Religion and beliefs Books

Book SynopsisTranslation of important Newar Buddhist text by scholar Kamal Prakash Malla details Kathmandu Valley's sacred origins, transformation into Mahayana-Vajrayana hub around Svayambhu Stupa. Chronicles visits of buddhas, bodhisattvas, and teachers in local history.

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Book SynopsisBhutan's unique approach to development, centered on Gross National Happiness, is explored in "Bhutanese Buddhism and Its Culture." The book delves into the country's Buddhist traditions, statecraft, and way of life, aiming to enhance scholarly study and cooperation while promoting understanding of Bhutanese spirituality and happiness.

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Book SynopsisIn 1985, American teacher Richard Tatem finds a rare manuscript in the Himalayas, hoping to impress his ex-colleague Miki. His search leads to danger as he is hunted by the Blue Robe cult. The novel delves into Buddhist love and the struggle between attachment and romantic love.

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Book SynopsisFirst historical survey of Surkhet Valley in Nepal conducted in 2007 by T B Harward and GNAS members. Research focused on medieval history of Khasa Malla, Buddhist 'Kings of West Nepal' (1200-1400 AD).

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Book SynopsisThe Magical Monkey of Swayambhu follows Machig's journey to find medicine for his mother, encountering various challenges and wise beings. Through courage, compassion, and perseverance, he learns valuable lessons and shares his teachings at the end.

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Book SynopsisChogye Trichen Rinpoche, a revered Tibetan Buddhist master, was born in 1919 and became a respected guru in India and Nepal. He was highly influential across Tibetan Buddhism traditions, with the Dalai Lama among his devoted disciples. His teachings and empowerments continue to be revered even after his passing in 2007.

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Book SynopsisAn in-depth study based on the author's interviews with extremists from the Christian, Jewish, and Muslim religions identifies the components of terrorist organizations and the characteristics of their leaders, describing how they recruit followers to form sophisticated organizations capable of terTrade Review"A significant addition to a growing shelf of timely books on terrorism." -- Christian Science Monitor "Stern's firsthand encounters bring a valuable and much-needed perspective to the problem of religious violence." -- Publishers Weekly "Timely and compelling." -- Booklist "Wise and Thorough." -- Christopher Dickey, Newsweek

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Book SynopsisThis practical guide to spiritual healing blends insightful spiritual reflection and the wisdom of hard-won experience in a reliable and inspiring handbook for developing our innate capacity for richer living and richer giving through the healing gifts of the Spirit.Many years ago, Agnes Sanford was cured of acute depression by a minister who believed in the healing power of prayer. Subsequently, she herself became very active and successful in healing others of mental and physical ailments by drawing upon the same resources for inner well-being. In The Healing Gifts of the Spirit, she shares the simple, practicable ways of self-help she discovered, and gives step-by-step advice on how to help others.She discusses not only her own cure but also the gift of healing in general and its growing recognition in the contemporary church. She devotes a chapter to the gift of miracles, and another -- especially interesting -- to the gift of tongues. Her exploration of these topics is richly inspiring, offering readers one of the most detailed, informative discussions of the nature, dynamics, and potential rewards of these unique manifestations of God''s presence. At the same time, she demonstrates how anyone can draw upon this healing power for good in the world.As evidence of how these gifts can -- and do -- reveal themselves, the author cites many examples from observation and personal encounters with the healing power of the Spirit.

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Book SynopsisOur experience of God evolves through crisis, both inner and outer. Throughout history every conception of God expanded human awareness, and helped to answer the burning questions at the heart of our daily struggle. This title takes us on a journey through history as we come to understand God through the lives of our celebrated saints and sages.Trade ReviewDeepak Chopra, the spiritual sage, has exhibited immense ambition...His attempt to explain God makes my bones shiver. His success in defining that life-long mystery brings tears to my eyes and humbles me in gratitude. He has probed through the ages in order to write a book for the ages. -- Maya Angelou "Deepak Chopra has successfully blended ancient Vedanta Philosophy with his unique perspective on modern science to provide a vast audience with solutions that meet many needs for our modern age." -- Huston Smith, author of The World's Religions "The line is usually drawn from God to revelation but by drawing it from revelation to God in this astonishing book, Deepak achieves two startling results." -- Arvind Sharma, Birks Professor of Comparative Religion, McGill University "Spiritual traditions manifest themselves most clearly in the living human beings who embody them. In this highly readable volume Deepak Chopra has told the engaging stories of a dozen of these exemplary figures. The result is both inspiring and richly enjoyable." -- Harvey Cox, author of The Future of Faith "Through his compelling fictionalization, Deepak Chopra offers an intriguing exposition of the evolution of human theological thought. He should have called the book 'A Brief History of God'!" -- Leonard Mlodinow, co-author (with Stephen Hawking) of The Grand Design and A Briefer History of Time Blending fictional accounts of ten extraordinary people in history he respects with commentary on their lives and works, Chopra has created a medium for us to ponder the evolution of God. -- Spirituality and Practice

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Book SynopsisThe definitive life of Jesus from the bestselling historian.

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

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

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

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Book Synopsis''Unto thy seed I have given this land.'' From the moment of God''s covenant with Abraham in the Old Testament, the idea that a people are chosen by God has had a central role in shaping national identity. Chosen Peoples argues powerfully that sacred belief remains central to national identity, even in an increasingly secular, globalized modern world. In this important new study, Anthony D. Smith goes in search of the deep Judeo-Christian roots of the many manifestations of national identity.This rich and timely contribution to current debates about nationalism explains the complex historical reasons behind often violent modern conflicts around issues of land, culture, religion, and politics. Tracing the development of individual nations over many centuries, it offers fascinating insights into the religious and cultural foundations of countries such as Great Britain, the United States, Israel, France, and Germany. The argument draws on a wide range of examples from historic landscapes Trade ReviewOnce again, Anthony Smith has succeeded in thinking 'outside the box' of fashionable critical theory while, at the same time, engaging with it on its own terms. * Mary Anne Perkins, Journal of the American Academy of Religion *This book is like Jacob's coat of many colours: rich and varied in ideas and insights that should appeal to European historians and social scientists. * THES *a lucid and wide-ranging study * Karen Armstrong, The Independent Review *The range of the book is huge not only in its geographical, ethnic, and cultured sweep. It brings together political and religious history in the context of the history of ideas, exploring powerful traditions, sacred texts, paintings and monuments, myths and legends, and drawing on the writings of great literary figures. * Mary Anne Perkins, Journal of the American Academy of Religion *The book's content spans nationalist models and mythologies from Welsh to Siamese, and its chronological scope ranges from biblical times to the twentieth century. Yet the breadth is matched by depth, and the scholarship is never comprised. * Mary Anne Perkins, Journal of the Amercian Academy of Religion *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. Nationalism and Religion ; 2. The Nation as a Sacred Communion ; 3. Election and Covenant ; 4. Peoples of the Covenant ; 5. Missionary Peoples ; 6. Sacred Homelands ; 7. Ethno history and the Golden Age ; 8. Nationalism and Golden Ages ; 9. The Glorious Dead ; Conclusion ; Notes ; Bibliography ; Index

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Book SynopsisMissionaries taught the Ojibwe to sing hymns translated into their language, both as a means of worship and to eradicate their "Indianness". This study examines how a native American people has drawn on the resources of ritual to negotiate identity and survival within the structures of colonialism.Trade ReviewA deeply researched, intelligent, and clear-eyed explication of an important facet of Indian history and contemporary life * The Journal of American History *An impressive book ... cross-cultural, multidisciplinary, thoughtful, and heartfelt * The Journal of American History *

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Trade ReviewReview from hardback edition. This is a very useful, well-written and challenging book, highly recommended for everyone studying collapse of Yugoslavia and relations between religion, nationalism and states in former Yugoslavia and its successors. * Journal of Southern Europe and the Balkans *Review from hardback edition. Within the existing scholarly literature on both the collapse of Yugoslavia and on religious communities in that region, no other book offers a more critical account on the role that churches had played in igniting intolerance and destroying a spirit of multi-culturalism and tolerance between the Yuogoslavs. * Journal of Southern Europe and the Balkans *Review from hardback edition. ... an exciting, well-researched and enormously useful contribution to literature on the roots of the problems which resulted in disintegration of Yugoslavia. * Journal of Southern Europe and the Balkans *"The book presents both new sources and an original argument, which is indeed (as Dusko Doder said in an advance praise) 'shockingly provocative'... It is an exciting, well-researched and enormously useful contribution to the--by now already very large--body of literature on the roots of the problems which resulted in the disintegration of Yugoslavia."--Journal of Southern Europe and the Balkans"This is the first political history of the three principal organized religions in postwar Yugoslavia and its successor states: the Croatian Catholic Church, the Serbian Orthodox Church, and the Islamic community. Perica carefully explores the relationships of each to Tito's Yugoslavia, to one another, to the wars, and to the new states. The Serbian and Croatian churches, in particular, have long arrogated the definition of nationhood to themselves. Because ecumenical moments in Yugoslavia were few, empathy for those of another faith was limited, and commitment to an open-armed, united Yugoslavia was weak, the link between religion and nationalism was neither liberal in the communist period nor benevolent during communism's collapse. All too often, the role of the churches--at times the leadership, at other times the clergy--has been to enlarge the sense of victimhood and to justify revenge."--Foreign Affairs"The book makes two major contributions. It provides a detailed reconstruction of the roles of Serbian Orthodox, Croation Catholic, and Bosnian Muslim churches in providing a religious base for nationalist thought and movements in the past century, and uses this evidence in the author's argument that a link exists among religious institutions, symbols, and practices in state-formation and state-deconstruction. Highly recommended."--ChoicePerica has written an outstanding book, based on archival research, interviews with key figures, and extensive experience in the field, among other sources. This book sheds new light on the escalation of tensions leading up to the outbreak of war in summer 1991, and on the role of the major religious organizations in the politics of the region. --Sabrina P. Ramet, Author of Balkan Babel: The Disintegration Of Yugoslavia From The Death Of Tito To The War For Kosovo"This vivid account of tragic events in the former Yugoslavia is truly unique among numerous recent books on the subject because it digs deep to examine the role of religious faiths and their collaboration with secular nationalists. The conclusions are shockingly provocative. Not only were ethnic conflicts and mass crimes rooted in religion, Perica argues, but the local religious hierarchies remain the major impediment to building peace in the Balkans. An excellent, tightly-argued work by a Croatian-American scholar with deep knowledge of the region written with verve and humor. It is an indispensible contribution to an understanding of multiethnic societies." --Dusko Doder, coauthor of Milosevic: Portrait of a Tyrant

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Book SynopsisThe devotional poems of Annamaya (15th century) are perhaps the most accessible and universal achievement of classical Telugu literature, one of the major literatures of pre-modern India. Annamaya effectively created and popularized a new genre, the short padam song, which spread throughout the Telugu and Tamil regions and would become an important vehicle for the composition of Carnatic music - the classical music of South India. In this book, Rao and Shulman offer translations of 150 of Annamaya''s poems. All of them are addressed to the god associated with the famous temple city of Tirupati-Annamaya''s home-a deity who is sometimes referred to as god on the hill or lord of the seven hills. The poems are couched in a simple and accessible language invented by Annamaya for this purpose. Rao and Shulman''s elegant and lyrical modern translations of these beautiful and moving verses are wonderfully readable as poetry in their own right, and will be of great interest to scholars of South

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Book SynopsisHow attitudes toward Native American spiritually evolved from horror to appropriation.Trade Review"This extremely readable and thought-provoking book is recommended for academic and large public libraries and where there is strong interest in contemporary religion and Native Americans."--Library Journal"Jenkins has acquainted himself with the relevant historical materials and also acquainted himself with more New Age manuals, mantras and sales pitches than any human being should have to endure. This allows him to trace a striking shift in white attitudes, an exchange of one kind of willful stupidity for another."--New York Times Book Review"Magnetically absorbing.... Jenkins fills in the major details of the last two centuries of deep white interest in Native religion with his customary thoroughness, and he scrupulously avoids judgments about the validity as well as the theological truth of the many practices and cults he sketches. He relays fascinating history with scholarly care and in prose as clear as it is precise."--Booklist (starred review)"With his characteristic eye for nuance and his uncanny ability to master an enormous range of evidence and present it in a clear, compelling, provocative form, Jenkins has written an indispensable book."--Books & Culture"Anyone wishing to understand the ongoing romanticization of Native American spirituality should read this book.... Although Jenkins is critical of whites' apropriations of Native American culture and belief, and particularly of their tendency to repackage New Age ideas with a veneer of indigenous authority, his tone is never unfair; he does a masterful job of setting such uses-cum-exploitations in historical context."--Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisSommerville argues that a secular world view is propagated not just through American higher education, but public education, the media, and the courts despite their professed commitment to neutrality. The triumph of postmodern multiculturalism and the demise of Western Civilization courses, he says, have left students unable to make sense of the world in which they live. Moreover the secular university, again despite professed neutrality, demonstrates the most condescending type of moralizing without nurturing ethical reflection. Sommerville considers how religiously-informed scholarship might enrich various academic disciplines. He examines the market forces that have created what he calls the post-secularist university but may also have opened the door for theologians to challenge the prevailing nihilism. Finally, he invites the reader to imagine a university where religion is not ruled out but rather welcomed at least as one legitimate voice among others. Sommervilles bracing and prTrade ReviewThis thoughtful book should be a must-[read] * Richard V. Pierard, Theological Book Review *

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Book SynopsisFor over four centuries the Catholic Church enjoyed a religious monopoly in Latin America in which potential rivals were repressed or outlawed. Latin Americans were born Catholic and the only real choice they had was whether to actively practice the faith. Taking advantage of the legal disestablishment of the Catholic Church between the late 1800s and the early 1900s, Pentecostals almost single-handedly built a new pluralist religious economy. By the 1950s, many Latin Americans were free to choose from among the hundreds of available religious products, a dizzying array of religious options that range from the African-Brazilian religion of Umbanda to the New Age group known as the Vegetable Union. R. Andrew Chesnut shows how the development of religious pluralism over the past half-century has radically transformed the spiritual economy of Latin America. In order to thrive in this new religious economy, says Chesnut, Latin American spiritual firms must develop an attractive product and know how to market it to popular consumers. Three religious groups, he demonstrates, have proven to be the most skilled competitors in the new unregulated religious economy. Protestant Pentecostalism, the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, and African diaspora religions such as Brazilian Candomble and Haitian Vodou have emerged as the most profitable religious producers. Chesnut explores the general effects of a free market, such as introduction of consumer taste and product specialization, and shows how they have played out in the Latin American context. He notes, for example, that women make up the majority of the religious consumer market, and explores how the three groups have developed to satisfy women''s tastes and preferences. Moving beyond the Pentecostal boom and the rise and fall of liberation theology, Chesnut provides a fascinating portrait of the Latin American religious landscape.Trade Review"This boldly argued book is the best statement available to date of the political economy model as applied to the study of religious change in Latin America. The author providesa a wealth of data on the emergence and extraordinary growth of pneumacentric (spirit-centered) religions in Latin America. A significant book, with a powerful argument, convincing results, and a range of operational concepts that the author applies very effectively to explain a range of phenomena in a unified and consistent way."-- Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion"This is a bold, meticulous, and highly provocative study of Latin America's free-market religious economy. In identifying a high level of 'consumer demand for spirit-centered religion,' Chesnut has employed a dynamic and controversial model for understanding the reasons behind the rapid growth of Pentecostalism, Catholic Charismatic Renewal, and the religions of the African diaspora in Latin America during recent decades. This is rich, engaging, and important study that should provide grist for scholarly debate for some time to come."--Virginia Garrard-Burnett, Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies, University of Texas, Austin"Andrew Chesnut has written the must-read book on Latin American religion. The theoretical insights and empirical depth of this work are simply astounding. While specifically concerned with Brazil, Mexico and Guatemala, Chesnut's conclusions about the dynamism of charismatic religious movements extend well beyond these geographical confines. Indeed, anyone interested in contemporary religious movements will find this book indispensable."--Anthony Gill, author of Rendering Unto Caesar: The Catholic Church and the State in Latin America"This is a very rare achievement: first rate history combined with an admirable grasp of social science, expressed in stylish prose. The result is a work of very great significance that not only describes, but helps to explain, the remarkable religious changes going on in Latin America."--Rodney Stark, University of WashingtonTable of Contents1.: Introduction: The New Temples of Religious Pluralism 2.: One True Faith: Four Centuries of Religious Monopoly 3.: Cornering the Market: An Anatomy of Pentecostal Success 4.: A Preferential Option for the Spirit: The Catholic Charismatic Renewal 5.: Entreprenurial Spirits: Religions of the African Diaspora 6.: Practical Consumers: The Success of Pneumacentric Religion Among Women 7.: Conclusion: Ex Uno Plura (Out of One: Many)

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Book SynopsisTwenty-five years ago, historian of religions Jonathan Z. Smith wrote: ''''The quest for the powers and skills of informed judgment for the dual capacities of appreciation and criticism might well stand as the explicit goal of entry level of college curriculum.'''' Regardless of specific course content, the polymethodic face of Religious and Undergraduate Research is increasingly identified as a particularly effective pedagogy for teaching and learning these skills in the discipline. Teaching Undergraduate Research in Religious Studies offers an introduction to the philosophy and practice of Undergraduate Research in Religious Studies and takes up several significant ongoing questions related to it. For those new to Undergraduate Research, it provides an overview of fundamental issues and pedagogical questions and practical models for application in the classroom. For seasoned mentors, the book acts as a dialogue partner on emerging issues and offers insight into pertinent questions inTrade Reviewwell edited and clearly written * Michel Desjardins, Journal of the American Academy of Religion *This is a rare and important find. ... a very useful, enjoyable collection of essays from experienced and imaginative contributors, which innovatively marks what Undergraduate Research contributes to students, supervisors, Religious Studies and the academy. * Dawn Llewellyn, Theology *examples make the work more engaging and certainly help the reader to imagine how the volume might be useful in one's own context. ... The book is well worth the read - both for teachers who supervise undergraduates and for the students themselves who are ready to be challenged to research, think, and write in new ways. * Seth M. Ehorn, The Expository Times *Table of ContentsChapter One: Identifying and Setting Parameters ; Bernadette McNary-Zak and Rebecca Todd Peters ; Section One: Defining Undergraduate Research in Religious Studies ; Chapter Two: Contributing to the Discipline ; Rebecca Todd Peters and Bernadette McNary-Zak ; Chapter Three: Serving as Mentors and Collaborators ; Lynn Huber and John Lanci ; Chapter Four: Helping Undergraduates Think About Method ; Robin Rinehart ; Section Two: Modeling Undergraduate Research in Religious Studies ; Chapter Five: Exploring Archival Material ; Paul Myhre ; Chapter Six: Reading Religion and Culture ; Carolyn M. Jones ; Chapter Seven: Sending Students Into the Field ; Jeffrey M. Brackett ; Chapter Eight: Historically Speaking ; David Ratke ; Chapter Nine: Working with Texts ; Lynn Huber and Robin Rinehart ; Section Three: Improving Quality in Undergraduate Research in Religious Studies ; Chapter Ten: Training the Undergraduate Scholar ; Nadia Lahutsky ; Chapter Eleven: Promoting Institutional Support ; Mark Gstohl ; Chapter Twelve: Equipping a Student with Experience, Skills, and Self-Reliance ; Ann Marie Chilton ; Appendix: Sample Forms ; Bibliography

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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