Religion Books

Book SynopsisIn the Song of Songs the son of David, King in Jerusalem, overcomes hostility and alienation to renew intimacy between himself and his Bride. This most sublime Song sings of a love sure as the seal of Yahweh, a flashing flame of fire many waters could never quench. James M. Hamilton Jr, in this latest addition to the popular Focus on the Bible series, pours fresh light on this inspiring and uplifting book. Trade ReviewThis beautifully written book of sound Christ-centered biblical exposition and skillful personal application, will not only strengthen and heal many marriages, but will also draw many Christians into a deeper appreciation and enjoyment of their marriage to Christ. Unlike most books on the Song of Songs, this one will make you sing! -- David Murray (Senior Pastor, First Byron CRC, Byron Center, Michigan and author of ‘The StoryChanger’ and ‘Jesus on Every Page’)...a fresh, biblically-theologically informed approach to the Song of Solomon. This is a commentary pastors should regularly turn to when preaching through this important but difficult book of Scripture. And make no mistake-reading this commentary will make you want to preach this book. -- R. Albert Mohler (President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky)

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Book SynopsisAnselm of Canterbury (1033-1109) was the outstanding philosopher-theologian of the Latin West between Augustine and the thirteenth century. As a public figure, especially as Archbishop of Canterbury, he corresponded with kings and nobles, popes and bishops, in letters that reveal a fascinating personality and flesh out the practical dimensions of his theoretical philosophy. He wrote at a time when a renewed interest in logic encouraged careful and rigorous argumentation, but before the recovery of Aristotle filled the philosophical discourse with difficult technical jargon, making for writing that is unrivalled for its lucidity and accessibility. He offers the first clear account of what we now call a libertarian view of free will, according to which free choices cannot be determined by the agent''s internal states or by external influences. His famous ''ontological argument'' for the existence of God continues to generate discussion, debate, and puzzlement. His understanding of God isTrade ReviewThe appeal of an investigation performed by means of the confined domain of logica vetus is one of the most fascinating elements offered by Anselm's theological and philosophical works...The landscape of studies about Anselm of Aosta is now enriched by an easy introduction to Doctor Magnificus's life and works by Thomas Williams. The essay doesn't merely summarise Cantuariensis's main theses but provides the status quaestionis on the most recent interpretative approaches. * Matteo Parente, Department of Humanities, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy, History of Philosophy & Logical Analysis *I appreciated very much the text on Anselm of Canterbury by Thomas Williams. It is well structured, clearly written and covers all the main issues about the work of Anselm. The references to some major texts are given, as well as an essential bibliography on each topic. * Christian Brouwer, The Metascience *Table of ContentsPreface List of Illustrations Chronology 1: Anselm's life, works, and contexts 2: Looking at God 3: Looking for God 4: How things got started 5: How things went wrong 6: The great restoration project 7: Living in the meantime Further Reading References

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Book SynopsisThe philosophy of religion has been dominated by monotheists and atheists for centuries now. But, polytheism deserves to be restored to its respected position, and The Case for Polytheism sets out some reasons why. By developing a notion of godhood and employing a set of novel and neglected arguments, the author constructs a rigorous but accessible case for the existence of multiple gods.

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Book SynopsisNamed One of Fifteen Important Theology Books of 2022, Englewood Review of Books This book demonstrates how two overlooked ministry models--base ecclesial communities of the Global South in the late twentieth century and hush harbors of the US antebellum South--offer proven strategies for the twenty-first-century church and contemporary social movements. These ministry models provide insight into the creation and sustenance of vital Christian community, particularly for those seeking indigenous culturally-rooted models, and show how to integrate vibrant Christ-centered faith and mission with world-changing social justice and political action. The book includes on-the-ground stories from multiethnic communities, a foreword by Robert Chao Romero, and an afterword by Willie James Jennings.Table of ContentsContentsForeword by Robert Chao Romero Introduction: Longing for More1. Base Ecclesial Communities: The Lord Hears the Cry of the Poor2. Hush Harbors: The Invisible Black Prophetic Church3. Kinship: Familia en Comunión4. Leader-full: Participación5. Consciousness: Conscientización and el Mensaje de Liberación6. Spirit-uality: Sanidad and la Teología de las Abuelas7. Faith-full Organizing: Alma y Fermenta de la Sociedad8. Catch the Fire: An Integrated Vision for the Twenty-First CenturyLa Fuente Ministries by Marcos CanalesMission House Church by Anthony SmithAfterword by Willie James JenningsReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisThis handbook offers an overview of the main issues regarding the political, economic, social, religious, intellectual and artistic history of the Iberian Peninsula during the period of Muslim rule (eighthfifteenth centuries). A comprehensive list of primary and secondary sources attests the vitality of the academic study of al-Andalus (= Muslim Iberia) and its place in present-day discussions about the past and the present.The contributors are all specialists with diverse backgrounds providing different perspectives and approaches. The volume includes chapters dealing with the destiny of the Muslim population after the Christian conquest and with the posterity of al-Andalus in art, literature and different historiographical traditions. The chapters are organised in the following sections: Political history, concentrating on rulers and armies Social, religious and economic groups Intellectual and cultural developmentsTrade Review"The Routledge Handbook of Muslim Iberia is a collection of essays written by thirty authors and serves as a guide to al-Andalus, defined geographically as the territory in the Iberian peninsula under Islamic rule between 711 and 1492. The volume also includes North African kingdoms that ruled over Iberian territories, and Andalusi populations and their descendants who came under the authority of Iberian Christian rulers beginning in the late eleventh century. The Handbook is directed toward both nonspecialist readers interested in exploring aspects of the Andalusi past, including poetry, art, and architecture, and researchers interested in an introduction to the themes of current and past scholarship and the main written and material sources for studying aspects of the politics, society, and culture of al-Andalus. "[The book] is designed to be picked up for reference and encourage further exploration of topics and themes in Andalusi history. The chapters are well conceived and authoritative. The book may also be read from beginning to end for an effective, multivocal overview of what scholars ask and think about al-Andalus." Janina Safran, Journal of the American Oriental Society 143.4 (2023) Table of ContentsIntroduction. Maribel Fierro PART I. Rulers 1. The Iberian Peninsula before the Muslim conquest. Iñaki Martín Viso 2. The conquerors and the formation of al-Andalus. Jesús Lorenzo 3. Centralization and consolidation. The Cordoban Umayyads and the Amirids. Xavier Ballestin 4. Replication and fragmentation. The Taifa kingdoms. Alejandro García Sanjuán 5. Berber rule and Abbasid legitimacy. The Almoravids. Camilo Gomez-Rivas 6. Berber rule and the Maghribi caliphate. The Almohads. Pascal Buresi 7. Resistance and adaptation. The Nasrids. Francisco Vidal-Castro 8. The coins of al-Andalus. Ideological evolution and historical context. Tawfiq Ibrahim and Ruth Pliego PART 2. Society 9. Arabs, Berbers, and local converts. Jessica Coope 10. Christians, Jews, and the dhimma status. David J. Wasserstein 11. Women and slaves. Manuela Marin 12. Traders and peasants. Pierre Guichard 13. Secretaries and the running of government. Bruna Soravia 14. Scholars, jurists, and the legal system. Maribel Fierro 15. Ascetics and Sufis. José Bellver PART 3. Culture 16. Poetry and literature. Teresa Garulo 17. Religious sciences. Camilla Adang 18. Historiography and geography. Víctor de Castro León 19. Philosophy. Sarah Stroumsa 20. Sciences and technology. Mònica Rius-Piniés 21. Art and architecture. Susana Calvo Capilla 22. Material culture. José C. Carvajal López 23. Daily life and popular culture. Alejandro García Sanjuán PART 4. The aftermath of al-Andalus 24. Living as Muslims under Christian rule. The Mudejars. Filomena Barros 25. The forced conversions and the Moriscos. Mayte Green-Mercado 26. The integration of al-Andalus in Islamic historiography. The view from the Maghrib and the Mashriq. Luis Molina 27. The memory of al-Andalus in early modern Spain. Fernando Rodríguez Mediano 28. Writing on al-Andalus in the modern Islamic world. Christina Civantos 29. Writing the history of al-Andalus. Spain and the West. Alejandro García Sanjuán 30. The Alhambra around the world. Images and constructions of an aesthetic paradigm of modernity. José Miguel Puerta Vílchez 31. The politics and aesthetics of Convivencia. Manuela Ceballos

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Book SynopsisA BBC RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE YEAR LONGLISTED FOR THE ANGLO-HELLENIC LEAGUE RUNCIMAN AWARD 2022 ‘Peter Fiennes’s road trip around Greece [is] engagingly described’ Mary Beard, TLS ‘Fiennes is a brilliant and generous guide through Greece’ Observer ‘A wonderful… really profound meditation on what it means to hope… a gorgeous excursion into Greece and across the centuries on an environmental quest’ BBC Radio 4 Open Book Book of the Year choice by Anita Roy What do the Greek myths mean to us today? It’s now a golden age for these tales - they crop up in novels, films and popular culture. But what’s the modern relevance of Theseus, Hera and Pandora? Were these stories ever meant for children? And what’s to be seen now at the places where heroes fought and gods once quarrelled? Peter Fiennes travelTrade Review‘Peter Fiennes’s road trip around Greece – engagingly described in A Thing of Beauty – began with a visit to Lord Byron’s house… Fiennes’s tough talk and his down-to-earth refusal to put up with pretentious silliness contributes a lot to the pleasure of the book… [he] is well attuned to the ambivalence of hope.’ -- Mary Beard, Times Literary Supplement‘Fiennes is a brilliant and generous guide… a must-read.’ -- Alex Preston, Observer‘This book is a lament for a poisoned planet… He goes in search of the numinous but relishes the bathos of modernity… not so much a travelogue as an excursion into the psyche of Anthropocene man.’ * Literary Review *‘A wonderful book by a wonderful writer.’ -- Tom Holland‘A wonderful… really profound meditation on what it means to hope… a gorgeous excursion into Greece and across the centuries on an environmental quest’ * BBC Radio 4 Open Book BOOK OF THE YEAR choice by Anita Roy *‘A Thing of Beauty is an immensely pleasurable read. It takes you on an adventure around Greece and the myths that the ancients told there. But what really stayed with me were the reflections on storytelling, joy, and hope. Essential reading for our pandemic and pollution ravaged times.’ -- Helen Morales, author of Antigone Rising: The Subversive Power of the Ancient Myths‘Peter Fiennes has a way of making even the most serious of subjects enjoyable and riveting to the end, and A Thing of Beauty is certainly no exception, this is great travel writing that makes the reader a part of the adventure, and one of the most engaging and enjoyable books I’ve read this year.’ -- Pilgrim House‘A deeply humane travelogue, a beautifully written book of stories, A Thing of Beauty is a siren song for Greece and a generous and precious gift – a classical education for those of us who are bereft of one.’ -- Patrick Barkham, natural history writer and author of Wild Child‘Peter Fiennes… follows in the footsteps of Pausanias, Lord Byron and others to rediscover some of the most evocative landscapes and sites from classical myth.’ -- Argo‘Fiennes is a brilliant and generous guide through Greece. He weaves the ancient world and the modern together with intelligence and elegance… There’s a wry Sebaldian humour at work here … A Thing of Beauty is a must-read for anyone visiting Greece.’ -- Alex Preston, Observer‘A Thing of Beauty is an entertaining, erudite travelogue through Greece, both ancient and modern.’ * Foreword Reviews *‘An evocative and informative book… It’s for anyone interested in the Greek Gods and their myths, the Greek countryside and wildlife, Greek politics and history, climate change and sustainable living, whether there’s any hope in the world today… and just how many Greek salads can one man eat? If you’re interested in more than one of those topics, it’s definitely the book for you.’ * Greece Travel Secrets *‘Fiennes sets out to explore the birthplace of Western civilization, Greece, in search of Hope… It’s a highly personal travelogue…with the historical and modern-day detail that late British travel writer Jan Morris might bring to the task.’ -- Booklist, starred review‘Passionate and lyrical’ * Publishers Weekly *‘An enjoyable journey through Greek myths and modernity in [Fiennes’s] search for hope, beauty and new understanding of our world.’ * Choice Magazine *‘In A Thing of Beauty, myths are not presented as dust-covered artefacts but vibrant, living, often frightening things that, like Greek gods, still affect and manipulate our lives. The quest that Peter Fiennes undertakes is of urgent relevance in this time of environmental change. Startling, informative and often very funny.’ -- Nick Hunt, author of Outlandish‘Fiennes is a talent and an important voice. His search for hope in the stories of the past feels vital for these times.’ -- Rob Cowen, author of Common Ground‘A Thing of Beauty is such a joy. Peter Fiennes invites us to travel with him to visit the ancient Oracle at Delphi as he searches for hope while the pre-vaccine pandemic is at its height and the wild fires rage. Self-deprecating, funny, deeply knowledgeable about Greek mythology, yet simultaneously confronting the challenges that face our world head-on, Fiennes is a most delightful travelling companion.’ -- Katharine Norbury, author of The Fish Ladder and editor of Women on Nature

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Book SynopsisA new English translation of the founding text of the Madhyamaka (Middle Way) school of Buddhism, with the Tibetan version of the text included.The Root Stanzas holds an honored place in all branches of Tibetan Buddhism, as well as in the Buddhist traditions found in China, Japan, and Korea, because of the way it develops the seminal view of emptiness (shunyata), which is crucial to understanding Mahayana Buddhism and central to its practice. It is prized for its pithy and pointed arguments that show that things lack intrinsic being and thus are “empty” (shunya). They abide in the Middle Way, free from the extremes of permanence and annihilation.

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Book SynopsisMedusa, literally, petrifies: her face turned the ancients to stone. For Perseus and his patriarchal culture she was a dangerous female monster that had to be destroyed; for Dante she was the erotic power that could destroy men; Freud saw in her hair a nest of terrifying penises signaling castration. Yet in our time Medusa's reputation has improved: feminists see her as a noble victim of the patriarchy, and the designer Versace celebrates the lure of her mysterious face in a logo which stares at us from his ads for men's underwear, haute couture and exotic dinner-ware. In our modern culture she is once again a power-player demanding to be recognized; Medusa, it seems, still has the power to transfix us. Medusa: In the Mirror of Time explores how and why the mythical figure of the gorgon has become one of the most important and enduring ideas throughout human history. This book represents Medusa's biography, searching for the origins of the myth in cultures more ancient than Classical Greece. Ultimately it shows the Medusa myth to be a cultural dream, which continues to develop and change with our times. At the same time it explores what the changing Medusa myth reveals about our culture, and ourselves.Table of ContentsPreface I The Myth II Medusa's Lineage III Medusa in the Middle Ages and Renaissance IV Medusa in the Romantic and Victorian Ages V Medusa in the Age or Realism VI The Modern Intellectual Medusa VII The Feminist Medusa VIII Medusa as a Contemporary Icon IX A Critique of the Commentaries X Myth as Dream XI Dream Touchstones XII Conclusion: Who is Medusa? Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisWelcome to the world of witchcraft! Create 22 easy-to-make tools you’ll turn to again and again from magic candles and fumigation sticks to runes and oracles and much more.

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Book SynopsisAn extensive overview of Catholicism's rich history, the life and work of hundreds of the most significant saints, and of the popes, with over 1500 evocative colour images.

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Book SynopsisAn exploration of the traditional rites of auspicious building and crafting• Explains the ceremonial beginnings and Hermetic principles in the laying out of foundations not only for sacred buildings like temples but also for homes and barns• Examines the principles and ceremonies of electional astrology and details how to compute natural time, as opposed to clock time• Shares examples from ancient Egypt, Iran, India, and Europe that range from the Stone Age to the Renaissance and include secret societiesWhen we make things--whether a building, a sacred space, or a magical object--there is a precise moment when the artifact comes into being as a separate entity. That moment in time possesses its own unique quality, and because of this, there is a right time to do something and a wrong time. And, as Nigel Pennick reveals, we have the power to select favorable moments for our creations, just as our ancestors did. Illustrating ancient principles of divination, chronomancy, and electional astrology, Pennick examines all the factors behind the ancestral art of geomancy: the auspicious creation and alignment of sacred buildings as places of power. Sharing examples from ancient Egypt, Iran, India, and Europe that range from the Stone Age to the modern day, including secret societies like the Rosicrucians and the Freemasons, he explains how many cities were constructed on specially selected sites and founded ritually at precise, predetermined moments. Looking at the traditional rites of creating places of power, Pennick explains the ceremonial beginnings and Hermetic principles in the laying out of foundations as well as the use of sacrifice in the building of many notable structures. Examining the role of sacred geometry in geomancy, Pennick explains the Hermetic meaning assigned to each direction in traditional European cultures as well as the principles of natural measures and the science of understanding lucky and unlucky days. Revealing how geomantic principles are rooted in the structure of the world and the cosmic patterns of space and time, the author shows how they transcend the ages and are just as meaningful today as they were to our ancestors.Trade Review“Scholarly yet accessible, this book presents all the essential precepts of geomantic design and construction timing within the Western traditions. It is ideal reading for anyone wishing to create meaningful sacred spaces in contemporary times or to imbue secular spaces with the timeless spiritual truths that uplift the atmosphere of place.” * Richard Creightmore & Jewels Rocka, leading international teachers of dowsing, geomancy, and self-de *“The archaic lore that traditional builders in Europe once used to bring structures into creative harmony with their physical and spiritual environments has become all but inaccessible to students of the mysteries in today’s world. Creating Places of Power remedies that, placing a wealth of once-secret lore in the reader’s hands. Encyclopedic in its scope and detail, this is the definitive work on a crucial dimension of old earth magic.” * John Michael Greer, author of The Secret of the Temple and The Twilight of Pluto *“In Creating Places of Power, Nigel Pennick, an established authority on folklore, folk magic, and ancient beliefs with more than 60 books to his name, hones his work on the European ancestral heritage of geomancy, sharing fascinating facts and practices that are accessible and also of value today. Crammed with a generous sharing of wisdom, this illustrated book is highly recommended.” * June Kent, publisher and editor of Indie Shaman magazine *Table of ContentsPreface to the New EditionIntroduction CHAPTER 1 Patterns of ExistenceConsciousness, the Gods, and the Stars CHAPTER 2Ceremonial Beginnings Finding and Marking the Place CHAPTER 3 Foundation Offerings, Sacrifices, and Relics CHAPTER 4Consecration, Evocatio, and BlessingsThe Sacred and the ProfaneCHAPTER 5 Symbolic Foundation Laying and Consecrating the First Stone CHAPTER 6 At the Center of the World The Earth’s Navel, the Cosmic Column, and the World TreeCHAPTER 7Space, Time, and Ceremony The Eightfold Division of the World and the Eight Winds CHAPTER 8 The Meaning of the DirectionsSymbolism and Nature of the Winds CHAPTER 9Natural Measure Dimensions Emergent from Nature and the Land CHAPTER 10 Traditional Time-Telling Sunlight and Shadow CHAPTER 11Orientation Facing in the Best Direction CHAPTER 12The City of the Omphalos Cosmic Centers and Symbolic Street Plans CHAPTER 13 At the Right TimeFavorable Days in the Calendar CHAPTER 14 Principles of Electional AstrologyChoosing the Correct Time for Rites and Ceremonies APPENDIX 1 Zodiac Signs and AssociatesAPPENDIX 2 The Egyptian Calendar APPENDIX 3Ruling Signs of CitiesGlossary Bibliography and Sources for Further Reading Index

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Book SynopsisChrist comes to, and through, his people Many consider pastoral visitation antiquated and impractical. People seem busier than ever, and technology appears to trivialize personal contact. As a result, personal visits are often reserved only for the gravest of situations. Tyler C. Arnold argues that pastoral visitation is essential to the pastoral role. In Scripture, God visits his people to show his personal interest and concern. This is seen most clearly in the incarnation. Christ's ministry is one of presence. But Jesus is not only an example of visitation ministry; he is the embodiment of it. And in visitation, pastors and laypeople continue Jesus's ministry by bringing Christ to the individual in their very place of need. Established in strong theological foundations and sensitive to contemporary concerns, Pastoral Visitation exhorts pastors to return to this classic method of individual soul-care.

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Book SynopsisIn Cosmos, Liturgy, and the Arts in the Twelfth Century, Margot E. Fassler takes readers into the rich, complex world of Hildegard of Bingen’s Scivias (meaning “Know the ways”) to explore how medieval thinkers understood and imagined the universe. Hildegard, renowned for her contributions to theology, music, literature, and art, developed unique methods for integrating these forms of thought and expression into a complete vision of the cosmos and of the human journey. Scivias was Hildegard’s first major theological work and the only one of her writings that was both illuminated and copied by scribes from her monastery during her lifetime. It contains not just religious visions and theological commentary, but also a shortened version of Hildegard’s play Ordo virtutum (“Play of the virtues”), plus the texts of fourteen musical compositions. These elements of Scivias, Fassler contends, form a coherent whole demonstrating how Hildegard used theology and the liturgical arts to lead and to teach the nuns of her community. Hildegard’s visual and sonic images unfold slowly and deliberately, opening up varied paths of knowing. Hildegard and her nuns adapted forms of singing that they believed to be crucial to the reform of the Church in their day and central to the ongoing turning of the heavens and to the nature of time itself. Hildegard’s vision of the universe is a “Cosmic Egg,” as described in Scivias, filled with strife and striving, and at its center unfolds the epic drama of every human soul, embodied through sound and singing. Though Hildegard’s view of the cosmos is far removed from modern understanding, Fassler’s analysis reveals how this dynamic cosmological framework from the Middle Ages resonates with contemporary thinking in surprising ways, and underscores the vitality of the arts as embodied modes of theological expression and knowledge.Trade Review"Fassler takes readers into the rich, complex world of Hildegard of Bingen’s Scivias to explore how medieval thinkers understood and imagined the universe...Though Hildegard’s view of the cosmos is far removed from modern understanding, Fassler’s analysis reveals how this dynamic cosmological framework from the Middle Ages resonates with contemporary thinking in surprising ways, and underscores the vitality of the arts as embodied modes of theological expression and knowledge." * Studi Medievali *"Cosmos, Liturgy, and the Arts in the Twelfth Century is a work of immense creativity and vision, displaying Fassler at the peak of her synthetic powers. In it, she brings to light Hildegard’s coherent (and unique) mode of describing and understanding the universe — as represented in the illuminated Scivias (literally, 'know the ways') — to amplify and deepen our picture of 'the grander scheme of knowing' in the twelfth century. Hildegard, and through her Fassler, are dealing with the deepest mysteries of the cosmos." * Journal of Religious History *"Margot Fassler is the most important Hildegard scholar now writing in the United States, and this book has been long awaited." * Barbara Newman, Northwestern University *"Margot Fassler’s fascinating new book opens up for readers the deeply creative work of Hildegard of Bingen, as this medieval Benedictine nun articulates a vision of the cosmos, creation, and worship of God all intertwined. What emerges in Fassler’s study of Hildegard’s Scivias—its texts, music, and images—is a feast for the senses as well as for the imagination." * Teresa Berger, Yale Divinity School *

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Book SynopsisDeepen your understanding of meaning and truth with the third volume of the Dalai Lama’s esteemed series Science and Philosophy in the Indian Buddhist Classics.Science and Philosophy in the Indian Buddhist Classics compiles classical Buddhist explorations of the nature of the material world, the human mind, reason, and liberation, and puts them into context for the modern reader. This ambitious four-volume series—a major resource for the history of ideas and especially the history of science and philosophy—has been conceived by and compiled under the visionary supervision of His Holiness the Dalai Lama himself. It is his view that the exploratory thinking of the great masters of classical India still has much that is of interest to us today, whether we are Buddhist or not. These volumes make those insights accessible. In this third volume the focus turns to exploring the philosophical schools of India. The practice of presenting the views of various schools of philosophy dates back to the first millennium in India, when proponents of competing traditions would arrange the diverse sets of philosophical positions in a hierarchy culminating in their own school’s superior tenets. Centuries later, relying on the Indian Buddhist treatises, Tibet developed its own tradition of works on tenets (grub mtha’), often centered on the four schools of Buddhist philosophy, using them to demonstrate the philosophical evolution within their own tradition, and within individual practitioners, as they progressed through increasingly more subtle expressions of the true reality.   The present work follows in this venerable tradition, but with a modern twist. Like its predecessors, it presents the views of seven non-Buddhist schools, those of the Samkhya, Vaisesika, Nyaya, Mimamsa, Vedanta, Jaina, and Lokayata, followed by the Buddhist Vaibhasika, Sautrantika, Cittamatra, and Madhyamaka schools, arranging them like steps on a ladder to the profound. But rather than following in the sharply polemical approach of its ancient predecessors, it strives to survey each tradition authentically, relying on and citing the texts sacred to each, allowing the different traditions to speak for themselves. What, it asks, are the basic components of the world we experience? What is the nature of their ultimate reality? And how can we come to experience that for ourselves? See how the rich spiritual traditions of India approached these key questions, where they agreed, and how they evolved through dialogue and debate.  This presentation of philosophical schools is introduced by His Holiness and is accompanied by an extensive introduction and survey by Professor Donald Lopez Jr. of the University of Michigan, who is uniquely qualified to communicate the scope and significance of this literary and spiritual heritage to modern readers.

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Book SynopsisThe fully anglicized text uses the accurate and accessible ERV (Easy-to-Read Version) translation. The contemporary language makes the ERV Holy Bible easy to get into, so that you can get a lot out of it! Many extra features are included to help you understand the Bible, including introductions to each Bible book, 164 studies that dig deeper into key passages, and 275 insight boxes that help explain the meaning of certain verses. The ERV Holy Bible is the perfect choice to help you get into the Bible for yourself and develop strong foundations in the faith. Content Benefits: The ERV Holy Bible is a contemporary and accessible translation that is bursting with extra features that will help you understand and live out God’s Word today. • Contemporary translation which is relevant and accurate • Simple to understand • Anglicized text, with UK spelling and grammar • Ideal for new Christians or anyone just starting out reading the Bible • Perfect for anyone wanting to dig deeper into the Bible • Introductory notes size up the setting and discover the Who, When and What of each Bible book • Introductions to both the Old and New Testaments help set the scene • 164 Bible Bit pages help you dig deeper and explore key passages • 275 Insight boxes enable you to probe passages and explore the meaning of verses • Easy to read type in two columns • Font size 8.5pt • A dictionary helps explains difficult or key words • How to read the Bible section helps readers get started • Maps of key periods • A list of Bible verses to help in various situations • Presentation page • Ribbon marker • Adapted from the Authentic Youth Bible

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Book SynopsisThe fully anglicized text uses the accurate and accessible ERV (Easy-to-Read Version) translation. The contemporary language makes the ERV Holy Bible easy to get into, so that you can get a lot out of it! Many extra features are included to help you understand the Bible, including introductions to each Bible book, 164 studies that dig deeper into key passages, and 275 insight boxes that help explain the meaning of certain verses. The ERV Holy Bible is the perfect choice to help you get into the Bible for yourself and develop strong foundations in the faith. Content Benefits: The ERV Holy Bible is a contemporary and accessible translation that is bursting with extra features that will help you understand and live out God’s Word today. • Contemporary translation which is relevant and accurate • Simple to understand • Anglicized text, with UK spelling and grammar • Ideal for new Christians or anyone just starting out reading the Bible • Perfect for anyone wanting to dig deeper into the Bible • Introductory notes size up the setting and discover the Who, When and What of each Bible book • Introductions to both the Old and New Testaments help set the scene • 164 Bible Bit pages help you dig deeper and explore key passages • 275 Insight boxes enable you to probe passages and explore the meaning of verses • Easy to read type in two columns • Font size 8.5pt • A dictionary helps explains difficult or key words • How to read the Bible section helps readers get started • Maps of key periods • A list of Bible verses to help in various situations • Presentation page • Ribbon marker • Adapted from the Authentic Youth Bible

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Book SynopsisExplores the religious cultures, beliefs and imperatives that shaped the Jacobite movement in ScotlandTrade Review"A splendidly detailed collection which takes us beyond secular and sectarian history to demonstrate the intimate relationship between liturgy and ideology in early modern Scotland. A real advance in scholarship: next stop a Scottish version of Alexandra Walsham's Church Papists, please." -Murray Pittock, University of Glasgow

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Book SynopsisThis career-spanning anthology from prominent Jewish historian David Biale brings over a dozen of his key essays together for the first time. These pieces, written between 1974 and 2016, are all representative of a method Biale calls "counter-history": "the discovery of vital forces precisely in what others considered marginal, disreputable and irrational." The themes that have preoccupied Biale throughout the course of his distinguished career—in particular power, sexuality, blood, and secular Jewish thought—span the periods of the Bible, late antiquity, and the Middle Ages to the twentieth century. Exemplary essays in this volume argue for the dialectical relationship between modernity and its precursors in the older tradition, working together to "brush history against the grain" in order to provide a sweeping look at the history of the Jewish people. This volume of work by one of the boldest and most intellectually omnivorous Jewish thinkers of our time will be essential reading for scholars and students of Jewish studies.Trade Review"Over the course of his career, David Biale has distinguished himself for both his critical acumen and his capacious interests. Written in the contrarian spirit of "counter-history," these essays exemplify his singular passion for unsettling conventional ideas concerning the norms and boundaries of the Jewish past. A superb, thought-provoking collection."—Peter E. Gordon, author of Migrants in the Profane: Critical Theory and the Question of Secularization"David Biale has always been a trailblazer. This collection highlights the many ingenious roads he has opened for scholars of the Jewish past. Rigorous in method, delicate in touch, Biale sheds light on corners of history that others deemed marginal or taboo, inviting us to engage in an exploration of "counter-history" that remains directly at the field's heart."—Sarah Abrevaya Stein, co-editor of Wartime North Africa: A Documentary History 1934-1950"Intellectually exciting and apleasure to read, the essays in this collection are a fine introduction to many important thinkers in the Jewish tradition."—Bob Goldfarb, Jewish Book Council"Taking a constructivist approach, Biale'sexamination of historical contexts includes the Tanakh, the midrash, myth, politics, and more to arrive at a complex exploration of radicalism embedded within Jewish traditions. His genealogical methodology traces critical topics from their historical or textual origins to present understandings, exploring and connecting diverging exegeses along the way.... Recommended."—A. Lieberman, CHOICE"Throughout the essays in this compilation, Biale traces diverse voices that some might call counter-canonical or even 'heretical,' or as Biale puts it, 'feature inversions of convention or hidden traditions that challenge the canon.' ...For those familiar with Jewish history, these essays provide interesting perspectives and alternative views."—David Tesler, Association of Jewish Libraries ReviewsTable of ContentsIntroduction: Between Canon and Counterhistory 1. The God with Breasts: El Shaddai in the Bible 2. Korah in the Midrash: The Hairless Heretic as Hero 3. Counterhistory and Jewish Polemics against Christianity: The Sefer Toldot Yeshu and the Sefer Zerubavel 4. "The Torah Speaks the Language of Human Beings": Abraham Ibn Ezra's Radical Interpretation of the Bible 5. Between Melancholy and a Broken Heart: A Note on Rabbi Nahman of Bratslav's Depression 6. The Kabbalah in Nachman Krochmal's Philosophy of History 7. Masochism and Philosemitism: The Strange Case of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch 8. Historical Heresies and Modern Jewish Identity 9. Shabbtai Zvi and the Seductions of Jewish Orientalism 10. Leo Strauss: The Philosopher as Weimar Jew 11. Arendt in Jerusalem: Hannah Arendt on the Eichmann Trial 12. Gershom Scholem's "Ten Unhistorical Aphorisms on the Kabbalah": Text and Commentary 13. The Threat of Messianism: An Interview with Gershom Scholem (August 14, 1980) 14. Mysticism and Politics in Modern Israel: The Messianic Ideology of Abraham Isaac Ha-Cohen Kook 15. The End of Enlightenment? Epilogue: By the Waters of San Francisco: A Partial Autobiography

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Book SynopsisDiary of the Antichrist is the written record of the Spirit of Life of the Antichrist, whose time is now at hand. Unlike other books about the Antichrist, this book comes from a High Initiate of prominent Occult Orders. It is not the false work of a mere man; it was rather composed by an Alien Intelligence that telepathically directed the mind and hand of the scribe while he was experiencing altered states of consciousness. Also in this book are the Scriptures of the Antichrist, as well as the Qabalah of the Antichrist.

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Book SynopsisHow We the People can reclaim our democracyupdated with a discussion guide, author videos, and a new chapter-length Introduction In this updated edition of his prophetic book, renowned author and activist Parker J. Palmer celebrates the power of We the People to resist the politics of divide and conquer. With the U.S. now on a global list of backsliding democracies, Palmer writes about what we can do to restore civil discourse, reach for understanding across lines of difference, focus on our shared values, and hold elected officials accountable. He explores ways we can reweave the communal fabric on which democracy depends in everyday settings such as families, neighborhoods, classrooms, congregations, workplaces, and various public spacesincluding five habits of the heart we can cultivate as we work to fulfill America''s promise of human equality. In the same honest, vulnerable, compelling and inspiring prose that has won Palmer millions of readers, Healing the HearTable of ContentsIntroduction to the 2024 Edition xv Prelude The Politics of the Brokenhearted 1 Chapter I Democracy’s Ecosystem 11 Chapter II Confessions of An Accidental Citizen 29 Chapter III the Heart of Politics 49 Chapter IV the Loom of Democracy 69 Chapter V Life in the Company of Strangers 89 Chapter VI Classrooms and Congregations 119 Chapter VII Safe Space for Deep Democracy 151 Chapter VIII the Unwritten History of the Heart 175 Gratitudes 195 Notes 199 The author 219 Index 221

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Book SynopsisWith Numinous Seditions, celebrated poet and essayist Tim Lilburn investigates inner dispositions that might help us bear the new sorrows of the climate crisis. The book draws from the West’s almost forgotten contemplative tradition in its Platonic, Islamic, Christian, and Zoharic forms. It also explores ideas from modern philosophers Jan Zwicky, Gillian Rose, Dorothy Day, and Simone Weil, and from contemporary poets Don Domanski, Philip Kevin Paul, Anne Szumigalski, and Roberto Harrison. Lilburn suggests that listening, noticing, reading, and stretching our imaginations are all part of an interior stance that can assist with the difficult tasks of forming deep relationships with the land, with Indigenous peoples, and with pedagogy itself. Numinous Seditions is for scholars and readers interested in poetry, environmental philosophy, and in the possibility of a contemplative politics.Trade Review"Numinous Seditions proposes to expand the human imagination with a call to renewed vision. It invites the reader into active, thoughtful engagement with arguably the most crucial question of our time: what can I make of myself, in the world we have made for ourselves?" H. L. Hix, University of Wyoming"Among the book’s ample gifts are its refusal of confected hope and its hosting of a larger conversation. Here Ibn ‘Arabī brushes foreheads with Anne Szumigalski, Andrew Ahenakew’s polar bear shares the sky with the angel of pseudo-Dionysius. In contemplating shards of ancient wisdom, Lilburn seeks the grace needed to grieve the conflagration of the world." Warren Heiti, author of Attending: An Ethical Art“The lucent essays gathered in Tim Liburn’s new book offer what they adumbrate: a ‘refugium for attentiveness,’ opening lines of earthbound thought, enriching our lexicon, and retrieving forgotten practices in order to cultivate a contemplative, compassionate, and creative modus vivendi in the midst of the unspeakable sorrow of ecological unravelling, climatic disruption, and the continuing legacies of imperialist violence. Amongst them is a meditation on lectio divina that might be taken as a guide for reading these essays themselves, many of them tending towards the fragmentary, punctuated with pauses, and all of them replete with invitations to see, feel, and imagine otherwise.” Kate Rigby, author of Meditations on Creation in an Era of ExtinctionTable of ContentsPreface New Sadness Interiority and Climate Change Contemplative Practices, Contemplative Pedagogies Hoping for Something to Appear | The Poetry of Don Domanski Poetry’s Practice of Philosophy | Anne Szumigalski Reading William Chittick Reading Ibn ‘Arabi Happy Incompetencies, the Self’s Other Routes Poverty and the Doom of Acedia Ontological Loneliness and the Balm of Metaphor Two Readings on Snow, Two Readings on Sorrow In the Time of Extreme Heat, In the Time of the Discovery of Unmarked Graves at the Site of Residential Schools Numinous Seditions Dream Coda Glossary Reading Index

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Book SynopsisThe 'great fish' has probably made Jonah the best known of the twelve minor prophets of the Old Testament. The book bearing his name, comprising just 48 verses, has tantalized and intrigued its readers throughout the ages. However, undue preoccupation with the fish may cause us to miss what is actually going on in this narrative. Although the story of Jonah seems fairly straightforward on the surface, Rosemary Nixon explores its fascinating complexity to show how the author grapples with conflicting perceptions of God. While we might question some of the story's extra-ordinary features, we ourselves are also questioned by the God who called Jonah, and challenged to hear His word afresh. The Bible Speaks Today series covers every book of the Old and New Testaments, as well as Bible themes that run through the whole of Scripture. These revised editions are redesigned inside and out and have been sensitively updated with contemporary language and Bible translations to help you follow, study and teach the Bible in today's world.

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Book SynopsisThe internet is a tool box, not a toy box. Social media platforms are some of the tools we can use for building one another up. This is a guide on handing these tools, carefully. Social media is a tool that can be good. It can connect us with friends and family with an immediacy that previous generations could only wonder at. But it can also be used unwisely. Whether it’s harsh words, regrettable posts, or excessive scrolling, we should think about how God wants us to engage with social media. What does the Bible teach us? Jason Thacker’s helpful guide will help students explore the wisest ways to use social media.Trade ReviewStudents often ask, ‘where do I start?’ when attempting to comprehend and navigate the challenges of our digital age. A Student’s Guide to Social Media provides a solid launching point to understanding the difficulties of the digital age and how to faithfully navigate them while remaining rooted in the Christian faith. -- Katie Frugé (Director of Center for Cultural Engagement & The Christian Life Commission, Baptist General Convention of Texas)To use your tools well, it is crucial that you understand how they will attempt to shape your heart, mind, and soul. For that reason and many more I highly recommend reading A Student’s Guide to Social Media. -- Tim Challies (Author, ‘Seasons of Sorrow’)This is a short, important and a book that will help us all to reflect on our use of social media – or should that be social media’s use of us? -- David Robertson (Well–known pastor and apologist)We are always being discipled; either by culture or Christ. A danger of the world’s discipleship is that it often goes unnoticed. Track: Social Media wonderfully aids us in remaining sober–minded as we engage with social media to ensure that our use of technology conforms us to Christ, not culture. -- J. Garrett Kell (Pastor, Del Ray Baptist Church, Alexandria, Virginia)Jason Thacker is one of today’s foremost experts on ethics and technology. He’s also a godly family man whose love for Christ shines through in his writing. In this new addition to the RYM track series, Thacker helps youth grow in wisdom, giving them a clear framework for thinking theologically and acting ethically in their increasingly confusing online social world. -- Jared Kennedy (Editor, The Gospel Coalition)

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Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER ? Theauthor of Get Out of Your Head provides a revolutionary path to embracing a healthy relationship with your emotions, one that leads to life-giving connection with God and others as well as to a richer understanding of yourself.?This book is worth thousands of dollars of counseling.??Jonathan Pokluda, bestselling author and host of the Becoming Something podcastHow often have you heard, ?Don?t let your emotions get the best of you?? But what if instead of ignoring our feelings, we noticed them, named them, and let God use them to draw us closer to Himself and others?Many of us need to unlearn damaging messages about our emotions. We?ve been taught, for example, that emotions are untrustworthy, when, in fact, God can use them to help us see where we need His healing.In Untangle Your Emotions, Jennie Allen uses scientific research, biblical insight, and her own story to help you? exchange stuffing, dismissing, or minimizing your emotions for a five-step process to know what you feel and what to do about it? debunk the myth that feelings are sinful by learning how emotional maturity leads to deeper connection with God and others? live emotionally healthy by applying biblical wisdom and therapeutic research that works whether you self-identify as ?emotional? or not? sit with feelings that are confusing and painful by discovering the depth of God?s love and compassion for youFeelings aren?t something to fix; they are something to feel. As we discover how to name and navigate our emotions, we?ll learn how they can draw us closer to the God who built us?soul, mind, and heart.

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Book SynopsisBible teacher Lisa Harper exposes the utter humanity and compassion of Jesus shared by Luke. Dive deep into the well of perhaps the most common-man exposition of what a gift Jesus is in this new Beautiful Word Series study.

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Book SynopsisThe New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge is an exhaustive cross-referencing tool for those seeking the truth in God’s Word. Preachers, teachers, and students of the Bible can use this exhaustive resource to shed light upon, clarify, or explain Scripture with Scripture.Trade Review'A boundless resource for study and lesson/sermon preparation.' * Dr. Jack W. Hayford *'The one book, aside from the Bible itself, that I value most in my studies.' * Dr. John MacArthur, Jr. *

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Book SynopsisWe live in an ever-increasingly complex world, but refreshment waits for you within these pages. Escape the anxiety—the let-downs, the distractions, the chaos—and color your way toward a quiet soul.Escape the stress of daily life and color your way toward quietness and strength. Even in our hectic world, God''s mercy and faithfulness are available. Slow down with this attractive, Bible-based adult coloring book and let God''s mercy and goodness renew your soul.With more than 90 pages of unique patterns and inspiring selections of Scripture and quotations alongside original illustrations from author and artist Jennifer Tucker, New Mercies I See invites you to turn down the volume, be still, and relax in God''s goodness. A beautiful way to relieve anxiety and treat yourself to the vital practice of self-care, this exquisitely designed adult coloring book features: 96 single-sided pages of art and inspiring text A la

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Book SynopsisIn Bible Prophecy: The Essentials, authors Amir Tsarfati and Barry Stagner pool their knowledge to teach on some of the most commonly asked questions about Revelation, the end times, and beyond.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A compact and serious academic work. With ten pages of bibliography and extensive footnotes, Farneth offers readers a wide-ranging survey of contemporary thinking on social theory and the nature and history of rituals."---Emily Soloff, The Christian Century "A welcome contribution to ritual studies and to the study of religion and politics by offering a nuanced and compelling account of ritual activities and their public/political role. . . . Farneth’s combination of theoretical acuity, lucid writing and argumentation, and frequent use of examples make this text a valuable resource. - Nicholas Buck, Reading Religion "

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Book SynopsisA clear, concise and detailed historical analysis of the eclectic and beautiful visual and material culture of paganism. For more than a thousand years, a diverse range of peoples, from Ireland to India and from the Andes to Australia, have been labelled âPaganâ by the Christians who encountered them. Since the twentieth century new groups have emerged â wiccans, druids, neo-shamans and heathens â who openly call themselves Pagans. But who are these Pagans and what do they believe? Which gods and goddesses do they revere? Do they worship nature? Do they practise divination and magic? From sacred plants imbued with supernatural powers to hand-carved amulets that repel evil, and from mischievous spirits of nature to holy mountains, Pagans find divine value in the natural world and spiritual significance in the material universe. Delve within these pages and examine the myriad paintings and sculptures, shrines and ceremonial objects that reveal the stories, symbols and rituals of PagTrade Review'A beautiful book … provides the reader with a very comprehensive picture of Paganism and the many different forms it can take' - Alexander Alich, University of Birmingham'This exploration of non-Abrahamic religious traditions has such visual punch that art lovers will be quickly converted' - RA Magazine'Corrects misconceptions and explains [Pagans’] intricate belief systems and rich histories, some stretching back to the dawn of civilization... Some of the book's most intriguing material focuses on practices that are nearly extinct today' - New York Daily NewsTable of ContentsIntroduction Ancient Ways 1: Goddesses + Gods 2: Myths + Legends 3: Numinous Nature Ritual 1: Sacred Sites 2: Witchcraft 3: Oracles + Divination Community 1: Festivals 2: Embodied Faith 3: Journeying

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Book SynopsisTradesmen look at buildings differently, depending on their trade: The carpenter casts an eye on the woodwork, the bricklayer on the brickwork and the painter on the walls and ceilings. Similarly, the greater a person's perception of Allāh’s names, the greater their alertness and understanding of life. Nothing passes them by, without thought and contemplation.When they see a display of mercy, they automatically and very naturally reflect on the names of Allah; Al-Rahīm” (The Most Merciful), Al-Ra’ūf (The Pitying), Al-Wadūd (The Affectionate). When they sense might and awe, they are overcome with the names “Al-Jabbār” (The Compeller), “Al-Muntaqim” (The Avenger) and “Al-Qahhār” (The Subduer). Eventually, they reach a station where every scene that unfolds, any sin which presents itself or any opportunity that drifts by, becomes a trigger for perusal and the remembrance of Allāh, the achievement of which is precisely the objective of this book.Table of Contents1. Tazkiyat al-nafs/purification of the soul and Allah’s Names 2. Principles that govern one’s understanding of Allah’s Names3. The Majestic Name Allah 4. The Majestic Name al-Hadi (The Ever -guiding) 5. The Majestic Name al-Hafiz (The Ever-Preserver) 6. The Majestic Name al-Fattah (The Oft-Opener) 7. The Majestic Name al-Shafi (The Healer)8. The Majestic Name al-Jabbar (The Ever-Restorer) 9. The Majestic Name al-Wakil (The Ultimate Trustee or The Ever-Disposer of Affairs) 10. The Majestic Name al-Ghafur (The Ever-Forgiving)11. The Majestic Name Al-Malik (The King)12. The Majestic Name Al-Dayyan (The Recompensor)13. The Majestic Name Al-Barr (The Ever Doer of Good)14. The Majestic Names Al-Sami[ (The All- Hearing) and Al-Baṣir (The All- Seeing)15. The Majestic Name Al-Khaliq (The Creator)16. The Majestic Name al-Halim/(the Forbearing, the Clement)17. The Majestic Name Al-Karim (the Generous)18. The Majestic Name al-Qarib (The Near)19. The Majestic Name al-Latif (the Ever Subtle) 20. The Majestic Name al-Nasir (The Granter of victory)21. The Majestic Names al-Rahman and al-Rahim (The Most Merciful) 22. The Majestic Name al-Samad (The Everlasting Refuge)23. The Majestic Name al-Ḥaqq (The Absolute Truth)24. The Majestic Name al-Ahad (The Only One)25. The Majestic Name al-[Aziz (The Mighty)

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Book SynopsisSasson's new book is a retelling of the story of the women's request for ordination. Inspired in particular by the Therigatha and building on years of research and experience in the field, Sasson follows Vimala, Patachara, Bhadda Kundalakesa, and many others as they walk through the forest to request full access to the tradition. The Buddha's response to this request is famously complicated and multi-faceted; he eventually accepts women into the Order, but attaches specific and controversial conditions (garudhammas). Sasson invites us to think about who these first Buddhist women might have been, what they hoped to achieve, and what these conditions might have meant to them thereafter. By shaping her research into a story, Sasson invites readers to imagine a world that continues to inspire and complicate Buddhist narrative to this day.Table of ContentsIntroduction Many Years Later: Vimala Remembers Chapter 1: The Buddha Said No Chapter 2: Vimala’s Story Begins Chapter 3: The Leap Chapter 4: The Gathering Chapter 5: The Past Comes Charging In Many Years Later: Vimala and Darshani Chapter 6: The Walking Begins Chapter 7: Patachara Chapter 8: Beads and Mirrors Chapter 9: The Long Road Chapter 10: Flying Horses Chapter 11: The Flying Sage Chapter 12: River Mud Chapter 13: Vesali Chapter 14: Hollowed-Out Mess Chapter 15: The Great Woman Tree Chapter 16: Bhadda Kundalakesa Chapter 17: Muttering and Mad Chapter 18: Motherhood Lost and Found Chapter 19: Ananda Chapter 20: The Eight Heavies Many Years Later: The Great Immensity Study Questions

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Book Synopsis‘Give thanks to YHWH, for he is good, for his covenant faithfulness endures for ever’ (Ps. 136:1; a.t.) There are now numerous models that seek to explain how the biblical covenants relate to one another. In an attempt to evaluate these models, James Hely Hutchinson mines the rich seams of the book of Psalms. After covering the key data on covenant relationships in Books 1–3 of the psalter, Hely Hutchinson considers the perplexity expressed in the pivotal Psalm 89: in the face of the exile, the promises to David appear to be null and void. The building blocks of the response lie with the first five books of the Bible, and chiefly with the inviolable character of the promises to Abraham (Book 4 of the psalter). However, if the Abrahamic covenant is to reach fulfilment, the problem of sin must be dealt with once and for all, and a glorious new-covenant regime must be established in which a host of covenants converge in their fulfilment. Central to this regime, which lies beyond the exile, is the eternal rule of David’s superior, righteous seed and son who is also a perpetual priest and a suffering servant (Book 5). Identifying new-covenant newness as ‘eschatological satisfaction (fulfilment)’ and ‘transcendent inauguration’, Hely Hutchinson tackles a range of matters that contribute to our understanding of the contours of redemptive history. The overall aim is to enhance readers’ grasp of God’s breath-taking salvation plan, ability to handle Scripture aright and worship of the Master.Trade ReviewCreative, thoughtful, and attuned to the interconnectedness of Scripture... Pastors preaching on the Psalms will glean from Hutchinson's work, and students and scholars will reap a bountiful harvest. * D. A. Carson & Benjamin L. Gladd *James Hely Hutchinson carefully traces the place of the biblical covenants within the book of Psalms, demonstrating both their importance for the canonical shape of the book and also why this matters for us today. Widely read and closely attentive to the text, this is a vital treatment of this important topic. * David G. Firth, Trinity College Bristol *In this book, James Hely-Hutchinson offers an outstanding model for studies on biblical theology exemplifying careful biblical exegesis and showing awareness of relevant scholarly issues involved but also keeping in view the whole storyline of the Bible. He carefully traces from the Book of Psalms how, even in the Old Testament, all the biblical covenants point beyond themselves to something new, bigger and better in fulfilment of the new covenant. Both pastors and students will benefit from the perceptively laid out argument of this book. It is an invaluable source of information for years to come on covenant theology discussions and Psalms study. * Ma’afu Palu – Director of Graphe Bible College, Sydney. Senior Pastor, Tongan Evangelical Wesleyan Church *James Hely Hutchinson has dared to address some large, perpetually debated questions about the relationships among the biblical covenants through a new lens: the book of Psalms. In a creative interweaving of the messages of the different parts of the Psalter—understanding the Psalter as a unified collection in its final form—he shows how the major covenants—Adamic, Noahic, Abrahamic, Mosaic, Levitical, Davidic, and New Covenants—are addressed in the book of Psalms and highlights the continuities, discontinuities, and complementary elements among them. An intriguing read that I recommend with pleasure. * David M. Howard, Jr. Professor of Old Testament, Bethlehem College and Seminary *Answering the Psalmist's Perplexity stands as an indispensable resource for scholars delving into the Psalter, providing clarity on its relationship with biblical covenants, particularly the new covenant. Dr. James Hely Hutchinson's meticulous analysis of the Psalms' composition unravels the enigma that the psalmist ponders, shedding light on God's unwavering covenant faithfulness. In this scholarly work, JHH's insights not only enhance our understanding of the Psalter but also contribute to a deeper grasp of its pivotal role within the broader scope of redemptive history. * Angie Velasquez Thornton, Director of Women's Ministry for SOLA (TGC Quebec) *In this fascinating study, Hely Hutchinson deftly and meticulously explores several key issues within a single volume. Not only does he present a robust, holistic interpretation of the Psalter, but he also demonstrates how the relationship between various divine-human covenants informs and is informed by the Psalter’s arrangement. As such, this is a must read for all those interested in the Psalter’s biblical-theological significance and/or contrasting theological systems in which the relationship between various divine covenants is of key importance. * Paul R. Williamson, Lecturer in Old Testament, Hebrew and Aramaic, Moore College, Sydney *James Hely Hutchinson has spent more than two decades studying the arrangement of the psalms in the Psalter. His book provides a compelling account of the way that this arrangement reflects God’s salvation plan. By analysing the relationships between the different covenants mentioned across the Psalter, Hely Hutchinson provides fascinating insights into the way that the psalms work as a collection to give hope for the future ideal Davidic king who will bless and be blessed by a new-covenant people from all nations. He also explains and evaluates a spectrum of seven different positions on covenant relationships and irenically charts a way forward in the light of his findings in the Psalter. His book richly rewards careful reading. * Anthony R. Petterson, Lecturer in Old Testament and Biblical Hebrew, Morling College, Sydney *Here is an up-to-date, broad-sweeping engagement with the book of Psalms and its contribution to question of the relationship between the different biblical covenants. The reader finds here innovative interaction between Psalm 89 and the Psalter in its totality, set in the context of biblical theology and working with sound exegesis. Building on his previous work in Psalms studies, Hely Hutchinson tackles a difficult question: "What is new about the new covenant, according to the book of Psalms?" Many studies dealing with editorial criticism on the Psalter have been published in the last few decades. This one carefully locates the discussion not only in the Psalter itself, but also includes careful insights from the different covenants progressively revealed in Scripture. Answering the Psalmist’s Perplexity is a refreshing and challenging study, but also a model of biblical theology. * Pierre Constant, Chair of New Testament Studies, Toronto Baptist Seminary *My resonance with this book is deep and wide, methodological and exegetical. James Hely Hutchinson serves as a surefooted guide (in English! at your desk!) through the highest mountain passes of the Psalter: its editorial arrangement, its contribution to our understanding of the covenants, and its typological presentation of the coming king. Here is a book whose author has meditatively studied the Psalms, and reading this book is the next best thing to exegeting through the Psalter with him in class. So if you can't get to Belgium to take his class in French, avail yourself of what he has provided for you in this book. * James M. Hamilton, Professor of Biblical Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary *

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Book SynopsisHow to live a life of wisdom and fulfilment in a far-from-perfect world? Menachem Fisch and Debra Band probe Qohelet’s inquiry into the value of life ‘under the sun’ in this work - the first illuminated manuscript of the entire biblical text, the first philosophical analysis tracing the coherent path of this biblical thinker’s full argument.Trade ReviewIlluminated manuscripts have a rich tradition to which this gem adds creatively. Not only does Debra Band's exquisite micrography, calligraphy, and artwork invite us to marinate in and meditate on Qohelet's suggestive composition, Menachem Fisch adds a unique and penetrating philosophical analysis. This work takes us from the ancient world of the Bible through medieval traditions of illumination and into a reading of Qohelet as a harbinger of post-modern thinking." - Peter A. Pettit, Teaching Pastor, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport, Iowa"'Vanity of vanities, all is vanity,' wrote the mysterious author of the biblical Qohelet—Ecclesiastes, in English, from the Greek. 'There is nothing new under the sun.' For generations, the meaning of this haunting outlier text seemed clear and even merciless: in its endless cycling, nothing in the cosmos lasts, so nothing matters. Even if God is real, human life is in the end unreal and can have no real purpose. Resignation is the only valid response: at best, 'living for the moment;' at worst, existential despair. But what if there were something new under the sun? In this fresh approach to Qohelet, philosopher Menachem Fisch and scholar-artist Debra Band radically re-vision a text whose interpretation was 'settled.' Through exciting exposition that ranges from the history of rabbinical thought to analytical philosophy to the pain of personal loss, and illumined by Band's glowing paintings, the authors return us to the original Hebrew word on which Qohelet pivots: hevel. When hevel is not read 'figuratively' but is restored to its literal meaning as 'vapor' or 'mist,' an unexpected theology is revealed. What if the text were never a meditation on absurdity after all, but instead 'a vivid portrayal of the limits of human knowledge?' These limits can inspire us to return to our deepest human challenge: how should we live? Fisch and Band show how we can take up the question again in fascination—and even more, in hope. An unforgettable book." - Kimberley C. Patton, Professor of the Comparative and Historical Study of Religion, Harvard Divinity SchoolTable of Contents Foreword by Ellen F. Davis Preface by Moshe Halbertal Introduction by Menachem Fisch: Making Sense of Qohelet Introduction by Debra Band: Approaching the Book of Qohelet The IlluminationsFrontispieceChapter OneChapter TwoChapter ThreeChapter FourChapter FiveChapter SixChapter SevenChapter EightChapter NineChapter TenChapter ElevenChapter Twelve Chapter Commentary Materials 1Introduction: Setting the StageCommentaries on the Illuminations 2Introduction: Dashed Dreams of a Lasting AchievementCommentaries on the Illuminations 3Introduction: Qohelet's Great Turning PointCommentaries on the Illuminations 4Introduction: The Politics of CooperationCommentaries on the Illuminations 5Introduction: Foolishness Multiplied: The Religious DimensionCommentaries on the Illuminations 6Introduction: The Futility of HindsightCommentary on the Illuminations 7Introduction: Breaching the Limits of Self-CritiqueCommentaries on the Illuminations 8Introduction: Knowing the Limits of One's StrengthCommentaries on the Illuminations 9Introduction: The Case against HedonismCommentaries on the Illuminations 10Introduction: A Fool's DystopiaCommentaries on the Illuminations 11Introduction: The Beginning of an Optimistic EndCommentary on the Illuminations 12Introduction: When All Is Said and DoneCommentaries on the Illuminations Afterword by Menachem FischMysteries Dispelled: Qohelet in Biblical and Liturgical Context Key to Bible Translation Abbreviations

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Book SynopsisTable of ContentsPreface xiii Acknowledgment vii 1 Reading the Parables through the Lens of Social Justice 1 1. Introduction 1 2. What Are Parables? 8 3. Why Parables? 13 4. The Parables as They Were Originally Heard 17 5. Parables and Mercy: An Entry Point into Social Justice 20 6. Exploring the Ethical Implications of the Parables through a Social Justice Lens 24 7. Reading the Parables through the Lens of Social Justice: A Proposal 32 2 Encountering the World and Words of Jesus 39 1. Introduction 39 2. Exploring Other Worlds: Some Key Concepts 41 3. The World of Jesus 42 Religious Context: Early Judaism 42 Sociopolitical Context: An Advanced Agrarian Society within the Roman Empire 54 4. The Words of Jesus 60 5. Words about Jesus 73 The Actions and Example of Jesus 74 Death and Resurrection 75 6. Postscript: Jesus and Crucified Peoples Today 78 3 The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37) 83 1. Introduction 83 2. The Text: Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37) 85 3. Our First Step: Grasp the Story 85 4. Our Second Step: Going Deeper through Asking Questions 87 What Can We Know about the Characters? 87 Good Samaritan … and Bad Jews? 90 5. Our Third Step: Spot the Twist 92 6. Our Fourth Step: Consider the Metaphor 94 7. Our Fifth Step: Articulate the Challenge 98 8. Our Final Step: Consider Implications 102 Physical Care for Those in Need: The Corporal Works of Mercy 103 The Natural World 105 The Humanity of Our Enemies 106 4 Lost Sheep, Lost Coin (Luke 15:4–10) 109 1. Introduction 109 2. The Text: Lost Sheep, Lost Coin (Luke 15:4–10) 110 3. Our First Step: Grasp the Stories 110 4. Our Second Step: Ask Questions to Gain Understanding 112 What Glimpse Does Each Parable Give Us into Economic Realities in the First Century? 113 5. Our Third Step: Spot the Twist 115 6. Our Fourth Step: Consider the Metaphor 118 Lost and Found 123 Communal Rejoicing 124 7. Our Fifth Step: Articulate the Challenge 126 8. Our Sixth Step: Consider Implications 129 5 The Lost Sons (Luke 15:11–32) 136 1. Introduction 136 2. The Text: The Lost Sons (Luke 15:11–32) 136 3. Our First Step: Grasp the Story 137 4. Our Second Step: Ask Questions to Gain Understanding 142 5. Our Third Step: Spot the Twist 151 6. Our Fourth Step: Consider the Metaphor 153 7. Our Fifth Step: Articulate the Challenge 157 8. Our Sixth Step: Consider implications 163 6 The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Mark 4:30–32) 174 1. Introduction 174 2. The Text: The Parable of the Mustard Seed (Mark 4:30–32) 176 3. Our First Step: Grasp the Story 176 4. Our Second Step: Ask Good Questions 178 5. Our Third Step: Spot the Twist 183 6. Our Fourth Step: Consider the Metaphor 184 7. Our Fifth Step: Articulate the Challenge 187 8. Our Sixth Step: Consider Implications 192 7 The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9–14) 202 1. Introduction 202 2. The Text: The Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9–14) 203 3. Our First Step: Grasp the Story 203 4. Our Second Step: Ask Questions to Gain Understanding 207 5. Our Third Step: Spot the Twist 214 6. Our Fourth Step: Consider the Metaphor 215 7. Our Fifth Step: Articulate the Challenge 219 8. Our Sixth Step: Consider Implications 221 8 The Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1–16) 232 1. Introduction 232 2. The Text: The Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1–16) 233 3. Our First Step: Grasp the Story 233 4. Our Second Step: Ask Questions to Gain Understanding 235 5. Our Third Step: Spot the Twist 238 6. Our Fourth Step: Consider the Metaphor 240 7. Our Fifth Step: Articulate the Challenge 245 Jon Sobrino and Ignacio Ellacuría 246 8. Our Sixth Step: Consider Implications 248 9 The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31) 257 1. Introduction 257 2. The Text: The Rich Man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31) 258 3. Our First Step: Grasp the Story 259 4. Our Second Step: Going Deeper through Asking Questions 261 5. Our Third Step: Spot the Twist 266 6. Our Fourth Step: Consider the Metaphor 268 7. Our Fifth Step: Articulate the Challenge 274 8. Our Final Step: Consider Implications 277 Conclusion: Living into Our Humanity and Cultivating an Ethic of Love, Mercy, and Justice 282 1. Introduction 282 2. Summary of the Parables 285 3. Shared Themes throughout the Parables of Jesus 288 4. Conversation Partners 294 5. An Ethic of Love, Mercy, and Justice 302 Appendix 1: Sisters of Mercy Reflections on the Parables 309 Appendix 2: Questions for Individual Study and Group Discussion 326 Bibliography 333 Index 341

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Book Synopsis''A fascinating story about a religion in a surprisingly precarious position'' Dan Jones, Sunday Times''Superb storytelling ... captivating and profound'' Literary Review''A page-turner'' The SpectatorIn the fourth century AD, a new faith exploded out of Palestine. Overwhelming the paganism of Rome, and converting the Emperor Constantine in the process, it resoundingly defeated a host of other rivals. Almost a thousand years later, all of Europe was controlled by Christian rulers, and the religion, ingrained within culture and society, exercised a monolithic hold over its population. But, as Peter Heather shows in this compelling history, there was nothing inevitable about Christendom''s rise to Europe-wide dominance.In exploring how the Christian religion became such a defining feature of the European landscape, and how a small sect of isolated congregations was transformed into a mass movement centrally directed from Rome, Heather shows how Christendom constantly battled against both so-called ''heresies'' and other forms of belief. From the crisis that followed the collapse of the Roman Empire, which left the religion teetering on the edge of extinction, to the astonishing revolution in which the Papacy emerged as the head of a vast international corporation, Heather traces Christendom''s chameleon-like capacity for self-reinvention and willingness to mobilize well-directed force.Christendom''s achievement was not, or not only, to define official Christianity, but - from its scholars and its lawyers, to its provincial officials and missionaries in far-flung corners of the continent - to transform it into an institution that wielded effective religious authority across nearly all of the disparate peoples of medieval Europe. This is its extraordinary story.Trade ReviewHeather's sweeping and engaging history of the making of Christendom over a thousand years is full of reinterpretations and new insights... his approach makes for a startlingly fresh look at a familiar story, a non-triumphalist history of the triumph of Christianity, and his book is all the more powerful for it. -- Jane Shaw * Financial Times *Heather casts his eye across the whole medieval period as he unfolds a fascinating story about a religion in a surprisingly precarious position. -- Dan Jones * Sunday Times *It is more pressing than ever to understand how exactly Christianity came to dominate in Europe. Heather's account cuts through the myth of an innately Christian, culturally monolithic Europe... [and] sheds light on the mechanics of state coercion and intermittent violence which led to the birth of Christendom. It's no light reading - but there's enough drama to make it a page-turner. -- Eleanor Myerson * Spectator *A brilliant exercise in disenchantment ... superb storytelling ... Heather more than delivers. While Christendom is fabulously rich in telling detail, Heather is always mindful of the big picture. The book is at once captivating and profound. -- Costica Bradatan * Literary Review *One of the many delights of this weighty book is the abundance of little-heard but illuminating and intriguing stories that he weaves into the narrative to show how Christianity endlessly reinvented itself to maintain a winning formula .... the tale of how Christianity, from unlikely beginnings, became one of the great mass-member institutions of the world is expertly and entertainingly told. -- Peter Stanford * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisWalk the Camino Ingles or `English Way' from the Spanish seaport cities of A Coruna or Ferrol on the path long-trodden by British pilgrims arriving by sea. This lesser-known Camino route showcases the misty forests and enigmatic culture of Galicia, and can be walked in 4-7 days. With full-color stage maps and city maps, you'll always know where you and where you're going. Detailed accommodations listings show everything you need to know about pilgrim hostels (albergues) as well as private accommodations for each budget. Planning and route tips keep you informed, in a pocket-sized book with no fluff.

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