Healing The Ravaged Soul

Why does God hate me? How can I believe in a God who has allowed my suffering? These are just two of the difficult spiritual questions that survivors of child sexual abuse struggle with. In addition, survivors often have mixed feelings about thechurch because of perceived judgment and indifference, their own shame, or their discomfort with certain aspects of worship. Of the many after-effects of sexual abuse, spiritual wounds are the least talked about, yet they are central to adult survivors who seek to heal and find faith and meaning in their lives. With grace and gentleness, this book seeks to answer survivors' spiritual questions and address some of the common misconceptions that often develop when young victims attempt to understand what has happened to them. Healing the Ravaged Soul explores the origins of their spiritual issues with clear psychological insights and guides survivors on a spiritual journey toward healing, wholeness, and a deeper relationship with God.

This book is a well-researched, biblically, and scientifically based overview of the various types of abuse, the effects, and the means of healing.

2021 Catholic Media Association Award second place award in liturgy 2021 Catholic Media Association Award honorable mention award in gender issues - inclusion in the church For years, religious leaders and communities around the world have turned to the Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics, and Ritual (WATER) for feminist liturgies for justice. Now—in celebration of the organization’s thirty-fifth anniversary—Stirring Waters gathers fifty-two of these beautiful liturgies, ready-made to help your community venerate powerful women of faith, develop a richer and deeper spirituality, and take real action for justice. Use the liturgies in this book as a resource to nourish the souls and focus the passions of the people you serve. Help them reflect on great women like the prophetess Miriam and Julian of Norwich; provoke and disturb them on occasions like Earth Day and World Water Day; energize them on International Women’s Day and Black History Month; and rejuvenate drooping spirits with liturgies of healing and gratitude. Never again will you scramble or struggle to provide community prayer that is worthwhile, nourishing, and even electrifying.

Given their rhetoric on safeguarding, the response of religious organisations to abuse by the clergy - sexual, physical and spiritual - has been inept, thoughtless, mean, and without any sense of urgency. Sex, Power, Control explores the underlying reasons for the mishandling of recent abuse cases. Using psychoanalytical and sociological insights, and including her own experiences as shown in the BBC documentary Exposed: The Church's Darkest Secret, Gardner asks why the Churches find themselves in such a crisis, and how issues of power and control have contributed to secrecy, deception and heartache. Drawing on survivor accounts and delving into the psychology of clergy abusers, she reveals a culture of avoidance and denial, while an examination of power dynamics highlights institutional narcissism and a hierarchical structure based on deference, with defensive assumptions linked to sex, gender and class. Sex, Power, Control is an invaluable resource for all those in the church or similar institutions, and for anyone concerned about child abuse.

In the tradition of the international bestseller The Red Tent comes a beautiful, sexy novel featuring Hannah, one of the most well-known and beloved heroines of the Old Testament. Hannah and Pninah, once close childhood friends, become rivals for the attention of Elkanah, the man who has married them both. Pninah, passionate and independent, easily bears Elkanah many children, but bitter that he has taken her friend as a second wife, seeks fulfillment with her own secret lover. Hannah, the epitome of goodness and grace, remains completely devoted to her husband, but remains childless for many years, until a promise to God brings her the son she has yearned for. Despite their differences, these two women must learn to live together, protecting their own interests as well as each other’s, while sharing not only the love of their husband, but that of Hannah’s son Samuel, who will become one of the great prophets of the Jewish people.

Abuse and trauma damages more than body and mind. The soul can also feel wounded. Shame and feelings of abandonment distort and limit one's ability to relate to a faith community and to trust in God. Experiences of abuse can block a person's capacity to pray and worship, and they stunt spiritual growth. Shattered Soul? reveals five pathways of healing for survivors of abuse and guides readers to wholeness, to experience life and faith anew. Included are inspiring stories of survivors who reflect on pathways of courage, holy anger, grief, forgiveness, and transformation. Your spirit will feel whole again! Includes a foreword by Paula D'Arcy, author of Gift of the Red Bird.

What would Eve say about the temptation you’re facing? What would Bathsheba have to say about salvaging a mistake you’ve made? In this unique book by relationship expert Michelle McKinney Hammond, the women of the Bible write encouraging letters to you to help you make the best choices in every area of life and get the most out of your love relationship. Through their trials and triumphs you’ll discover God’s wisdom and practical suggestions founded on what worked and didn’t work for them. You’ll be intrigued by... Abigail’s insights on understanding men The Shulammite’s advice on stirring up love and romance Mary’s understanding about trusting God Deborah’s revelations on using authority wisely Lydia’s take on balancing the spiritual and professional in life Getting Smart About Life, Love, and Men is a refreshing way to explore and apply the biblical principles that will help you find or strengthen your love relationship, get the life you’ve been longing for, and draw closer to the One who is love.