Humanist and secular alternatives to religion Books

Book SynopsisAn approachable, uplifting guide to finding happiness and leading a fulfilling life through the wisdom of famous humanists from the past and presentTrade ReviewGorgeous and full of wise quotes and stories that we would all do well to heed in today's crazy world -- Jim Al-KhaliliThis beautiful little book is, well, beautiful. The perfect antidote to a great deal of nonsense -- Shappi KhorsandiA wonderful source of wisdom and calm -- Frank TurnerTHE LITTLE BOOK OF HUMANISM by Andrew Copson & Alice Roberts is a delight. Give it like a bunch of flowers to someone you love. A compendium of uplifting quotations woven together by the two leading figures in today's Humanists UK -- Richard DawkinsThis is a delightful book to dip into, to give comfort, stimulation and guidance. It puts humanism right into the mainstream of enlightened thinking -- Janet WhitakerAnytime my head feels heavy this book seems to find me and pick me up ... A fantastic introduction to a new way of thinking * GalwayNow *

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Book SynopsisThe scientific and rational conclusion that intelligence and not chaos is the driving force behind the universe.

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Book SynopsisSUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLERNUMBER ONE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLERFrom one of our greatest voices in modern philosophy, author of The Course of Love, The Consolations of Philosophy, The Art of Travel and The School of Life''A serious and optimistic set of practical ideas that could improve and alter the way we live'' Jeanette Winterson, The Times''A beautiful, inspiring book... offering a glimpse of a more enlightened path'' Sunday Telegraph''Smart, stimulating, sensitive. A timely and perceptive appreciation of how much wisdom is embodied in religious traditions and how we godless moderns might learn from it'' Financial Times''There isn''t a page in this book that doesn''t contain a striking idea or a stimulating parallel'' Mail on SundayAlain de Botton takes us one step further than Dawkins or Hitchens ventured - into a world of ideas beyond the God debate...All of us, whether religious, agnostic or atheist, are searching for meaning. And in this wise and life-affirming book, non-believer Alain de Botton both rejects the supernatural claims of the major religions and points out just how many good ideas they sometimes have about how we should live.And he suggests that non-believers can learn and steal from them.Picking and choosing from the thousands of years of advice assembled by the world''s great religions, Alain de Botton presents a range of fascinating ideas and practical insights on art, community, love, friendship, work, life and death. He shows how they can be of use to us all, irrespective of whether we do or don''t believe.

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Book SynopsisThe growing absence of meaningful ritual in contemporary Western societies has led to cohesive research on the history of ritualizing behaviour in different cultures. The relatively new field of ritology, which includes neuroscience, anthropology, cultural psychology, psychotherapy and even art and performance, raises questions about the significance and practice of ritual today. This book is the first of its kind to discuss the importance of secular rituals for cultural and personal growth. Using a transdisciplinary approach, a range of contributors provide an authoritative account of the science and history of rituals and their role in creating healthy societies in the modern age.Trade ReviewEmerging Ritual in Secular Societies is a timely addition to the scholarship of sociology and culture, and indeed, to sociology of religion as well. Often overlooked by those who equate ritual with religion, the authors of this book provide rich descriptions of how secular rituals bind communities together and create meaning for groups and individuals. -- Sharon L. Miller, Ph.D. Director of Research, Auburn Theological Seminary, USABased on instructive case studies, this book contributes very valuable insights on the importance and functions of non-religious rituals within secularized pluralistic societies in order to create individual meaning in life and establish social cohesion in heterogeneous contexts. -- Professor Dr. René Gründer, Sociologist, GermanyEmerging Ritual in Secular Societies constitutes an important contribution to the burgeoning field of Ritual Studies. The essays featured in this edited volume, written by leading anthropologists, psychologists, and sociologists, as well as ritual professionals, present a unique vantage point that combines both academic and practical concerns. Focusing on contemporary secular rituals, Emerging Ritual in Secular Societies successfully navigates between ritual theory and practice, offering answers to such issues as the role of ritual in modern life and the mechanisms involved in constructing new rituals to celebrate life events in a non-religious context. For far too long, modern scholars of ritual have ignored the perspectives of living ritualists in favor of developing theoretical frameworks that analyzed ritual from a supposed perspective of scientific cognitive distance. Following in the footsteps of contemporary ritologists such as Ronald Grimes, this volume aims to rectify this situation by offering a transdisciplinary exploration of ritual presented by experienced professionals involved in the creation and practice of new forms of ritual activity. This well-written and informative work will be of strong interest to scholars and students of ritual alike. -- Ori Tavor, Lecturer in Chinese Studies, Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations, University of Pennsylvania, USAEmerging Ritual in Secular Societies is a rich collection of essays, case studies, and interviews that help us understand how people make meaning, mark life transitions, and construct spiritual journeys without the benefit of religious institutions. It contributes not only to our knowledge of ritual practices and secularization, but also to our appreciation of the multiple ways people employ their imaginations to connect with the mystery of grace and the power of human community. -- The Rev. Dr. Deborah Kapp, Edward F. and Phyllis K. Campbell Professor of Urban Ministry, McCormick Theological SeminaryThis fine volume shines a much-needed light on the growing field of secular ritual, and its breadth and depth offer rich insights for scholars and practitioners alike. It's a wonderful contribution to the important conversation about finding meaning and connection in an ever-more complex world. -- Sarah Kerr, PhD. Death Doula & Ritual Practitioner, Soul Passages, CanadaThis book is indeed a transdisciplinary conversation on how ritual supports society in its primary role. The writers remind us that throughout the history of civilisation we have used ritual to deal with potentially traumatic events. As a therapist I particularly appreciate how Robert Scaer relates ritual to the neurophysiology of trauma. In trauma therapy our first challenge is helping people feel safe so they can self-regulate. Matthieu Smyth considers ritual a privileged means for group self-regulation through attachment and emotional attunement. Michael Picucci contributes outstanding resources for the use of ritual in clinical practice as well as in intimate relationships. The case studies and research demonstrate the importance of respecting ritual timing, interpersonal resonance and our own biological rhythms. Integrating all of these aspects in one book was a stroke of genius! -- Sonia Gomes, PhD in Clinical Psychology, International SE Advanced Faculty of the Somatic Experiencing Trauma Institute, USA. Creator of SOMA (Embodiment - Touch & Movement in Somatic Experiencing) in Brazil and USAAs an artist I'm drawn to secular ritual - those events where we 'make meaning' with each other outside of (though perhaps borrowing from) traditions. We dearly need guidance in this moment, as traditions harden into entrenched divisions. This book on contemporary ritual encourages us to rethink what it is that unites us, what deserves to be celebrated, and how to reinvent rituals to bridge our differences -- Suzanne Lacy, Ph.D. Artist, Professor, Roski School of Art and Design, University of Southern CaliforniaThrough ritual we can experience stability and safety. As we 'do something' to mark an occasion, we connect with other people and something beyond ourselves. Those with complex trauma suffer greatly from loss of equilibrium and connection with others. Emerging Ritual in Secular Societies opens the way to treating emotional responses to trauma by ritualising transitions and celebrating life. This is effective when, as Jeltje Gordon-Lennox writes, ritual is a body-based, rather than a cognitive experience. -- Dagmar Härle, Master of Psychotraumatology (University of Zurich); Practitioner of Somatic Experience, TCTSY-Facilitator (Traumacenter Traumasensitive Yoga)A well-researched book, with engaging dialogue on emerging ritual through the human sciences, art and life experiences, which leaves the door open for intelligent discussion. This is more than an academic book, it's a well-intended and clear-sighted discussion. I believe this book will benefit any reader and is an absolute must for many years to come. -- Cécile Wesolowski, www.cecilewesolowski.comThis creative enlightening book is rich in perspectives. It conveys a deep understanding of the value and meaning of rituals and incorporates many moving and powerful examples. It will appeal to anthropologists and psychotherapists, celebrants and faith leaders and individuals looking to express themselves at significant moments in their lives. It has the potential to spark ideas and give depth to people's experience. -- Dr Sharon Pettle, Consultant Clinical Psychologist & Systemic Psychotherapist, UKWhy do citizens of secular societies continue to ritualize? Contributors to this provocative volume answer with a focus on how we are actually doing it, documenting the immense creativity with which people craft and enact new rituals to celebrate unions, mark life transitions, say goodbye, heal, reconcile and remember, but also to experience the world afresh. -- Jane K. Cowan Ph.D. Professor of Anthropology, University of Sussex, UKA delightful exploration of meaning-making beyond the frontal cortex. This fascinating book describes secular ritual as "multi-media packages" of "human technology" for making meaning through sound, touch, smell, taste, color, shape, and motion. A sensual map for times of transition. -- Lisa Schirch, Ph.D. author of 'Ritual and Symbol in Peacebuilding' and Research Professor at Eastern Mennonite University, Virginia, USARitual has been an overlooked asset to the healing of trauma and to restoring broken connections. The diverse contributors to this volume make this a widespread and accessible work for all those interested in ritual and social trauma. -- Peter A Levine Author of Waking the Tiger: Healing Trauma and Trauma and MemoryDemonstrating the need for a more inclusive ritual grammar, Emerging Ritual in Secular Societies meets the demands of a changing world. The variety of discussions in this book contribute generously to the bricolage that is the secular ritualist's toolbox. It is a highly useful methodology for practitioners. -- Nina Faartoft, Head of Ceremonies, Danish Humanist Society, anthropologist and funeral celebrantThis volume offers a much-needed roadmap for exploring a new territory: that of making sense of life through secular ritual, both in public and in private spaces. It offers foundational chapters and a number of useful case studies. It is a major contribution to the field of ritual studies and will be highly helpful to both scholars and practitioners. -- Peter Nissen, Professor of Spirituality Studies, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The NetherlandsTable of ContentsList of Illustrations. Credits. Notes on Contributors. Introduction. Jeltje Gordon-Lennox, Ashoka Association, Geneva, CH. Part I THE ORIGINS OF RITUAL. 1. The Art of Ritual and the Ritual of Art. Ellen Dissanayake. 2. Human Rituals and Ethology: A Scholar's Journey. Matthieu Smyth, Ritual Anthropologist, University of Strasbourg. 3. The Neurophysiology of Ritual and Trauma: Cultural Implications. Robert C. Scaer, Neurologist, Psychologist, Colorado, USA. Part II - SENSEMAKING IN LIFE EVENTS. 4. The Rhyme and Reason of Ritualmaking. Jeltje Gordon-Lennox. 5. Case Study: A Nordic Rite of Passage Come of Age. Jeltje Gordon-Lennox with Lene Mürer, Siri Sandberg and Inger-Johanne Slaatta (Norwegian Humanist Assocation), Marie Louise Petersen (Danish Humanist Society), Bjarni Jonsson (Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association), and Tuomas Rutanen (Finnish Prometheus Camps Association). 6. Multicultural Wedding Ceremonies: Venturing into the World of Diversity. Andrés Allemand Smaller, Journalist, Geneva, CH. 7. Case Study: A Funeral Ceremony for a Violinist. Christine Behrend, Celebrant, Pully, CH. 8. Case Study: A Memorial and a Wedding Rolled into one Humanist Ceremony. Isabel Russo, Head of Ceremonies at British Humanist Association, London, UK. 9. Part III RITUALIZING IN INTIMATE SPACES. 9. Ritual - A Resource for Health and Transformation in the Twenty-first Century. Michael Picucci, PhD., New York City, USA. 10. Sensing the Dead: The Role of Embodiment, the Senses and Material Objects in the Ritualization of Mourning. Joanna Wojtkowiak, PhD., Cultural Psychologist, University of Humanistic Studies, Utrecht, NL. 11. Food and Ritual. Lindy Mechefske, Journalist, Ontario, CAN. Part IV RITUALIZING IN PUBLIC PLACES. 12. Commemorative Ritual and the Power of Place. Irene Stengs, PhD, Cultural Anthropologist, Amsterdam, NL. 13. New Ritual Society: Consumerist Revolution and the Rediscovery of Ritual. Gianpiero Vincenzo, Accademia di Belle Arti di Catania, Italy. 14. Ritual and Contemporary Art. Jacqueline Millner, Sydney College of the Arts, Sydney, AUS. 15. Interview: Ritual Artist Ida van der Lee. Index.

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Book SynopsisStorming Zion offers a compelling explanation for the growing trend of state raids on new and nontraditional religious communities. Stuart Wright and Susan Palmer base their study on a massive data set documenting 116 government raids over the last six decades, primarily in Western countries.Trade ReviewThe book's analysis of expanded government raiding of NRMs in France is a solid addition to ongoing discussions over religious pluralism, laïcité and French church–state relations, and European counter-extremism policy. * Brian Auten, Religious Studies Review *Table of ContentsPreface ; Chapter 1. Government Raids on Religious Communities ; Chapter 2. Countermovement Mobilization and Government Raids ; Chapter 3. The Twelve Tribes ; Chapter 4. The Family International/Children of God\ ; Chapter 5. Branch Davidians ; Chapter 6. The United Nuwaubian Nation ; Chapter 7. The Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints ; Chapter 8. The Church of Scientology ; Chapter 9. Raids in France ; Chapter 10. Exploring the Causes and Consequences of Raids on NRM Communities ; Notes ; References ; Index

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Book SynopsisJodocus Badius Ascensius (1462-1535) was a scholar and printer who played a central role in the flourishing of humanism and print culture in the French Renaissance. In a career spanning four decades, he was involved with the print publication of something approaching one thousand editions. He was known for the ''familiar'' commentaries he wrote and published as introductions to the major authors of Latin (and, less frequently, Greek) antiquity, as well as on texts by medieval and contemporary authors. His commentaries and prefaces document the early stages of French humanism, and his texts played a major role in forming the minds of future generations. This book provides an account of Badius''s contributions to pedagogy, scholarship, printing and humanist culture. Its main focus is on Latin language commentaries on classical texts. It examines Badius''s multiple roles in the light of changing conceptions of textual culture during the Renaissance. It also explores the wider context of tTable of Contents1. Jodocus Badius Ascensius: The Making of a Name ; 2. Self-Representation and Authorship ; 3. Defining Commentary ; 4. Badius and Textual Culture ; 5. The Commerce of Learning ; 6. Silvae morales (1492) ; 7. Badius's Commentary Editions: The Classical Poets ; 8. 'Morals and Letters' ; Conclusion

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Book Synopsis''The profoundest book there is, born from the innermost richness of truth, an inexhaustible well into which no bucket descends without coming up with gold and goodness.''Thus Spoke Zarathustra (1885) was Nietzsche''s own favourite among all his books and has proved to be his most popular, having sold millions of copies in many different languages. In it he addresses the problem of how to live a fulfilling life in a world without meaning, in the aftermath of ''the death of God''. Nietzsche''s solution lies in the idea of eternal recurrence which he calls ''the highest formula of affirmation that can ever be attained''. A successful engagement with this profoundly Dionysian idea enables us to choose clearly among the myriad possibilities that existence offers, and thereby to affirm every moment of our lives with others on this ''sacred'' earth. This translation of Zarathustra (the first new English version for over forty years) conveys the musicality of the original German, and for the first time annotates the abundance of allusions to the Bible and other classic texts with which Nietzsche''s masterpiece is in conversation. 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.

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Book SynopsisThis book provides a critical history of the distinctive tradition of Indian secularism known as Tolerance. Since it was first advanced by Mohandas Gandhi, the Tolerance ideal has measured secularism and civil religiosity by contrast with proselytizing religion. In India today, it informs debates over how the right to religious freedom should be interpreted on the subcontinent. Not only has Tolerance been an important political ideal in India since the early twentieth century; the framing assumptions of Tolerance permeate historical understandings among scholars of South Asian religion and politics. In conventional accounts, the emergence of Tolerance during the 1920s is described as a victory of Indian secularism over the intolerant practice of shuddhi proselytizing, pursued by reformist Hindus of the Arya Samaj, that was threatening harmonious Hindu-Muslim relations. This study shows that the designation of shuddhi as religious proselytizing was not fixed; it was the product of decadTrade ReviewThe Limits of Tolerance is a fascinating and important book-a cautionary tale really-that should be read by anyone interested in the global politics of religious freedom. Insisting on the value of the micro-history of the political work that concepts such as tolerance and religious freedom do in very specific times and places, in this case late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century India, Adcock makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the way such ideas migrate, transform, and serve partisan political ends. * Winnifred Fallers Sullivan, Professor and Chair, Department of Religious Studies, Indiana University *The Limits of Tolerance is an exciting and much-needed contribution to our historical understanding of the origins of specifically Indian ideas of religious freedom as freedom from proselytizing, as well as to contemporary debates over the nature of secularism, the political entanglements of religion, and the competing interests of religious toleration, freedom of expression, and governance * Robert A. Yelle, author of The Language of Disenchantment: Protestant Literalism and Colonial Discourse in British India *Table of ContentsTable of Contents ; Acknowledgements ; Preface ; Introduction: History and the Limits of Tolerance ; Part I: Religion and Translation in Colonial India ; Chapter One. The Colonial Politics of Religious Toleration ; Chapter Two. Religious Controversy and Ritual-Politics: Problems of ; Translation ; Part II. The Political History of Universal Religion in India ; Chapter Three. The Fountainhead of Religion ; Chapter Four: "The Arya Samaj, a Political Body!" ; Part III. Ritual-Politics and Religious Freedom ; Chapter Five. The Contested Politics of Shuddhi ; Chapter Six. The Ascendance of Tolerance: Debating ; Religious Freedom in the 1920s ; Conclusion. Secularism and the Limits of Tolerance ; Bibliography ; Notes ; Index

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Book SynopsisFocusing on the crossover between the sacred and the secular, this volume gathers the work of media experts, religious historians, sociologists of religion, and authorities on American studies and art history. Topics range from Islam on the Internet to the quasi-religious practices of Elvis fans.Trade ReviewIt is diffucult to imagine that Hoover and Clark's collection will not work to inspire and encourage further research...The book should have considerable value to students of this field. -- Gustav Niebuhr Journal of the American Academy of ReligionTable of ContentsIntroduction: The Cultural Construction of Religion in the Media Age, by Stewart M. Hoover 1. Overview: The "Protestantization" of research into Media, Religion, and Culture, by Lynn Schofield Clark Part 1. Mediation in Popular Religious Practice 2. Protestant Visual Practice and American Mass Culture, by David Morgan 3. Believing in Elvis: Popular Piety in Material Culture, by Erika Doss Part 2. The Mediation of Religion in the Public Sphere 4. Public Art as Sacred Space: Asian American Community Murals In Los Angeles, by J. Shawn Landres 5. All the World's a Stage: The Performed Religion of the Salvation Army, 1880-1920, by Diane Winston 6. "Turn It Off!": TV Criticism in theChristian Century Magazine, 1946-1960, by Michele Rosenthal Part 3. Religion Made Public Through the Media 7. Between Objectivity and Moral Vision: Catholics and Evangelicals in American Journalism, by John Schmalzbauer 8. The Southern Baptist Controversy and the Press, by Mark G. Borchert Part 4. Implicit Religion and Mediated Public Ritual 9. Scapegoating and Deterrence: Criminal Justice Rituals in American Civil Religion, by Carolyn Marvin 10. Ritual and the Media, by Ronald L. Grimes Part 5. Explicit and Public Expression in New Media Contexts 11. Allah On-Line: The Practice of Global Islam in the Information Age, by Bruce B. Lawrence 12. Internet Ritual: A Case Study of the Construction of Computer-Mediated Neopagan Religious Meaning, by Jan Fernback 13. Religious Sensibilities in the Age of the Internet: Freethought Culture and the Historical Context of Communication Media, by David Nash Part 6. Specific Religions and Specific Media in National and Ethnic Contexts 14. Religious Television in Sweden: Toward a More Balanced View of Its Reception, by Alf Linderman 15. Religious to Ethnic-National Identities: Political Mobilization Through Jewish Images in the United States and Britain, 1881-1939, by Michael Berkowitz 16. Between American Televangelism and African Anglicanism, by Knut Lundby 17. "Speaking in Tongues, Writing in Vision": Orality and Literacy in Televangelistic Communications, by Keyan G. Tomaselli and Arnold Shepperson Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisNine major scholars of philosophy, religion, law, ethics, history, anthropology, and politics consider the fate of Western secularism in modern global societies. Extending Charles Taylor's A Secular Age, this anthology explores the transformation of Western secularism beyond Europe, and the collection closes with Taylor's response to each essay.Trade ReviewIn counterpoint to Charles Taylor's A Secular Age, a stellar list of contributors offer a diverse range of critical perspectives exploring the ways in which the secular and secularism are translated and transformed as they travel beyond Latin Christendom: from China to India, from the Mexican Revolution to Sufi brotherhoods in Senegal. There is no comparable collection, as challenging and rewarding for expert and educated public alike. -- Jose Casanova, Georgetown University Beyond the Secular West is a distinguished and important set of essays that responds to A Secular Age with critical, broad-ranging, and sympathetic intelligence. The contributions hang together coherently despite the various regions and disciplinary orientations that they represent and richly illuminate the complexity of the issue of secularity as a global phenomenon with a long, diverse history. -- Uday Singh Mehta, CUNY Graduate Center This volume responds to Charles Taylor's A Secular Age. Framed with an introduction and responses by Charles Taylor, the essays explore how Taylor's work applies to cultures beyond Western Latin Christendom... Highly recommended. ChoiceTable of ContentsPreface, by Akeel Bilgrami 1. Can Secularism Travel?, by Charles Taylor 2. The Sufi and the State, by Souleymane Bachir Diagne 3. The Individual and Collective Self-Liberation Model of Ustadh Mahmoud Mohamed Taha, by Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na'im 4. Creating Democratically Friendly Twin Tolerations Outside of Latin Christendom: Tunisia, by Alfred Stepan 5. Secularism and the Mexican Revolution, by Claudio Lomnitz 6. Is Confucianism Secular?, by Peter van der Veer 7. Disenchantment Deferred, by Sudipta Kaviraj 8. An Ancient Indian Secular Age?, by Rajeev Bhargava 9. Gandhi's Radicalism: An Interpretation, by Akeel Bilgrami 10. A Secular Age Outside Latin Christendom: Charles Taylor Responds, by Charles Taylor List of Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisFrom the authors of the Sunday Times bestseller The Little Book of HumanismA humanist wedding ceremony allows couples the freedom to express their love in a completely personal way - and choose what marriage means to them.In a beautiful collection of insights from humanist celebrants, plus quotes, poems and meditations from humanist writers and thinkers throughout history, The Little Book of Humanist Weddings is filled with inspiration to complement your unique celebration of love and commitment.Trade ReviewFor those who prefer not to have the supernatural preside over their joyful day, here is the perfect guide -- Ian McEwan

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Book SynopsisUnderstanding Humanism is an easy-to-read and informative overview of the beliefs, practices, and values of humanism as a non-religious worldview. This short and lively book explores humanism both as a broad historical tradition of thought and as a stance embodied in organised institutions. It sets out clearly and systematically the beliefs and values of humanism as well as the reality and personal experience of living as a humanist today. Questions discussed in this book include: How do humanists see the relation between science and religious belief? Is humanism wedded to science as the only valid form of knowledge? What value do humanists place on the arts, and can they value religious art? Does the emphasis on human responsibility depend on an untenable belief in 'free will', and is this undermined by psychology and neuroscience? Do humanists think that life is sacred? What account would humanistsTrade Review"There has rarely been a time when a clear statement of Humanist values has been so necessary. In intellectual life, these include a respect for evidence, the independence to follow any argument to where it leads, and an enlightened suspicion of claims to be authoritatively in possession of truth – religious or otherwise. In morality, they include an emphasis upon our fundamental equality and a respect for human rights, including the right to lead one’s own life in one’s own way. These values are united within the framework of a world view, premised on the recognition we each have only one life to lead, and that it is each person’s own responsibility – no-one else’s – to live that life to the fullest possible extent. In this welcome book, the Humanist framework is set out in terms which are both thorough and clear." Alan Haworth, author of Political Philosophy After 1945 (2022), Totalitarianism and Philosophy (2019), and Understanding the Political Philosophers: From Ancient to Modern Times (2012). "A great choice for students and teachers wanting a thorough modern account of humanism." Jim Al-Khalili, Vice President of Humanists UK. "An easy-to-read and informative overview of humanism. The manual for those wishing to delve deeper into this broad tradition of historical thought." Shaparak Khorsandi, Vice President of Humanists UK. Table of Contents1. Humanist organisations 2. A shared humanity 3. Human reason 4. Human imagination 5. Human responsibility 6. Human values 7. Is life sacred? 8. Human rights and secularism 9. Life and meaning 10. Humanism and religion. Index

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Book Synopsisaeo A compelling, original book which will redefine our perceptions of medieval civilization -- and of the renaissance and the evolution of modern Europe. aeo Possibly the best book by a man who is widely regarded as the greatest medieval historian.Trade Review"Here the 'practical, intellectual and spiritual aspects' of twelfth-century history are discussed by a historian whose knowledge of the period and mastery of the art of writing are almost without equal." History Today "The combination of synthesis with fresh and vivid work on detail is one of Southern's particular gifts ...The proportions of the book will fit harmoniously into the overarching structure outlined at the start of the book, but this volume can also stand just as well on its own - already a classic." Reviews in History "The recovery of scholasticism therefore calls for two qualities: technical expertise, and lucidity of thought and expression. No historian combines these qualities more conspicuously than R.W. Southern." Times Literary Supplement "This book is more than a synthesis of a life's work on twelfth-century Western culture by Britain's greatest medievalist - it is the most important book in recent decades on the twelfth-century renaissance and its significance. This is a book to be treasured and reflected upon for years to come." Norman F. Cantor, New York University "That such a sweeping vision is expressed so lucidly, while simultaneously conveying the human details and experience of the period with a combination of sensitivity and scholarly rigour, justifies the description by its first reviewers: 'masterpiece.'" Journal of Ecclesiastical HistoryTable of ContentsPreface. List of Maps and Plates. Abbreviations and Short Titles. Two Preliminary Maps. Introduction. PART ONE – AIMS, METHODS, AND ENVIRONMENT. 1 Scholastic Humanism. I Contrasting types of humanism. II Characteristic features of scholastic humanism. III The problem of the natural sciences. IV Summits of success. V The regulation of social life. VI The loss of hope. 2 Chartrian Humanism: A Romantic Misconception. I Introduction. II Humanism and the School of Chartres. III Replies to critics. 3 The Sovereign Textbook of the Schools: The Bible. I The qualities of the Bible in scholastic thought. II Methods of investigation. III Bringing the message of the schools to the world. 4 Social and Political Roots of Scholastic Thought. I Pre-scholastic and scholastic Europe. II The new symbiosis of schools and government. III The schools, society and the individual. IV The schools and the papacy. 5 The Men and Their Rewards. I Scholars of the world. II Ancients and Moderns. III The new age. IV The glory and gossip of the schools. 6 The Scholastic Metropolis of Northern Europe. I Old institutions: new needs. II Stages in the triumph of Paris. III Conclusion. IV Appendix – A schedule of Parisian masters. PART TWO – TURNING DOCTRINE INTO LAW. 7 The Outlook in Northern Europe. I Truth and truth-enforcement. II Law and society in northern Europe. III Summits of northern European legal scholarship, c. 1050–1120. IV Federalism v. centralization. 8 The Outlook in Northern Italy. I Cultural potentialities and limitations. II Irnerius and the menace of Roman law. 9 The Integration of Doctrine and Law: Gratian. I Demand and response. II The man and his work. III The originality of his work. IV Method of work and date of compilation. V Gratian’s change of mind about Roman law. VI The personality behind the work. VII Did Gratian teach canon law? VIII The first masterpiece of scholastic humanism. IX Time and Place reviewed. Index.

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Book SynopsisIn the Miscellanies, the great Italian Renaissance scholar-poet Angelo Poliziano penned two sets of mini-essays focused on lexical or textual problems. He solves these with his characteristic deep learning and brash criticism. The two volumes presented here are the first translation of both collection into any modern language.Trade ReviewA lot of work has gone into the English translation, which is more helpful than usual given the kind of material with which Poliziano is working. There are also enough notes to facilitate a first reading of the text. In short, the work itself is well worth the read, and the editors/translators have done a real service in making it much more accessible than it has been. -- Craig Kallendorf * Neo-Latin News *

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Book SynopsisDialogues, Volume 2 by Giovanni Gioviano Pontano contains both a perceptive treatment of poetic rhythm, the first full treatment of the Latin hexameter in the history of philology, and a discussion of style and method in history writing. This is a new critical edition of the Actius and the first translation into English.Trade ReviewVolume Two of the I Tatti edition of Pontano’s five dialogues epitomizes the three volumes as a whole. The Latin text and editions are of the highest quality. The translation of the Actius, and the other dialogues, is eloquent and accurate. This accomplishment is particularly noteworthy because of the challenges present in these dialogues…It is truly masterful work. -- Brian Maxson * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *

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Book SynopsisCan secularism offer us moral, aesthetic, and spiritual satisfaction? Or does the secular view simply affirm a dog-eat-dog universe? At a time when the issues of religion, evolution, atheism, fundamentalism, Darwin, and science fill headlines and invoke controversy, The Joy of Secularism provides a balanced and thoughtful approach for understandingTrade ReviewOne of The New Yorker's Reviewer's Favorites of 2011 "[T]he book valuably works over middle ground, the space vacated by both dogmatic religionists and dogmatic atheists. It is tolerant of, and even interested in, the varieties of religious practice, and maintains an engaged and equitable tone of voice. We might call this the New Secularism... Essays ... by Adam Phillips (on helplessness) and Rebecca Stott (on Darwinian wonderment), make for a nicely prismatic collection, in which the contributors happily pursue their own interests, and are often at their most secular when they're not trying especially hard to be. The book naturally radiates outward from its editorial theme as an ideal medieval town might spread outward--from a relaxed and unpoliced center."--James Wood, New Yorker "George Levine has put together a diverse collection on what it means to be a secularist, with thoughtful essays from philosophers, historians, literary critics, and evolutionary theorists... The essays are literate and sophisticated."--Simon Blackburn, Prospect "In his upbeat Introduction, Levine's own joy in his religionless world is amply manifest. He is rapt in nature, especially birds, so expressions of aesthetic awe and wonder predominate. Secularism is not a fall, he affirms. Or rather, it is a fall, but upward (in Amy Clampitt's words) into the dazzling sun. Is life worth living in a (religiously) disenchanted world? 'You bet!' Levine answers emphatically."--Tamas Pataki, Australian Book Review "This volume ... is a valuable first contribution to an important topic, and will no doubt inspire much more work in this area."--Whitley Kaufman, Philosophy in Review "While avoiding triumphalism, these essays make a powerful case for a secularism that is both intellectually rigorous and heartfelt."--Peter D Smith, Guardian "Demonstrating that a world of secular enchantment is a place worth living in, The Joy of Secularism takes a new and liberating look at a valuable and complex subject."--World Book IndustryTable of ContentsContributors vii Acknowledgments xi Introduction 1 George Levine Chapter 1: Challenges for Secularism by Philip Kitcher 24 Chapter 2: Disenchantment--Reenchantment by Charles Taylor 57 Chapter 3: Enchantment? No, Thank You! by Bruce Robbins 74 Chapter 4: Shock Therapy, Dramatization, and Practical Wisdom by William E. Connolly 95 Chapter 5: Freud's Helplessness by Adam Phillips 115 Chapter 6: A Secular Wonder by Paolo Costa 134 Chapter 7: Prehuman Foundations of Morality by Frans B. M. de Waal 155 Chapter 8: The Truth Is Sacred by David Sloan Wilson 168 Chapter 9: Darwinian Enchantment by Robert J. Richards 185 10: The Wetfooted Understory: Darwinian Immersions by Rebecca Stott 205 Notes 225 Index 253

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Book SynopsisIn contemporary Turkey—a democratic, secular, and predominantly Muslim nation—the religious healer is a controversial figure. Attracting widespread condemnation, religious healers are derided as exploiters of the sick and vulnerable, discredited forms of Islamic and medical authority, and superstitious relics of a pre-modern era. Yet all sorts of people, and not just the desperately ill, continue to seek them out. After years of research with healers and their patients in working-class neighborhoods of urban Turkey, anthropologist Christopher Dole concludes that the religious healer should be regarded not as an exception to Turkey''s secular modern development but as one of its defining figures. Healing Secular Life demonstrates that religious healing and secularism in fact have a set of common stakes in the ordering of lives and the remaking of worlds.Linking the history of medical reforms and scientific literacy campaigns to contemporary efforts of Qur''anTrade Review"A well written and structured mature ethnographic work that investigates into the micro-politics of secularism in refreshing ways. It constitutes an important contribution to the study of neglected practices and worldviews at the margins of Turkish society, which were forced into exilic locations by secularist as well as normative Islamic discourses." * Anthropos *"Healing Secular Life is a remarkable examination of the intersecting worlds of secularism and religion in Turkey, as seen through the experience of popular religious healing. Dole's great accomplishment is to project the aesthetic and moral sides of therapeutic remaking of people's lives and worlds as the ethnographic framing for understanding how politics and religion come together in the sensibility of ordinary people who are living through an extraordinary time. A fascinating and compelling ethnography." * Arthur Kleinman, Harvard University *"A fine ethnography that examines the cultural politics of healing practices in contemporary Turkey. It offers a fresh and original account of the cultural discourses and modes of aesthetic representation and perception that congeal around questions of religious healing." * Robert Desjarlais, Sarah Lawrence College *"A very impressive, theoretically sound and consistent, and empirically detailed account of how state power and its secularist project in Turkey excludes, despises, attacks, and yet contains and controls the religious therapeutic authority." * Berna Turam, Northeastern University *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1. Medicine and the Will to Civilization Chapter 2. Healing Difference at the Limits of Community Chapter 3. Hagiographies of the Living: Saintly Speech and Other Wonders of Secular Life Chapter 4. The Therapeutics of Piety: Ethics, Markets, Value Chapter 5. A Malaise of Fracturing Dreams: The Care of Relations Chapter 6. Healing Secular Life: Two Regimes of Loss Conclusion: Fragment Appendix: Genres of Healing Notes Glossary References Index Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisIs it possible to lead a meaningful life without God?Trade Review‘A book for our times.’ -- Polly Toynbee‘Peter Cave brings to a serious subject his characteristic wit and humour, as well as wide knowledge and sharp insight. This is a very readable introduction to humanism – and a deeply human one.’ -- Richard Norman, Emeritus Professor of Moral Philosophy, University of Kent‘An admirable guide for all those non-religious…who may wake up to the fact that they are humanists… What we have in common is, indeed, not faith but our humanity.’ -- Sir Bernard Crick, Emeritus Professor of Birkbeck College, University of London, and author of In Defence of Politics

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Book SynopsisThis book is a translation of Aziz al-Azmeh's seminal work Al-'Ilmaniya min mandhur mukhtalif that was first published in Beirut in 1992.

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Book SynopsisYan Lianke was born in 1958 in Henan Province, China. He is the author of numerous novels and short-story collections, including Serve the People!, Dream of Ding Village, Lenin's Kisses, The Four Books, The Explosion Chronicles, The Day the Sun Died and Hard Like Water. He has been awarded the Hua Zhong World Chinese Literature Prize, the Lao She Literary Award, the Dream of the Red Chamber Award and the Franz Kafka Prize. He has also been shortlisted for the International Man Booker Prize, the Principe de Asturias Prize for Letters, the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize, the FT/Oppenheimer Fund Emerging Voices Award and the prix Femina Étranger. The Day the Sun Died won the Dream of the Red Chamber Award for the World's Most Distinguished Novel in Chinese. He lives and writes in Beijing.

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Book Synopsis"Our congregations will find in this songbook music that will shape our community and give new voice to our values as we move forward, supporting our deepening faith and a more effective voice for justice."--William Sinkford This 75-song supplement presents an exceptional variety of music for congregational singing."We live in an experiential age, a subjective time, and the new supplement reflects this. Move me emotionally, we are saying, and I will then move intellectually and morally. Inspiration is what we want. Singing the Journey provides it in spades. " --W. Frederick Wooden, UU World

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Book SynopsisAs humans, we grow and we change, we grieve and we celebrate. Let Blessing It All be your guide to foster meaning and community as you mark the moments in your life.Our personal lives and the lives of our communities are marked by moments of transition and transformation. As individuals, we grow up, we move, we start new schools and new jobs, we begin and end relationships, we have children and if we are lucky we get to watch them grow, we lose people we love, and we discover more about who we are. As communities, we honor people entering new life stages, we reckon with natural disasters and national traumas, and year after year we mark the cycles of the seasons.Traditionally, we often mark birth, marriage, and death, and yet these are not the only moments that touch our lives and shape who we are. In this stunning collection, editors and ministers Heather Concannon and Allison Palm and contributors invite you to bless it all—moments that are ordina

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Book SynopsisThis book is a learned essay at the intersection of politics, philosophy, and religion. It is first and foremost a diagnosis and critique of the secular religion of our time, humanitarianism, or the “religion of humanity.” It argues that the humanitarian impulse to regard modern man as the measure of all things has begun to corrupt Christianity itself, reducing it to an inordinate concern for “social justice,” radical political change, and an increasingly fanatical egalitarianism. Christianity thus loses its transcendental reference points at the same time that it undermines balanced political judgment. Humanitarians, secular or religious, confuse peace with pacifism, equitable social arrangements with socialism, and moral judgment with utopianism and sentimentality. With a foreword by the distinguished political philosopher Pierre Manent, Mahoney’s book follows Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in affirming that Christianity is in no way reducible to a “humanitarian moral message.” In a pungent if respectful analysis, it demonstrates that Pope Francis has increasingly confused the Gospel with left-wing humanitarianism and egalitarianism that owes little to classical or Christian wisdom. It takes its bearings from a series of thinkers (Orestes Brownson, Aurel Kolnai, Vladimir Soloviev, and Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn) who have been instructive critics of the “religion of humanity.” These thinkers were men of peace who rejected ideological pacifism and never confused Christianity with unthinking sentimentality. The book ends by affirming the power of reason, informed by revealed faith, to provide a humanizing alternative to utopian illusions and nihilistic despair.Trade Review“Written with passion and clarity, The Idol of Our Age identifies the false moralism that threatens to shipwreck the West. Not satisfied to lament, Mahoney rouses us to defend our political heritage rooted in reason and truth.”—R. R. Reno, editor of First Things“Daniel Mahoney is one of those true intellectuals whose wide reading feeds into and is fed by his experience of life. The world he lives in is a world illuminated by books, and one in which books are also put to the test. Few writers today are so aware of the pervasive influence of ideas, especially among those who have no ability to grasp them. In this study of the religion of humanity, propagated by Auguste Comte, but now the source of a thousand escape-routes from the burden of responsible existence, Mahoney shows the great damage done by forgetting that man is made in God’s image. His devastating criticisms of the self-congratulatory sentimentalism of Pope Francis are backed up with refined studies of thinkers who today are unjustly neglected, partly because they saw what is at stake in the religion of humanity: the American Catholic convert Orestes Brownson, the Russian social thinker Vladimir Soloviev, and the Hungarian phenomenologist Aurel Kolnai—all three of them at odds with the humanism of their day. Those thinkers do not agree about the alternative to humanitarian ways of thinking, but, as Mahoney shows, they are united in their belief that being human consists in the search for something higher than the human. I recommend this book to all who share that belief, and who want to know exactly why it should be adhered to.”—Roger Scruton, writer and philosopher“With rare clarity, The Idol of Our Age exposes the degree to which a post-political, post-Christian humanism has acquired quasi-religious status in contemporary Western societies to the detriment of authentic political life. Like a Paul Revere of the spirit, Daniel Mahoney sounds an alarm that should be heeded by all who are concerned about maintaining the indispensable cultural conditions for common life in a decent polity.”—Mary Ann Glendon, Learned Hand Professor of Law, Harvard University“Christ said: ‘Ye are the salt of the Earth, love your enemies.’ The new humanitarian religion says: ‘Ye should be the sugar of the Earth, you have no enemies.’ This spiritual diabetes affects Christians, too, and deprives them of any possibility of action. The new idol is all the more dangerous that it apes Christian charity and tries to replace it. As a diagnosis, and proposal of a cure, Dr. Mahoney draws upon the insights of Orestes Brownson and the great Russians Soloviev and Solzhenitsyn, as well as the little-known Hungarian Aurel Kolnai. By unmasking the ‘Religion of Humanity’ as the soft version of the old enemy of mankind, Dr. Mahoney gives us a precious help for us to exorcize it.”—Rémi Brague, professor emeritus of philosophy, University of Paris, University of Munich

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Book SynopsisSynthesizing thirty years of research, psychologist and science historian, Michael Shermer upends the traditional thinking about how humans form beliefs about the world. Simply put, beliefs come first and explanations for beliefs follow. The brain, Shermer argues, is a belief engine. Using sensory data that flow in through the senses, the brain naturally looks for and finds patterns - and then infuses those patterns with meaning, forming beliefs. Once beliefs are formed, our brains subconsciously seek out confirmatory evidence in support of those beliefs, which accelerates the process of reinforcing them, and round and round the process goes in a positive-feedback loop.In The Believing Brain, Shermer provides countless real-world examples of how this process operates, from politics, economics, and religion to conspiracy theories, the supernatural, and the paranormal. Ultimately, he demonstrates why science is the best tool ever devised to determine whether or not our belief matches reality.Trade Review'Michael Shermer has long been one of our most committed champions of scientific thinking in the face of popular delusion. In The Believing Brain, he has written a wonderfully lucid, accessible and wide-ranging account of the boundary between justified and unjustified belief' - Sam Harris, New York Times bestselling author'The Believing Brain is a fascinating account of the origins of all manner of beliefs, replete with cutting-edge evidence from the best scientific research, packed with nuggets of truths and then for good measure, studded with real world examples to deliver to the reader, a very personable, engaging and ultimately, convincing set of explanations for why we believe' - Professor Bruce Hood, Bristol University and author of Supersense'The Believing Brain is a tour de force integrating neuroscience and the social sciences to explain how irrational beliefs are formed and reinforced, while leaving us confident our ideas are valid. This is a must read for everyone who wonders why religious and political beliefs are so rigid and polarized - or why the other side is always wrong, but somehow doesn't see it' - Dr Leonard Mlodinow, author The Drunkard's Walk'Michael Shermer lucidly describes why and how we are hard wired to 'want to believe'. With a narrative that gently flows from the personal to the profound, Shermer shares what he has learned after spending a lifetime pondering the relationship between beliefs and reality, and how to be prepared to tell the difference between the two' - Lawrence M. Krauss, Foundation Professor and Director of the Origins Project at Arizona State University'Michael Shermer has long been one of the world's deepest thinkers when it comes to explaining where our beliefs come from, and he brings it all together in this important, engaging, and ambitious book. Shermer knows all the science, he tells great stories, he is funny, and he is fearless, delving into hot-button topics like 9-11 Truthers, life after death, capitalism, Barack Obama, Sarah Palin, and the existence of God. This is an entertaining and thoughtful exploration of the beliefs that shape our lives' - Paul Bloom author of How Pleasure Works 'Refreshingly sceptical' - Independent on Sunday

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Book SynopsisEveryday Humanism seeks to move the discussion of humanism's positive contributions to life away from the macro-level to focus on the everyday, or micro-dimensions of our individual and collective existence. How might humanist principles impact parenting? How might these principles inform our take on aging, on health, on friendship? These are just a few of the issues around everyday life that needed interpretation from a humanist perspective. Through attention to key issues, the volume seeks to promote the value of humanism at the level of the ordinary, typical occurrences and conditions of our existence.Table of ContentsIntroduction SECTION I: BEING A HUMANIST 1. Humanism and the Problem of Fear Dale McGowan 2. Humanism and the Problem of Being Human Jennifer Michael Hecht, Columbia University 3. Humanism and Healthy Living Susan Rose and Katrina Scott, independent scholars, USA SECTION II: THE HUMANIST IN RELATIONSHIP 4. Coexistence Chris Stedman, Harvard University 5. The Expression of Love Anne Klaeysen, Columbia University 6. My Neighbor's Keeper? Humanism and Charity Anthony Pinn 7. Humanism's Obligation to the Next Generation Bob Bhaerman, independent scholar, USA 8. Humanism and Online Social Networking Jamila Bey, independent scholar, USA SECTION III: DOING HUMANISM 9. Community Greg Epstein, Harvard University 10. Humanist Ethics in Everyday Life Nigel Warburton, Open University, UK 11. An Ecological Turn Henk Manschot and Caroline Suransky, University of Humanistics, Netherlands 12. Politics and Political Life Andrew Copson, British Humanist Association 13. Political Involvement in a Troubled World Alan Tacca, journalist, Uganda

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Book SynopsisExamines the entanglement of secularity and liberality in the foundation of the modern state in Britain."Modern" Britain emerged from the outcome of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars. The rather standard Whig account of the long nineteenth century is one of growing stability, progress and improvement. And yet nothing was preordained or inevitable about the period's stability. Ruling elites felt the constant anxieties of revolutionary terrorism. As Lubenow argues, it was a period of disorganization seeking organization. The great nineteenth-century reform acts against religious monopoly were aspects of this process of political organization. While religion did not disappear, these political actions gradually changed the constitutional position of religion.As a result, a political vacuum was created which was then filled by a secular "clerisy". These "fit and proper persons", educated in the reformed universities, qualified by success in competitive examinations, began to fill positions in the Civil Service and in the professions. The effect was to replace the eighteenth-century system of confessional loyalties with a liberal political culture based on merit. Lubenow's latest study examines the work of these intertwining nineteenth-century secular-liberal processes. Steeped deeply in archival research, this book considers biographical characteristics such as education, political connections and social associations, but it is equally conceptually guided by categories such as liberalism and secularism. It fills an important gap in the political history of nineteenth-century British liberalism by taking up the question of entanglement of secularity and liberality in the foundation of the modern state.

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Book SynopsisIslam in France is often regarded as a political ‘issue’ and much of the scholarly and public debates about Islam in contemporary France over the last three decades have concentrated on the supposedly ‘antagonistic’ relationship between France, Islam and its Muslims. Against such a troubled backdrop, however, this book looks at the ways in which certain prominent French Muslim intellectuals seek to articulate a vision of multi-faith co-existence, which embraces a critical secularism, and which simultaneously draw on religious and secular humanist traditions. Intellectuals have historically played a major part in French public life, yet relatively little is known about the work of Abdelwahab Meddeb, Malek Chebel, Leïla Babès, Dounia Bouzar and Abdennour Bidar, whose writings and public interventions this book examines. Secularism, Islam and public intellectuals in contemporary France will be of particular interest to specialists, undergraduate and post-graduate students working across the Humanities and Social Sciences from disciplines such as Francophone Studies, Anthropology, Religious Studies or Sociology.Trade Review'Nadia Kiwan’s book, Secularism, Islam and Public Intellectuals in Contemporary France, addresses a topic that receives little attention in the social sciences: the position of Muslim intellectuals in France and their relationship to secularism. The interest of this work stretches beyond her object of study, and the problems she addresses speak to broader topics in preceding work on secularism and on the sociology of intellectuals. Kiwan’s goal is to shed light upon how knowledge production among secular Muslim intellectuals can be affected by hegemonic political discourses that casts Islam as contradictory to French values. Kiwan gives an extensive overview of French Muslim intellectuals in an original way.'Europe Now'In Secularism, Islam and Public Intellectuals in Contemporary France, Nadia Kiwan offers a detailed account of the works of five French Muslim secular intellectuals who diversely aim at articulating a "vision of multi-faith existence with universalist of vivre ensemble".'Hamza Esmili, Ethnic and Racial Studies'With a study devoted to key figures of the secular Muslim intellectual field in France, Nadia Kiwan addresses a significant lacuna in the literature on French and Francophone public intellectuals.'Dimitri Almeida, Modern & Contemporary France, 30:3 -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction1 Abdelwahab Meddeb: post-foundational Islam2 Malek Chebel: Enlightenment Islam3 Leïla Babès: spirituality, affect and women4 Dounia Bouzar: public intellectuals as policy experts in times of crisis5 Abdennour Bidar: existentialist Islam as intercultural translationConclusionBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisYoung people are doing faith differently. They are redefining community, ministry and ritual for a new era. In the face of planetary crisis, the next generation no longer see faith as a private matter, instead they are integrating it with activism and the need for systemic change. Influenced by the wealth of different teachings and traditions available around them, their identities are increasingly multifaceted and emphatically global. This collection of stories and interviews with young adults and their allies explores this new landscape, reflecting both the energy and inspiration of the next generation and the tremendous challenges they face. It points towards an exciting evolution in the way we are relating to the sacred.With stories from:Adam Bucko, Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, Kara Moses, Abbas Zahedi, Camille Barton, Bruna Kadletz, Dekila Chungyalpa, Matt Youde, Amrita Bhohi, Sun Kaur, and many others.With supporting stories from senior leaders including:His Holiness the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, Dr John Sentamu, Archbishop of York, Tiokasin Ghosthorse, Rabbi Laura Janner Klausner, Bhai Sahib Dr Mohinder Singh, and more.Table of ContentsTbc.

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Book SynopsisFunerals are among the most important life events in Western society, and fashioning a personalized ceremony for yourself or for a loved one is often the most meaningful way to celebrate the life of the deceased. For those wanting non-religious or secular funeral ceremonies, this step-by-step guide begins by identifying what you want from the funeral and showing how you can make it happen. With sections on society's views of mortality, our need for rituals and crafting the actual ceremony, this guide provides the tools and philosophy to understand, plan and tailor a funeral for individuals. Includes all the tools necessary for the creation of a ceremony, such as a Ritual Profiles, checklists, and many other handy resources.Trade ReviewJeltje Gordon-Lennox has captured every conceivable aspect of what makes a meaningful funeral ritual, and condensed it into an easily digestible and enjoyable format to read. It's hard to imagine you would need another resource than this one. It has everything, and it's so well done. -- Kyle Tevlin, I Want a Fun FuneralA modern and comprehensive guide for navigating the complex emotions and multitude of tasks related to the death of a loved one. Jeltje's practical approach includes a "ritual profile" and other thoughtful tools that help mourners bridge the gap between the past and the future by creating meaningful, healing and authentic experiences through the power of ceremony and ritual. -- Linda Stuart, Life-Cycle Celebrant, Toronto, Ontario, CanadaI find this book incredibly helpful as I return to parish ministry after a decade away. I can throw away my antiquated funeral resources and just use the creative process offered by Jeltje Gordon-Lennox. -- Rev. Sara G. Armstrong, Montezuma Valley Presbyterian ChurchInevitably, we all pass away. Whether the funeral we need to prepare is 2 months or 20 years away, or for ourselves or someone who died leaving no instructions, most of us are at a loss to know what to do. Jeltje slips her hand into yours and accompanies you, step by step, through the process of crafting rituals that honour life and relationships. This guide fills a huge void. It is equally useful for the deeply religious, those who claim no religion and those somewhere in-between. -- Suzanne P. de Boer, Educational Consultant for children with special needs, Modesto, California, USAEven young children understand the importance of commemorating a death with others. A friend and I once buried a baby bird that had fallen from its nest. We marked the spot with a lily and precious drops from our ice cream cones. With humility and care, this book brings us back to the authenticity of early funeral rituals. -- Mia Mohr, artivist with a transatlantic group of artists and lives in Talca, ChileTable of ContentsRitual Toolbox: List of Tools with Their Icons; List of Figures; Foreword by Margaret Holloway; Acknowledgements; Preface; Part I - MortaliTy; 1. My Death Waits; a) Notes on last wishes; 2. Gone Too Soon; a) Notes on ritual profile and strategy; Part II - our need for ritual; 3. The Sense of Ritual; a) Notes on repackaging ritual; 4. Preplanning Makes Sense; a) Seven destressing techniques; b) Questionnaire on my ritual profile; c) Coronach will; d) Inventory on ritual profilefor funerals; Part III - Crafting theceremony; 5. Planning the Ceremony; a) Toolbox for the planning phase; b) Notes on the pillars of ritual design; 6. Creating the Ceremony; a) Toolbox for the creating phase; b) Notes on rules for ritual design; 7.Realizing the Ceremony; a) Toolbox for the realizing phase; b) Notes on funerals for sensitive situations; Part IV - the FUTURE OF THE DeaD; 8. New Mourning; Glossary; Resources; a) Notes on mortality, illness and dying; b) Notes on solace for the bereaved; References; Index

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Book SynopsisThe trend towards a more secular culture in Western society means that there can be greater flexibility in a wedding ceremony, but couples are often faced with the challenge of preparing a meaningful celebration outside the traditional religious framework. This hands-on, practical guide demonstrates how to approach and prepare a secular wedding ceremony that honours a couple's relationship with honest vows and rituals true to their shared values. In addition, it provides guidance on structuring a ceremony for couples that come from very different cultural or spiritual backgrounds.Includes the tools necessary for the creation of a ceremony, such as a Ritual Identity Questionnaire, checklists, and many other resources.Trade ReviewMs. Jeltje Gordon-Lennox has written an inventive and highly informative book that everyone can benefit from reading. It's not just for couples getting married, it's for all of us. Her book delves into humanity's relationship, history and sociology that is marriage and weddings. She doesn't solely focus on the predominate western world's view but brings in via the stories she shares with us, all the world's cultures and is inclusive of people and couples from all walks of life. Yes, this book is a guide, it educates and engages us to self-explore who we are at the very core and to discover more about the unique person who is or will be our spouse and our mate. Her book is a delight as much as it is an essential read. Ultimately, it is useful for anyone who desires to have a noble and meaningful relationship with the one or the one's they love - and how to make the concept of a personalized wedding a reality. Jeltje is a scholar, author, rite-of-passage Celebrant and ritual-maker extraordinaire; how lucky we are to have her share her vast wisdom and knowledge with us. My advice about Jeltje's books is: Read them all! -- Charlotte Eulette, Int’l Dir. for the Celebrant Foundation & Institute www.celebrantinstitute.orgIn our current culture of "Do It Yourself" rituals, Crafting Meaningful Wedding Rituals is a breath of fresh air for couples, and clergy whose goal is to craft and deliver a wedding experience that is individualized to the couple and inclusive of their guests. Often, couples spend too little time in deep conversation and planning about their actual wedding ceremony. Jeltje Gordon-Lennox offers a comprehensive guide to make that planning process meaningful and lasting. -- Margaret Beckman, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Castine Castine, MainePsychotherapist Gordon-Lennox (Crafting Secular Ritual; Emerging Ritual in Secular Societies) aims her book toward those who wish to design a secular wedding ceremony unique to their own bond and personalities. Helpful questionnaires and checklists assist couples in sorting through their individual values and communicating them simply and sincerely. Every aspect of preparing for the ceremony is covered, from composing vows to choosing someone to preside over the service, in addition to destressing techniques for the big day and intense situations leading up to it. VERDICT This no-frills guide to customizing wedding rituals is perfect for those who are willing to put the time and energy into the process. -- Library JournalTable of ContentsRitual Toolbox: List of Tools with Their Icons List of Figures; Foreword by Tui de Haan; Acknowledgements; Preface; PART I - PRELIMINARIES; 1. The Proposal; a) Tools: Destressing Techniques; 2. Why Marry? a) Tool: Inventory for Couples; b) Marriage and the Law; 3. Ritual Power; a) Tool: Questionnaire on Ritual Identity; b) Repacking Ritual; PART II - CRAFTING THE CEREMONY; 4. Planning the Ceremony; a) Toolbox for the Planning Phase; b) Totally Personalizing Your Ceremony; 5. Creating the Ceremony; a) Toolbox for the Creating Phase; b) Ritual Design; 6. Realizing the Ceremony; a) Toolbox for the Realizing Phase; b) The Ultimate Guest Experience; PART III - LIVING HAPPILY; 7. Epilogue; a) Signs Your Relationship is Working; b) Renewal and Separation Rituals; Appendix; References; Index

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