Beyond the Illusion

A biography of Pope Francis that describes how this revolutionary thinker will use the power of his position to challenge and redirect one of the world's most formidable religionsAn expansive and deeply contextual work, at its heart The Great Reformer is about the intersection of faith and politics--the tension between the pope's innovative vision for the Church and the obstacles he faces in an institution still strongly defined by its conservative past. Based on extensive interviews in Argentina and years of study of the Catholic Church, Ivereigh tells the story not only of Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the remarkable man whose background and total commitment to the discernment of God's will transformed him into Pope Francis--but the story of why the Catholic Church chose him as their leader.With the Francis Revolution just beginning, this biography will provide never-before-explained context on how one man's ambitious program began--and how it will likely end--through an investigation of Francis's youth growing up in Buenos Aires and the dramatic events during the Perón era that shaped his beliefs; his ongoing conflicts and disillusionment with the ensuing doctrines of an authoritarian and militaristic government in the 1970s; how his Jesuit training in Argentina and Chile gave him a unique understanding and advocacy for a "Church of the Poor"; and his rise from Cardinal to the papacy. ISBN:2147483647 Author:Austen Ivereigh

A history of the great religions, told through their core beliefs, by the editor of The Oxford Dictionary of World ReligionsHow did Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism come to be the world's dominant religions? What are the real beliefs of Islam, and the different branches within it? Who were the key figures of Judaism? And how are religious beliefs shaping today's world conflicts? This book will answer the key questions about the great religions, from Bahai to Unitarianism, via Jainism, Mormonism, Shinto, and the major branches of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism. Not only will this book explain what the disciples of each faith believe, but it will provide the reader with a greater understanding of the wider themes of religious and world history. Each chapter comprises an overview of the central tenets of each religion, key quotations from its core beliefs, and a historical depiction of each faith, from its earliest beginnings to its latest incarnations and impact on the modern world. ISBN:2147483647 Author:John Bowker