Religion and beliefs Books

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Book SynopsisBestselling author Robert Morgan offers ten strategies for dealing with hard times and discouragements in order to move from fear to faith—a divine protocol for handling life. Red Sea Rules has been updated with new study questions.Life is hard, especially for Christians. It is certain that we will face difficulties and that God will allow them. But just as certain is the fact that the same God who led us in will lead us out. As The Red Sea Rules makes comfortingly clear, He is in control.Using the Israelites'' story in Exodus 14 as an example, Robert Morgan offers ten sound strategies for moving from fear to faith. Just as Moses and the Israelites became trapped between Pharaoh''s rushing armies and the uncrossable Red Sea, so are we sometimes overwhelmed by life''s problems.In The Red Sea Rules, readers will learn strategies to: Realize that God means for you to be where you are Acknowledge y

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Book SynopsisIt's easy to think that emotional pain is a modern issue. But two thousand years ago, Jesus ministered to people who were also longing for peace and happiness. His answer? God's peace--his Shalom. In this uplifting book, Johnston provides a biblical perspective on living a life of Shalom so we can protect this perfect peace when troubles try to st

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Book SynopsisEight hundred promises from the Word of God with biblical answers to almost every spiritual and personal problem encountered today. Promises are categorized to speak to specific situations for quick reference.

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Book SynopsisThe team that brought you Sticky Faith reveals a landmark study to provide a customizable roadmap of six essential strategies of churches that engage and retain teenagers and young adults, thus invigorating the entire church.

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Book SynopsisIn English for the first time, Bavinck's magnum opus covers the history, literature, and foundations of dogmatic theology.

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Book SynopsisThe fourth and final volume in Herman Bavinck's masterwork of Reformed theology is now available in English for the first time. Includes enhanced documentation.Table of ContentsEditor's IntroductionPart I: The Spirit Gives New Life to Believers1. Calling and RegenerationThe Call of GodEternal CallUniversal Proclamation of the GospelThe Particular Call of GraceRebirth in Other ReligionsRegeneration: Scriptural TeachingThe Doctrine of Regeneration in Church HistoryModern Reinterpretations of RegenerationRegeneration: Various ViewsThe Nature and Extent of RegenerationRegeneration: An Attempt at DefinitionImmediate and IrresistibleThe Remonstrant ObjectionBecoming Spiritual PersonsRe-formation, Not Re-creation2. Faith and ConversionThe Knowledge of FaithFaith as a Universal Created CapacityFaith Knowledge in ScriptureRome and the Reformation on FaithFaith and Regeneration: Which Is Prior?Faith as Knowledge and TrustFaith and Renewal of the Will (Conversion)RepentanceConversion of Believers?The Reformation Understanding: Mortification and VivificationVarieties of ConversionFleeing Sin and Loving GodConfession of SinPenance and Punishment3. JustificationForgiveness Is Not NaturalForgiveness in ScriptureThe Problem of NomismThe Reformation Renewal: Extrinsic, Forensic JustificationFaith and JustificationObjective and Subjective; Active and PassiveJustification Is Forensic, Not EthicalFaith Is Necessary but No GroundObjections to ImputationJustification in Time or Eternity?Active and Passive JustificationThe Elements of Justification4. Sanctification and PerseveranceHoliness as Gift and RewardRigorism and a Double MoralityJustification and Its DiscontentsSanctification Is Also in ChristPassive and Active SanctificationGood WorksThe Perfectionist HeresyPerseverance of the SaintsPart II: The Spirit Creates New Community5. The Church's Spiritual EssenceThe Jewish Roots of the Christian ChurchThe Church Is OneThe Church Is CatholicThe Institutional, Teaching ChurchThe Church as "Communion of Saints"The Reformed Doctrine of the ChurchReformation TangentsThe Church as the "People of God"Church DistinctivesThe Marks of the ChurchObjections to Reformed MarksThe Real Church in HistoryThe Attributes of the Church6. The Church's Spiritual GovernmentThe Church as Organism and InstitutionChurch Government in ScriptureThe Apostolic Office: PeterAfter the Apostles: Elders, Bishops, DeaconsFrom Presbyterian to EpiscopalFrom Episcopal to PapalThe Debate about Petrine PrimacyThe Reformation Rejection of HierarchyPost-Reformation DevelopmentsChrist Is King of the ChurchChurch Office as ServiceOrdinationHow Many Offices?7. The Church's Spiritual PowerReligious and Civil Power in IsraelNew Ecclesial PowerThe Development of Episcopal PowerDegeneration of Papal Power: InfallibilityPower Restored to Word and SacramentChurch Power and Political PowerConfusion of PowersSpiritual Teaching PowerSpiritual Ruling Power; DisciplineThe Power of MercyChurch AssembliesThe Church's Unique Spiritual Power8. The Spirit's Means of Grace: ProclamationBeyond Mysticism and SacramentalismOrdinary and Extraordinary: Avoiding One-SidednessThe Word as Law, Gospel, and PowerMaintaining the Unity of the Covenant of GraceThe Spirit, the Word, and Power9. The Spirit's Means of Grace: The SacramentsDefining the SacramentsSacramental DoctrineSigns and SealsThe "Matter" of SacramentsObjectivity of the SacramentsHow Many Sacraments?10. The Spirit's Means of Grace: BaptismThe Broader Religious Context of BaptismWater Baptism and Spirit Baptism"In the Name of Jesus"The Rite of BaptismThe Reformation and BaptismThe Manner of BaptismThe Benefits of BaptismInfant BaptismThe Validity of Infant BaptismThe Administration of Baptism11. The Spirit's Means of Grace: The Lord's SupperA Shared Sacrificial MealInstituted by Christ?The Lord's Supper in Church HistoryThe Reformation DebatesThe Lord's Supper as MealTable or Altar?Memorial or Sign of Union with Christ?Transubstantiation: The MassThe Reformed Doctrine of the Lord's SupperFor Believers OnlyPart III: The Spirit Makes All Things NewA. The Intermediate State12. The Question of Immortality PhilosophyHistory and ReasonThe Old TestamentIntertestamental JudaismThe New Testament13. After Death, Then What?The Move toward PurgatoryReformation and DeformationThe Need for Scriptural ReserveSoul Sleep?Intermediate Corporeality?Contact with the Living?14. Between Death and ResurrectionA Second Opportunity?Purification?The End of Our PilgrimageIntercession for the Dead?Communion with the Church TriumphantB. The Return of Christ15. Visions of the EndA Religious Perspective on the EndThe Uniqueness of Old Testament EschatologyThe Rise of ChiliasmA Scriptural Reply to Chiliasm16. Israel, the Millennium, and Christ's ReturnDifficult Passages on Israel and the Church"All Israel" in Romans 11An Interim Millennial Age?John's ApocalypseThe Millennium in Revelation 20The Return of ChristThe Timing of Christ's ReturnThe Manner of Christ's ReturnC. The Consummation17. The Day of the LordThe Resurrection of the BodyThe JudgmentThe Place of PunishmentAlternatives to Eternal PunishmentThe Answer of Scripture18. The Renewal of CreationThe Transformation of CreationThe Blessings of the RedeemedThe Wideness of God's MercyService in the Eternal SabbathBibliographyIndexes

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Book SynopsisMany Christians are tempted to dismiss concerns over the environment and the catastrophic effects of climate change. After all, prominent voices who most vociferously warn us about this crisis tend to also advocate a wider worldview antithetical to Christian teachings. In this text, noted philosopher and scholar Jean-Claude Larchet finds the roots of the global ecological crisis in a rejection of a truly Christian cosmology. Explaining the relationship between man and nature ordained by God in the beginning, Larchet bases the degradation of the creation ultimately in the primordial fall and outlines how we have arrived at the present crisis point. Finally, the author proposes principles and actions deeply rooted in his Christian ethos that would allow mankind to restore and reinvigorate its relationship with nature.Table of ContentsTOC unedited: Introduction How It Was in the Beginning: Man’s Original Relationship with Nature The Sin of Mankind and Its Ecological Consequences How Did We Reach the Present Situation? Restoring the Relationship of Man With Nature

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Book SynopsisA contemporary guide to the roots, paths and tools of witchcraft. A new generation of witchcraft is here! Today, witchcraft encompasses many different paths and is one of the most rapidly growing sets of spiritual systems in the world. Modern Witchcraft For Dummies walks you through what it means to be a modern witchgoing beyond the Euro-pagan traditions and Wiccaand how to ensure your witchcraft moves toward inclusivity and spiritual activism. Discover the roots and impact of witchcraft, consider the differences between open and closed practices, and explore the ethics of magical practice. Within, you'll also: Explore histories of regional witches across the worldUnderstand witchcraft archetypes and practices (with clear guidance on how to start your own practice)Discover the various types of witches and determine the type of witch you want to beCreate your own altars and grimoires, set intentions, and practice your spellcasting and rituals (on your own or with a coven!) Get ready to

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Book SynopsisThis groundbreaking, full-color companion to the ESV Bible combines visual appeal with state-of-the-art historical and geographical resources in one user-friendly volume.

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Book SynopsisCombining the best and most recent evangelical Christian scholarship with the highly regarded ESV text, the ESV Study Bible is the most comprehensive study Bible ever published.

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Book SynopsisBIG CHANGE offers readers transformative strategies to embrace change and improve their lives. Through practical insights and inspiring examples, readers will learn to navigate personal and professional transitions with confidence.

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Book Synopsis'Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet'How did it all begin?Is there a God?Throughout his extraordinary career, Stephen Hawking expanded our understanding of the universe and unravelled some of its greatest mysteries. In How Did It All Begin? the world famous cosmologist and bestselling author of A Brief History of Time explores the fundamental questions of our existence.'A brilliant mind' Daily TelegraphBrief Answers, Big Questions: this stunning paperback series offers electrifying essays from one of the greatest minds of our age, taken from the original text of the No. 1 bestselling Brief Answers to the Big Questions.

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Book SynopsisA new translation of the Tibetan master Longchenpa’s famous work that systematically presents the path of yogic conduct according to the Dzogchen traditionFinding Rest in Illusion is the third volume of the Trilogy of Rest, Longchenpa’s classic exposition of the Buddhist path. The purpose of these teachings is to introduce us to our most basic nature—the clear and pristine awareness that is the nature of the mind. According to the traditional Tibetan Buddhist formula of view, meditation, and action, this volume follows Finding Rest in the Nature of the Mind, which establishes the view of the Buddhist path generally, and specifically that of the teachings of the Great Perfection, and Finding Rest in Meditation, which outlines the main points of meditation, namely, where one should meditate, what qualities a practitioner should possess and develop, and what should be practiced.The Padmakara Translation Group has provided us with a clear and fluid new translation of the final volume of the trilogy, Finding Rest in Illusion, along with its autocommentary, The Chariot of Excellence, both intended to elucidate the appropriate action of a Buddhist practitioner. Finding Rest in Illusion describes in detail the conduct of those who have stabilized their recognition of the nature of the mind and how to apply the Buddhist view when relating to ordinary appearances. Drawing extensively from classic Buddhist works, the author uses well-known examples of illusion found throughout Mahāyāna literature to illustrate the illusory nature of both saṃsāra and nirvāṇa, thus revealing their ultimate nondual nature. This is an invaluable manual for any genuine student of Buddhism who wishes to truly find rest through the path of the Great Perfection.

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Book SynopsisEast meets West in this fresh, modern take on a timeless challenge: how to find contentment and meaning in life.In Radically Happy, a meditating Silicon Valley entrepreneur teams up with a young, insightful, and traditionally educated Tibetan Rinpoche. Together they present a path to radical happiness—a sense of well-being that you can access anytime but especially when life is challenging. Using mindfulness techniques and accessible meditations, personal stories and scientific studies, you’ll get to know your own mind and experience how a slight shift in your perspective can create a radical shift in your life.

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Book SynopsisA fascinating exploration of the role that magic has played in the history of BuddhismAs far back as we can see in the historical record, Buddhist monks and nuns have offered services including healing, divination, rain making, aggressive magic, and love magic to local clients. Studying this history, scholar Sam van Schaik concludes that magic and healing have played a key role in Buddhism''s flourishing, yet they have rarely been studied in academic circles or by Western practitioners. The exclusion of magical practices and powers from most discussions of Buddhism in the modern era can be seen as part of the appropriation of Buddhism by Westerners, as well as an effect of modernization movements within Asian Buddhism. However, if we are to understand the way Buddhism has worked in the past, the way it still works now in many societies, and the way it can work in the future, we need to examine these overlooked aspects of Buddhist practice.In Buddhist Magic, van Schaik takes a book of spells and rituals--one of the earliest that has survived--from the Silk Road site of Dunhuang as the key reference point for discussing Buddhist magic in Tibet and beyond. After situating Buddhist magic within a cross-cultural history of world magic, he discusses sources of magic in Buddhist scripture, early Buddhist rituals of protection, medicine and the spread of Buddhism, and magic users. Including material from across the vast array of Buddhist traditions, van Schaik offers readers a fascinating, nuanced view of a topic that has too long been ignored.

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Book SynopsisAn essential introduction to the life, writings, and legacy of one of Japan''s most prolific Buddhist masters.The founder of the Soto school of Zen in Japan, Eihei Dogen (1200–1253) is one of the most influential Buddhist teachers of all time. Although Dogen’s writings have reached wide prominence among contemporary Buddhists and philosophers, there is much that remains enigmatic about his life and writings. In Dogen: Japan’s Original Zen Teacher, respected Dogen scholar and translator Steven Heine offers a nuanced portrait of the master’s historical context, life, and work, paying special attention to issues such as: The nature of the “great doubt” that motivated Dogen’s religious questThe sociopolitical turmoil of Kamakura Japan that led to dynamic innovations in medieval Japanese BuddhismThe challenges and transformations Dogen experienced during his pivotal time in ChinaKey inflection points and unresolved questions regarding Dogen’s teaching career in JapanOngoing controversies in the scholarly interpretations of Dogen’s biography and teachingsSynthesizing a lifetime of research and reflection into an accessible narrative, this new addition to the Lives of the Masters series illuminates thought-provoking perspectives on Dogen’s character and teachings, as well as his relevance to contemporary practitioners. 

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Book SynopsisHow can we respond urgently and effectively to the ecological crisis—and stay sane doing it?This landmark work is simultaneously a manifesto, a blueprint, a call to action, and a deep comfort for troubling times. David R. Loy masterfully lays out the principles and perspectives of Ecodharma—a Buddhist response to our ecological predicament, introducing a new term for a new development of the Buddhist tradition. This book emphasizes the three aspects of Ecodharma: practicing in the natural world, exploring the ecological implications of Buddhist teachings, and embodying that understanding in the eco-activism that is needed today. Within these pages, you’ll discover the powerful ways Buddhism can inspire us to heal the world we share. Offering a compelling framework and practical spiritual resources, Loy outlines the Ecosattva Path, a path of liberation and salvation for all beings and the world itself.

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Book SynopsisA life of the prophet Muhammad by bestselling religious writer Karen Armstrong.'Armstrong has a dazzling ability: she can take a long and complex subject and reduce it to its fundamentals, without over-simplifying' SUNDAY TIMES'One of our best living writers on religion' FINANCIAL TIMES'Not just a sympathetic book that would dispel the misconceptions and misgivings of its western readers, but also a book that is of considerable importance to Muslims' MUSLIM NEWSMost people in the West know very little about the prophet Muhammad. The acclaimed religious writer Karen Armstrong has written a biography which will give us a more accurate and profound understanding of Islam and the people who adhere to it so strongly. Muhammad also offers challenging comparisons with the two religions most closely related to it - Judaism and Christianity.Trade ReviewArmstrong has a dazzling ability: she can take a long and complex subject and reduce it to its fundamentals, without over-simplifying * SUNDAY TIMES *Not just a sympathetic book that would dispel the misconceptions and misgivings of its western readers, but also a book that is of considerable importance to Muslims * MUSLIM NEWS *Respectful without being reverential, knowledgeable without being pedantic and, above all, readable * ECONOMIST *This book is a significant help to understanding the religious experience of Islam and of the fascinating life of Muhammad in particular * GLASGOW HERALD *One of our best living writers on religion * FINANCIAL TIMES *

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Book SynopsisIntroducing the contemporary conversation on internalised Jew-hate, Reclaiming Our Story is the second instalment of world-renowned educator Ben M. Freeman's seminal manifesto of the modern Jewish Pride movement that has revolutionised the Jewish world. In this groundbreaking work, Freeman takes his readers - both Jewish and non-Jewish - on a powerful journey that explores the impact of Jew-hate on Jews and the long history of internalised anti-Jewishness. Most importantly, Freeman will educate, inspire and empower his Jewish readers to look inside themselves - with empathy and without shame - to identify their own experiences with internalised anti-Jewishness so they can reclaim their Jewish stories, ultimately moving from prejudice to pride.

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Book SynopsisThis handbook aims to bridge the gap between the fields of positive psychology and the psychology of religion and spirituality. It is the authoritative guide to the intersections among religion, spirituality, and positive psychology and includes the following sections: (1) historical and theoretical considerations, (2) methodological considerations, (3) cultural considerations, (4) developmental considerations, (5) empirical research on happiness and well-being in relation to religion and spirituality, (6) empirical research on character strengths and virtues in relation to religion and spirituality, (7) clinical and applied considerations, and (8) field unification and advancement. Leading positive psychologists and psychologists of religion/spirituality have coauthored the chapters, drawing on expertise from their respective fields. The handbook is useful for social and clinical scientists, practitioners in helping professions, practitioners in religious and spiritual fields, and students of psychology and religion/spirituality.This is an open access book.Trade Review“We encourage you to approach this book as an intellectual meal to savor slowly and mindfully. … We encourage you to approach this handbook with that vista of possibility in mind. Search for reasons that might be beneficial for positive psychology to integrate R/S more into its theorizing, empirical research, and practical applications. … Ultimately, we hope this chapter’s suggestions will inform what you “eat” and digest from this book … .” (, Scriptable, rtreview.org, Vol. 116, November, 2023)Table of ContentsPart I: Historical and Theoretical Considerations1) Integrating Positive Psychology and the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality: Transcending Coexistence to Potentiate Coevolution2) Positive Psychology and the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality in Historical Perspective3) On the Integration of Positive Psychology and the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality: Logical, Normative, and Methodological Questions4) Virtues in Positive Psychology and the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality5) Theories of Health and Well-Being Germane to a Positive Psychology of Religion and Spirituality6) Meaning as a Framework for Integrating Positive Psychology and the Psychology of Religiousness and SpiritualityPart II: Methodological Considerations7) Measurement at the Intersection of Positive Psychology and the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality8) Methodological Diversity in Positive Psychology and the Psychology of Religion and SpiritualityPart III: Cultural Considerations9) Cultural Considerations in Positive Psychology and the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality10) Positive Psychology and Christianity11) Positive Psychology and Judaism12) Living the Good Life: An Islamic Perspective on Positive Psychology13) Positive Psychology and Hinduism14) Positive Psychology and Buddhism15) "Positive Psychology and Religion/Spirituality Across Cultures in Europe, Non-U.S. North America, and South America"16) Positive Psychology and Religion/Spirituality Across Cultures in Africa, Asia, and OceaniaPart IV: Developmental Considerations17) Religion, Spirituality, and Youth Thriving: Investigating the Roles of the Developing Mind and Meaning-Making18) Religious/Spiritual Development and Positive Psychology: Toward an Integrative TheoryPart V: Happiness and Well-Being19) The Scientific Study of Life Satisfaction and Religion/Spirituality20) The Scientific Study of Positive Emotions and Religion/Spirituality21) The Scientific Study of Positive Psychology, Religion/Spirituality, and Physical Health22) The Scientific Study of Positive Psychology, Religion/Spirituality, and Mental HealthPart VI: Character Strengths and Virtues23) The Scientific Study of Religion/Spirituality, Forgiveness, and Hope24) Religion/Spirituality and the Twin Virtues of Humility and Gratitude25) Theological Virtues, Health, and Well-Being: Theory, Research, and Public HealthPart VII: Clinical and Applied Considerations26) Integrating Positive Psychology, Religion/Spirituality, and a Virtue Focus Within Culturally Responsive Mental Healthcare27) Meaningfulness and Religious/Spiritual Meaning Systems at Work: A Multilevel Framework28) Positive Psychology and Religiousness/Spirituality in the Context of Couples and Families29) Positive Psychology in the Context of Religious Communities30) Building Spiritual Fortitude and Resilience Following Disaster: Synthesizing the Contributions of Positive Psychology and Religion/SpiritualityPart VIII: Field Unification and Advancement 31) Future Directions for the Positive Psychology of Religion and Spirituality

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Book SynopsisFrom beloved author and teacher A. H. Almaas, an exploration of love beyond the boundaries of the individual self, revealing that nondual love is the nature of everything, including ourselves.Love is a transformative aspect of the spiritual path—and, in fact, it is our very nature. A. H. Almaas takes us on a journey beyond a narrow, individual understanding of love to an exploration of what he calls the boundless dimension of Divine Love. This is not the kind of love that we feel toward somebody else; it is nondual, a love without boundaries. Or put another way, it is universal true nature experienced as love.By shifting our focus beyond our individual human experience to the experience of the whole of existence, we are able to see the true richness of the universe. All of reality takes on a quality of inner light, of softness and ease, of sweetness and holding. When we are open to the dimension of nondual love, we can relax and trust our inner ground that is also the ground of everything: our true nature, free from limitations—a sense of complete release, freedom, and delight, that is free of conflict, fear, insecurity, and worry. Almaas discusses the obstacles that make it difficult to awaken to true nature in this form, such as our belief in a separate self and our past conditioning. Each chapter includes an inquiry or practice, such as explorations of attachments and worldly desires as well as inquiries into union, surrender, and grace.

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Book SynopsisCovering the origins, key features, and legacy of the Islamic tradition, the third edition of A New Introduction to Islam includes new material on Islam in the 21st century and discussions of the impact of historical ideas, literature, and movements on contemporary trends. Includes updated and rewritten chapters on the Qur'an and hadith literature that covers important new academic research Compares the practice of Islam in different Islamic countries, as well as acknowledging the differences within Islam as practiced in Europe Features study questions for each chapter and more illustrative material, charts, and excerpts from primary sources Table of ContentsList of Illustrations xi Preface to the Third Edition xv Source Acknowledgments xvii Part I The Formation of the Islamic Tradition 1 1 Islam in Global Perspective 3 The Problem of Defining Islam 3 Mapping the Islamic World 5 Arabs and Non-Arabs 9 Sunnis and Shiʿites 10 Islamic Ritual 11 What to Expect from This Book 14 Essential Resources for the Study of Islam 16 Questions for Study and Discussion 17 2 Arabia 19 Geography 19 Pre-Islamic Poetry 21 Arab Religion 25 Women in Pre-Islamic Arabia 27 Mecca and the Quraysh 28 The Gifts of the Arabs 31 Resources for Further Study 34 Questions for Study and Discussion 35 3 The Pre-Islamic Near East 37 Christianity in the Near East 39 Saints and Relics 45 Zoroastrianism 46 Judaism 47 Manichaeism 49 Mazdak 49 The Place of the Arabs in the Near East 50 Chronology of the Near East of Late Antiquity 52 Resources for Further Study 53 Questions for Study and Discussion 54 4 The Life of Muhammad 55 Prologue and Setting 56 Birth and Childhood 57 Early Adulthood 59 The Beginning of Revelation 61 Opposition 63 The Night Journey and Ascent to Heaven 65 The Hijra 66 The Battle of Badr 68 Confrontation with the Jews of Medina 69 The Battle of Uh. ud 70 The Peace of al-H. udaybiya and the Farewell Pilgrimage 72 Evaluation 73 Resources for Further Study 74 Questions for Study and Discussion 75 5 The Qur ʾan 77 The Qurʾan in Modern Imagination 77 The History of the Text 79 The Language of the Qurʾan 84 The Context of the Qurʾan 87 Jesus in the Qurʾan 88 The Qurʾan in Muslim Piety 90 The Eternity of the Qurʾan 91 The Inimitability of the Qurʾan 93 Interpreting the Qurʾan 94 Central Themes 95 Qurʾanic Narratives 96 Qurʾanic Law and the Problem of Abrogation 97 Women and Gender in the Qurʾan 98 Qurʾan, Sīra, and Hadith 99 Resources for Further Study 99 Questions for Study and Discussion 100 6 The Tradition Literature 103 The Science of Hadith 104 The Origins of the Hadith 108 In Quest of the Historical Muhammad 111 The Sīra and the Shaping of an Islamic Worldview 115 Resources for Further Study 119 Questions for Study and Discussion 120 Part II The Expansion of Islam 121 7 The Conquests 123 Psychological Impact 127 Archeological Data: The “Invisible” Conquests 129 Resources for Further Study 131 Questions for Study and Discussion 132 8 Religion of Empire 133 Early Arab Administration 134 Conversion to Islam 137 Leadership 138 The First Civil War 139 The Martyrdom of Ḥusayn 140 The Deputy of God 141 Personal Piety 142 The Dome of the Rock 144 The Constitution of Medina 149 Resources for Further Study 151 Questions for Study and Discussion 151 9 The Caliphate 153 Ibn al-Muqaffaʿ 153 The Shiʿite Vision 156 The ʿAbbasids 158 Twelvers 159 Ismāʿīlīs 160 Nizārī “Assassins” 161 Kharijites 163 The Sasanian Revival 164 Al-Māwardī and the Sunni Compromise 166 Resources for Further Study 169 Questions for Study and Discussion 170 Part III Islamic Institutions 171 10 Islamic Law 173 The Coffee Debate 173 Revelation and Reason 175 Qiyās 176 The Schools of Law 177 Islamic Law and the State 179 Ijmāʿ 180 The Uṣūl al-Fiqh 181 The Substance of the Law 183 Ritual Purity 184 Acts of Worship 185 Marriage and Divorce 186 The Origins of Islamic Law 189 Al-Shāfiʿī and Islamic Legal Theory 189 Resources for Further Study 192 Questions for Study and Discussion 193 11 Islamic Theology and Philosophy 195 Freedom and Determinism 196 God’s Attributes 198 Anthropomorphism 200 Faith and Works 200 Leadership 203 The Sunni Consensus 203 Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal 204 Al-Ashʿarī 205 Kalām 206 Al-Māturīdī and other Alternatives to Ashʿarite Kalām 208 Jewish and Christian Influences 209 The Challenge of Philosophy 210 Prophecy and Revelation in Islamic Philosophy 212 Philosophy and Mysticism 215 Resources for Further Study 216 Questions for Study and Discussion 217 12 Sufism 219 The Parliament of Birds 219 Stages on the Path 221 The Spiritual Master 223 Sufi Brotherhoods 224 Sufi Ritual 226 The Destination 229 Sufi Cosmology 230 Sufism in History: The Case of al-Ḥallāj 233 Beginnings to the Tenth Century 237 Classical Manuals and the Growth of Ṭarīqas 239 Resources for Further Study 241 Questions for Study and Discussion 242 Part IV Crisis and Renewal in Islamic History 243 13 Turks, Crusaders, and Mongols 245 The Saljūqs 245 Al-Ghazālī and the Sunni Revival 246 Slave Soldiers 248 The Crusades 250 The Mongols 254 The Impact of the Mongol Invasions 257 Resources for Further Study 261 Questions for Study and Discussion 262 14 Revival and Reform 263 The Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal Empires 263 The Rise of European Power 266 The Religious Environment 267 The ʿUlamāʾ 267 Sufi Reformers 269 The Wahhabi Movement 274 Resources for Further Study 277 Questions for Study and Discussion 278 15 Islam and the West 279 Napoleon’s Invasion of Egypt 279 The Birth of Orientalism 282 Jihad Movements 284 Al-Afghānī 285 Sayyid Ahmad Khan and Aligarh 287 Resources for Further Study 289 Questions for Study and Discussion 289 16 The Turbulent Twentieth Century 291 The Abolition of the Caliphate 291 Nationalism 293 Secularism 295 Rashīd Riḍā and al-Manār 298 The Muslim Brotherhood 299 Jihad and Martyrdom 300 From Shariʿa to Secular Law and Back 302 Modern Qurʾan Interpretation 304 The Problem of Sunna 305 Ijtihād and Ijmāʿ 306 A New Kalām? 307 Muhammad ʿAbdūh 307 Muhammad Iqbal 309 Sufism and Modernity 311 The Modernist Moment 314 Resources for Further Study 315 Questions for Study and Discussion 315 17 Salafism 317 Café Salafis 317 Salafi Doctrine 319 The Ibn Taymiyya Connection 320 The Albanian Watchmaker’s Son 322 Salafi Apocalypse 324 Salafi Spring? 329 The Appeal of Salafism 331 Salafis and Sufis 332 Resources for Further Study 334 Questions for Study and Discussion 334 18 Islam in the Twenty-First Century 335 The Challenge of Pluralism 336 Islamic Liberalism 340 Islam in the West 342 Islamic Feminism 346 The Challenge of Islam 350 Questions for Study and Discussion 351 Glossary 353 Bibliography 367 Index 391

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Book SynopsisFresh and never-before published talks on the crux of Buddhist practice and how to uncover wonder in your daily life from legendary Zen teacher and bestselling author Charlotte Joko Beck."As you embrace the suffering of life, the wonder shows up at the same time. They go together."--Charlotte Joko BeckIn this collection of never-before published teachings by Charlotte Joko Beck, one of the most influential Western-born Zen teachers, she explores our “core beliefs”—the hidden, negative convictions we hold about ourselves that direct our thoughts and behavior and prevent us from experiencing life as it is. Wryly humorous and relatable, Beck uses powerfully clear language to show how our lives present us with daily opportunities to move from thinking to experiencing, from compulsivity to confidence, and from anguish to peace. Whether you are a Zen practitioner or a reader interested in exploring these teachings for the first time, Ordinary Wonder offers the depth and breadth of Beck’s remarkable experience in an accessible guide to practice amidst the struggles of daily life.

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Book SynopsisBuilding on mindfulness and self-compassion practices, this step-by-step guide to secular insight meditation shows the way to freedom from deeply rooted thought patterns.Discover joy within yourself and heartfelt connection with others by releasing the habitual thought patterns that cause suffering and alienation. Drawing on Buddhist wisdom as well as the latest research in psychology and neuroscience, this book provides you with the tools needed to recognize the habits of thinking that fuel anger, desire, jealousy, and pride. Building on mindfulness and self-compassion practice, it offers a step-by-step series of guided meditations that create the conditions for liberating insight and wisdom to naturally arise. Thousands of people in the last decade have benefited from practicing the exercises in this book, which were developed and taught as part of the curriculum at the Mindfulness Association, an organization founded to deliver training in mindfulness, compassion, and insight.

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Book SynopsisIn Surprised by Hope, bestselling author Tom Wright encourages to find our hope not just in what we believe about life after death, but also our understanding and experience of life before death.

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Book SynopsisA contribution to Shi'ite Sufism. It brings us to the core of this movement with an analysis of Ibn 'Arabi's life and doctrines. It begins with a spiritual topography of the twelfth century, emphasizing the differences between exoteric and esoteric forms of Islam. It also relates Islamic mysticism to mystical thought in the West.Table of ContentsList of PlatesPrefaceIntroductionBetween Andalusia and Iran: A Brief Spiritual Topography3The Curve and Symbols of Ibn 'Arabi's Life38At Averroes' Funeral38The Pilgrim to the Orient46The Disciple of Khidr53His Maturity and the Completion of His Work68The Situation of Esoterism77Divine Passion and Compassion105The Prayer of the Heliotrope105The "Pathetic God"112Of Unio Mystica as Unio Sympathetica120Sophiology and Devotio Sympathetica136The Sophianic Poem of a Fedele d'amore136The Dialectic of Love145The Creative Feminine157Prologue179The Creation as Theophany184The Creative Imagination as Theophany, or the "God from Whom All Being Is Created"184The God Manifested by the Theophanic Imagination190The "God Created in the Faiths"195The Recurrence of Creation200The Twofold Dimension of Beings207Theophanic Imagination and Creativity of the Heart216The Field of the Imagination216The Heart as a Subtile Organ221The Science of the Heart237Man's Prayer and God's Prayer246The Method of Theophanic Prayer246Homologations257The Secret of the Divine Responses262The "Form of God"272The Hadith of the Vision272Around the Mystic Ka'aba277Epilogue282Notes and Appendices285List of Works Cited391Index399

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Book SynopsisThe centuries between 800 and 300 BC saw an explosion of new religious concepts. Their emergence is second only to man's harnessing of fire in fundamentally transforming our understanding of what it is to be human. But why did Socrates, Buddha, Confucius, Jeremiah, Lao Tzu and others all emerge in this five-hundred-year span? And why do they have such similar ideas about humanity?In The Great Transformation, Karen Armstrong examines this phenomenal period and the connections between this disparate group of philosophers, mystics and theologians.Trade Review"'A remarkable history... fascinating and highly readable... profoundly relevant.' Julie Wheelwright, Independent '[Armstrong] shows a formidable grasp of sacred history and biblical scholarship.' Felipe Fernandez-Armesto, The Times 'Armstrong writes with her customary elegance and lucidity... It would be hard not to learn a lot from this substantial book.' Diarmaid MacCulloch, Guardian 'This book deserves nothing but praise.' Bryan Appleyard, Sunday Times"

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisA treasury of wisdom from the influential Christian contemplative, political activist, social visionary, and literary figure.Thomas Merton (1915–1968) was spiritual parent to a generation—and his influence, through his many books, has only increased in the half-century since his death.   He was a hermit who maintained a compelling correspondence with some of the most influential thinkers of his age;  he was a social and political activist whose ideas had a seminal influence in the world beyond his monastic cloister; and he was a Christian who saw through the boundaries of religious identity in a way that was truly ahead of his time.  This collection of short excerpts from his voluminous writings covers all of the famous Trappist monk’s main themes, thus serving as a perfect short introduction to his work in his own words.This book is part of the Shambhala Pocket Library series.The Shambhala Pocket Library is a collection of short, portable teachings from notable figures across religious traditions and classic texts. The covers in this series are rendered by Colorado artist Robert Spellman. The books in this collection distill the wisdom and heart of the work Shambhala Publications has published over 50 years into a compact format that is collectible, reader-friendly, and applicable to everyday life.

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