Religion Books

Book SynopsisTrade Review"Scholem's scholarship betrays an alert presentness... No great textual scholar, no master of philology and historical criticism commands a technique at once more scrupulously attentive to its object and more instinct with the writer's voice. That voices reaches and grips... [M]agisterial."--New Yorker "Immensely important and fascinating... A monumental work of historical scholarship, which recounts in minute detail a moving tragedy of vast dimensions."--The New York Review of Books "Comprehensive... the last word on an astonishing episode of Jewish history."--Times Literary Supplement "A masterful mix of traditional Jewish scholarship and... original insight into the psychology of Judaism."--Boston Globe "Undoubtedly one of the all-time masterpieces of scholarship and intellectual history."--Commonweal "A major contribution not only to the study of messianic movements but also a study enlightening to the history of the Jewish people."--Jewish PressTable of Contents*Frontmatter, pg. i*Table of Contents, pg. ix*List of Plates, pg. xv*Table of Transliteration, pg. xix*Preface, pg. xxi*Introduction to The Princetion Classics Edition, pg. xxix*1. The Background of The Sabbatian Movement, pg. 1*2. The Beginnings of Sabbatai Sevi (1626 - 1664), pg. 103*3. The Beginnings of The Movement in Palestine (1665), pg. 199*4. The Movement Up to Sabbatai's Imprisonment in Gallipoli (1665 - 1666), pg. 327*5. The Movement in Europe (1666), pg. 461*6. The Movement in The East and The Center at Gallipoli Until Sabbatai's Apostasy (1666), pg. 603*7. After The Apostasy (1667 - 1668), pg. 687*8. The Last Years of Sabbatai Sevi (1668 - 1676), pg. 821*Bibliography, pg. 931*Index, pg. 957

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Book SynopsisOffers a vision of how Islam first evolved. This title argues that the origins of Islam lie in what we may call the Believers' movement begun by the prophet Muhammad - a movement of religious reform emphasizing strict monotheism and righteous behavior in conformity with God's revealed law.Trade ReviewDonner is one of the leading scholars of early Islam in the world. No other book I know of distills the often highly arcane and dispersed stuff of scholarship on the first century of Islamic history into such an accessible narrative account that, in addition, offers a compelling new interpretation on the formation of Islamic confessional identity. A tremendous achievement. -- Ahmet Karamustafa, Washington University in St. LouisThis is an invaluable book. Not only does it provide a sane and lucid guide to the origins of Islam, a topic that is currently more mired in controversy than any other in the entire field of ancient history, but it is also a stimulating and original work of scholarship in its own right. -- Tom Holland, author of MillenniumDonner presents the intriguing view that the early Islamic movement, as presided over by Muhammad, actively included Jews and Christians in the flock as part of a general monotheistic community. It was only later, after Muhammad's death, that a new generation of Muslims began ritualizing Islam with its own distinctive practices, such as the hajj (pilgrimage) and the five daily prayers...He raises many original points, gleaning evidence from everything from coinage to original source documents. Questioning longstanding stereotypes, he argues (and proves) that Muslims are not, by nature, anti-Jewish and also that, based on archeological evidence, Muslims did not routinely tear down churches. The early Muslims, though brutal in war, created a sophisticated and organized civil system. For those curious about Islam's beginnings, no book is as original and as evenhanded as this succinct read. * Publishers Weekly *In Muhammad and the Believers: At the Origins of Islam, Donner takes a fresh look at the heart and soul of Islamic history. -- Joseph Richard Preville * Saudi Gazette *A learned and brilliantly original, yet concise and accessible study of Islam's formative first century...Donner's explanation of the process by which Muslims came to define themselves is both fascinating and enlightening. -- Max Rodenbeck * New York Times *It is an excellent introduction to how and why the faith was born, and explains its proliferation in the Middle East and beyond...Donner uses the original text of the Qur'an and other source materials dating from the same period to piece together the history of the faith. What quickly becomes clear is that Islam, and what it means to be a "Muslim," have both changed dramatically since the early days...Muhammad and the Believers is full...of intriguing questions and challenges readers to reconsider what they think they know about Islam...[It's] a rewarding read. -- Dan Sampson * culturemob.com *Donner is to be commended for posing questions that many mainstream scholars have chosen to leave aside. -- Malise Ruthven * New York Review of Books *Provocative and accessible...Donner's vision of an "ecumenical Islam" is thought-provoking...Donner's overarching thesis in Muhammad and the Believers is convincing. It sheds light on a world far more fluid and confused than the one we have come to expect from the usual storyline. -- Christian C. Sahner * Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisAn introduction to Christian spirituality. This text includes an analysis of the relationship between theology and spirituality, focusing on five major themes and offers coverage of the Christian spiritual tradition, including Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Protestantism and Evangelicalism.Trade Review"This book ably and accurately provides information that will help those unfamiliar with the Christian tradition to engage with classical texts on spirituality." Amy M. Hollywood, Professor of Religion, Dartmouth College, New Hampshire "This study really is an 'introduction' and is well suited to the needs of undergraduate students in universities, theological colleges, and seminaries. The book will also be useful for adult education courses, and will appeal in addition to a more general readership. There is a need for a reliable, basic, introductory textbook like this that doesn't make too many assumptions about its readers." Philip Sheldrake, Vice-Principal, Sarum College, Salisbury "I am sure that this book will have a wide readership, particularly among theologians and students of theology. It should also have a wider readership among Christians more generally. Existing works of spirituality often have limited scope and make assumptions about their readers' knowledge. The author's concern to fill gaps and provide adequate explanations and contexts is admirable." Robert Swanson, Reader in Medieval History, University of Birmingham "[The book's] considerable advantage in accessibility and in the structured ordering of ideas makes it ideal as an undergraduate textbook or a committed interest-reader's introduction. It includes frequent invitations and injunctions to read and explore more deeply. The book is written with superb clarity and very considerable breadth of reference...As a working textbook, this has everything one could wish for: interaction with the reader in the form of suggested tasks and internal cross-references; good management of the interrelationship with theology and clarification of terms; window-box texts; a glossary; a list of websites. For university courses and libraries this is a must. For enquirers it is a scholarly and accessible guide." International Journal of Children's Spirituality "This book is highly recommended as a college or seminary textbook on the spiritual life or sanctification. In addition, anyone interested in delving into the tradition of Christian spirituality will find this a useful guide." Bibliotheca SacraTable of ContentsAcknowledgements. How to Use this Book. Part I: Introduction:. 1. Defining 'Spirituality'. 2. Defining 'Christian Spirituality'. 3. Clarifying Terms: Mysticism and Spirituality. Part II: Types of Christian Spirituality: . 4. Spirituality, Theology and Personality. 5. Denominational Considerations. 6. Attitudes to the World, Culture and History. Part III: Theological Foundations for Spirituality: Basic Issues: . 7. The Nature of Theology. 8. The Relation of Theology and Spirituality. Part IV: Theological Foundations for Spirituality: Case Studies:. 9. Creation. Human Nature and Destiny. 10. The Trinity. Incarnation. 11. Redemption. 12. Resurrection. 13. Consummation. 14. For Further Reading. Part V: Biblical Images and Christian Spirituality:. 15. The Bible as a Resource for Spirituality. 16. Biblical Images and Spirituality. Part VI: Faces, Places and Spaces: Visualization and Spatialization in Christian Spirituality:. 17. The Visualization of the Divine. 18. Telling the Story: Faith and Life. 19. The Rhythm of Faith: Structuring Time. 20. Spiritual Geography: Structuring Space. Part VII: Christian Spirituality: Engaging the Tradition:. 21. Conclusion: Where Next?. 22. Christian Spirituality: Internet Resources. Glossary of Terms. Sources of Citations. For Further Reading. Index.

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Book SynopsisThe Pali Literature of Ceylon is vast and important, attracting historians, folklore lovers, linguists, and religion scholars. It spans ancient to 20th century, showcasing Sri Lanka's history, Buddhism, and Pali literature.

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Book SynopsisThe study discusses Buddhist ceremonies and rituals, which are integral to the religious life of devout followers despite purists' reservations about deviating from canonical teachings.

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Book SynopsisThe Light of Wisdom Vol. I contains the root terma ---hidden treasure text --- of Padmasambhava, The Gradual Path of the Wisdom Essence and its commentary The Light of Wisdom by Jamgon Kongtrul the Great. Annotations on the commentary Entering the Path of Wisdom spoken by Jamyang Drakpa and recorded by Jokyab Rinpoche are included as well as clarifications from other masters. Volume I presents in-depth explanations of the Vajrajana Buddhist perspective. It begins with the nature of the ground, the buddha nature present in all beings, continues with the teachings that are common to all vehicles, and concludes with the Mahayana and the link to Vajrayana.This essence of the causal and resultant vehicles,Especially the core of the realization the three sections of the inner tantras,Linking together the ground with the path,Makes you abandon the temporary defilements along with their tendencies,Realize fruition and quickly accomplish the welfare of self and others,In this way it is in conformity with each yet exalted above them all. -PadmasambhavaThe root text of Lamrim Yeshe Nyingpo, a terma revealed by the great treasure- finder Chokgyur Lingpa, and its commentary by Kongtrul Rinpoche, the great translator in person, form together a complete scripture that embodies all the tantras, statements and instructions of the Nyingma School of the early translations, which is most rare to find in the past, present, or future. -Kyabje Dilgo Kyentse Rinpoche

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Book SynopsisHistorical works by Bede (672 or 673–735) include his Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation, Lives of the Abbots of Bede’s monastery, accounts of Cuthbert, and the Letter to Egbert, Bede’s pupil.

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Book SynopsisCompiled and translated in large part by St. Jerome, the Vulgate Bible influenced Western literature, art, music, education, theology, and political history through the Renaissance. Professors at Douay, then at Rheims, translated it into English to combat Protestant vernacular Bibles. Volume VI presents the entire New Testament.

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Book SynopsisThe surviving works of the Roman Emperor Julian “the Apostate” (AD 331 or 332–363) include eight Orations; Misopogon (Beard-hater), assailing the morals of the people of Antioch; more than eighty Letters; and fragments of Against the Galileans, written mainly to show that the Old Testament lacks evidence for the idea of Christianity.

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Book SynopsisIn this series of notes, opinions, experiences, and reflections, Thomas Merton examines some of the most urgent questions of our age. With his characteristic forcefulness and candor, he brings the reader face-to-face with such provocative and controversial issues as the “death of God,” politics, modern life and values, and racial strife-issues that are as relevant today as they were fifty years ago. Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander is Merton at his best-detached but not unpassionate, humorous yet sensitive, at all times alive and searching, with a gift for language which has made him one of the most widely read and influential spiritual writers of our time.

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Book SynopsisHoly War, Martyrdom, and Terror examines the ways Christian theology has shaped centuries of violence from Christianity's first centuries up to our own day, through the crusades, the French Revolution, and more recent American wars.Trade Review"It should be said from the outset that no review could do justice to this highly conceptual, thought-provoking and ambitious book that seeks to explain violence in the West in the past two millennia . . . This enlightening book is original, sweeping in scope yet nuanced and careful in its evidence and explanations."" * Journal of Ecclesiastical History *"This is an enormously ambitious book, one that seeks to say something fundamental about the deep-rooted set of ideas and priorities that have fueled violent action over two millennia. . . . It is deeply imagined, enormously learned, and brings into conversation, with elegance and coherence, a series of analytical threads about the ideology of violence in the Western trajectory." * Reviews in History *"This is a remarkable book. Buc takes us through two millennia of western Christian and what he calls "post-Christian" (i.e., post-Enlightenment) attitudes towards violence, in order to explore how Christianity has left its imprint on western violence in the modern period. . . . He argues that violence is woven into early and medieval Christianity's conceptual frameworks and language. He then points out direct continuities between Christian violence in the past and both Christian and 'godless' violence (in the literal sense of the word, not the judgmental) in various modern presents." * Medieval Review *"In this challenging study, Philippe Buc deploys his vast knowledge of the history and complex influence of scripture and its exegesis to explore the themes of holy war, martyrdom, and terror in the culture of the Christian and post-Christian West. He has little patience with conventional, polarized constraints of religion/secularization, historical periodization, and the anachronistic dismissal of the power of religious thought and language. Buc's is a quick, learned, and contentious mind, and his identification of a distinctly western kind of identity determination and the related contours of public violence in the West is a major contribution to a fundamental historical debate." * Edward Peters, University of Pennsylvania *"The medievalist Philippe Buc discerns Christian tropes of holy war and martyrdom in seemingly secular movements with terroristic potential. A brilliant and disturbing interpretation of the religious origins of redemptive violence in the West, this is a book for our times." * Dirk Moses, European University Institute *Table of ContentsPreface Introduction. The Object of This History Chapter 1. The American Way of War Through the Premodern Looking Glass Chapter 2. Christian Exegesis and Violence Chapter 3. Madness, Martyrdom, and Terror Chapter 4. Martyrdom in the West: Vengeance, Purge, Salvation, and History Chapter 5. Twins: National Holy War and Sectarian Terror Chapter 6. Liberty and Coercion Chapter 7. The Subject of History and the Making of History Postface. No Future to That Past List of Abbreviations Notes Select Bibliography Index Acknowledgments

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Book SynopsisIbn Qayyim al-Jawziyya on Divine Wisdom and the Problem of Evil is a translation of selections from two of Ibn Qayyim''s books, Key to the Blissful Abode (Miftah dar al-sa''ada) and Remedy for Those who Question on Matters Concerning Divine Decree, Predestination, Wisdom and Causality (Shifa'' al-''alil fi masa''il al-qada'' wa''l-qadar wa''l-hikma wa''l-ta''lil). As with all his other writings, Ibn al-Qayyim''s foremost goal is to establish the wisdom of God, the primacy of the Qur''an and Sunna, and the congruity between reason and revelation. In the present selections, Ibn al-Qayyim focuses on the application of the wisdom of God to the existence of evil.Ibn al-Qayyim first discusses twenty-six wise purposes behind God creating humanity and settling them on Earth. His perspective is that whatever exists in this world is either purely or preponderantly good, or indirectly leads to a greater good. Ibn Qayyim then explores how the presence of evil allows the manifestation of many of God''s Beautiful Names, glorious attributes and compassionate actions; while, for humanity, the existence of evil provides the righteous with opportunities to strive against it, for Paradise can only be reached by ''traversing a bridge of hardships and tribulations''.The discussion of the existence of evil is followed by thirty wise purposes and secrets in God allowing people to sin. Prominent among them are that God loves repentance and loves to manifest His Attributes of forgiveness and mercy. Here, Ibn al-Qayyim also debates at length whether the punishment of Hellfire will be eternal or whether it will come to an end. He favours the latter position in accordance with the Qur''anic verse 107 of the Chapter Hud and because of God''s mercy.

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Book SynopsisThe story of the spiritual journey of the famous Tibetan yogi Milarepa is often told, but less well known are the stories of his encounters with those he met and taught after his own Enlightenment, eleven of which are the catalyst for volumes 18 and 19 of the Complete Works. The first three were originally published in The Yogi's Joy, and to these have been added an intriguing fourth, `The Shepherd's Search for Mind'. The other seven stories form a sequence tracing the relationship between Milarepa and his disciple Rechungpa, from their first meeting to their final parting, when Rechungpa is exhorted to go and teach the Dharma himself. As portrayed in The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa, Rechungpa is a promising disciple, but he has a lot to learn, being sometimes proud, distracted, anxious, desirous of comfort and praise, over-attached to book learning, stubborn, sulky and liable to go to extremes. In other words, he is very human, and surely recognizable to anyone who has embarked on the spiritual path. He all too often takes his teacher's advice the wrong way, or simply ignores it, and it takes all of Milarepa's skill, compassion and patience to keep their relationship intact and help his unruly disciple to stay on the path to Enlightenment. Sangharakshita's commentary is based on seminars he gave to young, enthusiastic but as yet inexperienced Dharma followers, and while much can be gleaned from it about the path of practice of the Kagyu tradition, the main emphasis is simply on how to overcome the difficulties that are sure to befall the would-be spiritual practitioner, how to learn what we need to learn - in short, the art of discipleship.

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Book SynopsisThe Bible is mysterious, surprising--and often deeply misunderstood. Dr. Michael S. Heiser, an expert in the ancient near east and author of the best selling The Unseen Realm, explores the most unusual, interesting, and least understood parts of the Bible and offers insights that will inspire, inform, and surprise you on every page. Dr. Heiser has helped to remind the church of the supernatural worldview of the Bible. In The Bible Unfiltered, you will see his methods and expertise applied to dozens of specific passages and topics. Gleaned from his years working as Faithlife's scholar-in-residence, this is some of the very best of Dr. Heiser's work.

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Book SynopsisExplore the nature of our material world in a unique sourcebook, conceived by the Dalai Lama, collecting the scientific observations found in classical Buddhist treatises. Under the visionary supervision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Science and Philosophy in the Indian Buddhist Classics brings together classical Buddhist explorations of the nature of our material world and the human mind and puts them into context for the modern reader. It is the Dalai Lama’s view that the explorations by the great masters of northern India in the first millennium CE still have much that is of interest today, whether we are Buddhist or not. Volume 1, The Physical World, explores the nature of our material world—from the macroscopic to the microscopic. It begins with an overview of the many frameworks, such as the so-called five aggregates, that Buddhist thinkers have used to examine the nature and scope of reality. Topics include sources of knowledge, the scope of reason, the nature and constituents of the material world, theories of the atom, the nature of time, the formation of the universe, and the evolution of life, including a detailed explanation of the early Buddhist theories on fetal development. The volume even contains a brief presentation on early theories about the structure and function of the brain and the role of microorganisms inside the human body. The book weaves together passages from the works of great Buddhist thinkers such as Asanga, Vasubandhu, Nagarjuna, Dignaga, and Dharmakirti. Each of the major topics is introduced by Thupten Jinpa, the Dalai Lama’s principal English-language translator and founder of the Institute of Tibetan Classics.

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Book SynopsisA practical program for developing a deeper, more authentic relationship with God Written for anyone who wants to develop a deeper more meaningful relationship with God, Mansions of the Heart offers a step-by-step guide through a spiritual formation road map based on Teresa of Avila''s Seven Mansions. The book includes a Mapping Tool that will help you discern your place on your spiritual journey and offers church leaders a process for helping church members to grow into spiritual maturity. Contains a spiritual program based on the writings of Teresa of Avila, one of Christianity''s most profound and beloved mystical teachers Offers a complete, step-by-step program for spiritual growth Includes information for leading others in their spiritual journeys Appropriate for all kinds of Christians Table of ContentsForeword. Preface. Acknowledgments. Pager: please add space per specs/sample. 1 Is This All There Is? 2 Common Myths That Lead Down Dead-End Roads. 3 Your Journey into the Love of God. 4 New Beginnings: The First Mansion. 5 Between a Rock and a Hard Place: The Second Mansion. 6 Following Jesus: The Third Mansion. 7 Discovering the Love of Jesus: The Fourth Mansion. 8 Longing for Oneness with God: The Fifth Mansion. 9 The Long Dark Corridor: The Dark Nights of the Soul. 10 The Passion of God's Love: The Sixth Mansion. 11 A Life of Love in the Trinity: The Seventh Mansion. 12 Your Unique Journey. 13 Spiritual Formation and the Church. 14 Our Call to Action. Pager: please add space per specs/sample Notes. The Author. Index.

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Book SynopsisThe third volume of Steven Runciman''s classic, hugely influential trilogy on the history of the Crusades''The whole tale is one of faith and folly, courage and greed, hope and disillusion''Steven Runciman''s triumphant three-volume A History of the Crusades remains an unsurpassed account of the events that changed the world and continue to resonate today. This final volume of the trilogy begins with the glamorous Third Crusade and ends with the ruinous collapse of the crusader states and the degeneration of their ideals, which reached its nadir in the tragic destruction of Byzantium. ''When historical events are written about with this sort of command, they take on not only the universality of a fairy tale but also a certain moral weight. Runciman writes both seductively and instructively about the dignity and beauty of different religious beliefs and about the difficulties of their co-existence'' Independent

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Book Synopsis'Simple Guides Theravada Buddhism" provides a concise and accessible introduction to Theravada Buddhism. Written without bias, this guide presents engaging descriptions of the key concepts, beliefs and practices. Pocket sized and presented in an accessible format with clearly organised topics, enabling you to quickly grasp the essence of Theravada Buddhism. This guide is a reliable point of reference for further exploration and discovery.

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Book Synopsis'Christianity is not a matter of a religion or even a denomination; it is not a question of a particular culture. Christ is there for all humanity.' In the old Mystery cultures the human being experienced himself as a child of the Gods, or even an instrument of them. According to Rudolf Steiner's spiritual-scientific research, the birth of independent thinking came only with our present state of consciousness - through becoming aware of the individual self. But who is this self? Who am I? Virginia Sease and Manfred Schmidt-Brabant maintain that real self-knowledge is intimately connected with knowledge of the central being of world evolution: the Christ, or the 'I AM'. Focusing on the being of Christ and on Christianity, "The New Mysteries" presents a series of engaging lectures on the developing Mystery wisdom of our age. Having given an overview of the history of the Mysteries in their book "Paths of the Christian Mysteries", the authors deepen and further their study by paying special attention to the effect of the "Christ Mysteries". Among the essential themes of the new volume are the transformation of conscience, the place of prayer and meditation, and the significance of sacrifice today.

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Book SynopsisBeginning in January 1692, Salem Village in colonial Massachusetts witnessed the largest and most lethal outbreak of witchcraft in early America. Villagers--mainly young women--suffered from unseen torments that caused them to writhe, shriek, and contort their bodies, complaining of pins stuck into their flesh and of being haunted by specters. Believing that they suffered from assaults by an invisible spirit, the community began a hunt to track down those responsible for the demonic work. The resulting Salem Witch Trials, culminating in the execution of 19 villagers, persists as one of the most mysterious and fascinating events in American history. Historians have speculated on a web of possible causes for the witchcraft that stated in Salem and spread across the region-religious crisis, ergot poisoning, an encephalitis outbreak, frontier war hysteria--but most agree that there was no single factor. Rather, as Emerson Baker illustrates in this seminal new work, Salem was a perfect storm: a unique convergence of conditions and events that produced something extraordinary throughout New England in 1692 and the following years, and which has haunted us ever since.Baker shows how a range of factors in the Bay colony in the 1690s, including a new charter and government, a lethal frontier war, and religious and political conflicts, set the stage for the dramatic events in Salem. Engaging a range of perspectives, he looks at the key players in the outbreak--the accused witches and the people they allegedly bewitched, as well as the judges and government officials who prosecuted them--and wrestles with questions about why the Salem tragedy unfolded as it did, and why it has become an enduring legacy.Salem in 1692 was a critical moment for the fading Puritan government of Massachusetts Bay, whose attempts to suppress the story of the trials and erase them from memory only fueled the popular imagination. Baker argues that the trials marked a turning point in colonial history from Puritan communalism to Yankee independence, from faith in collective conscience to skepticism toward moral governance. A brilliantly told tale, A Storm of Witchcraft also puts Salem''s storm into its broader context as a part of the ongoing narrative of American history and the history of the Atlantic World.Trade ReviewHis rock solid historical work and lively, engaging prose made this book both an indispensable contribution to scholarship and a delight to read. I suspect that this is the book on Salem witchcraft for this generation." * Scott D. Seay, Christian Theological Seminary *...[A] cogent, readable, and comprehensive analysis of the literature on the Salem witch trials.... His emphasis on the choices made by individuals - to take action or remain passive - makes this work a welcome addition to our attempts to understand the significance of the Salem events of 1692. * Journal of American History *Of many books about the Salem witch-trials, only a few really matter. This is one of them. Combining deep learning and clear-sighted good sense, A Storm of Witchcraft retells a story that has long managed to be familiar yet puzzling and misunderstood. Emerson Baker's masterly dissection of events is both genuinely original and utterly persuasive, not least because the importance of political circumstance, legal expediency and personal relationships seems obvious once it is pointed out. Baker reminds us that witchcraft was above all a religious crime, which took on terrifying significance at a time of extreme danger in New England's history. But his analysis of Salem's causal roots and painfully enduring ramifications does more than just demystify the trials: it illustrates universal truths about human emotions and their place in modern society. * Malcolm Gaskill, author of Witchfinders: a Seventeenth Century English Tragedy *Baker, professor of history at Salem State College, places the trials in the larger context of American and English history, examining not only their prominent place in our collective memory, but also what made them so different from other witch trials of the era. Baker convincingly demonstrates that the trials were a pivotal point in American history and presents the mass hysteria surrounding them in very poignant terms. * Publisher's Weekly *This extraordinarily researched, expertly written, and convincing study is suitable for and will appeal to a wide audience. * Library Journal *By almost any measure, Emerson W. Baker's new history, A Storm of Witchcraft, is a masterpiece. Few volumes pass the exacting standards needed to be described as such. Baker's does.... Anyone interested in the Salem witch trials and the shaping of the nation should treat themselves to this book. * Maine Sunday Telegram *an excellent survey of the state of knowledge and opinion concerning the Salem witch trials and their implications. * Clive Holmes, English Historical Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction: An Old Valuables Chest Chapter One: Satan's Storm Chapter Two: The City upon a Hill Chapter Three: Drawing Battle Lines in Salem Village Chapter Four: The Afflicted Chapter Five: The Accused Chapter Six: The Judges Chapter Seven: An Inextinguishable Flame Chapter Eight: Salem End Chapter Nine: Witch City?

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Book SynopsisPlantinga examines the nature of epistemic warrant; whatever it is that when added to true belief yields knowledge. This volume surveys current contributions to the debate and paves the way for his owm positive proposal in Warrant and Proper Function.Trade Review'Alvin Plantinga makes important contributions to a tradition of discussion which has dominated recent epistemology. Warrant: the Current Debate provides a critical survey of the most recent controbutions to American epistemology ... Plantinga discerns a pattern in their failure, and this is exploited in the second volume where he develops an original and important contribution of his own. Warrant and Proper Function undertakes to succeed where Roderick Chisholm, John Pollock, Louis BonJour, Alvin Goldman and others have failed ... Plantinga's books will provide a focus for much future research in these areas, as well as providing invaluable reading for students taking courses in epistemology.' Christopher Hookway, University of Birmingham, The Philosophical Quarterly, 1995impressive...Not only is the scale of the work more ambitious than the earlier papers, but the doctrine is as well. * Religious Studies Vol 31 *

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Book SynopsisIncludes general hymns; hymns for feasts, seasons and saints' days; office hymns for the liturgical year; an enlarged eucharistic section; responsorial psalms and a new English folk mass setting.

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Book SynopsisUsama Ibn Munqidh (1095-1188) was a Syrian poet and warrior whose life coincided with some of the most dramatic moments in Islamic history: the invasion of the Turks into the Middle East, the collapse of the Shi'ite political power, and above all, the coming of the Crusades. Often at the frontline of such events whilst on military service representing one of his many Lords, including on occasion the legendary Saladin, Usama was nonethless best-known to his contemporaries as a poet. Covering his exquisite anthologies of Arabic poetry, his witty and well- loved memoirs, and his political adventures, this comprehensive biography examines both the literary works of the famous "Arab- Syrian Gentleman" and the tumultuous life which inspired them. With a guide to further reading, a dynastic family tree and a glossary of the principal characters encountered in the book, it offers an indispensable window into Usmama's life, times and world of thought.Table of ContentsPreface Introduction 1 THE YOUTH AND THE CASTLE The setting of Shayzar Childhood Hunting at Shayzar Shayzar’s bad neighbors Nizaris attack Shayzar Relations with the Franks Quiet moments Exile Service to Zangi Last days in Hama 2 THE OUTCAST AND THE KINGS Damascus (1138–1144) Usama among the Franks Trouble in Damascus Egyptian adventures (1144–1154) The lesson of Ridwan A new patron An expedition to Syria Conspiracy in Cairo The final straw Damascus and Nur al-Din (1154–1164) Calamity 3 THE POET AND THE TOMB Diyar Bakr (1164–1174) Literary output Denouement in Damascus (1174–1188) Intellectual pursuits 4 ORDER AND CHAOS God’s will and the vicissitudes of Time Usama’s Islam Pious exemplars and the miraculous Women’s honor Male honor and social status The manners and customs of animals Conclusion 5 FRANKS AND MUSLIMS Usama, ethnographer Usama and the coming of the Crusades Usama on Antioch Social relations with the Franks Medicine Frankish justice Usama and Christianity Afterword Further reading Works cited Principal people encountered in this book Simplified lists of principal dynasties and rulers in Usama’s lifetime Index

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Book SynopsisJohn Boswell's National Book Award-winning study of the history of attitudes toward homosexuality in the early Christian West was a groundbreaking work that challenged preconceptions about the Church's past relationship to its gay members-among them priests, bishops, and even saints-when it was first published thirty-five years ago. The historical breadth of Boswell's research (from the Greeks to Aquinas) and the variety of sources consulted make this one of the most extensive treatments of any single aspect of Western social history. Now in this thirty-fifth anniversary edition with a new foreword by leading queer and religious studies scholar Mark D. Jordan, Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality is still fiercely relevant. This landmark book helped form the disciplines of gay and gender studies, and it continues to illuminate the origins and operations of intolerance as a social force.

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Book SynopsisLike Spinoza in his "Theological-Political Treatise", Schweid helps us grasp the potential for seeing radically new messages in this oldest of books, the Bible. The American Founding Fathers realized that the Bible offers strong support for the doctrine of popular sovereignty. Socially, it offers a message of egalitarianism, especially in the provisions of the Jubilee. It is hardly an accident that two modern political movements found mottos ready at hand from the 25th chapter of "Leviticus": 'Proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof' (from the Liberty Bell), and 'The land shall not be sold in perpetuity' (motto of the Jewish National Fund). More broadly, Schweid helps us to appreciate the broader message of the narrative of creation and settlement of the land in its ecumenical and planetary dimensions. The world is God's creation whose resources are to be deployed as necessary for the sustenance and needs - fulfilment of all people and all creatures equally - a message very much relevant to the ecological crisis facing us all at the present time.Table of ContentsPreface. A Fresh Reading -- Freeing Ourselves of Old Stereotypes. The Complementarity of Law and Narrative. 1. The Law of the Kingdom of God. Exodus from Slavery to Freedom as a Legislative-Politcal Act: The Process of Formation and Establishment of the Kingdom of God in His People. Institutionalizing the Ideal of "Kingdom of God" in His People. The Return to Slavery and the Dilemma of the Difference between the Law of Slavery and the Law of Freedom. The Ideational Background for Realizing the Transition: What is the Difference between the Law of Slavery and the Law of Freedom? The Gradual Descent of the Kingdom of God from the Mythic to the Historical Plane: From Prophecy to Wisdom. The Idea of the Covenant and the Basic Values of the Law of Freedom and Justice. Judicial Justice as Covenantal Principle - Its General Application and the Concept of Truth. Social Justice as Fulfillment of the Vison of Creation. The Problem of Poverty and the Ethic of Neighborly Love. Statutory Law that Regenerates the Egalitarian Basis of Social Justice. The Structure of the Kingdom of Priests: The Problem of Authority and Cooperative Functioning of All the Powers of Government. Between Israel and the Nations. 2. Deuteronomy (the "Second Torah") - The Beginning of Renewal of the Written Torah as Oral Torah. The Difference between Moses' and Joshua's Leadership and the Perpetuity of Moses' Leadership in the People. Deuteronomy's Uniqueness as Embodiment of Moses' Leadership of the People. The Difference between Moses and Joshua. The Problem of Succession Continued. Deuteronomy as Oral Law. Legislative Innovations in Deuteronomy. The Transition in Deuteronomy from the Plane of myth to History. When and by Whom Was Deuteronomy Written? The Transition from the "Scribes" to the "Men of the Great Synagogue". 3. The Partnership of Man and Woman in the Law of Moses and the Prophets. Equality and Inequality of Persons in the Reciprocal Relation of Individuals and the Community. The Reciprocal Relation of Individual and Community. The Hierarchical Relation of Man and Woman. Man's Acquistion-Ownership of Woman. "Acquisition of Relationship" versus Acquisition of Property. How is the Husband's "Acquisition" of His Wife Expressed? Woman's Autonomy in the Light of the Torah's Legislation. The Difference Between the Wife's Status vis-a-vis Her Husband and Her Status as Mother vis-a-vis Her Children. The Myth of Mankind's Creation as a Couple in God's Image: Destiny, Sin and Redemption. 4. Universalism and Particularism - Openness to Foreign Cultures and Isolation from their Influence. Index.

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Book SynopsisLars Muhl has had a lifelong burning interest in Jesus, not only as an archetype, saviour, boddhisatava and elder brother, but also in relation to the Essenes from the Dead Sea. The Law of Light is the result of his many years spent studying Aramaic and the techniques of Yeshua (Jesus). Yeshua spoke Aramaic. Through the Aramaic language, his teachings offer not just another interpretation of the New Testament, but the unveiling of a secret message that attempts, once and for all, to settle centuries-old conceptions of sin, and to once again connect man with the heavenly spiritual source. The core of Yeshua’s Aramaic message is intimacy, freedom, selfless awareness, unconditional love, compassion and forgiveness. In all he says, there exists a hidden invitation to us to be present in, and dedicated to, everything with which we engage. Five minutes of total devotion is worth more than hours of hectic exertion. The aim is to set mankind free and to dismiss everything that is bound up in false notions.Trade Review“Lars Muhl, author of The O Manuscript has surpassed himself with The Law of Light. This is certainly his masterpiece: the teachings of Christ, a guide to a lightness of being which throws a different aspect on life and how to live it well. Like one of Jesus’ apostles, Lars Muhl was given an inside into the Mysteries—the true message of Jesus and we have the privilege that he shares it with us. A book to be read and reread—an indispensable study guide to life.” —Heidi Kay “After almost 2,000 years of the religious distortions of Yeshua’s (Jesus) spiritual practice teachings, it is imperative that we recover the truth of his Aramaic words. No one does this with the beauty, the depth, and the clarity of Lars Muhl in his book, The Law of Light. There will not be a more important book released in the 21st century for the spiritual seekers who have chosen to live beyond the smallness of religion. Beyond religion, your life awaits your claiming it fully.” —James A. Stacey

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewThis is a brilliant book. It is the most innovative contribution to our understanding of Mughal history in my time. As a work of the first importance, and a step change in our knowledge of sixteenth-century India, it must be read by anyone interested in the fields of Islamic kingship, millenarianism, and astrology in the Muslim world and the early-modern world in general. -- Francis Robinson, Royal Holloway, University of London Moin deserves the highest praise for venturing into this contested terrain and writing a most interesting book about it. -- Andre Wink American Historical Review he has thrown an entirely new light on how early monarchs of India's greatest dynastic house asserted their claims to royal authority. His book should be read not just by historians of South Asia but equally by those of Central Asia and Iran, as well as by specialists in Islamic studies. -- Richard M. Eaton Journal of Interdisciplinary History In this unusually well written and elegantly carpentered book-he has a rare gift for building argument through narrative-Moin has delivered a major contribution to both Islamic history and the scholarship of sacred kingship. -- Alan Strathern History and Theory Moin outlines a formidable challenge to the conventional narratives of Mughal and, to a lesser extent, Safavid history that is likely to surprise even specialists... A valuable contribution to the field that ought to compel scholars to reevaluate key assumptions regarding kingship and sainthood in Mughal India. International Journal of Middle East Studies Too seldom does a plodding dissertation become transformed into an elegant monograph. This 2010 dissertation is the rare, and welcome, exception... The author has conducted deep archival research with an accent on visual history and astrology... The Millennial Sovereign does deliver on its promise. Journal of Islamic Studies A delightful study that seeks to provide early modern Islamic historical scholarship with a new model to conceive of politics in the pre-modern era... Rich Review of Middle East Studies A fine volume that will enrich the libraries of both scholars of Islam and scholars of early modern Europe. The Sixteenth Century JournalTable of ContentsList of Illustrations List of Tables Acknowledgments Note on Transliteration 1. Introduction: Islam and the Millennium 2. The Lord of Conjunction: Sacrality and Sovereignty in the Age of Timur 3. The Crown of Dreams: Sufis and Princes in Sixteenth-Century Iran 4. The Alchemical Court: The Beginnings of the Mughal Imperial Cult 5. The Millennial Sovereign: The Troubled Unveiling of the Savior Monarch 6. The Throne of Time: The Painted Miracles of the Saint Emperor 7. Conclusion: The Graffiti Under the Throne Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisGraham Robb was born in Manchester in 1958 and is a former Fellow of Exeter College, Oxford. He has published widely on French literature and history. His 2007 book The Discovery of France won both the Duff Cooper and Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prizes. For Parisians the City of Paris awarded him the Grande Médaille de la Ville de Paris. He lives on the English-Scottish border.Trade Review'remarkable . . . an overarching, wondrous reworking of history rooted in painstaking, if not obsessive, research. And if its fantastical connections and arcane details leave the reader reeling, perhaps that is merely a reflection of the astounding complexity and continuing mystery of a lost civilisation that Graham Robb has restored to its rightful place.' Philip Hoare, Literary Review'a wonderful writer . . . No one else can make a bike ride through the French countryside so enthralling. No one else so relishes the odd corners of history.' Sunday Times'Robb produces an elaborately detailed account of [Celtic] society and ideas . . . Those who enjoy a mixture of myth and archaeology, who admire a vivid metaphor and a fine turn of phrase, will find much in this book to enjoy.' New Statesman'He is such a warm, gentle and generous writer, with no faux scholarly tosh or solitary ecstasy riffs [and] Robb's own calm eloquence is deeply persuasive . . . If Graham Robb has discovered that Ancient Gaul was arranged as a reflection of the universe, then that amazing discovery, and this heroically courageous publication of it, is a wonder and a marvel.' Adam Nicolson, Evening Standard'The findings of Graham Robb, a biographer and historian, bring into question two millennia of thinking about Iron Age Britain and Europe and the stereotyped image of Celts as barbarous, superstitious tribes.' Daily Telegraph‘Presenting one of the most astonishing, significant discoveries in recent memory, Robb, winner of the Duff Cooper Prize and Ondaatje Award for The Discovery of France, upends nearly everything we believe about the history—or, as he calls it, protohistory—of early Europe and its barbarous Celtic tribes and semimythical Druids. Popularly dismissed as superstitious, wizarding hermits, Robb demonstrates how the Druids were perhaps the most intellectually advanced thinkers of their age: scientists and mathematicians who, through an intimate knowledge of solstice lines, organized their towns and cities to mirror the paths of their Sun god, in turn creating the earliest accurate map of the world. In his characteristically approachable yet erudite manner, Robb examines how this network came to be and also how it vanished, trampled over by a belligerent Rome, which has previously received credit for civilizing Europe—though in Robb’s account, Caesar, at the helm, appears dim, unwitting, and frankly lucky, and the (often literally) deeply buried Celtic beliefs and innovations seem more relevant in modern Europe than previously assumed. Like the vast and intricate geographical latticework that Robb has uncovered, the book unfurls its secrets in an eerie, magnificent way—a remarkable, mesmerizing, and bottomless work.' Publishers Weekly, Starred Review and Pick of the Week'One certainly has to admire the perseverance Robb has shown, not just researching in libraries and map rooms, but also following trails on the ground. Fifteen thousand miles on a bike, very often to places that no tourist or researcher has ever visited or even inquired about before . . . If you accept Robb's complex arguments, drawn from astronomy, philology, archaeology and history, you do indeed get a new view of an ancient civilisation . . . all those miles on the bike. All those archaeological discoveries pointed out. If nothing else, The Ancient Paths creates a new respect for the ancient Gauls, and the ancient Britons. Whatever Caesar may have said, they weren't all woad and moustaches.' Tom Shippey, Guardian'an enthralling new history . . . 'Important if true' . . . rings loud in the ears as one reads the latest book by Graham Rob, a biographer and historian of distinction whose new work, if everything in it proves to be correct, will blow apart two millennia of thinking about Iron Age Britain and Europe and put several scientific discoveries back by centuries . . . it presents extraordinary conclusions in a deeply persuasive and uncompromising manner. What surfaces from these elegant pages - if true - is nothing less than a wonder of the ancient world: the first solid evidence of Druidic science and its accomplishments and the earliest accurate map of a continent . . . a book almost indecently stuffed with discoveries . . . suggestions follow thick and fast, backed by a mixture of close reading, mathematical construction and scholarly detective work . . . Robb manages his revelations with a showman's skill, modestly conscious that his book is unfurling a map of Iron Age Europe and Britain that has been inaccessible for millennia. Every page produces new solutions to old mysteries, some of them so audacious that the reader may laugh aloud . . . Beautifully written . . . It's a magnificent piece of historical conjecture, backed by a quizzical scholarly intellect and given a personal twist by experiment . . . watching its conclusions percolate through popular and academic history promises to be thrilling. Reading it is already an electrifying and uncanny experience: there is something gloriously unmodern about seeing a whole new perspective on history so comprehensively birthed in a single book. If true, very important indeed.' * Daily Telegraph *'The Romans did a good job of writing their predecessors out of history . . . As the conquerors got to write the history, we have to rely on their account of what they found. But as Robb makes clear, they told only part of the story.' ObserverAn ingenious and thoroughly gripping historical and archaeological bolt from the blue -- Books of the Year * New Statesman *

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Book SynopsisLet one of the leading spiritual teachers of our time offer you a radical, positive approach to living in today's world. With moving anecdotes and practical tools to apply in your own life, this is an engaging guide to Buddhism for Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike. 'It's encouraging to find Westerners who've sufficiently assimilated the traditions of the East to be able to share them with others as Jack is doing. May such efforts further the peace of all beings.' -- His Holiness the Dalai Lama'Jack Kornfield is a remarkable and thoughtful teacher.' -- Sogyal Rinpoche'A book to make you stop and think' -- ***** Reader review'A wonderful, heartfelt book' -- ***** Reader review'Get it, read it, love it, give it!' -- ***** Reader review'An absolute joy' -- ***** Reader review'Life changing' -- ***** Reader review******************************************************************************************************For over 2000 years, Buddhist psychology has offered invaluable insights into the nature of the heart and mind, and transformed the way many people around the world handle life's challenges. But the ancient texts on which these remarkable teachings are based can be difficult to penetrate for modern seekers. Now, drawing on his experience as a monk trained in Thailand, Burma and India, as well as his expert psychology practice, Jack Kornfield provides an accessible, definitive guide to Buddhism for Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike.This important work is in the tradition of his classic works A Path with Heart and After the Ecstasy, the Laundry, offering practical tools to coping with modern life and dealing with emotions such as fear, anger and shame. Kornfield also shares the illuminating stories of his students and fellow practitioners, as well as his own journey towards enlightenment, including his recovery from a violence-filled childhood.Here is a rare treasure that will give readers greater access to the secret beauty within - and without.Trade ReviewIt's encouraging to find Westerners who've sufficiently assimilated the traditions of the East to be able to share them with others as Jack is doing. May such efforts further the peace of all beings. -- His Holiness the Dalai LamaJack Kornfield is a remarkable and thoughtful teacher. -- Sogyal Rinpoche

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Book SynopsisCollins Gem Palm Reading reveals the ancient art of palm reading. With easy-to-follow diagrams accompanying clear and concise text, this book lays bare the complexities of hand reading.The book provides an introduction to how to read palms so that a beginner will soon be able to uncover the hidden truths of the hand.It first examines the whole hand, analysing the variety of hand shapes, including the compatibility of different hand shapes and the influences of hand shape on health and careers.It then examines the fingers and thumb in detail. Palmists look at the shape of the fingers, their flexibility and their position in relation to one another and make predictions about an individual and their compatibility with others.This examination is followed by looking at the mounts' (the fleshy pads on the palm) and their predictive power and then studying the lines on the palm (an important aspect of palm reading but not the sole element, as suggests by popular myth).By pulling all these aspTrade Review‘Collins Gems are the best in their field when it comes to easy-to-use pocket guides, especially for horoscopes, and this is no exception to the rule’.Amazon

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Book SynopsisThis classic and controversial book examines the roots of the idea of virtue, diagnoses the reasons for its absence in modern life, and proposes a path for its recovery.Trade Review“After Virtue is a striking work. It is clearly written and readable. The nonprofessional will find MacIntyre perspicuous and lively. He stands within the best modern traditions of writing on such matters.” —New York Review of Books“MacIntyre’s arguments deserve to be taken seriously by anybody who thinks that the mere acceptance of pluralism is not the same thing as democracy, who worries about politicians wishing to give opinions about everything under the sun, and who stops to think of how important Aristotelian ethics have been for centuries.” —The Economist“After Virtue is a rigorous, ambitious, and original book. It is a reinterpretation of the entire history of Western moral philosophy, as decline, fall, and—possibly—rebirth.” —The Village Voice“MacIntyre has reconsidered and extended his ideas since the 1981 and 1984 editions, but retains his central thesis that it is only possible to understand the dominant moral culture of advanced modernity adequately from a standpoint external to that culture. He is still an Aristotelian, he says, but has come to believe that Thomas Aquinas expressed Aristotle's views better than the old man himself did.” —Reference and Research Book News“If MacIntyre’s admittedly bleak diagnosis of our times is not accepted, the rivalry it sparked surely has some benefit for the interface between competing traditions. And where it is accepted, it will also be because those who accept it have not give up on our capacity, despite everything else, to be virtuous.” —Catholic Books Review"Alasdair MacIntyre in After Virtue has written one of the most important books of the decade… a stunning critique of current moral philosophy and moral practice." — Commonweal MagazineMaIntyre’s After Virtue is one of the most widely read books of moral philosophy to appear in recent years. It is written with little of the technical arguments that limits the readership of many philosophy works and has drawn considerable response from readers outside academe.” —The Chronicle of Higher Education

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Book SynopsisThis collection of Weil’s later writings captures her insightful philosophical explorations of the nature of value, moral thought, and the relation of faith and reason.Trade Review"This is an important and much-needed collection of Simone Weil’s later philosophical reflections, which is introduced, edited, and translated by two of the very best Weil scholars in the English-speaking world. Weil is too often excluded from conversations occurring within and around the academic discipline of philosophy, and as Eric O. Springsted carefully explains in his introduction, this omission may be a result of how Weil herself understood good philosophy—as a patient contemplation of irreducible problems, rather than as system-building that ends in a discrete set of positions and prescriptions. Springsted’s curation sheds new light on Weil, the philosopher, who attentively feels the rough patches of human existence so that she may inhabit, think, and act in the world more honestly." —Rebecca Rozelle-Stone, president, American Weil Society, University of North Dakota "[Simone Weil] was above all a thinker, and Eric O. Springsted has gathered a wonderful collection of 10 essays by her on just that. The essays are not merely Weil at her most speculative, but her reflections on the process of thinking itself. Taken together, they 'take up what she thought thinking is and ought to be and hence what she thought she was doing in writing all that she did.' In that alone, the book casts aside our habitual ways of remembering Weil and clears entirely fresh ground. . . . Each of the 10 essays is relatively short but packs a punch, as Weil’s writing tends to do. They were all written in the last three years of her life, from 1940 to 1943, a feverishly productive and intensely experimental time for Weil. She was living for the most part in Marseilles, where she had gone to work in the resistance after fleeing Paris, just as the Germans descended." —America"Springsted edits this collection of Simone Weil's works on her conception of philosophy, consisting of a short introduction and ten translated essays. . . . Though unpolished, these pieces offer substantive analysis and insight into key topics in philosophy, such as the nature of the discipline, value, personal identity, character, and morality. . . . An excellent resource for philosophers interested in metaphilosophy, metaethics, and free will." —Library Journal “In this welcome book, Springstead presents the philosophical thought of Simone Weil during the final three years of her life . . . All of the essays reveal both the interdisciplinary nature of Weil’s thought and the extent to which her way of philosophizing goes beyond the limits of academic philosophy.” —Choice“Springstead’s passion for Weil and his extraordinary expertise in her multidisciplinary contributions to intellectual life make him uniquely qualified to edit this philosophical testament. . . . Some of the essays have been unavailable for years, and several are presented for the first time in this welcome assortment of philosophical literature. Those who are admirers of Weil will appreciate these classic texts and be inspired by the newer contributions.” —Catholic Library World "This is an excellent book by one of the world's leading Simone Weil scholars. Eric O. Springsted has gathered Simone Weil's writings that focus explicitly on her conception of philosophy and its relation to both value and the transcendent. In doing so, he has provided a conceptual framework for understanding Weil's oeuvre as a whole, which challenges readers to reinvestigate their views on the nature of philosophy and value." —Mario Von Der Ruhr, Swansea University "This book makes an important contribution to Weil studies, studies which are by their very nature interdisciplinary. Because Weil died so young, much of her work was haphazardly collected into various volumes by friends and colleagues after her death, often with very little attention paid to theme, coherence, or consistency. Springsted has done a great service over the years to Weil scholars in his attempts to address these problems; this volume is a welcome continuation of his efforts." —Vance Morgan, Providence College “Springsted has selected several essays—some rather developed and others possibly drafts—that provide the reader with enough material to get a sense of ‘what she thought thinking is and ought to be and hence what she thought she was doing in writing all that she did.’ . . . Because the essays in this book capture her thinking within a very specific time period (1940-1943) and because many of their themes are related, the reader is able to get a certain sense of who she was and what she was about.” —CatholicBookReview.org“This careful selection of essays, the manner in which each is set up and put into context, and the very useful index, provide an excellent contribution to the existing Weil publications. Together with Springsted’s clear-sighted reflections on Weil’s understanding of philosophy in the introduction, this volume is to be highly recommended not only for Weil scholars but for all readers who have an interest in Weil’s philosophy.” —Irish Theological Quarterly

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Book Synopsis''In the midst of life we are in death.''The words of the Book of Common Prayer have permeated deep into the English language all over the world. For nearly 500 years, and for countless people, it has provided a background fanfare for a marriage or a funeral march at a burial. Yet this familiarity also hides a violent and controversial history. When it was first produced the Book of Common Prayer provoked riots and rebellion, and it was banned before being translated into a host of global languages and adopted as the basis for worship in the USA and elsewhere to the present day. This edition presents the work in three different states: the first edition of 1549, which brought the Reformation into people''s homes; the Elizabethan prayer book of 1559, familiar to Shakespeare and Milton; and the edition of 1662, which embodies the religious temper of the nation down to modern times. ''magnificent edition'' Diarmaid MacCulloch,London Review of Books''superb edition...excellent notes and introduction'' Rowan Williams, Times Literary Supplement ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Trade ReviewThis book is an exemplary text ... the reproduction of the three different prayer books is immaculate, and the introductory commentary is original and thought provoking. * Marcus Harmes, Parergon - Journal of the Australian and New Zealand Association for Medieval and Early Modern Studies *magnificent edition * Diarmaid MacCulloch, London Review of Books *superb edition...excellent notes and introduction * Rowan Williams, Times Literary Supplement *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; Note on the Texts ; Note on Music ; Select Bibliography ; Biblical Abbreviations ; THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER, 1549 ; THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER, 1559 ; THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER, 1662 ; Appendix A: The Black Rubric, 1552 ; Appendix B: Additional Orders of Service, Articles, and Tables 1662-85 ; Explanatory Notes ; Glossary ; Index of Services and Orders

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Book Synopsis''Alas that I ever did sin! It is so merry in Heaven!''The Book of Margery Kempe (c. 1436-8) is the extraordinary account of a medieval wife, mother, and mystic. Known as the earliest autobiography written in the English language, Kempe''s Book describes the dramatic transformation of its heroine from failed businesswoman and lustful young wife to devout and chaste pilgrim. She vividly describes her prayers and visions, as well as the temptations in daily life to which she succumbed before dedicating herself to her spiritual calling. She travelled to the most holy sites of the medieval world, including Rome and Jerusalem.In her life and her boisterous devotion, Kempe antagonized many of those around her; yet she also garnered friends and supporters who helped to record her experiences. Her Book opens a window on to the medieval world, and provides a fascinating portrait of one woman''s life, aspirations, and prayers. This new translation preserves the forceful narrative voice of Kempe'Trade ReviewBale's Book of Margery Kempe offers the best modern version of the text and the most comprehensive and judicious assessment of scholarly and critical environments in which to read this strange and wondrous work... Bale sensitively reviews all the textual, critical and ideological challenges of the work. His modern English is supple and responsive. * Times Literary Supplement, Seth Lerer *This lively new edition preserves the author's forceful individuality, but makes her writing accessible to a new audience, and her book not only flings open a forgotten world but also comes garnished with useful notes and maps of her extensive travels. * Good Book Guide, Fiona Lafferty *whatever view may be taken of Margery's visions, the book is extraordinarily lively and enjoyable, and gives an unparalleled glimpse of everyday life in that distant period of English history. This new translation by Anthony Bale is presented in idiomatic modern English, but aims to stay true to the style of the original, sometimes homely and familiar, sometimes high-flown and Latinate. It's wonderfully readable, and has an excellent introduction and notes. Altogether a great pleasure. * Shiny New Books, Harriet Devine *This new look at one of the most important texts of the Middle Ages will come as an eye-opener to those who believe that to live a religious life you need to be inordinately pious. * Northern Echo, Stephen Craggs *The Book of Margery Kempe is genuinely hard to put down - due to the incredible picture of medieval England it paints, and the fascinating mind of the woman who produced it. Anthony Bale's notes add a huge amount of value too, providing much needed context, and raising interesting questions about the material. * The Book Bag, Sue *Extraordinary * Peter Costello, The Irish Catholic *

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Book SynopsisDespite recent ferocious public debate about the likelihood of the existence of God, the most central concept in such arguments remains strangely obscure. What is God? In this written contribution to reasoned discussion, a revered religious thinker clarifies how the word "God" functions in various religious traditions.Trade Review"Hart marshals powerful historical evidence and philosophical argument to suggest that atheists—if they want to attack the opposition's strongest case—badly need to up their game."—Oliver Burkeman, The Guardian". . . there is something evangelical about this study: it is at once both the most valuable discussion of the doctrine of God to have appeared for decades, and a witty, often mordant, defence of Christian belief. . . . The Experience of God is still an outstanding addition to the literature on God, not least for its survey of so many of the world’s great faiths. It is also a fine piece of work of Christian apologetics, and a major contribution to debate on science and religion."—Andrew Davison, Times Literary Supplement"This hugely suggestive book is a lyrical paean to a vital, more capacious understanding of reality, ourselves and God: a timely and gripping invitation to wake up, see the regnant naturalism, and subvert its suffocating hegemony. The text is by turns elegant, curmudgeonly, witty, infuriating, incisive, nostalgic, rhapsodical, explosive, frequently bang on the money – and always stimulating."—Philip McCosker, The Tablet"David Hart can always be relied on to offer a perspective on Christian faith that is both profound and unexpected. In this masterpiece of quiet intellectual and spiritual passion, he magnificently sets the record straight as to what sort of God Christians believe in and why."—Rowan Williams, University of Cambridge"David Hart’s new book is nothing less than astounding. He is liberal, conservative, radical, theological, philosophical, and historical all at the same time – that is his genius. There is no American writing on religion as intelligently, bravely, and originally as Hart."—Conor Cunningham, University of Nottingham"David Bentley Hart’s new book is a feast- stylish and substantial. Bringing together Sanskritic analyses of God’s being with Latin and Greek and Arabic ones, this is a considerable achievement by one of the most distinctive voices in contemporary theology."—Paul J. Griffiths, Duke Divinity School"Writing at a high philosophical level with a sharp sense of humor, Hart argues for an ecumenical Theism. Devastatingly accurate, imaginative, and immensely readable, this is David Bentley Hart’s best book."—Francesca Murphy, University of Notre Dame"Magnificent . . . a book unlike anything done in recent times and one that only Hart could write."—Robert Louis Wilken

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Book SynopsisHealth and social care practitioners are increasingly called upon to provide care to elderly people from a number of different faiths and cultures. This collection of essays examines ageing in the context of the many faiths and cultures that make up Western society, and provides carers with the knowledge they need to deliver sensitive and appropriate care to people of all faiths. Chapters are written by authoritative figures from each of the world's major faith groups about the beliefs and practices of their older people. Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Jewish and Buddhist perspectives are covered, as well as those of ageing veterans and ageing religious sisters. Issues of appropriate care are also addressed, and the book includes recommendations for policy and practice. This accessible and inspiring book will be a useful text for academics, policy makers and practitioners in health and social care, aged care workers, pastoral carers, chaplains and religious professionals, in hospital, residential and other care settings.Trade ReviewThis is a book for our times, focusing on the concepts of ageing and dying, mediated through the cultural belief systems and spiritual practices that comprise today's multi faith, multi cultural societies... this book has much to teach us that is applicable in Britain, specifically the essay relating to "living and being in multi cultural communities" and the essay examining the delivery of high quality care within the multi cultural, multi faith context.It is important in delivering holistic care to clients, that we understand the broader context in which they are living, ageing and dying, and how their faith and belief systems influence their, and their care givers' attitudes to the care being provided. This is a book that can only aid the better provision of such holistic care. -- Signpost`Elizabeth MacKinlay has established herself as a leading, innovative and well-organized voice in the challenge for both church and society to face the demographic reality of increased longevity...A wide-ranging book of seventeen chapters covers a number of issues and questions...Chapters not only engage with the various faiths and cultures, traditions and care practices, but also relate this to issues in death and dying, appropriate care, policy and standards of practice...This book is a useful stimulus to our thinking and action.` -- Modern BelievingThis inspiring book which has a good balance of theory and practice will provide front line practitioners with the knowledge they need to deliver sensitive and appropriate care to older people of all belief systems. -- Chia See Hong, Lecturer in OT * Signpost *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements. Preface. 1. Ageing and Spirituality: Living and Being in Multifaith and Multicultural Communities, Elizabeth MacKinlay, Charles Sturt University, Australia. 2. The Interrelationship of Spirituality, Culture and Community in International Perspective, James Haire, Charles Sturt University, Australia. 3. The Cultural Diversity of Older Australians, Ingrid Seebus and Ann Peut, Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australia. 4. The Ageing Spirit, Rachael Kohn, ABC Radio National, Australia. 5. Friends and Neighbours: Pastoral Care and Ageing in Christian Perspective, Elizabeth MacKinlay, Charles Sturt University, Australia. 6. From Ageing to Sage-ing: Judaism and Ageing, Jeffrey Cohen, University of New South Wales, Australia. 7. Dorothy, Oodgeroo and Blackfella Ageing: The Role of Spirituality When You're Short on Culture and Can't Find Your Red Shoes, Dennis McDermott, Flinders University, Australia. 8. An Islamic Perspective on Ageing and Spirituality, Mohammad Abdalla, Griffith University, Australia, and Ikebal Mohammed Adam Patel, Muslims Australia, Australian Capital Territory Muslim Advisory Council, Malek Fahd Islamic School and Islamic School of Canberra, Australia. 9. The Spiritual Needs of the Aged and Dying: A Buddhist Perspective, Subhana Barzaghi, Sydney Zen Centre, Australia. 10. Dying: An Approach to Care from Hindu and Buddhist Perspectives, Amy Rayner, University of Melbourne, Australia, and Purushottama Bilimoria, Deakin University, University of Melbourne, Australia, and State University of New York and Columbia University, USA. 11. Orthodox Faith: A Lively Spirit for Older People, Rosalie Hudson, Charles Sturt University and University of Melbourne, Australia. 12. Cultural Diversity in Aged Care: A Showcase of Services Tailored to Meet the Physical, Cultural and Spiritual Needs of People of Greek Origin, Robyn Simmonds and Rev. Fr. Nicholas Stavropoulos, St. Basil's Homes, Australia. 13. Spiritual Well-being for Older People, Ann Harrington, Flinders University, Australia. 14. Integrated Support for Veterans in Aged Care Homes, Tracey T.A. McDonald, Australian Catholic University, Australia. 15. On the Road to Emmaus: Ageing Religious Sisters, A Group with Specific Spiritual and Cultural Needs, Gabrielle Brian, Charles Sturt University, Australia 16. Promoting High Quality Care, Elizabeth Pringle, Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency, Australia. 17. The Search Conference Process in Ageing and Spiritual and Pastoral Care: Directions for the Future, Elizabeth MacKinlay, Charles Sturt University, Australia. Contributors. References.

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Book Synopsis`There are certain rules for interpreting the scriptures which, as I am well aware, can usefully be passed on to those with an appetite for such study...'' On Christian Teaching is one of Augustine''s most important works on the classical tradition. Written to enable Christian students to be their own interpreters of the Bible, it provides an outline of Christian theology, a detailed discussion of ethical problems, and a fascinating early contribution to sign theory. Augustine also makes a systematic attempt to determine what elements of classical education are permissible for a Christian, and in the last book suggests ways in which Ciceronian rhetorical principles may help in communicating the faith. This long-needed, completely new and up-to-date translation gives a close but stylish representation of Augustine''s thought and expression. References to the classical background are carefully explained and Roger Green''s introduction describes the aims and circumstances of the work, and outlines its influence on major figures in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Trade Reviewa great chance to see how clever Augustine was. ... (It is more than a work on Christian teaching: it is a book about teaching. Or learning, in fact.) * The Guardian G2 section, 17 July 1997 *Table of ContentsTHE USUAL WORLD'S CLASSICS APPARATUS

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Book SynopsisImagine it is 1579. Teresa of Avila and several nuns are travelling to a remote convent in Spain. When the sisters are attempting to cross a raging river in their donkey cart all the supplies for their long trip are washed away. Teresa seeks refuge under a tree and snaps ''If this is how God treats his friends it''s no wonder he has so few.''Celebrated for more than four centuries as a master of mystical writing, St. Teresa of Avila is one of the most beloved religious figures in history. An irreverent fiery nun, St. Teresa talked back to everyone including God. She held unconventional progressive views on prayer and worship and spent most of her career under the scrutiny of the Inquisition. Her tendency toward sudden fits and visions only increased the Church''s suspicions and she was even labelled insane by a few of her contemporaries. Like her confidant and protégé, fellow reformer St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa was persecuted throughout her life simply for believing that every person is capable of a direct relationship with God. At her secluded convent in 1577 Teresa was overcome by a mystical vision of a crystal castle with seven chambers each representing a different stage in the soul''s spiritual quest for union with God. In her vision, a light shone from the largest and most central chamber with the surrounding rooms receiving only some of this divine light. A soul, making progress on its journey to God, passed through each chamber, moving closer and closer to God''s light. Teresa was inspired to write about her vision, with a commentary to guide seekers through each room as they searched for God.

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Book SynopsisIn Mind and Cosmos Thomas Nagel argues that the widely accepted world view of materialist naturalism is untenable. The mind-body problem cannot be confined to the relation between animal minds and animal bodies. If materialism cannot accommodate consciousness and other mind-related aspects of reality, then we must abandon a purely materialist understanding of nature in general, extending to biology, evolutionary theory, and cosmology. Since minds are features of biological systems that have developed through evolution, the standard materialist version of evolutionary biology is fundamentally incomplete. And the cosmological history that led to the origin of life and the coming into existence of the conditions for evolution cannot be a merely materialist history. An adequate conception of nature would have to explain the appearance in the universe of materially irreducible conscious minds, as such. No such explanation is available, and the physical sciences, including molecular biology, cannot be expected to provide one. The book explores these problems through a general treatment of the obstacles to reductionism, with more specific application to the phenomena of consciousness, cognition, and value. The conclusion is that physics cannot be the theory of everything.Trade ReviewMind and Cosmos is ... extraordinarily ambitious. Nagel proposes not merely a new explanation for the origin of life and consciousness, but a new type of explanation: 'natural teleology.' * George Scialabba, Inference: International Review of Science *Nagels book is provocative, interesting and important * Simon Oliver, Studies in Christian Ethics *Nagels arguments are forceful, and his proposals are bold, intriguing, and original. This, though short and clear, is philosophy in the grand manner, and it is worthy of much philosophical discussion. * Keith Ward, The Philosophical Quarterly *This is a challenging text that should provoke much further reflection. I recommend it to anyone interested in trying to understand the nature of our existence. * W. Richard Bowen, ESSSAT News & Reviews 23:1 *[This] troublemaking book has sparked the most exciting disputation in many years... I like Nagel's mind and I like Nagel's cosmos. He thinks strictly but not imperiously, and in grateful view of the full tremendousness of existence. * Leon Wieseltier, The New Republic *A sharp, lucidly argued challenge to today's scientific worldview. * Jim Holt, The Wall Street Journal *Nagel's arguments against reductionism should give those who are in search of a reductionist physical 'theory of everything' pause for thought... The book serves as a challenging invitation to ponder the limits of science and as a reminder of the astonishing puzzle of consciousness. * Science *Mind and Cosmos, weighing in at 128 closely argued pages, is hardly a barn-burning polemic. But in his cool style Mr. Nagel extends his ideas about consciousness into a sweeping critique of the modern scientific worldview. * The New York Times *[This] short, tightly argued, exacting new book is a work of considerable courage and importance. * National Review *Provocative... Reflects the efforts of a fiercely independent mind. * H. Allen Orr, The New York Review of Books *Challenging and intentionally disruptive... Unless one is a scientific Whig, one must strongly suspect that something someday will indeed succeed [contemporary science]. Nagel's Mind and Cosmos does not build a road to that destination, but it is much to have gestured toward a gap in the hills through which a road might someday run. * The Los Angeles Review of Books *A model of carefulness, sobriety and reason... Reading Nagel feels like opening the door on to a tidy, sunny room that you didn't know existed. * The Guardian *Fascinating... [A] call for revolution. * Alva Noe, Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews *The book's wider questions -- its awe-inspiring questions -- turn outward to address the uncanny cognizability of the universe around us... He's simply doing the old-fashioned Socratic work of gadfly, probing for gaps in what science thinks it knows. * Louis B. Jones, The Threepenny Review *[Attacks] the hidden hypocrisies of many reductionists, secularists, and those who wish to have it both ways on religious modes of thinking ... Fully recognizes the absurdities (my word, not his) of dualism, and thinks them through carefully and honestly. * Tyler Cowen, Marginal Revolution *This is an interesting and clearly written book by one of the most important philosophers alive today. It serves as an excellent introduction to debates about the power of scientific explanation. * Constantine Sandis, Times Higher Education *... reading this book will certainly prove a worthwhile venture, as it is certain to have an inspiring effect on the reader's own attitude towards mind and the cosmos. * Jozef Bremer, Forum Philosophicum *Table of ContentsI. Introduction ; II. Antireductionism and the Natural Order ; III. Consciousness ; IV. Cognition ; V. Value ; VI. Conclusion

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Book SynopsisA deep and encompassing dive into the vast array of symbols and attributes that appear within the complex iconography of Tibetan BuddhismThe Handbook of Tibetan Buddhist Symbols is a portal into the rich, multifaceted, and profound symbolism of Tibetan sacred art. The succinct descriptions that accompany Robert Beer’s detailed line drawings reveal the origins, meanings, and functions of these symbols. Beer unravels the multiple layers of symbolism and meaning contained within the iconography, affording the reader a panoramic vision into the deeper dimensions of this sacred art.Drawn largely from Beer’s monumental work The Encyclopedia of Tibetan Symbols and Motifs, the meticulous brush drawings in this book depict all of the major Buddhist symbols and motifs, including the various groups of auspicious symbols; cosmological symbols; natural and mythical animals, such as the dragon, garuda, and makara; the entire assembly of ritual tantric implements and weapons; magical and wrathful symbols; handheld emblems, attributes, and plants; esoteric Vajrayana offerings; and mudras, or ritual hand gestures.

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