Table of Contents

The following is the Table of Contents for Ascend. Each chapter is four to six pages in length: Introduction Love, Grace, and Peace to You How to Use This Book 1. God Speaks to a Longing in the Human Heart | Knowledge of God and Revelation Backstory: A Look at the Major World Religions Profile: Abraham In the Media: Extraterrestrial Life 2. From Age to Age God Gathers a People to Himself | The Hebrew Testament Backstory: What Is the Bible? Profile: Hosea In the Media: Evolution 3. Revelation Is Alive and Working in Our Own Lives | Scripture and Tradition Backstory: How the Canon of Scripture Came About Profile: Moses In the Media: Bible Translations 4. God Believes in Us Before We Believe in Him | Faith Backstory: A Christian Manifesto Profile: Paul In the Media: Atheism 5. God Is Love | God the Father Backstory: Experiencing the Trinity in Our Lives Profile: Josephine Bakhita In the Media: Spiritual but Not Religious 6. Jesus Changes the World | The Son of God Backstory: All You Need Is Love Profile: The Samaritan Woman In the Media: The Da Vinci Code 7. The Breath of God Gives Life | The Holy Spirit Backstory: How You Can Be a Wise Person Profile: Stephen In the Media: Speaking in Tongues 8. The Kingdom of God Is Here and Now | The Teachings and Ministry of Jesus Backstory: The Upside Down World of the Beatitudes Profile: Peter In the Media: An Eye for an Eye 9. God Always Wins | The Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Backstory: Is Death Beautiful? Profile: Mary Magdalene In the Media: Anti-Semitism 10. We Don’t Choose God, God Chooses Us | Grace, Free Will and Sin Backstory: The Struggle between Good and Evil Profile: Dietrich Bonhoeffer In the Media: Punishment on Earth 11. How We Show Respect to God | Commandments 1-3 Backstory: Afraid of God Profile: The Roman Martyrs In the Media: American Exceptionalism 12. How We Act Justly toward Others | Commandments 4-10 Backstory: God’s Justice System Profile: Thomas More In the Media: The Death Penalty 13. We Are Made for Glory | Heaven and Hell Backstory: How to Be Happy Profile: Joseph Bernardin In the Media: Ghosts and Mediums 14. God Invites Us to Conversation | Prayer Backstory: The Lord’s Prayer Profile: Teresa of Ávila In the Media: The Prosperity Gospel 15. Following in the Footsteps of Jesus | Discipleship Backstory: Service Is Standard, Not an Option Profile: Francis and Clare of Assisi In the Media: The Environment and Animal Rights 16. We Are the Body of Christ | The Church Backstory: Christianity Is Divided and Wounded Profile: John XXIII In the Media: Christian Nation 17. We Are Each Called to Serve | Church Ministries and Roles Backstory: The Good News Profile: Teresa of Kolkata In the Media: Clerical Abuse 18. The Lord Hears the Cry of the Poor | Social Justice Backstory: The Prophets and Their Message to Us Profile: Bartolomé de las Casas In the Media: War and Peace 19. We Have Died to Sin and Risen to a New Life | Sacraments of Initiation Backstory: We Are Saved as a Community Profile: Matteo Ricci In the Media: Baptism by Immersion 20. God Calls Each of Us to Our Own Way of Life | Sacraments of Vocation Backstory: Vocation Is about Relationships Profile: Ignatius of Loyola In the Media: Celibacy 21. God Heals Us | Sacraments of Healing Backstory: Does Suffering Have Meaning? Profile: The Trappists of Tibhirine In the Media: Faith Healers 22. Our Celebration Knows No End | The Liturgy Backstory: We Love to Celebrate and We Celebrate to Love Profile: Miguel Pro In the Media: Christmas Consumerism 23. We Stand on the Shoulders of Those Who Came Before Us | The Saints Backstory: You Are Made to Be Holy Profile: Dorothy Day In the Media: Angels 24. She Pondered These Things in Her Heart | Mary Backstory: Our Spirits Rejoice in God Our Savior Profile: Joseph In the Media: Apparitions of Mary 25. We Pass on a Gift of Great Price to Our Children | Raising Children in the Faith Backstory: Should You Have Children Profile: Takashi Nagai In the Media: Annulments 26. You Are the Light of the World | Current Issues Backstory: Morality Is about Right and Wrong Profile: The Jesuits of the Guaraní In the Media: Islam 27. We Open Ourselves to the Modern World | The Second Vatican Council Backstory: Counter-Reformation: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Profile: John Henry Newman In the Media: Schism 28. We Look Forward to the End of Time | The Second Coming Backstory: Trust God Profile: Mychal Judge In the Media: The Rapture and Armageddon Choose the Red Pill | Dismissal Profile: Black Elk (Heȟáka Sápa) Learn More Profile: Thomas Merton What Do You Really Think? | Discussion Questions Profile: Catherine of Siena A Vocabulary of Faith | Glossary Profile: Thérèse of Lisieux Sources Image Credits Acknowledgments