{"product_id":"when-religion-matters-practicing-healing-in-the-aftermath-of-war","title":"When Religion Matters: Practicing Healing in the Aftermath of War","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this review of When Religion Matters: Practicing Healing in the Aftermath of the Liberian Civil War, the reviewer finds a thoughtful, research-driven examination of how faith shapes survivors' healing. Written for readers who want an academic yet accessible study of religion, gender, and recovery, the book's single biggest contribution is its insistence that practitioners and scholars take survivors' own spiritual language seriously. Annie Hardison-Moody frames lived religion as central to understanding postconflict healing, making this a valuable resource for anyone studying religion, trauma, or women's experiences in war.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eKey Features\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFieldwork-based insight:\u003c\/strong\u003e Draws on participatory fieldwork with a Liberian community in North Carolina to ground arguments in real women's testimonies and practices.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eInterdisciplinary approach:\u003c\/strong\u003e Combines postconflict feminist theory, practical theology, and womanist perspectives to offer a multifaceted view of healing after violence.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFocus on lived religion:\u003c\/strong\u003e Prioritizes how women live, profess, and practice healing beyond institutional forms, giving voice to personal spiritual narratives.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAttention to practice:\u003c\/strong\u003e Examines concrete rituals and everyday practices that survivors report as meaningful, which can inform policy and pastoral care.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRelevance for practitioners:\u003c\/strong\u003e Offers arguments that can shape international conversations about women, violence, and recovery by insisting religion cannot be ignored.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis book is best for scholars, graduate students, chaplains, and practitioners who want a nuanced study of how religion intersects with gendered violence and recovery. Readers interested in qualitative, participatory research and in the ways survivors articulate divine presence will find the work especially rewarding.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThose looking for a handbook of therapeutic techniques or a broad survey of the Liberian civil war's history should look elsewhere; the focus here is on religion and healing through feminist and womanist theoretical lenses rather than on military or political analysis.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003ePros \u0026amp; Cons\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePros\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCareful participatory fieldwork provides authentic survivor perspectives on faith and healing.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInterdisciplinary framing ties together practical theology and feminist theory in a way useful for scholars and practitioners.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEmphasis on lived religious practice highlights often-overlooked forms of transformation and resilience.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCons\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003eThe book is theoretical and focused on religious practice, so readers seeking clinical protocols or a general history of the war may find it narrowly scoped.\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTitle\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWhen Religion Matters: Practicing Healing in the Aftermath of the Liberian Civil War\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAuthor\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAnnie Hardison-Moody\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSubject\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReligion, healing, gender and postconflict recovery\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eApproach\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eParticipatory fieldwork and interdisciplinary theory\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFocus community\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLiberian community in North Carolina\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTheoretical lenses\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePostconflict feminist theory, practical theology, womanist theory\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eOur Verdict\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen Religion Matters is a focused, well-argued study that convinces readers religion must be part of conversations about healing after wartime violence. Scholars and faith-based practitioners will gain valuable perspectives from its participatory research and interdisciplinary framing, making it a worthwhile purchase for those studying religion, gender, and recovery.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes this book include original fieldwork?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYes. The author draws on participatory fieldwork with a Liberian community in North Carolina to inform the analysis.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs the book practical for pastoral care?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIt offers insights into survivors' spiritual practices that can inform pastoral responses, though it is not a clinical manual.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat disciplines does the book draw on?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe study combines postconflict feminist theory, practical theology, and feminist and womanist theory and theology.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Contributor Annie Hardison-Moody","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48240990716123,"sku":"1498286445","price":40.88,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0724\/1043\/1707\/files\/71vJFZ0nloL._SL1500.jpg?v=1776276684","url":"https:\/\/gearmusthave.com\/products\/when-religion-matters-practicing-healing-in-the-aftermath-of-war","provider":"GearMustHave","version":"1.0","type":"link"}