Religion: general Books

Book SynopsisThis open access book explores how children draw god. It looks at children’s drawings collected in a large variety of cultural and religious traditions. Coverage demonstrates the richness of drawing as a method for studying representations of the divine. In the process, it also contributes to our understanding of this concept, its origins, and its development. This intercultural work brings together scholars from different disciplines and countries, including Switzerland, Japan, Russia, Iran, Brazil, and the Netherlands. It does more than share the results of their research and analysis. The volume also critically examines the contributions and limitations of this methodology. In addition, it also reflects on the new empirical and theoretical perspectives within the broader framework of the study of this concept. The concept of god is one of the most difficult to grasp. This volume offers new insights by focusing on the many different ways children depict god throughout the world. Readers will discover the importance of spatial imagery and color choices in drawings of god. They will also learn about how the divine's emotional expression correlates to age, gender, and religiosity as well as strategies used by children who are prohibited from representing their god.Table of ContentsChapter 1. Integrative model of children's representations of god in drawings (Pierre-Yves Brandt, Zhargalma Dandarova Robert, Grégory Dessart, Hanneke Muthert, Hanneke Schaap-Jonker).- Chapter 2. Anthropomorphizing and de-anthropomorphizing supernatural agency: From conceptual strategies to their theological implications( Grégory Dessart, Zhargalma Dandarova Robert, Pierre-Yves Brandt).- Chapter 3. Gender-typing god representations: Socio-normative constraints and ontological significance ( Grégory Dessart, Zhargalma Dandarova Robert, Pierre-Yves Brandt).- Chapter 4. Where gods dwell? Spatial imagery in children’s drawings of gods( Zhargalma Dandarova-Robert, Christelle Cocco, Grégory Dessart, Pierre -Yves Brandt).- Chapter 5. The colour of god(s): Early processing mechanisms of an all-powerful entity as depicted through colour choices in drawings of gods (Christelle Cocco, Christine Mohr, Domicele Jonauskaite, Zhargalma Dandarova-Robert, Pierre-Yves Brandt).- Chapter 6. Numerical analyses of children’s drawings of god(s): an approach based on computer vision and mathematical methods (Christelle Cocco, Raphaël Ceré).- Chapter 7. Emotional expression in children’s drawings of God according to age, gender and religiosity (Richard P. Jolley, Grégory Dessart).- Chapter 8. Different attachment styles in relation to children's drawings of God: a qualitative and quantitative exploration, (Hanneke Muthert, Hanneke Schaap-Jonker).- Chapter 9. Iranian children’s drawings of God: demographic and contextual considerations (Mohammad Khodayarifard, Reza Pourhosein, Shahla Pakdaman, Saeid Zandi).- Chapter 10. The first discoveries and the challenges of researching representations of gods in a continental country such as Brazil (Alberto Domeniconi Küntgen-Nery, Camila Mendonça Torres).- Chapter 11. Representing the gods of ancient Israel and Judah (Thomas Römer).- Chapter 12. The representation of God in Islam and its prohibition: strategies used by Iranian children in drawings of God (Zahra Astaneh).- Chapter 13. Natural and supernatural agents: children’s representations of gods and dead entities (Ramiro Tau).- Chapter 14. Shaping digital tools, equipping children drawings (Dominique Vinck, Pierre-Nicolas Oberhauser).- Chapter 15. An innovative open-access database: “Drawings of gods” ( Olga Serbaeva).- Chapter 16. Children’s drawings of gods: the dynamics and challenges of interdisciplinary collaboration (Frédéric Darbellay).- Chapter 17. Contributions and limitations of the methodology of drawings for studying children's representations of god (Pierre-Yves Brandt, Zhargalma Dandarova Robert, Dominique Vinck, Frédéric Darbellay).

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Book SynopsisProvocative, insightful, and passionately argued, this book attempts to bring some perspective to an increasingly polarized debate on the crisis ofiberalism among Indian Muslims. It raises some profound issues at the heart of the crisis fuelled on the one hand by the growing influence of Wahhabism on Indian Islamand on the other, by the rise of aggressive right-wing Hindu nationalism which has alienated even moderate Muslims. The book takes head-on the fundamental question: Isiberalism and Islam compatible or mutually exclusive? In doing so, it examines the way Islam is being preached and practiced both in India and abroad, to find answers to such niggling questions as: Who is a good Muslim''? What constitutes the Muslim identity? Why do Muslims across the world remain silent instead of raising their voice for reform of regressive practices such as stoning? The decline ofiberal Islam in India, it argues, flows from the wider crisis in Islam globally. Upholding the syncretic Ganga-Jamni tehzeeb'' that characterized Indian Islam, it tries to bring back the emphasis oniberal values of acceptance and inclusivity. It also dissuades secularists against trying to push through sweeping reforms in India before the community is ready for it, warning of a possible hardline backlash as in Turkey and Iran. Who Killediberal Islam? offers a much-needed corrective to the self-serving narratives on both sides of a divisive debate, and seeks to help concentrate minds on finding a way through the crisis.

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Islamic Psychology: The Basics is a jargon-free and accessible introduction that explores psychology from an Islamic perspective, and provides a foundation level overview of the fundamental principles and practices of Islamic psychology. The book introduces concepts, models, approaches, themes, and theories you need to know to study the mind, soul, and behaviour based on Islamic scripture.Offering an overview of Islamic psychology and what Islamic psychologists do, chapters address key topics including the history of the evolution of the science of the soul, and the psychology of human behaviour and experiences. Rassool examines the concepts of the Fitrah, the Nafs (Self), the Aql (Intellect), the Ru? (Soul) the Qalb (Heart), and the concept of Islamic healing and spiritual interventions. Other themes include the Qur'an and psychology, models and approaches in Islamic psychology, interpreting Islamic psychology for modern times, and the contemporary scope of the prac

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Book SynopsisNow available in English for the first time, Ysabel de Andia''s double exploration of Christian and Hindu mysticism provides a valuable addition to the field. Composed from lectures given in Benares in 2015 to priests of the Missions Étrangères de Paris, Mystery of God, Mystery of Christ combines the two main research interests that have defined de Andia''s career: first, an understanding of Christian mysticism as growing out of the Christian mystery of Christ and the sacrament, and secondly, the relationship between this and Hindu contemplative prayer as articulated by Jules Monchanin.Beginning with the Cappadocian fathers, de Andai traces the developing interpretation of Mystery through Christian thinkers from Origen and Gregory of Nyssa to Basil and Dionysios the Areopagite. From here, she begins to dovetail this study with an exploration of Hindu contemplation, relating the Carmelite mystic St John of the Cross to the Advaitist tradition, especially as expounded by Shankara. Throu

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Book SynopsisThe earth and sky will wear out and fade away before one word I speak loses its power or fails to accomplish its purpose Matthew 24:35 TPT

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Book SynopsisReligion plays a central role in human experience. Billions of people around the world practice a faith and act in accordance with it. Religion shapes how they enter the world and how they leave it - how they eat, dress, marry, and raise their children. It shapes their assumptions about who they are and who they want to be. Religion also identifies insiders and outsiders, who has power and who doesn''t. It sanctifies injustice and combats it. It draws national borders. It affects law, economy, and government. It destroys and restores the environment. It starts wars and ends them. Whether you notice it or not, religion plays a role in how billions conduct their lives. We are called, then, to understand this important factor in human life today.Beginning with the first signs of religion among ancient humans and concluding with a look at modern citizens and global trends, leading scholar Thomas Tweed examines this powerful and enduring force in human society. Tweed deftly documents religion as it exists around the world, addressing its role in both intensifying and alleviating contemporary political and environmental problems, from armed conflict to climate change. Religion: A Very Short Introduction offers a concise non-partisan overview of religion''s long history and its complicated role in the world today.Trade Review...illuminating... * John Pridmore, The Way *...Tweed's book is strong on historizing and contextualizing religion... * Michael Stausberg, Religion *Table of ContentsPreface: Why Religion Matters 1. What Religion Is 2. What Religion Does 3. How Religion Is Expressed 4. How Religion Has Changed 5. Global Religion Today

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Book SynopsisNorse Mythology explores the magical myths and legends of Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland and Viking-Age Greenland--outlining along the way the prehistoric tales and beliefs from these regions that have remained embedded in the imagination of the world. The book begins with an Introduction that helps put Scandinavian mythology in place in history, followed by a chapter that explains the meaning of mythic time, and a third section that presents in-depth explanations of each mythological term. These fascinating entries identify particular deities and giants, as well as the places where they dwell and the varied and wily means by which they forge their existence and battle one another. We meet Thor, one of the most powerful gods, who specializes in killing giants using a hammer made for him by dwarfs, not to mention myriad trolls, ogres, humans and strange animals. We learn of the ongoing struggle between the gods, who create the cosmos, and the jötnar, or giants, who aim to destroy it. In the enchanted world where this mythology takes place, we encounter turbulent rivers, majestic mountains, dense forests, storms, fierce winters, eagles, ravens, salmon and snakes in a landscape closely resembling Scandinavia. Beings travel on ships and on horseback; they eat slaughtered meat and drink mead. Spanning from the inception of the universe and the birth of human beings to the universe''s destruction and the mythic future, these sparkling tales of creation and destruction, death and rebirth, gods and heroes will entertain readers and offer insight into the relationship between Scandinavian myth, history, and culture.Trade ReviewThis book has a very good and thorough dictionary of names.... Its essays on time in Norse mythology and its summary of the historical background are extremely helpful and enlightening. * Nicholas D. Humez, Montclair State University *

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Book SynopsisLife is one of our most basic concepts, yet when examined directly it proves remarkably contradictory and elusive, encompassing both the broadest and the most specific phenomena. The author clears the ground for a new philosophy of life by recovering the twists and turns in its philosophical history.Trade Review"This is a timely, significant, and original work that deepens and enlarges the terms of contemporary philosophical debate over the nature of 'life.' After Life promises to become an indispensable point of reference for future discussions of this topic." - Ray Brassier, American University of Beirut"

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Book SynopsisOriginally published in 1984, The Need for Certainty explores the different ways in which people can be religious within the conventional traditions of the main Christian denominations. Based on in-depth analysis of letters sent to John Robinson, then Bishop of Woolwich, after the publication of his book Honest to God, The Need for Certainty describes five contrasting ways of being religious and explores how, despite being mutually incompatible, they are able to coexist in the churches. In doing so, it argues that a proper grasp of this wide variation in styles of religiousness is a prerequisite for quantitative surveys of religion. Each contrasting religious style is explored in turn and illustrated with quotations from the original letters. The intense desire for religious certainty is extensively explored and presented as a debased, but common, form of religious aspiration that often leads to the degeneration of faith. The Need for Certainty is Table of ContentsPreface; 1: Varieties of Religion; 2: Exemplarism; 3: Conversionism; 4: Theism; 5: Gnosticism; 6: Traditionalism; 7: Implications and Conclusions; Notes; Appendix; Index

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Book SynopsisAs #MeToo and its sister movement #ChurchToo demonstrated, sexual violence is systemic in many and varied workplace settings, including Christian churches, and can destroy women's careers and vocational aspirations.The study draws on empirical evidence personal stories from survivors and the views of church leaders and educators in dialogue with theoretical perspectives, to consider clergy sexual abuse of adult women and the conditions that support it. Institutional abuse only changes when survivors come forward. This study focusses on New Zealand Anglicanism, the locus of the author's experience, and has resonance for a range of denominational settings. It aims to be a useful resource to clergy, ministry educators, and those training for ministry, and to academics and scholars with an interest in theology, gender, and professional ethics. Notably, it will be a potentially helpful text for women survivors of sexual misconduct by clergy, not least those who are considering aTable of Contents1. Introduction; 2. #MeTool; 3. #ChurchToo; 4. WhereTo?

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Book SynopsisWritten by the leading authority on Theravada Buddhism, this up-dated edition takes into account recent research to include the controversies over the date of the Buddha and current social and political developments in Sri Lanka. Gombrich explores the legacy of the Buddha's predecessors and the social and religious contexts against which Buddhism has developed and changed throughout history, demonstrating above all, how it has always influenced and been influenced by its social surroundings in a way which continues to this day. Table of Contents1. Introduction 2. Gotama Buddha's Problem Situation 3. The Buddha's Dhamma 4. The Sangha's Discipline 5. The Accomodation between Buddhism and Society in Ancient India 6. The Buddhist Tradition in Sri Lanka 7. Protestant Buddhism 8. Current Trends, New Problems References Index

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Book SynopsisThe crusades are often seen as epitomising a period when hostility between Christian West and the Muslim Near East reached an all time high. As this edited volume reveals, however, the era was one which saw both conflict and cohabitation.Tackling such questions as whether medicinal and architectural innovations came to Europe as a direct result of the Crusades, and why and how peace treaties and intermarriages were formed between the different cultures, this distinguished group of contributors reveal how the Holy Wars led on the one hand to a reinforcement of the beliefs and identities of each side, but on the other to a growing level of cultural exchange and interaction. This volume breaks new ground in not only exploring the conflict between the Christian and the Muslim worlds, but also the impact of this conflict on the cultural evolution of European and Near Eastern thought and practices. Utilising the latest scholarship and original studies of the sources, this survey sheds new light on the cultural realities of East-West relations and marks a new departure for studies of the crusades. Contributors include John France, Yehoshua Frenkel, Chris Wright, Natasha Hodgson, A.V. Murray, Sini Kangas, LÃan NÃ ChlÃirigh, Susan Edgington, JÃrgen KrÃger, Yvonne Friedman and Bernard Hamilton.Trade Review'The articles published here aim to explore a relatively neglected area: the cultural history of the Crusades and how they shaped European identities. All ten are lively and accessible but they are also exhaustively footnoted. They both synthesise previous work and bring new insights of their own ... So while this book will be of interest to researchers in the field, it will also be useful for teaching the crusades especially to those teachers who wish to go beyond the stereotyped ‘clash of cultures’ and explore complexity and diversity in the ways that human societies interact.' – Jonathan Harris, Reviews in History'Conor Kostick should be congratulated for gathering such a stimulating, varied yet unified collection.' - Christopher Tyerman, Hertford College, University of Oxford, UK'Kostick has produced a useful collection that shows how much and how little the Crusades impacted on all the peoples involved. The articles should be useful to anyone who needs to know that the Crusades were never an all-or-nothing proposition." - Laurence W. Marvin, Canadian Journal of History'A volume that spans subjects as diverse as warfare, propaganda, diplomacy, medicine, architecture, literature, and "national identity." Refreshingly, the volume embraces a range of perspectives - not only the Latin/Frankish one but also Byzantine, Islamic, and even Armenian... The essays themselves will certainly be useful to graduate students and scholars who are focusing on the Crusades.' - Brian A. Catlos, Religious Studies ReviewTable of ContentsIntroduction Conor Kostick 1. Warfare in the Mediterranean Region in the Age of the Crusades 1095-1291: A Clash of Contrasts John France 2. Muslim Responses to the Frankish Dominion in the Near East (1098-1291) Yehoshua Frenkel 3. The Crusades and the Byzantine Empire Chris Wright 4. Conflict and cohabitation: marriage and diplomacy between Latins and Cilician Armenians c.1097-1253 Natasha Hodgson 5. National Identity, Regional Identity and Language in the Crusades to the Holy Land, 1096-1192 A.V. Murray 6. Inimicus Dei et Sancti Christianitatis? Saracens and their Prophet in Twelfth-century Crusade Propaganda and Western Travesties of Muhammad’s Life Sini Kangas 7. Western perceptions of the Byzantine Empire in the aftermath of the First Crusade Léan Ní Chléirigh 8. Oriental and Occidental Medicine in the Crusader States Susan Edgington 9. Architecture of the crusaders in the Holy Land: the First European Colonial Architecture? Jürgen Krüger 10. Peacemaking: Perceptions and Practices in the Medieval Latin East Yvonne Friedman Afterward Bernard Hamilton

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Book SynopsisAnthropology of Religion: The Basics is an accessible and engaging introductory text organized around key issues that all anthropologists of religion face. This book uses a wide range of historical and ethnographic examples to address not only what is studied by anthropologists of religion, but how such studies are approached. It addresses questions such as: How do human agents interact with gods and spirits? What is the nature of doing religious ethnography? Can the immaterial be embodied in the body, language and material objects? What is the role of ritual, time, and place in religion? Why is charisma important for religious movements? How do global processes interact with religions? With international case studies from a range of religious traditions, suggestions for further reading, and inventive reflection boxes, Anthropology of Religion: The Basics is an essential read for students approaching the subject for the first time.Trade Review"Anthropologist Bielo uses a wide range of ethnographic examples to highlight human interactions with spirits, the embodiment of spirits in language and material objects, and the multiple roles of ritual, time, and place in religious expressions. He astutely focuses on interactions between major world religions (Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism) and local religious traditions...Chapters follow a logical progression, giving readers a sense of the anthropology of religion as a discipline. 'Reflection Boxes' invite readers to think critically and analytically about particular anthropological issues by applying conceptual models to specific case studies. The book is well indexed and ends with useful suggestions for further reading. A highly accessible and authoritative text organized around key issues anthropologists encounter in the study of religion. Summing Up: Highly recommended." - S. D. Glazier, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, CHOICE Review "What makes the text particularly helpful and interesting is Bielo's theoretical contribution...It also conveys something often lacking in academic books - a palatable passion for the subject." - Religion (review by Abby Day and Simon Coleman)"this is a short but powerful book, and one that I would recommend to anyone who is searching for an engaging introduction to the anthropology of religion" - Kate Yanina DeConinck, University of San Diego Table of ContentsChapter 1: What is "Religion"?Chapter 2: Doing Religious EthnographyChapter 3: Bodies, Words, and ThingsChapter 4: In Time, In PlaceChapter 5: Who Do You Trust?Chapter 6: Going Global

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Book SynopsisThis volume is the first comprehensive study of the Polish history of law and Christianity written in English for a global audience. It examines the lives of twenty-one central figures in Polish law with a focus on how their Christian faith was a factor in molding the evolution of law in their country and the region. The individuals selected for study exhibit wide-ranging areas of expertise, from private law and codification, through national public law and constitutional law, to international developments that left their mark on Poland and the world. The chapters discuss the jurists within their historical, intellectual, and political context. The editors selected jurists after extensive consultation with legal historians looking at the juristsâ particular merits, contributions to law in general, religious perspective, and period under consideration. The collection will appeal to scholars, lawyers, and students interested in the interplay between law and religion. Pol

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Book SynopsisWinner of the Internationl Association for Jungian Studies (IAJS) Book Award for Best Clinical Book 2024FDerived from Ruth Williamsâ more than 40-year immersion in spiritual practice, as well as her clinical experience as a Jungian analyst, this thought-provoking volume explores the nature of spiritual paths and trajectories in practical ways, incorporating personal anecdote and ground-breaking academic research and providing a window into how Jungian practitioners work with soul and spirit.Williams explores the nature of being a human using the Yiddish idea of a person being a âmenschâ, which means being a decent human being, having humanity and living ethically with integrity. The idea of âgraceâ is the thread that runs through the bookâthe mystery that binds things together and makes life meaningful, purposeful, potentially joyful and spiritually fulfilling. Williams sees âgraceâ as being that which underpins and lies behind synchronicity and divinaTrade Review"I am overjoyed to find in Exploring Spirituality from a Post-Jungian Perspective: Clinical and Personal Reflections a uniquely welcoming voice and distilled wisdom. Whatever our religious or secular background, this book invites us to celebrate being human by becoming spiritual. Williams writes with the accessibility and experiential depth to include everyone with a questing spirit, whether familiar with Jungian psychology or not. Superbly grounded in the personal, this book is a deep dive into dimensions of being often labelled religious, mystical, esoteric, paranormal, or transpersonal. It shows us how to live more fulfilled lives in this troubled twenty first century. Buy it!"Susan Rowland (PhD), Core Faculty, Pacifica Graduate Institute"This important work captures the essence of a spiritual approach to the unconscious: continually grounding experience by reality testing, watching what your Shadow is doing, and having a sense of humour. Ruth explains this with clarity, vision and, above all, warmth of heart."Dr Dale Mathers, IAAP member"Ruth Williams has a feel for what matters, and in this set of engaging reflections on what spirituality means, or might mean, in the contemporary world, she homes in on a range of challenging but vital topics: ecological responsibility, the purpose of life, destiny, the ineffable, and many more. As a psychotherapist, Williams is far from unfamiliar with the darker side of life; but she also attends to the struggles involved in facing the light. Through a deft choice of anecdotes and vignettes drawn from spiritual traditions, popular culture, and above all her own personal and professional experience, she champions the pursuit of one’s individual path. And her vivid, personable style helps to make all the addressed issues emotionally as well as intellectually accessible. Exuding courage and generosity, this book should be helpful to a wide readership."Professor Roderick Main, Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies, University of Essex"Williams brings her succinct, integrative style into her explorations of this boundless and vast topic which makes it an accessible and thought-provoking read… Williams does a masterful job of saying more with less which is particularly challenging for a topic as complex and ineffable as diverse perspectives on spirituality.”Journal of Analytical Psychology"This book skilfully weaves the personal and the clinical … facing both the light and the darkness of the shadow… The author is a sound guide through the dilemmas of life, knowing, conscience and integrity in the face of human finitude … Significantly, the final chapter is on grace, which Ruth sees as how the wise consciousness communicates with us if we have eyes to see and ears to hear – we need to be open, receptive and humble but also focused in intent and purpose. This searching book will be of particular interest to clinicians, but there is also much to glean for general readers."The Journal of the Scientific and Medical NetworkTable of ContentsIntroduction; Part One: Spiritual Perspective; 1: Overview; 2: Spiritual Attitude; 3: Gaia, Ecology and Animals; Part Two: Dilemmas; 4: How the Heart Knows; 5: Suicide; 6: Ethics and Integrity; 7: Peace, Clarity, Joy, Kindness, and a Clear Conscience; 8: What is the Goal of Life?; Part Three: Puzzles; 9: Pre-destination: Why Do Things Go Wrong? Destiny or Fate?; 10: Mantic Practices and Synchronicity: Tarot, I Ching, Astrology; Part Four: The Ineffable; 11: Soul and Spirit in Analysis; 12: Spiritualism, Ghosts, and the Paranormal; 13: Grace; Appendix 1: Transcript of Meeting with Dr Terence Palmer

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Book SynopsisWhat insights can we gain from the rituals, actions, and interactions around death and the afterlife? This edited collection offers a multidisciplinary perspective on how individuals and collectives do death and interact with the dead.Through case studies of Singaporean Chinese religion communities, the authors bring a myriad of knowledge and experience from eight different but interconnected disciplines to examine, map, document, and theorise the practices of death and the afterlife. Heritage here is not just a point of nostalgia or historical snapshot, but becomes a significant resource for the shaping of and grappling with diasporic and contemporary Singaporean Chinese identities. This edited collection moves beyond western sites of knowledge by offering a series of multidisciplinary perspectives on death practices, drawn from research with individuals, groups, and organisations that identify themselves as Singaporean Chinese, and the spaces and places often referred to as

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Book SynopsisPsalms in the Early Modern World is the first book to explore the use, interpretation, development, translation, and influence of the Psalms in the Atlantic world, 1400-1800. In the age of Reformation, when religious concerns drove political, social, cultural, economic, and scientific discourse, the Bible was the supreme document, and the Psalms were arguably its most important book.The Psalms played a central role in arbitrating the salient debates of the day, including but scarcely limited to the nature of power and the legitimacy of rule; the proper role and purpose of nations; the justification for holy war and the godliness of peace; and the relationship of individual and community to God. Contributors to the collection follow these debates around the Atlantic world, to pre- and post-Hispanic translators in Latin America, colonists in New England, mystics in Spain, the French court during the religious wars, and both Protestants and Catholics in England. Psalms in the Early Modern

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Book SynopsisReveals the rewards of exploring the relationship between art and religion in the first millennium, and the problems of comparing the visual cultures of emergent and established religions of the period in Eurasia - Buddhism, Hinduism, Zoroastrianism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and the pagan religions of the Roman world.Table of Contents1. Introduction Jaś Elsner; Part I. The Imperial Context: 2. The Gandharan problem Robert Bracey; 3. Writing the art, archaeology and religion of the Roman Mediterranean Philippa Adrych and Dominic Dalglish; 4. Mystery cult and material culture in the Graeco-Roman world Philippa Adrych and Dominic Dalglish; 5. The Viennese invention of late antiquity: between politics and religion in the forms of late Roman art Jaś Elsner; 6. The rise of Byzantine art and archaeology in late Imperial Russia Maria Lidova; 7. Ferdinand Piper's Monumentale Theologie (1867) and Schleiermacher's legacy: the attempted foundation of a Protestant theology of art Stefanie Lenk; Part II. After Imperialism: Orientalism and its Resistances; 8. The road from decadence: agendas and personal histories in the rise of early Islamic art Nadia Ali; 9. Connecting art and Zoroastrianism in Sasanian studies Rachel Wood; 10. 'Hindu' art and the primordial Śiva Robert Bracey; Part III. Post-colonialist, Old Colonialist and Nationalist Fantasies: 11. Jewish art: before and after the Jewish state (1948) Jesse Lockard and Jaś Elsner; 12. Whose history is it anyway? Contests for India's past in the twentieth century Robert Bracey; 13. Acculturated natives who rebel: revivalist, Ottomanist and Pan-Arabist engagements with early Islamic art (1876–1930s) Nadia Ali; 14. Barbarians at the British Museum: Anglo-Saxon art, race and religion Katherine Cross.

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Book SynopsisWitchcraft in Early Modern England provides a fascinating introduction to the history of witches and witchcraft in England from the sixteenth to the eighteenth century. Witchcraft was a crime punishable by death in England during this period and this book charts the witch panics and legal persecution of witches that followed, exploring topics such as elite attitudes to witchcraft in England, the role of pressures and tensions within the community in accusations of witchcraft, the way in which the legal system dealt with witchcraft cases, and the complex decline of belief in witchcraft. Revised and updated, this new edition explores the modern historiographical debate surrounding this subject and incorporates recent findings and interpretations of historians in the field, bringing it right up-to-date and in particular offering an extended treatment of the difficult issues surrounding gender and witchcraft. Supported by a range of compelling primarTable of ContentsPart One: Witchcraft in Early Modern England: 1 Introduction; 2 Elite perspectives on witchcraft: demonology, the law, and educated culture; 3 Witch-trials, witchcraft accusations, and the problem of community; 4 Witch beliefs: the broader spectrum; 5 The decline of witchcraft; Part Two: Assessment: 6 Summing up; Part Three: Documents; Bibliography; Index

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Book SynopsisThis is the first full-length exploration of the relationship between religion, film, and ideology. It shows how religion is imagined, constructed, and interpreted in film and film criticism. The films analyzed include The Last Jedi, Terminator, Cloud Atlas, Darjeeling Limited, Hellboy, The Revenant, Religulous, and The Secret of my Success. Each chapter offers: - an explanation of the particular representation of religion that appears in film - a discussion of how this representation has been interpreted in film criticism and religious studies scholarship - an in-depth study of a Hollywood or popular film to highlight the rhetorical, social, and political functions this representation accomplishes on the silver screen - a discussion about how such analysis might be applied to other films of a similar genre Written in an accessible style, and focusing on Hollywood and popular cinema, this book will be of interest to both movie lTrade ReviewRelevant for students and scholars across a range of disciplines, Representing Religion in Film not only provides analyses of compelling case studies, but it also presents the theoretical tools necessary for studying religion and popular culture more broadly. Read with a highlighter and a bag of popcorn. * K. Merinda Simmons, Professor of Religious Studies, University of Alabama, USA *This book will change the way we think about religion and film studies. * William L. Blizek, Professor Emeritus, University of Nebraska at Omaha, USA *Table of ContentsList of Contributors Forward, Tenzan Eaghll (independent scholar, USA) and Rebekka King (Middle Tennessee State University, USA) Introduction - Three Film Critics Walk into a Theatre: The Ideological Blindspot in the Academic Study of Religion and Film, Tenzan Eaghll (independent scholar, USA) 1. Atheistic Documentaries and the Critique of Religion in Bill Maher’s Religulous, Teemu Taira (University of Helsinki, Finland) 2. Capitalism, the Hero’s Journey, and the Myth of Entrepreneurship in The Secret to My Success and Joy, Dennis LoRusso (Princeton University, USA) 3. Oprah, Mindy, and Reese: The Holy Trinity of Disney’s A Wrinkle in Time, Leslie Dorrough Smith (Avila University, USA) 4. Race, Colonialism, and Whiteness in Scorsese’s Silence, Malory Nye (Aberdeen University, UK) 5. We Haven’t Located Us Yet: The Mystic East in Wes Anderson’s Darjeeling Limited, Michael J. Altman (University of Alabama, USA) 6. Lost in Žižek, Redeemed in Cloud Atlas: Buddhism and Other Tales of “Asian Religions” in Western Cinema and Affective Circulation, Ting Guo (University of Toronto, Canada) 7. Magical realism, Anti-modernity, and the Religious Imaginaries of Latin American cinema: A look through Ciro Guerra’s The Wind Journeys, Rebecca Bartel (San Diego State University, USA) 8. Unsettling Settler-Colonial Myths about Native Americans in The Revenant, Matt Sheedy (Bonn University, Germany) 9. From the Horrors of Human Tragedy and Social Reproduction to the Comfort of a Demonic Cult: Agency in the Film Hereditary, Sean McCloud (University of North Carolina-Charlotte, USA) 10. Superheroes, Apocalyptic Messiahs, and Hellboy, Aaron Ricker (McGill University, Canada) 11. AI Apocalypticism and the Religious Impulse In, and From, the Terminator Franchise, Beth Singler (University of Cambridge, UK) 12. Myth of the Auteur and the Authentic in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Richard Newton (University of Alabama, USA) Conclusion - Religion as Film: Constructing a Course as a Critique of a Dominant Paradigm, Tenzan Eaghll (independent scholar, USA) Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisExamining the stories of diverse Christians in Shanghai, this book uses the city as a model to highlight how a minority religion in a city has interacted with other religions as well as social, cultural, political, and economic changes. Susangeline Y. Patrick illustrates how the history of Shanghai Christians sheds light on why and how Christians have accommodated social and political changes, and gives valuable insights into multiculturalism, globalization, sinicization, and ecclesiology. The interreligious dialogues between Shanghai Christians and other traditions such as Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, Islam, and Judaism throughout history provide worthy reflections on the roles of Christians in a multi-religious space.Trade ReviewLike other global cities, Shanghai is a dynamic hub of Christianity. The city acts as a pair of lungs, inhaling believers from across China and around the world, then exhaling them to embark on new and surprising trajectories. Patrick outlines the significance of these movements, illuminating the strategic role that Shanghai has played in shaping World Christianity for the past four centuries. * Daryl Ireland, Research Assistant Professor of Mission, Boston University, USA *With rich knowledge of mission history and valuable insight into the social and cultural context, Dr Patrick skillfully depicts a kaleidoscope of the rises and falls of Shanghai Christians over recent centuries. This book provides a window into the living faith forged under pressure in this vibrant cosmopolitan city that invites revival and renewal of Chinese Christianity with a global vision. A must-read resource! * Rev. Xiaoli Yang, Honorary Research Associate, University of Divinity, USA and author of 'A Dialogue between Haizi’s Poetry and the Gospel of Luke' *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Shanghai and World Christianity 1. Catholic Shanghai 2. The Protestant Century and Holistic Mission 3. The Shanghai Orthodox: Russian, Armenian, and Chinese 4. Indigenous Christians and Globalization 5. The Multicultural Church and Cosmopolitan Shanghai 6. Interreligious Encounters 7. Beyond the Borders Conclusion: What Shanghai Christians Offer in World Christianity Notes Appendices Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisNow available in a revised second edition, this popular introduction to the anthropology of religion combines discussion of the origin and development of debates within the field, with a look at where the subject is heading. Introduces readers to the central theoretical ideas in the anthropology of religion and illustrates them with specific case studies. Features self-contained chapters, each with its own comprehensive bibliography, so that they can be approached in any order. Contains an additional chapter on mythology and a number of new illustrations. Incorporates coverage of the following topics in the existing structure: pilgrimage, spirit possession and cargo cults. Includes a list of ethnographic films and videos that can be used to illustrate and extend discussion of particular issues. Table of ContentsPreface to the Second Edition. Preface to the First Edition. Acknowledgments. 1 Theories and Controversies. Introduction. Issues in the Study of Religion. The Origins of Religion. Defining Religion. Conclusion. Notes. References and Further Reading. 2 The Body as Symbol. Introduction. Symbolic Classification and the Body. Training the Body and Social Control. Personal and Cultural Symbols. Conclusion. Notes. References and Further Reading. 3 Maintaining and Transforming Boundaries: the Politics of Religious Identity. Introduction. Ritual Purity and Social Boundaries. Negotiating Identities. Contesting Boundaries. Conclusion. Notes. References and Further Reading. 4 Sex, Gender, and the Sacred. Introduction. Looking at Women. Reflexivity and Gender. Gendered Studies. Conclusion. Notes. References and Further Reading. 5 Religion, Culture, and Environment. Introduction. Cosmology. Mythology, Gender, and the Environment. Totemism and the Dreamtime. Conclusion. Notes. References and Further Reading. 6 Ritual Theory, Rites of Passage, and Ritual Violence. Introduction. What is Ritual?. Rites of Passage. Ritual Violence. Conclusion. Notes. References and Further Reading. 7 Shamanism. Introduction. Different Approaches to the Study of Shamanism. Arctic Shamanism. Shamanism in the Industrialized West. Conclusion. Notes. References and Further Reading. 8 Witchcraft and the Evil Eye. Introduction. Witchcraft in Africa. Witchcraft in Rural France. The Evil Eye. The Mentalities Debate. Notes. References and Further Reading. 9 Pilgrimage. Introduction. Approaches to the Study of Pilgrimage. The Politics of Religious Synthesis. Conclusion. Notes. References and Further Reading. 10 Myth. Introduction. Myth and Ritual. Malinowski and the Function of Myth. The Power of Myth. The Structural Study of Myth. Joseph Campbell and the Monomyth. History, Myth, and Memory. Conclusion. Notes. References and Further Reading. Appendix: Film and Video Resources. Index

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Book SynopsisArchbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby sets out a radical vision for 21st century Britain in this updated paperback edition.It is now two years since Justin Welby first published his Reimagining Britain. The fundamental message of that book remains as urgent as ever. But in this revised and expanded edition, Welby has taken fully into account the impact of the pandemic and all the social and political unrest that has ensued. If anything, the new edition of Archbishop Welby''s book is even more important than its predecessor. Here is a radical vision for 21st century Britain. The thesis of this book is that the work of reimagining is as great as it was in 1945, and will happen either by accident and thus badly or deliberately. He explores the areas in which values are translated into action, including the traditional three of recent history: health (especially public, and mental), housing and education. To these he adds family; the environment; economicTrade ReviewTimely, wise, humane, positive – just what is needed to focus the national debate on shared values and creating a better future, particularly for the half of the country left behind by ‘modernisation’ and ‘globalisation.’ -- Lord Andrew AdonisJustin Welby’s voice is powerful and distinctive. He writes with verve and insight. Reimagining Britain is a work of supreme timeliness. -- Lord Peter Hennessy of NympsfieldA brave, passionate and provocative case for community, courage and stability, not simply as concepts for debate but as foundations for practical change – for ourselves, for each other and for those we will never meet. -- Loretta Minghella, OBEWith an astonishing range of understanding and a perspective both global and granular, Justin Welby identifies values that are true to our heritage and fertile for our hope ... Archbishop Ramsey once told priests to be ‘with God with the people on your heart’; here Archbishop Welby is with God with the nation on his heart, and the result is rigour and compassion in equal measure. -- The Revd Dr Sam Wells...this call to a strong sense of national narrative, collective responsibility and a shared moral code is both powerful and timely. -- Rabbi Lord Jonathan SacksThis is a book bristling with energy and ideas. Written against a wide canvas of historical narrative and critique, it is a fast-moving appeal for the fashioning of deeper virtue, expressed in action, in the form of a shared narrative of our identity and purpose. -- Cardinal Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of WestminsterThis courageous and perceptive call to mobilise for the common good of Britain comes at a crucial time. No other leader has offered such a powerful combination of realism, depth and practical priorities. -- David F. Ford OBE, Regius Professor of Divinity, University of CambridgeBigger than politics and broader than religion – a timely and inspiring read that requires response -- Paula Vennells, Chief Executive of the Post OfficeAn important contribution to understanding how the UK can not only move forward but flourish by reimagining its narrative of hope. -- Bishop Dame Sarah Mullally, Bishop-elect of LondonThe archbishop of Canterbury’s blueprint for a revitalised nation draws on values that cross religious and secular divides … Welby’s book lifts our doleful eyes above the morass of Brexit to state some crucial truths. * Guardian *[A] beautifully written and accessible account of Britain in a post-Brexit world, which starts from a point of hope, openness and generosity of spirit as well as a belief in the power of politicians to create the conditions for a self-confident and outward-looking country. * The Tablet *This is a bold, visionary book which deserves to be widely read * Methodist Recorder *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction PART ONE: WHY AND HOW TO REIMAGINE 1 Building on Our History PART TWO: THE BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS 2 Family - Caring for the Core 3 Education - Life in All Its Fullness 4 Health - and Healing Our Brokenness 5 Housing - the Architecture of Community 6 Economics and Finance - Serving and Inspiring PART THREE: VALUES AND GLOBAL CHANGE 7 The World Around Us 8 Immigration and Integration 9 For Those As Yet Unborn - Solidarity with the Future 10 The Key Actors 11 The Churches and Other Faith Groups - Healthy Disruptors Conclusion Acknowledgements Index

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Book SynopsisInsight Dialogue is a way of bringing the tranquility and insight attained in meditation directly into your interactions with other people. It’s a practice that involves interacting with a partner in a retreat setting or on your own, as a way of accessing a profound kind of insight. Then, you take that insight on into the grind of everyday human interactions. Gregory Kramer has been teaching the practice (which he originated) for more than a decade in retreats around the world. It’s something strikingly new in the world of Buddhist practice—yet it’s completely grounded in traditional Buddhist teaching. Kramer begins with a detailed presentation of the central Buddhist teaching of the Four Noble Truths seen through an interpersonal lens. Because dukkha (suffering or unsatisfactoriness) is often most forcefully felt in our relations with others, interpersonal relationships are a wonderfully useful place to practice. He breaks the Noble Truths down into component parts to observe how they manifest particularly in relationship to others, using examples from his own life and practice, as well as from his students’. He then goes on to present the practice as it’s taught in his workshops and retreats. There are a few basic steps to the practice, deceptively simple to describe: (1) pause, (2) relax, (3) open, (4) trust emergence, (5) listen deeply, and (6) speak the truth. The sequence begins following a period of meditation, and includes periods of speaking, listening, and mutual silence. Kramer includes numerous examples of people’s experience with the practice from his retreats, and shows how the insight gained from the techniques can be brought into real life. More than just testimonials for how well the practice “works,” the personal stories demonstrate the problems that arise, the different routes the practice can follow, and the sometimes surprising insights that are gained. To learn more about the author, Gregory Kramer, go to www.metta.org.

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Book SynopsisLearn about the religions of the world - in minutes. What are the differences between Sunni and Shi'a, Catholic and Protestant, Buddhism and Confucianism? Who were Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, and what did they really preach? Why are the concepts of karma, jihad and nirvana so important? And what do the religions of the world say about life, death and how we should act? Answering these and many other critical questions, this book explains the histories, key texts, prophets and essential teachings of the ancient and modern religions and their offshoots, including: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Greek, Roman and Norse mythologies, indigenous traditional religions, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, Daoism, Confucianism, Shinto, Catholicism, Protestantism, Anglicanism, Baptists, Methodists, Puritans, Mormons, Sufism, Hasidism, Scientology, Baha'I, New pagans and many more, as well as considering their common themes and the future of religion.Clear, concise and with 200 iconic images, Religion in Minutes is the fastest, fullest way to understand the beliefs that shape the world around us.

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Book SynopsisThis volume consists of nineteen previously-published articles written by leading international scholars on various aspects of law and religion. The volume looks at law and religion in the context of political power, covering different religions including Christianity, Islam and Judaism. It examines through a diversity of perspectives the law in religion and religion in law, enabling readers to gain multi-disciplinary insights into pressing contemporary issues.Trade Review'In addition to the insights provided by the individual chapters, the collection as a whole has much to offer...' Ecclesiastical Law Journal '...a diverse, intelligent and instructive collection...merits inclusion in any scholarly library.' Law and Politics Book ReviewTable of ContentsContents: Series preface; Introduction; Part I Religions as Sources of Human Rights: The morality of human rights: a nonreligious ground?, Michael J. Perry; The metaphorical reciprocity between theology and law, Paul Lehmann; From the trial of Adam and Eve to the judgements of Solomon and Daniel, Daniel Friedmann; Christian natural law: the spirit and method of, Giovanni Ambrosetti; Religious foundations of law in the West: an historical perspective, Harold J. Berman; Law and religion in contemporary Islam, Noel J. Coulson; Characteristic features of Islamic law: perceptions and misconceptions, Mahdi Zahraa. Part II Religions as Traditions of Law: Obligation: a Jewish jurisprudence of the social order, Robert M. Cover; The Chinese conceptions of law: Confucian, legalist and Buddhist, Luke T. Lee and Whalen W. Lai; Hindu conceptions of law, Ludo Rocher; A conversation with Tibetans? Reconsidering the relationship between religious beliefs and secular legal discourse, Rebecca R. French; Consensus and suspicion: judicial reasoning and social change in an Indonesian society 1960-1994, John R. Bowen; Cultured technology: the internet and religious fundamentalism, Karine Barzilai-Nahon and Gad Barzilai. Part III Religions and Human Rights: Conflicts: Female circumcision: religious practice v. human rights violation, Jessica A. Platt; Behind the veil: women's rights in Islamic societies, Nayer Honarvar; Rights, religion and community: approaches to violence against women in the context of globalization, Sally Engel Merry; Nomos and narrative, Robert M. Cover; Disorderly differences: recognition, accommodation, and American law, Austin Sarat and Roger Berkowitz; Are human rights universal?, Shashi Tharoor; Name index.

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