Shadowlands Selections: November 2024
By the Society for Women of Letters Leadership Council
“Shadowlands Selections” is a monthly column of recommendations from the Leadership Council of the Society for Women of Letters (Melissa Cain Travis, Julie Miller, Lanie Anderson, Rebekah Valerius, and Megan Rials).
This column is usually reserved for paid subscribers of Shadowlands Dispatch and/or members of The Society for Women of Letters. However, we’ve made some changes to “Shadowland Selections,” so we’re sharing this month’s recommendations with all of our readers. If you’d like to receive “Shadowland Selections” every month and support our work, click below to become a paid subscriber today!
In November, these selections are renewing our minds, captivating our imaginations, and challenging our thinking. We hope you enjoy!
Rebuilders Podcast: “Five Ministry Dynamics in a Changing World” - In a world of social media, ideologically driven journalism, and artificial intelligence, what are some ways church leaders can increase the discernment capacity of those they lead? What effects does an aging Baby Boomer generation have on the local congregation? In this podcast, Mark Sayers, pastor of Red Church in Melbourne, Australia, answers these and other fascinating questions about five seismic shifts he sees happening across churches in the West.
Sound Faith 2024 - Two of our Leadership Council members, Dr. Melissa Cain Travis and Dr. Julie Miller, will be speaking at Sound Faith 2024, a two-day event in Escondido, California. Here’s the great news: even if you can’t attend this event in person, you can purchase the live stream for only $10.00! Topics include God’s existence, faith and science, and Jesus’ resurrection. Click here to purchase your ticket.
A Crack in Creation: Gene Editing and the Unthinkable Power to Control Evolution by Jennifer A. Doudna and Samuel H. Sternberg - In 2015, biologist Jennifer Doudna called for a moratorium on her own scientific discovery. In 2022, Doudna won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for her discovery and development of gene editing, perhaps one of the century’s most important discoveries. In A Crack in Creation, Doudna explores the weighty responsibilities and consequences—intended or not—that inevitably follow from DNA manipulation.
Pints with Aquinas: “A New Era of Apologetics, Ecumenism, and Arguments for Faith (Gavin Ortlund)” - Dr. Gavin Ortlund, a Protestant, and Matt Fradd, a Catholic, have an outstanding, ecumenical conversation about a new era Christians are entering for apologetics and evangelism.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig - What if a library existed at the edge of the universe that allowed you to make different decisions in your past? Haig’s novel is an imaginative exploration of what makes a person who they are and how our choices shape us in some unexpected ways. The audiobook is read by well-known English actress Cary Mulligan.
Why Beauty Matters (2009) by Roger Scruton - During his career, Scruton became the voice upholding the importance of beauty and how it can re-enchant the world. Because of relativism’s strong pull, beauty has become a merely subjective judgement for many. In this documentary, Scruton argues that beauty is a real and universal value anchored in our rational nature.
“10 Things You Should Know about Your Conscience” by J. D. Crowley and Andrew David Naselli - In this excerpt from their book Conscience: What It Is, How to Train It, and Loving Those Who Differ, Crowley and Naselli frustrate pop culture’s depiction of the conscience as a demon on one shoulder and an angel on the other, waging “war” about what you should do next. You’re certain to learn something new on what the scriptures say about the conscience.
The Earthsea Trilogy by Ursula Le Guin - This trilogy is a classic, world-building fantasy that all lovers of the genre will appreciate. Readers will see how LeGuin was inspired by writers like J.R.R. Tolkien, as well as how she inspired writers that came after her, such as J.K. Rowling. The audiobooks are very well-produced.
Clear Thinking in a Messy World by Kenneth Samples and Mark Perez - Available for pre-order this fall, Clear Thinking in a Messy World is an excellent and accessible book on learning to reason well in our increasingly confusing culture.
Science with Sabine - A physicist and science popularizer, Sabine Hossenfelder’s YouTube channel features science and technology summaries and updates.
This is a great selection, thank you!