David Giffen was once a defrocked priest. Having spent a decade as an Anglican cleric in Southwestern Ontario, David served in leadership in three urban social-justice focused appointments as a priest in the Anglican Church of Canada. David was deprived of ministry and terminated from his appointment as incumbent priest of his parish on December 12th, 2018. He was in his fourth month on medical leave. David was formally accused, investigated and found guilty of sexual misconduct, all while he was drugged out, melting down on social media. As someone working to heal from traumatic stress injuries from childhood, David's diagnosis with Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in 2018 led him to become a public advocate for the de-stigmatization of mental health and addiction issues (especially when related to generational trauma). He quickly learned the challenges and opportunities this presents, as he himself is one of the examples. Redemptive Trauma: Confession of a Defrocked Priest is a memoir embracing hard truths of trauma to help others heal their own. David holds both a Bachelor's and Master's degree from Huron University College at the Western University in London, Ontario. For most of his adult life, David served as a street-involved pastor in Toronto and London. His major focuses of ministry were related to social outreach, restorative justice, and learning to wrestle with life and faith in the rapidly evolving social media age. The author is almost certain that if you don't like stories about sex, drugs, rock stars, alcohol, and the uneven rise and fall of the guilty and the innocent, you probably won't like the Bible either. Or this book. Otherwise, go ahead, dig into both.

Once in a millennium emerges an all-encompassing assisted reality and science fiction novel that exemplifies literary greatness and unique storytelling dexterity. Camp Nameless main character, Leigh-Ellen Srey, a fearless protagonist who welcomes challenges from all aspects of life from flying USAF F-22 Raptor in Iraq to training in artistic gymnastics for the 2024 Paris Olympics in her preteen years. Camp Nameless derives its sequences of events from Leigh- Ellen’s point of view which derives from her dream sequences, and dream sequences within dream sequences; readers will engulf in events such as post nuclear apocalyptic Korea, multiple virtual reality environments, US West Point Military Academy’s outpost summer camp, and military covert operations with multinationals elite troopers. Camp Nameless is an enmeshed-up genres...but the one thing remains constant is Leigh-Ellen Srey’s zany, witty persona: she speaks her mind and outwardly exhibits her personal belief in sense of judicatory for all.

Leopold Murphy Defrocked is a wild philosophical comedy about a Catholic priest experiencing a crisis of faith. Our hero-if you can call him that-is not your conventional clergyman. Equal parts angry and inconsiderate, Leo spends his time penning heretical essays, having an affair with his choir director, and stewing in jealousy over his younger brother's success as a televangelist. When a series of unfortunate events leads Leo to embezzle thousands of dollars in charity funds, he uses the money to finance a personal Caribbean vacation, hoping that the trip (make that pilgrimage) will reconcile him with God. Though farcical in many ways, the novel is, at its core, both ambitiously existential and intimately human. It asks hard questions about suffering, faith, jealousy, disappointment, growing old, and the role of religion and art in achieving communion with the divine. Oh, and it's also damn funny.

There are more than one billion Catholics in the world, and each one has a similar set of basic beliefs and practices that he or she follows. Some of the teachings of Catholicism are thousands of years old, while others are more recent. So what is the Catholic culture like and what do they believe? Catholicism For Dummies answers these and many other questions. Whether you’re a Catholic or not, you may be totally clueless or just unaware of some aspects of Catholic traditions, history, doctrine, worship, devotion, or culture. No sweat. Regardless of whether you’re engaged, married, related to a Catholic, or just curious about what Catholics really do believe, this book is for you. Catholicism For Dummies is not a catechism or religious textbook, but a casual, down-to-earth introduction for non-Catholics and reintroduction for Catholics. It gives commonsense explanations so that the next time you’re invited to a Catholic wedding, Baptism, funeral, Confirmation, or First Communion, you won’t be totally confused. You’ll also discover other important topics that can help you better understand the Catholic culture—from morality and devotions to worship and liturgy. This book will familiarize you with Catholicism by showing you: What it means to be a Catholic: traditions, prayers, beliefs, and holidays Who is who in the Catholic hierarchy How Catholics worship What the Seven Sacraments and Ten Commandments are The book regarded as the holiest to Catholics: The Bible The Church’s stand on some sticky issues Catholicism For Dummies presents a rich tapestry and history of the Catholic faith—from devotions to doctrines. This intelligent and faithful look at Catholicism will open your eyes to this religion and answer many of the questions you may have about it.

Buddhism in Court is the first English language study of the legal interaction between Buddhism and the state in China. It uncovers a long-overlooked Buddhist campaign for clerical legal privileges that aimed to make ordained Buddhist monks and nuns immune from facing trials and punishment in the state court.

The continuing story of Tom and Annie. The story of Eli Rubenstein, the only man conceived in Dachau, and the owner of an island in the Calvados Chain off the tail of New Guinea.