Comparative religion Books

Book SynopsisThe Gospel of the Holy Twelve presents vegetarian versions of traditional teachings and events described in the canonical New Testament. The first collected volume was issued by The Order of At-One-Ment and United Templars Society. The explanatory preface referred to an ancient source manuscript "preserved in the Monasteries of Thibet". An irish clergyman claims to have discovered in a Tibetan Monastery the Original Gospel from which the present Four Gospels are derived. 

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Book Synopsis''I have heard the supreme mystery, yoga, from Krishna, from the lord of yoga himself.''Thus ends the Bhagavad Gita, the most famous episode from the great Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata. In its eighteen short chapters Krishna''s teaching leads the warrior Arjuna from perplexity to understanding and correct action, in the process raising and developing many key themes from the history of Indian religions.The Bhagavad Gita is the best known and most widely read Hindu religious text in the Western world. It considers social and religious duty, the nature of sacrifice, the nature of action, the means to liberation, and the relationship of human beings to God. It culminates in an awe-inspiring vision of Krishna as God omnipotent, disposer and destroyer of the universe.ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Trade Review'an excellent primer in the Hindu belief system' * Daily Telegraph, October 1994 *'freshly accessible to a Western readership...The presentation is both scholarly and inviting. * Good Book Guide, January 1995 *

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Book SynopsisPresents an introduction to the spiritual pathways of the major world religions, exploring the core beliefs, values and practices of each tradition. Discussing contemporary issues such as post-modernism and the emergence of a 'new paradigm', this book explores the importance of religion in people's lives to provide direction in the society.Trade Review"A wise and seasoned guide, Duncan Ferguson leads readers through the dense and often confusing thicket of the world's religions into spaces of understanding and appreciation. With unparalleled clarity and insight, this work lays bare the life-affirming and the life-denying potential of the world's great religious traditions. This lucid exploration of spiritual pathways from animism to Zoroaster shows how religious traditions can and should contribute to the development of world peace. Ferguson's book is a must read for those who desire to build bridges of understanding between the religious communities of the world rather than to throw up dividing walls of hostility." - Rev. Dr. Gordon S. Mikoski, Assistant Professor of Christian Education, Princeton Theological Seminary, USA, and President, Association of Practical TheologyDuncan Ferguson is similarly captivated by the best that religions have to offer, but also challenges naive readers to take seriously the less-than-best aspects. -- Theology Today (Volume 68, No. 4)Table of ContentsIntroduction; Part I The Context and Approach to the Study of Religion and Spirituality; 1. The Spiritual Quest; Part II Spiritual Pathways Rooted in Nature and Culture; 2. The Indigenous Wisdom Traditions; 3. Classical Expressions of Culture-Based Religions; 4. Current Expressions of Nature/Culture Religions; Part III Spiritual Pathways of Transcendent Monism; 5. Spiritual Pathways within Hinduism; 6. Spiritual Pathways within Buddhism; 7. Spiritual Pathways of within Confucianism and Taoism; Part IV The Spiritual Pathways of the Abrahamic Monotheistic Religions; 8. Spiritual Pathways within Judaism; 9. Spiritual Pathways within Christianity; 10. Spiritual Pathways within Islam; Part V The Common Elements of Life-Giving Spiritualities; 11. Finding a Spiritual Pathway Bibliography Index.

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Book SynopsisA fascinating analysis of the evolution of religion from the internationally renowned evolutionary psychologistWhen did humans develop spiritual thought? What is religion''s evolutionary purpose? And in our increasingly secular world, why has it endured?Every society in the history of humanity has lived with religion. In How Religion Evolved, evolutionary psychologist Professor Robin Dunbar tracks its origins back to what he terms the ''mystical stance'' - the aspect of human psychology that predisposes us to believe in a transcendent world, and which makes an encounter with the spiritual possible. As he explores world religions and their many derivatives, as well as religions of experience practised by hunter-gatherer societies since time immemorial, Dunbar argues that this instinct is not a peculiar human quirk, an aberration on our otherwise efficient evolutionary journey. Rather, religion confers an advantage: it can benefit our individual health anTrade ReviewStimulating and hugely ambitious... A compelling intellectual workout. Dunbar offers a powerful central argument, an excellent survey of alternative theories and a wide range of vivid and illuminating examples... The story he tells is important to us all -- Matthew Reisz * Observer *Dunbar's intellectual interests are far-ranging, and he is as sure-footed talking about human cognition as congregation sizes... How Religion Evolved is learned, readable and sweeping (in the best sense of that word)... Hard to argue with -- Nick Spencer * Financial Times *When one of the most creative, insightful, and versatile evolutionary thinkers of our time turns his scientific gaze toward religion, it is no surprise that he delivers a landmark book that completely reshapes our understanding of religious belief, experience, and practice. In How Religion Evolved, Dunbar not only raises fundamental questions that previous scholars of religion have ignored, he offers novel solutions in a comprehensive narrative that is as engaging as it is informative. A gifted scientist and writer has given anyone interested in religion a genuine gift -- Richard Sosis, James Barnett Professor of Humanistic Anthropology, University of ConnecticutA book with impressive intellectual sweep -- Clive Cookson * Financial Times *

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Book SynopsisJohn Bowker was Dean of Trinity College, Cambridge from 1984 to 1991 and is currently a Fellow of Gresham College, London and Honorary Canon of Canterbury Cathedral. He is also Adjunct Professor of Religion at North Carolina State University. Professor Bowker's many books include the DK titles God: A Brief History and The Complete Bible Handbook. He lives in Cambridge.

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Book SynopsisThe history of the Russian Orthodox Church in Australia is diligently chronicled within the wider context of the place of Russians in the dominantly anglophone society of what was at first a British colony and then an independent state. It begins with the first contact of Russian naval ships with the Australian continent in the early nineteenth century and progresses through to the establishment of the first parish of Orthodox believers in Melbourne in the 1890s and ultimately the creation of a diocese. The catalyst for this was the arrival of thousands of Russians fleeing their homeland via Siberia after the Bolshevik revolution of 1917. For these disposed refugees Australia was a haven of safety and the Russian Orthodox Church a symbol of the Motherland they had lost. They were later joined by successive waves of fellow Russian after World War II and then the fall of communism in 1991. Together they created a unified organism, retained a sense of heritage and purpose and taking their rightful place in Australia's multi-cultural society.In writing this work the author has drawn on extensive archival sources spread over several continents together with his own life experience, having arrived as a small boy in Australia over six decades ago. First published in 2006 this new edition includes an added chapter recounting the ongoing story from the beginning of the twenty-first century through 2020.Table of ContentsFOREWORD INTRODUCTION 1 A RUSSIAN PRESENCE 2 REVOLUTION 3 BRISBANE 4 SYDNEY 5 MELBOURNE 6 ECCLESIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES 7 ARCHBISHOP THEODORE RAFALSKY 8 ARCHBISHOP SAVA RAEVSKY 9 ARCHBISHOP ATHANASY MARTOS 10 ARCHBISHOP THEODOSY PUTILIN 11 RUSSIAN MONASTICISM IN AUSTRALIA 12 ARCHBISHOP PAUL PAVLOV 13 BISHOP DANIEL ALEXANDROV 14 ARCHBISHOP HILARION KAPRAL 15 CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE FUTURE 16 A POSITIVE DIRECTION NOTES APPENDIX BIBLIOGRAPHY ARCHIVAL SOURCES INDEX

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Book SynopsisThe Quakers are a fascinating religious group both in their origins and in the variety of reinterpretations of the faith since. Emerging from the social unrest of the English civil war, the Quakers have gone on to have an influence way beyond their numbers: be it their continued stance against war or their pioneering work against slavery. At the same time, Quakers maintain a distinctive worship method to achieve the direct encounter with God which has been at the heart of the movement since its beginning. This book charts the history of Quakerism and its present-day diversity, and outlines its approach to worship, belief, theology and language, and ecumenism.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of Contents1. Who are the Quakers? ; 2. The History of Quakerism ; 3. Worship ; 4. Belief ; 5. Theology and Language ; 6. Ecumenism ; 7. The Future of Quakerism ; Timeline ; Further Reading ; Glossary ; References

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Book SynopsisThis set of resources provides readers with a basic introduction to Islam. Ayman Ibrahim helps readers learn about Muslims, their beliefs, their scripture, their prophet, and key Islamic concepts and terms. Volumes include: · A Concise Guide to the Quran: Answering Thirty Critical Questions · A Concise Guide to the Life of Muhammad: Answering Thirty Key Questions · A Concise Guide to Islam: Defining Key Concepts and Terms A Concise Guide to the Quran offers a clear and concise guide to the history and contents of the Quran, covering thirty common questions. A Concise Guide to the Life of Muhammad answers thirty common questions about Muhammad, providing an accessible guide to his life and religious significance. A Concise Guide to Islam presents explanations for more than 100 important Islamic concepts and terms. This set is valuable for students of Islam, lay readers interested in Islam, and those moving to or visiting locations where Islam is prevalent.

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Book SynopsisMost people have heard of the Celts-the elusive, ancient tribal people who resided in present-day England, Ireland, Scotland and France. Paradoxically characterized as both barbaric and innocent, the Celts appeal to the modern world as a symbol of a bygone era, a world destroyed by the ambition of empire and the spread of Christianity throughout Western Europe. Despite the pervasive cultural and literary influence of the Celts, shockingly little is known of their way of life and beliefs, because very few records of their stories exist. In this book, for the first time, Philip Freeman brings together the best stories of Celtic mythology.Everyone today knows about the gods and heroes of the ancient Greeks, such as Zeus, Hera, and Hercules, but how many people have heard of the Gaulish god Lugus or the magical Welsh queen Rhiannon or the great Irish warrior Cú Chulainn? We still thrill to the story of the Trojan War, but the epic battles of the Irish Táin Bó Cuailgne are known only to a few. And yet those who have read the stories of Celtic myth and legend-among them writers like J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis-have been deeply moved and influenced by these amazing tales, for there is nothing in the world quite like them. In these stories a mysterious and invisible realm of gods and spirits exists alongside and sometimes crosses over into our own human world; fierce women warriors battle with kings and heroes, and even the rules of time and space can be suspended. Captured in vivid prose these shadowy figures--gods, goddesses, and heroes--come to life for the modern reader.Trade Review"Freeman s Celtic Mythology is a satisfying presentation of a decent selection of Irish and Welsh myths and tales from both pagan and Christian sources...the Oxford hardback is smallish and well-designed. The introductions are short and sweet, as are the endnotes, and since Irish and Welsh names are tricky, a glossary is provided. This would be an excellent collection for introductory courses in Celtic Studies; it is also an entry point for anyone wanting to become familiar with these tales. Freeman's version is engaging, accessible, and faithful."--Reading Religion "Philip Freeman's book is a delight. This spirited retelling of the famous stories of the Celtic west serves as a brilliant introduction to the beliefs and values of the pagan and early Christian communities of Ireland and Wales. I can think of no better way to begin to explore the culture of the early Irish and Welsh." --Barry Cunliffe, author of Britain Begins "Philip Freeman brings to life the tales the ancient Celts told to each other, and what tales they were! Filled with passion, rage, bravery, and adventure, these stories are as exciting today as they were on the dark nights of the distant past. Heroes, heroines, gods and goddesses come to life in Philip Freeman's brilliant re-telling of these little-known but unforgettable stories." --Terry Golway, author of The Irish in AmericaTable of ContentsIntroduction: Who were the Celts? Pronunciation Guide Chapter One: The Earliest Celtic Gods Chapter Two: The Book of Invasions Chapter Three: The Wooing of Étaín Chapter Four: Cú Chulainn and the Táin Bó Cuailnge Chapter Five: Tales from the Ulster Cycle Chapter Six: Stories of the Irish Otherworld Chapter Seven: Finn the Outlaw Chapter Eight: Welsh Mythology-The Mabinogi Chapter Nine: Welsh Stories and Sagas Chapter Ten: Christian Mythology Glossary Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisBelievers from a variety of faith communities were asked to assess how the Covid pandemic has affected their faith. The anthology collects their responses to key questions, such as: How does your faith explain why such events occur? How has it affected your religious practices? What changes has it necessitated? What differences might we expect once the pandemic is over? What have we learned from it? Two exponents of each major religion and a number of minority faiths comment on these issues, combined with a concluding essay by the editors assessing the overall impact of the pandemic on religion worldwide. Faiths explored include Jewish, Christian, Islamic, Hindu, Buddhist, Shinto, Sikh Baha'i, Jain, African Traditional Religion, Zoroastrian, Unitarian, Jehovah's Witnesses and Christian Science.Trade ReviewFor religions of all kinds, the imperative to remember is of great importance. As we tentatively move into a post-Covid society, it is easy to forget the impact the pandemic had on our understanding and practice of faith and spirituality. This remarkable collection of reflections from a very wide range of traditions should serve as a multi-faceted reminder to the deep religious and ethical issues which Covid created, uncovered and amplified. * Michael Ipgrave OBE, Bishop of Lichfield, UK *By sharing experiences of the Covid Pandemic, people of different countries and beliefs will be better prepared to act together in the event of future global threats to peace and prosperity. * Marcus Braybrooke, Former President of the World Congress of Faiths, UK *George D. Chryssides and Dan Cohn-Sherbok have assembled an informed collection of contributors who provide a comparative window into how adherents of a wide variety of religious traditions responded to the global pandemic. Readers will learn not only how differently the religions understood and responded to the traumatic events, but also how united the human species is in drawing upon religion in times of need. * John W. Morehead, Director, Evangelical Chapter of the Foundation for Religious Diplomacy/Multifaith Matters, USA *A collection of insightful responses and reflections from a wide variety of religious voices that are valuable in themselves and, as Rowan Williams says in the foreword, “They suggest that the process of distilling what is to be learned from the pandemic will need spiritual insight, not just a superficial optimism about doing better next time." * David Steers, Editor of Faith and Freedom, UK *Table of ContentsNotes on Contributors Foreword, Rowan Williams, Former Archbishop of Canterbury Acknowledgements Table of Acronyms 1. Covid and Religion – Christopher Lewis, (Dean Emeritus, Christchurch Cathedral, Oxford, UK) 2. Pandemics and Jewish Responses – Oliver Leaman (University of Kentucky, USA) 3. Some Jewish Perspectives from the United States – David J. Zucker (Rabbi and Author, UK) 4. Covid, Communion and Christianity – Clare Amos (World Council of Churches, Switzerland) 5. We Can’t Forget: Conservative Protestants in the COVID-19 Pandemic – Camille Kaminski Lewis (Furman University, USA) 6. “What people's hands have earned”: Islamic perspectives on Covid – Usama Hasan (Al Quran Society, UK) 7. Glimpses into Islamic Perspectives and Practice – Farhana Mayer (University of Oxford, UK) 8. Turning to Medicine is Not Turning Away from God: Hindu Resilience in a Pandemic – Anantanand Rambachan (St Olaf College, Minnesota, USA) 9. Karma, Chanting, Love, and Zoom; Hindu Responses to a Pandemic – Shaunaka Rishi Das (Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, UK) and Utsa Bose 10. The Buddha’s Prescription for the World: How People Used Buddhism to Cope with the Pandemic – Bogodá Seelawimala (Head of the London Buddhist Vihara and the Chief Sangha Nayaka of Great Britain, UK) 11. Covid and Theravada Buddhism – Peter Harvey (University of Sunderland, UK) 12. Fostering Everyday Culture at Shinto Shrines under Covid – Taishi Kato (Shinto Priest, Hattori Tenjingu Shrine, Osaka, Japan) 13. The Significance of Matsuri festivals in Shinto during Epidemics – Koji Suga (Kokugakuin University, Japan) 14. Covid and Sewa: Practising Sikhi during a Global Pandemic – Tejpaul Singh Bainiwal (University of Southern California Riverside, USA) 15. Sikh Scriptemics during Pandemic – Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh (Colby College, USA) 16. Navigating the Covid-19 Pandemic: Building Resilience: Reflections of a Bahá’í – Wendi Momen (University of Derby, UK) 17. World-Embracing Vision Against World-Threatening Pandemic – George Merchant Ballentyne (Leicester Council of Faiths, UK) 18. Jains and Covid-19 – Vinod Kapashi (World Congress of Faiths, UK) 19. Jain Perceptions of the Pandemic – Kumarpal Desai 20. African Religion – Vibrant amid Covid-19 in Eswatini – Hebron L Ndlovu (University of Swaziland, Swaziland) 21. Opening our eyes: Covid-19 and Indigenous Funeral Processes in African Traditional Religion – Nokuzola Mndende (Nelson Mandela University, South Africa) 22. Zarathustra’s Wisdom: Accepting Natural Consequences – Jehangir Sarosh (The World Council of Religions for Peace) 23. Transforming Challenges into Progress: A Zoroastrian Perspective – Karishma Koka (University of Cambridge, UK) 24. Unitarians and global catastrophe: a pandemic, a war and a climate emergency – Feargus O’Connor (World Congress of Faiths, UK) 25. Unitarian Universalists Face Covid: Challenges, Surprises, and New Pathways – Jay Atkinson (Starr King School, USA) 26. When ‘No Resident Will Say: “I Am Sick”’ – The Global Religious Response of Jehovah’s Witnesses to the Covid-19 Pandemic – Jolene Chu (Archivist, World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses, USA) 27. How one Jehovah’s Witness community negotiated the ride of the ‘pale horse’ – Gary Perkins (Independent Scholar, UK) 28. Practising my Christian Science Faith during the Covid-19 Pandemic – Shirley Paulson (Formerly Head of Ecumenical Affairs, Christian Science Church, USA) 29. Personal Experiences of the Christian Science Faith during Covid – Susan Searle, (Jewish Christian Muslim Association of Australia, Australia) 30. Covid and Theology – Dan Cohn-Sherbok 31. What Have We Learned? – George D. Chryssides Index

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Book SynopsisLearn about the beliefs, history, and culture of the world's most popular religions World Religions All-In-One For Dummies offers an easy starting point for anyone curious to investigate religious and cultural differences. In terms anyone can understand, this book explains the foundations of major world religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, Mormonism, Catholicism, and Taoism. You can choose the religions you'd like to focus on or read about them all. You'll learn about beliefs and practices specific to each, develop an understanding of how religion affects people's lives, and become a more informed global citizen. Awareness of different religions and how they function in society helps people develop tolerance and respect for others. World religion is also a fascinating topic, and you'll enjoy expanding your mind with this fun Dummies guide. Get an overview of the history, beliefs, and practices of the world's major religionsUnderstand the similarities and differences between different sects of each religionExpand your horizons and go beyond the common misconceptions and myths about religionGain a better understanding of peers, neighbors, coworkers, and friends of different faiths This comprehensive guide is the perfect companion for those beginning their exploration into faith, or for those just needing a quick reference tool.

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Book SynopsisAs a result of world events over the past few years, Islam has entered our consciousness in an unprecedented way. The Qur''an, guiding text for over one billion Muslims, is being looked to for answers to questions like: does the Qur''an promote peace and harmony or discord and conflict, does it contribute to pluralism or exclusivism, is its message spiritual or fanatical? Based on a profound study of the Sufi perspectives of the likes of Ibn ''Arabi, Rumi and Ghazali, The Other in the Light of the One is an attempt to answer the above questions and is an invitation to study the universality that is present in the Qur''an. Its aim is to relate some of the most profound interpretations of the Qur''an to philosophical and spiritual questions concerning interfaith dialogue.For Muslims, The Other in the Light of the One offers a pioneering view of da''wa, in that it allows them the tangible means of putting into practice the many Qur''anic verses that commend discoursing with others on the basis of ''the finest, most beautiful manner.''

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Book SynopsisWritten by a Russian philosopher and theologian, this book explores the differences between Christian philosophy and other systems and discusses the beliefs of sainted men and women, such as Francis of Assisi, Seraphim of Sarov, and Simeon the New Theologian.

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Book SynopsisJoseph Campbell, arguably the greatest mythologist of the twentieth century, was certainly one of our greatest storytellers. This masterfully crafted book interweaves conversations between Campbell and some of the people he inspired, including poet Robert Bly, anthropologist Angeles Arrien, filmmaker David Kennard, Doors drummer John Densmore, psychiatric pioneer Stanislov Grof, Nobel laureate Roger Guillemen, and others. Campbell reflects on subjects ranging from the origins and functions of myth, the role of the artist, and the need for ritual to the ordeals of love and romance. With poetry and humor, Campbell recounts his own quest and conveys the excitement of his lifelong exploration of our mythic traditions, what he called “the one great story of mankind.”

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Book SynopsisFor almost 1,500 years, the New Testament manuscripts were copied by hand––and mistakes and intentional changes abound in the competing manuscript versions. Religious and biblical scholar Bart Ehrman makes the provocative case that many of our widely held beliefs concerning the divinity of Jesus, the Trinity, and the divine origins of the Bible itself are the results of both intentional and accidental alterations by scribes. In this compelling and fascinating book, Ehrman shows where and why changes were made in our earliest surviving manuscripts, explaining for the first time how the many variations of our cherished biblical stories came to be, and why only certain versions of the stories qualify for publication in the Bibles we read today. Ehrman frames his account with personal reflections on how his study of the Greek manuscripts made him abandon his once ultra–conservative views of the Bible.

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Book SynopsisThis Very Short Introduction provides both the believer and non-believer with a balanced survey of the central questions of theology. David Ford''s approach draws us in to considering the principles underlying religious belief, including the centrality of salvation to most major religions, the concept of God in ancient, modern, and postmodern contexts, the challenge posed to theology by prayer and worship, and the issue of sin and evil. He also probes the nature of experience, knowledge, and wisdom in theology, and discusses what is involved in interpreting theological texts.In this new edition, Ford considers the contemporary relevance of theology, including the effect of globalization and digitized communication, examines the theological responses to change and development in science, considers the impact of increased engagement between Islam and the West, and looks at the development and importance of theology between the different faiths.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewIt is written in an extremely accesible, interesting and fresh style and this combined with its 'safely' othodox but balanced tone will make it a useful aid to assisting a range of people. * Ray Gaston, Theology November/December 1999 *Table of ContentsPreface ; Part 1: Describing the field ; 1. Introduction: Theology and the religions in transformation ; 2. Theology and religious studies: how is the field shaped? ; Part 2: Theological explorations ; 3. Thinking of God ; 4. Living before God: worship, ethics, and politics ; 5. Facing evil ; 6. Jesus Christ ; 7. Salvation - scope, intensity, and dialogues ; Part 3: Skills, disciplines, and methods ; 8. Through the past to the present: history and texts ; 9. Experience, reason, and wisdom ; Part 4: Prospects ; 10. Theology for the third millennium ; References ; Further reading

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Book Synopsis'An amazingly wide-ranging book, showing that the world's religious texts can be a force for good today' John Barton, author of A History of the BibleIn our increasingly secular world, holy texts are at best seen as irrelevant, and at worst as an excuse to incite violence, hatred and division. The Quran, the Torah and the Bible are often employed selectively to underwrite arbitrary and subjective views. They are believed to be divinely ordained; they are claimed to contain eternal truths. But as Karen Armstrong, a world authority on religious affairs, shows in this fascinating journey through millennia of history, this narrow reading of scripture is a relatively recent phenomenon. Armstrong argues that only by rediscovering an open engagement with their holy texts will the world’s religions be able to curtail arrogance and intolerance. And if scripture is used to engage with the world in more meaningful and compassionate ways, we will find that it still has a great deal to teach us.‘Magisterial… A dazzling accomplishment’ New York Times‘Glorious… Armstrong is the most articulate and generous-hearted exegete of religion writing in English at the present time’ A.N. Wilson, New StatesmanTrade Review'Karen Armstrong has written an amazingly wide-ranging book, showing that the world's religious texts can be a force for good today, rather than a cause of conflict. The scale of her knowledge never ceases to astonish' -- John Barton, author of A History of the BibleA triumph... Karen Armstrong is one of our great commentators on the sacred. In this book she explores the sacred texts with a scholar’s eye and an illuminating clarity suggesting how much their wisdom and lasting power are still needed today -- Salley Vickers[The Lost Art of Scripture] takes us on a glorious journey… Armstrong is the most articulate and generous-hearted exegete of religion writing in English at the present time -- AN Wilson * New Statesman *Rich and wide-ranging… [The Lost Art of Scripture] makes a fascinating read… a treasure chest of social and religious history. Armstrong’s lucid prose makes her many-stranded story remarkably straightforward to follow… a learned and stimulating book -- Teresa Morgan * Tablet *A remarkable book by a remarkable writer… the author’s mission is urgent in the light of the uses to which the world’s scriptures are sometimes put -- Rev Dr Neil Richardson * Methodist Recorder *The Lost Art of Scripture… exhibits [Armstrong’s] well-known and admired characteristics as a writer: an ability to be both authoritative on all the major faiths…a reasoned insistence that religion today is misunderstood, as much by the religious as by their critics; and a passionate appeal to our fractious and fractured world to embrace religion’s core message…compassion and respect for others -- Peter Stanford * Sunday Times *Magisterial ... a dazzling accomplishment, a reflection of an encyclopaedic knowledge of comparative religion and of a wisdom about spirituality in the human species * New York Times Book Review *Exhilarating, challenging and curiously comforting… [The Lost Art of Scripture has] been written not only with intellectual rigour and an accessible turn of phrase, but also with love -- Lucy Winkett * Prospect *One of our best living writers on religion * Financial Times *Karen Armstrong is a genius -- A.N. WilsonKaren Armstrong is one of the handful of wise and supremely intelligent commentators on religion -- Alain De BottonA fascinating excursion into neo-Gnosticism… Armstrong…has clearly done an enormous amount of reading and research to handle so skilfully the mass of material she surveys -- Jack Carrigan * Catholic Herald *[Armstrong] weaves…[a] truly vast history into a coherent and fascinating narrative… an interesting and very well-written book -- Gavin Flood * Church Times *An epic story with a polemical edge… [a] lucid account of the evolution of sacred text… The Lost Art of Scripture is an impressive achievement, presenting a wide sweep of global religious history in little more than five hundred pages… Armstrong is…an accomplished and fluent writer * Literary Review *

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Book SynopsisJoseph Campbell brought mythology to a mass audience. His bestselling books, including The Power of Myth and The Hero with a Thousand Faces, are the rare blockbusters that are also scholarly classics.While Campbell’s work reached wide and deep as he covered the world’s great mythological traditions, he never wrote a book on goddesses in world mythology. He did, however, have much to say on the subject. Between 1972 and 1986 he gave over twenty lectures and workshops on goddesses, exploring the figures, functions, symbols, and themes of the feminine divine, following them through their transformations across cultures and epochs.In this provocative volume, editor Safron Rossi—a goddess studies scholar, professor of mythology, and curator of collections at Opus Archives, which holds the Joseph Campbell archival manuscript collection and personal library—collects these lectures for the first time. In them, Campbell traces the evolution of the feminine divine from one Great Goddess to many, from Neolithic Old Europe to the Renaissance. He sheds new light on classical motifs and reveals how the feminine divine symbolizes the archetypal energies of transformation, initiation, and inspiration.

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Book SynopsisOffers everything you need to celebrate Mabon, including hands-on information for modern celebrations, spells and divination, recipes and crafts, invocations and prayers, rituals, and more!

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Book SynopsisThe centuries between 800 and 300 BC saw an explosion of new religious concepts. Their emergence is second only to man's harnessing of fire in fundamentally transforming our understanding of what it is to be human. But why did Socrates, Buddha, Confucius, Jeremiah, Lao Tzu and others all emerge in this five-hundred-year span? And why do they have such similar ideas about humanity?In The Great Transformation, Karen Armstrong examines this phenomenal period and the connections between this disparate group of philosophers, mystics and theologians.Trade Review"'A remarkable history... fascinating and highly readable... profoundly relevant.' Julie Wheelwright, Independent '[Armstrong] shows a formidable grasp of sacred history and biblical scholarship.' Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, The Times 'Armstrong writes with her customary elegance and lucidity... It would be hard not to learn a lot from this substantial book.' Diarmaid MacCulloch, Guardian 'This book deserves nothing but praise.' Bryan Appleyard, Sunday Times"

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Book SynopsisRitual is part of what it means to be human. Like sports, music, and drama, ritual defines and enriches culture, putting those who practice it in touch with sources of value and meaning larger than themselves. Ritual is unavoidable, yet it holds a place in modern life that is decidedly ambiguous. What is ritual? What does it do? Is it useful? What are the various kinds of ritual? Is ritual tradition bound and conservative or innovative and transformational?Alongside description of a number of specific rites, this Very Short Introduction explores ritual from both theoretical and historical perspectives. Barry Stephenson focuses on the places where ritual touches everyday life: in politics and power; moments of transformation in the life cycle; as performance and embodiment. He also discusses the boundaries of ritual, and how and why certain behaviors have been studied as ritual while others have not. Stephenson shows how ritual is an important vehicle for group and identity formation; how it generates and transmits beliefs and values; how it can be used to exploit and oppress; and how it has served as a touchstone for thinking about cultural origins and historical change. Encompassing the breadth and depth of modern ritual studies, Barry Stephenson''s Very Short Introduction also develops a narrative of ritual''s place in social and cultural life. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of ContentsList of illustrations ; Introduction ; Chapter 1 Ritualization ; Chapter 2 Ritual and the Origins of Culture ; Chapter 3 Ritual and Society ; Chapter 4 Ritual and Transformation ; Chapter 5 Definitions, Types, Domains ; Chapter 6 Ritual as Performance ; Chapter 7 The Fortunes of Ritual ; References ; Further reading ; Index

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Book SynopsisAn engaging and accessible introduction to Christianity's relationship with other world religions, addressing the questions of why the reality, and vitality, of other religions has become a challenge, and showing how Christianity is equipped to deal with religious plurality at both the doctrinal and social level. Timely and accessible, this book tackles the question of why the reality, and vitality, of other religions has become a challenge for Christianity Makes a decisive contribution to debates about the clash between Islam and the West, arguing that the major threat to religious freedoms come from secularism, and that Islam and Christianity both have the resources to develop a vibrant and pluralist public square; one informed by intellectual rigor and debate Considers the wider issue of how modernity has defined religion', and provides a substantial critique of secular ways of controlling religions Shows how Christianity is very welTrade Review“All in all, D’Costa should be commended for writing an excellent book. This work is a wonderful contribution to the conversation regarding Christianity and non-Christian religions. I highly recommend it for all persons interested in the theology of religions, as well as any Christian looking for new ways to understand the possibility of salvation for non-Christians.” (The International Journal of Public Theology, 1 December 2012) "I warmly encourage readers in each to take it up and read." (One in Christ, July 2010) "[D'Costa] finds convincing substantiation for his position in biblical, patristic, and medieval Christian doctrine." (CHOICE, September 2009)"For a generation which is reasserting its Catholic identity, this thesis may serve a valuable purpose, calming the anxieties of those who, admirable, have managed to maintain an interest in the salvation of non-Christians yet are as hard put to win converts as their more pluralist co-religionists." (The Way, January 2010) "His gazetteer of these regions at the edge of the eschatological map is fascinating. The closing pages are as perceptive a meditation on what the dereliction of the cross can and cannot mean as we might expect to find in a first-rate book devoted entirely to that subject." (Chruch Times, December 2009) Table of ContentsPreface ix Part I: Charting the Territory: Theology of Religions 1 1 Early Map Making 3 Introduction 3 Pluralism 9 Inclusivism 19 Exclusivism 25 2 Changing the Angle: Recent Maps 34 Some Criticisms of the Threefold Typology 34 Comparative Theology 37 Postmodern Postliberalism 45 Part II: The Making and Meaning of Religions 55 3 Modernity’s Story 57 Introduction 57 Modernity’s Story about Religions 58 4 An Alternative: The Secular Construction of the Sacred Modernity as the Establishment of a New Ruling 74 Religion 74 Conclusion 102 Part III: Religions in the Public Square 103 5 Whose Religion and Which Public Square? 105 The Public Square 105 A Taxonomy of Secular Modernity and Postmodernity 107 6 Christian and Muslim Public Squares 128 Roman Catholicism, Modernity and Religious Plurality 128 Islam, Reasoned Debate, and Religious Plurality 136 Part IV: Christ’s Descent into Hell 159 7 Old Doctrines for New Jobs 161 Introduction 161 “The Descent”: Introduction to the “Circles of Hell” 165 The Limbo of the Just and the Unevangelized 167 8 Further into the Inferno 188 Purgatory and the Non-Christian 188 The Children’s Limbo 194 The Descent into Hell 201 Bibliography 212 Subject Index 225 Index of Works 233

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Book SynopsisThis book examines the ways in which scriptures are accepted and appropriated by religious people in Korea. It explores how sacred texts in various religions, including Protestantism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shamanism, attain their sacred status and power.

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Book SynopsisThis anthology asks how the handling, use, and embodied enactments of sacred texts regulate, entangle, occlude, tolerate, or even subvert religious and gendered identities. While many studies have looked at the semantic content of sacred texts to answer this question, the volume mends a knowledge gap by looking at the effects on gender that follow both from uses of sacred texts as directly accessible, material objects and from embodied enactments of sacred texts in indirect ways. To signify the embodied enactment of sacred texts, not directly at hand, Marianne Schleicher coins the term sacred texture in the introduction to extend sacred text studies to capture both the textuality of poetic and narrative expressions in oral cultures and how most lay people, often women, have expressed their religiosity through indirect uses of sacred texts through bodily enactments. Among the insights this volume offers are how Old Norse women''s composition of oral sacred textures renders their gender fluid, how a sacred text in Numbers 5 is used to handle a woman and simultaneously bolsters the masculinities of the involved men, how Jewish women through centuries have been intelligible as such by enabling men''s direct access to sacred texts or by bodily enacting sacred textures themselves, how both Christian women and sacred texts should leave adornments behind to embody Jerome''s ascetic ideals, how four women in contemporary American Judaism write Esther scrolls according to halakhic rules to become intelligible as scribes despite their female gender, how American Evangelical women have compensated for the absence of a directly accessible Bible at work by bodily enacting fragments of the Bible, and how Muslim family members in Denmark bodily enact and navigate Qur''anic prescriptions on filial piety up against its prescriptions concerning the naked body.

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Book SynopsisPublished originally in two volumes in 1890, this extraordinary study of primitive myth and magic, collected from sources around the world, led Frazer to identify parallel patterns of ritual, symbols and belief across many centuries and many different cultures. Frazer's learning inspired a whole generation of ethnographers and comparative anthropologists, and had a particularly powerful effect on many other thinkers and writers such as Sigmund Freud, D H Lawrence, Joyce, Yeats and T S Eliot.Trade ReviewFrazer's work has epic scale yet mesmerizing fineness of detail. We see the great structures of civilization forming and melting against a background of elemental mystery. The effect is cinematic and sublime. What I took from Frazer is his narrative sweep, multicultural sympathy and structuralist technique . . . The Golden Bough is like music - the dark resonance of Johannes Brahms' four symphonies, which inspired my "reading" of Western culture and its recurrent themes. -- Camille PagliaEqually remarkable for its vast assembly of facts and its unusual charm of presentation. Few men of such learning have written more attractively. * * Concise Cambridge History of English Literature * *

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Book Synopsis'We will change things from within' Sherin Khankan is a pioneer, founding the first mosque for women in Europe and leading the way for a more progressive form of Islam. In this remarkable work, she shares her journey growing up between east and west to then becoming one of the first female imams in Europe. Addressing controversial issues such as radical Islamic groups, the right of Muslim women to divorce and the patriarchal structure of Islam, this is an eye-opening and empowering manifesto for change.

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Book SynopsisThe Hidden Lamp is a collection of one hundred koans and stories of Buddhist women from the time of the Buddha to the present day. This revolutionary book brings together many teaching stories that were hidden for centuries, unknown until this volume. These stories are extraordinary expressions of freedom and fearlessness, relevant for men and women of any time or place. In these pages we meet nuns, laywomen practicing with their families, famous teachers honored by emperors, and old women selling tea on the side of the road.Each story is accompanied by a reflection by a contemporary woman teacher--personal responses that help bring the old stories alive for readers today--and concluded by a final meditation for the reader, a question from the editors meant to spark further rumination and inquiry. These are the voices of the women ancestors of every contemporary Buddhist.

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Book SynopsisCompares the metaphysical and mystical thought-systems of Sufism and Taoism and discovers that, although historically unrelated, the two share features and patterns which prove fruitful for a transhistorical dialogue. The author's original and suggestive approach opens new doors in the study of comparative philosophy and mysticism.Table of ContentsPreface by T. Izutsu Introduction Notes Part I. Ibn 'Arabi Part II. Lao-Tzu & Chuang-Tzu Part III. A Comparative Reflection

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A remarkably lively and intelligent book."---Robert Irwin, Times Literary Supplement

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Book SynopsisReligion plays a central role in human experience. Billions of people around the world practice a faith and act in accordance with it. Religion shapes how they enter the world and how they leave it - how they eat, dress, marry, and raise their children. It shapes their assumptions about who they are and who they want to be. Religion also identifies insiders and outsiders, who has power and who doesn''t. It sanctifies injustice and combats it. It draws national borders. It affects law, economy, and government. It destroys and restores the environment. It starts wars and ends them. Whether you notice it or not, religion plays a role in how billions conduct their lives. We are called, then, to understand this important factor in human life today.Beginning with the first signs of religion among ancient humans and concluding with a look at modern citizens and global trends, leading scholar Thomas Tweed examines this powerful and enduring force in human society. Tweed deftly documents religion as it exists around the world, addressing its role in both intensifying and alleviating contemporary political and environmental problems, from armed conflict to climate change. Religion: A Very Short Introduction offers a concise non-partisan overview of religion''s long history and its complicated role in the world today.Trade Review...illuminating... * John Pridmore, The Way *...Tweed's book is strong on historizing and contextualizing religion... * Michael Stausberg, Religion *Table of ContentsPreface: Why Religion Matters 1. What Religion Is 2. What Religion Does 3. How Religion Is Expressed 4. How Religion Has Changed 5. Global Religion Today

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Book SynopsisCarrying only basic camping equipment and a collection of the world''s great spiritual writings, Belden C. Lane embarks on solitary spiritual treks through the Ozarks and across the American Southwest. For companions, he has only such teachers as Rumi, John of the Cross, Hildegard of Bingen, Dag Hammarskjöld, and Thomas Merton, and as he walks, he engages their writings with the natural wonders he encounters--Bell Mountain Wilderness with Søren Kierkegaard, Moonshine Hollow with Thich Nhat Hanh--demonstrating how being alone in the wild opens a rare view onto one''s interior landscape, and how the saints'' writings reveal the divine in nature. The discipline of backpacking, Lane shows, is a metaphor for a spiritual journey. Just as the trail offered revelations to the early Desert Christians, backpacking hones crucial spiritual skills: paying attention, traveling light, practicing silence, and exercising wonder. Lane engages the practice not only with a wide range of spiritual writings--Celtic, Catholic, Protestant, Buddhist, Hindu, and Sufi Muslim--but with the fascination of other lovers of the backcountry, from John Muir and Ed Abbey to Bill Plotkin and Cheryl Strayed. In this intimate and down-to-earth narrative, backpacking is shown to be a spiritual practice that allows the discovery of God amidst the beauty and unexpected terrors of nature. Adoration, Lane suggests, is the most appropriate human response to what we cannot explain, but have nonetheless learned to love. Backpacking with the Saints is an enchanting exploration of how solitude, simplicity, and mindfulness are illuminated and encouraged by the discipline of backcountry wandering, and of how the wilderness itself becomes a way of knowing--an ecology of the soul.Trade ReviewIf you are feeling brave, if you are in need of something radically new, if your search for God sometimes feels halfhearted, you should read Belden Lane. If possible, try reading it outside Lane describes, better than anyone, how it is landscape (more than language) that really changes us. * Methodist Recorder, Tim Baker *This remarkable book is an invitation to take both an inner and an outer journey into intensity and immensity at the same time. * Network Review, David Lorimer *get out there and find a bit of wilderness for yourself * Northern Echo, Steve Craggs *Belden C. Lane has written a lovely book that seamlessly brings together two rich genres: travel narrative and spiritual memoir. The notion of a spiritual journey, of course, is central to almost every religious tradition, but the author enlivens that tradition as he shares personal and heartfelt stories about his own peregrinations and muses on topics as varied as solitude, ecology, backpacking, beauty, and prayer; and on people as varied as St. Therese of Lisieux, Dag Hammarskjold, John Muir, and Bruce Springsteen. A thoroughly delightful book. * James Martin, SJ, author of Jesus: A Pilgrimage *If the earlier centuries of Christianity had been as honest, emotionally descriptive, and spiritually helpful as Belden Lane is here, we would have a very different notion of religion today. Such wisdom as this will literally 'save the soul' of many a spiritual seeker. * Fr. Richard Rohr, O.F.M., Founder, Center for Action and Contemplation, Albuquerque, New Mexico *The only problem with this remarkable book is that it cannot be read rightly from a comfortable chair. As Lane and the rest of the saints in these pages insist, what the soul most needs is not found in safe places but in wild ones, where the dangers are as real as the courage they call forth. So find a high rock, a far hill, or a patch of desert that scares you a little and let this book persuade you that you are exactly where you need to be. * Barbara Brown Taylor, author of Learning to Walk in the Dark *The carefully balanced writing about landscape, physical demands, spiritual awakening and literary companionship allows the reader to see, feel, and join in the meditation. * Booklist *Lane's work blends genres, combining the literature of the outdoors with the formal literature of the spiritual as he reviews the work of the world's prominent religious and spiritual writers and ties their insights to the features and experiences of exploring the natural world. * Publishers Weekly *Table of ContentsTable of Contents ; Prologue ; Part I: The Power of Wilderness and the Reading of Dangerous Texts ; Chapter 1: The Allure of the Wild: Backpacking as Spiritual Practice ; Chapter 2: The Risk-Taking Character of Wilderness Reading ; Part II: The Pattern of Wilderness Spirituality ; First Leg: Departure (Leaving the Trailhead) ; Chapter 3: Venturing Out: The Irish Wilderness and Columba of Iona ; Chapter 4: Disillusionment: Laramie Peak and Therese of Lisieux ; Chapter 5: Desire: Rockpile Mountain Wilderness and Thomas Traherne ; Second Leg: Discipline (The Practice of the Wild) ; Chapter 6: Solitude: Bell Mountain Wilderness and Soren Kierkegaard ; Chapter 7: Traveling Light: Gunstock Hollow and Dag Hammarskjold ; Chapter 8: Mindfulness: Moonshine Hollow and Thich Nhat Hanh ; Third Leg: Descent (When the Trail Gets Rough) ; Chapter 9: Fear: The Maze in Canyonlands and John of the Cross ; Chapter 10: Failure: Mount Whitney and Martin Luther ; Chapter 11: Dying: Mudlick Mountain Trail and the Cloud Author ; Fourth Leg: Delight (Returning Home with Gifts) ; Chapter 12: Discernment: Taum Sauk Mountain and Jelaluddin Rumi ; Chapter 13: Community: Lower Rock Creek and Teilhard de Chardin ; Chapter 14: Justice: The Meramec River at Times Beach and Mohandas Gandhi ; Chapter 15: Holy Folly: Aravaipa Canyon and Thomas Merton ; Epilogue ; Appendix: The Meanings of Wilderness ; Notes ; Index

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Book SynopsisMasuzawa also explores the complex relation of world religions to Protestant theology, from the hierarchical ordering of religions typical of the Christian supremacists of the nineteenth century, to the aspirations of early twentieth-century theologian Ernst Troeltsch, who embraced the pluralist logic of world religions and.

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Book SynopsisThe perfect gift for seekers, the curious, and the spiritually hungry, The Little Book of Prayers now has a stunning new cover and a more prayer booklike format.Gathered from holy books and prayer books, from songs and spirituals, spoken traditions and poets, it is an unexpectedly approachable collection of common and uncommon prayers from around the world. The entries, one per page or spread, are chosen for their depth of feeling, beauty of expression, spiritual intensity, and sense of the universal. The book is organized into broad categories of praise, entreaty, contemplation, mourning, and grace; and two indexesone by authorship, and the other by topicmake it immediately accessible.There are familiar prayers, like the Lord's Prayer and 23rd Psalm, which, placed in new context, shine with a renewed beauty and wisdom. You'll find prayers unfamiliar to many in the West, such as the Opener from the Koran or the four vows of the Boddhisattva, chant

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Book SynopsisIt is often said that the devil has all the best tunes. He also has as many names as he has guises. Lucifer, Mephistopheles, Beelzebub (in Christian thought), Ha-Satan or the Adversary (in Jewish scripture) and Iblis or Shaitan (in Islamic tradition) has throughout the ages and across civilizations been a compelling and charismatic presence. For two thousand years the supposed reign of God has been challenged by the fiery malice of his opponent, as contending forces of good and evil have between them weighed human souls in the balance. In this rich and multi-textured biography, Philip C Almond explores the figure of the devil from the first centuries of the Christian era through the rise of classical demonology and witchcraft persecutions to the modern post-Enlightenment ''decline'' of Hell. The author shows that the Prince of Darkness, in all his incarnations, remains an irresistible subject in history, religion, art, literature and culture.Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Acknowledgements Prologue Chapter One: The ‘Birth’ of the Devil Angels and Demons, Sons and Lovers ‘The Book of the Watchers’ Angels, Arising and Falling The Birth of ‘Satan’ The Archdemon Belial Satan and Jesus The Fall of the Dragon Chapter Two: The Fall of the Devil The Fall of Man The Satanic Serpent Pride Cometh before a Fall Lucifer Descending The Battleground of History Chapter Three: Hell’s Angel Paying Off the Devil The Demonic Paradox The Harrowing of Hades In Hell, and in the Air Chapter Four: The Devil Rides Out A Pope Bewitched Cathars, Moderate and Extreme Angels and Demons The Demonisation of Magic Magic Defined, Damned, and Defended Conjuring Demons and Conversations with Angels Chapter Five: Devilish Bodies The Demonisation of Popular Magic Errors Not Cathartic but Satanic The Devil, Sex and Sexuality Embodied Demons Chapter Six: The Devil and the Witch Infanticide and Cannibalism Travels Sabbatical The Satanic Pact The Devil’s Mark Chapter Seven: A Very Possessing Devil The Possessed Body Possession, Medicine, and Sceptics Forensic Demonology Beyond the Borders of the Human Exorcising the Devil Chapter Eight: The Devil Defeated The Binding and Loosing of Satan The Antichrist Adso and the Antichrist The Future Binding of Satan Apocalypse Now Satan and the Fires of Hell Chapter Nine: The ‘Death’ of the Devil Satan and Superstition The Cessation of Miracles The Devil De-skilled The Devil Disembodied Bodies, Platonic and Demonic Disenchanting the World Epilogue Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisOffers an overarching definition and framework for the study of religion as it manifests itself in everyday lifeLook around you as you walk down the street; somewhere, usually hidden in plain sight, there will be traces of religion. Perhaps it is the person who walks past with a Christian tattoo or a Muslim hijab. Perhaps it is the poster announcing a charity auction at the local synagogue. Or perhaps you open your Instagram feed to see what inspiring images and meditations have been posted by spiritual guides to help start the day.Studying Lived Religion examines religious practices wherever they happenboth within religious spaces and in everyday life. Although the study of lived religion has been around for over two decades, there has not been an agreed-upon definition of what it encompasses, and we have lacked a sociological theory to frame the way it is studied. This book offers a definition that expands lived religion's geographic scope and a frameworkTrade ReviewThis is a great book! Nancy Ammerman gives us a systematic framework for studying ‘lived religion’ – how real people ‘do’ religion in their everyday lives. Religion happens all around us: not just in churches, mosques, and synagogues, but also on mountaintops, in deep relationships, and in the talk and acts that fill our taken-for-granted days. Through many examples, Ammerman shows us seven dimensions along which everyday religion varies. From different forms of embodiment to different emotions, aesthetics, and moral sensibilities, we learn that religion is far more complex than we imagined – and far more interesting to study. -- James Spickard, University of RedlandsThis book offers both a theoretical underpinning for the sociology of lived religion and a useful guide for carrying out practice in the field. Either one of these would make a significant intellectual contribution. Nancy Ammerman's accomplishment of both objectives makes this book pathbreaking. -- Meredith McGuire, Professor Emerita, Sociology and Anthropology, Trinity UniversityMeticulous, comprehensive, and intelligent, this marvelous book is a must-read for everyone interested in lived religion. Ammerman’s alertness to case studies is matched by her alertness to the expansive repertoire of methods that animate this body of work. -- David D. Hall, Harvard Divinity SchoolA master class in thinking and writing about subtle religion by a rare scholar who knows how to talk across disciplines and in ordinary language. “Pay attention,” Ammerman says, not just to institutional leaders and official doctrines but also to the eruption of the uncanny in unexpected places—in the stories we tell, stuff we hold dear, and the messy social circumstances in which it’s all embedded. Sage wisdom here for scholars, journalists, and anyone else on the lookout for intimations of the "spiritual dimension" breaking into the everyday. -- Stephen Prothero, C. Allyn and Elizabeth V. Russell Professor of Religion in America at Boston University.Generous in spirit and substance, Studying Lived Religion is akin to a handbook-cum-manifesto animated by Nancy Ammerman’s enthusiasm for a ‘lived’ or ‘practice’ approach to the study of religion. -- David Hall, Harvard University * Sociology of Religion *Required reading for students and scholars of religious life at all levels. * Choice *The whole book will be useful to anyone contemplating research on religion…Nancy Ammerman is a terrific guide to the process and to the insights it can yield. * Catholic Books Review *Studying Lived Religion is a much-needed addition to both religious studies research and the classroom. Clearly written and tightly organized, it is accessible and eminently referenceable, offering a variety of methodologies, historical contexts, and examples. * Nova Religio *

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Book SynopsisSikhism is the fifth largest religion in the world. It is a young religion, having been founded in 1469. It has been in the United States for almost 150 years, but is still relatively unknown. Perhaps you have seen someone wearing a turban in public or seen Sikhs mentioned in the news and wondered who they were. Maybe your neighbor, coworker or friend is Sikh, and you want to learn more without making them feel offended or annoyed.Many people have questions about Sikhs: What are the key beliefs of the Sikh religion? Do they worship in a Sikh temple? Why do Sikhs have long hair? You may wonder who is the Sikhism founder, how to pronounce Sikh, how Sikhism differs from other religions or what to call a Sikh turban. This guide answers all these questions and many more to help you learn about this optimistic and service-oriented faith.The questions in this guide were created by interviewing Sikhs and asking them what they wish people knew about Sikhs and their religion. Whether you know a Sikh personally or just want to learn about this young and growing religion, "100 Questions and Answers About Sikh Americans" includes information ranging from Sikh history, Sikh beliefs and values, Sikh persecution, Sikh articles of faith, Sikh worship and Sikh demographics. It represents varying Sikh perspectives, not just those of one region, division or age.Encouraged by the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Sikh coalition, this book is an education tool, complete with questions for discussion and reflection at the end, perfect for a school class or an interfaith learning community. It informs readers about gurdwaras, or the Sikh house of worship, and the 11 gurus. It includes answers about the three core tenets of Sikhism, the role of women in Sikhism and Sikh volunteerism and service.If you would like to learn more about Sikhism, whether to feel more prepared to interact with Sikhs or to familiarize yourself with a new religious perspective, this guide is for you.

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Book SynopsisLearn about the religions of the world - in minutes. What are the differences between Sunni and Shi'a, Catholic and Protestant, Buddhism and Confucianism? Who were Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, and what did they really preach? Why are the concepts of karma, jihad and nirvana so important? And what do the religions of the world say about life, death and how we should act? Answering these and many other critical questions, this book explains the histories, key texts, prophets and essential teachings of the ancient and modern religions and their offshoots, including: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Greek, Roman and Norse mythologies, indigenous traditional religions, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, Daoism, Confucianism, Shinto, Catholicism, Protestantism, Anglicanism, Baptists, Methodists, Puritans, Mormons, Sufism, Hasidism, Scientology, Baha'I, New pagans and many more, as well as considering their common themes and the future of religion.Clear, concise and with 200 iconic images, Religion in Minutes is the fastest, fullest way to understand the beliefs that shape the world around us.

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Book SynopsisDespite religion being a core theme of many contemporary debates, a solid and settled definition of the concept has not yet been reached. Nevertheless, it is regularly assumed that, because of their common characteristics, we are able to recognize religious phenomena when we see them. For example, it is often supposed that religion is primarily based on faith, that religion conflicts with science, and that the world would be a lot less violent without religions. Yet, no matter how widespread such assumptions might be, in the end, they turn out to be incorrect. What we think about religion does not correspond to what religion really is. Offering many concrete examples from different traditions, Religion: Reality Behind the Myths dispels the main misunderstandings, breaches the contemporary opposition between secular versus religious and presents a novel view on the essence of religion.

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Book SynopsisMany people who are drawn to Buddhism today are seeking for spiritual knowledge as opposed to simple faith or sectarian belief. Hermann Beckh had a profound personal connection to the Buddhist path and the noble truths it contains, yet he was also dedicated to a radical renewal of Christianity. Assimilating the groundbreaking research of Rudolf Steiner (1861-1925), Beckh's comprehension of Buddhism was neither limited to historical documents nor scholarly research in philology. Rather, from his inner meditation and spiritual understanding, he saw the earlier great world religions as waymarks for humanity's evolving consciousness. In the modern world, the apprehension of Christianity needed to be grounded firmly in a universally-valid, inner cognition and experience: `In this light, knowledge becomes life.' Hermann Beckh - Professor of Tibetan Studies and Sanskrit in Berlin, subsequently a founding priest of The Christian Community - first published this mature study in 1925. Having already produced the comprehensive Buddha's Life and Teaching in 1916, Beckh's sweeping perspectives combined with his extensive academic knowledge provided a unique grounding for authoring this work. As he notes, From Buddha to Christ follows a path of development, `both of method and goal'. Thus, studying this book is itself a path of knowledge and potential initiation. Beckh's universal insights remain relevant - and if anything have gained in value - to twenty-first century readers. This edition features an additional essay, `Steiner and Buddha: Neo-Buddhist Spiritual Streams and Anthroposophy' (1931), in which Beckh, for the first and last time, explains his lifelong personal connection to the Buddhist path. `Christianizing the Buddha's impulse at the same time broadens the Christian horizon...' - Hermann BeckhTable of ContentsPreface - I. The Tree of Knowledge and the Tree of Life - II. The Gospel of Birth and Death: The Knowledge of Repeated Lives on Earth and of the Law of Destiny - III. Knowledge: The Four Noble Truths and the Twelve Causes - IV. The Path - Appendix: Steiner and Buddha (Neo-Buddhist Spiritual Streams and Anthroposophy)

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Book SynopsisThis book explains the historical roots of the conflict between Jews and Arabs, which has lost none of its explosiveness to the present day, in a comprehensive and easy-to-understand manner. The question of who owns the Holy Land is more relevant today than ever. The debates on this topic are often characterized by ignorance and strong emotions, while partiality and power interests still obscure the view on the political situation in the Middle East. Shaking up old myths and prejudices, this book presents an overall historical as well as political analysis of the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim structures, actors, and actions from the very beginning to this very day, as well as a topical analysis. It combines history with theology and political science. Thus, the book is a must-read for scholars and students of political science, history, and international relations, as well as policy-makers, interested in a better understanding of the historical background and current political situation in the Middle East. Table of ContentsHoly Land? Israel? Palestine?.- RELIGIOSITY AND POLITICS.- The Pious, the Zealous and a "Dead" God.- Fundamentalism - A Shield for the Culture?.- Is Zionism Blasphemy?.- Zionism in the Quran?.- THE HOLY LAND, RELIGIONS AND POLITICS.- What Is the Holy Land? - Biblical Borders?.- Why Is the Land Holy?.- To Whom Is the Land Holy?.- Where Is the Land Holy? Or: To Whom Does Jerusalem Belong?.- How Is the Land Holy? Or: Holiness and Statehood.- By What Means Is the Land Acquired?.- THE HISTORY OF CHANGING OWNERSHIP.-Whose Possession? Whose Property?.-Names and Power.- The Patriarch Fathers.- Jewish Settlement as “Conquest”.- Kingdom and Kingdoms Come and Go.- Exile, Return and Autonomy.- The Europeanization of the Holy Land.- Christians as Heirs and Owners.- Re-Orientalisation - Arabisation, Turkification.- Re-Europeanization.- The Return of Islam.- The Return to Zion.- The British in the Holy Land.- The Founding of Israel -- Palestine Becomes Jordan.- “Greater Israel” -- Jewish or Democratic? Of Federations and Confederation.- Injustice for Injustice – Conclusion – Solution?.

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Book SynopsisFrom one of the most renowned photographers working today, this collection of images explores human spirituality in all its remarkable diversity and beauty. American Magnum and National Geographic photographer Steve McCurry is known for his compelling and evocative images that capture the human experience and the spirit of place; his 1984 portrait of Sharbat Gula, the Afghan Girl, is one of the world's most recognizable photographs. This powerful collection of spiritually inflected images is gleaned from the entirety of McCurry's forty-year career traveling to every corner of the globe. From a mosque in Afghanistan to Burma's Golden Rock; an Easter offering in Paraguay to an elderly couple at Lourdes; a Tibetan monk in India to evangelicals in America's heartland-McCurry captures penetrating moments of devotion, loyalty, faithfulness, and dedication. Reproduced in stunning color, these photographs honor the universal desire to create meaning in the midst of everyday life and offer viewers an opportunity to connect with their own spirituality- whatever form that takes.Trade Review"The world turns on devotion — these pictures show us how.""An astonishing array of pictures."Waterstones Best Books of 2023: Photography“Steve McCurry collects together his images depicting human spirituality in all its special diversity and beauty”

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Book Synopsis4th edition of the successful New Lion Handbook: the World's Religions, updated, redesigned, with new textbook focused questions and bibliography.Trade Review“Positive, thoughtful, and sympathetic treatment of a very wide range of faiths.” * Religious Education Press *“A moving and illuminating book. I am aware of nothing on the market remotely comparable in scope, balance, readability, and sensitivity.” * The Church Times *“A sumptuous handbook. Profusely illustrated in full colour . . . a guide to the past and present faiths of the world.” * Times Educational Supplement *Table of ContentsContentsContributors 9Preface to the Third Edition 12Preface to the Fourth Edition 14List of maps 15List of Time Charts 15List of Festival charts 16List of photographs 16Part 1 Understanding Religion 191 What is Religion? 202 Phenomenology and the Study of Religion 233 The Anthropology of Religion 28Myths and Symbols 304 The Sociology of Religion 335 The Psychology of Religion 376 Theological Approaches to the Study of Religion 407 Critical Theory and Religion 438 Ritual and Performance 47Timeline of World Religions 50Map: The World’s Religions 52Part 2 Religions of Antiquity 559 Religion Before History 56Holy Places, Sacred Calendars 6610 Land of the Aztecs and Incas 6811 The Ancient Near East: Cradle of Civilization 7412 Ancient Egypt: Land of the Priest-King 84Egyptian Temples: Houses of Power 8813 Zoroastrianism: A Historical Overview 9214 Zoroastrian Beliefs 97Fire Temples 10015 The Ancient Religions of Greece and Rome 10116 The Religion of the Celts 11717 The Religions of Scandinavia: The Norse Gods 12018 Nomads of the Steppes 1246 contentsPart 3 Indigenous Religions 12919 Understanding Indigenous Religions 13020 Indigenous Religions in Asia 13421 The Foe of Papua New Guinea 13822 Australian Aboriginal Religions 14023 Melanesia 14324 South American Indigenous Religions 14525 Native North Americans 15026 Inuit 15327 Norse Shamanism 15528 African Indigenous Religions 15729 The Bangwa 16130 The Zulu 162Part 4 Hinduism 16631 A Historical Overview 16832 Philosophy 17533 Sacred Writings 17834 Beliefs 18135 Worship and Festivals 18736 Family and Society 192I am a Hindu 19437 Hinduism in the Modern World 196Part 5 Buddhism 20138 A Historical Overview 20339 Sacred Writings 21040 Beliefs 21541 Family and Society 221The Cao Dai and the Hoa Hao 224I am a Buddhist 22642 Buddhism in the Modern World 228Part 6 Jainism 23543 A Historical Overview 236Leaders and Enlightenment 24044 Sacred Writings 24245 Beliefs 24546 Family and Society 24947 Worship and Festivals 252 introduction to World Religions 7The puja of eight substances 254I am a Jain 25648 Jainism in the Modern World 258Modern Jain leaders 258Part 7 Chinese Religions 26149 Chinese Religions: Sages and Immortals 26150 Christianity in Contemporary China 273The Worship of Ancestors 274Part 8 Korean and Japanese Religions 27951 Sinkyo: Korea’s Traditional Religion 28052 Japanese Religions: A Tapestry of Traditions 283Part 9 Judaism 29553 A Historical Overview 296The Thirteen Principles of the Faith 304The Kabbalah 30654 Sacred Writings 309Divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures 31255 Beliefs 313The Covenant 31856 Family and Society 32057 Worship and Festivals 325Seder meal 326I am a Jew 33058 The Holocaust 33259 Branches of Judaism 33460 Judaism in the Modern World 338Jewish population figures by continent in 2004 340Part 10 Christianity 34361 A Historical Overview 34462 Jesus 351Branches of the Church 35863 Sacred Writings 36364 Beliefs 36565 Worship and Festivals 371I am a Christian 37666 Family and Society 37867 Contemporary Christianity 3808 contentsPART 11 Islam 38768 A Historical Overview 38869 The Unity and Variety of Islam 39770 Sacred Writings 40171 Beliefs 40472 Worship and Festivals 40973 The Law of Islam 41574 Science, Art, and Culture 41875 Family and Society 420I am a Muslim 42276 Islam in the Modern World 424Part 12 Sikhism 42977 A Historical Overview 430The Ten Gurus 432The Khalsa 43478 Sacred Writings 43679 Beliefs 438The Mul Mantra 44080 Worship and Festivals 442The Golden Temple 444Guru Hargobind’s release 44681 Family and Society 447I am a Sikh 44982 Sikhism Today 451Part 13 Religions in Today’s World 45783 From Existentialism to Postmodernism 45884 New Religious Movements 46385 The Bahá’í Faith 46886 Secularization and Sacralization 471Church attendance in England 473I am a Rastafarian 47487 Religion and Globalization 476World Religions Today 478I am a Spiritual Seeker 48088 Religion and Politics 482Part 14 Rapid Fact-Finder 487Index 529

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