Religion Books

Book SynopsisFrom its obscure beginnings in Jamaica in the early 1930s, Rastafari has grown into an international socio-religious movement. It is estimated that 700,000 to 1 million people worldwide have embraced Rastafari, and adherents of the movement can be found in most of the major population centres and many outposts of the world. Rastafari: A Very Short Introduction provides an account of this widespread but often poorly understood movement. Ennis B. Edmonds looks at the essential history of Rastafari, including its principles and practices and its internal character and configuration. He examines its global spread, and its far-reaching influence on cultural and artistic production in the Caribbean and beyond. 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.Table of ContentsIntroduction ; 1. Movement of Jah people: the history of Rastafari in Jamica ; 2. 'Rastatology' and 'livity': the principles and practices of Rastafari ; 3. Grounding, houses, and mansions: social formation of Rastafari ; 4. Rastafari international: the making of a global movement ; 5. Kingmen, queens, and dawtas: gender issues in Rastafari ; 5. 'The Head Corner Stone': Rastafari and Caribbean culture ; Further reading

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe orderliness of the universe and the existence of human beings already provides some reason for believing that there is a God - as argued in Richard Swinburne''s earlier book Is There a God ? Swinburne now claims that it is probable that the main Christian doctrines about the nature of God and his actions in the world are true. In virtue of his omnipotence and perfect goodness, God must be a Trinity, live a human life in order to share our suffering, and found a church which would enable him to tell all humans about this. It is also quite probable that he would provide his human life as an atonement for our wrongdoing, teach us how we should live and tell us his plans for our future after death. Among founders of religions, Jesus satisfies uniquely well the requirement of living the sort of human life which God would need to have lived. But to give us adequate reason to believe that Jesus was God, God would need to put his ''signature'' on the life of Jesus by an act which he alone Trade ReviewReview from previous edition Richard Swinburne, the former Nolloth Professor at Oxford, adroitly marshals the evidences of natural theology to affirm the cogency of the Christian faith... Was Jesus God? is an entertaining, bracing, compelling book and welcome proof that not all of our academics have turned their backs on what Hopkins once called 'the fine delight that fathers thought. * Edward Short, Inside Catholic *Table of ContentsPART 1 GOD LOVES US; PART 2 GOD SHOWS US THAT HE LOVES US

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis Very Short Introduction provides both the believer and non-believer with a balanced survey of the central questions of theology. David Ford''s approach draws us in to considering the principles underlying religious belief, including the centrality of salvation to most major religions, the concept of God in ancient, modern, and postmodern contexts, the challenge posed to theology by prayer and worship, and the issue of sin and evil. He also probes the nature of experience, knowledge, and wisdom in theology, and discusses what is involved in interpreting theological texts.In this new edition, Ford considers the contemporary relevance of theology, including the effect of globalization and digitized communication, examines the theological responses to change and development in science, considers the impact of increased engagement between Islam and the West, and looks at the development and importance of theology between the different faiths.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 ReviewIt is written in an extremely accesible, interesting and fresh style and this combined with its 'safely' othodox but balanced tone will make it a useful aid to assisting a range of people. * Ray Gaston, Theology November/December 1999 *Table of ContentsPreface ; Part 1: Describing the field ; 1. Introduction: Theology and the religions in transformation ; 2. Theology and religious studies: how is the field shaped? ; Part 2: Theological explorations ; 3. Thinking of God ; 4. Living before God: worship, ethics, and politics ; 5. Facing evil ; 6. Jesus Christ ; 7. Salvation - scope, intensity, and dialogues ; Part 3: Skills, disciplines, and methods ; 8. Through the past to the present: history and texts ; 9. Experience, reason, and wisdom ; Part 4: Prospects ; 10. Theology for the third millennium ; References ; Further reading

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe landmark study of world myth and cultureDraws on myths, rituals, totems and taboos of ancient European and primitive cultures throughout the world. The third edition of this monumental study of folklore, magic, and religion was abridged by the authour into this single volume in 1922.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.Table of ContentsIntroduction: Outcast from the Islands: Frazer, The Golden Bough and Modern AnthropologyPreface to the 1922 abridgementI. The King of the Wood1. Diana and Virbius2. Artemis and Hippolytus3. RecapitulationII. Priestly KingsIII. Sympathetic Magic1. The Principles of Magic2. Homoeopathic or Imitative Magic3. Contagious Magic4. The Magician's ProgressIV. Magic and ReligionV. The Magical Control of the Weather1. The Public Magician2. The Magical Control of Rain3. The Magical Control of the Sun4. The Magical Control of the WindVI. Magicians as KingsVII. Incarnate Human GodsVIII. Departmental Kings of NatureIX. The Worship of Trees1. Tree-spirits2. Beneficent Powers of Tree-spiritsX. Relics of Tree-worship in Modern EuropeXI. The Influence of the Sexes on VegetationXII. The Sacred Marriage1. Diana as a Goddess of Fertility2. The Marriage of the GodsXIII. The Kings of Rome and Alba1. Numa and Egeria2. The King as JupiterXIV. The Succession to the Kingdom in Ancient LatiumXV. The Worship of the OakXVI.Dianus and DianaXVII. The Burden of Royalty1. Royal and Priestly Taboos2. Divorce of the Spiritual from the Temporal PowerXVIII. The Perils of the Soul1. The Soul as a Mannikin2. Absence and Recall of the Soul3. The Soul as a Shadow and a ReflectionXIX. Tabooed Acts1. Taboos on Intercourse with Strangers2. Taboos on Eating and Drinking3. Taboos on Showing the Face4. Taboos on Quitting the House5. Taboos on Leaving Food OverXX. Tabooed Persons1. Chiefs and Kings Tabooed2. Mourners Tabooed3. Women Tabooed at Menstruation and Childbirth4. Warriors Tabooed5. Manslayers Tabooed6. Hunters and Fishers TabooedXXI. Tabooed Things1. The Meaning of Taboo2. Iron Tabooed3. Sharp Weapons Tabooed4. Blood Tabooed5. The Head Tabooed6. Hair Tabooed7. Ceremonies at Hair-cutting8. Disposal of Cut Hair and Nails9. Spittle Tabooed10. Foods Tabooed11. Knots and Rings TabooedXXII. Tabooed Words1. Personal Names Tabooed2. Names of Relations Tabooed3. Names of the Dead Tabooed4. Names of Kings and Other Sacred Persons Tabooed5. Names of Gods TabooedXXIII. Our Debt to the SavageXXIV. The Killing of the Divine King1. The Mortality of the Gods2. Kings Killed When Their Strength Fails3. Kings Killed at the End of a Fixed TermXXV. Temporary KingsXXVI. Sacrifice of the King's SonXXVII. Succession to the SoulXXVIII. The Killing of the Tree-spirit1. The Whitsuntide Mummers2. Burying the Carnival3. Carrying out Death4. Bringing in Summer5. Battle of Summer and Winter6. Death and Resurrection of Kostrubonko7. Death and Revival of Vegetation8. Analogous Rites in India9. The Magic SpringXXIX. The Myth of AdonisXXX. Adonis in SyriaXXXI. Adonis in CyprusXXXII. The Ritual of AdonisXXXIII. The Gardens of AdonisXXXIV. The Myth and Ritual of AttisXXXV. Attis as a God of VegetationXXXVI. Human Representatives of AttisXXXVII. Oriental Religions in the WestXXXVIII. The Myth of OsirisXXXIX. The Ritual of Osiris1. The Popular Rites2. The Official RitesXL. The Nature of Osiris1. Osiris a Corn-god2. Osiris a Tree-spirit3. Osiris a God of Fertility4. Osiris a God of the DeadXLI. IsisXLII. Osiris and the SunXLIII. DionysusXLIV. Demeter and PersephoneXLV. The Corn-mother and the Corn-maiden in Northern EuropeXLVI. The Corn-mother in Many Lands1. The Corn-mother in America2. The Rice-mother in the East Indies3. The Spirit of the Corn Embodied in Human Beings4. The Double Personification of the Corn as Mother and DaughterXLVII. Lityerses1. Songs of the Corn-reapers2. Killing the Corn-spirit3. Human Sacrifices for the Crops4. The Corn-spirit Slain in his Human RepresentativesXLVIII. The Corn-spirit as an Animal1. Animal Embodiments of the Corn-spirit2. The Corn-spirit as a Wolf or a Dog3. The Corn-spirit as a Cock4. The Corn-spirit as a Hare5. The Corn-spirit as a Cat6. The Corn-spirit as a Goat7. The Corn-spirit as a Bull, Cow, or Ox8. The Corn-spirit as a Horse or Mare9. The Corn-spirit as a Pig (Boar or Sow)10. On the Animal Embodiments of the Corn-spiritXLIX. Ancient Deities of Vegetation as Animals1. Dionysus, the Goat and the Bull2. Demeter, the Pig and the Horse3. Attis, Adonis, and the Pig4. Osiris, the Pig and the Bull5. Virbius and the HorseL. Eating the God1. The Sacrament of First-fruits2. Eating the God among the Aztecs3. Many Manii at AriciaLI. Homoeopathic Magic of a Flesh DietLII. Killing the Divine Animal1. Killing the Sacred Buzzard2. Killing the Sacred Ram3. Killing the Sacred Serpent4. Killing the Sacred Turtles5. Killing the Sacred BearLIII. The Propitiation of Wild Animals by HuntersLIV. Types of Animal Sacrament1. The Egyptian and the Aino Types of Sacrament2. Processions with Sacred AnimalsLV. The Transference of Evil1. The Transference to Inanimate Objects2. The Transference to Animals3. The Transference to Men4. The Transference of Evil in EuropeLVI. The Public Expulsion of Evils1. The Omnipresence of Demons2. The Occasional Expulsion of Evils3. The Periodic Expulsion of EvilsLVII. Public Scapegoats1. The Expulsion of Embodied Evils2. The Occasional Expulsion of Evils in a Material Vehicle3. The Periodic Expulsion of Evils in a Material Vehicle4. On Scapegoats in GeneralLVIII. Human Scapegoats in Classical Antiquity1. The Human Scapegoat in Ancient Rome2. The Human Scapegoat in Ancient Greece3. The Roman SaturnaliaLIX. Killing the God in MexicoLX. Between Heaven and Earth1. Not to Touch the Earth2. Not to See the Sun3. The Seclusion of Girls at Puberty4. Reasons for the Seclusion of Girls at PubertyLXI. The Myth of BalderLXII. The Fire-festivals of Europe1. The Fire-festivals in General2. The Lenten Fires3. The Easter Fires4. The Beltane Fires5. The Midsummer Fires6. The Hallowe'en Fires7. The Midwinter Fires8. The Need-fireLXIII. The Interpretation of the Fire-festivals1. On the Fire-festivals in General2. The Solar Theory of the Fire-festivals3. The Purifactory Theory of the Fire-festivalsLXIV. The Burning of Human Beings in the Fires1. The Burning of Effigies in the Fires2. The Burning of Men and Animals in the FiresLXV. Balder and the MistletoeLXVI. The External Soul in Folk-talesLXVII. The External Soul in Folk-custom1. The External Soul in Inanimate Things2. The External Soul in Plants3. The External Soul in Animals4. The Ritual of Death and ResurrectionLXVIII. The Golden BoughLXIX. Farewell to NemiIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisWritten from the ninth to the twentieth century, these poems represent the peak of Islamic Mystical writing, from Rabia Basri to Mian Mohammad Baksh. Reflecting both private devotional love and the attempt to attain union with God and become absorbed into the Divine, many poems in this edition are imbued with the symbols and metaphors that develop many of the central ideas of Sufism: the Lover, the Beloved, the Wine, and the Tavern; while others are more personal and echo the poet''s battle to leave earthly love behind. These translations capture the passion of the original poetry and are accompanied by an introduction on Sufism and the common themes apparent in the works. This edition also includes suggested further reading.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn outreach edition of the New Testament, using the ESV translation in British English perfect for church groups and to give away at events.Passing on the Christian faith is at the heart of our calling, and this outreach edition of the New Testament means that there is a cost-effective way to share the Gospel, using a translation you can trust.Created by a team of more than 100 Evangelical Bible scholars, the ESV is the fastest-growing translation, and is the go-to Bible for church leaders and ministries around the world.More evangelical churches than ever before are using the ESV. Now you can reach out beyond your church with this attractive and affordable New Testament, bringing the life-giving Gospel to your friends and neighboursTrade Review‘An accurate, consistent, and readable Bible translation is essential. The ESV is all those things.’- William Taylor, St Helen’s Bishopsgate ‘It provides the continuity and modern accuracy I longed for.’- John Piper, desiringgod.org ‘Confidence. That’s what every Christian can have when they use this version.’- Steve Timmis, Acts 29

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn inspirational source of encouragement for Lent.The Little Book of Lent' is a powerful anthology of readings from spiritual writers for each day of Lent, with accompanying scripture and prayers to help guide daily reflections.With extracts from a range of inspirational writers and theologians, including Desmond Tutu, Sheila Cassidy and Rowan Williams, 'The Little Book of Lent' guides you to deepen your prayer life in anticipation of Easter.This book can be read on your own or with others, used either for self-reflection or to spark discussion and share insights on God's truths. This edition would be perfect on which to base a Lent course or to use as a talking point for home groups.Whether or not you choose to read the extracts multiple times or once straight through, Howells' latest work will lead you to new heights in your Christian journey and personal walk with God. It is the ideal gift for friends, family or anyone else preparing themselves for the sacrifices of Lent.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is Henri Nouwen's secret journal'.It was written during the most difficult period of his life, when, following, the breakdown of a close relationship, he suddenly lost his self-esteem, his energy to live and work, his sense of being loved and even his hope in God.For the countless men and women who have to live through the anguish and despair of broken relationships, or who suffer from the loss of a loved one, this book offers new courage, new hope, even new life.

Read more less

Book SynopsisJust as a whole world of beauty can be discovered in one flower, so the great grace of God can be tasted in one small moment.'This observation is central to the probing spiritual journey of Henri Nouwen written during his seven-month stay in a Trappist monastery: the Abbey of the Genesee in upstate New York.During this period he had a unique opportunity to explore crucial issues of the spiritual life and discover a quiet stream underneath the fluctuating affirmations and rejections of our little world'.Insightful, compassionate, often humorous, always realistic, The Genesee Diary is both an inspiration and a challenge to those who are in search of themselves.

Read more less

Book SynopsisOne of a major new Classics series - books that have changed the history of thought, in sumptuous, clothbound hardbacks.The son of a pagan father and a Christian mother, Saint Augustine spent his early years torn between conflicting faiths and world views. His Confessions, written when he was in his forties, recount how, slowly and painfully, he came to turn away from his youthful ideas and licentious lifestyle, to become instead a staunch advocate of Christianity and one of its most influential thinkers. A remarkably honest and revealing spiritual autobiography, the Confessions also address fundamental issues of Christian doctrine, and many of the prayers and meditations it includes are still an integral part of the practice of Christianity today.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSt Augustine, bishop of Hippo, was one of the central figures in the history of Christianity, and City of God is one of his greatest theological works. Written as an eloquent defence of the faith at a time when the Roman Empire was on the brink of collapse, it examines the ancient pagan religions of Rome, the arguments of the Greek philosophers and the revelations of the Bible. Pointing the way forward to a citizenship that transcends the best political experiences of the world and offers citizenship that will last for eternity, City of God is one of the most influential documents in the development of Christianity.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introducTable of ContentsCity of GodChronologyIntroductionFurther ReadingTranslator's NoteArrangements and Contents of the City of GodAbbreviations Used in ReferencesConcerning the City of God, Against the PagansPart IBook IBook IIBook IIIBook IVBook VBook VIBook VIIBook VIIIBook IXBook XPart IIBook XIBook XIIBook XIIIBook XIVBook XVBook XVIBook XVIIBook XVIIIBook XIXBook XXBook XXIBook XXIIIndex

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn outstanding distillation of Grimal's classic reference, this extensively cross-referenced work offers clear and concise entries that capture the essence of Greek and Roman mythology.

Read more less

Book SynopsisKierkegaard''s infamous and hugely influential philosophical work on faith, choice and sacrificeIn Fear and Trembling Kierkegaard, writing under the pseudonym Johannes de silentio, expounds his personal view of religion through the scene in Genesis in which Abraham prepares to kill his son at God''s command. Kierkegaard believed Abraham''s unreserved obedience to be the essential leap of faith needed to make a full commitment to his religion. The conviction shown in this polemic - that an individual can have an exceptional mission in life - informed all his later writings, and was also hugely influential for both Protestant theology and the existentialist movement.Translated with an Introduction by Alastair HannayTable of ContentsFear and Trembling IntroductionFear and TremblingPrefaceAttunementSpeech in Praise of AbrahamProblemataPreamble from the HeartProblemata IProblemata IIProblemata IIIEpilogueNotes

Read more less

Book SynopsisCognitive science joins with Asian contemplative traditions and philosophy to bring revolutionary meaning to the human experience.Trade ReviewIn a game-changing book that is both an intellectual tour de force and the courageous statement of a life's ideal, Thompson brilliantly demonstrates how Indian philosophical thought can join forces with the neurosciences to create a new science of the conscious mind. A must-read for anyone who believes that the future of philosophy is crosscultural. -- Jonardon Ganeri, University of Sussex and the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London Evan Thompson, a philosopher with a deep knowledge of Indo-Tibetan contemplative traditions and modern neuroscience, has written a brilliant and comprehensive book on the nature of awareness and the self. Waking, Dreaming, Being is a dazzling synthesis. Thompson takes on some of the most fundamental questions about the nature of mind and addresses them with remarkable creativity and clarity. This volume is a must read for any serious student of the mind and consciousness. -- Richard J. Davidson, New York Times-bestselling coauthor of The Emotional Life of Your Brain Drawing on multiple sources of knowledge, all tested by first-person experience and critical analysis, Thompson presents an illuminating neurophenomenological account of what it's like to be a conscious human being. -- Stephen LaBerge, author of Exploring the World of Lucid Dreaming Waking, Dreaming, Being powerfully demonstrates how bringing cognitive science, philosophy, and Buddhism into a critical engagement can open innovative ways of exploring the 'hard problem' of consciousness. The blending of philosophical rigor and scientific knowledge with meditative insights, with the author's own remarkable life as the larger background, makes the book a real joy to read. This book will be an invaluable help to anyone who is interested in knowing how the fundamental questions of self, consciousness, and human existence can be explored in a way that combines the best of both East and West. -- Thupten Jinpa, author of Self, Reality and Reason in Tibetan Philosophy With extensive training in Buddhism, brain science, and phenomenology, Evan Thompson is uniquely positioned to reveal how different perspectives on the mind can be mutually illuminating. He begins with the Buddhist insight that there are many forms of consciousness--far more than traditionally recognized in the West--and he shows that these can be associated with deferent brain processes. The result is a richly original and integrated account of human mental life. Whether you are a curious newcomer or a seasoned expert, you have much to learn from this stunning synthesis of ancient wisdom and cutting-edge science. -- Jesse Prinz, author of The Conscious Brain and Beyond Human Nature [An] excellent book. New York Times Book Review Extraordinary and exciting claims... beautiful ideas. Cosmos and Culture Contemplative and groundbreaking, Waking, Dreaming, Being is a welcome addition to college library philosophy shelves. Midwest Book Review Waking, Dreaming, Being is an exceptional and intriguing contribution to the exploration of consciousness as a multidimensional self and makes a convincing argument for the usefulness of philosophical, experiential, and scientific approaches to understanding consciousness. -- Marissa Krimsky Buddhadharma A rich, thought-provoking and poetic tour of a wide variety of phenomena of consciousness... Constructivist Foundations A magnificent tome. Big Think This is a ground-breaking exploration of conciousness and the self as they occur across the states of waking, falling asleep, dreaming, lucid dreaming, deep dreamless sleep, out-of-body experiences and dying. Evan Thompson's rich, beautifully written book interweaves lucid prose with relevant personal anecdotes, bringing the latest neuroscience together with ancient contemplative wisdom to offer valuable insightr into the nature of conciousness and the self. -- Miri Albahari Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews This remarkable book addresses deep philosophical questions from a unique perspective. Choice Waking Dreaming Being will soon be considered a landmark and a tipping point in consciousness investigations.Journal of Mind and Behavior Journal of Mind and Behavior A lucid and comprehensive account of the self as a subject of experience and agent of action. -- George T. Hole Philosophical Practice A fine book by an extraordinary author. Journal of Consciousness StudiesTable of ContentsForeword by Stephen Batchelor Prologue: The Dalai Lama's Conjecture Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Seeing: What Is Consciousness? 2. Waking: How Do We Perceive? 3. Being: What Is Pure Awareness? 4. Dreaming: Who Am I? 5. Witnessing: Is This a Dream? 6. Imagining: Are We Real? 7. Floating: Where Am I? 8. Sleeping: Are We Conscious in Deep Sleep? 9. Dying: What Happens When We Die? 10. Knowing: Is the Self an Illusion? Notes Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisSt Boniface, the early 8th-century English cleric who became known as "Apostle to the Germans" was an important agent in the conversion of the North German tribes from paganism to Christianity. This text provides translations of his letters.

Read more less

Book SynopsisExamines the Buddhist priest Kukai's influence on Japanese culture. This book contends that the importance of Kukai's transmission of esoteric Buddhism to Japan lay in his creation of a general theory of language grounded in the ritual speech of mantra. It explores the rhetorical strategies Kukai employed in his works.Trade ReviewThis is a remarkable book about one of the most remarkable figures in the history of Japanese Buddhism...Abe's book will certainly emerge and remain the primary examination of Kukai's life and thought for many years to come. It is thus a crucial read for anyone interested in early Japanese religion and intellectual history...The Weaving of Mantra provides a very lengthy, detailed, and substantial intellectual historical analysis of Kukai...[T]his book is a monumental achievement that will fascinate students of Japanese religion and stimulate much discussion among historians. -- Steven Heine Journal of Asian Studies Abe has made a major contribution to our understanding of the figure of Kukai, of Esoteric Buddhism, of the political, intellectual and religious situation of the Nara and early Heian periods, and of our view of medieval Japanese Buddhism as a whole. He has command of an impressive range of sources, both classical and modern, and he has a sophisticated grasp of recent theoretical discussions... Both in the new readings of early and medieval Japanese Buddhism that it advances and in the discussions that it will stimulate, this volume stands as a major addition to the field. -- Paul B. Watt Journal of Asian HistoryTable of ContentsAcknowledgments Interaction of Kukai with the Nara Clergy Illustrations Introduction 1. Kukai and (Very) Early Heian Society: A Prolegomenon Part I. Origins, Traces, Nonorigin 2. Kukai's Dissent: Of Mendicancy and Fiction 3. Journey to China: Outside Ritsuryo Discourse 4. (No) Traces of Esoteric Buddhism: Dharani and the Nara Buddhist Literature Part II. Cartography 5. Category and History: Constructing the Esoteric 6. The Discourse of Complementarity: Constructing the Esoteric II Part III. Writing and Polity 7. Semiology of the Dharma; or the Somaticity of the Text 8. Of Mantra and Palace: Textualizing the Emperor, Calamity and the Cosmos 9. Genealogy of Mantra and Kukai's Legacy Post-Script Problems of the Category of Heian Buddhism Kukai and the Limitation of Kuroda's Kenmitsu Theory Glossary Abbreviations Notes Selected Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisRenowned scholar Burton Watson's translation exactingly depicts the life and teachings of the great ninth-century Chinese Zen master Lin-chi, one of the most highly regarded of the T'ang period masters.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA beautifully written, evocative exploration of the Celtic concept of 'sacred space'Trade Review“One of the most talented spiritual writers.” * The Tablet *

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisTwo of G. K. Chesterton's most important and well-known works are contained in this volume: Heretics, and Orthodoxy. In Heretics, Chesterton addresses the intellectual movements of his time that he considered most prominent and destructive. Chesterton confronts relativism, individualism, neo-paganism, and other trends of the modern period, paying special attention to the artists and intellectual elite of his time. Orthodoxy, a classic that is part memoir, part apologetic. It exhibits Chesterton at his finest--a combination of literary wit, theological acumen, and pointed cultural critique. The two works complement each other perfectly, providing an accessible entry point to the battleground of truth and falsehood.Lexham Classics are beautifully typeset new editions of classic works. Each book has been carefully transcribed from the original texts, ensuring an accurate representation of the writing as the author intended it to be read.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn exciting, natural sequel to Good Morning, Holy Spirit.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAnother great collection of seasonal resources from Ruth Burgess. Winter is a liturgical resource book that covers the months of November, December and January. It includes prayers, stories, responses, songs, poems, reflections, liturgies and meditations for the major Christian festivals of All Saints', Advent, Christmas and Epiphany, as well as for Remembrance, Blue Christmas, Christingle, New Year, Christian Unity and other occasions. The material is written by Iona Community members, associates, friends and others.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn these days of danger, trouble, and evil, New York Times bestselling author Joseph Prince reveals how God''s children can have round-the-clock protection through the power of prayer.The Prayer of Protection unveils the Bible''s ultimate psalm of protection, Psalm 91, to help you understand more about how God guards His children. Joseph Prince offers simple keys and practical advice to finding and resting in the secret place of the Most High, where no evil can even come near you. You''ll begin to live unafraid and with boldness as you allow the certainty of your heavenly Father''s love and the sure promises of His Word to guard your heart against every fear. Come under the wings of the Almighty and live life divinely protected, positioned, and free from all fears with our covenant-keeping God!

Read more less

Book SynopsisMetta: Philosophy & Practice of Universal Love aims at exploring the various facets of metta both in theory and in practice. The examination of the doctrinal and ethical side of metta will proceed through a study of the popular karaniyametta sutta, the Buddha's discourse of universal love.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA collection of Pali texts and commentaries translated by Nyanaponika Thera from Sri Lanka provides insight into the Five Hindrances. Touches on esoteric themes, appealing to those interested in Pali Texts, vipassana, and Theravada Buddhism.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis investigation studies the participle in the Hebrew manuscripts from the Judaean Desert, its formation, its usage, and its meaning, compared with those in other Hebrew traditions and dialects, especially the language of the Hebrew Bible. Diese Studie untersucht das Partizip in den hebräischen Handschriften aus der judäischen Wüste, seine Bildung, seine Verwendung und seine Bedeutung, im Vergleich mit anderen hebräischen Traditionen und Dialekten, vor allem der Sprache der hebräischen Bibel.Trade Review...this book presents a very rich and detailed study that merits consideration as an important base to establish a development of the Hebrew language during the centuries. Alviero Niccacci, Liber Annuus LXIII (2013)Table of Contents1 Einleitung A. Das Partizip B. Corpus C. Vorgehensweise und Gliederung 2 Morphologie und Orthographie A. Qal B. Partizip passiv qal C. Nifal D. Piel E. Pual F. Hitpael G. Hifil H. Hofal I. Andere Stämme J. Stammübergreifende Phänomene 3 Syntax A. Wortgruppenebene B. Rektion transitiver Partizipien C. Satzebene 4 Bedeutung A. Bedeutung des Partizips im Rahmen des Stämmesystems B. Bedeutung des Partizips im Rahmen des tempus-Systems 5 Zusammenfassung A. Ergebnisse: Nominal – Verbal B. Ergebnisse: Bedeutung des Partizips C. Ergebnisse: Unterschiede BH – QH D. Summary (Englisch) Anhang: Liste der Manuskripte

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisA fresh consideration of the enduring tradition of the Seven Deadly Sins, showing its continuing post-medieval influence. The tradition of the seven deadly sins played a considerable role in western culture, even after the supposed turning-point of the Protestant Reformation, as the essays collected here demonstrate. The first part of the book addresses such topics as the problem of acedia in Carolingian monasticism; the development of medieval thought on arrogance; the blending of tradition and innovation in Aquinas's conceptualization of the sins; the treatment of sin in the pastoral contexts of the early Middle English Vices and Virtues and a fifteenth-century sermon from England; the political uses of the deadly sins in the court sermons of Jean Gerson; and the continuing usefulnessof the tradition in early modern England. In the second part, the role of the tradition in literature and the arts is considered. Essays look at representations of the sins in French music of the thirteenth to the fifteenth centuries; in Dante's Purgatorio; in a work by Michel Beheim in pre-Reformation Germany; and in a 1533 play by the German Lutheran writer Hans Sachs. New interpretations are offered of Gower's "Tale of Constance" and Bosch's Tabletop of the Seven Deadly Sins. As a whole, the book significantly enhances our understanding of the multiple uses and meanings of the sins tradition, not only in medieval culture but also in the transition from the medievalto the early modern period. RICHARD G. NEWHAUSER is Professor of English and Medieval Studies, Arizona State University, Tempe; SUSAN J. RIDYARD is Professor of History and Director of the Sewanee Medieval Colloquium,The University of the South, Sewanee. Contributors: Richard G. Newhauser, James B. Williams, Kiril Petkov, Cate Gunn, Eileen C. Sweeney, Holly Johnson, Nancy McLoughlin, Anne Walters Robertson, Peter S. Hawkins, CarolJamison, Henry Luttikhuizen, William C. McDonald, Kathleen Crowther.Trade ReviewProvides many interesting and valuable discussions of specific texts (and occasionally visual and musical sources), and the ways in which these employ the concept of sin and particularly that of the seven capital sins.[It] throws new light on the way people in the medieval and early modern world thought about sins, but also on how sins were good to think with. * HISTORY *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Understanding Sin: Recent Scholarship and the Capital Vices - Richard G. Newhauser Working for Reform: Acedia, Benedict of Aniane and the Transformation of Working Culture in Carolingian Monasticism - James B. Williams The Cultural Career of a 'Minor' Vice: Arrogance in the Medieval Treatise in Sin - Kiril Petkov Vices and Virtues: A Reassessment of Stowe MS 34 - Cate Gunn Aquinas on the Seven Deadly Sins: Tradition and Innovation - Eileen C. Sweeney A Fifteenth-Century Sermon Enacts the Seven Deadly Sins - Holly Johnson The Deadly Sins and Contemplative Politics: Gerson's Ordering of the Personal and Political Realms - Nancy A. McLoughlin 'These Seaven Devils': The Capital Vices on the Way to Modernity - Richard G. Newhauser The Seven Deadly Sins in Medieval Music - Anne Walters Robertson The Religion of the Mountain: Handling Sin in Dante's Purgatorio - Peter S. Hawkins John Gower's Shaping of 'The Tale of Constance' as an Exemplum contra Envy - Carol Jamison Through Boschian Eyes: An Interpretation of the Prado Tabletop of the Seven Deadly Sins - Henry M. Luttikhuizen Singing Sin: Michel Beheim's 'Little Book of the Seven Deadly Sins', a German Pre-Reformation Religious Text for the Laity - William C. McDonald Raising Cain: Vice, Virtue and Social Order in the German Reformation - Kathleen M. Crowther

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisPastor and author Jared C. Wilson demystifies discipleship, helping readers go beyond the expected Sunday school responses to the realities of following Jesus in their unpredictable lives.

Read more less

Book SynopsisBeloved teacher and writer Warren W. Wiersbe explains and applies the elements of the Lord's Prayer to everyday prayer so readers get excited about maturing in their personal prayer ministries.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAttitude is everything.Attitude is what makes the difference between those who succeed and those who fail. It''s easy to see--in other people. But it''s not always easy to recognize when our own attitude needs adjustment or to know how to change it.In You Are What You Think, Dr. David Stoop shows readers how to use self-talk to make positive changes in their attitudes and beliefs in order to- choose healthy, positive thoughts- respond rather than react to circumstances- overcome guilt, anger, anxiety, and stress- release the power of faith- and moreWe can use self-talk to gain control of the way we feel and act. We can turn out-of-control into self-control and make our emotions work for us rather than against us. You Are What You Think explains how.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisHe argues that religionis a construction of European modernity, a construction that authorizes-for Westerners and non-Westerners alike-particular forms of history making.Trade ReviewThis eloquent, lucid, and complex work is the product of remarkable intelligence and erudition; it is a profound contribution to the understanding of the cultural hegemony of the West. -- Ralph M. Coury Religious Studies Review All articles are extremely well written, exhibit impressive scholarship, and are thoughtful and are thoughtful and stimulating. Asad's criticisms are neither judgmental nor self-righteous but are generally driven by the will to understand. -- James R. Wood Contemporary SociologyTable of ContentsPart 1 Genealogies: the construction of religion as an anthropological category; toward a genealogy of the concept of ritual. Part 2 Archaisms: pain and truth in medieval Christian ritual; on discipline and humility in medieval Christian monasticism. Part 3 Translations: the concept of cultural translation in British social anthropology; the limits of religious criticism in the Middle East. Part 4 Polemics: multiculturalism and British identity in the wake of the Rushdie affair; ethnography, literature and politics - some readings and uses of Salmon Rushdie's "Satanic Verses".

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisInformed by almost two decades of dialogue, research and teaching, this book refutes the mistaken premise that Zen Buddhism is more suited to people who lived all those years ago, or at least live all those miles away. Pivotal to this work is recognition that Buddhism is a mind culture. To appreciate that one is not in control of one's own mind is alarming indeed, but it is our perceptions of real and imagined threats that generate our anxieties, not an objective appraisal of the situation. Beginning with the annotated 'ox path' pictures, the gradual development of the wayward mind away from aimless wandering and towards Buddhahood is depicted and examined. Ever mindful of the legacy of India, the life and teaching of Sakyamuni Buddha are revisited as are the scriptures themselves. At every point, this book presents Zen Buddhism, not as some esoteric mystery cult, accessible only to the eastern mind, but in an animated, meaningful manner that demonstrates its purpose and function in today's world.Trade Review"This is an extremely lucid and readable introduction to Zen, which serves as a good introduction to Buddhism in general. Merv Fowler has performed an excellent task in bringing together material on the history, scriptures, teachings and spiritual practices associated with Zen. The book is a first-class introduction for students as well as the general reader. The author tackles very competently and reliably the salient features of the Zen tradition. I thoroughly recommend it..." -- G D Chryssides, Senior Lecturer in Religious Studies at the University of Wolverhampton.

Read more less

Book SynopsisMephistopheles is the fourth and final volume of Jeffrey Burton Russell's critically acclaimed history of the concept of the Devil, continuing in this volume the story from the Reformation to the present.Trade ReviewAn excellent and important intellectual history. * Library Journal *It is more than the history of demonological imagination as it has been displayed for half a millennium in theological controversies, in poetry, novels, paintings, and witch trials: it is the history of European man trying to cope with the terrifying riddle of radical evil.... Both an extremely rich scholarly work and an exiquisite exercise in a topic that is unlikely ever to die off in our civilization. -- Leslek Kolakowski * Journal of Modern History *Jeffrey Burton Russell is not only a conscientious historian, he is also an introspective essayist who acknowledges his own continuing struggle to understand the nature and the source of evil. -- Robert Coles * New York Times Book Review *No few sentences can adequately convey the book's richness of content and seriousness of purpose. Russell has without doubt bequeathed us a magnificent synthesis of Western culture's modern, tortuous grappling with the ideas of radical evil and the devil. -- Brian Easlea * American Historical Review *This book moves with sustained seriousness and brilliance across five centuries, from Luther's time to our own... and, although it has all the virtues of great intellectual history, it is explicitly rooted in a profound moral analysis of our own era. -- M. D. Aeschliman * National Review *Table of ContentsPreface 1. Evil2. The Reformed Devil3. The Devil between Two Worlds4. Satan Expiring5. The Romantic Devil6. The DeviI's Shadow7. The Devil in a Warring World8. God and DevilBibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis work explores the unrepeatability of persons, drawing out the worth and dignity of each individual person. It also explores interpersonal relation, giving an account of how persons can achieve empathic understanding of others, and where the limit of empathy is reached.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhile many people engage in asana, or posture practice, yoga's true magic lies in its spiritual and psychological transformation.Yoga Beyond the Mat shows you how to develop a personal, holistic yoga lifestyle so you can achieve lasting and permanent transformation.Through ritual, Eastern meditation techniques, journaling, and other spiritual practices, this book provides techniques for allowing the ego to rest, giving modern day yogis what they have been missing-the realization of personal bliss.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is an account of the essential aspects of the new physics for those with little or no knowledge of mathematics or science. It describes current theories of quantum mechanics, Einstein''s special and general theories of relativity and other speculations, alluding throughout to parallels with modern psychology and metaphorical abstractions to Buddhism and Taoism. The author has also written The Seat of the Soul.Trade ReviewThe most exciting intellectual adventure I've been on since reading Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance -- Christophre Lehmann-Haupt * New York Times *Recommended highly, both for those who want to understand the essential significance of modern physics and for those who are concerned with its implications for the possible transformation of the human consciousness * Times Literary Supplement *

Read more less

Book SynopsisRenowned and beloved the world over, a peerless contemporary translation of one of Buddhism’s most important texts comes alive with over 110 full-page illustrations by a multiple award-winning artist.The Lotus Sutra is regarded as one of the world’s great religious scriptures and most influential texts. It’s a seminal work in the development of Buddhism throughout East Asia and, by extension, in the development of Mahayana Buddhism throughout the world. Taking place in a vast and fantastical cosmic setting, the Lotus Sutra places emphasis on skillfully doing whatever is needed to serve and compassionately care for others, on breaking down distinctions between the fully enlightened buddha and the bodhisattva who vows to postpone salvation until all beings may share it, and especially on each and every being’s innate capacity to become a buddha. This illustrated edition features more than 110 full-page and two-page illustrations by a world-renowned and award-winning artist, and brings the fantastical and image-filled world of the Lotus Sutra vividly to life. Demi’s illustrations are both classical and contemporary in feel, perfectly complementing Reeves’s masterful and modern translation.

Read more less