The best family stories don't come from books--they come from that magical land known as "The Kitchen Table," where the coffee's strong, the gossip's stronger, and Grandma's memory is suspiciously selective. Cherry Pie and Fishin' Worms is a hearty slice of that tradition, featuring tales passed down like hand-me-down socks: slightly worn, often mismatched, but full of character.Meet Mable, a redheaded spitfire with more sass than sense, raised somewhere between the hollers of Kent...

This Dictionary of Atheism provides more than 150 definitions of terms related to the subject of atheism, ranging from those of historic importance, including the history of the term atheist itself, to crucial concepts in the contemporary study of atheism, such as agnosticism and scepticism. Coverage includes secular and humanist organizations and publications, significant events in the history of atheism, such as the Scopes Monkey Trial, neologisms adopted by ath...

Despite progress, the Western higher education system is still largely dominated by scholars from the privileged classes of the Global North. This book presents examples of efforts to diversify points of view, include previously excluded people, and decolonize curricula.What has worked? What hasn’t? What further visions do we need? How can we bring about a more democratic and just academic life for all?Written by scholars from different disciplines, countries, and backgroun...

The present collection brings together a set of essays which shed light on recent research into non-religion, secularity and atheism—topics which have been emerging as important areas of current research in a number of different disciplines. The essays cover a wide span—in terms of the various stances they discuss (secular, atheist, non-religious), the settings in which these topics are relevant (families, wider society, politics, demography) and the different perspectives which relate to ...

Negotiating religious diversity, as well as negotiating different forms and degrees of commitment to religious belief and identity, constitutes a major challenge for all societies. Recent developments such as the ‘de-secularisation’ of the world, the transformation and globalisation of religion and the attacks of September 11 have made religious claims and religious actors much more visible in the public sphere. This volume provides multiple perspectives on the processes through which reli...

The relationship between science and belief has been a prominent subject of public debate for many years, one that has relevance to everything from science communication, health and education to immigration and national values. Yet, sociological analysis of these subjects remains surprisingly scarce.This wide-ranging book critically reviews the ways in which religious and non-religious belief systems interact with scientific theories and practices. Contributors explore how, for som...

Blue Butterflies in Heaven is a unique collection of inspirational and whimsical poems. Proverbs 17:22 states, A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. These poems are prayerfully written to encourage and lift the spirit of their audience. Hidden in between are playful, fun-loving poems that will hopefully make you smile and give relief from a stress-filled day. The poet wishes to convey Gods love and majesty to those of us who love prose and poetry and t...

In the segregated South, a young girl’s life is changed forever: “A beautifully written literary novel [and] a real page-turner.” —Lee Smith, New York Times-bestselling author of Blue MarlinOn a scorching day in August 1954, thirteen-year-old Jubie Watts leaves Charlotte, North Carolina, with her family for a Florida vacation. Crammed into the Packard along with Jubie are her three siblings, her mother, and the family’s black maid, Mary Luther. Fo...

Composed in a voice as sure and resonant as that of The Secret Life of Bees, this remarkable debut from the author of The Saints of Swallow Hill is a haunting and heartfelt story of mothers and daughters, the guilt and pain that pass between generations, and the truths that are impossible to hide – especially from ourselves.In 1969, Dixie Dupree is eleven years old and already an expert liar. Sometimes the lies are for her mama Evie’s sake—to expl...

In the new edition of this widely praised text, Alan Aldridge examines the complex realities of religious belief, practice and institutions. Religion is a powerful and controversial force in the contemporary world, even in supposedly secular societies. Almost all societies seek to cultivate religions and faith communities as sources of social stability and engines of social progress. They also try to combat real and imagined abuses and excess, regulating cults that brainwash vulnerable peo...

Steel Magnolias meets The Help in this New York Times Bestselling Southern debut novel sparkling with humor, heart, and feminine wisdom.Twelve-year-old CeeCee Honeycutt is in trouble. For years, she has been the caretaker of her mother, Camille, the town’s tiara-wearing, lipstick-smeared laughingstock, a woman who is trapped in her long-ago moment of glory as the 1951 Vidalia Onion Queen of Georgia. When tragedy strikes, Tootie Caldwell, ...

The concept of intersectionality has become a central topic in academic and activist circles alike. But what exactly does it mean, and why has it emerged as such a vital lens through which to explore how social inequalities of race, class, gender, sexuality, age, ability, and ethnicity shape one another?In this fully revised and expanded second edition of their popular text, Patricia Hill Collins and Sirma Bilge provide a much-needed introduction to the field of intersectional know...