{"product_id":"if-god-is-love-dont-be-a-jerk-finding-a-faith-that-makes-us-better-humans-9780664266844","title":"If God Is Love, Don't Be a Jerk: Finding a Faith That Makes Us Better Humans","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThou Shalt Not Be Horrible.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eImagine for a moment what the world might look like if we as people of faith, morality, and conscience actually aspired to this mantra.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat if we were fully burdened to create a world that was more loving and equitable than when we arrived?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat if we invited one another to share in wide-open, fearless, spiritual communities truly marked by compassion and interdependence?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhat if we daily challenged ourselves to live a faith that simply made us better humans?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eJohn Pavlovitz explores how we can embody this \u003cem\u003ekinder\u003c\/em\u003e kind of spirituality where we humbly examine our belief system to understand how it might compel us to act in less-than-loving ways toward others.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis simple phrase, \"Thou Shalt Not Be Horrible,\" could help us practice what we preach by creating a world where: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003espiritual community provides a sense of belonging where all people are received as we are;\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ethe most important question we ask of a religious belief is not \u003cem\u003eIs it true?\u003c\/em\u003e but rather, \u003cem\u003eis it helpful?\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eit is morally impossible to pledge complete allegiance to both Jesus and America simultaneously;\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ethe way we treat others is the most tangible and meaningful expression of our belief system.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eIf God Is Love, Don't Be a Jerk\u003c\/em\u003e, John Pavlovitz examines the bedrock ideas of our religion: the existence of hell, the utility of prayer, the way we treat LGBTQ people, the value of anger, and other doctrines to help all of us take a good, honest look at how the beliefs we hold can shape our relationships with God and our fellow humans--and to make sure that love has the last, loudest word.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePavlovitz, John:\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e - \u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJohn Pavlovitz\u003c\/strong\u003e is a blogger, author, and pastor based in North Carolina. His blog, \u003cem\u003eStuff That Needs to Be Said, \u003c\/em\u003e recently surpassed one hundred million views. His previous books include \u003cem\u003eA Bigger Table\u003c\/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003eHope and Other Superpowers, \u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eLow.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Westminster John Knox Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50627167387922,"sku":"9780664266844","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_41078d36-f8aa-4454-829c-7f1f2c7e6d17.jpg?v=1732672065","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/if-god-is-love-dont-be-a-jerk-finding-a-faith-that-makes-us-better-humans-9780664266844","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}