The Sacred Selves of Adolescent Girls
The Sacred Selves of Adolescent Girls

Author: Evelyn L. Parker

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2010-04-01

Total Pages: 189

ISBN-13: 1608993906

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Adolescent girls between the ages of fifteen and eighteen shared with Parker and her co-authors life stories that show how they struggle to make sense of their experiences of racism, sexism, classism, and heterosexism in light of their belief in God or their concept of a higher divine power. The groups of adolescent girls interviewed include Korean Americans, African Americans, Native Americans, Latinas, working-class whites, and lesbians. The closing chapter revisits the prominent themes from each chapter, challenging those concerned about fostering a spirituality that is life giving for girls who struggle with racism, classism, sexism, and heterosexism. In addition, it explores the concepts of realization, resistance, resilience, and ritual as four essential components for nurturing a wholesome spirituality in adolescent girls

Girls Rising
Girls Rising

Author: Urana Jackson

Publisher: Parallax Press

Published: 2016-05-17

Total Pages: 210

ISBN-13: 1941529194

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This guide for adults working with adolescent girls will help them explore and develop their emotional, social, and spiritual selves. Young people are hungry and capable of engaging in meaningful explorations of themselves and the world around them. Adolescent girls especially have a deep desire and capacity to know themselves and explore their own spirituality. Girls Rising is a workbook of activities designed for educators, mental health clinicians, youth workers, parents, and, in some cases, peer educators working with girls ages 13 — 17 that provides a process for them to explore and develop their emotional, social, and spiritual selves. The curriculum comprises of four themes surrounding self–awareness, empathy and communication skills, social engagement, and transpersonal exploration. Incorporates drawing, writing, music, media, role–playing, storytelling, and deeply penetrating interactive activities to help incite self–discovery, enhance relationships, and connect girls to a cause, principal, or source greater then themselves. Jackson’s guide offers teenage girls a unique opportunity to engage with their changing selves and their environment from a deeply soulful and creative place.

Sacred Girl:
Sacred Girl:

Author: Kenya Aissa

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Published: 2018-06-26

Total Pages: 120

ISBN-13: 9781721786145

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

With much of the American public glued to social media and reality TV, we are aware that an alarming number of girls mature into women who are plagued with the almost requisite low self-esteem, depression, weight issues, relationship problems, and substance abuse. To make matters worse, statistics show that the problems are growing, not diminishing, with every generation of women. Faced with today's challenges, it has become more important than ever for girls to look within themselves for spiritual renewal, strength, and comfort. Sacred Girl: Spiritual Life Skills For Conscious Young Women will be the first book to combine straight talk, humor, and true stories to stress not only the importance of spiritual self-reliance, but also the high risks involved in leaving one's spiritual well-being to chance.

Sowing Stories Deep in the Soul
Sowing Stories Deep in the Soul

Author: Joyce Elaine Gill Johnson

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2017-12-07

Total Pages: 229

ISBN-13: 1498240577

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Some adolescent women struggle to maintain positive self-identity, resilience, and personalized faith development on their journey toward adulthood. It is a contemporary crisis recognized by many, including ministry leaders of faith communities. In today's fast-paced digital culture, concerns addressing challenges facing adolescent women are evident in research literature. To strengthen their spiritual well-being, emphasis is placed on spiritual formation practices that enhance faith, hope, and personal relationships amid social, peer, and media pressures pulling them into negative, detrimental, and dysfunctional lifestyles. Empirical research reveals a need to transform negative images and self-destruction utilizing stories of holistic well-being. Sowing Stories Deep in the Soul: Biblical Storytelling with Adolescent Women highlights biblical women touched by the holistic healing ministry of Jesus with deep soul-stirring experiences of God's compassionate love. It meets the need as a spiritual formation ministry model focused on creativity, engaging study, internalized story learning, positive life connections, and performing biblical stories by heart. These expressive aspects form the ancient oral character of Bible stories internalized and voiced in repeated performances for compelling impact and action. Included are replicable results of action research using this model with adolescent women to encourage maintaining Christ-centered lives.

Interdependence
Interdependence

Author: HyeRan Kim-Cragg

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2018-05-31

Total Pages: 188

ISBN-13: 1532617240

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This book calls attention to an urgent need for postcolonial feminist approaches to practical theology. It not only advocates for the inclusion of colonialism as a critical optic for practical theology but also demands a close look at how colonialism is entangled with issues of race, ethnicity, gender, class, disability, and sexual orientation. Seeking to highlight the importance of the interdependence of life, the author challenges and contests the notion of independence as the desirable goal of the human being. Lifting up the experiences of overlooked groups—including children at adult-centered worship, queer and interracial youth in heterosexual and white normative family discourse, and non-human species in human-centered academic and theological realms—the book contributes to expanding the concerns of practical theology in ways that create healthy community for all human beings and non-human fellow creatures. It also takes up issues of multiple religious belonging and migration that practical theology has not sufficiently explored. These illuminating new possibilities promise to renew and even transform church communities through the inclusion of often-neglected groups with whom God is already present.

Complex Identities in a Shifting World
Complex Identities in a Shifting World

Author: Pamela Couture

Publisher: LIT Verlag Münster

Published: 2015

Total Pages: 285

ISBN-13: 3643905092

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Clear and well-defined identities are hard to sustain in a rapidly shifting world. Peoples, goods, and cultures are on the move. The internet and other technologies increase the amount, the speed, and the intensity of cultural exchanges. Individuals, organizations, and nations develop complex identities out of many traditions, different ideals, various ways of life, and many models of organization. Religious traditions both collide and interact, with spiritual journeys crossing religious boundaries. In this book, more than 20 contributors from different backgrounds and academic disciplines offer an array of practical theological perspectives to help understand these complex identities and negotiate this shifting world. (Series: International Practical Theology - Vol. 17) [Subject: Religious Studies, Cultural Studies]

New Feminist Christianity
New Feminist Christianity

Author: Mary E. Hunt

Publisher: Turner Publishing Company

Published: 2012-01-01

Total Pages: 385

ISBN-13: 1594734135

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Powerful insights from ministers, theologians, activists, leaders, artists and liturgists who are shaping the future. "Christianity has been a source of the oppression of women, as well as a resource for unleashing women's full humanity. Feminist analysis and practice have recognized this. Feminist Christianity is reshaping religious institutions and religious life in more holistic, inclusive, and justice-focused ways." —from the Introduction Feminism has brought many changes to Christian religious practice. From inclusive language and imagery about the Divine to an increase in the number of women ministers, Christian worship will never be the same. Yet, even now, there is a lack of substantive structural change in many churches and complacency within denominations. The contributors to this book are the thought leaders who are shaping, and being shaped by, the emerging directions of feminist Christianity. They speak from across the denominational spectrum, and from the many diverse groups that make up the Christian community as it finds its place in a religiously pluralistic world. Taken together, their voices offer a starting point for building new models of religious life and worship. Topics covered include feminist: • Theological Visions • Scriptural Insights • Ethical Agendas • Liturgical and Artistic Frontiers • Ministerial Challenges

Liberating Youth from Adolescence
Liberating Youth from Adolescence

Author: Jeremy Paul Myers

Publisher: Fortress Press

Published: 2018-10-01

Total Pages: 196

ISBN-13: 1506438180

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Liberating youth through theological reflection on vocation Jeremy Paul Myers, a seasoned expert in youth and family ministry, calls the church to challenge the dominant societal view of adolescents as "underdeveloped consumers" who can only contribute creatively when they mature into adulthood. Myers argues that young people are innately creative creatures called by God to love and serve right now. We need to see young people as the called cocreators (with God) that they are. Using current studies, Myers shows how marketing and consumer science target young people with the hope of making them find their identity in buying and using things. This strong cultural emphasis underserves young people and even at times defines their lives as mere commodities. Myers tells the stories of a number of young people whose lives buck the consumer paradigm and myth of the underdeveloped young person in order to live as the called cocreators God has created them to be. Each chapter provides a set of ideas that congregations can use to take a closer look at how young people in their midst are or could be invited to be creative contributors to the life of the congregation. Questions for discussion are also provided to encourage discussion and facilitate action.

Embracing Disruptive Coherence
Embracing Disruptive Coherence

Author: Kathleen T. Talvacchia

Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers

Published: 2019-04-18

Total Pages: 143

ISBN-13: 153264888X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Does anyone need to come out anymore? Queer theory has challenged the idea of coming out as problematic for its false binary and essentialized version of identity. If gender is a socially constructed performativity, then what does coming out mean? At the same time, we live in a society that still struggles with structures of power that define what is considered normal and sanctions those who transgress. The intersectionality of gender with race, class, ethnicity, nationality, abilities, religion, age and other positional markers challenge a simplified belief that coming out is not necessary. Therefore, in the lived experience of many persons coming out still matters. This book initiates a different theological conversation about coming out. It argues that rather than the declaration of an identity category, coming out can be understood as the erotic ethical practice of truth-telling. The formation of conscience and moral integrity embody the two pillars of this erotic practice. Coming out understood as “disruptive coherence” is the erotic ethical practice of truth-telling grounded in our deepest desires to be known authentically in community.

Sex + Faith
Sex + Faith

Author: Kate Ott

Publisher: Westminster John Knox Press

Published: 2013-01-01

Total Pages: 180

ISBN-13: 0664237991

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Talking with your child about sex can be scary! Sex + Faith helps parents incorporate their faith values with sexual information so they can answer questions, discuss sexuality at each stage of childhood, and show support of sexual differences. Section one explains how faith relates to sexuality and the essential role parents play in forming healthy, faithful, sexually educated children. The second section designates a chapter for four age groupings of children from infancy through high school. Each chapter explains the biological and developmental issues of the age, answers questions children tend to have, provides relevant Biblical and faith stories helpful to discuss with children of that age, and lists five to ten key educational issues for parents to keep in mind. Shaded text boxes are interspersed throughout the book with real life, practical questions that parents and children ask. Expertly written by Kate Ott, Sex + Faith is an easy to use reference guide for parents of kids of all ages.