Miracles, apparitions and religious phenomena Books

Book SynopsisThe central miracle asserted by Christians is the Incarnation. They say that God became Man. Every other miracle prepares the way for this, or results from this.'This is the key statement of Miracles', in which C. S. Lewis shows that a Christian must not only accept but rejoice in miracles as a testimony of the unique personal involvement of God in his creation.Using his characteristic lucidity and wit to develop his argument, Lewis challenges the rationalists, agnostics and deists on their own grounds and provides a poetic and joyous affirmation that miracles really do occur in our everyday lives.Trade Review‘…a brilliant book, abounding in lucid exposition and illuminating metaphor.’Observer ‘This is Dr Lewis’s most substantial and persuasive essay in Christian apologetics, and it is all the more impressive because it is the work of a poet as well as a philosopher.’Church Times

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Book SynopsisElysium: A Visual History of Angelology is a gloriously illustrated overview of angels across art, religion, and literature from scholar Ed Simon, writer for The Millions. Ineffable, invisible, inscrutable—angels are enduring creatures across Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and human experiences of the divine as mediated by spiritual emissaries are an aspect of almost every religious tradition. In popular culture, angels are often reduced to the most gauzy, sentimental, and saccharine of images: fat babies with wings and guardians with robes, halos, and harps. By contrast, in scripture whenever one of the heavenly choirs appears before a prophet or patriarch, they first declare, “Fear not!” for terror would be the most appropriate initial reaction to these otherworldly beings. Angels are often not what we’d expect, but it’s precisely in that transcendent encounter that something of the strangeness of existence can be conv

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Book SynopsisFollowing in the hugely popular ‘Angel Saved My Life’ series comes a moving new collection of real-life stories from the Afterlife.Trade ReviewPraise for An Angel Saved My Life series: 'A compulsive read for anyone interested in the afterlife.' CHAT - It's Fate 'A beautiful read that will inspire and touch all who read it, and bring them to the realization we are always surrounded by angels.' - Tony Stockwell, star of LIVINGtv's 'Psychic Detective'

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Book SynopsisQuiara Hudes is in her own league. Her sentences will take your breath away. How lucky we are to have her telling our stories. Lin-Manuel MirandaFrom the Pulitzer-prize winning playwright behind IN THE HEIGHTS comes a spellbinding coming-of-age story, and a vibrant and life-affirming celebration of the women who guide us.Born in Philadelphia to a Jewish father and an enigmatic Puerto Rican mother, Quiara Alegría Hudes had a love-and-trouble-filled upbringing, haunted by the unspoken, untold family secrets of the barrio. In the face of real world wounds, the powerful, Orisha-like women of her family possessed a strength, joy and sensuality that left a young Quiara awe struck. She vowed to tell their stories.But confronted by a world that treated her like an outsider, Quiara knew she must find a new language, one which reflected the multiple cultures that raised this Puerto Rican child of North Philly. Written and spoken, English and Spanish, sacred and profane as her search for a way Trade Review INDEPENDENT BEST COMING-OF-AGE STORY 2021 ‘Flawless … In the moments after I finished reading, first came the aphasia of wonder at a book that exceeds you’ – New York Times ‘This electrifying memoir, which is her first book, brings together the threads of her Philadelphia upbringing as the daughter of a Puerto Rican mother and Jewish father, never quite fitting in and trying to find her place in the world. Part coming-of-age story and part lyrical tale of the women she grew up with, this is a wonderful book about finding your voice, and telling the stories that helped to build you as a person.’ THE INDEPENDENT ‘Quiara Hudes is in her own league. Her sentences will take your breath away. How lucky we are to have her telling our stories.' – LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA ‘Enormously empathetic and funny … The language throughout is gorgeous and so moving. I love this book.’– ANGIE CRUZ, author of Dominicana ‘This book is a how-to for this generation of storytellers looking for direction on how to step into their power. If anyone asks me how to tell their story, I’m just gonna send them this book.’ – JON CHU, Director of In the Heights and Crazy Rich Asians ‘A masterclass on how we might all find the courage to tell our own stories on our own terms.’ – KIMBERLY DREW, author of This is What I Know About Art and Black Futures ‘Visceral, riotous, and cathartic. – to read Hudes’ Broken Language was a kind of baptism. A woman’s journey to find her voice has never been rendered so powerfully. I can honestly say I grew as a writer from reading it.’ – JINI REDDY, author of Wanderland ‘An extraordinary, beautiful and deeply moving memoir ’ – SOPHIE HARDACH, author of Confession with Blue Horses

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Book SynopsisThe miracles of Jesus fulfill multiple functions, not least as part of Christ's ministry. They are a demonstration of God's power and Jesus' love for people of all castes and gender. This title unveils the intention and significance of these acts.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"It is almost a century since the Dialogue on Miracles was last translated and published, and so the appearance of this new translation is a happy occasion for medieval studies. Caesarius of Heisterbach was once looked upon askance as a teller of tales, but it is precisely this trait which makes him an invaluable source for the thought and feelings of medieval people. He was a great listener and recorder, and with the guidance of Hugh Feiss's introduction, the reader will be introduced to an exciting world of fact and fantasy."Brian Patrick McGuire, professor emeritus of history (Denmark)"A long-awaited and much-needed new English translation of one of the most important medieval exempla collections. It clearly is a work of passion and dedication, and it is very satisfying to see Caesarius of Heisterbach’s masterpiece receive such a committed attention. Ronald E. Pepin’s translation will certainly be of great interest and help for scholars, especially for those teaching the Middle Ages, but also for students yet discovering treasures of Cistercian storytelling, as well as for every reader searching for engaging and compelling stories."Victoria Smirnova, Bavarian State Library (Munich)"This volume will be a good source of spiritual reading and insight into medieval (and especially Cistercian) spirituality and practice."The Downside ReviewTable of ContentsContents Preface vii Abbreviations ix The Dialogue on Miracles 1 Seventh Section: On Holy Mary 3 Eighth Section: On Diverse Visions 95 Ninth Section: On the Sacrament of Christ’s Body and Blood 191 Tenth Section: On Miracles 255 Eleventh Section: On the Dying 313 Twelfth Section: On the Rewards of the Dead 373 Index 435

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Book SynopsisA simple guide to what we really know about angels Nearly eight in ten Americans believe in angels. Even among those who never attend church it’s four out of ten. In the United Kingdom one in three people believe they have a guardian angel. You may well be one of them. Every tenth person in your street or workplace thinks they may have seen or heard an angel in some way. Books telling the story of angelic encounters are best sellers. Despite the widespread rejection of Christianity in our culture, many people are still fascinated by angels. But what we can know for sure about angels? Are we dependant on second–hand accounts? Are we left with conjecture and guess work? This book goes back to the most reliable source we have for information about angels – God Himself speaking through the Bible. Tim Chester delves into the mysterious world of angels and shows us what the Bible says about what angels are, what they do, and where they lead us.Trade ReviewFrom their operations in the redemptive plan of God, to daily interaction in the lives of human beings, angels have held a fascination in the hearts and minds of believers throughout church history. However, over the past century, this captivation with the angelic world has grown cold. In this new primer, Tim Chester answers common questions and helps reawaken our interest in this vast multitude of God’s creation. -- Dustin W. Benge (Managing Director, Unashamed Truth)People are fascinated by angels. Unfortunately, much popular Christian literature, not to mention non–Christian media, gives scant attention to the actual biblical data about angels. With brevity and faithfulness, Tim Chester guides us to a deeper understanding of these ‘ministering spirits who are sent to serve those who will inherit salvation’ (Heb. 1:14). -- Robert L. Plummer (Professor of New Testament Interpretation, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky )In this illuminating and enthralling book, Tim Chester ranges across scripture to explain this apparently mysterious spiritual realm with remarkable clarity and simplicity, and shows us how understanding the nature and role of angels will impact our worship, our emotions, our prayers and our devotion to the Lord Jesus and His gospel. A wonderful biblical overview which opens our eyes to profound truth. -- Jonathan Lamb (Minister–at–large for Keswick Ministries, IFES Vice President, and former Director, Langham Preaching)

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Book SynopsisThis book covers Husserl’s stance on the philosopher and the history of philosophy, whether or not such a history is part of the philosophical attitude itself, and if so, how Husserl’s phenomenology might weigh in on such matters. Firstly, this text spells out some of the manifold ways in which the history of philosophy works its way in Husserl’s phenomenology, showing how concepts, methods and problems drawn from various Ancient and Modern philosophical traditions (Platonism, Aristotelianism, Sophistry, Stoicism, Scholasticism, Modern Rationalism) are transformed and embedded within transcendental phenomenology itself. Secondly, it shows how a better understanding of the distinctive patterns by means of which Husserl’s phenomenology confronts the history of philosophy could be extremely significant for historians of philosophy who are interested in learning something entirely new about the unexplored horizons of such concepts, methods and problems. Finally, based on such twofold historical and philosophical approach and thanks to a substantial reinterpretation of some key phenomenological concepts such as “multiplicity”, “constitution”, “attitude” and “variation”, this book provides a novel and original reading of Husserl’s overall philosophical project in its full meaning and scope. By doing so, this volume appeals to both students and researchers and critically engages in mainstream interpretations of phenomenology, suggesting a unique take on the idea of transcendental phenomenology as a whole.Table of ContentsIntroduction.- 1. The invention of infinity? On some provisional questions.- Part I: Openings.- 2. Multiplicity, manifolds and varieties of constitution. A manifesto.- 3. The reach of attitudes.- Part II: Maps.- 4. Individuum and region of being. On the unifying principle of a “headless” ontology.- 5. Mapping ontology and its boundaries.- Part III: Worlds and Unworlds.- 6. “Until the end of the world”. On eidetic variation and absolute being of consciousness.- 7. Within and beyond productive imagination. A historical-critical inquiry into phenomenology.- Part IV: Paths.- 8. The vicissitudes of the improper.- 9. Back to the meanings themselves (and away from the Noema). On phenomenology and the Stoic doctrine of the lekton.- Part V: Infinity.- 10. Plato’s light and Gorgias’s shadow. On the manifold “beginnings” of philosophy.- 11. The Infinite Academy. On how to be a Platonist with some (Aristotelian?) help.- Conclusion.- 12. The invenvion of infinity. On a tentative answer.

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