Humanist and secular alternatives to religion Books

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 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 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 SynopsisSasha Sagan's parents - the astronomer Carl Sagan and the writer and producer, Ann Druyan - taught her that the natural world and vast cosmos are full of profound beauty, and that science reveals truths more wondrous than any myth or fable. When Sagan herself became a mother, she began her own hunt for the phenomena behind our most treasured occasions - from births to deaths, holidays to weddings, anniversaries, and more - growing these roots into a new set of rituals for her young daughter to honour the joy and significance of each experience without relying on a religious framework. Part memoir, part handbook and part social history, For Small Creatures Such as We is a luminous exploration of all of Earth's marvels that requires no faith in order to be believed.Trade Review'A lucent, lovingly written, and joyous book.' - Jonathan Cott, author of There's A Mystery There'A warm, elegant hymn to finding the spiritual in the secular and the romance in everyday ritual. Sasha Sagan writes beautifully on the power of deep-rooted historical traditions, and the pleasure of inventing our own.' - Greg Jenner, author of A Million Years in a Day'Sasha Sagan has written a lovely book about the sense of wonder and the beauty of rituals-even for the non-religious. It's an answer to my secular prayers.' - A. J. Jacobs, author of Thanks A Thousand 'Sagan has written the book I've always needed to make sense of this world. She makes that spiritual muscle so deeply hidden in my guts feel perfectly at home in the universe. She is that wise friend, in-cahoots with the muse of perspective, that changes your life as she describes the world she sees. I want everyone to read this book. But first, stare at the starry night sky. And when your chest expands with wonder and humility, sit down and read.' - Jedidiah Jenkins, author of To Shake the Sleeping Self

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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 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 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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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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Book SynopsisWhy are there religious beliefs in all cultures? Do they have features in common and why does religion persist in the face of science? Pascal Boyer shows how experimental findings in cognitive science, evolutionary biology and cultural anthropology are now providing precise answers to these general questions, and providing, for the first time, real answers to the question: Why do we believe?Trade ReviewA deep, ingenious, and insightful analysis of one of the deepest mysteries of the human species -- Steven PinkerAn excellent book in the spirit of the French Enlightenment, broadly learned and with modern behavioural science added. It deserves to be widely read * E.O. Wilson *This is a bold far-reaching book. His explanation of religion is lucid, entertaining, full of valuable insight -- Lord Habgood * Time Higher *The wisdom in its pages will be a revelation to any seeker after truth. While it lets daylight in upon magic, this book is never scornful and never dismissive, and Pascal Boyer's voice is as unpretentious as its title. If faith is the last refuge of the would-be believer, Religion Explained takes it away but puts something better in its place, enlightenment and understanding. * Ruth Rendell *A fascinating analysis of urge to believe * Scotland on Sunday *

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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 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 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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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 SynopsisOver the last decade, New Atheists such as Sam Harris, Richard Dawkins, and Christopher Hitchens have pushed the issue of atheism to the forefront of public discussion. Yet very few of the ensuing debates and discussions have managed to provide a full and objective treatment of the subject.Atheism: What Everyone Needs to Know provides a balanced look at the topic, considering atheism historically, philosophically, theologically, sociologically and psychologically. Written in an easily accessible style, the book uses a question and answer format to examine the history of atheism, arguments for and against atheism, the relationship between religion and science, and the issue of the meaning of life-and whether or not one can be a happy and satisfied atheist. Above all, the author stresses that the atheism controversy is not just a matter of the facts, but a matter of burning moral concern, both about the stand one should take on the issues and the consequences of one''s commitment.Trade Reviewinteresting and thought-provoking * Guardian, GrrlScientist *Fully aware of how tedious tracts on either theology or atheism can be, Michael Ruse sets out not to be boring. He succeeds! As a nonbeliever who hesitates to call himself an atheist, he also strives in this book to be balanced and fair to his opponents. I'll let other readers decide whether he succeeds or not, but I can say that even where I disagree with him, I find his book much more informed and compelling than the recent, much less educated New Atheist putdowns of people of faith. Before reading Dennett, Dawkins, Harris or Hitchens, read Michael Ruse. * John F. Haught, Professor Emeritus of Theology, Georgetown University *Atheism: What Everyone Needs to Know is an excellent scholarly yet very readable account of an important subject, which reveals its complexity and contradictions along with those of the human mind itself. * Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor Emeritus, Harvard University *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements ; Prologue ; Chapter One: From the Greeks to the Enlightenment ; Chapter Two: From the Enlightenment to the Present ; Chapter Three: Statistics ; Chapter Four: God and Humans ; Chapter Five: Belief ; Chapter Six: The Matter of Science ; Chapter Seven: Questions for the Christian ; Chapter Eight: Are there Good Reasons to Believe? ; Chapter Nine: Alternative Religions ; Chapter Ten: Naturalistic Explanations ; Chapter Eleven: Is Religion Evil? ; Chapter Twelve: The Meaningful Life ; Envoi ; Bibliography ; Index

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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 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 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 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 SynopsisText in Danish. Holger Pedersen (1867-1953) was one of Denmark's greatest scholars within Indoeuropean studies. During the years 1892-1896 he travelled extensively in Europe to broaden his field of language studies. His letters to scholars in Denmark provide a unique insight into the working methods of a young linguist. The letters, preserved in the Royal Library in Copenhagen, have been reproduced in the original orthography in the book.

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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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