Religion Books

Book SynopsisBased on the 1928 Bampton Lectures, The Vision of God was the first of Kenneth E. Kirk''s three major books on moral theology. Drawing inspiration from the ascetic tradition of Christianity, Kirk advocates the priority of worship in ethical thought. Beginning with the sixth beatitude, he places the visio Dei front and centre throughout, placing himself in a eudaimonistic tradition that ranges from Irenaeus to Aquinas and the Shorter Catechism. Worship, he shows, offers the opportunity to discover and acknowledge something more valuable than the self, and thus contains the key to moral instruction. Although Kirk published an expanded ''complete edition'' of The Vision of God in 1931, he notes in the preface to the shorter text presented here that ''what remains approximates to, though it is not quite identical with, the actual lectures as originally delivered.'' The reader therefore has in their hands the essence of Kirk''s thesis, which continues to prompt debate today.Trade Review"It could be argued that Kirk's Vision of God is the single most significant essay on moral theology written by an Anglican in the twentieth century. . . . It is effectively a prolegomenon to virtue ethics, which, since the advent of Alasdair MacIntyre's After Virtue, has once again taken pride of place. But Kirk's argument also directs us towards an integrated vision of theology, where moral, ascetic and doctrinal thought coalesce within one context." Stephen Platten, in Theology, January 2021 "We have never read any theological work which has a more direct bearing on practical problems of ecclesiastical statesmanship and religious policy." Times Literary Supplement "A great book." Expository TimesTable of ContentsForeword Preface Lecture I. The Vision of God in Pre-Christian Thought 1. The Vision of God 2. Formalism and Rigorism 3. Jewish Anticipations 4. Pagan Anticipations 5. Philo of Alexandria Lecture II. The New Testament 1. Rigorism and Eschatology in the Teaching of Jesus 2. New Testament Variations 3. The Origin of New Testament Rigorism 4. The Vision of God in the New Testament Lecture III. Formalism 1. The Beginnings of Codification 2. Codification in the New Testament 3. The Dangers of Formalism 4. The Motive of Reward in the Gospels Lecture IV. Rigorism 1. The Beginnings of Monasticism 2. Monasticism and The Vision of God 3. The Gnostics Lecture V. The Reply to Rigorism (I. - Discipline) 1. Rigorists & Humanists 2. The Two Lives 3. The Reform of Monasticism Lecture VI. The Reply to Rigorism (II. - Doctrine) 1. Naturalism and Christianity 2. St Clement of Alexandria 3. St Augustine 4. St Bernard of Clairvaux Lecture VII. Confusion and Order 1. The Twelfth Century 2. The School of St Victor 3. St Thomas Aquinas 4. St Ignatius of Loyola 5. St Francis de Sales Lecture VIII. Law and Promise 1. The Reversal of Tradition 2. 'Worship' and 'Service' 3. Disinterestedness and Pure Love 4. Conclusion Index

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Book SynopsisStep into the mystical world of witchcraft and learn how magical practices can bring positive change and help you connect to the world around you

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Book SynopsisPresents Joseph Ratzinger not as an unimaginative enforcer of doctrinal conclusions but as a creatively faithful theologian, whose reconfiguration of inspiration should serve as the point of departure for all future reflection on the subject.

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive guide to the mysteries of the I Ching. Originally discovered around 3,000 BCE, the I Ching is a collection of symbols that explain how patterns in the universe change and shift. These sixty-four symbols contain within them one of the most powerful keys to understanding the world around us. The Secrets of the I Ching is the definitive guide to understanding the ancient mysteries and foundations of the I Ching.Authors Dr. David Lee and Joseph K. Kim guide the reader from the very beginning of Eastern thought, the concepts of Tao and Tai Chi, through the theory of Yin-Yang, Trinity, the Five Elements, and other critical concepts that will unlock the full meaning of the I Ching. Instead of simply re-interpreting the myriad of meanings ascribed to the I Ching, they focus on the symbols themselves, offering a new way of understanding its unique power.Filled with over three hundred images and backed by in-depth research and study, T

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Book SynopsisYou are the fountain of life, light, and all grace and truth The hearts of the first Christians beat with praise for Christ. The strength of their devotion is remarkable, considering the times of uncertainty and persecution in which they lived. Despite all of this, the early church flourished, sustained by the God to whom they prayed. Christians today have a lot to learn from the devotional life of the early church. In Fount of Heaven, a collection of carefully selected prayers from the first six centuries of the church, we can pray with our spiritual forefathers. Prayers from luminaries such as Clement of Rome, Irenaeus, and Augustine are arranged by theme to reveal the right prayer for the moment. The prayers have been slightly updated to read more easily, but they retain their joy and mystery. As we turn to the prayers of the first Christians, we can return to the foundations of our own faith.

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Book SynopsisWhat if a healthy, abundant, joyful, faith-filled life is within reach? What if you could increase your energy, vitality, and happiness, and stop dragging through the day, living discouraged and depressed, and settling for less than the life you want?In 15 Ways to Live Longer and Healthier, New York Times bestselling author Joel Osteen, with his trademark wisdom and encouragement, helps you to discover greater success, stronger relationships, tame stress, and find real happiness. He shows that the key to good health, longevity, and abundance is to keep your soul healthy by focusing on your attitude, your thoughts, and your emotional well-being. In this book, he shows you how to:* Stay positive toward yourself;* Deal with difficult people;* Let go of control;* Choose to be happy;* Unclutter your mind;* Live in the present;* Tame the tongue; and* Take care of yourself. Start today to make a real change that lasts. Not just for a week, a month, or a year but for the rest of your life.

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Book SynopsisA plain-English commentary on Vasubandhu''s classic Treatise on the Three Naturesthat shows us an integrative path of personal and social healing and liberation.In this book, Ben Connelly shows the power of integrating early Buddhist psychology with the Mahayana emphasis on collective liberation. You?ll discover how wisdom from fourth-century India can be harnessed to heal and transform systems of harm within ourselves and our communities. The three natures (svabhavas)?the imaginary, dependent, and complete, realized natures?are inherent aspects of all phenomena. The imaginary nature of things is what we think they are. Their dependent nature is that they appear to arise from countless conditions. The complete, realized nature is that they aren?t as we imagine them to be: things that can be grasped or pushed away. The three natures form the backbone of Yogacara philosophy, and by showing us how to see beyond our preconceived notions of ourselves and others, beyond the things that we?re convinced are ?true,? they open up a path to personal and communal healing. Dive into this empowering approach to freedom from suffering, from harmful personal and social patterns, and to finding peace and joyfulness in the present.

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Book SynopsisMidwest Book Review 2023 Silver Book Award (Nonfiction - Religion/Philosophy) "A convincing case for all Christians to do more to meet access needs and embrace disabilities as part of God's kingdom. . . . Inclusivity-minded Christians will cheer the lessons laid out here."--Publishers Weekly "A book the church desperately needs."--Sojourners Much of the church has forgotten that we worship a disabled God whose wounds survived resurrection, says Amy Kenny. It is time for the church to start treating disabled people as full members of the body of Christ who have much more to offer than a miraculous cure narrative and to learn from their embodied experiences. Written by a disabled Christian, this book shows that the church is missing out on the prophetic witness and blessing of disability. Kenny reflects on her experiences inside the church to expose unintentional ableism and cast a new vision for Christian communities to engage disability justice. She shows that until we cultivate church spaces where people with disabilities can fully belong, flourish, and lead, we are not valuing the diverse members of the body of Christ. Offering a unique blend of personal storytelling, fresh and compelling writing, biblical exegesis, and practical application, this book invites readers to participate in disability justice and create a more inclusive community in church and parachurch spaces. Engaging content such as reflection questions and top-ten lists are included.Table of ContentsContentsA Note on LanguagePreface1. Disability CurativesTop Ten Recommended Remedies2. Disability DiscriminationTop Ten "At Leasts" 3. Disability DoubtersTop Ten Disability Denials4. Disability JusticeTop Ten Reasons I'm Disabled5. Disability BlessingsTop Ten "I Know How You Feels" 6. Disability MosquitosTop Ten Mosquito Swatters7. Disability LessonsTop Ten Disability Icebreakers8. Disabled FoundationsTop Ten Disability Accolades9. Disabled GodTop Ten Disability Theologies10. Disabled ChurchTop Ten Disability DreamsBenecription for Nondisabled PeopleBenecription for Disabled PeopleFurther Reading

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Book SynopsisBoth a galvanizing wake-up call and a tender lullaby.” — Glennon Doyle, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Untamed“What I love about Arielle’s writing is that she takes readers on this journey step by step, filled with wisdom and grace.Trade Review“There is an enduring honesty in Estoria’s words that is hard to come by. She welcomes you into places within herself that always seem to serve as portals to our own homecoming. With poetry and reflection, Estoria reminds us of the imperative of our unfolding in a world that wants us to remain small.” — Cole Arthur Riley, New York Times bestselling author of This Here Flesh "If loving and embracing yourself for who you are feels impossible, pick up this book! Arielle invites you to step into your power through her inspiring prose and beautiful reflections." — Jenna Kutcher, New York Times bestselling author of How Are You, Really? “Arielle’s words are a balm. Somehow they soothe, but also light the fire for growth. That's an achievement.” — Jedidiah Jenkins, New York Times bestselling author of To Shake The Sleeping Self and Like Streams to the Ocean "Open up to any page and discover inspiration, honesty, and wisdom. The Unfolding will leave you feeling uplifted and open to discovering more about yourself." — Justina Blakeney, author of The New Bohemians and founder of Jungalow "With the beauty, honesty, and transparency of a true artist, Arielle invites us to shed what no longer serves us and come alive to who we’re meant to be. The Unfolding reminds us that exploration is not our enemy, and that wonder can be found in our wandering." — Danielle Coke, Oh Happy Day! illustrator and activist "What a refreshing, deep breath of a book! Through poetry, art, story, and prose, Arielle beautifully embodies the freedom, invitation, and goodness of full awakening." — Sarah Bessey, New York Times bestselling author of A Rhythm of Prayer and Jesus Feminist “What I love about Arielle’s writing is that she takes readers on this journey step by step, filled with wisdom and grace. This book will help anyone seeking to unfold into their bloom.” — Morgan Harper Nichols, author of All Along You Were Blooming and Peace is a Practice “The Unfolding is a moving, fresh, unique poetry collection and a generous invitation into the mind of the poet. Both a galvanizing wake-up call and a tender lullaby.” — Glennon Doyle, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Untamed “Arielle is a sage within our generation and she's written a guidebook for anyone who has ever felt lost or needed a reminder that breaking is not the end of the story.” — Hannah Brencher, author of Fighting Forward and Come Matter Here “Arielle gently invites us to explore the uncharted places of our own lives, to face them with courage and vulnerability, and perhaps even discover an unfolding of our own.” — Jo Saxton, author of Ready to Rise "Perfectly balances the raw, unpolished, guttural feelings with the eloquence and refined beauty of one who has mastered poetry. This is a must read." — Propaganda, author of Terraform Yahoo! — "This stunning debut is as tender as you imagine it to be in addition to adding an extra dose of ecstatic joy to remind you how real-life becoming feels. A poetry book full of words to hold sacredly in your soul." "In a voice that is at once gentle and strong, Arielle shows that our process of becoming, while at times uncertain, is as beautiful as a blooming flower.” — Dr. Hillary L McBride, author of The Wisdom of Your Body “In Arielle’s raw recounting of her own journey, she beautifully mirrors our true worth and value that we are invited into remembering and finding home within ourselves.” — Ruthie Lindsey, author of There I Am “Arielle's words are breathtakingly beautiful and inspiring. The Unfolding is like a healing roadmap, nourishment for those who are thirsty for hope, growth and awakening.” — Minaa B., LMSW “Arielle tenderly offers us a richness of grace only seen from the mystics of the old. Her eloquence of story and depth of wisdom lovingly unfolds us into her process, awakening liberation in each of us.” — William Matthews, music director at New Abbey "The Unfolding is a beautiful invitation to come back to yourself, trust your inner wisdom, and just take a breath." — Jamie Varon, author of Radically Content

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Book SynopsisWhat can we know about the everyday experiences of Christians during the fourth, fifth, and sixth centuries? How did non-elite men and women, enslaved, freed, and free persons, who did not renounce sex or choose voluntary poverty become Christian? They neither led a religious community nor did they live in entirely Christian settings. In this period, an age marked by “extraordinary” Christians—wonderworking saints, household ascetics, hermits, monks, nuns, pious aristocrats, pilgrims, and bishops—ordinary Christians went about their daily lives, in various occupations, raising families, sharing households, kitchens, and baths in religiously diverse cities. Occasionally they attended church liturgies, sought out local healers, and visited martyrs’ shrines. Barely and rarely mentioned in ancient texts, common Christians remain nameless and undifferentiated. Unfinished Christians explores the sensory and affective dimensions of ordinary Christians who assembled for rituals. With precious few first-person accounts by common Christians, it relies on written sources not typically associated with lived religion: sermons, liturgical instruction books, and festal hymns. All three genres of writing are composed by clergy for use in ritual settings. Yet they may also provide glimpses of everyday Christians’ lives and experiences. This book investigates the habits, objects, behaviors, and movements of ordinary Christians by mining festal preaching by John Chrysostom, Cyril of Jerusalem, Gregory of Nyssa, and Romanos the Melodist, among others. It also mines liturgical instructions to explore the psalms and other songs performed on various feast days. “Unfinished,” then, connotes the creativity and agency of unremarkable Christians who engaged in making religious experiences: the “Christian-in-progress” who learns to work with material and bring something into being; the artisans who attended sermons; and, more widely, the bearers of embodied knowing.Trade Review"In Unfinished Christians, Georgia Frank seeks the sensory and affective experiences of non-elite Christians in late antiquity. She finds them in workshops, nighttime prayer, songs, and processions, and she comprehends them through the metaphor of craft...Frank’s lyrical prose, sensitive insights, transdisciplinary reading, and deep endnotes make this a joyous and enriching contribution to early Christian studies. But Unfinished Christians is also a model for readers in other subfields of the humanities who seek to integrate text, material, and sensation in understanding the formation of religious practices and subjectivities." * Material Religion *

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Book SynopsisBelief in magic was, until relatively recent times, widespread in Britain; yet the impact of such belief on determinative political events has frequently been overlooked. In his wide-ranging new book, Francis Young explores the role of occult traditions in the history of the island of Great Britain: Merlin''s realm. He argues that while the great magus and artificer invented by Geoffrey of Monmouth was a powerful model for a succession of actual royal magical advisers (including Roger Bacon and John Dee), monarchs nevertheless often lived in fear of hostile sorcery while at other times they even attempted magic themselves. Successive governments were simultaneously fascinated by astrology and alchemy, yet also deeply wary of the possibility of treasonous spellcraft. Whether deployed in warfare, rebellion or propaganda, occult traditions were of central importance to British history and, as the author reveals, these dark arts of magic and politics remain entangled to this day.Trade Review'The history of magic – in comparison to the history of witchcraft in Britain – has been under-researched in the Anglophone academy. The relationship of occult traditions to the politics of the realm has thus far been virtually ignored. A ground-breaking study of the history of occult traditions – of 'high' magic (elite, literate, clerical and courtly) as compared to 'low magic' (popular, non-literate, non-clerical) – is therefore to be warmly welcomed. This book is full of fascinating and previously little-known vignettes on the significant influence of the role of magic and the occult in the history of British politics, most of which will be unknown to the non-specialist. It would be an excellent text for undergraduate and postgraduate programs in the history of the occult.' Philip. C. Almond, University of Queensland'A terrific book. Francis Young is quite correct to say that no such survey has been done before, and the evidence presented by him unequivocally demonstrates that politics in pre-modern Britain cannot be fully understood without some attention to the notion and practice of magic and the occult sciences in general such as alchemy and astrology. The author has also brought together a tremendous amount of scholarship in this volume which is commendable in its own right.' Frank Klaassen, University of Saskatchewan'This is an important and accomplished project which demonstrates that – contrary to received opinion, and in modernity as well as the past – magical beliefs are central to political, religious and social lives, as conventionally categorised. I think the book will provoke much interest and comment with its claim that magic is as important as religion, and think too that there are likely to be over the next few years a series of books and theses that render that claim stronger. Magic's time has indeed come: and in that development the book will lead from the front. It will be accessible to a wide range of readers, written as it is with a light and engaging touch. The scope and detail never overwhelm, while the author's definition of magic and his inclusions and exclusions are convincing.' Marion Gibson, University of Exeter'Thought-provoking' William Tipper, The Wall Street Journal'… an immensely readable book with an engaging style, and likely to capture the attention and curiosity of anyone who explores its pages … it is well researched and referenced, striking an excellent balance between scholarship and entertainment.' Helen Hall, Law and Justice, the Christian Law ReviewTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. 'Britain indulges in magic': the origins of occult traditions in Britain; 2. The secrets of the king: occult and royal power in medieval Britain; 3. Arthurian dynasty: the Tudors and occult power; 4. House of the unicorn: Stuart monarchy and the contest for occult authority; 5. Politics and the decline of magic, 1649-1714; 6. Emanations of Albion: politics and the occult in modern Britain; Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisJesus was a revolutionary. He led an anti-colonial movement of the dispossessed which affirmed women's leadership, racial equality and sexual diversity. Yet within three centuries, Christianity began being used at the service of the very same forms of discrimination Jesus had spent his life opposing. Open for Liberation argues that the task of liberating humanity from oppression must involve liberating Christianity from the idea that oppression is consistent with faith. Tim Gee restores the radical spirit of Jesus.

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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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