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"A survey of Thomas Merton's thought on fundamental aspects of monastic formation and spirituality, which also addresses some of the temptations and popular misunderstandings surrounding monastic life"--

A life of one of the most successful American physicians of the nineteenth century.

Life Before Birth provides a coherent framework for addressing bioethical issues in which the moral status of embryos and fetuses is relevant. It is based on the "interest view" which ascribes moral standing to beings with interests, and connects the possession of interests with the capacity for conscious awareness or sentience. The theoretical framework is applied to ethical and legal topics, including abortion, prenatal torts, wrongful life, the crime of feticide, substance abuse by pregnant women, compulsory cesareans, assisted reproduction, and stem cell research. Along the way, difficult philosophical problems, such as identity and the non-identity problem are thoroughly explored. The book will be of interest not only to philosophers, but also physicians, lawyers, policy makers, and anyone perplexed by the many difficulties surrounding the unborn. "Bonnie Steinbock's excellent book is . . . consistent, thoroughgoing, and intelligible." --Nature "Steinbock's book is valuable for all interested in the ethical/legal issues surrounding abortion, prenatal injury and liability, maternal-fetal conflict, and fetal/embryo research. The author provides an excellent historical overview of these issues, but she also addresses the issues from the stance of a particular theory of moral status, namely, interest theory. This gives coherence to her discussion as well as allowing testing of the viability of interest theory." --Choice "A focused, lucid, analytically fine-grained discussion of a wide variety of problems. . . extremely useful as a survey of the current state of the debate." --Religious Studies Review "Merits serious consideration by physicians. Steinbock's interests-based approach treats all questions as open -- another and most welcome breath of fresh air." -New England Journal of Medicine "An extremely valuable contribution to the literature. The author carefully identifies the many bioethical issues to which the status of embryos and fetuses is relevant....She thoroughly reviews the extensive medical, bioethical, and legal literature on all of these issues, offering well-developed critiques of many standard positions. She articulates and thoughtfully defends interesting positions on all of theses topics. Anyone with an interest in these issues will learn a great deal from her knowledgeable and judicious treatment of them." -- The Journal of Clinical Ethics

When an emotional Abraham Lincoln took leave of his Springfield neighbors, never to return, his moving tribute to the town and its people reflected their profound influence on the newly elected president. His old neighborhood still stands today as a National Historic Site. The story of the life Lincoln and his family built there returns to us through the careful work of authors Bonnie E. Paull and Richard E. Hart. Journey back in time and meet this diverse but harmonious community as it participated in the business of everyday living while gradually playing a larger role on the national stage.

Jesus fulfilled over 150 prophesies, most of which are in this book, while He walked this earth, was crucified, resurrected, and ascended to heaven so we can be assured that He will return to rule this earth as he promised. He is the aEURoeSeed of the womanaEUR prophesied in Genesis 3:15, but there is another seed we need to watch out for: the aEURoeseed of the serpent,aEUR not the innocent snake but aEURoethat serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole worldaEUR (Rev. 12:9).

Talk radio host Kit Doyle goes undercover as a teenaged runaway in this mystery series “that will attract Erin Hart enthusiasts” (Library Journal). Seventeen-year-old Jessica is missing. There are no clues as to why she disappeared—apart from the note she left behind: “I love you. Goodbye forever.” It turns out that Jessica is not the first teenager to have gone missing, nor the first to have left exactly the same note. With a family connection to the missing girl, crime blogger and radio host Kit Doyle is determined to find out what happened to her. Going undercover as a teenaged runaway, Kit discovers a violent, unpredictable, cult-like world led by a dangerous psychopath—and is pulled deeper and deeper off the grid. If Kit doesn’t find a way out soon, she’ll not only lose Jessica, but she herself will be swallowed up whole. “This suspenseful thriller offers a thought-provoking look at the plight of teenage runaways.” —Booklist “Readers will admire the chutzpah with which the 27-year-old finagles her way into a teenage cabal bent on misdeeds.” —Publishers Weekly “Kit is a flawed individual whose weak spots spur her to help others. Her determined pursuit of the culprit results in a roller-coaster ride of suspense.” —Library Journal

To understand the life and thought of Thomas Merton, one must understand him as a monk. After introducing his vocation and entrance into the Trappist order, this book highlights some of his basic spiritual presuppositions. Relying primarily on Merton's writing, Bonnie B. Thurston surveys his thought on fundamental aspects of monastic formation and spirituality, particularly obedience, silence, solitude, and prayer. She also addresses some of the temptations and popular misunderstandings surrounding monastic life. Accessible and conversational in style, the book suggests how monastic spirituality is relevant, not only for all Christians, but also for serious spiritual seekers.