Eclectic and esoteric religions and belief systems Books

Book SynopsisNew Religious Movements (NRMs) came into being as a distinct subfield of academic study in the 1970s in response to the explosion of non-traditional religions that took place in the waning years of the Sixties counterculture. (The designation âNew Religionâ is a direct translation of a Japanese term coined for the many new religions that emerged in the wake of the Second World War, and was adopted by Western scholars in the late Sixties/early Seventies in preference to the pejorative term âcultâ.) These movements, and those termed âsectsâ and âcultsâ, initially attracted the attention of American and European sociologists of religion because of the controversy that arose in response to their expansion.Religious Studies, which at the time was still in the process of establishing itself as a legitimate discipline distinct from Theology and traditional Biblical Studies, was only too happy to leave NRMs to Sociology. This situation gradually changed, however, so that at present at least as many scholars of NRMs come from Religious Studies backgrounds as come from the social sciences.The collection consists of four volumes which together provide a one-stop source for crucial information onâand theoretical/methodological approaches toâcontemporary New Religions. The set brings together thinking on a wide variety of themes associated with NRMs (e.g. apocalypticism, typologies, conversion, gender) and major works on the NRMs that have attracted the most scholarly attention (e.g. the âMooniesâ, The Family International, Osho Rajneesh). Some influential âanti-cultâ articles (normally not considered part of mainstream scholarship) have also been included as well.Sects, Cults, and New Religions is fully indexed and includes a comprehensive introduction, newly written by the editor, and is destined to be valued as a vital research resource.

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Book SynopsisPrizewinner in the twenty-fifth annual AMERICAN BOOK AWARDS for 2004, presented by the Before Columbus Foundation.What is New Age? Crystals, meditation and astrology. T''ai Chi, Reiki and Feng Shui. Reflexology, aromatherapy and past-life regression. Esalen, the Findhorn Community and Damanhur. Marianne Williamson, Deepak Chopra and David Spangler.But many such examples of alternative spiritualities are explicitly not New Age - and few practitioners now describe themselves as New Age. Scholars cannot agree on a definition of New Age, or even whether it exists at all!Trade ReviewThis guide to the New Age is a helpful introduction that not only provides insightful descriptions of practices and beliefs, but also reviews a wide range of academic and nonacademic perspectives. For the serious student or researcher! Kemp provides an excellent guide to the academic resources that can be brought to bear on the phenomenon. Concise but challenging. An excellent guide to the academic resources that can be brought to bear on the phenomenon. This is a very good book. Indeed, as a basic introduction to the many facets of the 'New Age' phenomenon, it would be hard to beat. It manages to combine descriptive accounts of various aspects of New Age spirituality with reflection on its wider significance, and to do so in a highly readable format. Perhaps the greatest strength of the book is the way it offers summaries of a vast number of existing studies, both published and unpublished, demonstrating a remarkable ability by the author to combine large amounts of material into a readable synthesis ... a well written book that deserves to be widely read and appreciated. This guide to the New Age is a helpful introduction that not only provides insightful descriptions of practices and beliefs, but also reviews a wide range of academic and nonacademic perspectives. For the serious student or researcher! Kemp provides an excellent guide to the academic resources that can be brought to bear on the phenomenon. Concise but challenging. An excellent guide to the academic resources that can be brought to bear on the phenomenon. This is a very good book. Indeed, as a basic introduction to the many facets of the 'New Age' phenomenon, it would be hard to beat. It manages to combine descriptive accounts of various aspects of New Age spirituality with reflection on its wider significance, and to do so in a highly readable format. Perhaps the greatest strength of the book is the way it offers summaries of a vast number of existing studies, both published and unpublished, demonstrating a remarkable ability by the author to combine large amounts of material into a readable synthesis ... a well written book that deserves to be widely read and appreciated.Table of ContentsI. Overview and Starting Definition; 2. The Course: A Case Study; 3. History of Ideas; 4. Philosophy; 5. Anthropology; 6. Sociology; 7. Psychology; 8. Non-Academic Approaches to New Age; 9. Academic Literature Survey; 10. Future; References.

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Book Synopsis- Organized by themes which are central to understanding religion today - Suitable for advanced undergraduates: emphasis on controversy and debates in the field - International range of sources and religions - Includes popular as well as scholarly sourcesTable of ContentsContents: Preface; Part I: From sacred text to internet - contributions from: Clive Marsh and Steve Moyise; Marcus J. Borg; Diana L. Eck; Rammohun Roy; Dayananda Sarasvati; Swami Vivekananda; M.K. Gandhi; Geshe Kelsang Gyatso; Stephen Batchelor; Denis J. Sullivan and Sana Abed-Kotob; Margaret Wertheim; Part II: Religion and social transformation - contributions from: Józef Tischner; Shaik Hamid Al Nayfar, interviewed by François Burgat; Kyung Hyun Chung; Ana Maria Bidegai; Jacquelyn Grant; Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza; Sallie McFague; Chris Pauling; The 14th Dalai Lama Tensin Gyatso; Ajahan Pasanno and Nick Scott; Part III: Perspectives on Civil Religion - contributions from: Robert Bellah; Charles Regan Wilson; Vine Deloria Jr.; Tony Walter; Timothy Pain; Paul Barker; Cara Sutherland; Charles Harbutt; Marilyn Knapp Litt; Jan C. Scruggs and Joel L. Swerdlow; P. Ciabattini; Alan Dundes and Alessandro Falassi; Alessandro Falassi and Giuliano Catoni; Part IV: Global Religions in Regional Context - contributions from: Oliver Barclay; Dave Tomlinson; N.O. Hatch and M.S. Hamilton; Billy Graham; Todd Hunter; Luis Palau; Felicity B. Houghton; Guido Lombardi; M. Manazir Ahsan; Seán McLoughlin; Nichiren; Daisaku Ikeda; Win Hunter; Elio Montel; Part V: Belief beyond boundaries - contributions from : Prudence Jones; Wouter J. Hannagraaff; Sabine Magliocco; Graham Harvey; Ronald Hutton; Caitlin Matthews; Ian Bradley; Simon James; J.H.T. Davies; Sara Simon et al; Vine Deloria, Jr.; Catherine L. Albanese; Amanda Porterfield; Delores LaChapelle; Margot Adler; Gerald Gardner; Starhawk; Jules Michelet; John Updike; Jill Murphy; Walter de la Mare; Dorothy Edwards; John Hedley Brooke; John Brooke and Geoffery Cantor; Carl Jung; David Tracey; Index.

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Book Synopsis- Organized by themes which are central to understanding religion today - Suitable for advanced undergraduates: emphasis on controversy and debates in the field - International range of sources and religions - Includes popular as well as scholarly sourcesTrade Review'Nicely produced and not too expensive. Reflects UK authors whom students have heard about. Good level of detail and illustrations and clear font' Sophie Gilliat-Ray, Cardiff Research Fellow, Department of Religious and Theological Studies, Cardiff University, UKTable of ContentsContents: Preface; Part I: From sacred text to internet - contributions from: Clive Marsh and Steve Moyise; Marcus J. Borg; Diana L. Eck; Rammohun Roy; Dayananda Sarasvati; Swami Vivekananda; M.K. Gandhi; Geshe Kelsang Gyatso; Stephen Batchelor; Denis J. Sullivan and Sana Abed-Kotob; Margaret Wertheim; Part II: Religion and social transformation - contributions from: Józef Tischner; Shaik Hamid Al Nayfar, interviewed by François Burgat; Kyung Hyun Chung; Ana Maria Bidegai; Jacquelyn Grant; Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza; Sallie McFague; Chris Pauling; The 14th Dalai Lama Tensin Gyatso; Ajahan Pasanno and Nick Scott; Part III: Perspectives on Civil Religion - contributions from: Robert Bellah; Charles Regan Wilson; Vine Deloria Jr.; Tony Walter; Timothy Pain; Paul Barker; Cara Sutherland; Charles Harbutt; Marilyn Knapp Litt; Jan C. Scruggs and Joel L. Swerdlow; P. Ciabattini; Alan Dundes and Alessandro Falassi; Alessandro Falassi and Giuliano Catoni; Part IV: Global Religions in Regional Context - contributions from: Oliver Barclay; Dave Tomlinson; N.O. Hatch and M.S. Hamilton; Billy Graham; Todd Hunter; Luis Palau; Felicity B. Houghton; Guido Lombardi; M. Manazir Ahsan; Seán McLoughlin; Nichiren; Daisaku Ikeda; Win Hunter; Elio Montel; Part V: Belief beyond boundaries - contributions from : Prudence Jones; Wouter J. Hannagraaff; Sabine Magliocco; Graham Harvey; Ronald Hutton; Caitlin Matthews; Ian Bradley; Simon James; J.H.T. Davies; Sara Simon et al; Vine Deloria, Jr.; Catherine L. Albanese; Amanda Porterfield; Delores LaChapelle; Margot Adler; Gerald Gardner; Starhawk; Jules Michelet; John Updike; Jill Murphy; Walter de la Mare; Dorothy Edwards; John Hedley Brooke; John Brooke and Geoffery Cantor; Carl Jung; David Tracey; Index.

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Book SynopsisCinema, Religion and the Romantic Legacy surveys the ways in which notions of religion and spirituality have impinged upon the cinema. Cinema is conceived as a post-Romantic form for which religion and spirituality can be unified only problematically. While inspecting many of the well-established themes and topoi of writing on religion and film (such as films about priests and ''Christ-figures'') it also seeks to problematize them, focusing primarily upon the issues of religious representation foregrounded by such European directors as Kieslowski and Godard. Coates draws on theories of theologians, philosophers and cultural and literary critics including: Otto, Kant, Schiller and Girard. Addressing the relationship between religion and spirituality from a film studies specialist''s perspective, this book offers all those concerned with film, media or religious studies an invaluable examination of artistic interaction with the theological and aesthetic issues of representation and Trade Review'A fascinating book, which explores with admirable competence and incisiveness the process of estrangement of religion and spirituality in the cinema, locating its source in the post-romantic era. Coates offers his reader a unique opportunity to trace in films, spanning a century of world film production, the cinematic presentations of God, the Devil, ghosts and other participants of religious discourse. The book contains brilliant, profound analyses of a wide spectrum of films, including productions by Lang, Godard, Kieslowski, Tarkowski, Herzog and many others.'Miroslaw Przylipiak, Professor of film and media studies, University of Gdansk, Poland 'This is a very perceptive analysis of the manner in which spiritual and religious themes have impacted upon movies over the decades... Covering a huge wingspan, it tackles everything from 'Frankenstein' to 'The Usual Suspects', starring our own Gabriel Byrne, to 'Taxi Driver'.' Modern Woman 'One of the incontestable pleasures of reading [Paul Coates] is the wide range of his learning, his command of languages, and the risks he takes in applying everything he knows to film... His book is [...] one of the few on religion and film worth reading and a true tonic to reading theologians writing on cinema... His skill in negotiating the eddies of sometimes gnomic filmmakers in religious terms is one of the chief merits of a book that offers corrective readings of many films that have been interpretively abused by their admirers as often as by their detractors.' Canadian Journal of Film StudiesTable of ContentsContents: Introduction; Romanticism and religion: from horror to the sublime; The limits of representation; Supernatural persons; Aspects of popular religion; Spirituality and religion: from the Eastern Bloc to the USA; Appendixes; Index.

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Book SynopsisThe field encompassed by Religion, the Occult, and the Paranormal' is both fascinating and frustrating. The fascination stems from the contested nature of the content, and the multi-disciplinary nature of the existing scholarly literature. The frustration stems chiefly from the misunderstood and much-maligned nature of the content, and the way in which specific elements are taken out of context, or treated in a frivolous manner as is often the case with tabloid journalism.This new collection from Routledge addresses these and other urgent questions by bringing together the best foundational and cutting-edge scholarship on religion, the occult, and the paranormal.  

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Book SynopsisImagine the paradise of ancient Egypt: a lush green valley with a gentle river, full of animals and birds of all sizes. The first settlers, arriving by way of the desert, would have marveled at this beautiful landscape. This awe held on through the first three millennia of settlement in Egypt. Centered on careful observations of the natural rhythms of their environment, particularly the Nile, this enlightened civilization lived in a state of spiritual balance and harmony they called "living in Maat." This state was further enhanced by the sacred landscape of Egypt and the colossal monuments and pyramids the Egyptians built to reflect the heavens, thus creating a cosmic "spiritual engine" for the ancient world. But sadly, the paradise and Maat of ancient Egypt were not to last, and for the past two thousand years Egypt has experienced many occupations by hostile forces bent on taking control of this magical land. Exploring the exemplary social and cultural model that produced the golden civilization of ancient Egypt as well as the many waves of conquest and destruction up to the present day, Robert Bauval and Ahmed Osman examine each phase of Egyptian history from its origins and the Pharaonic period, through the Roman conquest and its Christianization, to the Pan-Arabization of Nasser and the ongoing Islamization that began with the Muslim caliphate in the 7th century. They show how the current Islamic rulers are actively working to eradicate all traces of Egypt's spiritual roots, the source of the Western Mystery tradition. They provide a revised portrait of the life of Muhammad, revealing his connections to the Essene tradition, and explain how most Sharia Law is not based on the Koran. Revealing how even the dams built on the Nile are impeding Egypt's sacred role, the authors sound the call for a return to the original tenets of Egyptian civilization, one that sustained itself in harmony and peaceful creativity for more than three millennia.Trade Review“When you hear about a new book by Robert Bauval, you know you are in for a treat. Trying to understand how the ancient Egyptians viewed the world in which they existed has been a long-held goal of Egyptology. Bauval and Osman set out to reveal that golden thread of Egyptian religion and philosophy, as it winds its way through human history, long after the civilization of the pharaohs fell into ruin.” * David Rohl, Egyptologist, former director of the Institute for the Study of Interdisciplinary Scienc *“A positively vital addition to the historical bookshelf. The authors have created a perfect review of the heart of Egypt, from its predynastic beginnings to its age of the pyramids and beyond to its changing times right now. Written from an educated, enlightening perspective by two men whose genuine passion for Egypt seems never ending.” * Andrew Collins, author of Göbekli Tepe: Genesis of the Gods *“In a new collaboration following their book Breaking the Mirror of Heaven (20/01), Robert Bauval and Ahmed Osman, both Egyptian born, call for a return to the tenets that held ancient Egyptian civilization intact for 3,000 years. These were based on "living in maat", in spiritual harmony and physical balance with the heavens and Earth; it was a natural "religion" that reflected the rhythms above and below. The Nile was a barometer, its annual flooding heralded in the stars and fertilizing the land. Fast forward, and that sacred influence was impeded by the construction of dams and a lake; the fertility of the land fell into decline. The authors cover the rise of early Christianity and the Copts, the Islamization of Egypt in a Muslim caliphate in the seventh century, Napoleon's failed incursion, and colonization by foreign powers--with a fair few Egyptian rulers leading their country towards bankruptcy. They then examine the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood and key events surrounding the rules of presidents from Nasser, Sadat and Mubarak to Morsi and el-Sisi. They point to the huge challenges that lie ahead with overpopulation, environmental degradation, social and cultural problems, and economic woes. But Bauval and Osman see a way beyond 2,000 years of suppression to restore the ancient balance between order and justice. They urge Egyptians to connect with their original soul identity and the golden legacy that's all around them.” * Nexus, December 2015 *“Mr. Bauvel and Mr. Osman make sense of the complex multi-cultural history of Egypt and end their book with a sense of hope for the country--a rekindling of the ancient Egyptian soul.” * New Dawn, Marc Star, March 2016 *“The Soul of Ancient Egypt is extremely well written, easy to follow and thoroughly researched; however, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who was interested in the beliefs and spirituality of ancient Egypt. The first chapter provides a great crash course, but the book as a whole is focused on historical and political matters. Religion plays a role in this because Egypt is and has always been a religious nation, but the crux of this book is about the political and religious history of Egypt. A fascinating read, The Soul of Ancient Egypt would be excellent for anyone interested in history, specifically in the ways regions are shaped through religious politics, and the impact industrialism has on a country.” * Spiral Nature *Table of Contents1 Living in Maat The Pharaonization of Egyptians 2 The Invasion of Isfet (Chaos) The Christianizing of Egyptians 3 God Lives in the Desert The Islamization of Egyptians--Part 1 4 The State Known as the Caliphate The Islamization of Egyptians--Part 2 5 Riding on a White Steed The Westernization of Egyptians 6 Forever Building Palaces The Colonization of Egyptians 7 A Battle for the Hearts and Minds of Egyptians The Pan-Arabization of Egyptians 8 The Fortress of Tahrir Square The Brotherhoodization of Egyptians 9 Finding Maat Again The Democratization of Egyptians Epilogue Appendix Salafism Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisWhat is the principal secret of the universe? The ancient mystery saying called on the human being to 'Know Yourself!' Rudolf Steiner explains that this maxim is not asking us to study subjectively our own personal character, but rather to come to a knowledge of our true, archetypal human nature-and with it the position we occupy in the universe. In these eloquent lectures - formerly published as Man, Hieroglyph of the Universe - Rudolf Steiner speaks of the human being as the model of creation, the primary focus of the cosmos. In an extensive exposition he talks of the constellation of cosmic forces, zodiac and planets amongst which we find ourselves situated. Only a true knowledge of our human nature and the spiritual forces which surround us - the microcosm within the greater macrocosm - can enable humanity to progress, he says. This book is an important contribution to that goal: the development of a contemporary spiritual science of the human being.

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Book SynopsisUsing the events of 9/11 and Pearl Harbor as his backdrop, T.H. Meyer studies questions of reality, truth and evil, offering important new perspectives. He shows that Anglo-American political practice (influenced by secret societies such as Skull and Bones) is based on an ideology of polarity and conflict. Meyer offers instances of this tendency, encouraging what Huntington famously referred to as a 'clash of civilizations'. For example, a week before George Bush senior spoke in Congress about the need for a 'new world order', a 'humorous' cartoon map in the Economist divided the world's continents into religious and philosophical blocks, creating a new region called 'Islamistan'. In 1997, Brzezinski wrote openly of US geostrategic plans, stating that it would be hard to achieve such goals 'except in the circumstances of a truly massive and widely perceived direct external threat'. This, apparently, was granted with the events of 9/11, and the subsequent launch of a 'war on terror'. The immediate comparisons, led by George W. Bush, with Pearl Harbor demand a reassessment of the events of 1941. Meyer points to conclusive evidence which suggests that Roosevelt deliberately provoked the attacks and failed to pass on intelligence to US Navy chiefs. Could it be possible that certain members of the US elite likewise deliberately remained passive before 9/11? Why, only two weeks after the attacks, were celebrations held at CIA headquarters in which Bush profusely thanked the secret services '...on behalf of the American people'? In contrast to the divisive thinking and 'conflict-management' of leading representatives of the Anglo-American elite (inspired by a contorted reading of some basic insights of the philosopher Hegel), the author shows how the holistic approach of Rudolf Steiner and Mabel Collins offers a radical, alternative way to deal with polarities, leading to the overcoming of conflict.Table of ContentsContents; Introduction; 'Islamistan' and the West The consensus on the new world order - before and after September 11, 2001; 2. The president who stayed in primary class; 3. The attacks on the World Trade Center - a many-layered catastrophe; 4. September 11, 2001 and Pearl Harbor Conclusions from a widely broadcast comparison; 5. 'Dishonesty as a fundamental characteristic of our time...' Notes on the current world situation; 6. Michael C. Ruppert - an American seeker of truth; 7. G.W.F. Hegel's dual path in the West Hegel's view of evolution as basis for western politics and esoteric schooling; 8. What can replace the 'survival of the unfittest' in positions of power?; Timeline for 9.11.2001 by Jose Garcia Morales; Index

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Book Synopsis'We have shown how in the course of time the being who was present in Elijah appeared again at the most important moments of human evolution on Earth - appeared again so that Christ Jesus Himself could give him the initiation he was to receive for the evolution of mankind. For the being of Elijah reappeared in Lazarus-John - who are in truth one and the same figure ...' Thus spoke Rudolf Steiner in his 'Last Address' to members of the Anthroposophical Society. This was his first and only indication of the connection between John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. As Prokofieff points out, Steiner intended to develop and bring to full clarity the short comment reproduced above, but his terminal illness prevented him from doing so. In this brief but enlightening booklet, Sergei O. Prokofieff addresses the mystery of the 'two Johns', solving many unanswered questions. In particular, he throws light on issues of 'incarnation and incorporation', the nature of John the Baptist's and John the Evangelist's respective initiations, the significance of their mutual work at the 'Turning Point of Time', and its relevance to our present day.

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Book SynopsisRepresents one of the responses to the defects and potentialities of modern times. This book traces the growth and development of the Movement, identifies some of its key characteristics, and provides a critical perspective. It provides a treatment of New Age 'celebration of the self', and situates it within the cultural context.Trade Review"Drawing on a vast and rich body of sources, Dr Heelas has produced a remarkably comprehensive picture of the multi-faceted contemporary New Age movement. His knowledge of everything from human potential movements to the new Gurdjieff-inspired religious systems and modern paganism is in itself no less impressive than his discerning commentary on what all this means for modern society. His deeply researched but lightly-worn scholarship informs every page, and anyone who wishes to get an understanding of the present-day fringe religious scene will need to acquaint themselves with this book." Dr B R Wilson, Emeritus Fellow of All Souls, University of Oxford "A pioneering book, and a remarkable feat of sympathetic interpretation which will change the way we perceive the New Age. Paul Heelas makes sense out of a wider range of materials than I'd have believed possible. A book to buy and keep, as a document of our times." Don Cupitt, Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge It should be clear from all of this that Heelas takes the New Age seriously and is able to point to it as cultural expression of modernity as well as, in some ways, a resource for modernity. Voices are often shrill and unidimensional in dealing with the New Ages; so his careful, searching judgements are surely welcome... Still, Heelas has contributed significantly to the small list of truly good books on the New Age movement. With its plethora of concrete examples, his work is rich in conveying the texture of the movement, and it is evenhanded in its evaluation of evidence and claims" Professor Catherine L. Albanese, Department of Religious Studies, University of California. "Heelas' work presents a particularly good introduction to the subject. Heelas' book will be of great assistance to everyone interested in undertaking research into some aspect of the New Age Movement." Religion "Paul Heelas has produced an extremely useful account of the new Age and this book will no doubt be a standard text for some time to come." Fiona Bowie, BASR Bulletin. "... Heelas' book provides a good comprehensive guide to the New Age Movement. This book is a valuable resource for those studying the sociology of religion, particularly for those interested in the New Age Movement." Andri Soteri, London School of Economics and Political Science "We have long needed a scholarly and objective description and assessment of the New Age Movement, and at last Paul Heelas... has provided us with one... Comtemporary Christians in particular need to know why New Age ideas attract, and they need a guide through this perplexing welter of beliefs, therapies, lifestyles, hopes and aspirations. They could have none better than The New Age Movement." The Christian Parapsychologist "Heelas's description of contempory New Age phenomena provide a valuable resource for the student of new Religious Movements" Wendy W. Young, University of FloridaTable of ContentsList of Illustrations. Acknowledgements. Introduction. PART I. PORTRAYAL. 1. Manifestations. 2. Developments. 3. The New. 4. Significance. PART II. APPEAL. 5. Uncertainties of Modernity. 6. Certainties of Modernity. PART III. EFFECTIVENESS. 7. Sel-Understanding. 8. The Future. Appendices: (1) Characterizations of the New Age; (2) Before and After Exegesis. References. Index.

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Book SynopsisIllustrated with photos, charts, and maps, and written in an easy, informal style, this survey will be enjoyed by all who want to enrich their understanding of Old Testament people and events.

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Book SynopsisA complete introductory textbook and inductive study of the text of Genesis.

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Book SynopsisA study of a representative group of Japanese New Religions, exploring their concepts and practices of peace and pacifism. Robert Kisala advocates a more positive engagement in the debate on Japan's role in international security arrangements.

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Book SynopsisThe atheists Daniel Dennett in Breaking the Spell and Richard Dawkins in The God Delusion talk down to believers. Sam Harris in The End of Faith and Letter to a Christian Nation insults believers outright. All three assume that believers are not very bright. Their approach is not productive of much understanding. In The Philosopher’s Enigma, Richard Watson explains to believers in temperate and readable prose why he and many others are not believers. His discussion is based on strict Augustinianism, the foundation of seriously argued Christianity. God is hidden – that is, the concept of God is unintelligible – as discussed at length by Leszek Kolakowski in his Religion If There Is No God (St. Augustine’s Press) – in the sense that there are no known rational arguments for God’s existence. Moreover, Augustine argues that finite human beings cannot understand God’s infinite perfections. Augustine concludes that God has omniscient knowledge of every human being’s behavior, which after all, is predetermined by God prior to His creation of the world. Most difficult to accept, as Calvin later stresses, is the inference that because humans do not determine their own behavior, God predetermines who is saved and who is damned with no reference to this behavior. A foundation of Christianity is that because of the Fall of Man, we are all sinners, and thus there is no reason why God should pick this person for salvation and that one for damnation. But most Christians believe that faith, God’s grace, Jesus’ sacrifice, being born again, and in particular, good works, can earn one salvation. But Augustine and later Calvin see no evidence for these views. Even if, or perhaps even because, God gives a sinner the grace to be good – a person’s good works do not assure salvation. After all, even before God created the world, God predetermined the behavior of every human being. Thus because humans cannot determine their own behavior, they cannot be saved or damned with reference to this behavior.A major difficulty in understanding and accepting the story of the Creation, then, is that even though God determines Adam’s behavior, God punishes Adam for disobedience by decreeing that all Adam’s progeny will be born sinners. Watson begins his book with the steel-trap objections made by his daughter, when she was seven years old, as he read the Bible to her. To the story of the Garden, she objected: “But God made Adam! God made Adam sin! God is not fair!” She slid off his lap, and he had to bribe her to return.In The Philosopher’s Enigma, Watson also discusses in detail the concepts of the soul, angels, ghosts, mind, and body. He argues that the classic Cartesian mind/body problem of how an immaterial mind or soul and a material body can interact will eventually be superseded by a concept of a human being according to which, even though a person’s body/mind is bound by physical laws, it still makes its own considered decisions, and to that extent a human being is free. And because the mind/body is one entity, there is no problem about two different things – a mind and a body-interacting.Watson concludes that this means there is no such thing as a disembodied mind or soul, and so no such things as angels and ghosts that could help or harm you. Basing this discussion in the context of contemporary neurophilosophy, his conclusions about the relationships of mind/soul follow those of Kolakowski in being reminiscent of Spinoza.Table of ContentsPreludeChapter 1. GodChapter 2. Free Will and the Mind-Body ProblemChapter 3. The SoulChapter 4. Angels and GhostsChapter 5. The Powers of the MindChapter 6. The Mind and the BrainEpilogueBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThe Indian spiritual entrepreneur Maharishi Mahesh Yogi took the West by storm in the 1960s and ’70s, charming Baby Boomers fed up with war and social upheaval with his message of meditation and peace. Heeding his call, two thousand followers moved to tiny Fairfield, Iowa, to set up their own university on the campus of a failed denominational college. Soon, they started a school for prekindergarten through high school, allowing followers to immerse themselves in Transcendental Meditation from toddlerhood through PhDs.Although Fairfield’s longtime residents were relieved to see that their new neighbours were clean-cut and respectably dressed - not the wild-haired, drug-using hippies they had feared - the newcomers nevertheless quickly began to remake the town. Stores selling exotic goods popped up, TM followers built odd-looking homes that modelled the guru’s rules for peace-inspiring architecture, and the new university knocked down a historic chapel, even as it erected massive golden-domed buildings for meditators. Some newcomers got elected - and others were defeated - when they ran for local and statewide offices. At times, thousands from across the globe visited the small town.Yet Transcendental Meditation did not always achieve its aims of personal and social tranquility. Suicides and a murder unsettled the meditating community over the years, and some followers were fleeced by con men from their own ranks. Some battled a local farmer over land use and one another over doctrine. Notably, the world has not gotten more peaceful.Today the guru is dead. His followers are greying, and few of their children are moving into leadership roles. The movement seems rudderless, its financial muscle withering, despite the efforts of high-profile supporters such as filmmaker David Lynch and media magnate Oprah Winfrey. Can TM reinvent itself? And what will be the future of Fairfield itself? By looking closely at the transformation of this small Iowa town, author Joseph Weber assesses the movement’s surprisingly potent effect on Western culture, sketches out its peculiar past, and explores its possible future.

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Book SynopsisScholars explore from many fresh angles the interweavings of two of the richest strands of human culture - music and esotericism - with examples from the medieval period to the modern age. Music and esotericism are two responses to the intuition that the world holds hidden order, beauty, and power. Those who compose, perform, and listen to music have often noted that music can be a bridge between sensory and transcendent realms. Such renowned writers as Boethius expanded the definition of music to encompass not only sounded music but also the harmonic fabric of human and cosmic life. Those who engage in pursuits called "esoteric," from ancient astrology, magic, and alchemy to recent and more novel forms of spirituality, have also remarked on the relevance of music to their quests. Esotericists have composed music in order to convey esoteric meaning, performed music to create esoteric influences, and listened to music to raise their esoteric awareness. The academic study of esotericism is a young field, and few researchers have probed the rich interface between the musical and esoteric domains. In Explorations in Music and Esotericism, scholars from numerous fields introduce the history of esotericism and current debates about its definition and extent. The book's sixteen chapters present rich instances of connections between music and esotericism, organized with reference to four aspects of esotericism: as a form of thought; as the keeping and revealing of secrets; as an identity; and as a signifier. Edited by Marjorie Roth and Leonard George. Contributors: Elizabeth Abbate, Malachai Komanoff Bandy, Adam Bregman, Charles E. Brewer, Benjamin Dobbs, Anna Gawboy, Pasquale Giaquinto, Adam Knight Gilbert, Joscelyn Godwin, Virginia Christy Lamothe, Andrew Owen, Christopher Scheer, Codee Ann Spinner, Woodrow Steinken, and Daphne Tan.Trade ReviewThe serious study of esotericism among contemporary academics...has been a welcome shift in the musicological landscape. [This book] reminds us that the esoteric is something more than marginal: it too is part of our cultural heritage. * MUSICAL OPINION QUARTERLY *Table of ContentsForeword Joscelyn Godwin Acknowledgments Introduction: The Muzzled Muse Leonard George and Marjorie Roth * Part One: Esotericism as a Form of Thought 1. The Hermaphroditic Nature of the mi-fa Complex Adam Bregman 2. Athanasius Kircher and the Nature of Ecstatic Listening Charles Brewer 3. Claude Bragdon's Images of the Seven Degrees of the Scale Joscelyn Godwin 4. Music Analysis as Esoteric Activity: Viktor Zuckerkandl at Eranos Daphne Tan * * Part Two: Esotericism as the Keeping and Revealing of Secrets 5. Concealment Revealed: Sound and Symbol in Ockeghem's Missa Quinti toni and Missa Prolationum Adam Knight Gilbert 6. Air and Eros: Musician as Demiurge in Renaissance Magic Leonard George 7. "De septenario illo et sacro numero": The Divine Septenarius in Baryphonus and Grimm's Pleiades musicae Benjamin Dobbs 8. The Hoard and the Grail: A Wagnerian Conspiracy in Five Parts Woodrow Steinken * * * Part Three: Esotericism as an Identity 9. Tommaso Campanella, the Barberini Palace, and the Soul's Perception of Music Virginia Christy Lamothe 10. Sonic Symbolism: Matthew Cooke's Music for the Scottish Rite Craft Degrees Andrew Owen 11. New American Eden: Katherine Tingley in Lomaland Christopher M. Scheer 12. Theosophy and the Esoteric Roots of Sun Ra's Afrofuturism Anna Gawboy * * * * Part Four: Esotericism as a Signifier 13. "Im Himmel und auf Erden": Geometry, Alchemy, and Rosicrucian Symbol in Buxtehude's Herr, wenn ich nur dich hab' (BUXWV 38) Malachai Komanoff Bandy 14. (In)Audible Sound and Spiritualist Acoustemologies Codee Ann Spinner 15. As Above, So Below: Magic Squares and Immutable Laws of Nature in Webern's Opus 24 Elizabeth Abbate 16. The Osiris-Light in Nino Rota's Music Pasquale Giaquinto Contributors to This Volume Index

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Book SynopsisAfter a close encounter with death, Tom Morton realised he needed a change of pace and perspective. He decided to become the only independent funeral celebrant on the remote Shetland Islands, an unusual new profession that would lead him on an extraordinary journey into the world of the dead. In a vivid narrative that reveals the fascinating realm of the unspoken – from extraordinary undertakers and death cafés, to pilgrimages and taboos – Tom quickly learns that death and speaking for the dead requires you to think on your feet and often take a magpie approach to faith and philosophy. From Humanism to hymns, Theravada Buddhism to Star Wars theology, he discovers the importance of ritual, humour, and the empowering act of trying to find words for something beyond language itself. This is an accessible and thought-provoking guide to celebrating mortality. When grief must be an inevitable part of life, Tom shows how we can mourn together in a way that feels appropriate to the life of the one who has passed on, and ultimately cultivate a healthy attitude to our own eventual demise. Trade Review"This is an extraordinary and important book, both vitally topical and essentially timeless." - Stuart Maconie"At the beginning, I’m happy to be drawn gently in, by about half way through, I’m starting to realise that, not only is this entertaining, but it’s important, and by the end I know it’s vital." - Tim Hayward

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Book SynopsisHow Atheists rely on urban myths about religion to buttress their case against God. God, and the whole business of being dependent upon him, is being downgraded, downsized, downplayed, and most of all, just plain dismissed in the modern, cultured, educated parts of Europe and in academia. This process is powered and driven by a whole, growing series of interlocked urban myths about what is supposed to be involved in being a religious (and often specifically Christian) believer. This book examines and critiques those myths, showing how the Christian faith can be intelligent and supported by reason.

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Book SynopsisFollowing on from Pandeism: An Anthology this new volume brings you three returning authors and a dozen new ones, including renowned physicist and theologian Varadaraja V. Raman, communications professor and poet John Ross, Jr., mixed martial artist turned musician Jimmy "Ninja" Chaikong, Judaism blogger Roger Price, and mythohistorian Julian West. The theme of this volume is the creativity of the human mind - in art, in poetry, in recasting historical events in mythological terms, in film and television, and, indeed, in prose theological writing. A creative mind is a fire which gives light to the head, warmth to the heart, and nourishment to the soul, and we are blessed to present talents sufficient to fuel many a conversation to come. Indeed, perhaps the creativity of the human mind is a flickering echo of a greater mind which we all occupy.

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Book SynopsisIn the beginning was the word, and...you know the rest. Not like this you don't. In a new twist on a classic tale, Tom Carver re-imagines the Old Testament without the leading character. The Newer, More English Version takes an erudite look at the supporting players of the Pentateuch, with no Jehovah to steal the show. What's left is a varied cast of egomaniacs, revolutionaries, war criminals, genii and perverts: Joseph, smug careerist and part-time psychoanalyst; Moses, a revolutionary firebrand who just wants to belong; Abraham, the world's first and greatest global branding strategist; and one very strange tree...Trade ReviewClever and thought-provoking.-- Professor Steven Pinker, Harvard College Professor and author

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Book SynopsisEarth is on the brink of a great awakening. Mother Earth is to be reborn and humanity will be reborn with her. We will open again to the One Heart. We all share the One Heart. It is the Heart of the Creator and a vast universe woven of unbreakable threads of love. Through this book, we explore our One Heart in the company of Elders and Guides, Ancestors and Angels, meeting as equals in these Circles of Love to weave peace. Share the insights and stories from these wise ones, including Elders-in-Spirit from the Indigenous traditions of the Earth, as they help us heal our hearts and prepare for a new beginning...Trade ReviewIt is with great enthusiasm that we welcome this important, path-breaking document. Revelatory and unique, this book thrusts us deeply into the New Age. Dennis Gaffin, Professor of Anthropology and Religion, Buffalo State University An astounding contribution to channeled works-every page is filled with beauty and without repetition. This seasoned traveler who speaks so eloquently of new universes needs to be listened to with gratitude and respect. Its quality will be recognized by all those on the spiritual path. Kay Mullin, PhD., author of Wondrous Land The Sacred Traditions of Earth's indigenous peoples remind us that our world is woven out of stories. In this book we are given the great gift of countless stories relayed by diverse voices drawn from many levels and dimensions of the One Heart of Being. Beautifully related, these stories offer a comprehensive vision for new times. This is a sorely needed mythology for the Crystal Age of Earth. John Graham PhD. Dublin City University, Ireland

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Book SynopsisIn dramatic contrast to the reported growing influence of doctrinal and fundamentalist forms of religion in some parts of Southeast Asia, the predominantly Buddhist societies of the region are witnessing an upsurge of spirit possession cults and diverse forms of magical ritual. This is found in many social strata, including the urban poor, rising middle classes and elite groups, and across the different political systems of Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. This volume reveals both the central historical place of spirit possession rituals in the Buddhist cultures of mainland Southeast Asia and their important contemporary roles to enhance prosperity and protection. This book examines the increasing prominence of spirit mediumship and divination across the region by exploring the interplay of neoliberal capitalism, visual media, the network cultures of the Internet, and the politics of cultural heritage and identity. It advances beyond critiques of the “secularization” and “disenchantment” theses to explore the processes of modernity that are actively producing magical worldviews and stimulating the rise of spirit cults. As such, it not only challenges the assumptions of modernization theory but demonstrates that the cults in question are novel ritual forms that emerge out of inherently modern conditions.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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