Religion Books

Book SynopsisTrade Review"Understanding Religion is a lucid, creatively structured, and nearly jargon-free introduction to theories and methods for studying religious communities and traditions in diverse societies, bold in scope, and presented in a manner that is undergraduate-friendly, yet sophisticated enough for use in a graduate-level course." * Journal of Interreligious Studies *"Explores themes one might expect in a textbook as well as ones welcomely added, emphasizing a 'deeply political' approach that continually draws the reader’s attention back to whose voice gets expressed in scholarship, and whose does not." * Religious Studies Review *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations List of Boxes Acknowledgments and Dedications Introduction PART I. WHAT IS RELIGION AND HOW TO APPROACH IT? 1. Religion: Language, Law, and Legacies Case Study 1A: Falun Gong: Religion or Self-Cultivation Practice? Case Study 1B: Christians and Ancestor Veneration: Religion or Culture? 2. Method: Insider-Outsider Debates, Phenomenology, and Reflexivity Case Study 2A: Living between Religious Worlds: Conversion and Reconversion Case Study 2B: Hindu and Christian? Multiple Religious Identities 3. Life: Lived Religion, Syncretism, and Hybridity Case Study 3A: Mexican American Catholicism and Our Lady of Guadalupe Case Study 3B: Thai Buddhism as Lived Religion and Syncretic Practice PART II. THEORIES, METHODOLOGIES, AND CRITICAL DEBATES 4. History: Historical Methodology and the Invention of Tradition Case Study 4A: The Historical Jesus and the Christ of Faith Case Study 4B: Laozi, the Daodejing, and the Origins of Daoism 5. Power: Social Constructionism, Habitus, and Authority Case Study 5A: Mosques, Minarets, and Power Case Study 5B: Individual (New Age/Alternative) Spirituality as Modernity's Ideology 6. Identity: Social Identity Theory, In-Groups, Out-Groups, and Conflict Case Study 6A: Shiv Sena, Hindu Nationalism, and Identity Politics Case Study 6B: Race, Religion, and the American White Evangelical 7. Colonialism: Postcolonialism, Orientalism, and Decolonization Case Study 7A: Beyond "Inventing" Hinduism Case Study 7B: Magic, Superstition, and Religion in Southeast Asia and Africa 8. Brains: The Cognitive Science of Religion and Beyond Case Study 8A: Religion, Non-Religion, and Atheism Case Study 8B: Ancestors, Jesus, and Prosocial Behavior in Fiji 9. Bodies: Material Religion, Embodiment, and Materiality Case Study 9A: Weeping Gods and Drinking Statues Case Study 9B: Embodied Practice at a Christian Shrine 10. Gender: Feminism, Sexuality, and Religion Case Study 10A: Priests, Paul, and Rewriting Texts Case Study 10B: Buddhist Feminisms and Nuns 11. Comparison: Comparative and Contrastive Methodologies Case Study 11A: Comparing Hinduism and Judaism Case Study 11B: A Comparison of Zen Buddhist and Protestant Christian Sitting Practices 12. Ritual: Ritualization, Myth, and Performance Case Study 12A: The Zen Tea Ceremony and Protestant Eucharist as Performance and Ritual Case Study 12B: Buddhist Ordination Rites PART III. RELIGIOUS DIVERSITY AND SOCIETY 13. Diversity: Religious Borders, Identities, and Discourses Case Study 13A: The Memory of Al-Andalusia Case Study 13B: Dominus Iesus and Catholic Christianity in Asia 14. Dialogue: Interreligious Discourse and Critique Case Study 14A: Christian and Muslim Women Reading Scriptures Case Study 14B: Buddhist-Christian Dialogue: History and Discourse 15. Violence: Fundamentalism, Extremism, and Radicalization Case Study 15A: The Invention of Islamic Terrorism Case Study 15B: Buddhism and Violence 16. Secularism: Secularization, Human Rights, and Religion Case Study 16A: Laïcité and the Burkini Ban Case Study 16B: Singapore's Common Space 17. Geography: Place, the Lived Environment, and Environmentalism Case Study 17A: Trees as Monks? Case Study 17B: Protestant Christian Understandings of the "Holy Land" 18. Politics: Governance, the Colonial Wound, and the Sacred Case Study 18A: Ethnicity and Religion: The Singaporean Malay-Muslim Identity Case Study 18B: Saluting the Flag: The Case of Jehovah's Witnesses in the United States Glossary Who's Who Notes Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisIs the Bible, the most influential book in world history, still relevant? Why do people dismiss it as being irrelevant, irrational, immoral, or all of these things? This explanation of the Book of Deuteronomy, the fifth book of the Bible, will demonstrate how it remains profoundly relevant—both to the great issues of our day and to each individual life. Do you doubt the existence of God because you think believing in God is irrational? This book will cause you to reexamine your doubts. The title of this commentary is The Rational Bible because its approach is entirely reason-based. The reader is never asked to accept anything on faith alone. In Dennis Prager’s words, “If something I write is not rational, I have not done my job.” The Rational Bible is the fruit of Prager’s forty years of teaching to people of every faith and no faith at all. On virtually every page, you will discover how the text relates to the contemporary world in general and to you on a personal level. His goal: to change your mind—and, as a result, to change your life.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Act of Consecration of Man is the communion service of The Christian Community. In this fascinating book, experienced priest Tom Ravetz weaves together contemplations inspired by Rudolf Steiner with insightful commentary on the meaning and purpose of the ritual itself.The book will be valuable for both new worshipers and people who have been taking part in the communion service for many years.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review“Steven Ozment’s Age of Reform remains provocative, magisterial, and incisive; the indispensable guide to the complex web of deep continuities and radical changes in the religious and intellectual history of medieval and Reformation Europe.”—Christopher Boyd Brown, General Editor of the American Edition of Luther’s Works“This new edition of Steven Ozment's work is crucial and timely. His expansive vision of the Reformation challenges us to reconsider how seismic changes in the sixteenth century influenced the development of religion in the West.”—Bruce Gordon, Yale University"The Age of Reform remains the go-to textbook for a masterful account of the religious and intellectual histories of Reformation Europe framed within their medieval context. Its penetrating insights, alongside its eloquence and clarity, make it an enduring treasure."—G. Sujin Pak, Duke Divinity School“Few historians have had the capacity to reach so large an audience with a study of such subtlety and originality. Steven Ozment brought to his work a restless search for truth and has given generations of students a window into a world undergoing a profound intellectual transformation.”—Andrew Pettegree, University of St. Andrews

Read more less

Book SynopsisAphrodite is an often misunderstood goddess, one who is easy to relegate to the love goddess role, but she is a goddess who also shows up as an initiator and, some might say, troublemaker. In this book, we seek to explore the complexity of a goddess who was born on sea foam and who inspires beauty and love, all the while offering a hand toward each one of us to celebrate our full hearts.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn The Story of Christianity, acclaimed theologian David Bentley Hart provides a sweeping and informative portrait of a faith that has shaped the western world and beyond for over 2,000 years. From the persecutions of the early church to the papal-imperial conflicts of the Middle Ages, from the religious wars of 16th- and 17th-century Europe to the challenges of science and secularism in the modern era, and from the ancient Christian communities of Africa and Asia to the 'house churches' of contemporary China, The Story of Christianity triumphantly captures the complexity and diversity of Christian history.Trade Review'A theologian of exceptional quality - but also a brilliant stylist' Dr Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury. * Dr Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury *Table of ContentsIntroduction. The Abiding Glory: The People of Israel. Jesus Christ, Born of the Jews. The Death of the Messiah. The Easter Proclamation. The Church of the Apostles. The Growth of the Early Church. The Age of the Martyrs. The Gnostics. Alexandria in the Early Christian Centuries. Constantine the Great and the Birth of Christendom. Cities of the Desert: The Rise of Monasticism. Christianity in Armenia and India. Ancient Splendour: Christianity in Ethiopia. One God in Three Persons: The Earliest Church Councils. The Age of the Fathers. The Fall of Rome and the Rise of a New Western Christendom. Western Monasticism and the Preservation of Western Learning. Christendom. The Formation of Orthodox Christology. The Last Epoch of the United Christian Empire. The 'Church of the East': The Nestorian Missions. A New Power in the World: The Rise of Islam. Charlemagne. The Face of God: The Iconoclast Controversy. Franks and Byzantines: The Widening Gulf. The Conversion of the Slavs. The Great Schism. The Early Crusades. Byzantine Zenith and Nadir. The Holy Roman Empire in the Middle Ages. The High Middle Ages. Reason and Superstition: Medieval Contradictions. The Oriental Churches in the Later Middle Ages. Byzantine Twilight. The Last Caesar. Renaissance Christian Thought. Spain and its Inquisition. The Reformation Begins. The Growth of the Reformation. The Anabaptists and the Catholic Reformation. Schism and War: Early Modern Europe. Colonies and Missions. The Church and the Scientists. Deism, Enlightenment and Revolution. Eastern Orthodoxy in the Early Modern Period. The 19th Century: A Time of Radical Doubt. The 19th Century: A Time of Fervent Faith. The 20th Century in America. The Most Violent Century in History. The 20th to the 21st Century: The Rise of a New Christendom. Glossary. Further References. Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisHow to start and grow contextual churches using the Fresh Expressions approach. What form of church does your context need?Trade Review“Mike Moynagh’s life time work has been to assess the way the world is evolving and also the church as a witnessing community. He shows how they can join up in practice in this book which is peppered with stories. His characteristic skill is to pull together many strands, to distil wisdom from them and add that Moynagh dash of interpretative flavour. In a post Christendom age, he shows how it is possible to put the church back in the public sphere through holistic service and Christ centred witness. He longs to earth theory in practice and this book does just what the title says.” -- Canon Dr George Lings, Church Army“This book wonderfully combines a depth of insight with a simplicity of practice which makes it a must read for anyone wanting to start a witnessing community.” -- Dave Male, Ridley Hall, Cambridge“The combination of his knowledge and enthusiasm will encourage and inspire you to think afresh about how you can become a mission-shaped pioneer.” -- Canon Phil Potter, Pioneer Ministry“Being Church Doing Life offers both the whys and hows of developing 'witnessing communities', with many encouraging stories of people like you and me seeing gospel transformation as they step out on God's great adventure.” -- Gareth Robinson, church planter and worship leader“We're called to go and tell, but too often the church becomes complacent, failing to see the mission outside itself. In Being Church, Doing Life, Michael Moynagh provokes us to search outside of the church walls, seizing opportunities for Christian witness. It will challenge your thinking and push you toward mission.” -- Ed Stetzer, President, Lifeway Research"This is a book for CAN DO people. Grounded in practical experience, this is a must-read for all who are passionate about seeing the church alive in the everyday." -- Francis Brienen, Deputy General Secretary designate - Mission for the United Reformed Church“Mission today has to be incarnational. The church has to be where people are, not just where they live. Mike Moynagh's insightful book extends our understanding of fresh expressions of church and puts the possibility of involvement within the reach of many Christians in their everyday lives.” -- Bishop Graham Cray“Michael Moynagh shows how small witnessing communities, lovingly serving their neighbours, can offer a tantalizing `taste of church’ and intentionally plant signposts to Jesus. Read Being Church for renewed vision!” -- Grace Sears, Past President of The Order of the Daughters of the King"This book is full of ideas to stir your imagination. Michael's wide knowledge of creative ideas for mission and evangelism helps the ordinary Christian to see their situation through new eyes." -- Dr Martin Robinson, Together in Mission“In his new work Being Church, Doing Life, Dr Moynagh lays out a thought-provoking and compelling argument as to how the church can expand its reach in an increasingly post-Christian society. Doing life in witnessing communities is what takes Jesus out of the sacred buildings and propels us into the real world the way that God intends. If the church desires to be a relevant force in today's world, we must learn to live on mission in community as disciples who make disciples. Loaded with practical stories and ideas, this book is a true gift to the church today.” -- Rob Peabody, Awaken“Simple, practical, encouraging and full of examples. Mike enthuses about the possibilities of witnessing in daily life such that it is hard to resist having a go.” -- Jonny Baker, Church Mission Society“This both sets a real challenge, and provides ample inspiration and encouragement to the Church. A tremendously encouraging read.” -- Lesley Hamilton-Messer, Team Leader, Church Without Walls“Fresh expressions of church are beginning and multiplying at an extraordinary rate. Michael Moynagh's very practical book, Being Church, Doing Life is full of stories and lessons from this increasingly influential movement. This is a must read for those any of us that are serious about living out the Jesus Mission in everyday life.” -- Dave Ferguson, Lead Pastor, Community Christian Church, Chicago“Once again Mike Moynagh provides the kind of inspirational stories, practical insights and sound thinking that equip and encourage Christians to live out winsome and whole lives in the twenty-first century. Excellent stuff!” -- Martyn Atkins, Chair of Fresh Expressions and General Secretary, Methodist Church of Britain“Explains simply how every Christian can be involved in effective mission. Let’s read it together, apply it together, and see new dimensions of the life of Jesus transforming our networks and neighbourhoods with the yeast of the Kingdom!” -- Bob and Mary Hopkins“If you want to tear down the disconnect between church and life, if you want to find exciting and do-able ways to add kingdom value to your passion and if you want to witness to Jesus with other Christians rather than on your own, I warmly commend Being Church, Doing Life.” -- Alan Hirsch, in his forewordTable of ContentsContentsAcknowledgments 11Foreword 13Introduction – Wanting to make a difference 17Part 1 – Why communities in life? 251. Communities in life 262. Seven reasons why 543. Ideas to stir the imagination 87Part 2 – Tools for developing witnessing communities 1174. One secret you should know 1185. Getting started 1506. Making disciples 1807. Multiplying disciples 211Part 3 – Tools for the wider church 2378. How can my church get involved? 2389. What should my denomination or network do? 27310. The keys to success 307Appendix: How to evaluate progress 319Bibliography 345Index 349

Read more less

Book SynopsisThese themed, brief prayers draw men to the feet of Jesus where wisdom, direction, and guidance are offered. The format is ideal for businessmen, travelers, and men ready to develop the discipline of prayer.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisExposing the religious roots of our ostensibly godless age, this study reveals that modernity is much less secular than conventional wisdom suggests. Beginning with the collapse of the medieval world, it argues that from the very beginning, moderns sought not to eliminate religion but to support a new view of religion and its place in human life.Trade Review"Bringing the history of political thought up to date and situating it against the backdrop of contemporary events, Gillespie's analyses provide us a way to begin to have conversations with the Islamic world about what is perhaps the central question within each of the three monotheistic religions: if God is omnipotent, then what is the place of human freedom?" - Joshua Mitchell, Georgetown University "This book is an excellent complement to Charles Taylor's A Secular Age and a powerful counterpoint to Mark Lilla's The Stillborn God. All three hold that the story of modern philosophy is both superficial and hollow if its theological/metaphysical components are denied. Highly recommended." - Choice"

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe essential companion to the phenomenal bestseller THE POWER OF NOWTrade ReviewThe POWER OF NOW can transform your thinking. The result? More joy, right now. -- Oprah WinfreyThe POWER OF NOW can transform your thinking. The result? More joy, right now. -- Oprah WinfreyThe must-read bible du jour. * Red magazine *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"A truly important and courageous book that will help many people to understand their soul's journey, to heal grief, and to let go of fear." -- -- Brian L. Weiss, M.D., author of Many Lives, Many Masters

Read more less

Book SynopsisCicero's philosophical works are now exciting renewed interest, in part because he provides vital evidence of the views of the (largely lost) Greek philosophers of the Hellenistic age, and partly because of the light he casts on the intellectual life of first century Rome. This edition uses the 1997 Clarendon text by the acclaimed translator P.G. Walsh.Trade ReviewThe translation is both lively and accurate; the introduction is judicious and informative. The notes are especially strong on the identification of the many historical references in the work. * Phronesis *

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"A tour-de-force survey of the changing relation of culture and religion."—Publishers Weekly"Eagleton produces an account of the continuing power of religion that is rich and compelling. Open this book at random, and you will find on a single page more thought-stirring argument than can be gleaned from a dozen ponderous treatises on philosophy of sociology. Most of the critical turning points in modern thought are examined illuminatingly."—John Gray, New Statesman"Wide-ranging and intellectually impassioned."—Sarah Bakewell, Financial Times"His latest book confirms him as one of the most interesting thinkers on culture and religion that we have, and the good news is that what he says about our contemporary situation is true, important and accessible . . . That Eagleton . . . ought to be taken seriously by serious people is beyond doubt."—John McDade, The Tablet"Getting rid of God has been a long slog, Eagleton’s concise, absorbing overview of the philosophical and cultural trends of the past three centuries explains."—Marcus Tanner, The Independent"Terry Eagleton brings all his forensic insights and acerbic wit, to the search for a replacement for God in critical thinking since the Enlightenment . . . Eagleton’s thoughts – 'one can kill for all sorts of motives, but killing on a spectacular scale is almost always the consequence of ideas' – are a joy to ponder. That and his depth of knowledge make for fascinating reading."—Scarlett MacGwire, Tribune Magazine"If Terry Eagleton didn't exist, it would be necessary to invent him."—Simon Critchley, author of The Book of Dead Philosophers"The central virtue of Eagleton's reliably witty and erudite story of culture and politics in Western thought is the insistence on how difficult, and how rare, genuine atheism is. No one interested in the seemingly endless 'God debate' can ignore this book, which briskly surveys more than three centuries of intellectual discourse about democracy and the divine, and then ends with a well-turned, provocative snarl."—Mark Kingwell, author of Unruly Voices: Essays on Democracy, Civility and the Human Imagination

Read more less

Book SynopsisContains The Cloud of Unknowing, The Mystical Theology of Saint Denis, The Book of Privy Counselling, and An Epistle on Prayer. Against a tradition of devotional writings which focussed on knowing God through Christ''s Passion and his humanity, these texts describe a transcendent God who exists beyond human knowledge and human language. These four texts are at the heart of medival mystical theology in their call for contemplation, calm, and above all, love, as the way to understand the Divine.Table of ContentsThe Cloud of Unknowing " cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5" border="0"AcknowledgmentsIntroductionFurther ReadingNote on the TextThe Mystical Theology of St. DenisThe Cloud of UnknowingThe Book of Privy CounsellingAn Epistle on PrayerNotesAppendix: Middle English text of The Mystical Theology of St. Denis, chapter 2

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Path of Worshippers to the Paradise of the Lord of the Universe is an authoritative book and a guideline on practical Sufism (''irfan-i ''amali). It is also a mirror to the soul of its author. In this book Ghazzali speaks not only as a scholar but also as a master and sincerely shares his spiritual experiences with his readers in a simple language and an intimate tone. These qualities of the book penetrate into the depth of the heart of the reader. The importance of the book lies in the fact that its author was the most prominent theologian and jurist of his time and its teachings are as valid today as they were when the author wrote the book just before his death in 505/1111.Trade ReviewTo translate a Sufi text well into English, or for that matter into any other language, requires not only mastery of the languages involved and familiarity with Sufi teachings, but also spiritual affinity and intimacy with the reality of Sufism if something of the spiritual perfume of the original text is to be present in the translation. Fortunately, the translator of the present book combines all these qualities within himself. Not only does Mohammad Faghfoory possess mastery of Arabic and Persian and of course English, but he was brought up in a Sufi family and is himself immersed in the life of Sufism and engaged in its practices. Moreover, he has had experience in the translation of Sufi writings and has already produced English translations of other important Sufi works. The result of the conjunction of these diverse qualities in him has enabled him to produce a fine translation which is an important addition to the corpus of Sufi literature in English. -- Seyyed Hossein Nasr, University Professor of Islamic Studies, George Washington University * From The Foreword *Table of ContentsTable of Transliteration Foreword by Seyyed Hossein Nasr Translator's Introduction Introductory Remarks I. On the Valley of Knowledge (ilm) II. On the Valley of Repentance (tawbah) III. On the Valley of Obstacles (awaiq) IV. On the Valley of Accidents (awarid) V. The Valley of Inducements (bawaith) VI. On the Valley of Factors That Impair and Ruin Worship (qawadih) VII. On the Valley of Praise (hamd) and Gratitude (shukr) Index of Quranic Verses Index of Ahadith General Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis explanation of classic theory features many relevant essays on persons, ideas, and applications. Not only is the text organized according to introductory courses, but it is also a reference tool of enduring value. Now available in paper.Table of ContentsList of FiguresList of TablesPreface fo the First EditionPreface to the Second Edition1. Introduction to Psychology2. The Biological Basis of Behavior3. Sensation and Perception4. Emotions5. Motivation6. Learning7. Memory, Cognition, and Self-Esteem8. Intelligence9. Social Psychology10. Child Development11. Adolescent and Adult Development12. Personality13. The Psychology of Religion14. Abnormal Psychology15. Psychotherapy and Personal Counseling16. Group and Family CounselingAfterwordAppendix: Self-Change ProjectsGlossary Index of NamesIndex of Subjects

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis intimate and honest book addresses the root causes of purity issues. Many who have given in to the power of peer pressure and the lure of distorted cultural values will find hope and courage to start over again.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'A very important book' Paulo Coehlo'The Seat of the Soul changed the way I see myself.Trade ReviewA very important book -- Paulo Coelho, author of The AlchemistThe Seat of the Soul changed the way I see myself. It changed the way I view the world -- Oprah WinfreyA remarkable treatment of thought, evolution, and reincarnation * Library Journal *Filled with wisdom, and written in a beautifully simple, almost poetic style, The Seat of the Soul is a book to be savored * Brian Weiss, Chairman of Psychiatry, Mt. Sinai Medical Center, Miami, and author of Many Lives, Many Masters *A readable, thought-provoking [work] on how our perceptions must change dramatically if we are to survive * Library Journal *

Read more less

Book SynopsisMaximos the Confessor is one of the most challenging and original Christian thinkers of all time. The Ambigua is his greatest philosophical and doctrinal work, in which daring originality, prodigious talent for speculative thinking, and analytical acumen are on lavish display. The result is a labyrinthine map of the mind’s journey to God.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisDavid Sempill is being torn apart. Young and idealistic, his loyalty to his King conflicts with his Covenanting sympathies, which are, in turn, tested by the brutality he witnesses towards Montrose's beaten army. When black magic is uncovered in the ancient Witch Wood, as a man of God he must fight it, but his love for the beautiful, pagan Katrine and the religious extremism of the time puts him at the centre of a deadly spiral. Buchan's favourite novel - and an inspiration for the young C.S. Lewis - is a terrifying portrait of a cruel and intolerant age. With an introduction by Allan Massie. This edition is authorised by the John Buchan Society.Trade Review'One of Scotland's most enduringly popular writers' * The Scotsman *'Buchan knew that you can't buck the consequences of your actions, and that your life is what you make of it. Perhaps his peculiarly Scottish combination of Romanticism and Calvinism - daring living and high thinking - is due to return to fashion' * The Independent Magazine *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Vocabulary Guide to Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic by Gary D. Pratico and Miles V. Van Pelt is intended to accompany Basics of Biblical Hebrew Grammar for the beginning student and is an essential resource companion to aid in vocabulary memorization and acquisition.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTrade Review"The Republic Unsettled is thick, sophisticated thinking, which should unsettle the comfortable certainties of French and American secularism and monoculturalism. . . . Anthropologists like Fernando comprehend the situation most fully, and we owe it to our fellow citizens and our own societies to get the message out as widely and loudly as possible." -- Jack David Eller * Anthropology Review Database *"The Republic Unsettled is invaluable not only for anthropologists and ethnographers but also for scholars wanting to deepen their understanding of how contemporary secularism functions as a theory of politics and society, including through its contradictions, tensions, inconsistencies, anxieties, and instabilities." -- Roshan A. Jahangeer * ReOrient *“By taking the debate away from the well-worn lines of whether or not ‘Muslims’ can be or are ‘integrated’ (in other words, whether or not Muslims are an unsettling presence or not in the republic), and by instead underlining how the republic itself is inherently ‘unsettled’, this book will no doubt rile many French secular republicans and become a key point of reference in future studies of the French Republic, laı¨cite´, and ‘non-normative’ identities.” -- Natalya Vince * French Studies *“The Republic Unsettled is a crucial and stimulating read for any scholar thinking about secularism and secularity, difference politics, contemporary France and Europe, and/or Western liberalism(s) and liberal (in)tolerance. The book (and especially its vivid, emotional, and purposeful introduction) can easily find resonance across a variety of social science, religion, and history disciplines.” -- Carol Ferrara * Journal of Church and State *“That her book ends with a legitimate comparison between William Connolly's notions of critical responsiveness and agonistic respect and the way in which her Muslim French interlocutors think shows that the history of colonization, immigration and the creation of diasporas does not have to lead to a conflict of civilizations or economically reductive globalization but can produce rich and complex hybrids or mouvements aberrants that can genuinely contribute to human progress. What The Republic Unsettled manages to convey is that those who seem marginal to the present could be central to a better future, and that is indeed a very remarkable achievement.” -- Nardina Kaur * Radical Philosophy *“The Republic Unsettled is a dense, but extremely well written book that exposes and 'unsettles,' as the title indicates, secular republicanism by laying bare its numerous inconsistences and paradoxes. … In the aftermath of the Charlie Hebdo shootings, which has issued in an uncritically and self-gratulatory reinvigoration of secular republicanism in France, accompanied by a dramatic increase in anti-Muslim violence, Mayanthi Fernando’s book is more timely and urgent than ever.” -- Jeanette S. Jouili * Journal of the Society for Contemporary Thought and the Islamicate World *"Because Fernando makes a lucid argument based on extended ethnography and sophisticated reading in political theory, The Republic Unsettled will surely be read widely by all those engaged in thinking about the politics of diversity in Europe." -- John R. Bowen * American Ethnologist *"I offer the highest praise for The Republic Unsettled: it is a beautifully written book that readers will be eager to continue discussing long after they finish it." -- Jennifer Fredette * Anthropos *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments vii Introduction 1 Field Notes I: "Vive la Republique Plurielle" 29 1. "The Republic Is Mine" 33 2. Indifference, or the Right to Citizenship 69 Field Notes II: Friday Prayers 101 3. "A Memorial to the Future" 105 4. Reconfiguring Freedom 145 Field Notes III: A Tale of Two Manifestos 181 5. Of Mimicry and Woman 185 6. Asymmetries of Tolerance 221 Epilogue 261 Notes 267 References 285 Index 305

Read more less

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.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAccessible and practical teachings on the life of Naropa, with verse-by-verse commentary on his two most important Mahamudra songs by a contemporary Karma Kagyu master.Naropa is one of the accomplished lineage holders of the Mahamudra tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. In this book, Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, a beloved Mahamudra teacher, first tells the extraordinary story of Naropa?s life and explains its profound lessons. He follows this with lucid and practical commentaries on two of Naropa?s songs of realization, explaining their precious instructions for realizing Mahamudra, the nature of one?s mind. Throughout, Thrangu Rinpoche speaks plainly and directly to Westerners eager to receive the essence of Mahamudra instructions from an accomplished teacher.

Read more less

Book SynopsisNow a Netflix original series! Unorthodox is the bestselling memoir of a young Jewish woman’s escape from a religious sect, in the tradition of Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s Infidel and Carolyn Jessop’s Escape, featuring a new epilogue by the author.As a member of the strictly religious Satmar sect of Hasidic Judaism, Deborah Feldman grew up under a code of relentlessly enforced customs governing everything from what she could wear and to whom she could speak to what she was allowed to read. Yet in spite of her repressive upbringing, Deborah grew into an independent-minded young woman whose stolen moments reading about the empowered literary characters of Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott helped her to imagine an alternative way of life among the skyscrapers of Manhattan. Trapped as a teenager in a sexually and emotionally dysfunctional marriage to a man she barely knew, the tension between Deborah’s desires and her responsibilities as a good Satmar girl grew more explosive until she gave birth at nineteen and realized that, regardless of the obstacles, she would have to forge a path—for herself and her son—to happiness and freedom. Remarkable and fascinating, this “sensitive and memorable coming-of-age story” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette) is one you won’t be able to put down.Trade Review“A brave, riveting account... Unorthodox is harrowing, yet triumphant.” — Jeannette Walls, New York Times bestselling author of The Glass Castle“A sensitive and memorable coming-of-age story... Imagine Frank McCourt as a Jewish virgin, and you've got Unorthodox in a nutshell.” — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette“Compulsively readable, Unorthodox relates a unique coming-of-age story that manages to speak personally to anyone who has ever felt like an outsider in her own life.” — School Library Journal“It's one of those books you can't put down.” — Joan Rivers, in The New York Post“An unprecedented view into a Hasidic community that few outsiders ever experience.” — Minneapolis Star-Tribune“[Feldman’s] matter-of-fact style masks some penetrating insights.” — The New York Times “Eloquent, appealing, and just emotional enough... No doubt girls all over Brooklyn are buying this book, hiding it under their mattresses, reading it after lights out—and contemplating, perhaps for the first time, their own escape.” — The Huffington Post“Riveting... extraordinary.” — Marie Claire

Read more less

Book SynopsisRoused by a single drop of blood, Rosie Daniels wakes up to the chilling realisation that her husband is going to kill her. And she takes flight - with his credit card. Alone in a strange city, Rosie begins to build a new life: she meets Bill and she finds an odd junk shop painting, ''Rose Madder'', which strangely seems to want her as much as she wants it. But it''s hard for Rosie not to keep looking over her shoulder. Norman is a corrupt cop with the instincts of a predator. A man almost mythic in his monstrosity. For Rosie to survive, she must enter the myth and become a person she never knew she could be - Rose Madder.Because Norman is getting close. Rosie can feel how close he is getting . . .Trade ReviewRelentlessly paced and brilliantly orchestrated . . . one of King's most engrossing and topical * PUBLISHERS WEEKLY *A superb suspense novel * THE SUNDAY TIMES *Rousing . . . vivid and sensitive * THE NEW YORK TIMES *

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn accessible introduction to the study of logic (parts 1 & 2), as well as an in-depth treatment of the discipline (parts 3 & 4), built on a robust Christian worldview. Includes helpful charts, diagrams, and review questions.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis substantially revised and updated edition of a widely used textbook covers the major approaches to counseling and psychotherapy from a Christian perspective, with hypothetical transcripts of interventions for each major approach and the latest empirical or research findings on their effectiveness. The second edition covers therapies and techniques that are increasing in use and includes a discussion of lay counseling. The book presents a Christian approach to counseling and psychotherapy that is Christ-centered, biblically based, and Spirit-filled.Table of ContentsContentsPart 1: Basic Issues in the Practice of Counseling and Psychotherapy1. Overview of Counseling and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, and Practice2. The Person of the Counselor3. Legal and Ethical Issues in Counseling and PsychotherapyPart 2: Major Counseling and Psychotherapy Theories and Techniques4. Psychoanalytic Therapy5. Adlerian Therapy6. Jungian Therapy7. Existential Therapy8. Person-Centered Therapy9. Gestalt Therapy10. Reality Therapy11. Behavior Therapy12. Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy13. Mindfulness and Acceptance-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Therapies: DBT, MBSR, MBCT, and ACT14. Constructivist Therapies: Solution-Focused Brief Therapy and Narrative Therapy15. Integrative Therapies and Positive Psychotherapy16. Marital and Family TherapyPart 3: A Christian Approach to Counseling and Psychotherapy17. Christian Theology in Christian Counseling: A Biblical Perspective on Human Nature and Effective Counseling and Psychotherapy18. Christian Faith in Clinical Practice: Implicit and Explicit Integration19. The Holy Spirit and Christian Spirituality in Counseling and Psychotherapy20. Legal and Ethical Issues in Christian Counseling and PsychotherapyAppendix: Is Psychotherapy Effective?ReferencesIndexes

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn examination of the relationship between faith in God and the concept of ecological care within a crisis of biodiversity.For millennia plant and animal species have received little sustained attention as subjects of Christian theology and ethics in their own right. In Ask the Beasts: Darwin and the God of Love, Elizabeth A. Johnson concludes that love of the natural world is an intrinsic element of faith in God and that far from being an add-on, ecological care is at the center of moral life.Focused on the human dilemma of sin and redemptive grace, theology has considered the doctrine of creation to be mainly an overture to the main drama of human being''s relationship to God. What value does the natural world have within the framework of religious belief? The crisis of biodiversity in our day, when species are going extinct at more than 1,000 times the natural rate, renders this question acutely important.Standard perspectives need to be realigned; tTrade ReviewIn Ask the Beasts Elisabeth Johnson combines erudition and theological reflection, a pastoral passion and ethical commitment to show that Darwinian theory of evolution need not stand against a religious belief in God. Instead, she provides a theology of creation that not only integrates an understanding of evolution with a belief in the presence of God's love and grace in the world, but also encourages us to take up our common responsibility for the earth, its environment, and all its living creatures. The clarity of her exposition and her ability to bring classical theological affirmations to bear on contemporary issues makes this book an accessible and required reading on the burning issues of faith, science, and ecological well-being. -- Francis Schüssler FiorenzaElizabeth Johnson’s beautifully written book shows us, more convincingly than any other book that I have ever read, how science and religion can engage in a dialogue which is mutually illuminating. She shows how the narratives of evolution and salvation are not just parallel stories but shed light on each other. The unpredictable creativity of matter is disclosed as the sphere of the working of the ever-fresh Holy Spirit. She brings us to a new understanding of the role of pain and death, and radically deepens our understanding of a cosmic redemption. I will read the Bible with a renewed understanding and pleasure. I have rarely enjoyed a book of theology more. -- Timothy Radcliffe, O.P.This book is a call to broaden our focus, beyond the hierarchy we have perceived in Genesis, beyond the individualistic angst of human sin and redemption. It shows us that biblical revelation is bigger than this – God is bigger than this. -- Melissa Jones, Brandman University, CA * National Catholic Reporter *Johnson’s work is vivifying, encouraging not only Christian thoughtfulness but also reverence toward the ecosystem on its behalf. An overdue reconciliation of religious belief to scientific cognizance, Ask the Beasts should become the benchmark for conversations between the disciplines. -- Michelle Anne Schingler * ForeWord Reviews *With Ask the Beasts Elizabeth Johnson gives us a gift of the insights, scope of vision and impact of Darwin’s theory on the way we humans view the history of life on our planet and our responsibility to care for our home. -- Blair Tabor * Association for Mormon Letters *In constructing her “dialogue between Charles Darwin’s account of the origin of species and the Christian story of the ineffable God of mercy and love recounted in the Nicene Creed” (xv), Johnson writes so skillfully in her judicious use of a broad swathe of traditional and contemporary literature, and also so beautifully, that this book may well stand out as one of the most important to come from the early twenty-first century. -- Robert J. Daly, Boston College * Worship, V. 89 N. 2. *Like Darwin marveling at the web of life observed in the tangle of vegetation, insects, birds, and animals along a riverbank and at discovering the ‘grandeur’ of a view of life that is dynamic rather than static, Johnson’s stance is most often one of profound wonder at the complexity, beauty and mystery of creation and of its Creator. -- Scott MacDougall, Fordham UniversityLike Darwin marveling at the web of life observed in the tangle of vegetation, insects, birds, and animals along a riverbank and at discovering the “grandeur” of a view of life that is dynamic rather than static, Johnson’s stance is most often one of profound wonder at the complexity, beauty and mystery of creation and of its Creator. * Anglican Theological Review *Elizabeth Johnson’s most recent publication demonstrates not only her facility and keen insight on matters of theology, but also her knowledge of evolutionary theory as introduced by Darwin and updated by other scholars. Johnson is a clear and persuasive writer who substantiates her work with footnotes and an eleven-page select bibliography. … Ask the Beasts forwards the conversation between science and theology and is well-suited for any library, but particularly for a theological library. -- Laurie Brink, OP * Catholic Library World *Johnson makes the world sing through the pages of her book ... Ask the Beasts provides a blueprint for a new theology of Creation, in fact, a new ecological theology. Others have been working towards this for some time, but none more persuasively or more beautifully than Elizabeth Johnson. * The Tablet *This Spirit-imbued vision of creation yields the kind of strong ecological ethic demanded in our day. … Ask the Beasts presents a deeply sacramental, incarnational view of the natural world and our place in it. -- Stephen J. Pope, Boston College, USA * The Journal of Religion *What might have been a book review of Ask the Beasts: Darwin and the God of Love ... has become that and something more because of the quality of the book and the contemporary relevance of the issues with which it deals. Indeed, those issues are not only central to Christian faith and life, but also concern the threat that we humans now pose for all life on the planet ... It is the fruit of careful and detailed study, dialogue, tested judgements and conclusions across fields not commonly traversed by a theologian. It bears the mark of the deep and careful reflection of an accomplished theologian. -- Revd Professor John Painter * St Mark's Review *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Preface 1 Beasts and Entangled Bank: A Dialogue 2 "When We Look..." 3 "Endless Forms Most Beautiful" 4 Evolution of the Theroy 5 The Dwelling Place of God 6 Free, Empowered Creation 7 All Creation Groaning 8 Bearer of Great Promise 9 Enter the Humans 10 The Community of Creation Notes Selected Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisFinally, you can understand her! This updated edition of the groundbreaking classic explains how to achieve better communication with your girlfriend, fiancée, or wife?from the authors of For Women Only. More than 2 million copies sold in the series! ?Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn have unearthed a treasure chest of insights that are not only eye-opening, but life-changing.??Andy Stanley, senior pastor, North Point Community Church If you?re like most men, you?ve burned up lots of energy trying to figure out what a woman wants, what makes her tick, how to make her happy.The good news: success is simpler than you ever thought. In For Men Only, Jeff and Shaunti Feldhahn reveal the eye-opening truths and simple acts that will radically improve your relationship with the woman you love. For example:? Why she can?t ?just not think about? something that?s bothering her?How to get her real answers without games?How your provider instinct can actually cause her heartache?and what to do about it?Why listening to her feelings is so hard for a guy, and a fix-it plan that works?Why her ?I do? at the altar will always mean, ?do you?? and the answer that rocks her worldNow updated with the latest scientific research to explain the fabulous female brain plus an all-new chapter that shows how to decode her most baffling behavior, For Men Only is your roadmap to making her happy.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe amazing story behind Eritrea's Evangelical church.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Bible is filled with passages that are so baffling we tend to ignore them. Yet the passages that seem weird might be the most important. This collection of essays from Bible Study Magazine will shock you, intrigue you, and completely change the way you view the Bible. Dr. Michael S. Heiser visits some of the Bible's most obscure passages, unveiling their ancient context to help you interpret them today. Read this book, and you'll never be bored by the Bible again.Part One: Old TestamentThe Ancient's Guide to the GalaxyWalk Like an IsraeliteEven the Bible Needed UpgradingSpellchecking the BibleWhy Circumcision?The Abandoned Child and the Basket CaseA Tale of Courage We Never TeachCounting the Ten CommandmentsIs There Really a Sin Offering?There's a Devil in the DetailsLove Potion: Numbers 5Is My Bible Right?The Most Horrific Bible StoryRighting a WrongWhen Giants Walked the EarthThe Divine ArrowPromise Undelivered?Sanctified Dirt1003 BC Census: Who Authorized It-God or Satan?Cookin' the BooksSlaying the Sea MonsterDoes God Need a Co-Signer?The Witness in the CloudsWho Wrote the Book of Proverbs?Immanuel's Mother: Virgin or Not?Standing in the CouncilJeremiah: Double Vision?Why the Ark of the Covenant Will Never Be FoundHe, Him, Me, Myself, and IBizarre Visions for the Worst of TimesDo the Dead Sea Scrolls Answer the Canon Question?Part Two: New TestamentBurying HellMy Guardian AngelThe New Testament Misquotes the Old Testament?"I Saw Satan Fall like Lightning": When?The Healing SerpentWho Took Verse 4 out of My Bible?What Walking on Water Really MeansBorn Again ... and Again and Again?Dumbledore Meets Philip & PeterPaul's Lost LettersDestiny & DestinationA Female ApostleSigned, Sealed, and Delivered-to Satan?Treason & TranslationCharlton Heston Had CompanyWhen Abraham Met JesusHow Many Times Is Jesus Coming Back?What's Jesus Waiting For?God's Right-Hand Woman? Wisdom in HebrewsBaptism as Spiritual WarfareJesus Is God: Jude and Peter Tell Me SoWhen Angels Do TimeTough LoveJesus, God, a.k.a., The Name666: What Theories Add Up?Perspective Changes EverythingConstantine, Conspiracy, and the Canon

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn eminent theologian’s original and compelling study of how images of Jesus through history reveal each era’s temper and valuesTrade Review"An enlightening and often dramatic story. . . . As a succinct account of the image of Christ before faith began to falter, in the indubitably Christian centuries, it is as stimulating as it is informative."—John Gross, New York Times"Mr Pelikan, who is the Sterling Professor of History at Yale University, writes for a broad readership. What he offers us in Jesus Through the Centuries is a rich and expansive description of Jesus' impact on 'the general history of culture. . . . Jesus Through the Centuries seems to me unique among current publications in bridging scholarly and popular discourse on the prophet from Nazareth over the past 2,000 years. Believers and skeptics alike will find it a sweeping visual and conceptual panorama. Mr. Pelikan is particularly adept at discerning the political implications in various Jesus images."—John Koenig, front page, New York Times Book Review"Pelikan here draws on his commanding grasp of Christian history not to try his own hand at one more 'life' of Jesus, but to lay before us the principal images that have appeared, sometimes recurrently, from the 1st century to the 20th. Starting with 'The Rabbi' and moving with precision and balance through 18 well-crafted chapters, he uses stained glass and statuary, hymns and doggerel, creeds and exposes, to carry the reader finally to 'The Man Who Belongs to the World.' The final chapter demonstrates conclusively that if imaging Jesus ever was the monopoly of the 'Christian West,' it surely is no longer."—Harvey Cox, front page, Washington Post Book World"Celebratory study of Jesus' impact on Western art, thought and culture over the last 2,000 years."—New York Times Book Review"Writing for the general reader, eminent church historian Pelikan proposes that, while the figure of Jesus provides the chief continuity in the history of Christianity, each age has depicted him in accordance with its own character."—Library Journal"[Pelikan] offers an elegantly written and handsomely illustrated account of the changing ways in which, over the last 19 centuries, men and women have seen Jesus, and worshipped him as 'the Christ.'"—Peter Fuller, New Society"Jaroslav Pelikan is encyclopedic in learning and universal in sympathy. . . . To read this study of Jesus is to receive a humane education, and few will fail to make some new discoveries about the richly varied story of reactions to him."—J.L. Houlden, Theology"This book, from one of the foremost historians of Christian culture, is a delight to read."—ChurchmanWinner of the 1986 Logos Bookstores Award given by the Association of Logos Bookstores"Jaroslav Pelikan has one of the most seminal minds in this generation. Nowhere is this more evident than in his most recent volume, Jesus Through the Centuries. It is not a doctrinal study nor a volume on the life of Christ but, rather, an analysis of some eighteen images of Jesus as he has been perceived through the centuries, images running from the Rabbi to the man who belongs to the world. Pelikan shows the enormous influence of Jesus on human culture, illustrating this through history, literature, philosophy, and art. It is a book that could only have been written by a mature scholar, but it can be read with profit and joy by anyone interested in the place of Jesus in the formation and development of culture from the first century until today. It is highly recommended."—James I McCord, Chancellor, Center of Theological Inquiry, Princeton"Like a master jeweler working with hard but valuable material, Jaroslav Pelikan has given distinctive shape to a great subject. He has chiseled eighteen surfaces, each with a different image of Jesus Christ affecting human culture. The result is an often glittering intellectual history that illuminates important chapters of human sensibility with flashes of light and color from Eastern as well as Western Christianity. Jesus Through the Centuries invites us to go beyond narrow scholarship in our study of that historical record and to reexamine what we are in the light of what Jesus was."—James H. Billington, author of Icon and the Axe and Fire in the Minds of Men"With learned insight and readable style, Pelikan traces the cultural incarnations of Jesus through nineteen centuries. . . .He concludes that Jesus now belongs to the whole of humanity, far beyond the reach of the organized Church and ecclesial theology. And I agree."—Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., President, University of Notre Dame"Jesus Through the Centuries reflects the deep faith and spirituality of the noted historian and theologian Jaroslav Pelikan expressed with Apostolic simplicity and clarity. It expresses sound scriptural doctrine and profound cultural history of the last 2,000 years which can also serve as a blueprint for examining the images of Jesus through the study of politics, society, and economic events in history. Through its contents, the book evinces a profound understanding between tradition and innovation through each particular age marked by intellectual vigor, theological substance, humanity and warmth. Even more, Professor Pelikan emits an historical faith that is unabashedly Christocentric, straightforward and poetic, which will make the book appeal to a wide audience because of its rich humanism, and its informed use of references to writers and philosophers from St. Gregory of Nyssa to Albert Schweitzer. His book should be read by not only historians and theologians, but by all Christians who wish to seek ways of coming closer to one another through an understanding of Christ down through the ages."—His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of North and South America

Read more less

Book Synopsis''A masterpiece ... In its field it is the best book ever'' GuardianWinner of the Wolfson Prize for history, Reformation: Europe''s House Divided 1490-1700 charts a seismic shift in European culture that marked the beginning of the modern world. At a time when men and women were prepared to kill - and be killed - for their faith, the Reformation tore the western world apart. Acclaimed as the definitive account of these epochal events, Diarmaid MacCulloch''s history brilliantly re-creates the religious battles of priests, monarchs, scholars and politicians, from the zealous Martin Luther nailing his Theses to the door of a Wittenburg church to the radical Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order; from Thomas Cranmer, martyred for his reforms, to the ambitious Philip II, unwavering in his campaign against Europe''s ''heretics''. Weaving together the many strands of Reformation and Counter-Reformation, ranging widely across Europe and even to the new world, MacCulloch also reveals as never before how these upheavals affected everyday lives - overturning ideas of love, sex, death and the supernatural, and shaping the modern age. ''Magisterial and eloquent''  David Starkey ''A triumph of human sympathy''  Blair Worden, Sunday Telegraph ''From politics to witchcraft, from the liturgy to sex; the sweep of European history covered here is breathtakingly panoramic. This is a model work of history''  Noel Malcolm, Sunday Telegraph Books of the Year ''Monumental ... Reformation is set to become a landmark''  Lisa Jardine, Observer Diarmaid MacCulloch is Professor of the History of the Church at Oxford University. His Thomas Cranmer won the Whitbread Biography Prize, the James Tait Black Prize and the Duff Cooper Prize. He is also the author of A History of Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAt a time when Christianity is flourishing in the Southern hemisphere but declining in much of the West, this Very Short Introduction offers an important overview of the world''s largest religion.Exploring the cultural and institutional dimensions of Christianity, and tracing its course over two millennia, Linda Woodhead provides a fresh, lively, and candid portrait of Christianity''s past and present. Addressing topics including the competition for power between different forms of Christianity, the churches'' use of power, and its struggles with modernity, this new edition includes up to date information on the growth and geographical spread of Eastern Christianity, reflecting the global nature of Christianity in our ever-shifting contemporary culture. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewLinda Woodhead has chosen to revise her 2004 book in the Oxford 'Very Short Introduction' series and this is well worth a read. * Adrian Alker, Modern Believing *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. Jesus: the God-man ; 2. Christian signs and symbols ; 3. The spread of Christianity ; 4. Church and biblical Christianity ; 5. Mystical Christianity ; 6. Modern Christianity ; Conclusion ; Further reading ; Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn Dear Pope Francis, Pope Francis gives them that chance and celebrates their spiritual depth by directly answering questions from children around the world. A beautiful hardback book full of life and joy and colour - the perfect gift for Christenings and Confirmations and for children or adults of all ages!

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Dalai Lama is one of the most renowned and loved spiritual leaders in the world. This book is one of a series of bite-sized introductions that make his writing accessible to everybody. In The Dalai Lama''a Book of Love and Compassion, His Holiness describes how to bring love and compassion into our daily lives. He explores the fundamentals of the Buddha''s teaching, from basic advice on how to love more fully to the importance of compassion.Whoever you are, whatever you believe, this book has something for you. Simply and clearly, The Dalai Lama explains:The need to balance spiritual and material values.Compassion as the basis for human happinessTrade Review'Genuine compassion is based on a clear acceptance or recognition that others, like oneself, want happiness and have the right to overcome suffering. On that basis one develops concern about the welfare of others, irrespective of one's attitude to oneself. That is compassion.'The Dalai Lama

Read more less

Book SynopsisBuddhism or Buddhisms? By the time they move on to Buddhism in Japan, many students who have studied its origins in India ask whether this is in fact the same religion, so different can they appear. In Buddhisms: An Introduction, Professor John S. Strong provides an overview of the Buddhist tradition in all its different forms around the world. Beginning at the modern day temples of Lumbini, where the Buddha was born, Strong takes us through the life of the Buddha and a study of Buddhist Doctrine, revealing how Buddhism has changed just as it has stayed the same. Finally, Strong examines the nature of Buddhist community life and its development today in the very different environments of Thailand, Japan, and Tibet. Enriched by the author’s own insights gathered over forty years, Buddhisms never loses sight of the personal experience amidst the wide-scope of its subject. Clear in its explanations, replete with tables and suggestions for further reading, this is an essential new work that makes original contributions to the study of this 2,500 year-old religion. Trade Review‘An original contribution and approach to this 2,500 year-old religion, with its precise explanations fortified by tables and information on further reading’. * East and West Series *‘This substantial study is a near-comprehensive digest of the history of Buddhism in its multiple forms... Exemplary for its organization and writing, this work is likely to become the standard single-volume text on Buddhism for the student, whether within the walls of the academy or without.’ * Library Journal *‘Deftly selecting material from a vast tradition, Strong guides the reader through complex topics with precision, clarity, and insight... readers eager to dive into a rigorous, well-organized investigation of Buddhism's intricate 2500-year-old history will find much to reward them.’ * Publishers Weekly *‘Buddhisms: An Introduction is a Brueghalian masterpiece, which conveys the age-old religious themes in a setting of lived reality touched with hints of humour, offering intriguing perspectives on all of Buddhism’s bewildering diversity. The effect is somewhat breathtaking – so much covered so apparently effortlessly.’ -- Kate Crosby, Professor of Buddhist Studies, King’s College London‘Written with great clarity and sensitivity... this work is a welcome addition to the genre of books that survey the development of Buddhism across Asia.’ -- Stephen C. Berkwitz, Missouri State UniversityTable of ContentsPreface Schemes and Themes Technicalities Note on abbreviations Chapter 1 Introduction: Lumbinī, a Buddhist World Exposition 1.1 Theravāda and Mahāyāna 1.2 Lumbinī’s Eastern Monastic Zone: South and Southeast Asian Traditions 1.2.1 The Mahā Bodhi Society 1.2.2 The Sri Lanka Monastery 1.2.3 The Gautamī Center for Nuns 1.2.4 Myanmar (Burma) 1.2.5 Meditation Centers 1.3 Lumbinī’s Western Monastic Zone: East Asian Traditions 1.3.1 China 1.3.2 Korea 1.3.3 Japan 1.3.4 Vietnam 1.4 Lumbinī’s Western Monastic Zone: Tibetan Vajrayāna Traditions 1.4.1 The Great Lotus Stūpa 1.4.2 The Lumbinī Udyana Mahachaitya Part I: Foundations of the Triple Gem: Buddha/s, Dharma/s, and Saṃgha/s Chapter 2 Śākyamuni, Lives and Legends 2.1 The Historical Buddha 2.2 The Buddha’s World 2.3 The Buddha of Story 2.4 Past Buddhas and the Biographical Blueprint 2.5 The Start of Śākyamuni’s Career 2.6 Previous Lives (Jātakas) 2.6.1 The Donkey in the Lion’s Skin 2.6.2 Vessantara Jātaka 2.6.3 The Tigress Jātaka 2.7 A Lifestory of Śākyamuni 2.7.1 Birth and Childhood 2.7.2 Life in the Palace 2.7.3 The Beginnings of Discontent 2.7.4 The Great Departure 2.7.5 Paths Not Taken 2.7.6 Awakening 2.7.7 After Enlightenment 2.7.8 The First Sermon 2.7.9 Various Conversions and Miracles 2.7.10 Death and Parinirvāṇa Chapter 3 Overcoming the Buddha’s Absence 3.1 Seeing the Buddha in the Dharma 3.1.1 Excursus on the Buddhist Canon/s 3.2 Places of Pilgrimage 3.3 Relics 3.4 Buddha Images 3.5 The Masters of the Dharma 3.6 The Arhat Dharma-Protectors 3.7 Meeting Maitreya Chapter 4 Some Permutations of the Middle Way 4.1 The Middle Way 4.2 Karma and Saṃsāra 4.2.1 Why Do Good Deeds? 4.2.2 Contexts of Karma I: Neither Free Will nor Determinism 4.2.3 Contexts of Karma II: Both Jain and Upaniṣadic Views 4.3 The Doctrine of Non-Self (Anātman) 4.3.1 Breaking Down the False Sense of Self: the Five Aggregates and Impermanence 4.3.2 The Elements (Dharmas) 4.3.3 Countering the Breakdown of Self: Personal Continuity 4.3.4 Explications of Continuity: Pseudo-Selves and Ersatz Ātmans 4.4 Summary Chapter 5 The Four Truths 5.1 The First Truth: Stress 5.2 The Second Truth: the Continual Arising of Stress and Interdependent Origination 5.2.1 The Double Bind of Saṃsāra 5.3 The Third Truth: the Cessation of Stress – Nirvāṇa 5.4 The Fourth Truth: the Path to the Cessation of Stress 5.4.1 Moral Discipline 5.4.2 Meditation 5.4.3 Wisdom 5.5 Other Systematizations of the Path 5.5.1 The Seven Factors Conducive to Enlightenment 5.5.2 The Graduated Training 5.5.3 The Four Divine Abidings 5.5.4 The Four Fruits of the Path 5.6 Summary Chapter 6 The Establishment and Character of the Early Buddhist Community 6.1 Monastic–Lay Interactions 6.1.1 Dāna (Giving) and Other Forms of Making Merit 6.1.2 Lay Ethics 6.1.3 Magical Protection 6.1.4 Laypersons and the Monastic Rules 6.1.5 Royal Supporters 6.1.6 King Aśoka 6.2 The Monastics: Wandering and Settling 6.2.1 Monastic Lifestyles 6.2.2 Monasteries 6.3 Mahāprajāpatī and the Establishment of the Order of Nuns 6.4 Common Moral Commitments 6.5 Initiation Rituals: Wandering Forth and Ordination 6.6 Monastic Rules 6.6.1 The Elaboration of the Disciplinary Code 6.6.2 Enforcement of the Rules: Prātimokṣa Recitation and Pravāraṇa 6.7 Some Exemplary Disciples of the Buddha 6.7.1 Śāriputra and Maudgalyāyana 6.7.2 Paṭācārā 6.7.3 The Laypersons Nakulapitṛ and Nakulamātṛ 6.7.4 Viśākhā, Preeminent Laywoman 6.8 Summary Chapter 7 Visions and Divisions of the Saṃgha 7.1 Council Stories 7.1.1 The Council at Rājagṛha 7.1.2 Vinaya Disputes: the Council of Vaiśālī 7.1.3 The Councils of Pāṭaliputra 7.1.4 Other Council Traditions 7.2 The Flowering of Mainstream Factionalism 7.3 Other Divisional Issues 7.3.1 Practice vs. Study 7.3.2 Meditators and Merit Makers 7.3.3 Forest Monks and Town Monks 7.3.4 The Question of Asceticism 7.3.5 The Question of Bon-Vivant Monks 7.3.6 Sect vs. Sect 7.4 The Origins of the Mahāyāna 7.5 Proliferation of Mahāyāna Schools 7.5.1 Mahāyāna Schools in India 7.5.2 Mahāyāna Schools in China 7.5.3 Mahāyāna Schools in Japan 7.5.4 Mahāyāna Schools in Tibet 7.6 Summary Part II: Further Elaborations of the Triple Gem Chapter 8 Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna Ways of Meeting the Buddha/s 8.1 Changes in the View of the Buddha: the Lotus Sūtra and Śākyamuni’s Lifespan 8.2 Three Bodies of the Buddha/s 8.3 Meeting the Buddha/s in Their Pure Lands 8.3.1 Akṣobhya 8.3.2 Bhaiṣajyaguru 8.4 Amitābha 8.4.1 Meeting Amitābha through Visualization 8.4.2 Rebirth in the Pure Land 8.5 Meeting the Buddha in the Great Bodhisattvas 8.5.1 Avalokiteśvara 8.5.2 Other Great Bodhisattvas 8.6 Meeting the Buddha/s in the Vajrayāna 8.6.1 Maṇḍalas and the Five Tathāgatas 8.6.2 Ritual Consecration (Abhiṣeka) 8.6.3 Merging with the Buddha 8.6.4 Visions: Meeting the Buddha/s in Bardo 8.6.5 Buddha Embodiments in This World: Gurus and Tülkus 8.7 Summary Chapter 9 Māhāyana Doctrinal Developments 9.1 Emptiness: the Selflessness of Dharmas 9.2 Nāgārjuna and the Madhyamaka 9.3 The Expansion of Provisional Truth: Expedient Means (Upāya) 9.4 Tiantai Doctrines 9.5 The Ongoing Dialectic: the Yogācāra School 9.5.1 Asanga and Vasubandhu and the Development of the School 9.5.2 Yogācāra Doctrines 9.6 Avataṃsaka Doctrines 9.6.1 Applications of Interpenetration 9.7 The Buddha Womb/Embryo (Tathāgatagarbha) Teachings 9.7.1 Resurgence of the True Self 9.8 Buddha-Nature Controversies 9.8.1 Limitations to the Buddha-Nature: the Icchantika Debate 9.8.2 The End of the Dharma 9.8.3 Expansions of the Buddha-Nature Doctrine 9.9 Summary Chapter 10 The Bodhisattva Path, Tantra, and Zen 10.1 The Bodhisattva Path 10.2 Sudden and Gradual 10.2.1 Disagreements over the Nature of the Path: the Debate at Samyé 10.2.2 Disagreements over the Nature of Enlightenment 10.3 Graduated Paths 10.3.1 Compassion and Bodhicitta 10.3.2 The Stages of the Path, the Perfections, the Five Paths 10.3.3 Routinization and Ritualization 10.4 Path Shortcuts 10.5 Tantra 10.5.1 Uniting the Poles 10.5.2 Tantric Physiology 10.5.3 Mahāmūdra and Dzokchen (Rdzogs chen) 10.6 Direct Experiences: Chan/Zen 10.6.1 Kōans 10.6.2 Critical Phrases (Huatou) 10.7 Summary Chapter 11 Saṃgha Situations: Places, Persons, and Practices in Thai Buddhism/s 11.1 Buddhism in Thailand 11.2 Thai Monastic Life: Temporary Ordination 11.2.1 Life as a Novice 11.2.2 Experiences as a Monk 11.3 The Lives of Two Charismatic Thai Monks 11.3.1 Acharn Mun 11.3.2 Khruba Siwichai 11.4 The End of the Rains-Retreat in a Northern Thai Village 11.5 A Thai Temple in Wimbledon, England Chapter 12 Saṃgha Situations: Places, Persons, and Practices in Japanese Buddhism/s 12.1 The Hexagonal Hall (Rokkakudō) 12.1.1 Prince Shōtoku 12.1.2 Shinran 12.1.3 Kannon, Jizō, and Fudō 12.2 The Ritual Year at Shinnyodō 12.2.1 New Year’s 12.2.2 Ḍākinī and the Recitation of the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sūtra 12.2.3 Main Hall Rituals 12.2.4 Goma 12.2.5 The Killing Stone 12.3 The Ryōanji Rock Garden 12.4 The Buddha’s Birthday at the Morgan Bay Zendō 12.5 The Japan Temple in Lumbinī 12.6 Conclusion Chapter 13 Saṃgha Situations: Places, Persons, and Practices in Tibetan Buddhism/s 13.1 Lhasa Jokhang 13.1.1 Pinning Down the Demoness 13.1.2 Flood Control 13.1.3 Grand Prostrations 10.1.4 The Great Prayer Festival 13.2 The Potala and the Dalai Lamas 13.2.1 Finding a New Dalai Lama 13.3 Scholars and Mad Saints 13.3.1 Drepung Monastery and Monastic Studies 13.3.2 Mad Monks: the Case of Tangtong Gyalpo 13.4 Samding: Female Incarnations and a Contemporary Buddhist 13.5 A Tibetan Dharma Center in Vermont, U.S.A. 13.6 Conclusion Appendices Appendix A: A Short Chronology of Buddhism in India Appendix B: A Short Chronology of Buddhism in Sri Lanka Appendix C: A Short Chronology of Buddhism in Myanmar (Burma) Appendix D: A Short Chronology of Buddhism in Cambodia Appendix E: A Short Chronology of Buddhism in Thailand Appendix F: A Short Chronology of Buddhism in China Appendix G: A Short Chronology of Buddhism in Japan Appendix H: A Short Chronology of Buddhism in Vietnam Appendix I: A Short Chronology of Buddhism in Tibet Bibliography of Works Cited Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisYou can only find out the rights and wrongs by Reasoning never by being rude about your opponent's psychology.' For C. S. Lewis, reason and logic are the sensible way to approach faith and ethics. Much of the 20th century's ills are caused by ill-founded beliefs and opinions.Lewis's original approach remains as vital today as ever. He is able to take the most convoluted subject, turn it side on and shed bright illumination on it. To be able to see along things rather than at them just like a beam of sunlight that invades the darkness of a toolshed is, to Lewis, the way to understanding.Written variously between 1940 and 1962, this collection of essays represents the best of Lewis's considerable wisdom on the great ethical and theological concerns of the day.Trade Review‘Most of us would gladly have given reams of our own work to write a couple of paragraphs as Lewis wrote.’Church of England Newspaper

Read more less

Book SynopsisDid Jesus marry and have children with Mary Magdalene? If so, what happened to his family? Are descendants of Jesus still alive today?This extraordinary account of the potential family line that the author believes was born from Jesus Christ encompasses some of the most romantic, colourful and sacred territory of the past 2,000 years.From royal and suppressed archives, Gardner presents proof of the heritage of Jesus in the West and new findings on the long awaited discovery of the Holy Grail.Featuring all the charm and adventure of Arthurian romance, coupled with enthralling Rosicrucian and Templar disclosures, this work has a cutting edge of intrigue and exposure of conspiracy in the vein of Michael Baigent's international bestseller The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail (Arrow). Bringing together revelatory insights into the descendant heirs of Jesus and his brother James, Gardner:Proves that there is an authentic line of succession from the sons of Jesus and James Documents a hidden legTrade Review“A controversial and uniquely comprehensive book of Messianic descent, compiled from the most intriguing histories ever written.”Publishing News “This book, provocative as it may be, is not a work of fiction, but the product of years of painstaking research. Committed Christians will find it casts fascinating light on the origins of their beliefs.”Daily Mail

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book decodes some of the Bible''s most enigmatic, yet oft-cited epochs. The author''s lively and easygoing style makes for a smooth entrance into the depths of perception, where one changes one''s world simply by contemplation and desire. While reading, you will gently rise beyond the level of physical events as they are described in the Bible, and you will find Pharaoh, Moses, Adam and Eve that lie within you.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book attempts to understand Calvin in his sixteenth-century context, with attention to continuities and discontinuities between his thought and that of his predecessors, contemporaries, and successors. Richard Muller is particularly interested in the interplay between theological and philosophical themes common to Calvin and the medieval doctors, and in developments in rhetoric and method associated with humanism. He shows that Calvin''s theology evidences the impact of humanist philology and rhetoric, of patristics, and also - both positively and negatively - of the categories of medieval scholastic thought. Calvin''s conclusions, together with those of a group of contemporary Reformed and Lutheran thinkers, famously became the basis of much later Protestant theology. But understood in its sixteenth-century context, Muller argues, Calvin''s theology proves both intriguing and intractable to twentieth-century concerns. This intractable and unaccomodated Calvin, he says, is importaTrade ReviewMuller's scholarship is so strong and his arguments so convincing that future Calvin scholars will only be able to ignore this book at their peril ... essential reading for anyone wishing to study Calvin's theology and exegesis, both as a model of critical historical methodology and for it's illumination of Calvin's program and the development of his thought. * Sixteenth Century Review *Muller begins this extraordinary book by doing something modern scholars too seldom do: he puts John Calvin and his thought back into their sixteenth-century historical context ... Muller shows how Calvin's view of faith was not radically different from that of medieval scholastics such as Thomas Aquinas. This buttresses Muller's assertion that many of Calvin's attacks were aimed not so much as scholastics as at theologians of Paris in his day ... stimulating and impressive analysis. * American History Review *

Read more less