MSI Press Blog

  Today's Publisher's Pride is When Liberty Enslaves by Jerry Aveta, which reached #284 in campaigns & elections and #318 in abolition history of the US. Book Description There is a common experience between our experiences today and those before the Civil War many years ago.  The effect of the intersection of faith and politics during these two experiences has had on our elections and our governance is uncanny in their similarities.  Both times an election insurrection was stopped by the sitting vice president.  Both times had people of the same faith on both sides of the social issues of the day claiming God’s favor and willing to divide the nation over those competing positions. Part 1 of this writing focuses on the Civil War era and how liberty centered around the issue of equality.  Some people of faith believed all men were equal, some did not. Part 2 focuses on our present times and how liberty centers on the sanctity of life concerning abortion and ...

  Not everyone who steps away from organized religion is rejecting faith. Many are simply seeking a more direct, personal way to grow — one that doesn’t depend on institutions or rituals, but on attentiveness to the divine in daily life. Leaving church can feel like losing structure, community, and rhythm. Yet for many, it becomes an invitation to rediscover what spiritual growth really means: not belonging to a system, but belonging to God. 1. They Stay Open to Change Spiritual growth outside the church isn’t static. Some people eventually return to church, finding renewed meaning in its traditions. Others never want to. Still others discover new forms of community — small circles of friends, online gatherings, or quiet partnerships that don’t resemble church at all. The point is not the destination. The point is staying spiritually awake — alert to grace, receptive to transformation, willing to be changed by love. 2. They Practice Awareness in Ordinary Life Without formal liturgy...

  A theological anatomy for a restless body If Christianity in America were a living organism, it would be a middle-aged patient with strong bones but chronic inflammation — still walking, still speaking, but coughing through the night. Its heart beats faithfully, yet its limbs don’t always move in sync. The diagnosis depends on which part of the body you examine. ❤️ The Heart: Still Beating, But Unevenly The heart of American Christianity — its devotion, its worship, its longing for transcendence — remains vigorous. Churches still sing, pray, and feed the hungry. But the rhythm is irregular. Evangelical megachurches pulse with adrenaline; small rural parishes beat slowly, sometimes faintly. The heart is strong, but arrhythmic — alternating between zeal and exhaustion. 🧠 The Mind: Fragmented Consciousness The Christian mind in 2026 is divided between Catholic memory and Protestant imagination . Catholicism acts like the cerebral cortex — structured, ritualized, and deeply histo...

  Religion has always promised peace — peace with God, peace with others, peace within. Yet for many, it also stirs conflict: between belief and doubt, belonging and individuality, tradition and conscience. In 2026, that tension feels sharper than ever. Faith communities are splintered, doctrines debated, and spiritual seekers often stand at the crossroads between comfort and authenticity. Inner peace and religion are intertwined, but not identical. 1. Religion offers structure for peace Rituals, prayers, and sacred rhythms give the mind a place to rest. They remind us that life has order, meaning, and continuity. For many, this structure anchors the soul — a daily return to stillness amid chaos. Peace grows when the heart recognizes a pattern larger than itself. 2. Religion can also disturb peace When faith becomes fear — fear of punishment, exclusion, or error — the inner life contracts. Dogma can silence curiosity; judgment can replace compassion. Peace cannot coexist with anxie...