Religion Books

Book SynopsisBlogger, speaker, and Bible teacher invites readers to embrace the upside-down teachings of Jesus, where failure is success, endings are beginnings, and freedom is found only as we learn to fully submit.

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Book SynopsisIn this follow-up to his critically acclaimed book The Shattering of Loneliness, Erik Varden provides a glimpse of the value of a monastic life and a Christian calling in our troubled modern age.Be whole and so be happy.--St. Bernard, founder of the Cistercian orderIn the aftermath of a pandemic and the midst of political upheaval, Erik Varden has observed a growing interest in the monastic life even among those who have no intention of entering a monastery. For in times of anguish and uncertainty, basic principles of monastic life have become particularly appealing. Varden, Trappist monk and now Bishop, invites us to observe and learn from monastic life in our turbulent times. After a very personal introduction, he follows the Church year and seasons, always inspired by scriptural reading. The values he highlights include: tranquility; seeking peace; obedience; personal integrity; not continually passing judgement on others; asceticism as oppoTrade ReviewI have little doubt that this will also become a spiritual bestseller following on from his previous much acclaimed book, The Shattering of Loneliness. -- Dominic Walker * Church Times *Varden's work is the fruit from a tree for the healing of the nations, from a monk who has his feet firmly and incarnationally on the ground. * Lutheran Theological Journal *[Erik’s] homilies are accessible – written in clear, standard English – but rich, sometimes breathtakingly, in their content. * Catholic Herald *These [homilies] are as bracing and enlivening for the reader as they will have been for the congregations who heard them … Varden’s combination of extensive learning, passionate engagement with the history and demandingness of Christian life, and the sharp focus of a keen mind, make his preaching something from which many will benefit. * The Tablet *Varden’s erudition in this edifying work of Catholic monasticism should earn him comparisons to Edith Stein. * Publishers Weekly *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Introduction PART ONE: WHAT MAKES A MONK 1 Vows 2 Patrimony 3 The Heart's Expansion PART TWO: A MONASTIC YEAR 4 Seasons 5 Ordinary Time 6 Saints Appendix: Vision Notes on the Text Notes

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Book SynopsisFind the better you''ve been longing for in the pages of God''s Word.Lysa TerKeurst and the Proverbs 31 ministry team have come together to write a Bible study that will show you how God''s promises fulfill our deepest longings.We know the Bible is a big book and can oftentimes feel overwhelming. Lysa and Proverbs 31 team have created an eight-week study that will help you understand the story of the Bible, from start to finish, along with its amazing promises.In 40 Days Through the Bible: The Answers to Your Deepest Longings, you will: Take a journey through the storyline of the Bible in 40 days so you can see major themes, how they are all connected and what that means for us as we read the Bible today. Discover the eight major things humanity longs for and how Jesus fulfills all of them for us. Stop the endless cycle of seeking and searching for satisfaction and find the answers to your deepest lon

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Seminary Co-Op Notable Book of the Year""Winner of the American Book Fest Best Book Award, Religion Category""A meditative blend of history and travelogue . . . brings the soundscape of the desert to life." * New Yorker *"An engaging and inspiring book that provides much needed reflection on the significance of nature, sound, and silence in a noisy age."---Elizabeth Orens, The Living Church"[Sonorous Desert] is about the experience of solitude, sound, and silence in the ancient world and today. . . . These ideas are significant for current discussion of spirituality and human well-being." * Choice *

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Book SynopsisHow many times have you felt like you were singled out because of your relationship status? Unfortunately, we live in a society that equates personal fulfillment to whether or not you have a ring on your finger. Too often, single Christians are viewed as if they are missing out on life because they don’t have a romantic interest or they feel the need to put their lives on hold as they wait for the right partner to come along. In her powerfully authentic book, Singled Out in a Couple’s World, Christa Smith invites those who find themselves in a season of singleness to reconsider their perspective. Being single was never intended to be seen as a curse. Instead it is an opportunity to encounter God in incredible ways, embrace the story He is uniquely writing, and live the life you were always meant to. With beautiful insight and compelling transparency, Christa’s words will motivate readers to: break off the curse and stigma of singleness; live an abundant life surrendered to God; never stop believing in your God-given dream; remove the pause button and live fully; and wait well and embrace new opportunities.

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Book SynopsisDo you long for depth and authenticity in your relationship with God? Do you want purpose and daily direction but can't seem to find the right prayer to receive it? When the Soul Listens will guide you away from formulas and step-by-step prayer plans toward contemplative prayer, the lifestyle that allows you to experience God's presence, writes author Jan Johnson. Learn to find rest and guidance in God, opening yourself to God's presence and direction through this practical approach.If you are disillusioned, experiencing spiritual dryness, or simply looking for the next step in your spiritual growth, When the Soul Listens offers a clear path to a fulfilling connection with God.

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Book Synopsis“This is a book about getting, and staying, involved with God—what it takes, what it costs, what it looks and feels like, why anyone would want to do it anyway. It is at the same time a book about reading the Old Testament as a source of Good News and guidance for our life with God. The key piece of Good News that the Old Testament communicates over and over again is that God is involved with us, deeply and irrevocably so.” —from the Introduction With sound scholarship and her own vivid translations from the Hebrew, Old Testament professor Ellen Davis teaches us a spiritually engaged method of reading scripture. Beginning with the psalms, whose frank prayers can be a model for our own, Davis reflects on the stories of the patriarchs and the pastoral wisdom of the book of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Songs in helping us cultivate those habits of the heart that lead to a rich relationship with God.Trade ReviewEllen Davis continues the core task of biblical exposition for the sake of the church. . . . Through it all Ellen Davis utilizes her considerable gifts of sensitivity to the text, attentiveness to the spirit at work in the text, and care for the church that it may grow closer to the God given in the text. Of special interest to me was her fresh reading of the Song of Solomon, which offers ‘the ecstatic aspect of the love that is the main subject of the whole Bible.’ Readers will dip in at any point in this book and be invited to thinking and praying again and obeying differently and freely. -- Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological SeminaryEllen Davis’ work in this dazzling book can be compared to that of an exceptional rock climber putting up new routes on the world’s most challenging walls. Combining ease with skill and nerve with artistry, she tackles some of the most difficult portions of the Old Testament. Professor Davis is working on the razor’s edge of current hermeneutical practice, but she knows exactly how to speak to the ordinary Christian in a sparkling prose style. If you want to be up to date on the very latest developments in postmodern biblical interpretation and at the same time be thrilled and delighted with rich insights into the life of faith, this is the book to have right now. -- Fleming RutledgeEllen Davis has recovered a long-lost theological genre: brilliant, probing, scholarly interpretation of the Bible that flows into proclamation and challenges us to return to the text itself in a continuing engagement with the God who shares our pain. -- Brevard S. ChildsTable of ContentsPart 1 Introduction Part 2 Pain and Praise: The Psalms as Common Prayer Chapter 3 Improving Our Aim: Praying the Psalms Chapter 4 “With My Tears I Melt My Mattress”: The Psalms of Lament Chapter 5 “But Surely Not Those!”: The Cursing Psalms Chapter 6 “Lamenting into Dancing”: The Psalms of Praise Part 7 The Cost of Love Chapter 8 “I’ve Got to Turn Aside”: The Burning Bush Chapter 9 “Take Your Son”: The Binding of Isaac Chapter 10 “The One Whom My Soul Loves”: The Song of Songs Part 11 The Art of Living Well Chapter 12 Wise Ignorance: The Book of Proverbs Chapter 13 Simple Gifts: The Book of Ecclesiastes Chapter 14 The Sufferer’s Wisdom: The Book of Job Part 15 Habits of the Heart Chapter 16 Desirable Discipline: Proverbs 8 Chapter 17 A Fool for Love: Exodus 33 Chapter 18 “Like Grass I’m Dried Up”: Psalm 102 Chapter 19 Voluntary Heartbreak: Psalm 51 Chapter 20 Serving in the Shadows: Isaiah 49 Part 21 Torah of the Earth Chapter 22 “Good-Faith Springs Up from the Earth”: An Essay in Biblical Ecology Chapter 23 Greed and Prophecy: Numbers 11

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Book SynopsisLama Zopa Rinpoche, the respected and beloved cofounder of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition, offers us a significant book that is both a beautiful tool for experienced practitioners and a how-to for beginners.Revitalize your practice with the potent energy of mantra. In this book, beloved teacher Lama Zopa Rinpoche guides us through the most popular mantras in Tibetan Buddhism: Shakyamuni Buddha, Chenrezig, Manjushri, Tara, Medicine Buddha, Vajrasattva, and more. A mantra—literally “that which protects the mind”—is a series of Sanskrit syllables that evoke the energy of a particular buddha or bodhisattva. It works as a sacred sound that brings blessings to ourself and others, and as a tool to transform our mind into one that is more compassionate and wise. In clear and succinct teachings, Lama Zopa shows us why we need different mantras and how each mantra works. He also explains their importance and power, giving specific instructions for practicing them. The exquisite, full-color illustrations of the deities that accompany the text make this book a beautiful guide, one suitable for both beginners and experienced practitioners.

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Book SynopsisA classic NKJV Bible that looks and feels like the majestic heritage it comes from, with historically rich design details including elegant drop caps, line-matched text, and traditional covers.

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Book Synopsis'For all those who have understood that doubt and free thinking are failings of your faith, Brian's book will help you live fuller and breathe easier.' Glennon DoyleSixty-five million adults in the US have dropped out of active church attendance and about 2.7 million more are leaving every year. In the UK, surveys indicate that religious belief is also declining - and yet a surprising number of people still pray. Faith After Doubt is for all those who feel that their faith is falling apart.Using his own story and the stories of a diverse group of struggling believers, Brian D. McLaren, a former pastor and now an author, speaker, and activist shows how old assumptions are being challenged in nearly every area of human life, not just theology and spirituality. He proposes a four-stage model of faith development in which questions and doubt are not the enemy of faith, but rather a portal to a more mature and fruitful kind of faith. The four stages - simplicity, complexity, perplexity and harmony - offer a path forward that can help sincere and thoughtful people leave behind unnecessary baggage and increase their commitment to what matters most.'In this important book, my friend and colleague Brian McLaren helps you find a deeper and wiser faith that is enriched by doubt instead of threatened by it.' Fr Richard RohrTrade ReviewA gripping, honest and practical book for a Christian who is experiencing doubt... be prepared to be deeply challenged and hugely encouraged. * Christianity Magazine *This is a challenging, provocative, and, at times, uncomfortable read, but, above all, it demands action. Churches need to listen to millennials and engage with their hopes and fears. They also need to reach out to those who have left, asking why and where they have gone and being prepared for some uncomfortable answers. * Church Times *

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Book SynopsisThe sixth volume of the Dalai Lama’s definitive Library of Wisdom and Compassion series.Courageous Compassion, the sixth volume of the Library of Wisdom and Compassion series, continues the Dalai Lama’s teachings on the path to awakening. The previous volume, In Praise of Great Compassion, focused on opening our hearts with love and compassion for all living beings, and the present volume explains how to embody compassion and wisdom in our daily lives. Here we enter a fascinating exploration of bodhisattvas’ activities across multiple Buddhist traditions—Tibetan, Theravada, and Chinese Buddhism.  After explaining the ten perfections according to the Pali and Sanskrit traditions, the Dalai Lama presents the sophisticated schema of the four paths and fruits for sravakas and solitary realizers and the five paths for bodhisattvas. Learning about the practices mastered by these exalted practitioners inspires us with knowledge of our minds’ potential. His Holiness also describes buddha bodies, what buddhas perceive, and buddhas’ awakening activities.  Courageous Compassion offers an in-depth look at bodhicitta, arhatship, and buddhahood that you can continuously refer to as you progress on the path to full awakening.

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Book SynopsisJoin a cold-case detective as he uncovers the truth about Jesus using the same approach he employs to solve real murder cases.Detective J. Warner Wallace was skeptical of the Bible''s claims about Jesus. But he''d investigated several no-body homicide cases in which there was no crime scene, no physical evidence, and no victim''s body. He wondered if the truth about the historical Jesus could be investigated in the same way.In Person of Interest, cold-case detective and bestselling author J. Warner Wallace describes his own personal investigative journey from atheism to Christianity as he carefully sifts through the evidence from history alone, without relying on the New Testament.In this book, you''ll: Understand like never before how Jesus—the most significant person in history—changed the world and why he still matters today. Learn how to think like a cold-case detective by using an innovative Table of ContentsIntroduction Part 1: Events Preceding Jesus 1. The prophecies predicting the coming of the Messiah 2. The first century expectations of a Messiah 3. The pre-existing mythologies that resemble Jesus Part 2: Facts Surrounding the Life and Ministry of Jesus 4. The historical reliability of his existence 5. The reliability of the gospel eyewitness accounts describing him 6. The nature of Jesus based on his statements 7. The nature of Jesus based on his actions 8. The nature of Jesus based on the response he received Part 3: Events Following the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus 9. The response of non-Christian authors in the first and second century 10. The response of the eyewitnesses and their students 11. The response of non-canonical authors 12. The rapid growth of the early Church 13. The continuing impact of Jesus in the lives of believers

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Book SynopsisThe Catholic University of America Press is honoured to announce the publication of the first volume of the critical English edition of The Collected Works of Karol Wojtya/John Paul II. The inaugural volume of this collection is Person and Act which is in many respects constitutes Wojtya's most profound and well-known philosophical work.

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Book SynopsisWhat if it's not your fault that sex is bad in your marriage? Based on a groundbreaking in-depth survey of 22,000 Christian women, The Great Sex Rescue unlocks the secrets to what makes some marriages red hot while others fizzle out. Generations of women have grown up with messages about sex that make them feel dirty, used, or invisible, while men have been sold such a cheapened version of sex, they don't know what they're missing. The Great Sex Rescue hopes to turn all of that around, developing a truly biblical view of sex where mutuality, intimacy, and passion reign. The Great Sex Rescue pulls back the curtain on what is happening in Christian bedrooms and exposes the problematic teachings that wreck sex for so many couples--and the good teachings that leave others breathless. In the #metoo and #churchtoo era, not only is this book a long overdue corrective to church culture, it is poised to free thousands of couples from repressive and dissatisfying sex lives so that they can experience the kind of intimacy and wholeness God intended.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewA significant book for those who are interested in the current debates about Israel’s history and want a thorough and accessible guide to the sources and to the methodological questions that need to be addressed. * Regent's Reviews *A splendid work ... warmly recommend it to anyone interested in the history of ancient Israel and Judah. * The Expository Times *Grabbe’s book provides the scholar and teacher with a useful resource for understanding not only the primary sources for the history of ancient Israel, but the major issues and debates facing contemporary scholarship. All of this is presented in a highly organized and accessible volume complete with an enormous bibliography (seventy pages) and a helpful index to biblical and non-biblical texts and inscriptions … Ancient Israel is an indispensable tool for anyone teaching a course on ancient Israel and its environs or the Hebrew Bible. * Reading Religion *Table of ContentsAbbreviations Preface Part I: Introduction 1. Principles and Method of Investigating the History of Ancient Israel Part II: Historical Investigations 2. Second Millennium: Middle and Late Bronze Ages (2000-1300 BCE) 3. Late Bronze II to Iron IIA (ca. 1300-900 BCE): From Settlement to Statehood 4. Iron IIB (900-720 BCE): Rise and Fall of the Northern Kingdom 5. Iron IIC (720-539 BCE): Peak and Decline of Judah Part III: Conclusions 6. 'The End of the Matter': What Can We Say About Israelite and Judahite History? Bibliography Index of References Index of Subjects Index of Modern Authors

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Book SynopsisThe Desert Fathers were the first Christian monks, living in solitude in the deserts of Egypt, Palestine, and Syria. In contrast to the formalised and official theology of the founding fathers of the church, the Desert Fathers were ordinary Christians who chose to renounce the world and live lives of celibacy, fasting, vigil, prayer and poverty in direct and simple response to the gospel. Their sayings were first recorded in the 4th century and consist of spiritual advice, anecdotes and parables. The Desert Fathers'' teachings and lives have inspired poetry, opera and art, as well as providing spiritual nourishment and a template for monastic life.Table of ContentsThe Desert FathersIntroductionFurther ReadingA Note on the Text1. Progress in Perfection2. Quiet3. Compunction4. Self-Control5. Lust6. Possessing Nothing7. Fortitude8. Nothing Done for Show9. Non-Judgement10. Discretion11. Sober Living12. Unceasing Prayer13. Hospitality14. Obedience15. Humility16. Patience17. Charity18. VisionsSome Names from the Text

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Book SynopsisThe world is desperate to hear the voice of God clearly, so it is vital that His prophets give true expression to all that is on His heart. In her powerful, prophetic teaching style, Jennifer Eivaz helps believers recognize the voice of God, grow in knowledge of signs and dreams, and more. Are you prepared to become all God has created you to be?

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Book SynopsisWhat Maggy Whitehouse has discovered, over more than a quarter of a century of studying, teaching and writing books on Kabbalah, is that, used as a tool for inspiration, Kabbalah is a magical loom on which we can weave our healing, and from that healing, we become an agent of healing for the World. Kabbalah tells us exactly where, when, how and why we may be out of alignment with health, finances and relationships and, just as importantly, how to realign ourselves. For Maggy, it began with chronic lack of self-esteem which, in turn, led to many a humiliation, widowhood, shark attack, failed emigration, debt, divorce, shame, misery, hatred and what the doctors called an incurable illness which now no longer exists. It can be summed up, in a way, by how the first eight aspects led to the final one and how Kabbalah taught Maggy how to heal them, from finish to start. After all, 'incurable' surely means 'curable from within'.

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Book SynopsisA nuanced and highly original anarchistic interpretation of Islam, and Islamic interpretation of anarchismTrade Review'This is one of the fiercest books I've ever read. It is a call to action. It is conceptually rich and gives us new methodological tools for thinking theory and politics together. It is unrelenting in its critique of liberal assimilationist tendencies in diasporic and BIPOC knowledge production and movement organizing. Abdou is a truth-teller of the highest order. Drawing together disparate geographies and thought into a dazzling web of interconnectedness and dialogue, Islam and Anarchism proffers a kaleidoscopic vision of what could be otherwise' -- Jasbir K. Puar, author of 'Terrorist Assemblages' and 'The Right to Maim''A passionate plea for a spiritual decolonial movement. Mohamed Abdou advances a vision of Islam that is abolitionist at its core, reminding us that Islam has been and can still be a religion of the oppressed, one that is anti-capitalist, egalitarian, anti-ableist, anti-patriarchal, queer feminist and for Muslims and non-Muslims alike' -- Sherene H. Razack, Distinguished Professor and Penny Kanner Endowed Chair, Gender Studies, UCLA'An uncompromising queer-feminist vision of decolonial, abolitionist, and anti-capitalist praxis that is keyed to the pluralistic traditions of Islamic spirituality and anarchic thought' -- Iyko Day, Elizabeth C. Small Associate Professor of English and Critical Social Thought at Mount Holyoke College, MassachusettsTable of Contents1. Introduction: Panegyric Desert of the Present 2. Authoritarianism, Capitalism, & Capitalist Nation-States: Anarca-Islam's Space and Political Consciousness in Relation to Anarchism, Islam and the Capitalist-State 3. An Anti- and Non-Authoritarian Islam and an Anti- & Non-Capitalist Islam 4. (Im)Possibilities and on Becoming an Anti-Militaristic Militant 5. Conclusion: There are Only Middles, No Beginnings and No Ends: A Note On Transnational Solidarity and Standing In-Between Trump, BLM, DAPL-INM, and Tahrir

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Book SynopsisFor any serious scholar of Russian and Ukrainian witchcraft and magic, this volume is a 'must read.'... Scholars of folklore and popular culture also will find much of value. âFolklorica This sourcebook provides the first systematic overview of witchcraft laws and trials in Russia and Ukraine from medieval times to the late nineteenth century.Witchcraft in Russia and Ukraine, 10001900 weaves scholarly commentary with never-before-published primary source materials translated from Polish, Russian, and Ukrainian. These sources include the earliest references to witchcraft and sorcery, secular and religious laws regarding witchcraft and possession, full trial transcripts, and a wealth of magical spells. The documents present a rich panorama of daily life and reveal the extraordinary power of magical words. Editors Valerie A. Kivelson and Christine D. Worobec present new analyses of the workings and evolution of legal systems, the interplay and tensions between church and state, and the prosaic concerns of the women and men involved in witchcraft proceedings. The extended documentary commentaries also explore the shifting boundaries and fraught political relations between Russia and Ukraine.Trade ReviewThis substantial volume by two leading scholars in the field is a major contribution to the study of witchcraft in Russia and Ukraine and to the study of witchcraft in general, which often omits these regions. Overall, this is a tremendously useful book for students of witchcraft history, especially non-Slavists, and all historians of Russian and Ukrainian culture would do well to have it on their bookshelves. * Russian Review *[This book] allows us to see dozens of examples[,] each presented in English translation with extensive coverage that provides a great introduction to the topic, even for a person unfamiliar with the subject. [This] is an extremely important and well-made sourcebook that should be read not only by religion and history scholars studying witch trials, but also by a wide range of historians studying the medieval, early modern, and modern ages in general. * Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft *For any serious scholar of Russian and Ukrainian witchcraft and magic, this volume is a 'must read.'... Scholars of folklore and popular culture also will find much of value. * Folklorica *Valerie Kivelson and Christine Worobec number among the leading scholars who study the history of witchcraft in Russia and Ukraine. Scholars of witchcraft outside the area of Russian and Ukrainian studies can use this volume as an entrée into that milieu. * Folklorica *Kivelson and Christine Worobec have succeeded in editing a similarly impressive broad collection of documents that spans nine centuries related to witchcraft in Russia and Ukraine.Kivelson and Worobec have put together a truly astounding piece of scholarship that will be of great service to scholars and students throughout the world wishing to know more about the prevalence and special characteristics of witchcraft in the Eastern Slavic realms of Russia and Ukraine.Witchcraft in Russia and Ukraine is an essential work for specialists in many fields of the cultural and social history of Russia and Ukraine since 1000. * Slavonic and East European Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction Part I: HISTORICAL EVOLUTION, LAW, AND PROSECUTION 1. Early Accounts of Witchcraft, Sorcery, and Magic in Medieval Rus 1.1. Pagan Soothsayers and Magicians in the Primary Chronicle 1.2. "Maybe, but God Knows": Sorcery in the Novgorodian Chronicle (1227) 1.3. Bishop Serapion of Vladimir Condemns Belief in Witchcraft (1274) 1.4. St. Alimpii and the Leper Who Consulted Magicians (Kyivan Patericon) 2. Witchcraft and Politics in Muscovy and the Hetmanate 2.1. The Death of Maria of Tver, Ivan III's First Wife, by Witchcraft (1467) 2.2. Witchcraft Accusations against Grand Princess Sofia Paleologue (1497) 2.3. Witchcraft Accusations against Grand Princess Solomonia Saburova (1525) 2.4. Trials of Maksim the Greek for Treason, Heresy, and Sorcery (1525 & 1531) 2.5. The Great Moscow Fire and the Sprinkling of Human Hearts by the Tsar's Grandmother, Anna Glinskaia (1547) 2.6. Ivan Peresvetov's 1549 Tale about Sorcery at Court in the Final Days of the Byzantine Empire (Excerpts from the "Greater Petition") 2.7. Jerome Horsey on Witchcraft at the Court of Ivan IV (the Terrible) 2.8. The Vicious Sorcerer Eleazar Bomelius Described in a Russian Chronicle 2.9. Sorcery Allegations from Ivan the Terrible's Correspondence with Prince Kurbskii and Kurbskii's History of the Grand Prince of Moscow 2.10. Loyalty Oaths 2.11. Grigorii Kotoshikhin and Samuel Collins on the Alleged Poisoning or Bewitchment of Tsar Aleksei Mikhailovich's First Betrothed, and on Bewitchment at Weddings (1647) 2.12. Hetman Ivan Briukhovetskii's Burning of Witches (1666) 2.13. Political Sorcery against the Prussian King (1760) 3. Laws and Guidelines concerning the Prosecution of Witchcraft, Late Twelfth Century to 1885 3.1. Byzantine Church Law and Its Echoes in Russia Kormchaia kniga, 1653 Excerpt from a court case from the late 1660s containing a fragment of the Kormchaia Church Statute of Iaroslav the Wise (late twelfth/early thirteenth century) Russian Orthodox penitential listings involving sorcery and magic (fourteenth—early nineteenth centuries) The Domostroi: A household handbook of the mid-sixteenth century 3.2. Excerpts from Charles V's 1532 Constitutio Criminalis Carolina and the 1559 Polish Version 3.3. Procedures for the Courts and Affairs of Towns under Magdeburg Law under the Polish Crown (1559) 3.4. Questions and Answers from the Moscow Church Council (Stoglav) of 1551 3.5. Ivan IV's 1552 Law on Witchcraft 3.6. 1589 Law on the Honor of Witches 3.7. 1648 Decree against Devilish Conduct 3.8. Sobornoe ulozhenie: The Conciliar Law Code of 1649 3.9. Aleksei Mikhailovich's Decree Prohibiting Witchcraft and Activities Repellent to God (1653) 3.10. "Newly Established Articles on Robbery, Brigandage, and Murder" (1669) 3.11. Grigorii Kotoshikhin on Muscovite Judicial Process, Torture, and Execution (1660s) 3.12. Peter I's 1715 Decree against Shriekers (the Demonically Possessed) 3.13. Peter I's 1716 Military Statute and Suggested Revisions to Its Religious Articles (1725) 3.14. Excerpts from the Spiritual Regulation (1721) 3.15. Holy Synod's Decree against the Swimming of Individuals (1721) 3.16. Empress Anna Ioannovna's Decree against Wizardry (1731) 3.17. Catherine II's 1767 Instructions to the Legislative Commission and the Holy Synod's Response 3.18. Senate's Ruling Admonishing Judges (1770) 3.19. Catherine II's Decrees (1775 and 1782) 3.20. Excerpts from the Criminal Laws: 1842, 1845, and 1885 editions 4. Witchcraft Trials' Processes (Charges and Countercharges) and Extralegal Prosecution of Witchcraft: Complete Records A: Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (PLC) and The Hetmanate 4.1. Andrei Kurbskii's Sorcery Allegations against His Wife, Marina Andreevna Golshanskaia, in Divorce Proceedings (1578) 4.2. False Accusation of Witchcraft against Siemionowa Pauciutina, a Cossack Woman (1634) 4.3. Swimming of Witches in Podillia (1711) 4.4. Witchcraft and Infanticide (1753) B: Muscovy and Imperial Russia 4.5. The Trial of the Old Peasant Woman Baba Daritsa and Others (1647) 4.6. A Case of Suspicious Roots: Rogataia Baba and the Use of Torture (1647–48) 4.7. A Mass Outbreak of Possession in the Town of Lukh (1656–60) 4.8. The 1758 Trial of Chamberlain Petr Vasilevich Saltykov 4.9. The 1764–65 Case against the Peasant Ekaterina Ivanova for Dabbling in Witchcraft 4.10. An Epidemic of Demonic Possession in a Urals Foundry Town (1839–40) 4.11. The 1853 Case against the Serf Gerasim Fedotov for Witchcraft 4.12. The Mob Murder of Agrafena Dmitrievna Chindiaikina, a Suspected Witch (1880) 4.13. A Woman Accused of Sorcery Has Her Day in Court (Early 1900s) Part II: MAGICAL PRACTICES, EVERYDAY MATTERS,AND THE POWER OF WORDS: TRIAL EXCERPTS 5. Healing and Harming 5.1. Consultation with the Doctors of the Apothecary Chancellery (1628) 5.2. A Case of Enchanted Brew (1653) 5.3. Healing or Cursing? Mysterious Ingredients Raise Suspicion (1658) 5.4. The Bewitchment of Priest David and His Family by Their Domestic Workers (1676) 5.5. Witchcraft Suspected as the Cause of a Child's Death (PLC, 1732) 5.6. A Case of Milk Magic: Borrowed Pots and Bewitched Cows (PLC, 1728–31) 5.7. An Alleged Murder by Way of Witchcraft (1844–45) 5.8. No Place Is Safe from This Witch: The Case against Agafia Poliarpova (1848–49) 6. Sex/Love/Anti-Love Magic 6.1. A Case of Peasant Women's Love Magic and Vengeance, Shatsk (1647) 6.2. Bewitchment at Weddings (1648) 6.3. Iatsykha Polyveichykha Seeks to Bewitch her Husband's Lover (Hetmanate, 1675) 6.4. A Case of Rape and Spells to Inflame Desire (Semen Aigustov, Borovsk, 1689) 6.5. A Wife Suspected of Witchcraft: The Case of Anna Grekowiczewa (PLC, 1717) 6.6. Seeking a Witch or Sorcerer to Kill a Husband? (PLC, 1742) 7. Power Relations and Hierarchy 7.1. "Making My Master and All Women Bend to My Will": A Case of Subversive Spells (1648) 7.2. The Serf Woman Onuitka Avenges Ill-Treatment by the Estate Bailiff (1658) 7.3. The Servant Motruna Perysta Accused of Bewitching Her Master's Family (PLC, 1730) 7.4. How to Make All Authorities Subservient: The Magical Notebooks of Defrocked Priest Petr Osipov (1732) 7.5. A Matter of a Love Potion and Sexual Pursuit of a Menial by His Mistress, Lady Ruszkowska (PLC, 1749) 7.6. "So His Master Would Treat Him Well": The Peasant Grigorii Shilin's Ritual Use of Roots and Wax (1762) 7.7. Securing Patronage: A Spell in the Hands of Ivan Sokolov, A Highly Ranked Officer and Nobleman (1774) 7.8. Controlling a Master's Will: Divination and Enchanted Wax (1840) 8. Possession 8.1. Bewitchment at a Communal Banquet: The Petition of Ivan Shenin (1611) 8.2. Testimony of the Bewitched from the Possession Outbreak in Lukh (1656–58) 8.3. A Healer Accused of Dabbling in Witchcraft and Exorcising Demons (PLC, 1710) 8.4. An Epidemic of Shrieking and Writhing in a Village Destabilized by Manumission (1833) 8.5. Fits of Hiccuping (1833) 9. Satanic Pacts/Diabolism 9.1. "I Swear Allegiance to Satan": A Satanic Pact in the Seventeenth Century (1663–64) 9.2. "My Father Satan": Spells, Possession, and Fraternal Rivalry (1672) 9.3. A Case of Satanic Love Magic (Avdotia Borisova, 1733) 9.4. A Pact with the Dark-Visaged Master of the Hellish Abyss and His Servant Demons (Hetmanate, 1749) 9.5. The Priest Makarii Ivanov and Others Are Charged in 1753 with Possessing Booklets about Sorcery: A Demonic Incantation for Lust 9.6. God-renouncing Letters (1751): Perdun 9.7. Case of the Soldier Semen Popov, Who Renounced God and Gave His Soul to the Devil (1759) 10. Orality/Literacy 10.1. Case of the Siberian Trapper Found Carrying Spells (1652) 10.2. A Theological Defense of Herbal Healing: Petition of Ivan Ivanov, Priest of the Church of the Nativity in Komersk District, to Simon, Archbishop of Vologda and Belozersk (1679–80) 10.3. A Hegumen's Possession of Magical and Fortune-telling Texts (1720) 10.4. Transcription of an Offensive Note by a Noble Architectural Journeyman, Aleksei Petrovich Evlashev (1731) 10.5. An Incriminating Notebook of Incantations and Spells (1737) 11. Specialists in Magic 11.1. Specialists in Plants and Roots: Poisoning and Healing in Consultation with a Professional Herbalist (1692) 11.2. Spoiling a Harvest by Means of Witchcraft: Knotted Grain Stalks— a Reluctant Specialist (Hetmanate, 1765) 11.3. Case against a Fourteen-Year-Old Boy for Fraudulent Divination (Russian Ukraine, 1839)

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Book SynopsisRecommended on The Rest is Politics and Empire 'A masterly engagement with the most delicate and important of subjects - filled with gentle empathy, learning and rare balance' Rory Stewart 'Rogerson is an original - eloquent and always fascinating' William Dalrymple 'Brilliant' Anita Anand 'This is not a book to be ignored' The Times At the heart of the Middle East, with its regional conflicts and proxy wars, is a 1400-year-old schism between Sunni and Shia. To understand this divide and its modern resonances, we need to revisit its origins, which go back to the death of the Prophet Muhammad in 632, the accidental coup that set aside the claims of his son Ali, and the slaughter of Ali's own son Husayn at Kerbala. These events, known to every Muslim, have created a slender faultline in the Middle East. The House Divided follows these narratives from the first Sunni and Shia caliphates, through the medieval caliphates and empires of the Arabs, Persians and Ottomans, to the contemporary Middle East. It shows how a complex range of identities and rivalries - religious, ethnic and national - have shaped the region, jolted by the seismic shift of the Iranian Revolution of 1979. Rogerson's original approach takes the modern chessboard of nation states and looks at each through its particular history of empires and occupiers, minorities and resources, sheikhs and imams. The result is a book of wide-ranging empathy, understanding and insights.Trade ReviewA masterly engagement with the most delicate and important of subjects - filled with gentle empathy, learning and rare balance -- Rory StewartBrilliant -- Anita Anand * Empire *Rogerson is an original - eloquent and always fascinating -- William DalrympleA balanced, sweeping, hugely ambitious work that delves into the long and tangled roots of the modern Middle East * Literary Review *This digestible history of the restless region is a useful alternative to academic tracts ... it has answers to several of the basic questions: the difference between Sunni and Shia, how Turkey and Iran aren't Arab, but are important anyway, and, sometimes, just how much Britain has to answer for in the Middle East ... this is not a book to be ignored -- Richard Spencer * The Times *Impressive ... a highly readable, lovingly researched, romantic and engaging history * Spectator *This book is a tour de force. One of the best summary histories of Islam from its beginnings until today I have come across. Informative, engaging, and excitingly written, it is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the origins and development of a great world religion -- Ghada Karmi, author * In Search of Fatima *A lucid, vivid and sweeping history of the divisions within Islam and their destructive impact on the contemporary Muslim world. Barnaby Rogerson takes you to the heart of the arguments and battles, revealing some stark truths. This is history as a living entity. A dazzling achievement -- Ziauddin Sardar, author * In Search of Mecca *Rogerson is a master storyteller, equally at home sketching the intimacies of the Prophet's household as he is illuminating geopolitical trends across the world of contemporary Islam -- Matthew Teller, author * Nine Quarters of Jerusalem *Rogerson knows that things are much more complex than Sunni versus Shia. But in its depiction of the multiple cats' cradles of tensions, The House Divided is jauntily readable and thought-provoking about a Middle East still in the middle of global crises, and still, as so often, misunderstood -- Tim Mackintosh-Smith, author * Arabs: A 3,000-Year History of Peoples, Tribes and Empires *Praise for Barnaby Rogerson * : *Rogerson has a novelist's gift for filling out the characters of his main players -- Noel MalcolmRogerson is an excellent story-teller -- Norman StoneRemarkable - Barnaby Rogerson has succeeded in isolating all the different strands of North African history -- John Julius NorwichRogerson is eccentric and eclectic but always iconoclastic. He is not afraid to explore and elucidate the recondite in a way a more formal academic would not -- Ross Leckie

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Book Synopsis#1 New York Times bestselling author Joyce Meyer offers biblical advice and encouraging wisdom to help women overcome the issues that affect their heart, mind, and soul.In this book--small and portable enough to fit in a purse, suitcase, backpack, briefcase, or even a pocket--Joyce Meyer addresses the many issues that women face today, and encourages them to embrace their unique identity in Christ. Joyce touches on topics like: - Living beyond feelings- Overcoming fear and insecurity- Being wise with words- Establishing proper priorities- Defeating negative circumstances- Overcoming an 'I can't' attitude- Enjoying the favor of GodWomen need inspiration today more than ever, and HABITS OF A GODLY WOMAN will provide the encouragement and motivation to make it through the day with God at the forefront.

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Book Synopsis''[He] inspired a generation ... He changed the course of history'' Barack ObamaAs Martin Luther King, Jr. prepared for the Birmingham campaign in early 1963, he drafted the final sermons for Strength to Love, a volume of his best-known lectures. King had begun working on the sermons during a fortnight in jail in July 1962 and A Gift of Love includes these classic sermons, along with two new lectures. Drawing inspiration from both his Christian faith and the non-violent philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, A Gift of Love illustrates King''s vision of love and peaceful action as social and political forces for change.Trade ReviewA champion for justice, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., helped awaken our Nation's long-slumbering conscience and inspired a generation ... He changed the course of history -- Barack ObamaMartin Luther King's early words return to us today with enormous power, as profoundly true, as wise and inspiring, now as when he wrote them -- Howard Zinn

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Book SynopsisThis groundbreaking book shares the evolution of Cynthia Bourgeault''s spiritual journey and offers a new map to understanding energy and our collective reality.In Eye of the Heart, Cynthia Bourgeault investigates the imaginal realm--an energetic realm well known to the mystical traditions but often forgotten in our own times. It is invisible to the physical eye, but clearly perceptible through the eye of the heart. The imaginal realm has long been associated with the personal world of dreams, prophecy, and oracles, and it also points toward a higher vision of our human purpose that is both evolutionary and collective. Bourgeault explores both aspects of imaginal reality and shows readers how we can cooperate more fully with its guidance in our lives.Expertly blending her own lived experiences with research on the imaginal realm, Bourgeault explores how her personal relationships have helped to bring these teachings into sharper focus and the role this realm plays in Christian and other mystical traditions. She delves into the connections between our inner consciousness and what happens in the world, exploring the transformative energy and governing conventions that make the manifestation of this realm possible. Eye of the Heart presents Bourgeault''s spiritual journey with the imaginal realm and encourages readers to attune their hearts for the well-being of the world.

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Book SynopsisAs the specter of religious extremism has become a fact of life today, the temptation is great to allow the evil actions and perspectives of a minority to represent an entire tradition. In the case of Islam, there has been much recent confusion in the Western world centered on distorted portrayals of its core values. Born of ignorance, such confusion feeds the very problem at hand.In The Heart of Islam one of the great intellectual figures in Islamic history offers a timely presentation of the core spiritual and social values of Islam: peace, compassion, social justice, and respect for the other. Seizing this unique moment in history to reflect on the essence of his tradition, Seyyed Hossein Nasr seeks to open a spiritual and intellectual space for mutual understanding. Exploring Islamic values in scripture, traditional sources, and history, he also shows their clear counterparts in the Jewish and Christian traditions, revealing the common ground of the Abrahamic faiths.Nasr challenges members of the world''s civilizations to stop demonizing others while identifying themselves with pure goodness and to turn instead to a deeper understanding of those shared values that can solve the acute problems facing humanity today. Muslims must ask themselves what went wrong within their own societies, he writes, but the West must also pose the same question about itself . . . whether we are Muslims, Jews, Christians, or even secularists, whether we live in the Islamic world or in the West, we are in need of meaning in our lives, of ethical norms to guide our actions, of a vision that would allow us to live at peace with each other and with the rest of God''s creation. Such help, he believes, lies at the heart of every religion and can lead the followers of the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) as well as other religious and spiritual traditions to a new future of mutual respect and common global purpose.The Heart of Islam is a landmark presentation of enduring value that offers hope to humanity, and a compelling portrait of the beauty and appeal of the faith of 1.2 billion people.Trade Review"This is exactly the right book... to counter the demonizing stereotypes of Islam proliferated by the war on terrorism" -- Huston Smith, author of The World's Religions "Professor Nasr has put the beauty and appeal of Islam into clear and readable English." -- John Shelby Spong, author of A New Christianity for a New World "This sensitive, insightful and beautifully written book comes as a ray of sunshine." -- Mark Juergensmeyer, author of Terror in the Mind of God Mark Juergensmeyer, author of Terror in the Mind of God Mark Juergensmeyer, author of Terror in the Mind of God Mark Juergensmeyer, author of Terror in the Mind of God "Filled with challenge and insight...an indispensable text." -- Rabbi Michael Paley "A lasting, honest, and intimate tour of Islam's basic aspects..." -- The [New Jersey] Star-Ledger "A first-tier Islamic scholar ... it is hard to imagine a better introduction to the faith." -- Library Journal "[I]t is hard to imagine a better introduction to the faith." -- Library Journal "An illuminating new book that explores the spiritual and social values of the faith of one-fifth of humanity." -- Christian Science Monitor "The most important study of Islam in all its breadth and all its depth available in the English language." -- Gai Eaton, author of Islam and the Destiny of Man "Concise, clear, and eloquent, it has the crystalline ring of the voice of reason and cuts through layers of ignorance." -- The World & I

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Book SynopsisThe Very Revd Thomas F. Torrance was Professor of Christian Dogmatics, University of Edinburgh, UK.Paul D. Molnar is Professor of Systematic Theology, St John's University, NY, USA.Table of ContentsPreface by Paul D. Molnar Introduction 2. The Christian Perspective 3. The Biblical Frame 4. The TrinitarianMind 5. One Being, Three Persons 6. Three Persons, One Being 7. Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity 8. The Sovereign Creator 9. The Unchangeableness of God Index Bibliography

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Book Synopsis`Human evolution has now arrived at a decisive crossroads. The future of humankind on Earth depends on whether people recognize their determining role in the evolution of the consciousness of Earth.' - Marko Pogacnik; Humanity today faces a unique task: to overcome the thousand-year-old division between heaven and earth, spirit and matter. This, says Marko Pogacnik, is our present-day challenge. But we have an important ally in this work in the being of Jesus, also known as Christ, whose teachings are intended to help us at this critical time of human development. Historically, however, Jesus' words of wisdom were harnessed to the construction of an earthly religion, and much of their deeper meaning was lost in the process. Christ Power and Earth Wisdom is the story of the author's discovery of a `Fifth Gospel', woven invisibly into the four canonical Gospels. It teaches humanity how to live positively in the third millennium. Bringing together knowledge of elemental beings, Earth science and Christ, the author has translated over one hundred of Jesus' sayings into a language that the modern mind can understand. He identifies blockages in the Biblical gospels that have prevented the Spirit of Christ from manifesting in the past era. But the time is now ripe for understanding the multilayered reality of these teachings. Based on methods of investigation and perception that Pogacnik has developed over many decades of work in healing the various dimensions of Earth's landscape and nature, he deciphers the hidden, holistic messages in Christ's teachings, dismantling the obstacles that have arisen through outdated interpretations. The text is complemented with Pogacnik's energetically-charged drawings, forming a feeling counterpart to the thought flow of the book. A new Postscript offers an important update relating to methods of gaining a broader, spiritual perception of reality in the present.Table of ContentsForeword - Preface - 1 On the Quest of a Fifth Gospel - 2 Testing the Etheric Layers of the Gospel Texts - 3 The Invisible Archetypal Pattern of the Gospels - 4 The Realization of the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth - 5 Traces of the Feminine and the Voice of Nature in the Gospels - 6 Conversations with the `Old Wise One' - 7 An Essential Step Forward - 8 Obstructive Patterns of Power - 9 The Several Layers of Jesus' Teaching - 10 Who Jesus Was and Who Christ Is - 11 The Christ Archetype Across Cultures - 12 Sacred Geomancy: Expression of Christ Power on Earth - 13 Cinderella: a Folk Tale of Human Evolution - 14 Humanity in the Mirror of the Present Earth Changes - 15 Contemplating Some of the Sayings of Jesus - Bibliography - List of the Sayings of Jesus Quoted in the Book

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Book SynopsisThe dialogue expands . . . When Neale Donald Walsch was experiencing one of the lowest points of his life, he decided to write a letter to God. What he did not expect was a response, with extraordinary answers covering all aspects of human existence - from happiness to money, to faith. The resulting book, Conversations with God, was an instant bestseller on publication in 1995 and has since sold millions of copies world-wide, changing countless lives everywhere. Conversations with God: Book 3 is the third volume of the original Conversations with God trilogy that takes us even further in our questioning and search for answers, dealing with universal truths of the highest order and the challenges and opportunities of the soul. This incredible series contains answers that will change you, your life and the way you view others.Also by Neale Donald Walsch and available from Hodder & Stoughton: Conversations with God, Books 2 and 3, Communion with God, Friendship with God, Applications for Living and Meditations from Conversations with God, Book 1.Trade ReviewI read this and it completely turned everything I believe about religion on its head. If you are at all religious, you should read this book.' * Francis Rossi of Status Quo, Metro *

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Book SynopsisWilliam Johnston--an authority on fourteenth century spirituality and specifically on the writings of this unknown author--provides a substantive and accessible introduction detailing what is known about the history of this text and its relevance throughout the ages. Also included here is the author's other principal work, The Book of Privy Counseling--a short and moving text on the way to enlightenment through a total loss of self and consciousness only of the divine.

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Book SynopsisIn his insightful book, #1 New York Times bestselling author T.D. Jakes wrestles with the age-old questions: Why do the righteous suffer? Where is God in all the injustice? This journal has room for all those questions and more.Crushing Journal will inspire you to have hope, even in your most difficult moments. If you trust in God and lean on Him during setbacks, He will lead you through.Ellie Claire's LeatherLuxe® material plus four-colour interior design make this a stunning journal. The rich feel of leather is finished with round corners to make this an extraordinary gift for any time of year.

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Book SynopsisCults are bigger than ever, with broad ramifications for national and international terrorism. This edition reveals what cults are and how they work, focusing on the coercive persuasion techniques of charismatic leaders seeking money and power.Table of ContentsForeword xi Acknowledgments xv Introduction to the Revised Edition xvii Introduction to the First Edition xxi Part 1 What Are Cults? 1 1. Defining Cults 3 Definitions and Characteristics Cult Types Who Joins Cults? Why Do They Join? 2. A Brief History of Cults 29 Cults in the 1800s The 1960s: Fertile Ground for Cults The 1970s: Cults to Expand Awareness The 1980s: Psychological, Occult, and Prosperity Cults Examples of New Cults Cause for Concern 3. The Process of Brainwashing, Psychological Coercion, and Thought Reform 52 Historical Examples of Brainwashing Packaged Persuasion Attacking the Self How Thought Reform Works Producing a New Identity Impermissible Experiments 4. What's Wrong with Cults? 83 Cults Threaten Legitimate Institutions Cults Harm Our Children and Tear Apart Our Families Cults Are Violent Cults Engage in Conspiracy and Fraud Small Cults Can Be Just as Harmful as Large Cults Take Away Our Freedom Cults Take Away Our Possessions Cults Escape Scrutiny What Is to Be Done? Part 2 How Do They Work? 103 5. Recruiting New Members 105 First Approach Invitation First Cult Contact Follow-Up: Gaining Greater Commitment Young and Old Alike Are Vulnerable The Double Agenda 6. Physiological Persuasion Techniques 125 Mass Marketing of Experiential Exercises Techniques Producing Predictable Physiological Responses Meditation May Not Always Be Good for You 7. Psychological Persuasion Techniques 150 Trance and Hypnosis Trickery Revision of Personal History Peer Pressure and Modeling Emotional Manipulation Psychotherapy Cults 8. Intruding into the Workplace 182 Clarification of New Age A Clash in the Workplace Violation of Civil Rights What Goes On in an LGAT? Development of a New Age Training Program: A Case Example Problems with Being "Transformed" at Work Psychological Casualties Buyer Beware: Thought-Reform Processes at Work 9. The Threat of Intimidation 209 Co-opted Professionals Intimidation and Harassment of Critics Part 3 How Can We Help Survivors to Escape and Recover? 241 10. Rescuing the Children 243 Children of Jonestown Children of Waco Children of Other Cults Role of the Cult Leader Role of Cult Parents What Children Learn in Cults After the Cult Children Are Survivors 11. Leaving the Cult 266 Why It's Hard to Leave Ways of Leaving the Cult Deprogramming and Exit Counseling 12. Recovery: Coming Out of the Pseudopersonality 295 Recovering from Cult Aftereffects Practical Issues Psychological and Emotional Difficulties Cognitive Inefficiencies Social and Personal Relations Philosophical and Attitudinal Issues Helpful Tasks for Individuals Leaving Cults There Is Life After the Cult Postscript to the First Edition: The Millennium, Cults, and the End of the Century 335 Postscript to the Revised Edition 339 Chapter Notes 357 Resources and Organizations 379 Further Reading 383 The Author 385 Index 387

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Book SynopsisBe inspired to pray boldly, pray powerfully, pray with passion, and trade ineffective prayers and lukewarm faith for raw, daring prayers that will transform your daily life.Do you ever wonder if God answers your prayers? Do you wish you could see the evidence that prayer changes lives? Do you long for more than playing it safe in your faith? Join New York Times bestselling author Craig Groeschel as he helps you discover the power of authentically communicating with God, breaking out of the restrictive spiritual safety bubble, and expanding your ideas about what''s possible with God.The Bible tells us that prayer has the power to move God''s heart, but some prayers move him more than others. He wants more for us than a tepid faith and half-hearted routines at the dinner table. God called you to a life of courage, not comfort.In Dangerous Prayers, Groeschel will show you how to pray the prayers that search your soul, break your habits, and send you out to pursue the calling God has for you. But be warned: If you''re fine with settling for what''s easy, or if you''re okay with staying on the sidelines, this book isn''t for you. You''ll be challenged. You''ll be tested. You''ll be moved to take a long, hard look at your heart. But you''ll be inspired, too.Dangerous Prayers will give you the encouragement and tools you need to: Transform the patterns around your daily prayer life Truly embrace and believe in the power of intentional prayer Start to pray daring, faith-filled, God-honoring, life-changing, world-transforming prayers You''ll discover the secret to overcoming fears of loss, rejection, failure, and the unknown, and you''ll welcome the blessings God has for you on the other side. But best of all, you''ll gain the courage it takes to pray dangerous prayers.

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Ibn Taymiyya (1263–1328) of Damascus was one of the most prominent and controversial religious scholars of medieval Islam. He called for jihad against the Mongol invaders of Syria, appealed to the foundational sources of Islam for reform, and battled against religious innovation. Today, he inspires such diverse movements as Global Salafism, Islamic revivalism and modernism, and violent jihadism. This volume synthesizes the latest research, discusses many little-known aspects of Ibn Taymiyya’s thought, and highlights the religious utilitarianism that pervades his activism, ethics, and theology.

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Book SynopsisMany pastors today see themselves primarily as counselors, leaders, and motivators. Yet this often comes at the expense of the fundamental reality of the pastorate as a theological office. The most important role is to be a theologian mediating God to the people. The church needs pastors who can contextualize biblical wisdom in Christian living to help their congregations think theologically about all aspects of their lives, such as work, end-of-life decisions, political involvement, and entertainment choices. Drawing on the Bible, key figures from church history, and Christian theology, this book offers a clarion call for pastors to serve as public theologians in their congregations and communities. It is designed to be engaging reading for busy pastors and includes pastoral reflections on the theological task from twelve working pastors, including Kevin DeYoung and Cornelius Plantinga.Table of ContentsContents Preface Owen Strachan and Kevin J. Vanhoozer Introduction: Pastors, Theologians, and Other Public Figures Kevin J. Vanhoozer * Problem: A Lost Vision * Proposal: The Pastor-Theologian as Peculiar Public Figure * Prospect: The Ministry of What Is "in Christ" Pastoral Perspectives Gerald Hiestand--Six Practical Steps toward Being a Pastor-Theologian Josh Moody--Seven Ways to Theologize as a Pastor Part 1: Biblical Theology and Historical Theology 1. Of Prophets, Priests, and Kings: A Brief Biblical Theology of the Pastorate Owen Strachan * The Ministry of the Old Covenant in the Old Testament * Participating in Jesus's Ministry of the New Covenant: The New Testament * Conclusion: The Pastorate as Theological Office Pastoral Perspectives Melvin Tinker--The Pastor as Public Theologian Todd Wilson--Human Origins: A Test Case for Pastor-Theologians Jim Samra--A Practical Theology of Technology 2. Of Scholars and Saints: A Brief History of the Pastorate Owen Strachan * The Early Church * The Medieval Period: Scholasticism and Monasticism * The Reformational Awakening: Protestant Pastors * Theological Shepherds: The Puritans and the Practicality of Truth * Agents of "Divine Business": The Edwardseans and Pastoral Dominion * The Modern Turn: Populism, Professionalism, and the Taming of the Pastorate * Glimmers of Hope: Harold Ockenga and Neoevangelical Boldness * Conclusion: Toward What Pastorate? Pastoral Perspectives Wesley G. Pastor--How the Theology of Saving Faith Has Affected My Congregation Kevin DeYoung--A Place for Truth Part 2: Systematic Theology and Practical Theology 3. In the Evangelical Mood: The Purpose of the Pastor-Theologian Kevin J. Vanhoozer * The Many Moods of Theology: Between Death and Resurrection * A Ministry of Reality: Theology in the Indicative Mood * A Ministry of Understanding: The Diakonia of God's Word * A Ministry of (New) Life: Theology in the Imperative Mood * The Goods of Theology: What Are Seminaries For? Pastoral Perspectives David Gibson--On Death Bill Kynes--Preaching the Doctrine of the Gospel as Truth, Goodness, and Beauty Cornelius Plantinga Jr.--Reading for Preaching 4. Artisans in the House of God: The Practices of the Pastor-Theologian Kevin J. Vanhoozer * The Great Pastoral Commission: "Make Disciples"; "Build God's House" * Evangelist: Presenting What Is in Christ * Catechist: Teaching What Is in Christ * Liturgist: Celebrating What Is in Christ * Apologist: Demonstrating What Is in Christ Pastoral Perspectives Guy A. Davies--The Drama of Preaching Jason B. Hood--The Pastor-Theologian as Pulpit Apologist Conclusion: Fifty-Five Summary Theses on the Pastor as Public Theologian Kevin J. Vanhoozer Indexes

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Book SynopsisAbdallah Azzam, the Palestinian cleric who led the mobilization of Arab fighters to Afghanistan in the 1980s, played a crucial role in the internationalization of the jihadi movement. Killed in mysterious circumstances in 1989 in Peshawar, Pakistan, he remains one of the most influential jihadi ideologues of all time. Here, in the first in-depth biography of Azzam, Thomas Hegghammer explains how Azzam came to play this role and why jihadism went global at this particular time. It traces Azzam''s extraordinary life journey from a West Bank village to the battlefields of Afghanistan, telling the story of a man who knew all the leading Islamists of his time and frequented presidents, CIA agents, and Cat Stevens the pop star. It is, however, also a story of displacement, exclusion, and repression that suggests that jihadism went global for fundamentally local reasons.Trade Review'For anyone wishing to understand the story of global jihad, understanding the life and thought of Abdallah Azzam is essential. Hegghammer provides a first-rate guidebook. Meticulously researched, this reads like a Graham Greene thriller - only it's true.' James L. Gelvin'Thomas Hegghammer's exceptional book is a detailed account of the life of Abdallah Azzam, Islamist ideologue, activist and organiser. It is a fascinating story in itself, told with forensic skill and a powerful sense of place and time. But it is also much more than this. Through this narrative of Azzam's ideas and activities we get an unparalleled insight into the many dimensions of the world of transnational Islamism.' Charles Tripp, author of The Power and the People: Paths of Resistance in the Middle East'Thomas Hegghammer's long-awaited biography of Abdallah Azzam turns out to be more than an interesting account of his life. It is about the rise of global jihadism, an entirely new phenomenon in the 20th century. Azzam's role cannot be fully appreciated without this valuable book.' Lawrence Wright, author of The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11'The Caravan deals with a highly sensitive and controversial subject, but it is evidence-based, meticulous and full of carefully judged distinctions - recent history at its finest.' Ian Black, The Observer'… Hegghammer's massive research effort makes this essential reading for all scholars studying terrorism.' S. Waalkes, Choice'The book is a remarkable scholarly achievement that adds new and provocative layers to the study of jihadism in Africa.' Sebastian Elischer, Comparative Politics'The trouble the author has taken to foolproof his conclusions, interviewing the largest cast of characters and triangulating just about every testimony, is remarkable … Hegghammer consistently fills gaps in the history of the transnational jihadist movement.' José S. Vericat, Journal of Palestine Studies'The Caravan – Abdallah Azzam and the Rise of Global Jihad is an important addition to the scholarship of jihadism and political Islam. It is not a dry academic text; it's simply a good read for anyone interested in some of the most significant developments in modern history. Hegghammer's panoramic view of jihadism makes this book a vital resource for anyone seeking to further understand the development of jihadism.' Ilan Fuchs, AMU Edge'Hegghammer's book is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the origins of the global jihad movement and the soil from which al-Qaeda sprung.' A. J. Caschetta, Middle East QuarterlyTable of ContentsIntroduction; Prologue; 1. Palestinian; 2. Brother; 3. Fighter; 4. Scholar; 5. Vagabond; 6. Writer; 7. Pioneer; 8. Diplomat; 9. Manager; 10. Recruiter; 11. Ideologue; 12. Mujahid; 13. Resident; 14. Enemy; 15. Martyr; 16. Icon; Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisPeter Adamson presents a lively introduction to six hundred years of European philosophy, from the beginning of the ninth century to the end of the fourteenth century. The medieval period is one of the richest in the history of philosophy, yet one of the least widely known. Adamson introduces us to some of the greatest thinkers of the Western intellectual tradition, including Peter Abelard, Anselm of Canterbury, Thomas Aquinas, John Duns Scotus, William of Ockham, and Roger Bacon. And the medieval period was notable for the emergence of great women thinkers, including Hildegard of Bingen, Marguerite Porete, and Julian of Norwich. Original ideas and arguments were developed in every branch of philosophy during this period - not just philosophy of religion and theology, but metaphysics, philosophy of logic and language, moral and political theory, psychology, and the foundations of mathematics and natural science.Trade ReviewAccessible and comprehensive. * Alban McCoy, The Tablet, Books of the Year 2019 *Peter Adamson's Medieval Philosophy gives fantastically compendious account of medieval philosophy. Adamson manages to be accessible, lucid, witty, incisive; luminously conveying the rambunctious ambivalences of the logic-chopping, devout, doubting, bawdy, bloodthirsty, mystical medievals. * Jane O'Grady, The Tablet *a volume that— despite its weight and heft—one could easily give to a non-philosopher as a first introduction to the field. For even the most obscure authors (such as that most prolific of medieval philosophers, Anon) and the most arcane of topics comes to life under Adamson's magic touch. But what is most impressive about the book is its sheer scope of knowledge. . . . If you want a good, light-touch, yet still not glossing over the difficulties, introduction to medieval philosophy, this is the book for you. * Sara L. Uckelman, Philosophical Quarterly *Adamson's history of medieval philosophy has, among its many merits, two great ones. First, is very clearly written and philosophically acute. . . .A second merit is that it proposes an updated interpretation of medieval philosophy, obtained by taking into account the most dominant trends present in literature. This makes Peter Adamson's volume a fine piece of work and a recommended volume. The history of medieval philosophy is investigated in its depth and full development, no significant gap can be found indeed in the proposed reconstruction. * Fabrizio Amerini, Philosophical Inquiries *Let me say at once on the evidence of this volume, [Adamson] succeeds brilliantly. Over some 78 sections he covers a huge range of figures ... Special attention is given - and rightly so - to female philosophers, such as Catherine of Siena ... This book (and the others in the series), which are a delight to read, will be of great interest to general readers, aside from students of culture. * Peter Costello, The Irish Catholic *Adamson writes with a light style, beginning each short chapter with an anecdote, which rewards both sticking with the long narrative and dipping in and out. * Nick Mattiske, Journey, Isolation Reading Recommendations *A staggering philosophical achievement ... the clarity of the animated text is further enhanced by the authors humour, bringing a light touch to complex matters ... This volume will surely attain classic status, and can be read either sequentially or consulted as a detailed encyclopaedia of mediaeval philosophy and its variegated personalities. * Paradigm Explorer *Table of ContentsPreface Early Medieval Philosophy 1: Arts of Darkness: Introduction to Medieval Philosophy 2: Charles in Charge: Alcuin and the Carolingian Period 3: Grace Notes: Eriugena and the Predestination Controversy 4: Much Ado About Nothing: Eriugena's Periphyseon 5: Philosophers Anonymous: The Roots of Scholasticism 6: Virgin Territory: Peter Damian on Changing the Past 7: A Canterbury Tale: Anselm's Life and Works 8: Somebody's Perfect: Anselm's Ontological Argument 9: All or Nothing: The Problem of Universals 10: Get Thee to a Nunnery: Heloise and Abelard 11: It's the Thought that Counts: Abelard's Ethics 12: Learn Everything: The Victorines 13: Like Father, Like Son: Debates over the Trinity 14: On the Shoulders of Giants: Philosophy at Chartres 15: The Good Book: Philosophy of Nature 16: One of a Kind: Gilbert of Poitiers on Individuation 17: Two Swords: Early Medieval Political Philosophy 18: Law and Order: Peter Lombard and Gratian 19: Leading Light: Hildegard of Bingen 20: Rediscovery Channel: Translations into Latin 21: Straw Men: The Rise of the Universities The Thirteenth Century 22: No Uncertain Terms: Thirteenth Century Logic 23: Full of Potential: Thirteenth Century Physics 24: Stayin' Alive: Thirteenth Century Psychology 25: It's All Good: The Transcendentals 26: Do the Right Thing: Thirteenth Century Ethics 27: A Light That Never Goes Out: Robert Grosseteste 28: Origin of Species: Roger Bacon 29: Stairway to Heaven: Bonaventure 30: Your Attention Please: Peter Olivi 31: None for Me, Thanks: Franciscan Poverty 32: Begin the Beguine: Hadewijch and Mechtild 33: Binding Arbitration: Robert Kilwardby 34: Animal, Vegetable, Mineral: Albert the Great's Natural Philosophy 35: The Shadow Knows: Albert the Great's Metaphysics 36: The Ox Heard Round the World: Thomas Aquinas 37: Everybody Needs Some Body: Aquinas on Soul and Knowledge 38: What Comes Naturally: Ethics in Albert and Aquinas 39: What Pleases the Prince: The Rule of Law 40: Onward Christian Soldiers: Just War Theory 41: Paris When it Sizzles: The Condemnations 42: Masters of the University:

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Book SynopsisFBI profiler Kaely Quinn visits Nebraska to care for her ailing mother. She can't help but notice suspicious connections among a series of local fires, so she calls on her partner, Noah Hunter, to help find the arsonist. Together they unwittingly embark on a twisted path to catch a madman who is determined his last heinous act will be Kaely's death.

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