History of religion Books

Book SynopsisHilaire P. R. Belloc (1870-1953) was an Anglo-French writer and historian who became a naturalised British subject. He was one of the most prolific writers in England during the early twentieth century, known as an orator, poet, satirist, man of letters and political activist. He is most notable for his Catholic faith, which had a strong impact on most of his works and his writing collaboration with G. K. Chesterton. He was a noted disputant, with a number of long-running feuds, but is also widely regarded as a humane and sympathetic man. In this important book THE GREAT HERESIES written in 1936, Belloc predicts the re-emergence of Islam with mind-blowing accuracy, which we see in today''s world, and expertly tackles all the other major heresies throughout history as well, which threatened to subdue true Faith.

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Book SynopsisTHE TWO BABYLONS is the great work that shows and explains the un-Biblical theological errors in Catholicism. It has been a classic among evangelical Christians and Biblical Christians in general, detailing the Pagan origins of various Roman Catholic traditions and practices and why it is important to avoid such paganism and to believe only in what is scripturally sound and true.THE TWO BABYLONS is the great work that shows and explains the un-Biblical theological errors in Catholicism. It has been a classic among evangelical Christians and Biblical Christians in general, detailing the Pagan origins of various Roman Catholic traditions and practices and why it is important to avoid such paganism and to believe only in what is scripturally sound and true.

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Book SynopsisThe mendicant friars of the Franciscan and Dominican orders played a unique and important role in medieval society. In the early thirteenth century, the Church was being challenged by a confident new secular culture, associated with the growth of towns, the rise of literature and articulate laity, the development of new sciences and the creation of the first universities. The mendicant orders which developed around the charismatic figures of Saint Francis of Assisi (founder of the Franciscans) and Saint Dominic of Osma (founder of the Dominicans) confronted this challenge by encouraging preachers to go out into the world to do God's work, rather than retiring into enclosed monasteries. C.H. Lawrence here analyses the origins and growth of these orders, as well as the impact which they had upon the medieval world - in the areas of politics and education as well as religion. His study is essential reading for all scholars and students of medieval history.Trade Review'A masterly synthesis, invaluable for both scholars and students' David D'Avray, FBA, Professor of History, University College London. 'Franciscans, Dominicans and other medieval orders of friars have exerted huge influence within and beyond Christianity. This revised edition of Professor Lawrence's acclaimed work on the friars in the crucial period of their foundation and early development will surely be welcomed alike by scholars and general readers.' Norman Tanner SJ, Professor of Church History, Gregorian University, Rome 'This is a book that should be on the shelves of every student and scholar of medieval history.' Lindy Grant, Professor of Medieval History, University of ReadingTable of ContentsContents Acknowledgements Abbreviations used in the footnotes Preface to the New Edition Chapter 1 The Medieval Church in Crisis Chapter 2 St Francis of Assisi and the Origins of the Friars Minor Chapter 3 The Growth of the Friars Minor, Crisis and Change Chapter 4 St Dominic and the Order of Friars Preachers Chapter 5 New Brethren Chapter 6 The Mission to the Towns Chapter 7 The Capture of the Schools Chapter 8 The Complaint of the Clergy Chapter 9 In the Houses of Kings Chapter 10 In the Service of the Papacy Chapter 11 Afar unto the Gentiles Epilogue: Loss and Gain Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisProlegomena to a History of Islamicate Manichaeism provides an annotated anthology of primary sources highlighting Manichaeism, a dualist religion emerging in Mesopotamia in the third century and which spread rapidly throughout the Roman and Sasanian empires until it was violently suppressed by both polities. It nevertheless continued to flourish - largely clandestinely - in the Near East, Central Asia, and China until it finally disappeared at the beginning of the seventeenth century. This book translates and assesses the importance of a number of Arabic, Persian, Syriac, and even Hebrew language testimonies for a better understanding of the cultural importance of what many scholars characterize as the first 'world religion'.Trade Review'Reeves is a superb scholar who has meticulously researched the literature relevant to this project. His extensive learning is manifest throughout. Nothing like this anthology exists in English for the Islamicate testimonia on Manichaeism, and therefore it fills an extremely important gap.' Michael A. Williams, Professor of Comparative Religion and Near Eastern Languages and Civilization, Jackson School of International Studies, University of WashingtonTable of ContentsPreface Chapter One: Introduction Chapter Two: Biographical Testimonia About Mani Chapter Three: Fragments of Manichaean Scripture: A Classified Collection of Islamicate Testimonia Chapter Four: Testimonia About Manichaean Teachings Chapter Five: 'Historical' Testimonia About Manichaeism and Manichaeans Chronological Roster of Sources

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Book SynopsisFrom false idols and graven images to the tombs of kings and the shrines of capitalism, the targeted destruction of cities, sacred sites and artefacts for religious, political or nationalistic reasons is central to our cultural legacy. This book examines the different traditions of image-breaking in Christianity and Islam as well as their development into nominally secular movements and paints a vivid, scholarly picture of a culture of destruction encompassing Protestantism, Wahhabism, and Nationalism. Beginning with a comparative account of Calvinist Geneva and Wahhabi Mecca, The Politics of Iconoclasm explores the religious and political agendas behind acts of image-breaking and their relation to nationhood and state-building. From sixteenth-century Geneva to urban developments in Mecca today, The Politics of Iconoclasm explores the history of image-breaking, the culture of violence and its paradoxical roots in the desire for renewal. Examining these dynamics of nationhood, technology, destruction and memory, a historical journey is described in which the temple is razed and replaced by the machine.Table of ContentsContents List of Illustrations ix Note on Transliteration xi Acknowledgements xiii Introduction 1 PART I: THE PROTOTYPES 1 Calvinism and Iconoclasm 23 2 Wahhabism and Iconoclasm 59 PART II: THE CASES 3 The French Revolution and Iconoclasm 95 4 The Bourgeois City and Iconoclasm: Venice 111 5 World War Two and Iconoclasm 125 6 The Balkan Wars and Iconoclasm 145 7 Islamic Iconoclasm Today 165 Conclusion 179 Notes 185 Bibliography 219 Index of Key Names 233

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisIndigenous Religious Traditions in Five Minutes aims to answer many of the questions that come to mind when we think about the religious lives of Native and Indigenous peoples of the world. Scholars from many fields answer dozens of questions about a wide variety of specific Indigenous religious traditions and an array of the ideas, practices, and beliefs many people associate with them. Do Native peoples have creator Gods? What is shamanism? Why are there so many spellings of voodoo? Is Paganism considered an Indigenous religious tradition? We also interrogate the concept of Indigenous religious traditions, by asking what the phrase means in relation to the larger fields of Native American and Indigenous Studies and Religious Studies, whether all religions were at some point indigenous, and what the value of studying Indigenous religious traditions is today. Specialists respond to questions like these and many others in easily accessible language and provide references for further exploration, making this volume useful for personal study or classroom use.Table of ContentsPreface Molly Bassett and Natalie Avalos Indigeneity and Religion Why does the title of this book use the phrase “Indigenous Religious Traditions” rather than “Indigenous Religions?” Tisa Wenger, Yale University What makes a religion an ‘Indigenous religion’? Graham Harvey, The Open University Were all religions at one time ‘Indigenous’? Tyler Tully, University of Oxford Are Indigenous religions only those practiced by Indigenous people? Angela Puca, Leeds Trinity University Why is "religion" a problematic category for understanding Indigenous traditions? Philip Arnold, Syracuse University How do ideas about race shape understandings of Native American religious life? Sarah Dees, Iowa State University Why Are Indigenous African and Afro-Diasporic Religions Relevant to You? Ayodeji Ogunnaike, Bowdoin College, & Oludamini Ogunnaike, University of Virginia What makes Vodou an Indigenous tradition? James Padilioni, Jr., Swarthmore College What’s the difference between Vodou, Voudou, and Voodoo? Emily Clark, Gonzaga University Is Adivasi religion the same as Hinduism? William Elison, University of California Is Neo-Paganism an Indigenous religious tradition? Abel R. Gomez, University of Oklahoma The Study of Indigenous Religious Traditions What moral responsibilities do scholars and students have in studying Indigenous religions? Afe Adogame, Princeton Theological Seminary Why is repatriation a religious issue for many Native communities? Greg Johnson, University of California Is an academic approach to Indigenous religions innately colonizing? Afe Adogame What is animism? Graham Harvey How do archaeologists study religion in the Indigenous past? Mallory Matsumoto, University of Texas What’s the deal with cultural appropriation? Gregory Alles, McDaniel College Was the Washington R*dskins cultural appropriation? Matt Sheedy, Universität Bonn Indigenous Religious Traditions What is a Land-based religious tradition? Dana Lloyd, Villanova University Do Indigenous Peoples believe plants, animals, and waters have personhood? Meaghan Weatherdon, University of San Diego What does it mean when Indigenous peoples say animals are sacred? Kelsey Dayle John, University of Arizona What role does pilgrimage play in Indigenous religious life? Paul Gareau & Jeanine LeBlanc, both at University of Alberta Are Indigenous peoples inherently environmentalists? Dennis Kelley, University of Missouri Why is the public expression of Indigenous Religion political? Stacie Swain, University of Victoria What are Native American foodways, and how are they religious? Andrea McComb Sanchez, University of Arizona What do Indigenous religious traditions in the Americas have in common? Inés Hernandez-Avila, University of California What are ancestor spirits, and what role do they play in Hawaiian religious life? Marie Alohalani Brown, University of Hawai'i What is the Ghost Dance? Tiffany Hale, Barnard College, Columbia University How are Indigenous narratives and oral traditions like “texts?” Dennis Kelley What do trickster tales tell us about human beings, and why are they important in Indigenous cultures? Davíd Carrasco, Harvard University How do Indigenous religions approach disability? Zara Surratt, University of North Carolina Are Indigenous religious traditions patriarchal? Donnie Begay, University of Divinity, Australia Did Indigenous people really honor LGBT/Two-Spirit people? Lisa Poirier, DePaul University Indigenous Futurity Indigenous futurism … is that like science fiction? Matt Sheedy

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