Sacred texts, scriptures and revered writings Books
Verbum Publications An
£14.77
Penguin Putnam Inc The Bhagavad Gita
Book SynopsisThe eighteen chapters of The Bhagavad Gita (c. 500 b.c.), the glory of Sanskrit literature, encompass the whole spiritual struggle of a human soul. Its three central themes—love, light, and life—arise from the symphonic vision of God in all things and of all things in God.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
£10.80
Shambhala Publications Inc Aryadeva's Four Hundred Stanzas on the Middle
Book SynopsisGyel-tsap Dar-ma-rin-chen states that Aryadeva''s Four Hundred Stanzas was written to explain how, according to Nagarjuna, the practice of the stages of yogic deeds enables those with Mahayana motivation to attain Buddhahood. Both Nagarjuna and Aryadeva urge those who want to understand reality to induce direct experience of ultimate truth through philosophic inquiry and reasoning. Aryadeva''s text is more than a commentary on Nagarjuna''s Treatise on the Middle Way because it also explains the extensive paths associated with conventional truths. The Four Hundred Stanzas is one of the fundamental works of Mahayana Buddhist philosophy, and Gyel-tsap''s commentary is arguably the most complete and important of the Tibetan commentaries on it. Mahayana practitioners must eliminate not only obstructions to liberation but also obstructions to the perfect knowledge of all phenomena. This requires a powerful understanding of selflessness, coupled with a vast accumulation of merit, or positive energy, resulting from the kind of love, compassion, and altruistic intention cultivated by bodhisattvas. The first half of the text focuses on the development of merit by showing how to correct distorted ideas about conventional reality and how to overcome disturbing emotions. The second half explains the nature of ultimate reality that all phenomena are empty of intrinsic existence. Gyel-tsap''s commentary on Aryadeva''s text takes the form of a lively dialogue that uses the words of Aryadeva to answer hypothetical and actual assertions questions and objections. Geshe Sonam Rinchen has provided additional commentary to the sections on conventional reality, elucidating their relevance for contemporary life. This is a republished version of Yogic Deeds of Bodhisattvas.
£28.80
Everyman Tao Teh Ching
Book SynopsisWritten during the Golden Age of Chinese philosophy, and composed partly in prose and partly in verse, the Tao Te Ching is the most terse and economical of the world's great religious texts. In a series of short, profound chapters it elucidates the idea of the Tao, or the Way, and of Te - Virtue, or Power - ideas that in their ethical, practical and spiritual dimensions have become essential to the life of China's powerful civilization. The Tao Te Ching has been translated into Western languages more times than any other Chinese work. It speaks of the ineffable in a secular manner and its imagery, drawn from the natural world, transcends time and place. The application of its wisdom to modern times is both instructive and provocative - for the individual, lessons in self-awareness and spontaneity, placing stillness and consciousness of the word around above ceaseless activity; for leaders of society, how to govern with integrity, to perform unobtrusively the task in hand and never to utter words lightly; for both, the futility of striving for personal success.D. C. Lau's classic English version remains a touchstone of accuracy. Informed by the most impressive scholarship this is a translation both for academic study and for general readers who prefer to reflect on the meaning of this ancient text unencumbered by the subjective interpretations and poetic licence of more recent 'inspirational' translations. Sarah Allan's masterly introduction discusses the origins of the work, sheds light on the ambiguities of its language, and places it firmly in its historical and philosophical context.The Everyman edition uses Lau's translation of the Ma Wang Tui manuscripts (discovered in 1973) in the revised 1989 version published by The Chinese University Press. The iconic text is presented uncluttered by explanatory notes. A chronology and glossary are included, together with the translator's informative appendices.Trade ReviewThe Tao Te Ching is a 2,400-year-old reminder that today, as then, every one of us has a choice to practise self-awareness and exercise our own power in and over the world. That might come as more of a nasty wakeup call than a comfort to some of us. As [David Foster] Wallace said: "It is unimaginably hard to do this, to stay conscious and alive in the adult world day in and day out." As hard as it is, for the moments we read it, the Tao Te Ching makes it seem at least possible. -- Damien Walter * Guardian *
£999.99
Nilgiri Press The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living, Volume 3: A
Book SynopsisA comprehensive manual for living a spiritual life, based on a verse-by-verse commentary on India’s timeless scripture – from the author of its best-selling translation.(The ebook The Bhagavad Gita for Daily Living 9781586381455 includes all three volumes in this series.)The Bhagavad Gita is set on the battlefield of an apocalyptic war between good and evil. Faced with a dire moral dilemma, the warrior prince Arjuna turns in anguish to his spiritual guide, Sri Krishna, for answers to the fundamental questions of life.Easwaran points out that Arjuna’s crisis is acutely modern. The Gita’s battlefield is the struggle for self-mastery that every human being must wage. Arjuna represents each of us, and Sri Krishna is the Lord, instructing us in eighteen chapters of lofty wisdom as we face the social, environmental, and global challenges that threaten our world today.Easwaran is a spiritual teacher and author of deep insight and warmth. His verse-by-verse commentary interprets the Gita’s teachings for modern readers, explaining the Sanskrit concepts and philosophy and applying them with practicality, wisdom, and humor to every aspect of our work, our relationships, and our lives. With everyday anecdotes, stories, and examples, he shows that the changes we long to see in the world start with the transformation of our own consciousness.The practical exercises recommended by Easwaran to achieve transformation are part of a spiritual program he developed for his own life. They are accessible to people from all backgrounds and cultures. Urging us to adopt a higher image of the human being, he assures us that peace and unity are within reach.Each volume of this series covers six chapters of the Gita. Each may be read on its own, but all three volumes together form an in-depth, verse-by-verse explanation of this ancient scripture and its relevance today. Each volume includes instructions in Easwaran's eight-point program of passage meditation.Volume 1: The first six chapters of the Gita explore the concept of the innermost Self and source of wisdom in each of us. Easwaran explains how we can begin to transform ourselves, even as householders engaged in busy lives.Volume 2: The next six chapters of the Gita go beyond the individual Self to explore the Supreme Reality underlying all creation. Easwaran builds a bridge across the seeming divide between scientific knowledge and spiritual wisdom, and explains how the concept of the unity of life can help us in all our relationships.Volume 3: The final six chapters put forth an urgent appeal for us to begin to see that all of us are one – to make the connection between the Self within and the Reality underlying all creation. Global in scope, the emphasis is on what we can do to make a difference to heal our environment and establish peace in the world.Easwaran’s commentary is for all students of the Gita, whatever their background, and for anyone who is trying to find a path to wisdom, love, and kindness in themselves and our troubled world. Written as an authoritative, accessible guide to a much-loved scripture, it is a handbook for finding peace and clarity within.This second edition incorporates revisions made across all three volumes following the author’s final instructions.Trade ReviewNo one in modern times is more qualified — no make that ‘as qualified’ — to translate the epochal Classics of Indian Spirituality than Eknath Easwaran. And the reason is clear. It is impossible to get to the heart of those classics unless you live them, and he did live them. My admiration of the man and his works is boundless.” — Huston Smith, author of The World’s Religions.Table of ContentsTable of Contents INTRODUCTION A Higher Image 9 CHAPTER THIRTEEN The Field of Karma 25 CHAPTER FOURTEEN The Forces of Evolution 109 CHAPTER FIFTEEN The Supreme Self 174 CHAPTER SIXTEEN Two Paths 216 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN The Power of Faith 284 CHAPTER EIGHTEEN Love in Action 348 Passage for Meditation 465 Glossary and Guide to Sanskrit Pronunciation 469 Index 475
£16.14
Baylor University Press Qohelet
Book SynopsisHow to live a life of wisdom and fulfilment in a far-from-perfect world? Menachem Fisch and Debra Band probe Qohelet’s inquiry into the value of life ‘under the sun’ in this work - the first illuminated manuscript of the entire biblical text, the first philosophical analysis tracing the coherent path of this biblical thinker’s full argument.Trade ReviewIlluminated manuscripts have a rich tradition to which this gem adds creatively. Not only does Debra Band's exquisite micrography, calligraphy, and artwork invite us to marinate in and meditate on Qohelet's suggestive composition, Menachem Fisch adds a unique and penetrating philosophical analysis. This work takes us from the ancient world of the Bible through medieval traditions of illumination and into a reading of Qohelet as a harbinger of post-modern thinking." - Peter A. Pettit, Teaching Pastor, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Davenport, Iowa"'Vanity of vanities, all is vanity,' wrote the mysterious author of the biblical Qohelet—Ecclesiastes, in English, from the Greek. 'There is nothing new under the sun.' For generations, the meaning of this haunting outlier text seemed clear and even merciless: in its endless cycling, nothing in the cosmos lasts, so nothing matters. Even if God is real, human life is in the end unreal and can have no real purpose. Resignation is the only valid response: at best, 'living for the moment;' at worst, existential despair. But what if there were something new under the sun? In this fresh approach to Qohelet, philosopher Menachem Fisch and scholar-artist Debra Band radically re-vision a text whose interpretation was 'settled.' Through exciting exposition that ranges from the history of rabbinical thought to analytical philosophy to the pain of personal loss, and illumined by Band's glowing paintings, the authors return us to the original Hebrew word on which Qohelet pivots: hevel. When hevel is not read 'figuratively' but is restored to its literal meaning as 'vapor' or 'mist,' an unexpected theology is revealed. What if the text were never a meditation on absurdity after all, but instead 'a vivid portrayal of the limits of human knowledge?' These limits can inspire us to return to our deepest human challenge: how should we live? Fisch and Band show how we can take up the question again in fascination—and even more, in hope. An unforgettable book." - Kimberley C. Patton, Professor of the Comparative and Historical Study of Religion, Harvard Divinity SchoolTable of Contents Foreword by Ellen F. Davis Preface by Moshe Halbertal Introduction by Menachem Fisch: Making Sense of Qohelet Introduction by Debra Band: Approaching the Book of Qohelet The IlluminationsFrontispieceChapter OneChapter TwoChapter ThreeChapter FourChapter FiveChapter SixChapter SevenChapter EightChapter NineChapter TenChapter ElevenChapter Twelve Chapter Commentary Materials 1Introduction: Setting the StageCommentaries on the Illuminations 2Introduction: Dashed Dreams of a Lasting AchievementCommentaries on the Illuminations 3Introduction: Qohelet's Great Turning PointCommentaries on the Illuminations 4Introduction: The Politics of CooperationCommentaries on the Illuminations 5Introduction: Foolishness Multiplied: The Religious DimensionCommentaries on the Illuminations 6Introduction: The Futility of HindsightCommentary on the Illuminations 7Introduction: Breaching the Limits of Self-CritiqueCommentaries on the Illuminations 8Introduction: Knowing the Limits of One's StrengthCommentaries on the Illuminations 9Introduction: The Case against HedonismCommentaries on the Illuminations 10Introduction: A Fool's DystopiaCommentaries on the Illuminations 11Introduction: The Beginning of an Optimistic EndCommentary on the Illuminations 12Introduction: When All Is Said and DoneCommentaries on the Illuminations Afterword by Menachem FischMysteries Dispelled: Qohelet in Biblical and Liturgical Context Key to Bible Translation Abbreviations
£44.20
HarperCollins India Bhagavad Gita: God's Song
Book Synopsis
£15.99
Brill Encyclopaedia of the Qur'ān - Volumes 1-5 plus Index Volume (Set)
Book SynopsisDrawing upon a rich scholarly heritage, Brill's Encyclopaedia of the Qur'ān (EQ) combines alphabetically-arranged articles about the contents of the Qur'ān. It is an encyclopaedic dictionary of qur'ānic terms, concepts, personalities, place names, cultural history and exegesis extended with essays on the most important themes and subjects within qur'ānic studies. With nearly 1000 entries in 6 volumes, the EQ is the first comprehensive, multi-volume reference work on the Qur'ān to appear in a Western language.Trade ReviewA Choice Outstanding Academic Title "McAuliffe's encyclopedia promises to become the central English-language reference work for qur'anic studies....The first volume fulfills the project's aim to summarize recent decades of scholarship and will without doubt fulfill another aim, to inspire new work in the decades to come. Enthusiastically recommended for all readership levels." – in: Choice, 2002 "The Encyclopaedia of the Qur'ān is an highly prestigious and competent volume from a superb publisher with contributions by the world’s leading experts. If readers were to own one volume on this topic, this work would be the encylopedia to own. The first volume is carefully and masterfully crafted and provides the expectation of valuable work to come…the scholarly community looks forward to future volumes." – Linda L. Lam-Easton, in: American Reference Book Annual 34 "The Encyclopaedia of the Qur'ān is a masterful, comprehensive book…" – in: Discourse, 2001 "The Encyclopaedia of the Qur'ān will be a truly collaborative enterprise, carried out by Muslims and non-Muslims, and its articles will present multiple approaches to the interpretation of the Qur'ān... A turn-of-the-millennium summative work for the state of qur'ānic scholarship." – in: Atlantic Monthly, 1999
£1,413.90
Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co KG Khirbet Qumrân and Aïn Feshkha IV A: Qumran Cave
Book SynopsisText in English and French. Qumran Cave 11Q was discovered by Bedouin in 1956. In the cave, remains of around 30 Dead Sea Scrolls were found, a few of them in very good state of preservation (the Temple Scroll, the Psalm Scroll, the Paleo Leviticus Scroll, and the Targum Job Scroll). The cave was excavated by Roland de Vaux (Ecole Biblique et Archeologique Française, Jerusalem) and Gerald L. Harding (Department of Antiquities of Jordan) in 1956; later by Joseph Patrich (University of Haifa) in 1988, and by Marcello Fidanzio and Dan Bahat (ISCAB FTL and Universitedella Svizzera Italiana) in 2017. Due to Roland de Vaux's premature death, the archaeology of Cave 11Q has never been published. This volume presents the final report on the 1956, 1988 and 2017 excavations at Cave 11Q. Next to discussing the physical characteristics and stratigraphy of the cave and offering a full analysis of non-textual finds, the volume for the first time presents many tiny manuscript fragments found in storerooms during recent work. These fragments, most of which were collected during 1956 excavation, have not been known until now. The volume, therefore, offers the final report of Cave 11Q excavations as well as the editio princeps of the new fragments, followed by a reevaluation of the entire set of texts found in this famous cave.
£304.79
Motilal Banarsidass, Sarada-tilaka Tantram
Book SynopsisThe book Sarada-Tilaka by Laksmana Desikendra is a significant text on Tantric subjects, divided into 25 chapters. It explores the origin of creation in Chapter 1 and delves into Prakrti-Vikrti in the subsequent chapters, concluding with a chapter beyond Prakrti and Vikrti. Primarily focused on Tantric worship of gods and goddesses.
£999.99
Pustak Mahal Essence of Srimad Bhagavad Gita
Book Synopsis
£5.48
Aryan Books International Myths from the Mahabharata: Quest for Immortality
Book Synopsis
£11.24
Cosmo Publications The Brahma Sutras
Book SynopsisThe Brahma Sutras are also called the Vedanta Sutras, the Sarika Sutras, the Sarika Mimansa, the Uttara Sutras, and by several other names. The Brahma Sutras are also called the Vedanta Sutras, the Sarika Sutras, the Sarika Mimansa, the Uttara Sutras, and by several other names.
£23.62
New Age Books Realization to Supreme Self: The Bhagavad Gita Yogas
£14.11
Aravali Books International Ramayana
Book Synopsis
£8.06
OM Books International Mahabharata
£35.99
HarperCollins Publishers Inc The Worlds Wisdom
Book SynopsisA world Bible for our time from Buddhist, Hindu, Confucian, Taoist, Jewish, Christian, Islamic, and primal religion sources! In this perfect companion to Huston Smith''s bestselling The World''s Wisdom, Philip Novak distills the most powerful and elegant expressions of the wisdom of humankind. Authentic, poetic translations of key texts are coupled with insightful introductions and grace notes.
£14.44
HarperCollins Publishers Inc The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
Book Synopsis“A magnificent achievement. In its power to touch the heart, to awaken consciousness, [The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying] is an inestimable gift.”—San Francisco Chronicle A newly revised and updated 30th Anniversary edition of the internationally bestselling spiritual classic, The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying, written by Sogyal Rinpoche, is the ultimate introduction to Tibetan Buddhist wisdom. An enlightening, inspiring, and comforting manual for life and death that the New York Times calls, “The Tibetan equivalent of [Dante’s] The Divine Comedy,” this is the essential work that moved Huston Smith, author of The World’s Religions, to proclaim, “I have encountered no book on the interplay of life and death that is more comprehensive, practical, and wise.”
£18.69
Oxford University Press, USA Religious Reading
Book SynopsisWhat social conditions and intellectual practices are necessary in order for religious cultures to flourish? Paul Griffiths finds the answer in ''religious reading'' -- the kind of reading in which a religious believer allows his mind to be furnished and his heart instructed by a sacred text, understood in the light of an authoritative tradition. He favourably contrasts the practices and pedagogies of traditional religious cultures with those of our own fragmented and secularized culture and insists that religious reading should be preserved.Trade ReviewA provocative book that deserves the serious consideration of every scholar in the field ... a book that has the potential for stimulating important discussions about our roles in the modern study of religion * Religion *Table of Contents1: Religion 2: Religion and Literary Work 3: The Context of Religious Reading 4: The Fundamental Genres of Religious Reading 5: Commentary and Anthology in Buddhist India 6: Commentary and Anthology in Roman Africa Conclusion Notes Index
£70.30
OUP Oxford The Oxford Handbook of Sikh Studies
Book SynopsisThis handbook innovatively combines the ways in which scholars diverse fields (including philosophy, psychology, literary studies, history, sociology, anthropology, political science, and economics) have integrated the study of Sikhism within critical and postcolonial perspectives on the nature of religion.Table of ContentsI. HISTORICAL EXPRESSIONS; II. LITERARY EXPRESSIONS; III: IDEOLOGICAL EXPRESSIONS; IV. INSTITUTIONAL EXPRESSIONS; V. ARTISTIC EXPRESSIONS; VI. DIASPORIC EXPRESSIONS; VII. EXPRESSIONS OF CASTE & GENDER IN THE PANTH; VIII. FUTURE TRAJECTORIES
£34.99
Palgrave MacMillan Us Disability Studies and Biblical Literature
Book SynopsisThe primary aim of this volume is to synthesize the two fields of disability studies and biblical studies. It illustrates how academic or critical biblical scholarship has shown that many texts involving disability in the Bible is much more nuanced than a casual reading or isolated proof texting may indicate.Trade Review'This book assembles an impressive array of scholars whose collective work changes the terrain of disability studies and biblical scholarship. Adding nuance and deep expertise to the discourse, Disability Studies and Biblical Literature shows us how superficial and general has been much of the previous discussion of religious attitudes toward people with disabilities in the western world. Focusing on the heterogeneity of individual biblical texts, as well as complex cultural and historical factors, these scholars give us a multifaceted understanding of the ways the ancient world saw disability through its textual representation.' - Lennard Davis, Distinguished Professor of English, University of Illinois at Chicago 'In this valuable volume, Biblical scholars introduce critical nuance to the reading of sacred texts of the Hebrew and Christian testaments by working with social and cultural models of disability. The authors refuse to hide disability behind presumably greater or more important spiritual truths. They break through ideological uses of 'disability,' including that sensibility which insists spiritual insight is more valuable than material experience. Persons living with disabilities may finally be recognized as resident actors in these texts.' - Sharon V. Betcher, author of Spirit and the Politics of Disablement 'The editors of this timely collection, which brings together high quality Biblical studies and an issue of central importance to our society, are to be commended for this pioneering and necessary initiative.' - Christopher Rowland, Dean Ireland's Professor of the Exegesis of Holy Scripture, Queen's College, Oxford UniversityTable of ContentsThe Nature of Barrenness in the Hebrew Bible; J.S.Baden The Blind, the Lame, and the Barren Shall Not Come into the House; S.Ackerman 'Like the eunuch who does not beget': Gender, Mutilation, and Negotiated Status in the Ancient Near East; T.Lemos Sexual Disabilities in the Hebrew Bible; D.T.Stewart Isaiah's Brave New World: The Disabled in Prophetic Utopian Visions; J.Schipper Whoring after Cripples: On the Intersection of Gender and Disability Imagery in Jeremiah; R.Raphael Ascription of Physical Disability as a Stigmatizing Strategy in Biblical Iconic Polemics; S.M.Olyan A Tale of Two Eunuchs: Isaiah 56:1-8 and Acts 8:26-40; S.Melcher Sensing Jesus: The Construction of the Ideal Disciple in Mark; C.R.Moss 'The Blind, Lame and Paralyzed' (John 5:3): John's Gospel, Disability Studies, and Postcolonial Perspectives; W.Carter His Feet and Ankles Were Made Strong: Signs of Character in the Man Lame from Birth; M.C.Parsons Paul's Disability: The Thorn in his Flesh; A.Y.Collins In Sickness and in Health: Ancient Rituals of Truth in the Greco-Roman World and 1 Peter; M.Henning 'The Punishment of the Devil was Apparent in the Torment of the human Body': Epilepsy in Ancient Christianity; N.Kelley
£104.49
Zondervan Understanding the Koran
Book SynopsisA brief, non-technical introduction, Understanding the Koran covers the Koran’s writing, its contents, how it’s used and viewed by Muslims, and differences and similarities between it and the Bible. Suggestions on how the Koran should or should not be used in conversations with Muslims are also included.
£15.71
Marcionite Christian Church The Very First Bible
£13.07
£42.75
Nine and a Half Mystics
Book SynopsisFrom Simon & Schuster, Nine and a Half Mystics is Herbert Weiner''s exploration of the Kabbalah today.This revised edition of a modern classic includes a new foreword by Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel and an afterword by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, editor of The Talmud: The Steinsaltz Edition, as well as a coda by the author in which he explores the many paths being traveled today in the search for the treasures of the Kabbalah.
£17.99
£18.58
Creative Media Partners, LLC Poems From Eastern Sources
£22.75
Creative Media Partners, LLC Golden Words From the Book of Wisdom a New Arrangement of the Book of Proverbs
£27.86
Creative Media Partners, LLC The Legends of the Jews Translated From the German Manuscript by Henrietta Szold
£34.74
Creative Media Partners, LLC Idushe agadot Meharal
£22.75
Creative Media Partners, LLC LÃcgendes De Lancien Testament Recueillies Des Apocryphes Des Rabbins Et Des LÃcgendaires DistinguÃces Avec Soin Des Textes SacrÃces...
£28.45
Creative Media Partners, LLC The Wisdom of the Apocrypha
£14.96
Thashiana Moonegan Rhythms of my Soul
£23.63
£36.00
Scholars Press A Commentary on the Animal Apocalypse of I Enoch
£39.22
Shambhala Publications Inc Feeling the Shoulder of the Lion: Poetry and Teaching Stories of Rumi
£14.39
Shambhala Publications Inc Tao Te Ching: A New Translation
Book SynopsisPart poetry, part paradox, always stirring and profound, Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching has been inspiring readers since it was written over two thousand years ago. This masterpiece is also one of the most frequently translated books in all of history, in part because the multiple meanings of the Chinese characters make it impossible to translate into a Western language in a strictly literal way. For this reason, many translations are either too loosely interpretive or are too overloaded with notes, thereby losing the clarity of the terse poetry found in the original Chinese. The extraordinary strength of Sam Hamill’s translation is that it has captured the poetry of Lao Tzu’s original without sacrificing the resonance of the text’s many meanings and possible interpretations. The result is a beautiful and deeply meditative rendering, one that is a delight to read over and over again. Accompanying Sam Hamill’s translation are seventeen Chinese characters brushed by one of the great masters of calligraphy, Kazuaki Tanahashi. Hamill provides a comment for each character, giving the reader a fuller sense of the richness of the original text and insight into the process of translation itself.
£16.80
Shambhala Publications Inc Essential Gnostic Scriptures: Texts of Luminous Wisdom from the Ancient and Medieval Worlds?Including the Gospels of Thomas, Judas, and Mary Magdalene
£20.80
Lighthouse Publishing Of God and His Creatures
£20.69
Royal Hill Press Battle for the Firstborn
£20.54
Laudato Si Laudate Deum
£15.06
Engage Books The City of God (Royal Collector's Edition) (Case Laminate Hardcover with Jacket)
Book SynopsisThe City of God is a book of Christian philosophy presenting human history as a conflict between what Augustine calls the Earthly City and the City of God-a conflict that is destined to end in victory for the latter. The City of God is marked by people who forego earthly pleasure to dedicate themselves to the eternal truths of God, now revealed fully in the Christian faith. The Earthly City, on the other hand, consists of people who have immersed themselves in the cares and pleasures of the present, passing world.The City of God was written in response to allegations that Christianity brought about the decline of Rome. It is considered one of Augustine''s most important works, standing alongside The Confessions, The Enchiridion, On Christian Doctrine, and On the Trinity. As a work of one of the most influential Church Fathers, The City of God is a cornerstone of Western thought, presenting many profound questions of theology, such as the suffering of the righteous, the existence of evil, the conflict between free will and divine omniscience, and the doctrine of original sin.This case laminate collector''s edition includes a Victorian inspired dust-jacket.
£39.95
Equinox Publishing Ltd Iconic Books and Texts: 2015
Book SynopsisImages of books appear in art, advertising and commercial logos to symbolize learning, knowledge and wisdom. In religious and secular rituals around the globe, people carry, show, wave, touch and kiss books and other texts, as well as read them. Such images and rituals utilize the iconic dimension of texts. This volume is the first comprehensive survey of iconic books and texts. It traces their development and influence from ancient to modern times and compares their roles in multiple cultures and religious traditions. The twenty-two essays presented here are original, cutting-edge contributions to this new academic field, and will appeal to students and scholars across the study of religions, literature, book history, archives and libraries.Trade ReviewTogether the 22 essays in this volume creatively and effectively draw together different historical epochs, varied religious and cultural traditions and ritual practices, and diverse scholarly methodologies to create a finely woven tapestry depicting the enduring, transcultural, and mutually supportive significances of iconic books and texts. In addition to giving these previously published essays a wider audience, this collection will help foster meaningful cross-disciplinary conversation between readers interested in al aspects of the history of the book.Table of ContentsIntroduction James W. Watts I. Categorizing Iconic Books1. The Three Dimensions of Scriptures James W. Watts 2. "Winged Words": Scriptures and Classics as Iconic Texts William A. Graham, Harvard University 3. Talking about "Iconic Books" in the Terminology of Book History Deirdre C. Stam, Long Island University II. Images and Texts4. The Iconic Book: The Image of the Bible in Early Christian Rituals Dorina Miller Parmenter, Spalding University, Louisville, KY 5. Images to be Read and Words to be Seen: The Iconic Role of the Early Medieval Book Michelle P. Brown, School of Advanced Study, University of London 6. Looking at Words: The Iconicity of the Page S. Brent Plate, Hamilton College, Clinton, NY 7. Between the Textual and the Visual: Borderlines of Late Antique Book Iconicity Zeev Elitzur, Israel Center for Excellence through Education, Jerusalem 8. It Is What It Is (Or Is It?): Further Reflections on the Buddhist Representation of Manuscripts Jacob Kinnard, Iliff School of Theology, Denver 9. The Tell-Tale Iconic Book M. Patrick Graham, Emory University III. Materials and Markets10. Mus h af and the Material Boundaries of the Qur'an Natalia K. Suit, University of North Carolina (PhD candidate) 11. The End of the Word as We Know It: The Cultural Iconicity of the Bible in the Twilight of Print Culture Timothy Beal, Case Western Reserve University 12. Iconic Books from Below: The Christian Bible and the Discourse of Duct Tape Dorina Miller Parmenter 13. Be-Witching Scripture: The Book of Shadows as Scripture within Wicca/Neopagan Witchcraft Shawn Loner, Syracuse University (PhD candidate) IV. Book Rituals14. Engaging with the Guru: Sikh Beliefs and Practices of Guru Granth Sahib Kristina Myrvold, Linnaeus University, Sweden 15. A Birthday Party for a Sacred Text: The Gita Jayanti and the Embodiment of God as the Book and the Book as God Joanne Punzo Waghorne, Syracuse University 16. Possession and Repetition: Ways in which Korean Lay Buddhists Appropriate Scriptures Yohan Yoo, Seoul National University 17. The Bible in British Folklore Brian Malley, University of Michigan V. Power and Scholarship18. The Pride and Prejudice of the Western World: Canonic Memory, Great Books and Archive Fever Karl Ivan Solibakke, Syracuse University 19. Indigenous "Texts" of Inhabiting the Land: George Washington's Wampum Belt and the Canandaigua Treaty Philip P. Arnold, Syracuse University 20. The Gospels as Imperialized Sites of Memory in Late Ancient Christianity Jason T. Larson, The Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, CT 21. Possessing the Iconic Book: Ben Sira as Case Study Claudia V. Camp, Texas Christian University 22. Ancient Iconic Texts and Scholarly Expertise James W. Watts
£24.95
Grosvenor House Publishing Ltd The Songs of Ascent Psalms 120 134
£11.07
Oneworld Publications The Buddhist Path to Awakening
Book SynopsisThis comprehensive study draws exhaustively on a wide range of sources both primary and secondary, and in particular the Pali texts, to offer an authoritative study of the "thirty-seven conditions that contribute to awakening". This classic set of Buddhist teachings is examined both collectively and individually, thus revealing how early Buddhist thinkers understood the process of spiritual practice by which ordinary consciousness is transformed in the mystic mind. Sensitive, conscientious, and featuring full notes and extensive bibliography, this text will be appreciated by scholars and students alike.Trade Review"It should be read by everyone concerned with Buddhist thought, in whatever school or period." * Journal of the American Oriental Society *"Certain to become the definitive work on the subject." * Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society *"A very thorough study of the Abhidhamma texts, the complicated knots of which he unravels with great skill… An important contribution to the study of the Buddhist path to awakening." J. W. de Jong * Indo-Iranian Journal *Table of ContentsList of Tables Preface Preface to the Second Edition Introduction PART ONE - THE SEVEN SETS INDIVIDUALLY I. The Establishing of Mindfulness 2. The Right Endeavours 3. The Bases of Success 4. The Faculties and Powers 5. Factors of Awakening 6. The Noble Eightfold Path PART TWO - THE SEVEN SETS COLLECTIVELY 7. The Seven Sets in the Nikayas 8. The Seven Sets Expanded 9. Dhammas that Contribute to Awakening 10. The Seven Sets in the Abhidhamma Conclusion Appendix Glossary Abbreviations Bibliography Index
£32.00
Liverpool University Press A Tree of Life: Diversity, Flexibility and Creativity in Jewish Law [Second Edition]
Book SynopsisThis study of the Jewish legal system (the Halakhah) demonstrates that the law embraces every corner of life.Trade Review'Rabbi Louis Jacobs is well known as a highly distinguished liberal interpreter of Judaism. Many of his works ... are immediately accessible to the general reader, but his interpretation is deeply rooted in scholarly study of the rabbinic writings, sources which also inspire "conservative" expressions of a Judaism markedly different from his own ... The author makes his point in a fascinating way ... Vivid light is cast on Jewish-Christian relations among other issues ... Jacobs's book is a fund of valuable information, but its argument is also a signal instance of the attachment to tradition embraced with a rational integrity.' William Horbury, Expository Times REVIEWS OF THE SECOND EDITION 'It raises questions that still await an adequate response for resolution from the Orthodox authorities.' Miri Freud-Kandel, Jerusalem Post 'Louis Jacobs demonstrates a profound scholarship in the second edition of this important work. The breadth of source and the volume of analysis are truly extraordinary.' Reuven Livingstone, Jewish Chronicle 'One of the few works on the nature and development of Jewish law written from a Conservative point of view, and it can be seen as a classic" ... Jacobs succeeds in an admirable way in his self-imposed task of developing a theory of halakhic change for those who are loyal to the halakhic traditions and yet accept modern values", a task which will probably continue to occupy Conservative and Orthodox thinkers for generations to come.' Catherine Hezser, Journal of Law and ReligionTable of ContentsIntroduction to the Second Edition Introduction: Halakhah and Aggadah The Talmud, Source of the Halakhah The Spirit of the Halakhah Exemptions and Extensions The Influence of Philosophy The Influence of Mysticism and Kabbalah Hasidism and Halakhah Responses to the Gentile World Halakhah and Sectarianism Halakhic Responses to Social Changes: General Principles Halakhic Responses to Social Changes: Further Examples New Inventions and Discoveries and the Halakhah Halakhah and Ethics Halakhah and Social Conduct (Derekh Erets) Halakhah and Psychology Halakhah and Minhag: The Customs of the People as Law Towards a Non-Fundamentalist Halakhah Appendix A: The Literary Form of the Halakhah Appendix B: The Problem of the Mamzer Note on Proper Names and Transliteration Note on Talmudic and Halakhic Sources Bibliography Index of Biblical, Mishnaic, and Talmudic References General Index
£20.85
Stewed Rhubarb Press The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven: 10th Anniversary Edition
£10.44
Sheffield Phoenix Press Ltd Song of Songs in Sense Sound and Space
£70.00
