MSI Press Blog

  Saint Augustine of Hippo (354–430) was one of the most influential Christian thinkers in Western history — a philosopher, theologian, bishop, and writer whose works shaped Christian doctrine for centuries. 🕊️ Who Saint Augustine Was Born: November 13, 354, in Tagaste (modern Algeria). Died: August 28, 430, in Hippo Regius. Roles: Bishop of Hippo, Latin Church Father, Doctor of the Church. Major Works: Confessions , The City of God , On Christian Doctrine , On the Trinity . Intellectual Range: Philosophy, theology, ethics, biblical interpretation, and the nature of human society. Influence: Considered the most significant Christian thinker after St. Paul. 📜 His Story: A Life of Restlessness, Conversion, and Purpose Augustine’s life is a dramatic arc — from youthful ambition to spiritual awakening. 1. A restless youth seeking meaning He grew up brilliant but spiritually unsettled. He pursued rhetoric, worldly success, and pleasure. He joined Manichaeism , a dualistic relig...

  This week editor's choice:   Blest Atheist by Elizabeth Mahlou Book Description: As a young child, outraged by the hypocrisy she finds in a church that does nothing to alleviate the physical and sexual abuse she experiences on a regular basis, Beth delivers an accusatory youth sermon and gets her family expelled from the church. Having locked the door on God, Beth goes on to raise a family of seven children, learn 17 languages, and enjoy a career that takes her to NASA, Washington, and 24 countries. All the time, however, God keeps knocking at the door, protecting and blessing her, which she realizes only decades later. Ultimately, Beth finds God in a very simple yet most unusual way. A very human story, Blest Atheist encompasses the greatest literary themes of all time – alienation, redemption, and even the miraculous. The author’s life experiences, both tragic and tremendous, result in a spiritual journey containing significant ups and downs that ultimately yield gr...

  This week editor's choice:   Blest Atheist by Elizabeth Mahlou Book Description: As a young child, outraged by the hypocrisy she finds in a church that does nothing to alleviate the physical and sexual abuse she experiences on a regular basis, Beth delivers an accusatory youth sermon and gets her family expelled from the church. Having locked the door on God, Beth goes on to raise a family of seven children, learn 17 languages, and enjoy a career that takes her to NASA, Washington, and 24 countries. All the time, however, God keeps knocking at the door, protecting and blessing her, which she realizes only decades later. Ultimately, Beth finds God in a very simple yet most unusual way. A very human story, Blest Atheist encompasses the greatest literary themes of all time – alienation, redemption, and even the miraculous. The author’s life experiences, both tragic and tremendous, result in a spiritual journey containing significant ups and downs that ultimately yield gr...

  Today's Publisher's Pride is Since Sinai by Shannon Gonyou, which reached #81 in biographies of Judaism. Since Sinai has appeared in Amazon best-selling categories nearly every week since its release. Book Description: Raised in a heavily Catholic suburb of Detroit, Michigan, Shannon grew up focusing on two things: how to do enough good deeds to get into heaven and how to stay pure enough to escape hell. In college, she followed many of her peers into an Evangelical church known for guitars, drum, religious-based shame, and the idea that without Jesus she was nothing. But when she encountered Judaism on that same campus, a spark ignited within her and refused to be put out. Judaism felt obvious, familiar. After a falling out with her biological mother and two miscarriages, she found the courage to send the most important email of her life: she asked the local Jews by Choice program to accept her as a student. Honest and unflinching, Shannon's story of coming home to Jud...