivid images of a rich biblically Hebraic tradition for Christians today: The Domestic Temple, A Temple of Blessing, The Family Altar, A House of Prayer, A House of Study, Temples in Time, The Domestic Priesthood, and The Domestic Church. As you read this book, you'll be amazed at how your own family life will be revolutionized and enriched simply by restoring biblically Hebraic dynamics to your home. |
| secular work: The Conscience Robert M. Solomon, 2010 Though the conscience is a universal reality, it is increasingly forgotten in discussions, even in church. The Conscience enlightens the reader on the nature and functions of the conscience. It comprehensively examines what the bible actually teaches about the conscience and what roles it plays in the experience of salvation and spiritual formation. Discover how the church can minister to the conscience through teaching, modelling and healing as Bishop Robert Solomon analyses the role of the conscience in key areas of our lives: the family, workplace, and the public square. --back cover. |
| secular work: Themelios, Volume 47, Issue 1 D. A. Carson, 2022-05-16 Themelios is an international, evangelical, peer-reviewed theological journal that expounds and defends the historic Christian faith. Themelios is published three times a year online at The Gospel Coalition (http://thegospelcoalition.org/themelios/) and in print by Wipf and Stock. Its primary audience is theological students and pastors, though scholars read it as well. Themelios began in 1975 and was operated by RTSF/UCCF in the UK, and it became a digital journal operated by The Gospel Coalition in 2008. The editorial team draws participants from across the globe as editors, essayists, and reviewers. General Editor: D. A. Carson, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School Managing Editor: Brian Tabb, Bethlehem College and Seminary Consulting Editor: Michael J. Ovey, Oak Hill Theological College Administrator: Andrew David Naselli, Bethlehem College and Seminary Book Review Editors: Jerry Hwang, Singapore Bible College; Alan Thompson, Sydney Missionary & Bible College; Nathan A. Finn, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary; Hans Madueme, Covenant College; Dane Ortlund, Crossway; Jason Sexton, Golden Gate Baptist Seminary Editorial Board: Gerald Bray, Beeson Divinity School Lee Gatiss, Wales Evangelical School of Theology Paul Helseth, University of Northwestern, St. Paul Paul House, Beeson Divinity School Ken Magnuson, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Jonathan Pennington, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary James Robson, Wycliffe Hall Mark D. Thompson, Moore Theological College Paul Williamson, Moore Theological College Stephen Witmer, Pepperell Christian Fellowship Robert Yarbrough, Covenant Seminary |
| secular work: The Beloved's Little While William Fergusson (minister of the Free church, Ellon.), 1867 |
| secular work: Records and Briefs of the United States Supreme Court , 1832 |
| secular work: Identifying as Christian in an Alien Public Arena Maureen Miner, Mark Stephens, 2021-01-01 Although Christianity is the world’s largest religion, there is confusion over what it means to be Christian within contemporary society. For individuals it is difficult to find, form, or receive a Christian identity, let alone maintain one within a secular world. Within organizations such as the church and professions there is often a disconnection between public and private identities and the reality of being Christian in our culture. For society there is the problem of disparate portrayals of Christianity, the marginalized status of Christianity with an associated lack of influence of Christians on our society, and the ongoing shaping of Christian identity by the public arena itself. Associated questions are: should Christians try to engage in, and even shape, the public arena and if so, how? This volume examines the problem of confused and misunderstood Christian identity in a post-Christian age. It suggests ways of shaping Christian identity for the benefit of individuals and for the common good. The importance of well-formed Christian identities is illustrated by research and analysis of selected professions so that the public life of Christians can be more fulfilling and effective. This book will be valuable for all those who are interested in religious identity within a secular society. People of faith and religious organizations will benefit from a penetrating analysis of what it means to be Christian today. Similarly, those whose work involves the church, counseling, education and the performing arts will find specific applications that address concerns about faith in the workplace. |
| secular work: Black Culture and Black Consciousness the late Lawrence W. Levine, 2007-04-27 When Black Culture and Black Consciousness first appeared thirty years ago, it marked a revolution in our understanding of African American history. Contrary to prevailing ideas at the time, which held that African culture disappeared quickly under slavery and that black Americans had little group pride, history, or cohesiveness, Levine uncovered a cultural treasure trove, illuminating a rich and complex African American oral tradition, including songs, proverbs, jokes, folktales, and long narrative poems called toasts--work that dated from before and after emancipation. The fact that these ideas and sources seem so commonplace now is in large part due this book and the scholarship that followed in its wake. A landmark work that was part of the cultural turn in American history, Black Culture and Black Consciousness profoundly influenced an entire generation of historians and continues to be read and taught. For this anniversary reissue, Levine wrote a new preface reflecting on the writing of the book and its place within intellectual trends in African American and American cultural history. |
| secular work: Joseph John Lennox, 2019-03-14 Deep, rich, and nourishing. —Os Guinness The life of Joseph detailed in the book of Genesis is a story of love, hate, slavery, power, and forgiveness. Although written thousands of years ago, it has a timeless quality that still probes the depths of the human experience. In this thoughtful and devotional book, scholar John Lennox emphasizes the major themes present in Joseph's story—such as suffering, temptation, forgiveness, faith, and God's sovereignty—and applies them to readers at a personal level. This detailed look at Joseph's life in its broader context will invite us into a deeper trust of God in the face of suffering and hardship. |
| secular work: Gloryland H. B. Cavalcanti, 2007-10-30 Christian conservatism has changed drastically in the last 25 years. From the working-class faith of small, autonomous rural churches or storefront sanctuaries to the megachurches of the suburbs and the halls of power—Congress and the White House—the faith is no longer at the margins of American religion. Rather, it is a dominant force in the American public square. For the first time in its history, Christian conservatism boasts an expanded network of born-again clubs and services that closely follow secular trends in the American consumer market. A veritable Christian suburbia has been created that parallels its secular counterpart. This Christian conservative co-optation of suburbia is unprecedented in the history of the movement. Their embrace of modernity and middle-class lifestyle is a stark contrast to Christian conservatives who avoided engaging with modernity earlier in the 20th century. How did conservative Christianity change, and how is this change affecting its relationship with the larger society? Influenced by middle-class values, power, and education, Christian conservatism has opted to engage with modern political life, allying itself with the Republican Party, and developing an extensive political agenda of its own. This book documents the transformation of Christian conservatism into a middle-class faith and argues that the changes experienced by Christian conservatism are part of a larger religious realignment in American Christianity. Conservative Christianity, once home primarily to working- class religious communities, greatly benefited from the migration of conservative Christians from other denominations as a result of the 1960s Cultural Revolution. The final goal of the movement is, of course, the creation of a biblically-based society, one whose laws are defined by a conservative reading of the Scriptures and whose public mores are more akin to its newly gained middle class status. The push to restore a Christian America raises questions about the conservative Christian faith. Cavalcanti answers those questions as he traces the growth of the movement and its goals. |
| secular work: Conformed to His Image Kenneth D. Boa, 2009-12-15 What does a relationship with God look like and how do we obtain it? It is vital for church leaders to grapple seriously with this question, for pat answers no longer suffice. Lives well-lived, not just words eloquently spoken, must become our response. The quality of our relationship with God is what will influence the health, potency, and witness of the church in an increasingly complex and hostile world. Designed for use as a college or seminary course, Conformed to His Image helps us build our lives on a fully biblical perspective. Exploring twelve approaches to Christian spirituality in depth, Dr. Kenneth Boa corrects our tendency to pick and compartmentalize. Pointing the way instead to an integrative, whole-life approach, Dr. Boa shows how each spiritual paradigm discussed is just one important facet in the gem of authentic and powerful New Testament living. With chapter overviews and objectives, questions for personal application, a glossary, and a list of key terms, Conformed to His Image will prove a defining text for the student, pastor, and church leader of today . . . and tomorrow. 12 Facets of the Complete Christian Life Relational Spirituality: Loving God Completely, Ourselves Correctly, and Others Compassionately Paradigm Spirituality: Cultivating an Eternal versus a Temporal Perspective Disciplined Spirituality: Engaging in the Historical Differences Exchanged Life Spirituality: Grasping Our True Identity in Christ Motivated Spirituality: A Set of Biblical Incentives Devotional Spirituality: Falling in Love with God Holistic Spirituality: Every Component of Life under the Lordship of Christ Process Spirituality: Being versus Doing, Process versus Product Spirit-Filled Spirituality: Walking in the Power of the Spirit Warfare Spirituality: The World, the Flesh, and the Devil Nurturing Spirituality: A Lifestyle of Discipleship and Evangelism Corporate Spirituality: Encouragement, Accountability, and Worship |
| secular work: A Christian Guide to the Classics Leland Ryken, 2015-08-17 Most people are familiar with the classics of Western literature, but few have actually read them. Written to equip readers for a lifetime of learning, this beginner's guide to reading the classics by renowned literary scholar Leland Ryken answers basic questions readers often have, including Why read the classics? and How do I read a classic? Offering a list of some of the best works from the last 2,000 years and time-tested tips for effectively engaging with them, this companion to Ryken's Christian Guides to the Classics series will give readers the tools they need to read, interact with, and enjoy some of history's greatest literature. |
| secular work: Good Words , 1882 |
| secular work: Humanity John S. Hammett, Katie J. McCoy, 2023-09-01 Perhaps no doctrine is more urgent for today’s Christians to study than the doctrine of humanity. Nearly every cultural debate seems to hinge upon one’s theological anthropology and its significance for daily life.Humanity by John Hammett and Katie McCoy is an urgent theological study of the doctrine of humanity. The authors shed light on the philosophical, cultural, and spiritual influences that constantly challenge the dignity of human existence. Humanity offers a fresh perspective built on four core assumptions: that humans are divine creations, that our understanding comes from our Creator's intentions, that Scripture reveals these intentions, and that living in accordance with our created nature leads to a truly fulfilling life. Whether you are a student, professor, or layperson interested in this pivotal cultural topic, this is an invaluable resource that will empower you to understand yourself in light of Scripture and engage with the pressing issues of our world today. |
| secular work: New Dictionary of Christian Ethics & Pastoral Theology David J. Atkinson, David F. Field, Arthur F. Holmes, Oliver O'Donovan, 2013-11-21 Encompassing a wide range of topics--from the timely (health care and business ethics) to the traditional (atonement, suffering and the kingdom of God)—this work features an easy-to-use reference system and eighteen articles that introduce readers to key themes in moral, pastoral and practical theology. Edited by David J. Atkinson and David F. Field with consulting editors Arthur Holmes and Oliver O'Donovan. |
SECULAR Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
In contemporary English, secular is primarily used to distinguish something (such as an attitude, belief, or position) that is not specifically religious or sectarian in nature (for example, music …
Secularism - Wikipedia
Secularism is the principle of seeking to conduct human affairs based on naturalistic considerations, uninvolved with religion. It is most commonly thought of as the separation of …
SECULAR | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
We live in an increasingly secular society, in which religion has less and less influence on our daily lives. What is the pronunciation of secular? 世俗的, 非宗教的… laico, secular, secular …
Secular - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com
Secular things are not religious. Anything not affiliated with a church or faith can be called secular.
SECULAR Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
Secular definition: of or relating to worldly things or to things that are not regarded as religious, spiritual, or sacred; temporal.. See examples of SECULAR used in a sentence.
Secular - definition of secular by The Free Dictionary
1. of or pertaining to worldly things or to things not regarded as sacred; temporal. 2. not relating to or concerned with religion (opposed to sacred): secular music. 3. concerned with nonreligious …
SECULAR definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
You use secular to describe things that have no connection with religion. He spoke about preserving the country as a secular state. ...secular and religious education.
secular - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jun 3, 2025 · secular (comparative more secular, superlative most secular) Not specifically religious; lay or civil, as opposed to clerical; profane. Temporal; worldly, or otherwise not …
secular adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage …
not connected with spiritual or religious matters. We live in a largely secular society. Want to learn more? (of priests) living among ordinary people rather than in a religious community. Definition …
Secularism | Definition, Separation of Church and State, History ...
Jun 7, 2025 · Secularism refers generally to a philosophical worldview that shows indifference toward or rejects religion as a primary basis for understanding and ethics, encapsulating but …
SECULAR Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster
In contemporary English, secular is primarily used to distinguish something (such as an attitude, belief, or position) that is not specifically religious or sectarian in nature (for example, music with …
Secularism - Wikipedia
Secularism is the principle of seeking to conduct human affairs based on naturalistic considerations, uninvolved with religion. It is most commonly thought of as the separation of religion from civil …
SECULAR | English meaning - Cambridge Dictionary
We live in an increasingly secular society, in which religion has less and less influence on our daily lives. What is the pronunciation of secular? 世俗的, 非宗教的… laico, secular, secular [masculine …
Secular - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms - Vocabulary.com
Secular things are not religious. Anything not affiliated with a church or faith can be called secular.
SECULAR Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com
Secular definition: of or relating to worldly things or to things that are not regarded as religious, spiritual, or sacred; temporal.. See examples of SECULAR used in a sentence.
Secular - definition of secular by The Free Dictionary
1. of or pertaining to worldly things or to things not regarded as sacred; temporal. 2. not relating to or concerned with religion (opposed to sacred): secular music. 3. concerned with nonreligious …
SECULAR definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary
You use secular to describe things that have no connection with religion. He spoke about preserving the country as a secular state. ...secular and religious education.
secular - Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jun 3, 2025 · secular (comparative more secular, superlative most secular) Not specifically religious; lay or civil, as opposed to clerical; profane. Temporal; worldly, or otherwise not based …
secular adjective - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage …
not connected with spiritual or religious matters. We live in a largely secular society. Want to learn more? (of priests) living among ordinary people rather than in a religious community. Definition of …
Secularism | Definition, Separation of Church and State, History ...
Jun 7, 2025 · Secularism refers generally to a philosophical worldview that shows indifference toward or rejects religion as a primary basis for understanding and ethics, encapsulating but not …
