Religion Books

Book Synopsis“The material in this volume is invaluable for those who sincerely wish to understand the Buddhist path and begin to follow it.” —Venerable Sangye Khadro, author of How to MeditateThe third volume in the Dalai Lama’s definitive and comprehensive series on the stages of the Buddhist path, The Library of Wisdom and Compassion. Knowledge of buddha nature reveals and reconciles the paradox of how the mind can be the basis for both the duhkha of samsara (the unpurified mind) and the bliss and fulfillment of nirvana (the state of true freedom and peace). To illustrate this, Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature first takes readers through Buddhist thought on the self, the four truths, and their sixteen attributes. It then explains afflictions—including how they arise and their antidotes—followed by an examination of karma and cyclic existence, and, finally, a deep and thorough elucidation of buddha nature. Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature shows us how to purify our minds and cultivate awakened qualities. “This book is a veritable tour de force in its explanation of the role of the mind in samsara and the realization of nirvana, which is the mind’s own ultimate nature. In its examination of buddha nature—spanning early discussions of the mind’s potential in the Pali canon through to the teachings of Dzogchen, the Great Perfection—it casts a bright light to dispel the darkness of materialism, which deludedly reduces the mind to a mere epiphenomenon or emergent property of the brain. Books such as this are urgently needed to trigger a true revolution in the mind sciences.”—B. Alan Wallace, founder and president, Santa Barbara Institute for Consciousness Studies

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Book SynopsisA fascinating investigation into the formation and transmission of the early Buddhist oral tradition.For hundreds of years after his death, the Buddha’s teachings were transmitted orally, from person to person. In this volume, acclaimed scholar-monk Bhikkhu Analayo examines the impact of such oral transmission on early Buddhist texts, be these monastic rules, verses, or prose portions of the early discourses. He scrutinizes various oral aspects of these texts, surveying evidence for memory errors, the impact of attempts at systematization, and instances of additions and innovations. Finally, he explores the implications of the nature of these texts as the final product of centuries of oral transmission and evaluates the type of conclusions that can—and cannot—be drawn based on them.  In-depth but still accessible, Early Buddhist Oral Tradition is an engrossing and enlightening inquiry into the early Buddhist oral tradition.

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Book SynopsisText and Interpretation examines the main characteristics of the legal thought of Imam Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq, preeminent religious scholar jurist of Medina in the first half of the second century of the Muslim calendar. This book presents an intellectual history of how the Jaʿfarī school began and examines the scholar’s interpretive approach.Trade ReviewScholars of Islamic legal studies can only be grateful for the continued presence and energy of [Modarressi]…In a nonornate style, Modarressi provides an account of the life and views of the eponym of one of Islam’s longest traditions of legal reasoning, and of how his example served as a basis for a school of law that can claim 200 million followers today—in Islam’s fifteenth century. -- Ahmad Atif Ahmad * Journal of the American Oriental Society *Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq is a key figure in the formation of Shīʿī law, Hossein Modarressi’s expertise in the field is legendary, and the book brings together a trove of information that is otherwise scattered in a plethora of arcane sources. -- Michael Cook, Princeton UniversityThis study constitutes an impressive and significant contribution to Islamic legal studies. It provides an unparalleled insight into the legal thought of the founder of the Jaʿfarī school, and can also serve as a reliable introduction to major aspects of Twelver Shīʿī law. The novelty of the approach, the wealth of information provided, the fine rendition of judiciously chosen texts, and the masterful elucidation and analysis of legal terms and concepts will all be of great value to students of the Islamic legal tradition. -- Etan Kohlberg, The Hebrew University of JerusalemThis book represents a lifetime’s research and thinking about the legal thought of Jaʿfar al-Ṣādiq, one of the most important figures in the history of the Shīʿī tradition. Most broadly, it is a major contribution toward a better understanding of the formative history of Shīʿism, on the one hand, and of Islamic law in its first centuries, on the other. It will be the standard work of reference on early Shīʿism for many years to come. -- M. Qasim Zaman, Princeton University

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Book SynopsisThe presentation of the life and work of any great thinker is a formidable task. This volume provides readers with a detailed, scholarly, and profound account of the thirteenth-century theologian whose works have not ceased to draw the attention of both friend and foe.

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Book Synopsis Stories, spells, rituals, and recipes celebrating the worldwide influence of this beloved Celtic goddess, with contributions from Amy Blackthorn, Laura Tempest Zakroff, Courtney Weber, and many others This anthology celebrates Brigid, an ancient and mysterious Celtic spirit who ranks among today’s most popular modern goddesses. Venerated in many forms including as a saint and a goddess, Brigid has traveled the globe alongside the Celtic diaspora. Once a goddess with a narrow territory, she is now an internationally beloved presence. While acknowledging her origins, this book also explores Brigid from the perspective of those outside her original Celtic homeland. Editors Cairelle Crow and Laura Louella have gathered art, poetry, stories, spells, rituals, recipes, and traditions as an homage to the worldwide influence of Brigid’s magic and lore, especially among the descendants of immigrants to the Americas. In compiling these individual works, Cairelle and Laura have given voice to those traveling ancestors by showcasing a rich and beautiful heritage manifested through embodiments of devotion by their descendants, as well as others touched by Brigid.

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Book SynopsisA new translation and commentary on the extracanonical Coptic text that describes Judas’ special status among Jesus’ disciplesTrade Review“A splendid book that will serve as the standard English-language, scholarly translation and commentary for years to come.”—Dylan Burns, Universiteit van Amsterdam

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Book SynopsisFor sisters Mary Kennedy and Deirdre Ní Chinnéide, spirituality has been at the centre of their lives since childhood. Their home on St Brigid's Road in Clondalkin, Dublin, was around the corner from a holy well, a place that signalled family, community and divinity.In these pages, they draw on this heritage, with an emphasis on Celtic spirituality - a key focus in Deirdre's work and a long-held area of interest for Mary. The journey to the well is a pilgrimage to source, to that which remains steadfast whatever challenges we face. Traversing the Celtic seasons of Samhain, Imbolc, Bealtaine and Lughnasa, the authors explore themes such as hope, love and loss, resilience and new dawns, through personalreflections, stories, lore and healing words.Journey to the Well is a book of rich connection that celebrates the divine within each of us.

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Book SynopsisIndigenous Religious Traditions in Five Minutes aims to answer many of the questions that come to mind when we think about the religious lives of Native and Indigenous peoples of the world. Scholars from many fields answer dozens of questions about a wide variety of specific Indigenous religious traditions and an array of the ideas, practices, and beliefs many people associate with them. Do Native peoples have creator Gods? What is shamanism? Why are there so many spellings of voodoo? Is Paganism considered an Indigenous religious tradition? We also interrogate the concept of Indigenous religious traditions, by asking what the phrase means in relation to the larger fields of Native American and Indigenous Studies and Religious Studies, whether all religions were at some point indigenous, and what the value of studying Indigenous religious traditions is today. Specialists respond to questions like these and many others in easily accessible language and provide references for further exploration, making this volume useful for personal study or classroom use.Table of ContentsPreface Molly Bassett and Natalie Avalos Indigeneity and Religion Why does the title of this book use the phrase “Indigenous Religious Traditions” rather than “Indigenous Religions?” Tisa Wenger, Yale University What makes a religion an ‘Indigenous religion’? Graham Harvey, The Open University Were all religions at one time ‘Indigenous’? Tyler Tully, University of Oxford Are Indigenous religions only those practiced by Indigenous people? Angela Puca, Leeds Trinity University Why is "religion" a problematic category for understanding Indigenous traditions? Philip Arnold, Syracuse University How do ideas about race shape understandings of Native American religious life? Sarah Dees, Iowa State University Why Are Indigenous African and Afro-Diasporic Religions Relevant to You? Ayodeji Ogunnaike, Bowdoin College, & Oludamini Ogunnaike, University of Virginia What makes Vodou an Indigenous tradition? James Padilioni, Jr., Swarthmore College What’s the difference between Vodou, Voudou, and Voodoo? Emily Clark, Gonzaga University Is Adivasi religion the same as Hinduism? William Elison, University of California Is Neo-Paganism an Indigenous religious tradition? Abel R. Gomez, University of Oklahoma The Study of Indigenous Religious Traditions What moral responsibilities do scholars and students have in studying Indigenous religions? Afe Adogame, Princeton Theological Seminary Why is repatriation a religious issue for many Native communities? Greg Johnson, University of California Is an academic approach to Indigenous religions innately colonizing? Afe Adogame What is animism? Graham Harvey How do archaeologists study religion in the Indigenous past? Mallory Matsumoto, University of Texas What’s the deal with cultural appropriation? Gregory Alles, McDaniel College Was the Washington R*dskins cultural appropriation? Matt Sheedy, Universität Bonn Indigenous Religious Traditions What is a Land-based religious tradition? Dana Lloyd, Villanova University Do Indigenous Peoples believe plants, animals, and waters have personhood? Meaghan Weatherdon, University of San Diego What does it mean when Indigenous peoples say animals are sacred? Kelsey Dayle John, University of Arizona What role does pilgrimage play in Indigenous religious life? Paul Gareau & Jeanine LeBlanc, both at University of Alberta Are Indigenous peoples inherently environmentalists? Dennis Kelley, University of Missouri Why is the public expression of Indigenous Religion political? Stacie Swain, University of Victoria What are Native American foodways, and how are they religious? Andrea McComb Sanchez, University of Arizona What do Indigenous religious traditions in the Americas have in common? Inés Hernandez-Avila, University of California What are ancestor spirits, and what role do they play in Hawaiian religious life? Marie Alohalani Brown, University of Hawai'i What is the Ghost Dance? Tiffany Hale, Barnard College, Columbia University How are Indigenous narratives and oral traditions like “texts?” Dennis Kelley What do trickster tales tell us about human beings, and why are they important in Indigenous cultures? Davíd Carrasco, Harvard University How do Indigenous religions approach disability? Zara Surratt, University of North Carolina Are Indigenous religious traditions patriarchal? Donnie Begay, University of Divinity, Australia Did Indigenous people really honor LGBT/Two-Spirit people? Lisa Poirier, DePaul University Indigenous Futurity Indigenous futurism … is that like science fiction? Matt Sheedy

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Book SynopsisAlways practise safe hex . . . New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins, writing as Erin Sterling, follows her sensational TikTok hit, The Ex Hex, and casts a spell with a new spine-tingling romance full of wishes, witches, and cursed kisses.''A spooky romantic comedy treat that had me sighing at one page, laughing out loud at the next'' TESSA BAILEY on The Ex HexVisit magical Graves Glen in The Ex Hex - out now! - and The Wedding Witch - available to preorder!Readers ADORED The Ex Hex!''If Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Gilmore Girls had a book baby, it would be THE EX HEX. And yes, it''s just as glorious as it sounds!'' ''I loved and adored everything about this book . . . everything I was looking for! 5/5 stars!''''The vibes were immaculate''''One of the be

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Book SynopsisA charming and witty history of the quirky - but surprisingly widespread - craft of embroidering kneeler cushions. The perfect gift book this Christmas, for those who love kneelers and those who don't!'A lovely look at a not-quite-vanishing craft that lies, literally, below our knees ... Inventive and interesting' The Oldie, 'Best Reads for All Ages This Christmas''A treasure of a collection' Amber Butchart, of BBC's The Great British Sewing Bee'I think I may already have discovered the best non fiction book of 2023' Reverend Richard Coles, author of A Murder Before EvensongKneelers is a celebration of the most widely practised - but often overlooked - folk art in England and Wales over the past ninety years: the design and craft of church kneelers. Featuring charming stories and enchanting designs from churches across the country, the book traces the history of kneelers; from their spectacular beginnings at Winchester in the 1930s to their booming popularity after Queen Elizabeth II's coronation and the present-day congregations who are keeping the tradition alive.In their range and diversity, the kneelers collected here form a fascinating social record of the concerns and interests that occupied their makers - including local fauna and flora, cricket, dragons, post-war tributes and the thrills of high-speed travel.Filled to the brim with beautiful full-colour images, Kneelers displays the quirky artistry and widely varied (and often surprising) motifs which have characterised church kneelers in the twentieth century. It rejoices in the personal stories of some of the people who have practised and advanced the art form, and is a wonderful commemoration of what happens when communities come together to celebrate their history and their environment.'A glorious and delightful salute' Tracy Chevalier, author of A Single Thread'This book is a Godsend!' Alan Titchmarsh, author of The Gardener's AlmanacTrade Review'I think I may already have discovered the best non fiction book of 2023' * Reverend Richard Coles, author of A Murder Before Evensong *'A glorious and delightful salute to some of the UK's most neglected folk art and its makers' * Tracy Chevalier, author of A Single Thread *'For anyone who has been grateful for a kneeler, and found solace in them during a challenging sermon, this book is a Godsend!' * Alan Titchmarsh, author of The Gardener's Almanac *'A treasure of a collection' * Amber Butchart, of BBC's The Great British Sewing Bee *Gives praise at last to an overlooked form of British folk art * Sunday Times *

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Book SynopsisA collection of 101 hadith sayings, this work is one of the most important and influential early collections of hadith qudsi. Falling into three categories, the first 40 sayings each have a full, unbroken chain of transmission that goes back to God through the medium of the Prophet Muhammad. The second category are sayings mostly taken from well-known written collections. The final section is drawn from similar books, with Ibn 'Arabi adding one extra hadith, orally transmitted. Comprised of a full introduction explaining the meaning of Hadith, the text stresses the importance of this tradition in Ibn 'Arabi's writing.

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Book SynopsisThe origins of modern Daoism can be traced to the Church of the Heavenly Master (Tianshidao), reputedly established by the formidable Zhang Daoling. In 142 CE, according to Daoist tradition, Zhang was visited by the Lord on High, who named him his vicar on Earth with the title Heavenly Master. The dispensation articulated an eschatological vision of saving initiates—the pure, those destined to become immortals— by enforcing a strict moral code. Under evolving forms, Tianshidao has remained central to Chinese society, and Daoist priests have upheld their spiritual allegiance to Zhang, their now divinized founder. This book tells the story of the longue durée evolution of the Heavenly Master leadership and institution.Later hagiography credits Zhang Daoling's great?grandson, putatively the fourth Heavenly Master, with settling the family at Longhushan (Dragon and Tiger Mountain); in time his descendants—down to the present contested sixty?fifth Heavenly Master living in Taiwan— made the extraordinary claim of being able to transmit hereditarily the function of the Heavenly Master and the power to grant salvation. Over the next twelve centuries, the Zhangs turned Longhushan into a major holy site and a household name in the Chinese world, and constructed a large administrative center for the bureaucratic management of Chinese society. They gradually built the Heavenly Master institution, which included a sacred site; a patriarchal line of successive Heavenly Masters wielding vast monopolistic powers to ordain humans and gods; a Zhang lineage that nurtured talent and accumulated wealth; and a bureaucratic apparatus comprised of temples, training centers, and a clerical hierarchy. So well?designed was this institution that it remained stable for more than a millennium, far outlasting the longest dynasties, and had ramifications for every city and village in imperial China.In this ambitious work, Vincent Goossaert traces the Heavenly Master bureaucracy from medieval times to the modern Chinese nation?state as well as its expansion. His in?depth portraits of influential Heavenly Masters are skillfully embedded in a large?scale analysis of the institution and its rules, ideology, and vision of society.Trade ReviewAlthough the Heavenly Masters' claim to represent an unbroken tradition almost as old as the papacy is open to question, the Zhangs of Longhushan certainly are heirs to a family legacy comparable to that of the best noble lineages of Europe, and they have exercised a distinctive religious office for more than a millennium. Fragments of their remarkable story have been told before, but now Vincent Goossaert has pieced together the entire narrative, adding another extraordinary first to his many achievements. He has already done much to illuminate change in the history of Chinese religion; in this volume he spectacularly demonstrates its simultaneous capacity for continuity." —T. H. Barrett, SOAS, University of London "This book is a tour de force, providing the first synthesis in any Western language of the rise of the institution of the Heavenly Master, its many interactions with the Chinese state, its role in the performance of ordination and the distribution of registers, and its economic basis. It makes use of a wide range of primary sources, including manuscripts, gazetteers, notebooks, and archival material. It also carefully includes the best and most recent secondary research in Chinese, Japanese, and Western languages. By reasserting the primacy of the Heavenly Master tradition, this path?breaking work will set a new standard for the study of Daoism in Late Imperial China." —Terry Kleeman, University of Colorado, BoulderTable of Contents Series Editors' Preface ix Acknowledgments xi Abbreviations xiii Introduction 1 Chapter One Inventing the Founding Ancestor: The Lives of Zhang Daoling 13 Chapter Two The Rise of Longhushan 33 Chapter Three The Heavenly Masters in the History of Daoist Ordinations 53 Chapter Four New Rituals and the Longhushan Synthesis of Modern Daoism 91 Chapter Five The Mature Institution: Longhushan during the Song?Yuan Period 129 Chapter Six The Most Powerful Heavenly Master Ever? The Lives of Zhang Yuchu 157 Chapter Seven The Institution under the Ming and the Qing 185 Chapter Eight The Heavenly Masters and Late Imperial Chinese Society 219 Chapter Nine The Predicaments of Modernity: The Heavenly Masters since the 1850s 265 Conclusion 289 Appendix 1: List of the Heavenly Masters 299 Appendix 2: The Different Versions of the Tiantan yuge 303 Notes 305 Bibliography 375 Index 409

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Book SynopsisYou were designed with the ability and inner strength to stretch to the next level, to stand strong and overcome the opposition, to learn new skills, to believe bigger, dream bigger, and to take on new challenges.In You Are Stronger than You Think, #1 New York Times bestselling author Joel Osteen encourages you to stand firm when the difficulty is not turning around. When the pressure mounts, when you feel overwhelmed, when the struggle looks too big, or the goal is out of reach, you have to remember that is not your destiny. You are more powerful than you think. You need to see yourself the right way and realize what's already inside you. You were made to outlast the competition, to go further than you thought you could, and live a life beyond what limits you.As you read You Are Stronger than You Think, you will find the power to break the cycle of defeat, the courage to set a new standard for your family, the hope to conquer your fear, and the confidence to accomplish every dream. You will discover that you have more strength, more talent, more determination, and more endurance than you ever imagined. Nothing can hold you back...because You Are Stronger than You Think!

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Book SynopsisIt doesn't matter who you are or what you've done, God wants a relationship with you.When we turn to the Lord, He is there waiting to forgive us and give us a purpose for our lives. Unfortunately, teens and adults are surrounded by so much noise from social media, the entertainment industry, drugs, pornography, the occult, bullying, and social expectations that it is nearly impossible to hear the truth of a God who will take them as they are. This book is written to help this generation kill that noise, so that teens and adults can hear the voice of God telling them they are loved, they are wanted, and they are His.Ryan Ries is living proof of this truth. Growing up in Los Angeles, California as the son of a mega-church pastor, but surrounded by the music, skate, and snowboard industries, Ryan felt a tug-of-war between the church and the world. It was in the skate and music culture that he found his passion and his identity. So he walked away from God and dove head first into the world, losing his way in alcohol, drugs, and sex, which lead to anxiety, brokenness, and emptiness. Kill The Noise is his story about finding God in the messiness of life, even though it seemed impossible, and will help readers find Him too.

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Book SynopsisAdam Harwood's Christian Theology is both biblically faithful and historically informed, providing a fresh synthesis of the essential doctrines of the faith. Topics include: Preface Theological Method The Doctrine of Revelation General Revelation Special Revelation The Doctrine of God The Doctrine of the Trinity God’s Name God’s Attributes Creation Providence and Evil Angels, Satan, and Demons The Doctrine of Humanity Human Identity and Constitution God’s Design for Human Sexuality Sin Original Sin The Doctrine of Christ The Person of Christ: New Testament Survey The Person of Christ: Doctrinal Development and Theological Issues The Work of Christ: Death and Resurrection, Biblical Survey of the Atonement The Work of Christ: Historical Survey of Atonement Models The Work of Christ: Theological Issues The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit Biblical Survey of the Holy Spirit’s Person & Work Historical Survey of the Holy Spirit’s Person & Work Theological Survey of the Holy Spirit’s Person & Work The Doctrine of Salvation Biblical Survey of Salvation Predestination and Election Historical Survey and Issues in the Doctrine of Salvation The Doctrine of the Church Biblical and Historical Survey: The Nature and Marks of the Church Ministries and Ordinances Structures within and among Churches The Doctrine of Last Things Death, Afterlife, and the Christian Hope Thy Kingdom Come Hell and Heaven The church has been entrusted with God's revelation — and to steward the word of truth, we must confess the Bible's teaching with clarity and conviction. Writing from a Baptist perspective, Harwood brings fresh insights that many systematic theologies lack. With readable prose, suggestions for further study, and discussion questions, Christian Theology will equip students and pastors to clarify and articulate what they believe and why.

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Book SynopsisA comforting book that will offer relief to anyone moving through intense grief and loss, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh shares accessible, healing words of wisdom to transform our suffering. In the immediate aftermath of a loss, sometimes it is all we can do to keep breathing. With his signature clarity and compassion, Thich Nhat Hanh will guide you through the storm of emotions surrounding the death of a loved one. How To Live When A Loved One Dies offers powerful practices such as mindful breathing that will help you reconcile with death and loss, feel connected to your loved one long after they have gone and transform your grief into healing and joy.

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Book SynopsisMichael Rosen shows how the redemptive hope of religion became the redemptive hope of historical progress. This was the heart of German Idealism: purpose lay not in God’s judgment but in worldly projects; freedom required not being subject to arbitrary authority, human or divine. Yet purpose and freedom never shed their theistic structure.Trade ReviewAlthough Kant was not a secular thinker, he still contributed to secularization. This distinction illustrates the sophistication of Rosen’s approach…Rosen challenges much that is taken for granted in modern accounts of [Kant’s] work…Innovative. -- Richard Bourke * Times Literary Supplement *[An] illuminating perspective on contemporary trends that rewards critical engagement…Rosen makes no claim to have definitively unraveled the intellectual origins of our troubled times; but he is surely right that the fundamental need to find our place in the world, the sense of belonging to something larger than ourselves—whether secular or divine will continue to cast a long shadow over our history. -- Paul Dicken * American Conservative *A magisterial achievement…This book will stay with students of German Idealism and of political theory at large for a very long time to come. -- Tae-Yeoun Keum * Review of Politics *Rosen’s argument is original and provocative, and he excels at deciphering the gnarled writings of the German Idealists and making comprehensible their thoughts about free will…and justice…This meticulous examination will appeal to philosophers and historians alike. * Publishers Weekly *Thinkers such as Kant and Hegel, indeed most of the German idealists, conforming to the religious and political orthodoxy of the day, sought to save religion. Rosen argues, however, that the requirement that God and reason should coexist, that theodicy should be rational theodicy, far from saving religion, hastened its decline. -- Julian Young * Society *With great erudition and a characteristic combination of analytic precision and critical imagination, Michael Rosen serves us a dialectical feast: He brings German Idealism back to life by showing how much these thinkers of secularism were steeped in religious forms of thought that live on. This masterpiece is a great example of what Adorno once called solidarity with metaphysics in the moment of its fall. -- Rainer Forst, Goethe University FrankfurtThe discussion about the nature and validity of ethical thinking in the English-speaking world suffers from a too-narrow range of examples. It often seems to come down to a debate between Bentham and secularized versions of Kant. Michael Rosen’s The Shadow of God reexamines the Kantian tradition and opens up a much wider range of crucial issues. His book is clearly and engagingly written and could enliven and transform the debate. It needs to be widely read. -- Charles Taylor, McGill UniversityWritten with both rigor and humor, Michael Rosen’s The Shadow of God offers original interpretations of notoriously difficult philosophical thinkers—Kant, Hegel, Nietzsche, and others—while never losing sight of the existential puzzles about agency, history, theodicy, and evil that motivated them and that haunt us still. The book is both invigorating and consoling, and it is a pleasure to read. -- Lydia Moland, Colby CollegeMichael Rosen tells the story of the intellectual movement from Kant to Hegel anew, and he describes it as, at its core, a ‘passage from heaven to history.’ The result is a fascinating book, beautifully written and tightly argued, full of insights and wisdom. -- Eckart Förster, Johns Hopkins UniversityIn this book, Michael Rosen rises above the limitations of sociological approaches to secularization and presents an intellectual-historical account, framed by Nietzsche’s aphorism of ‘the shadow of God.’ Challenging received views across a number of academic fields, Rosen takes our understanding of secularization to a new level, and we are greatly in his debt. -- Shao Kai Tseng, Zhejiang University

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Book SynopsisTHE WAY OF MARY, MARYAM, BELOVED OF GOD is a weaving of strands from ancient sources, traditional stories, poetry, prayers of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism, and beyond (with full colour illustrations), to reveal, through the illuminated being and twelve life stations of Beloved Mary, the palpable Oneness of all Creation, our Oneness in Spirit.Trade Review"Revered across the family of Abraham and Sarah, adored as Miriam, Mary, Maryam, Madre Maria, there is no other single figure who so universally serves to lift up the weary heart of the world, blessing us with lovingkindness and infusing us with hope. With her signature blend of sublime wisdom and grounded scholarship, beloved Sufi teacher Camille Helminski offers a penetrating and life-giving transmission of Maryam as guide to the awakening of the soul, during a time when we need her most." ~ Mirabai Starr, author of God of Love and Wild Mercy ; "I have read numerous books on the Holy Mother in Her many guises: Kali, Chochma, Sarada Devi, Shechinah, Avalokiteshvara, and of course Mary, but none was as striking, profound, and potentially heart-transforming as Camille Helminski’s The Way of Mary. This book, steeped in wisdom, is a book to be savored. I cannot recommend it more highly." ~ Rabbi Rami Shapiro, author of The Divine Feminine in Biblical Wisdom Literature ; "What beautiful blessedness: the wise and gentle heart of Mary mirrored in the wise and gentle heart of Camille Helminski." ~ The Rev. Dr. Cynthia Bourgeault, author of The Wisdom Jesus and The Meaning of Mary Magdalene ; "I would like to thank Camille Hanim for bringing us Hazreti Meryem’s fragrance full of patience, compassion, mercy, and knowing. Camille Hanim has done a great service to humanity by writing this book—the fact that she quotes from the Bible, the Quran and the Masnavi is very important in terms of realizing that all paths lead to the One. Even though the paths are different, the destination is the same." ~ Esin Celebi Bayru, 22nd generation granddaughter of Mevlana Jalaluddin Rumi; Vice President, International Mevlana Foundation ; "Camille Helminski’s The Way of Mary is a lovely and welcome addition to the deep dialogue of the spirit shared between Muslims and Christians. The Qur’an uses the exact same verb to talk about Mary being “chosen and purified” as that of the most common honorific for the Prophet Muhammad, Mustapha. Indeed, one could say that there is a close association between Mary and Muhammad, in that the former receives God’s Word (Jesus) into her pure womb, and the latter God’s Word (the Qur’an) into his luminous heart. Deeply rooted in the Qur’an and the Sufi tradition, The Way of Mary is a beautiful way of accessing the rich waters of life that are shared across our tradition, and is highly recommended to all spiritual seekers." ~ Omid Safi, Professor of Islamic Studies at Duke University; Founder, Illuminated Courses and Tours ; "This priceless book is a treasure trove of precious insights, heartfelt poetry, sacred verses and meticulous scholarship. These elements exquisitely woven into twelve chapters uniquely and profoundly enrich our mind, purify our heart and exalt our soul. Our beings feel deeply grateful to be graced and blessed by beauty and a rare taste of the sacred." ~ Imam Jamal Rahman, Interfaith Community SanctuaryTable of ContentsAuthor’s Preface | Introduction: Twelve Stars of Blessing | I. The Gift of the Conception of Mary to Anna, She Who Had Been Barren | II. Within the Sanctuary | III. Annunciation of the Word | IV. Magnifi cat, Mary’s Song of Praise | V. Birthing Jesus | VI. Presentation of the Infant Jesus in the Temple: Forty Days of Love | VII. Journey to Egypt | VIII. Losing and Finding Jesus: Calling the Beloved | IX. Miracles of Nourishment and New Life | X. The Gathering to God: Death and Resurrection | XI. Teaching Journeys | XII. Tranquility of Spirit | Rose Prayers | Antiphon | Appendix I: Songs of Love | Appendix II: Extended Context Notes | Illustrations | Selected Bibliography | Index

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Book SynopsisDismantling the myths that divide Islam and the West, this cutting-edge work of critical thinking proposes new ways to reread Islamic and world histories. Extending from the front-page news coverage of our daily lives back into the deepest and most revelatory histories of the last two hundred years and earlier, Hamid Dabashi's The End of Two Illusions is a daring, provocative, and groundbreaking work that dismantles the most dangerous delusions manufactured between two vastly fetishized abstractions: Islam and the West. With this book, Dabashi shows how the civilizational divides imagined between these two cosmic binaries have defined their entanglementin ways that have nothing to do with the lived experiences of either Muslims or the diverse and changing communities scarcely held together by the myth of the West. Through detailed historical and contemporary analysis, The End of Two Illusions untangles the motivations that produced this global fiction. Dabashi demonstrates how the WTrade Review"Dabashi makes a compelling claim in the epistemic violence created by “The West and Islam” that fits suitably in the ongoing work of decolonial scholarship." * Reading Religion *"The precise and thoughtful interdisciplinary approach in The End of Two Illusions offers a vital contribution to perspectives on international relations, conflict, and dialogue. This text should be read by anyone involved or interested in understanding the reality of global political and cultural relationships in the twenty-first century." * Journal of South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies *Table of ContentsContents Acknowledgments Introduction The Future of Two Illusions I · The Colonial Catalyst 1 Islam in the World 2 “The West” Groundwork for the Metaphysics of an Illusion 3 The West and the Rest Condition of Coloniality II · The Return of the Repressed 4 What’s in a Name? 5 The Monologue of Civilizations III · Where the Twain Have Met 6 Gendering the Difference From Metaphoric to Metamorphic 7 De-racing Civilizations 8 Nations beyond Borders Conclusion “The Inverted Consciousness of the World” Epilogue 2021: After Gaza and Afghanistan Notes Index

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Book SynopsisCan you really trust in hope? Does hope sometimes feel like a risk that isn''t worth taking? Bestselling author, journalist, and former atheist Lee Strobel proves that hope is real, the true Source of our hope, and why we can trust it. In The Case for Hope, Lee Strobel pairs his trademark investigative style with an uplifting message of the hope found in Jesus Christ. Strobel will walk you through why holding on to hope is so crucial, why we can trust in the hope of Jesus Christ, and how that hope can change our lives for the better.Strobel will take you on a journey to discover: how to find hope in a hopeless world the source of real hope the hope of a transformed life hope for today and beyond hope that transcends doubt the hope of heaven hope for every person With more than 14 million books sold, Lee Strobel has already helped millions delve deeper into their faith and examine more deeply the how and the why of what they believe. Whether as a gift of encouragement during a difficult season, a reminder of our true hope at Christmas or Easter, a baptism or new member gift at church, or as a self-purchase when you need a lift in your faith, The Case for Hope is sure to inspire and ignite hope in the hearts of all who pick up this book.

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Book SynopsisOver the course of 9 lessons featuring guided study, Bible passages, and discussion questions, this companion to the book Rediscover Church emphasizes the significance of face-to-face fellowship with the family of Christ.

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Book SynopsisA rich and rare approach to the mystical and the miraculous', the strange but real parts of a life that ?oat between earth and heaven, mud and glory Beautifully achieved with a subtle beauty, music and growing intensity that makes a fruitful vine of the whole. John F. DeaneSt Columba, or Columcille, and the island of Iona are the inspiration for James Harpur in this book of delicate lyric poems. Delving into the stories of the saint including visions of angels, struggles with Picts, and various miracles Harpur mingles his own poetic imagination with the spirit of Columba and the landscape of Iona: the result is poetry full of spiritual freedom and redolent of an age of wonder in which the natural world and the elements were perceived to be in harmony with the divine. James Harpur has published seven books of poetry and won a number of awards, including the Michael Hartnett Poetry Prize and the UK National Poetry Competition. He is a member of Aosdána, the Irish academy of the arts, and lives in the wilds of West Cork. www.jamesharpur.com

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Book SynopsisThis Reader brings together nearly 80 extracts from major works by Christians and Muslims that reflect their reciprocal knowledge and attitudes. It spans the period from the early 7th century, when Islam originated, to 1500. The general introduction provides a historical and geographical summary of Christian-Muslim encounters in the period and a short account of the religious, intellectual and social circumstances in which encounters took place and works were written. Topics from the Christian perspective include: condemnations of the Qur''an as a fake and Muhammad as a fraud, depictions of Islam as a sign of the final judgement, and proofs that it was a Christian heresy. On the Muslim side they include: demonstrations of the Bible as corrupt, proofs that Christian doctrines were illogical, comments on the inferior status of Christians, and accounts of Christian and Muslim scholars in collaboration together. Each of the six parts contains the following pedagogical features: -A sTrade ReviewMany of the themes that still feature in exchanges between Christians and Muslims date from the first centuries of encounter. This selection of texts, grouped according to the languages employed, many translated into English for the first time, makes it possible for readers to see how each side attempted to defend their own religion or to attack the other, during these centuries. Readers will be able to see which themes dominated, which developed or changed and which were dropped, and how context influenced perceptions and attitudes. * Clinton Bennett, Adjunct Professor of Religious Studies, the State University of New York at New Paltz, USA *A fascinating short journey in the history of Christian-Muslim encounters in pre-modern times. This anthology of texts provides a revealing window into how Muslims and Christians perceived each other from the beginning of Islam and throughout medieval times. It offers the reader a unique collection of translated texts from languages that include Arabic, Latin, Greek, Syriac and many others. * Umar Ryad, Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies, KU Leuven, Belgium *The Bloomsbury Reader in Christian-Muslim Relations gives readers a chance to meet the history of Christian-Muslim encounters through the experiences and thoughts of those involved in them at first-hand. Helpful commentary from a diverse community of scholars adds vital context to the primary sources. The Reader will become one of the standard texts that teachers and students depend upon. * Charles Tieszen, SIS Adjunct Professor for Islamic studies and Christian-Muslim relations, Fuller Theological Seminary, USA *Table of ContentsGeneral Introduction, David Thomas (University of Birmingham, UK) 1. Muslim Arabic works Introduction, David Thomas (University of Birmingham, UK) 2. Christian Arabic works Introduction, David Thomas (University of Birmingham, UK) 3. Andalusian Arabic works Introduction, Juan Pedro Monferrer Sala (University of Cordoba, Spain) 4. Syriac, Persian and other Eastern language works Introduction, Thomas Carlson (Oklahoma State University, USA) 5. Greek works Introduction, Johannes Pahlitzsch (University of Mainz, Germany) 6. Latin and European vernacular works Introduction, Graham Barrett (University of Lincoln, UK) 7. Table of themes 8. List of contributors Index

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Book SynopsisConceived at the crossroads of Buddhism and indigenous earth-based practice, The Shamanic Bones of Zen explores the deep human traditions of transformation that are made possible by meditation, ceremony, ritual, dreams, and spiritual connection to one?s ancestry.In TheShamanic Bones of Zen, celebrated author and Buddhist teacher Zenju Earthlyn Manuel undertakes a rich exploration of the connections between contemporary Zen practice and shamanic, or indigenous, spirituality. Drawing on her personal journey with the black church, with African, Caribbean, and Native American ceremonial practices, and with Nichiren and Zen Buddhism, she builds a compelling case for discovering and cultivating the shamanic, or magical, elements in Buddhism?many of which have been marginalized by colonialist and modernist forces in the religion. Displaying reverence for the Zen tradition, creativity in expressing her own intuitive seeing, and profound gratitude for the guidance of spirit, Manuel models the path of a seeker unafraid to plumb the depths of her ancestry and face the totality of the present. The book conveys guidance for readers interested in Zen practice including ritual, preparing sanctuaries, engaging in chanting practices, and deepening embodiment with ceremony. "I often felt my ancestors at ease with my practice of Zen. I felt they had led me through other traditions to this practice of ritual andceremony,?writes Manuel.?Theancestors needed me to be still and breathe as they approached with what they had to offer my life.?

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Book SynopsisWalking through the Bible's teaching, Sam Storms helps believers find freedom, joy, and peace in knowing what God has done (and will never do) with their sin through the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus.

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Book Synopsis'Suzuki's works on Zen Buddhism are among the best contributions to the knowledge of living Buddhism' Carl Jung Essays in Zen Buddhism was the first book to fully introduce Zen in the West. In it, Dr D.T. Suzuki outlines the origins of Zen as a unique Chinese interpretation of the Doctrine of Enlightenment with the aim of attaining Satori ('Sudden Enlightenment'). He describes how Satori can be achieved and the methods that can bring it about - but always stresses that Zen has to be a way of life that can cope with the demands and frustrations of everyday life. Exploring the history of Buddhism, the daily life of a Zen monk and the path to enlightenment, Essays in Zen Buddhism offers an understanding of Zen not as a religion but as a way of perceiving, acting and being. It is both a classic introduction to Zen and a foundation for living a fulfilled life. After reaching enlightenment at the age of 27, Dr Suzuki spent the next 65 years writing about Buddhism and teaching in universities in Europe and the US. Widely regarded as the twentieth century's leading authority on Buddhism, he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1963.Trade ReviewSuzuki's works on Zen Buddhism are among the best contributions to the knowledge of living Buddhism. * Carl Jung *He speaks of what he has experienced... the essential quality of Zen. * Erich Fromm *Dr Suzuki writes with authority... he is a Buddhist... He is honoured in every temple in Japan for his knowledge of spiritual things. -- Christmas Humphreys

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Book SynopsisEugene McCarraher challenges the conventional view of capitalism as a force for disenchantment. From Puritan and evangelical valorizations of profit to the heavenly Fordist city, the mystically animated corporation, and the deification of the market, capitalism has hijacked our intrinsic longing for divinity, laying hold to our souls.Trade ReviewExtraordinary…Like MacIntyre, McCarraher both recognizes and detests capitalism’s spoliations of creation and disintegration of communities, and casts a fond, forlorn eye toward the possibility of restoring a rationality of genuine human life…A majestic achievement. It will enjoy a long posterity…It is a work of great moral and spiritual intelligence, and one that invites contemplation about things we can’t afford not to care about deeply. -- David Bentley Hart * Commonweal *[A] monumental labor of love…There have been marvelous studies of contemporary capitalism published in recent years…But this is an extraordinary work of intellectual history as well as a scholarly tour de force, a bracing polemic, and a work of Christian prophecy…It is beautifully written and a magnificent read…McCarraher challenges more than 200 years of post-Enlightenment assumptions about the way we live and work…This mammoth portrait of the religious longings at the heart of secular materialism carries a bleak message: 20th-century fantasies of the world as one global business have been realized…Refreshingly original and splendidly pulled off. * The Observer *McCarraher’s book is more brilliant, more capacious, and more entertaining, page by page, than his most ardent fans dared hope. The magnitude of his accomplishment—an account of American capitalism as a religion that begins in early modernity and extends to the present, an analysis that goes far beyond the loose versions of this argument we’ve seen before (Economists are like clergy! The Fed is like a church!) and rewrites American intellectual history as it does so—will stun even skeptical readers…It is a wonder, an enchantment on a world that has so forgotten itself as to think enchantments rare. -- Philip Christman * Christian Century *A monumental, scholarly but also readable survey of how the champions of capitalism, their acolytes and foot soldiers—over and over, and with conspicuous success—reframed traditional religious longings and beloved communities as goals that could be achieved through the pursuit of profit…As enthralling a work of intellectual history as you could hope to read. -- Michael Duggan * Catholic Herald *A beguiling 800-page tour de force…[A] sweeping history…The author claims, with considerable evidence, that capitalism, too, is a form of worship, that it is a religion of modernity…Scintillating. -- Donald Sassoon * Church Times *A genuine delight to read…[A] searing excoriation of economics as it is currently practiced…An extraordinary book…It is difficult to characterize this book as anything but a masterpiece for its synthesis of intellectual history, anticapitalist polemic, and Romantic imagination. There is a great deal to be gained from McCarraher’s arguments. -- Daniel Walden * Current Affairs *One of the most impressive books I’ve ever read…The depth and range of McCarraher’s scholarship are incredible…A must-read for anyone serious about the mesmerizing power of capitalism. -- Mark Dunbar * The Humanist *A vitally important book…It could have an impact similar to Alasdair MacIntyre’s After Virtue…Certainly it is a book people concerned about the state of the world and moral theology should be aware of…McCarraher…explains how capitalism has become the religion of the modern world…This detailed account of the idolatries of our age deserves wide readership and detailed examination. -- Frank Litton * Irish Catholic *The Enchantments of Mammon is a beautiful, stirring achievement. In a bold new synthesis ranging from early modern Europe to the contemporary United States, McCarraher challenges the received wisdom regarding the meanings of modernity and rationality, allowing us to look at familiar concepts in fresh and fruitful ways. This is truly a game-changer—the history of capitalism will never look the same again. -- Jackson Lears, author of Rebirth of a NationWith this book McCarraher aspires to nothing less than a history of the soul under capitalism. Far from living in a secular, disenchanted world, he argues, ours is a world of ‘misenchantment,’ in which longings for communion are perverted into a religion of plunder and technological control. Capitalism emerges here not as a system of market exchange or class domination but as an affront to the divine creation of which we are a part. An astonishing work of history and criticism. -- Casey Nelson Blake, author of The Arts of DemocracyAn intellectually ambitious, analytically insightful, engagingly well written, and unfashionably radical yet timely study of the relationship among capitalism, religion, society, and culture in the United States. McCarraher argues that modern capitalism has not been a secularizing movement from enchantment to disenchantment, but rather an alternative, competing form of enchantment. He is sharply critical of the underlying assumptions and damaging consequences of modern capitalism with its emphasis on extractive efficiency and profit-making. A powerful, impressive work. -- Brad Gregory, author of The Unintended ReformationA tour de force. McCarraher argues that capitalism is a successor faith, rather than a successor to faith. The capitalist faith in this telling is a heretical, blaspheming Black Mass of perverse sacramentality that sanctions domination by pretending to the status of immutable, impersonal laws of nature. In the world of economic enchantment masquerading as hard-eyed realism, McCarraher urges us to keep open an imaginative window through which to glimpse alternatives. His magnificent intellectual history recovers many such opportunities and invites us to appraise them with fresh eyes. -- Bethany Moreton, author of To Serve God and Wal-MartSurveying the history of capitalism from seventeenth-century England to the mid-twentieth-century United States, McCarraher argues in this magisterial work that capitalism is a corruption of the sacramental nature of the world and our desire to flourish within it. The keenest insights and best hopes for a more humane world reside not within secular traditions but within the Romantic lineage of joy and participation. The Enchantments of Mammon is a towering achievement: an exquisitely crafted refusal of the metaphysics of the free market and reassurance that the conditions of human flourishing are well within our reach. -- Charles Marsh, author of Strange Glory: A Life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer McCarraher savages the sacralized fantasy of perpetual economic growth—purportedly guided by the dictates of reason—promulgated on the Left (Neo-liberalism and Socialism) and the Right. Against this worship of accumulation are set the admirable but futile efforts of those who, over time, have agitated against the idolatry of lucre. Is it possible for us to turn our eyes away from this false God? -- Bill Marx * Arts Fuse *Excellent…Argues for a Romanticism-inflected socialism…monumental. -- John Ehrett * Between Two Kingdoms *A fascinating book…which asserts, among other things, that capitalism is the religion of modernity. -- Darrell Lackey * Divergence *A magnificent work of historical scholarship, a thorough account of the rise of capitalism in the modern age. And yet it is not an economics tome, or even really a history, but rather a treatise on religion and the values that pervade society. It is also full of moral insights, with stinging critiques of a worldview that reduces human experience to opportunities for exchange…Highly readable. * The Interim *A thoughtful, beautifully written book, tracing the ways in which the values of capitalism—greed, productivity, competition, selfishness—became confounded with notions of divinity, and of God’s plan for and involvement in the lives of the divinity’s alleged favorite creation…Helps explain the hegemony of capitalist ideas in societies where religion is important even when the material interests of the working class ought clearly to expose the depravity and, for the religiously-minded, the ungodliness, of capitalism as actually practiced. -- Alvin Finkel * Labour *Much needed and much welcomed…The time into which McCarraher’s work speaks is a time perhaps readied to hear something different. A world enchanted by McDonald’s and administered by McDonnell-Douglas has begun to lose its shine, especially when it culminates in carnival hucksters parading as political, business, and religious leaders. It is time for a new and yet old word, a Christian socialism that resists the lure of capitalist enchantment. -- D. Stephen Long and Tyler Womack * Modern Theology *[An] immense work of historical synthesis. -- Stuart Walton * Review 31 *A vigorous intellectual history that challenges conventional social-science assumptions about the modern world. -- Christopher Clark * Journal of Modern History *

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Book SynopsisThe authoritative account of the sectarian division that for centuries has shaped events in the Middle East and the Islamic world. In 632, soon after the prophet Muhammad died, a struggle broke out among his followers as to who would succeed him. The majority argued that the new leader of Islam should be elected by the community''s elite. Others believed only members of Muhammad''s family could lead. This dispute over who should guide Muslims, the appointed Caliph or the bloodline Imam, marks the origin of the Sunni-Shii split in Islam. Toby Matthiesen explores this hugely significant division from its origins to the present day. Moving chronologically, his book sheds light on the many ways that it has shaped the Islamic world, outlining how over the centuries Sunnism and Shiism became Islams two main branches, particularly after the Muslim Empires embraced sectarian identity. It reveals how colonial rule institutionalised divisions between Sunnism and Shiism both on the Indian subcontTrade ReviewAmbitious...undoubtedly an admirable study...an accessible introduction to the historical context that underpins the modern Middle East * Tariq Mir, BBC History Magazine *a remarkable, ambitious and successful survey of Sunni-Shii relations that will be the definitive single-volume study of the subject for years to come. * Eamonn Gearon, Times Literary Supplement *clearly written, nuanced and meticulously documented * Malise Ruthven, Literary Review *a truly ambitious book in its historical and geographic scope...This book should be read by any expert who deals in the Middle East * Francis Ghiles, Esglobal *A useful correction to religious pigeonholes about Muslims, and to the easy-going prejudice that sectarian differences can never make things right with the Islamic world. * Michiel Leezenberg, NRC Handelsblad *Matthiesen's masterful survey of Sunni-Shiite relations in history is firmly grounded in the primary sources and ranges more widely geographically than is common in other works on the subject, including South Asia. The author avoids the glib truisms that have come to dominate discussion of this subject, while giving us thought-provoking, contextual insights into one of the key flash points within Islamic civilization. * Juan Cole, Richard P. Mitchell Collegiate Professor of History and Director, Program in Arab and Muslim American Studies, University of Michigan *Ambitious in its historical as well as geographical scope, this is the first truly global account of the intimate and sometimes also violent relationship of Sunni and Shia in the making and remaking of Islam. * Faisal Devji, Professor of Indian History, University of Oxford *Table of ContentsPrologue: From Karbala to Damascus PART I THE FORMATION OF SUNNISM AND SHIISM, 632-1500 Chapter 1 After the Prophet Chapter 2 Sunni Reassertion and the Crusades Chapter 3 Polemics and Confessional Ambiguity PART II THE SHAPING OF MUSLIM EMPIRES, 1500-1800 Chapter 4 The Age of Confessionalisation Chapter 5 Muslim Dynasties on the Indian Subcontinent Chapter 6 Reform and Reinvention in the 18th Century PART III EMPIRE AND THE STATE, 1800-1979 Chapter 7 British India and Orientalism Chapter 8 Ottoman Reorganisation and European Intervention Chapter 9 The Mandates Chapter 10 The Muslim Response PART IV REVOLUTION AND RIVALRY, 1979- Chapter 11 The Religion of Martyrdom Chapter 12 Export and Containment of Revolution Chapter 13 Regime Change Chapter 14 The Arab Uprisings Conclusion: Every Place is Karbala BIBLIOGRAPHY ENDNOTES

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Book SynopsisThis collection of essays brings together two sets of articles and book chapters by Mariam Abou Zahab, the extraordinary late scholar of Islam in South Asia. The first part of the volume examines Shia–Sunni relations in Pakistan, while the second concerns violent Islamism in the country, covering both the Talibanisation of the Pashtun belt and the jihadi dimension of South Asian Salafism. Throughout these texts, Abou Zahab explores the many reasons why Pakistan has been the crucible of political Islam. She offers a historical view of this development, factoring in the impact of colonialism and conflict, including the Soviet-Afghan War and the post-9/11 Western military operations in Afghanistan. While making clear the major importance of these external influences, from Saudi Arabia and Iran to the US, she also places Pakistan's political Islam in the context of local cultures, mobilising her anthropological erudition without ever indulging in culturalism. Finally, she emphasises the sociological determinants of sectarianism, Talibanism and jihadism, as well as the political economy of these ideologies. Abou Zahab's knowledge is exhaustive, but in these papers she offers an elegant synthesis in which each word matters. This volume is indispensable for understanding the present dynamics of Pakistan.Trade Review‘[This book] gives those seeking a deeper understanding of Pakistan a valuable resource.’ -- Survival'This book flows from real knowledge. Blessed with considerable linguistic skills, the insights of political science, sociology and Islamic studies, plus the understanding of a believing Muslim, Zahab offers unrivalled insights into social and religious change in Pakistan.' -- Francis Robinson, Professor of the History of South Asia, Royal Holloway, University of London'Mariam Abou Zahab’s work is an event itself, presenting Pakistan beyond the binaries of conservative and liberal, Sunni and Shii, modernist and Sufi. Her truly kaleidoscopic analysis shows the many colours of Islam in Pakistan, interrogating our understanding of Islamism and sectarianism.' -- Sajjad Rizvi, Associate Professor of Islamic Intellectual History and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter'The depth and breadth of Mariam Abou Zahab’s knowledge and understanding about Pakistan is truly stunning. This dedicated, gifted social scientist deftly answers why things have happened and how they are interconnected with questions of identity and meaning.' -- Anita M. Weiss, Professor of International Studies, University of Oregon; author of Countering Violent Extremism in Pakistan: Local Actions, Local Voices'By far the most sophisticated and well-informed scholar of sectarian and militant Islam in Pakistan, Mariam Abou Zahab was also a remarkable personality. This collection brings together her work on Pakistan for the first time, which still remains as relevant as it was when first written and indeed unsurpassed by new scholarship. Its publication represents an event of the first order for the study of Pakistan.' -- Faisal Devji, Professor of Indian History and Director of the Asian Studies Centre, University of Oxford

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Book SynopsisAccessible and practical teachings on both the life of Tilopa, who founded the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, and one of his most important texts on the practice of Mahamudra.Most traditions of Mahamudra meditation can be traced back to the mahasiddha Tilopa and his Ganges Mahamudra, a “song of realization” that he sang to his disciple Naropa on the banks of the Ganges River more than a thousand years ago. In this book, Khenchen Thrangu, a beloved Mahamudra teacher, tells the extraordinary story of Tilopa’s life and explains its profound lessons. He follows this story with a limpid and practical verse-by-verse commentary on the Ganges Mahamudra, explaining its precious instructions for realizing Mahamudra, the nature of one’s mind. Throughout, Thrangu Rinpoche speaks plainly and directly to Westerners eager to receive the essence of Mahamudra instructions from an accomplished teacher.

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Book SynopsisA fresh translation of the Septuagint. The Lexham English Septuagint (LES) is a new translation of the Septuagint, the Greek version of the Old Testament writings used during New Testament times and in the early church. Beautifully typeset in a comfortable, single-column format, the LES provides a literal, readable, and transparent English edition of the Septuagint for modern readers. Retaining the familiar forms of personal names and places, the LES gives readers the ability to read it alongside their favored English Bible. Translated directly from Swete's edition of the Septuagint, the LES maintains the meaning of the original text, making the Septuagint accessible to readers today.

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Book SynopsisThis new and dynamic approach to the perennially fascinating subject of miracles adopts a strictly anthropological and phenomenological approach. Allowing the miracles to speak for themselves, Ian Richard Netton examines these phenomena in the Islamic and Christian traditions through the lens of narration.

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Book SynopsisFollows the human person's journey to union with God in the theologies of Saint Bonaventure and Saint Thomas Aquinas. The book argues that these seminal thinkers of the 13th Century emphasize scriptural notions of divine rewards as ordering principles for the graced movement of human viators to eternal life.

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Book SynopsisIn this volume of The Treasury of Precious Instructions, Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye compiles teachings and practices by and about the renowned Indian Buddhist masters known as mahāsiddhas, recognized in all eight practice lineages of Tibetan Buddhism.The Treasury of Precious Instructions by Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye, one of Tibet''s greatest Buddhist masters, is a shining jewel of Tibetan literature, presenting essential teachings from the entire spectrum of practice lineages that existed in Tibet. In its eighteen volumes, Kongtrul brings together some of the most important texts on key topics of Buddhist thought and practice while also authoring significant new sections of his own. This volume presents a selection of teachings and practices centered on the mahāsiddhas, Indian masters of tantric Buddhism, some of whom were of vital importance in transmitting the Vajrayāna teachings to Tibet. The mahāsiddha Mitrayogin, whose work forms the majority of this volume, visited Tibet in the late twelfth century. His ritual texts and instructions are translated from Tibetan, including sādhanas, empowerments, guru yogas, authorization rituals for protector deities, and detailed compositions on Mahāmudra practice, or resting in the nature of mind.In addition to instructions given by mahāsiddhas, this volume includes ritual practices to visualize them and transmit their blessings, including a devotional text composed by Jamgön Kongtrul himself. This translation, which may be engaged as a practice manual, preserves ancient teachings significant to the literature and history of world religions.

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Book SynopsisThe Kentigern Way is a guide to a pilgrimage route in one of the most majestic landscapes in the UK, that of the Lake District, which is rich in beauty, nature and history. More than this, it provides an historical backdrop to St Kentigern and the region, cutting through myths and assumptions to examine the reality of emerging 6th-century Christianity in Britannia'. Kentigern is also known as St Mungo, the patron saint of Glasgow, although his influence goes far beyond that city. This book also discusses what pilgrimage is (and how it differs from tourism) and provides suggestions on how to enrich the pilgrimage experience through guided reflections and prayers. Although the pilgrimage is rooted in Christian sacred sites, it is made accessible to people of all faiths and none who seek spiritual depth in the experience. You don't have to be a Christian to follow this pilgrimage route, nor will this book try to make you one. Includes a look at the feminine in contemporary Christianity and a special section on the importance of Kentigern's often-ignored mother, Teneu. Historians will enjoy the honest assessment of Kentigern's life and some revealing asides about the reality of Celtic culture. Walkers will find an enthralling travel guide and a beautiful, manageable route. Contemplatives will be encouraged by the emphasis on listening and stillness. And I challenge anyone not to be inspired and intrigued by the thoughtfulness and love that have gone into researching and producing this unusual and compelling work. JamesNewcome, BishopofCarlisle

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A brilliant overview of how the legacy of the Roman empire continued to shape the Mediterranean world."---Rowan Williams, New Humanist"Herrin’s Christendom is an obvious candidate for the Princeton Classics series. Here one can savour the clarity and originality of her account of such dauntingly named theological upheavals as the Monothelite controversy (over the psychology of Christ’s divinity versus his humanity) of the seventh century, or the struggles over the use of icons in Christian worship that came close to ripping the Byzantine empire apart in the eighth and ninth."---Diarmaid MacCulloch, Times Literary Supplement ​​​​​​​"It will no longer be possible to hop from pagan antiquity to Carolingian Europe as if nothing had happened in between. Judith Herrin has laid her sheet of paper over the map of that 'dark' age and rubbed and rubbed until the rich web of connections and cracks has shown through."---Marina Warner, The Independent"An ambitious, learned, lucid, and instructive book."---Alexander Murray, Times Literary Supplement"Herrin's scholarship is unerring, her scope is wide and her style fluent. . . . The treatment of the so-called iconoclastic controversy, the dispute over the veneration of images in Christian worship which convulsed the Byzantine world in the eighth century, is sparkling. . . . Debate about where modern Europe came from . . . will be enriched by this civilized and accomplished book." * The Economist *"Herrin follows some magnificent themes with the lucid dispassion of a good detective."---Thomas D'Evelyn, Christian Science Monitor"It is [the] binding together of distant past and immediate present which makes Judith Herrin's scholarship so exciting: she can convince the reader that the roots of Western distinctiveness really do lead all the way to forgotten episcopal meetings in small towns in Asia Minor in the fourth century."---Michael Ignatieff, The Observer"A learned, challenging, and gracefully written interpretation of the transition from antiquity to the Middle Ages."---Robert L. Wilken, Commonweal"A serious and powerful book. . . . A grand synthesis on a scale few people would dare now to attempt, ranging across diverse societies with considerable assurance."---Christopher J. Wickham, International History Review

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Book SynopsisA practical and actionable guide to the six perfections, a backbone of the Buddhist path, by an internationally beloved teacher.The six perfections are the actions of the bodhisattvas—holy beings who have transcended selfless concerns. But they’re also skills we can and should develop right now, in our messy, ordinary lives. In this clear, comprehensive guide to the backbone of Mahayana Buddhist practice, Lama Zopa Rinpoche walks us through each of the six perfections: - charity - morality - patience - perseverance - concentration - wisdom As he carefully describes each perfection, he not only reveals the depth of its meaning and how it intertwines with each other perfection, but he also explains how to practice it fully in our everyday lives—offering concrete ways for us to be more generous, more patient, more wise. With the guidance he gives us, we can progress in our practice of the perfections until we, like the bodhisattvas, learn to cherish others above ourselves.

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Book SynopsisA unique and unforgettable Easter egg-shaped board book with multiple layered pages for little hands, featuring sweet illustrations of a cuddly, baby lamb and simple rhyming text that celebrates Jesus’ resurrection. A perfect Easter basket gift. Thank you, God, for making usAnd sending us your Son.Thank you, God, for who you areAnd loving everyone.An Easter Prayer: Is the ideal size for Easter baskets and gift-giving Easily fits into small hands and even a travel bag for reading on the go Gently instills the reason for celebrating Easter Is part of a collection of books with Happy Easter and Spring Is Here

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