Living Under The Shadow

How our dominant Christian worldview shapes everything from personal behavior to public policy (and what to do about it) Over the centuries, Christianity has accomplished much which is deserving of praise. Its institutions have fed the hungry, sheltered the homeless, and advocated for the poor. Christian faith has sustained people through crisis and inspired many to work for social justice. Yet although the word "Christian" connotes the epitome of goodness, the actual story is much more complex. Over the last two millennia, ruling elites have used Christian institutions and values to control those less privileged throughout the world. The doctrine of Christianity has been interpreted to justify the killing of millions, and its leaders have used their faith to sanction participation in colonialism, slavery, and genocide. In the Western world, Christian influence has inspired legislators to continue to limit women's reproductive rights and has kept lesbians and gays on the margins of society. As our triple crises of war, financial meltdown, and environmental destruction intensify, it is imperative that we dig beneath the surface of Christianity's benign reputation to examine its contribution to our social problems. Living in the Shadow of the Cross reveals the ongoing, everyday impact of Christian power and privilege on our beliefs, behaviors, and public policy, and emphasizes the potential for people to come together to resist domination and build and sustain communities of justice and peace. Paul Kivel is the award-winning author of Uprooting Racism and the director of the Christian Hegemony Project. He is a social justice activist and educator who has focused on the issues of violence prevention, oppression, and social justice for over forty-five years.

Popularist treatments of ancient disasters like volcanic eruptions have grossly overstated their capacity for death, destruction, and societal collapse. Contributors to this volume—from anthropology, archaeology, environmental studies, geology, and biology—show that human societies have been incredibly resilient and, in the long run, have often recovered remarkably well from wide scale disruption and significant mortality. They have often used eruptions as a trigger for environmental enrichment, cultural change, and adaptation. These historical studies are relevant to modern hazard management because they provide records for a far wider range of events and responses than have been recorded in written records, yet are often closely datable and trackable using standard archaeological and geological techniques. Contributors also show the importance of traditional knowledge systems in creating a cultural memory of dangerous locations and community responses to disaster. The global and temporal coverage of the research reported is impressive, comprising studies from North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific, and ranging in time from the Middle Palaeolithic to the modern day.

Sheila M. Rothman documents a fascinating story. Each generation had its own special view of the origins, transmission, and therapy for the disease, definitions that reflected not only medical knowledge but views on gender obligations, religious beliefs, and community responsibilities. In general, Rothman points out, tenacity and resolve, not passivity or resignation, marked people's response to illness and to their physicians.

Nicaragua: Emerging from the Shadow of the Eagle details the country's unique history, culture, economics, politics, and foreign relations. Its historical coverage considers Nicaragua from pre-Columbian and colonial times as well as during the nationalist liberal era, the U.S. Marine occupation, the Somoza dictatorship, the Sandinista revolution and government, the conservative restoration after 1990, and consolidation of the FSLN's power since the return of Daniel Ortega to the presidency in 2006. The thoroughly revised and updated sixth edition features new material covering political, economic, and social developments since 2011. This includes expanded discussions on economic diversification, women and gender, and social programs. Students of Latin American politics and history will learn the how the interventions by the United States 'the eagle' to 'the north' have shaped Nicaraguan political, economic, and cultural life, but also the extent to which Nicaragua is increasingly emerging from the eagle's shadow.

A stunning, powerful debut novel set against the backdrop of the Cambodian War, perfect for fans of Chris Cleave and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie For seven-year-old Raami, the shattering end of childhood begins with the footsteps of her father returning home in the early dawn hours bringing details of the civil war that has overwhelmed the streets of Phnom Penh, Cambodia's capital. Soon the family's world of carefully guarded royal privilege is swept up in the chaos of revolution and forced exodus. Over the next four years, as she endures the deaths of family members, starvation, and brutal forced labour, Raami clings to the only remaining vestige of childhood - the mythical legends and poems told to her by her father. In a climate of systematic violence where memory is sickness and justification for execution, Raami fights for her improbable survival. Displaying the author's extraordinary gift for language, In the Shadow of the Banyanis testament to the transcendent power of narrative and a brilliantly wrought tale of human resilience. 'In the Shadow of the Banyanis one of the most extraordinary and beautiful acts of storytelling I have ever encountered' Chris Cleave, author of The Other Hand 'Ratner is a fearless writer, and the novel explores important themes such as power, the relationship between love and guilt, and class. Most remarkably, it depicts the lives of characters forced to live in extreme circumstances, and investigates how that changes them. To read In the Shadow of the Banyan is to be left with a profound sense of being witness to a tragedy of history' Guardian 'This is an extraordinary debut … as beautiful as it is heartbreaking' Mail on Sunday

Living in the Shadows of a Rich and Sick Society is a chilling reality depicting the rising level of violence among teens, increased alcohol and drug abuse, and the continuous exploitation of children, which has become a widespread phenomena that has developed into a scandalous situation in our homes, schools, communities, and that all too often ends up in many grave yards. The spiral of youth problems and issues has created challenges for our schools, the police, the courts and our neighborhoods. It is my belief that solutions to most of these problems are no longer a local matter. Our government must establish a national new team philosophy and commitment to address the physical, social, economical, psychological and technological problems of our youth in our changing world. It is my belief that the social problems of teens, youth violence, and miss education will continue to become major issues for a very long time unless some immediate and drastic actions are implemented. In spite of the advancement of technology and the achievements in education, businesses, government, and faith institution, there is no single source within our societies that is more important that is in danger than the foundation of family The day break of a new culture is at hand in which the youth culture must be taken very seriously. It is time for a cultural make over. Our civilize society can no longer wait for an early afternoon break. In a rich republic like ours, we can no longer side step our civic responsibilities of knowing that the foundation of the family is in danger. The new day is now. Tomorrow is not promised. Our civilized society can no longer wait for an early afternoon. Immediate action is need to address the black sheep attitude of this nation. Our young people are restless. They have been awakened to the misgivings of their adult counterparts. Do as I say, but not as 1 do. There is a silent revolution taking place in our youth culture of internet forums to challenge our institutions, may be for good or for evil actions. However, soon they will be no more silent in the outcome. The youth population must be taken very serious concerning their aggressive disobedience to parents, their uncaring attitudes towards their peers and civic disorder to institutions Government, both state and local jurisdictions, will need to reassert their methods in developing regional strategies and collective programs that at times will call for a national approach for an effective comprehensive solution to counteract the silent psychopathic nature that are taking hold of our society. It is quite evident from my experience of working in schools, the community and the correctional institutions that violent behavior by youth is very serious and extreme and must be corrected immediately. In times like these, someone must be able to speak about the wrongs of government without fear and limitations. The voice of the sick, lame and the poor must be represented in all chambers of society. As we look around to the greed and corruptions, the crimes, the abuse and violence we can see a decaying state of affairs crashing down with shattering forces ready to destroy the family and our learning institutions. Needless to say, most families are not equipped to keep pace with increasing technological changes that are taking place. The level of advertisement and marketing techniques have cast a double shadow in which the haves are joining the haves and the have nots. Living in the shadows of a rich and sick society is an attempt to look at the five major institutions of civilization with a spiritual vision of hope and institutional reconciliation. A vision where the institutions of the family/home, schools, places of worship, commerce and government win dream new dreams for equitable action and just resources and services, to reverse then ever ending spiral of unrest if we fail to addressing the needs of our future generation. Today, God is can

By most accounts, China has quickly grown into the second largest economy in the world. In this controversial new book, Subramanian argues that China has already become the most economically dominant country in the world in terms of wealth, trade and finance. Its dominance and eclipsing of US global economic power is more imminent, more broad-based and larger in magnitude than anyone has anticipated. Subramanian compares the economic dominance of China with that of the two previous economic superpowers--the United States and the United Kingdom--and highlights similarities and differences. One corollary is that the fundamentals are strong for the Chinese currency to replace the dollar as the world's reserve currency. The final chapter forecasts how the international economic system is likely to evolve as a result of Chinese dominance.