Worship, rites, ceremonies and rituals Books

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Lieberman Open Orthodox Haggadah (the Orlofsky Edition) addresses some of the burning issues of our times through the lens of the rituals and texts of the Seder night. As we recognise that in every generation we are to seek liberation and freedom, this Haggadah demonstrates an activism that stems from -- rather than being stymied by -- our ancient traditions. Open Orthodoxy is a stream of Orthodoxy that combines a strict adherence to Jewish law with an openness and flexibility on certain contemporary issues. With contributions from prominent and original thinkers and an introduction to the term Open Orthodoxy from Rabbi Avi Weiss, this Haggadah discusses some of these cutting-edge concerns -- such as women as clergy within Orthodoxy (ie: the Maharat phenomenon), the agunah crisis, and the interaction between Jews and Gentiles.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe interrelationship of religion and tourism has barely been touched upon in scholarly research. This book aims to present and analyze this relationship from sociological, economic and anthropological perspectives. It identifies numerous contemporary issues worthy of attention and research.Table of ContentsChapter headings: Acknowledgements. Preface. Spiritual Life and Leisure Time. Religion as a Cause and Result of Migrations. Tourism -- A Form of Seasonal Migration. The Motivation of Tourist Journeys. Religious Feelings and Needs as Motives For Tourist Migrations. Religious Contents in Tourism. Homo Turisticus Religiosus. Tourism Theorists. The Theological View of Tourism. Pilgrimage -- Common to all Religions. The Tourististic Determinants of Pilgrimages. Medugorje -- A Tourism Case. Tourism in the Institutionalized Forms of the Church. The Economic Repercussions of Religious Tourism. Future Scenarios.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAre the richness and diversity of rituals and celebrations in South Asia unique? Can we speak of a homo ritualis when it comes to India or Hinduism? Are Indians or Hindus more involved in rituals than other people? If so, what makes them special? Homo Ritualis is the first book to present a Hindu theory of rituals. Based on extensive textual studies and field-work in Nepal and India, Axel Michaels argues that ritual is a distinctive way of acting, which, as in the theater, can be distinguished from other forms of action. The book analyzes ritual in these cultural-specific and religious contexts, taking into account how indigenous terms and theories affect and contribute to current ritual theory. It describes and investigates various forms of Hindu rituals and festivals, such as life-cycle rituals, the Vedic sacrifice, vows processions, and the worship of deities (puja). It also examines conceptual components of (Hindu) rituals such as framing, formality, modality, and theories of meaniTrade ReviewMichaels's book is a positive contribution to ritual studies and to the study of Hindu ritual within the larger conversation of ritual theory. The ethno-Indological approach taken by Michaels is, furthermore, an innovative and rewarding method for the study of Hindu ritual, particularly as these two fieldsethnography and Indologyhave sometimes been seen as at odds with each other. * Adam Newman, Reading Religion *Michaels's key contributions are twofold: first, he offers a unifying theory of the complex structure and variety of South Asian ritual performances in their own hermeneutical terms, and second he demonstrates that a theoretically sophisticated understanding of such rituals can make significant contributions to the field of ritual studies. * Jarrod Whitaker, Journal of Religion *Table of ContentsPreface ; Acknowledgements ; Abbreviations ; Plates and Figures ; Pronunciation of Indian Words ; Introduction ; Part I: Framing ; 1. The Beginning of Rituals ; 1.1 The Solemn Intention (samkalpa) ; 1.2 Greeting and Ritualized Greeting (namaskara) ; Conclusion ; Part II: Formality ; 2. Repetitive Rules (vidhi) ; 2.1 The Grammar of Rituals ; 2.2 A Preliminary "Grammar" of Newar Life-cycle Rituals ; 2.3 Rituals in Handbooks (paddhati) ; 3. Agency in Ritual ; 3.1 Ritual Competency (adhikara) ; 3.2 Atonements for Ritual Mishaps (prayascitta) ; 3.3 The Comic Side of Ritual Formality ; 4. Performed and Played Rituals (lila) ; 4.1 Music and Ritual Music ; 4.2 Dance and Ritual Dance ; 4.3 Emotions and Ritual Emotions ; Conclusion ; Part III: Modality ; 5. Individualized and Domestic Rituals (samskara) ; 5.1 The Boy's Initiation ; 5.2 The Girl's Initiation ; 5.3 The Marriage ; 5.4 Death Rituals and Redemption ; 6. Collective and Public Rituals ; 6.1 Temple Festivals (utsava) ; 6.2 Vows (vrata) ; 6.3 Pilgrimages and Processions (yatra) ; 7. Transcendence in Rituals ; 7.1 The Vedic Sacrifice (yajna) ; 7.2 The Fire Sacrifice (homa) ; 7.3 Worship and Prayer (puja) ; 7.4 E-darshan and Cyber-puja ; Conclusion ; Part IV: Meaning ; 8. Meaning and Function ; 8.1 The Cultural Studies Approach ; 8.2 The Cognitive Sciences approach ; 9. The Purvamimamsa Theory of Ritual Efficacy ; Conclusion ; Part V: The Hindu Path of Ritual-Summary ; Appendix: Automatic Detection of Ritual Structures ; Glossary ; References

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is a collection of essays by leading American and European scholars. Its purpose is to remedy the tendency among scholars working in Greek Religion to ignore the evidence for what have traditionally been called magical practices in ancient Greece. Because this neglect seems to arrive from adherence to a preconceived notion about a clear dichotomy between magical and religious ritual, the editors focus on the relationship between these two areas.Trade ReviewThis excellent and thought-provoking book will be indispensable to all who study Greek religion. It draws on a wealth of illuminating primary material and the bibliographies are a model of completeness. * Simon Pulleyn, Merton College, Oxford, The Classical Review, Vol. XLII, '92 *This useful and unusual work is highly technical and is aimed at a scholarly, not a general, audience ... highly recommended reading for classicists and students of religion and classical antiquity. * James E. Seaver, University of Kansas, History, Summer 1992 *

Read more less

Book SynopsisAlthough most historical and contemporary religions are governed by men, there are, scattered throughout the world, a handful of well-documented religions led by women. Most of these are marginal, subordinate, or secondary religions in the societies in which they are located. The one known exception to this rule is the indigenous religion of Okinawa, where women lead the official mainstream religion of the society. In this fieldwork-based study, Susan Sered provides the first in-depth look at this unique religious tradition, exploring the intersection between religion and gender. In addition to providing important information on this remarkable and little-studied group, this book helps to overturn our mostly unexamined assumptions that male dominance of the religious sphere is universal, axiomatic, and necessary.Table of ContentsIntroduction Prologue: Okinawan History, Henza Village, and `nthodology Part I: Divine Dis-order 1: Divine Dis-order: On Social Planes 2: Divine Dis-order: On Cosmological Planes Part II: Questions of Gender 3: Gender in an Egalitarian Society 4: Gender Separation and Social Integration 5: Women and Men and Ritual Part III: Sitting in the Seat of the Gods 6: Priestesses and Ritual: Feeding the Kami-sama 7: Divine Dis-order: Signs, Symptoms, and Sitting in the Right Seat 8: Born to Be Kami-sama Part IV: Questions of Power 9: The Problematics of Power 10: Priestesses, Yuta, and Ogami People Part V: Deconstructing Gender 11: Un-gendering Religious Discourse 12: Gender Bending(?) and Ritual Deconstruction Conclusion: Religion, Power, and the Sanctification of Gender Appendixes: 1. Glossary of Japanese and Okinawan Words 2. Dramatis Personae Notes References Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book examines the ways in which two distinct biblical conceptions of impurity-ritual and moral-were interpreted in the Hebrew Bible, the Dead Sea Scrolls, rabbinic literature, and the New Testament. In examining the evolution of ancient Jewish attitudes towards sin and defilement, Klawans sheds light on a fascinating but previously neglected topic.Trade Review"Klawans has offered some very helpful illumination, particularly to the study of the New Testament. The clarity and simplicity of his thought is very attractive, and throws light into some very obscure corners of ancient thought." --Journal of Theological Studies"Jonathan Klawans makes an important contribution to scholarship on ancient Judaism by providing a fresh look at the relationship between sin and impurity. Klawans writes well; he is concise, well-organized, and usually very clear. I recommend this book for all professors or students of ancient Judaism or early Christianity."--Review of Biblical Literature"This volume makes a major contribution to the study of Ancient Judaism and Christianity. Professor Klawans has disentangled some confusing threads of ancient thinking about purity and has revealed a complex, nuanced array of perspectives to be found in our documentation. Those who wish to homogenize ancient Jewish thinking on the subject will hence forth be without excuse."--Anglican Theological Review

Read more less

Book SynopsisSocial scientists sometimes seem not to know what to do with religion. In the first century of sociologys history as a discipline, the reigning concern was explaining the emergence of the modern world, and that brought with it an expectation that religion would simply fade from the scene as societies became diverse, complex, and enlightened. As the century approached its end, however, a variety of global phenomena remained dramatically unexplained by these theories. Among the leading contenders for explanatory power to emerge at this time were rational choice theories of religious behavior. Researchers who have spent time in the field, observing religious groups and interviewing practitioners, however, have questioned the sufficiency of these market models. Studies abound that describe thriving religious phenomena that fit neither the old secularization paradigm nor the equations predicting vitality only among organizational entrepreneurs with strict orthodoxies. In this collection of Trade ReviewThis book plots a new agenda for understanding religion in contemporary society. Based on case studies in both Europe and the United States, the poverty of rational-choice explanations of religion is exposed, along with the inadequacy of charting religious change by surveying beliefs and patterns of institutional affiliation. Pluralism may challenge traditional perceptions of religion, but it certainly has not led to the demise religion if one examines what people do in everyday life. This is a wonderful collection of essays, framed by Ammerman's brilliant opening and closing chapters. * Donald E. Miller, Professor of Religion and Executive Director of the Center for Religion and Civic Culture, University of Southern California *

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis collection is ideal for courses in the theology and spirituality of marriage. The topics covered include marriage in its historical context; the meanings and transitions of marriage; attitudes towards sexuality; communication and conflict, and divorce and annulment.Trade ReviewPraise for the previous edition: "One of the finest resources on the market. The editors have selected nine of the most important areas of discussion for this topic, and the authors are the best in the field."--Dawn M. Nothwehr, Catholic Theological Union "Excellent source for undergraduate students and other readers interested in marriage issues; readable and straightforward."--Ines A. Murzaku, Seton Hall University "An excellent collection of essays on the history, meaning, and theology of marriage. It should be required for seminars in theology of marriage and courses in pre-marital/marital counseling."--Neil D. Anderson, Asbury College "Excellent source for undergraduate students and other readers interested in marriage issues; readable and straightforward."--Ines A. Murzaku, Seton Hall University Praise for the previous edition: "One of the finest resources on the market. The editors have selected nine of the most important areas of discussion for this topic, and the authors are the best in the field."--Dawn M. Nothwehr, Catholic Theological Union "Excellent source for undergraduate students and other readers interested in marriage issues; readable and straightforward."--Ines A. Murzaku, Seton Hall University "An excellent collection of essays on the history, meaning, and theology of marriage. It should be required for seminars in theology of marriage and courses in pre-marital/marital counseling."--Neil D. Anderson, Asbury College "A superb collection of readings that offers students a good background and thoughtful challenges."-Kathy Finley, Gonzaga UniversityTable of Contents* New to this edition Acknowledgments Introduction Part One: Marriage in Historical Perspective 1: Michael G. Lawler: Marriage in the Bible 2: Theodore Mackin, S.J.: The Primitive Christian Understanding of Marriage 3: Joseph Martos: Marriage: A Historical Survey Part Two: Contemporary Perspectives on the Theology of Marriage 4: Bernard Cooke: Christian Marriage: Basic Sacrament * 5: Julie McCarty: "Nuptial Pentecost": Theological Reflections on the Presence and Action of the Holy Spirit in Christian Marriage Part Three: Marriage: Meanings and Transitions 6: Jo McGowan: Marriage versus Living Together 7: NCCB Marriage and Family Committee: Marriage Preparation and Cohabiting Couples: Information Report * 8: Kieran Scott: Cohabitation and Marriage as a Life-Process 9: Evelyn Eaton Whitehead and James D. Whitehead: The Meaning of Marriage * 10: Edward C. Vacek: The Meaning of Marriage: Of Two Minds * 11: Stephen J. Pope: Same-Sex Marriage: Threat or Aspiration? * 12: Evelyn Eaton Whitehead and James D. Whitehead: Marriage Becomes a Journey Part Four: Attitudes toward Sexuality * 13: Sidney Callahan: Sex Matters: The Riches of the Catholic Sexual Tradition 14: Peter Marin: A Revolution's Broken Promises 15: Lawrence Stone: Passionate Attachments in the West in Historical Perspective 16: William F. May: Four Mischievous Theories of Sex: Demonic, Divine, Casual, and Nuisance 17: Thomas Lickona: The Neglected Heart: The Emotional Dangers of Premature Sexual Involvement * 18: Jason King and Donna Freitas: Sex, Time, and Meaning: A Theology of Dating 19: Robert A. Johnson: Beyond Romance to Human Love 20: Pope John Paul II: The Transmission of Life Part Five: Communication, Conflict, and Change * 21: Allen Wheelis: How People Change 22: Deborah Tannen: "Put Down That Paper and Talk to Me!": Rapport-Talk and Report-Talk 23: Evelyn Eaton Whitehead and James D. Whitehead: Communication and Conflict 24: Thomas N. Hart and Kathleen Fischer Hart: Communication 25: Lenore E. Walker: The Battered Woman: Myths and Reality 26: Connell Cowan and Melvin Kinder: Men Who Make Women Want to Scream * 27: Zoë Wolff: Going to the Therapist En Route to the Altar * Part Six: Issues Impacting Marriage * 28: Benedict Carey: Watching New Love as it Sears the Brain * 29: Rebecca Mead: You're Getting Married: The Wal-Martization of the Bridal Business * 30: Michael Warren: Money, Marriage, and Making a Future: The Letter to Emily Part Seven: Commitment, Divorce, and Annulment 31: Bernard Cooke: What God Has Joined Together. . . 32: Margaret Farley: The Meaning of Commitment 33: Patrick R. Lagges: Annulment: The Process and Its Meaning 34: James J. Young: Remarried Catholics: Searching for Church Belonging * 35: Michael G. Lawler: Divorce and Remarriage in the Catholic Church: Ten Theses 36: Judith S. Wallerstein: Children after Divorce: Wounds That Don't Heal Part Eight: Spirituality of Marriage 37: Evelyn Eaton Whitehead and James D. Whitehead: Spirituality and Lifestyle * 38: Herbert Anderson: Faithful Becoming: Forming Families in the Art of Paradoxical Living in a Fragmented and Pluralistic World Part Nine: Religious Traditions: Perspectives on Marriage 39: Blu Greenberg: Marriage in the Jewish Tradition 40: Wilson Yates: The Protestant View of Marriage 41: Lois Lamya Ibsen al Faruqi: Marriage in Islam

Read more less

Book SynopsisRitual is usually understood as pointing to some essence beyond the ritual act itself. This ambitious interdisciplinary study offers a convincing challenge to this understanding. The authors begin by seeking to explain how the conventional idea arose in the first place. They locate its origin in a post-Protestant and post-Enlightenment vision of ritual action that emphasizes rituals as merely external signs of interior states. This approach, say the authors, is part of a far larger way of relating to the self and to the world, which they label sincerity. But ritual, they say, is the very opposite of sincerity because it consists of stylized, repetitive interactions that construct an as if world, a world of role, propriety, play, and even fantasy, rather than pointing to the world as it actually is. In fact, that is ritual''s great contribution. Ritual modes of behavior make a shared social world possible by helping to navigate between diverse people and groups, rather than attempting to transcend and efface boundaries. After setting forth this argument, the authors go on to build on it by showing how sincerity and ritual are stand-ins for two very different ways of being in the world. Although both modes are always present to some degree, modernity has deeply privileged sincerity and authenticity. And, they say, we are now paying a heavy price for this extreme and often totalizing projection of personality in contemporary political life.Trade Reviewa superb defence of recourse to ritual propriety and doing the right thing, as against the embarrassing self-indulgences of modern sincerity and authenticity. * David Martin, Times Literary Supplement *exudes a breadth of expertise and experience rooted in a long and fruitful multidisciplinary conversation * Greg Schmidt Goering, Journal of the American Academy Religion *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION; AFTERWARD; REFERENCES CITED

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis remarkable book is the crowning achievement of the great scholar of Hinduism, D. Dennis Hudson. Although Hudson died without completing it, the work has been edited and brought to fruition by editor Margaret Case. The book is a finely detailed study of a renowned Tamil Hindu temple, the Vaikuntha Perumal (ca. 770 C.E.). Hudson uses this temple as an illustration of one major current and historical stage in South Indian Vaisnava religion. He offers a sustained reading of the temple as a coherent, organized, minutely conceptualized mandala, whose code can be cracked by close analysis of the temple iconography and structure, in the light of major literary and religious texts. Hudson takes the reader step by step on a tour of the temple, moving from the bottom level up, from one sculpted panel to the next. His primary thesis is that the temple itself constitutes a summa theologica for the Bhagavata tradition centered on Krishna as it had developed through the eighth century-by which time this tradition was already at least a thousand years old and had spread widely across South Asia and into Southeast Asia. He argues that, through its full expression of the theology and religious practices of this tradition, the temple offers a crucial hermeneutical key for understanding other temples and texts of the Bhagavata religion.Trade ReviewDennis Hudson's multidimensional 'decoding' of the 'Emperor's Palace' temple of Lord Vishnu in Kanchipuram is remarkable. He enables us to visualize a three-dimensional vision of God and God's cosmic body in which the central square of the temple symbolizes horizontally a cosmic day and night, and the four levels represent vertically God's transformations in creation and redemption... Dennis Hudson's crowning achievement, almost completed before his death, has been skillfully edited by Margaret Case. It is a gift to his many friends and to all readers who seek a deeper level of understanding of a central Hindu tradition of theology and worship. * John B. Carman, author of The Theology of Ramanuja: An Essay in Interreligious Understanding and Majesty and Meekness: A Comparative Study of Contrast and Harmony in the Concept of God *Table of ContentsEditor's Note: Margaret H. Case ; List of Illustrations ; Abbreviations ; Introduction: The Discovery ; Part I: The Approach to the Vishnu-house ; 1. The Significance of the Temple ; 2. Six Concepts ; 3. The Poem ; 4. The Emperor's Career Portrayed on the Prakara Wall ; Part II The Secret Dimension of the Vishnu-house ; 5. The Temple Mandala and the Bottom-Floor Sanctum ; 6. The Middle-Floor Sanctum: The Sculpted Program of the Northern Path ; 7. Northern Panels of the Northern Path: Transforming Power ; 8. Northern Panels of the Northern Path: Fortifying Omniscience ; 9. The Middle-Floor Sanctum: The Sculpted Program of the Southern Path ; 10. The Southern Panels of the Southern Path: "The Path of the Southern Doctrine" ; Part III The Public Dimension of the Vishnu-house ; 11. The Vimana Panels on the Western Side ; 12. The Panels on the Ardhamandapa or Porch ; 13. The Vimana Panels on the Northern Side ; 14. The Vimana Panels on the Eastern Side ; Appendix 1. Who Are the Bhagavatas? ; Appendix 2. Vasudeva's Path in the Satvata-samhita ; Appendix 3. Prithu, the People's Indra ; Appendix 4. Mantras in the Jayakhya-samhita ; Appendix 5. Periya Tirumoli 2.9 ; Notes ; Glossary ; Bibliography ; Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisHans Penner takes a new look at the classic stories of the life of the Buddha. In the first part of the book, he presents a full account of these stories, drawn from various texts of Theravada Buddhism, the Buddhism of South and Southeast Asia. Penner allots one chapter to each of the major milestones in Buddha''s life, with titles such as: Birth and Early Life, Flight from the Palace, Enlightenment and Liberation, Last Watch and Funeral. In the process, he brings to the fore dimensions of the myth that have been largely ignored by western scholarship. In Part II, Penner offers his own original interpretations of the legends. He takes issue with Max Weber''s assertion that Buddhism is an other-worldly ascetic religion, a point of view that remains dominant in the received tradition and in most contemporary studies of Buddhism. His central thesis is that the householder is a necessary element in Buddhism and that the giving of gifts, which creates merit and presupposes the doctrine of kTrade ReviewPenner succeeds in presenting the Buddha's story in a way that involves the reader viscerally. * Buddhadharma *Table of ContentsPART I; INTRODUCTION TO PART I; PART II; INTRODUCTION TO PART II; NOTES; BIBLIOGRAPHY; INDEX

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Gaudiya Vaisnava movement is one of the most vibrant religious groups in all of South Asia. Unlike most devotional communities that flourished in 15th-, 16th-, and 17th-century Bengal, however, the group had no formal founder. Today its devotees are uniform in their devotion to the historical figure of Krishna Caitanya (1486-1533), whom they believe to be not just Krishna incarnate, but Radha and Krishna fused into a single androgynous form. But Caitanya neither founded the community that coalesced around him nor named a successor. Tony Stewart seeks to discover how, with no central leadership, no institutional authority, and no geographic center, a religious community nevertheless comes to successfully define itself, fix its canon and flourish. He finds the answer in the brilliant hagiographical exercise in Sanskrit and Bengali titled the Caitanya Caritamrita (CC) of Krishnadasa Kaviraja. Written about 75 years after Caitanya''s passing, the CC became the proof text of the community. The reason it was so powerful, says Stewart, lies in its deployment of a series of sophisticated rhetorical strategies to persuade its readers without appearing to do so, seeming to defer the arrogated authority to Caitanya himself. Although the CC started as a hagiography like any other, an index to what was proper and good in ritual and belief, it became a sign pointing the way to salvation, and then an icon, a metonym of the tradition itself, so much so that manuscripts dating from the earliest times can now be found physically worshiped on altars in temples in Bengal.Trade Reviewa comprehensive account of Krsnadasa Kaviraja's construction of the definitive life of the founder of Gaudiya ... The many facets of the Caitanya movement are presented with vivacity and masterly scholarship * CHOICE *Table of ContentsABBREVIATIONS TRANSLITERATION DATING SYSTEMS; PREFACE: RECONSTRUCTING THE LIFE OF A TEXT; 1. FACING THE PERIL OF DISINTEGRATION; 4. THE ASCENDENCY OF THE EROTIC; 5. HIERARCHIZING THEOLOGIES, SANCTIONING NEW PRACTICES; WORKS CONSULTED I. HAGIOGRAPHIES OF K?I?H?A CAITANYA II. VAI??AVA AND SAHAJIY? TEXTS CITED; III. MONOGRAPHS AND STUDIES CITED IV. ARTICLES CITED INDEX

Read more less

Book SynopsisRitual is one of the most pervasive religious phenomena in the Tibetan cultural world. Despite its ubiquity and importance to Tibetan cultural life, however, only in recent years has Tibetan ritual been given the attention it deserves. This is the first scholarly collection to focus on this important subject. Unique in its historical, geographical and disciplinary breadth, this book brings together eleven essays by an international cast of scholars working on ritual texts, institutions and practices in the greater Tibetan cultural world - Tibet, Nepal, Bhutan, and Mongolia. While most of the chapters focus on Buddhism, two deal with ritual in Tibet''s indigenous Bon religion. All of the essays are original to this volume. An extensive introduction by the editor provides a broad overview of Tibetan ritual and contextualizes the chapters within the field of Buddhist and Tibetan studies. The book should find use in advanced undergraduate courses and graduate seminars on Tibetan religion. Trade ReviewPresents an excellent collection of essays that show how ritual is an integral part of everyday life in Tibet. * Buddhadharma *Table of ContentsINTRODUCTION - JOSE IGNACIO CABEZON; BIBLIOGRAPHY; INDEX

Read more less

Book SynopsisAncient Jewish sacrifice has long been misunderstood. Some find in sacrifice the key to the mysterious and violent origins of human culture. Others see these cultic rituals as merely the fossilized vestiges of primitive superstition. Some believe that ancient Jewish sacrifice was doomed from the start, destined to be replaced by the Christian eucharist. Others think that the temple was fated to be superseded by the synagogue. In Purity, Sacrifice, and the Temple Jonathan Klawans demonstrates that these supersessionist ideologies have prevented scholars from recognizing the Jerusalem temple as a powerful source of meaning and symbolism to the ancient Jews who worshiped there. Klawans exposes and counters such ideologies by reviewing the theoretical literature on sacrifice and taking a fresh look at a broad range of evidence concerning ancient Jewish attitudes toward the temple and its sacrificial cult. The first step toward reaching a more balanced view is to integrate the study of sacTrade ReviewDrawing on the fields of anthropology and ritual studies, Klawans unearths the powerful symbolism of the ancient Jewish sacrificial cult. He shows that sacrifice was a spiritually rich and meaningful activity illuminated by two 'organizing principles' central to the priestly traditions of the Bible: the desire to imitate God and the concern to attract and maintain God's presence within the community. In so doing, Klawans disables all previous evolutionist (and more or less hostile) accounts of ancient Jewish sacrifice as a primitive and spiritually empty behavior that was rejected and superseded by the eucharist in Christianity or prayer in rabbinic Judaism. His fresh readings of central New Testament and rabbinic texts challenge foundational assumptions and long-cherished prejudices. * Christine E. Hayes, author of Gentile Impurities and Jewish Identities: Intermarriage and Conversion from the Bible to the Talmud *Table of ContentsPART I: PURITY AND SACRIFICE IN BIBLICAL ISRAEL ; PART II: THE SECOND TEMPLE, SYMBOLISM, AND SUPERSESSIONISM ; SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

Read more less

a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn introduction to the principal forms and orders of Western liturgy during this period, explaining their nature and basic historical origin and presenting the contents and orders of principal services as well as additional and special forms of worship.Trade Review`It presents a clear and lucid introduction to the terminology, structure and content of the Wetern liturgies.' Ecclesiastical History`This is the kind of book that is difficult to put down once it has been started. John Harper writes in an easy style but it does not mask the great love and impeccable research which has gone into producing such an exciting book.' Magazine of the Guild of Church Musicians`Of particular value to the general reader who wishes to understand the context of the medieval and renaissance music that he hears as well as to those with a more practical interest in reconstructing services is The Forms and Orders of Western Liturgy from the Tenth to the Eighteenth Century ... I have nothing but admiration for Harper's skilful account, and those who enjoy early music but who have not had a Catholic or Anglican upbringing will benefit immensely from reading the opening chapters.' Early Music News'This book fulfils a basic need for all who are interested in the liturgy of the early Church, its nature and purpose. This is the kind of book which is difficult to put down once it has been started. John Harper writes in an easy style, but it does not mask the great love and impeccable research which has gone into producing such an exciting book. Oxford University Press has priced this book well within the reach of those who will wish to add it to their library. It is a must for all church musicians and - with the Christmas season to hand - what more useful gift could be found?' John Ewington'Professor Harper's book provides an exceptionally clear and comprehensive account of the sources and structures of virtually all the forms of service of the Western Church. It is an essential work of reference for all serious students of church music and liturgy.' Jill Pinnock, Theological Book Review, May 1992 (vol. 4 no. 3)'this is a useful book' Richard M. Nardone, Seton Hall University, The Catholic Historical Review, April 1993'a succinct and clearly organized introduction to the main forms of the Roman Latin rite and its Anglican offspring ... It will certainly prove a helpful volume for those trying to come to grips with ... a modern edition or facsimile of a medieval book ... Availability in paperback form places the results within reach of the readership for which the volume was designed, and I hope ample use will be made of it.' David Hiley, Universität Regensburg, Notes, June 1993'the additions to the current edition make the work even better than the original' Mark Bighley, CrossAccenta compendious work arisen out of practical experience that will doubtless serve well its intended purpose * Anthony Ward, SM, Ephemerides Liturgicae 106 (1992) *Table of ContentsPart I: Liturgy in the Western Church; Part II: Medieval Liturgy; Part III: After the Reformation; Part IV: Using Liturgical Sources; Appendices

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis study of the high priesthood in ancient Israel, from the earliest local chief priests in the pre-monarchic period down to the Hasmonaean priest-kings in the first century BCE, discusses material from the Old Testament and Apocrypha, together with contemporary documents and coins.Trade ReviewA timely reminder that traditional methods of scholarship have much to offer ... This mature work well repays a careful reading * Journal for the Study of the Old Testament *

Read more less

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

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe primary aim of this book is to explore the contradiction between widely shared beliefs in the USA about racial inclusiveness and equal opportunity for all and the fact that most churches are racially homogeneous and do not include people with disabilities. To address the problem Mary McClintock Fulkerson explores the practices of an interracial church (United Methodist) that includes people with disabilities. The analysis focuses on those activities which create opportunities for people to experience those who are `different'' as equal in ways that diminish both obliviousness to the other and fear of the other. In contrast with theology''s typical focus on the beliefs of Christians, this project offers a theory of practices and place that foregrounds the instinctual reactions and communications that shape all groups. The effect is to broaden the academic field of theology through the benefits of ethnographic research and postmodern place theory.Trade Reviewa very insightful and creative book * Abigail Rian Evans, Journal of SJT *This path-breaking book traces theology as embodied in the midst of congregational life. Among its many contributions is its deep appreciation for practical theology, its wise use of ethnography and place theory, and its honest analysis of the slippage between verbal proclamation and bodily habits. Affective visceral responses of desire and fear, as Mary McClintock Fulkerson powerfully reminds us, shape our theologies more than we realize or intend. * Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore, Vanderbilt University *Places of Redemption uses Good Samaritian Church to help readers better understand identity formation while revealing the angst many people still have regarding race and disability... helpful for those using practical theology in pursuit of social justice through the Gospel. * C.L. Nash, The Edinburgh Review of Theology and Religion *...An outstanding contribution both to congregational studies and to anthropological research into religion. * J.M. Hull Theology *This is a profound contribution to the field of practical theology, with a rich and nuanced discussion of congregational studies and contemporary ecclesiology. Behind the descriptive passages, readers will find depth and density. The reflections on post-modern place theory are refreshing and illuminating, calling into question the identity of the local church...It deserves to be widely read and attentively studied. * Martyn Percy, Church Times *A breath of fresh air, which goes a long way towards providing a real alternative to cerebral or applied theologies that often ignore practices of the faithful in the interests of articulating belief. * Sue Yore, International Journal of Public Theology. *Table of ContentsI. THEOLOGY FROM A PLACE ; 1. Introduction ; 2. Postmodern place: a frame for appearing ; II. THE PRACTICES THAT MAKE PLACE ; 3. Placing Good Samaritan: formation practices ; 4. Performing gospel: worship practices ; 5. Working it out: homemaking practices ; 6. Being biblical: interpretive practices ; III. WHAT KIND OF PLACE? ; 7. Good Samaritan Church: the unity of the place ; 8. A theological reading of place

Read more less

Book SynopsisRobert Frykenberg''s insightful study explores and enhances historical understandings of Christian communities, cultures, and institutions within the Indian world from their beginnings down to the present. As one out of several manifestations of a newly emerging World Christianity, in which Christians of a Post-Christian West are a minority, it has focused upon those trans-cultural interactions within Hindu and Muslim environments which have made Christians in this part of the world distinctive. It seeks to uncover various complexities in the proliferation of Christianity in its many forms and to examine processes by which Christian elements intermingled with indigenous cultures and which resulted in multiple identities, and also left imprints upon various cultures of India. Thomas Christians believe that the Apostle Thomas came to India in 52 A.D./C.E., and that he left seven congregations to carry on the Mission of bringing the Gospel to India. In our day the impulse of this Mission Trade ReviewThe singular merit of this book is that the author does not simply present a history of Christianity in India from the beginning to today. Instead, he elaborates the socio-economic, political and religious impact of Christianity on Indian society and vice versa...This informative, analytical and comprehensive work will contribute to understanding better Christianity in India. * Indunil Janakaratne Kodithuwakku Kankanamalage, Bibliographia Missionaria *[a] well-researched and winsightful book, authored by a highly regarded historian ... Frykenberg's book is truly a great contribution to the exploration of the complicated nature of religion and society in India. * Koji Kawashima, International Journal of Asian Studies *This is a committed book, arising out of lifelong experience and study. * Paul Jenkins, Social Sciences and Missions *Frykenberg's amazing breadth of knowledge brings to life the complexity of India's Christian history ... I heartily recommend this book. * Timothy C. Tennent, Christianity Today *This is the best single-volume history of Christianity in India written so far. It is both genuinely Indo-centric and genuinely ecunemical. * John C. B. Webster, International Bulletin of Missionary Research *Table of ContentsPreface ; 1. Introduction ; 2. Contextualizing Complexity, I: India's Lands, Peoples and Social Structures ; 3. India's Dominant Religious Traditions: Santana and Dar-ul-Islam ; 4. Thomas Christians and the Thomas Tradition ; 5. Pfarangi Catholic Christians and Padroado Christendom ; 6. Evangelical Christians as Missionary Dubashis: Conduits of Cross-Cultural Communication ; 7. India's Raj and Its Political Logic: The Unification of India, A Southern Perspective ; 8. Avarna Christians and Conversion Movements ; 9. Missionaries, Colonialism and Ecclesiastical Dominion ; 10. Indian Christians and Hindu Raj ; 11. Elite Eductaion and Missionaries ; 12. Catholic Renewal and Resurgence ; 13. Trophies of Grace and Their Public Influence ; 14. Adivasi Movements in the North East ; 15. Conclusion and Epilogue ; Bibliography

Read more less

Book SynopsisHoffmeier examines the Wilderness narratives of Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. As director of the North Sinai Archaeological Project, the author has led several excavations that have uncovered important new evidence supporting the Wilderness narratives, including a major New Kingdom fort at Tell el-Borg that was occupied during the Israelite exodus. Hoffmeier employs these archaeological findings to shed new light on the route of the exodus from Egypt. Ancient Israel in Sinai brings the Wilderness tradition to the forefront and makes a case for its authenticity based on solid evidence and intelligent analysis.Trade ReviewEgyptologist and ancient Near Eastern scholar, James K. Hoffmeier, has produced an important work for the ongoing study of Israel's wilderness traditions. It is an excellent example of the integration of archaeology, philology, religion, history and biblical studies by a scholar who has demonstrated over the years his outstanding abilities in all these matters. While it gives an up-to-date accounting of what is known about Israel's wilderness traditions, it makes important contributions to the study of the toponymy and history of ancient Egypt's eastern frontier, as well as that of ancient Sinai. There can be no doubt that this volume will become the standard work in these areas for years to come. * K. Lawson Younger, Jr., co-editor of Mesopotamia and the Bible: Comparative Explorations *'Biblical Scholarship and Egyptology are brought together with uncommon skill in this important study. The book contains a wealth of evidence which is as fascinating as it is well-researched.' * Richard H. Wilkinson, Professor and Director, Egyptian Expedition, The University of Arizona *'As the director of numerous archaeological surveys in North Sinai and current excavations at Tell el-Borg, James Hoffmeier is one of the world's foremost authorities on Egypt's northern border defenses during the New Kingdom (c. 1550-1069 B.C.). Any new work of his will be read with interest by Egyptologists and biblical scholars alike.' -- * Ellen F. Morris, Department of Classics, Ancient History, and Egyptology, University of Wales Swansea *'Hoffmeier furnishes a sophisticated fresh approach to the Biblical Exodus traditions filled with detailed Egyptological background, and utterly indispensable because of its basis in recent, and in many cases as yet unpublished, archaeological data. This is a virtual encyclopedia of the Exodus.' * Baruch Halpern, Chaiken Family Chair in Jewish Studies, Penn State *Table of ContentsForeword by Kenneth A. Kitchen ; Abbreviations ; Chronological Charts ; The Wilderness Tradition ; The Wilderness Tradition and the Historian of Religion ; Sinai: The Great and Terrible Wilderness ; The Geography of the Exodus: Ramesses to the Sea ; The Location of the Re(e)d Sea ; The Mountain of God ; From Egypt to Mt. Sinai: Traveling and Living in the Wilderness ; The Sinai Legislation ; Israel's Desert Sanctuary ; Egyptian Personal Names and Other Egyptian Elements in the Exodus-Wilderness Narratives ; The Wilderness Tradition and the Origin of Israel ; Notes ; Index ; Photo gallery

Read more less

Book SynopsisSacrifice dominated the religious landscape of the ancient Mediterranean world for millennia, but its role and meaning changed dramatically in the fourth and fifth centuries with the rise of Christianity. Daniel Ullucci offers a new explanation of this remarkable transformation, in the process demonstrating the complexity of the concept of sacrifice in Roman, Greek, and Jewish religion. The Christian Rejection of Animal Sacrifice challenges the predominant scholarly model, which posits a connection between so-called critiques of sacrifice in non-Christian Greek, Latin, and Hebrew texts and the Christian rejection of animal sacrifice. According to this model, pre-Christian authors attacked the propriety of animal sacrifice as a religious practice, and Christians responded by replacing animal sacrifice with a pure, ''''spiritual'''' ''worship. This historical construction influences prevailing views of animal sacrifice even today, casting it as barbaric, backward, and primitive despite tTrade ReviewMuch in this book is to be applauded. * Frances Young, Theology Vol. 116 *it must be concluded that Ullucciâs work is a valuable contribution, not only to the study of early Christianity, but also for historians and religious studies scholars more generally. His critique of a giant narrative and his careful approach to the evidence have created a nuanced and diverse picture, and he has met the problems and challenges of teleological reasoning, historicizing evidence, and identifying critical nuances in argumentation in ways that may be inspiring to scholars of various disciplines[...]Ullucciâs study is built around a convincing argument which is lucidly argued and contextualized within a long historiographical tradition, and contributes much to the study of early Christianity. * Martin Pjecha, International Political Anthtropology2014 *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements ; 1 The Problem of Animal Sacrifice ; 2 Animal Sacrifice: Theory and Practice ; 3 Ideal Sacrifice vs. the Ideal of No Sacrifice ; 4 Christian Positions on Animal Sacrifice ; 5 A Redescription of Early Christian Positions on Animal Sacrifice ; 6 Epilogue: Julian and the Rejection of Sacrifice ; Appendix: Summary of Early Christian Positions on Sacrifice not Covered in Chapter 4 ; Bibliography

Read more less

Book SynopsisFeeding the Dead outlines the early history of ancestor worship in South Asia, from the earliest sources available, the Vedas, up to the descriptions found in the Dharmshastra tradition.Trade ReviewThis compact volume makes a notable contribution to our understanding of doctrinal and institutional shifts in India in the last centuries before the Common Era. Sayers is one of just a handful of recent scholars to call attention to the importance of the Vedic domestic ritual codes in the creation of what has come to be known as 'classical Hinduism.' He is to be congratulated for setting the complex ritual particulars within a clearly limned overview of the competing religious ideologies being 'marketed' by rival groups of professional 'religious experts.' He manages to do this without trivializing the ideas at stake, and without glibly reifying categories such as 'popular' and 'elite' or 'Brahmanical' and 'non-Brahmanical.' * Timothy Lubin, Washington and Lee University *Table of ContentsList of Tables ; Acknowledgements ; Abbreviations ; Introduction ; Chapter 1: Ancestral Rites in the Early Vedas ; Chapter 2: The Solemn Ancestral Rites ; Chapter 3: The Domestic Rice-ball Sacrifice to the Ancestors ; Chapter 4: The sraddha-rite ; Chapter 5: Ancestral Rites in the Buddhist Literature ; Chapter 6: Soteriology ; Chapter 7: Mediation ; Conclusion ; Appendix ; Notes ; Glossary of Sanskrit Terms ; Bibliography ; Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisAnne Fedele offers a comprehensive ethnography of alternative pilgrimages to French Catholic shrines dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene. Drawing on more than three years of extensive fieldwork, she describes how pilgrims from Italy, Spain, Britain, and the United States interpret Catholic figures, symbols, and sites according to spiritual theories and practices derived from the transnational Neopagan movement. Fedele pays particular attention to the life stories of the pilgrims, the crafted rituals they perform, and the spiritual-esoteric literature they draw upon. She examines how they devise their rituals; why this kind of spirituality is increasingly prevalent in the West; and the influence of anthropological literature on the pilgrims. Among these pilgrims, spirituality is lived and negotiated in interaction with each other and with textual sources: Jungian psychology, Goddess mythology, and ''''indigenous'''' traditions merge into a corpus of theories and practices centered upon thTrade ReviewOver the course of the book Fedele provides a sophisticated account of the re-imagination of sacred sites and the elaboration of new rituals to enact and embody the pilgrims' developing ideas about feminine spirituality. * Journal of Anthropological Research *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments ; INTRODUCTION ; 1. "GOING TO SEE MARY MAGDALENE": STARTING OUT ON A PILGRIMAGE ; 2. THE LOST CONNECTION WITH THE FEMININE ; 3. THE SAINTE-BAUME AND ITS MANY LAYERS ; 4. PILGRIMS DEALING WITH THEIR CHRISTIAN BACKGROUNDS ; 5. CELEBRATING MENSTRUAL BLOOD ; 6. WOUNDED MAGDALENES ; 7. EMBRACING THE DARKNESS ; 8. ENDING THE PILGRIMAGE AND RETURNING HOME ; CONCLUSION ; REFERENCES ; MAPS

Read more less

Book SynopsisDrawing on two years of ethnographic field research among the Navajos, this book explores a controversial Native American ritual and healthcare practice: ceremonial consumption of the psychedelic Peyote cactus in the context of an indigenous postcolonial healing movement called the Native American Church (NAC), which arose in the 19th century in response to the creation of the reservations system and increasing societal ills, including alcoholism. The movement is the locus of cultural conflict with a long history in North America, and stirs very strong and often opposed emotions and moral interpretations. Joseph Calabrese describes the Peyote Ceremony as it is used in family contexts and federally funded clinical programs for Native American patients. He uses an interdisciplinary methodology that he calls clinical ethnography: an approach to research that involves clinically informed and self-reflective immersion in local worlds of suffering, healing, and normality. Calabrese combined Trade ReviewA welcome addition to the literature ... Recommended. * G.R. Campbell, CHOICE *This book is an exceptional shift from earlier works. Calabrese's careful analysis of Navajo Native American Church Peyotists and his acquired respect for their ritual experiences is manifested when he explains in detail how he combines experiential with interpretive learning Calabrese makes a strong argument about the difference between contemporary drug use and the ritual use of peyote in the Native American Church. He investigates and argues with systematic rigor from his extensive clinical experience for the goal of accurately providing new interpretations that are informed by the collective and the personal, drawing attention to the various forms of suffering and healing during both colonial and postcolonial times Calabrese is concerned with how this collision of cultures and peoples came to assume its present form and writes eloquently about how different cultures orient themselves to their land. * Dr. Inés Talamantez, Mescalero Apache tribe, History of Religions *This remarkable 'clinical ethnography' provides a deep, experiential account of the Native American Church, its ritual forms, integration into the multi-generational lives of families, and therapeutic value in countering 'postcolonial disorders' in a Navajo community. The book provides a searing critique of the continued criminalization of the sacramental use of peyote in NAC rituals, demonstrating how the War on Drugs recalls and perpetuates the colonial Inquisition of native peoples associated with the American Indian holocaust. * Byron J Good, Professor of Medical Anthropology, Department of Global Health and Social Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and Department of Anthropology, Harvard University *Joseph D. Calabrese's A Different Medicine: Postcolonial Healing in the Native American Church is an excellent, thought-provoking study of Navajo Native American Church (NAC) members whose ceremonial activities involve ritual peyote use... This text is highly recommended for scholars and students of Indigenous religions, religion in America, religion and healing, and ritual studies. * Nova Religio *In summary this book is an excellent addition to the existing literature on the Native American Church, especially because it tries to acknowledge and circumvent existing cultural prejudices, in order to engender an analysis rooted in mutual respect. This is not only important for the use of a powerful psychedelic substance, but also to bring to light the negative impact of colonialism and to envision a world in which the pain that is still alive among Native Americans can be healed and overcome. * Pieter Stokkink, OPEN Foundation *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments ; Preface: Hard to Swallow: The Challenge of Radical Cultural Differences ; PART 1. Anthropological and Clinical Orientations ; I Introduction: Peyote, Cultural Paradigm Clash, and the Multiplicity of the Normal ; II Expanding Our Conceptualization of the Therapeutic: Toward a Suitable Theoretical Framework for the Study of Cultural Psychiatries ; III Clinical Ethnography: Clinically-Informed Self-Reflective Immersion in Local Worlds of Suffering, Healing and Wellbeing ; PART 2. Cultural and Personal Healing in the Native American Church ; IV The Unfolding Cultural Paradigm Clash: Ritual Peyote Use and the Struggle for Postcolonial Healing in North America ; V Medicine and Spirit: The Dual Nature of Peyote ; VI The Peyote Ceremony: Psychopharmacology, Ritual Process, and Experiences of Healing ; VII Kinship, Socialization, and Ritual in Navajo Peyotist Families ; VIII Postcolonial Hybridity and Ritual Bureaucracy in New Mexico: Participant Observation in a Navajo Peyotist Healer's Clinical Program ; IX Decolonizing Our Understandings of the Normal and the Therapeutic ; References

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis is a book about religious conceptions of trees within the cultural world of tree worship at the tree shrines of northern India. Sacred trees have been worshipped for millennia in India and today tree worship continues there among all segments of society. In the past, tree worship was regarded by many Western anthropologists and scholars of religion as a prime example of childish animism or decadent ''''popular religion.'''' More recently this aspect of world religious cultures is almost completely ignored in the theoretical concerns of the day. David Haberman hopes to demonstrate that by seriously investigating the world of Indian tree worship, we can learn much about not only this prominent feature of the landscape of South Asian religion, but also something about the cultural construction of nature as well as religion overall. The title People Trees relates to the content of this book in at least six ways. First, although other sacred trees are examined, the pipal-arguably the mTrade Reviewengaging and accessible ... Haberman's book brings attention to an important yet understudied aspect of Hindu religious experience, providing a wealth of ethnographic detail, along with compelling theoretical reflections on the limits of concepts such as animism and anthropomorphism ... Recommended. * R.C. Rinehart, CHOICE *The book provides rich insights * Deepa Idnani, South Asia Research *Haberman's People Trees is an excellent piece of scholarship * Harrison King, Religion *This is a positive book. * Joshua Nash, Journal of Hindu Studies *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements ; Note on Translation and Transliteration ; Introduction ; Chapter 1: Root Issues ; Chapter 2: Tree Worship in India ; Chapter 3: King of Trees ; Chapter 4: Abode of Ghosts and Saturn ; Chapter 5: Faces of the Goddess ; Chapter 6: Trees of Immortality ; Chapter 7: Arboreal Reflections ; Glossary ; Bibliography ; Index ; Notes

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn introduction to various prayer techniques, along with personal reflections from the author on his own prayer journey.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA worship resource for parish groups who wish to place compassion for poor communities at the heart of their workship, life and mission.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis text re-examines the great variety of liturgical practices in the first four centuries in the light of modern Jewish and Christian scholarship.Trade Review"Bradshaw's fertile mind has brought to birth a refreshing account of tantalising terrain, and we shall be in his debt for many years to come." Church Times, 24 July 1992(about the first edition) * "For those concerned with early Christian worship this book will be indispensible. Easy to use, and a pleasure to read, it should become a basic textbook in its field." The Evangelical Quarterly, autumn 1993

Read more less

Book SynopsisDiscusses the role played by psychoactive mushrooms in the religious rituals of ancient Greece, Eurasia, and Mesoamerica. Wasson, who investigated how these mushrooms were venerated and used by different native peoples, here joins with three other scholars to discuss his discoveries.

Read more less

Book SynopsisExplores a teaching central to Jewish and Christian traditions: the teaching that at the end of time God will cause the dead to live again. This book offers the story of the origins of the belief in resurrection, investigating why some Christians and some Jews opposed the idea in ancient times while others believed it was essential to their faith.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat is at stake is authenticity. . . . Sooner or later Christians tire of public meetings that are profoundly inauthentic, regardless of how well (or poorly) arranged, directed, performed. We long to meet, corporately, with the living and majestic God and to offer him the praise that is his due.D. A. CarsonWorship is a hot topic, but the ways that Christians from different traditions view it vary greatly. What is worship? More important, what does it look like in action, both in our corporate gatherings and in our daily lives? These concernsthe blending of principle and practiceare what Worship by the Book addresses.Cutting through cultural clichés, D. A. Carson, Mark Ashton, Kent Hughes, and Timothy Keller explore, respectively:Worship Under the WordFollowing in Cranmer's FootstepsFree Church Worship: The Challenge of FreedomReformed Worship in the Global City This is not a comprehensive theology of worship, writes Carson. Still less is it a sociological analysis of current trends orTable of ContentsPreface . . 7 Acknowledgments . . . 9 1. Worship under the Word . 11 D. A. CARSON 2. Following in Cranmer’s Footsteps . . . . 64 MARK ASHTON WITH C. J. DAVIS Appendix: Putting the Principles into Practice (3 Sample Services) . . . . 109 3. Free Church Worship: The Challenge of Freedom . . . . 136 R. KENT HUGHES Appendix A: College Church Worship (5 Sample Services) . . . . 173 Appendix B: Wonders of Worship . 189 Appendix C: Reading the Word . . . 190 Appendix D: When Music Equals Worship . . . 192 4. Reformed Worship in the Global City 193 TIMOTHY J. KELLER Appendix A: Sample Worship Services . . 240 Appendix B: Prayers for Those Not Taking the Lord’s Supper . . . 249 Indexes 251

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn exploration of what worship looks like from a biblical standpoint and why the topic of worship can be so contentious among Christians. Because worship is inherently theological--because it''s a manifestation of humanity''s response to God''s holiness--it''s important to take seriously how we worship and the roles it serves in personal displays of adoration and in community with other believers. Exploring the Worship Spectrum provides an overview, critique, and celebration of six prominent worship styles: Formal-Liturgical – represented by Paul Zahl Traditional Hymn-Based – represented by Harold Best Contemporary Music-Driven – represented by Joe Horness Charismatic – represented by Don Williams Blended – represented by Robert Webber Emerging – represented by Sally Morgenthaler This unique format allows those with a heart for worship to compareTrade ReviewSix different writers each present a chapter on their particular worship -- running the gamut from formal liturgical, to charismatic, to emerging worship. Each chapter is followed by short commentaries by the other writers providing a variety of perspectives on each worship style. What emerges is a fascinating conversation that doesn't try to convert you to one particular style of worship, but broadens your mind to the inherent worth of different types of worship. A good read. * YouthWorker Journal *

Read more less

Book SynopsisWesley Duewel details how Christians with a burden for missions can have an active role through intercessory prayer.Table of ContentsContents Foreword 1. God Calls You to Prayer 2. God Is Preparing Harvest for You 3. Your Indescribable Power 4. Your Amazing Authority 5. Your Enthroned Prayer Partner 6. Your Indwelling Prayer Partner 7. Your Invisible Prayer Expediters 8. You Can Touch God's Throne through Prayer 9. Prayer Can Give You Entrée Anywhere 10. Your King Gives You His Keys 11. You Can Be Part of God's Emergency Prayer Network 12. You Can Sow with Tears 13. You Can Deepen Your Prayer by Fasting 14. You Have Prayer Authority through the Cross 15. You Must Use the Command of Faith 16. Your Prayer Can Help Prove That Christ Is God 17. You Can Defeat and Bind Satan 18. Your Praise Can Rout the Devil 19. The Promise Is for You 20. Elijah Was Just Like You 21. God Needs You to Prepare His Way 22. How You Can Prepare the Way of the Lord 23. You Can Experience and Share Revival 24. Let Jesus and Paul Guide Your Prayer 25. Your Prayer Can Reap World Harvest 26. You Need to Prevail in Prayer 27. How You Can Prevail in Prayer 28. You Can Be a Prayer Warrior 29. Your Prayer Can Be an Eternal Investment 30. Prayers That Can Never Be Lost 31. How to Hold a Personal Prayer Retreat 32. How to Pray for a Person 33. How to Prepare Prayer Lists 34. How to Agree in Prayer My Prayer of Commitment to Intercession

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe eucharist is central to the life of the churches, but not in the forms in which it is so widely celebrated today. What began with sacrifice for the liberation of others has long been a means of domesticating believers. Such is the passionate argument of Fr Balasuriya, a Roman Catholic priest writing from his native Sri Lanka.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDr Jeremias argues that the historical truth can be detected beneath the traditions preserved in the New Testament about the Last Supper. It was a climax of a series of Messianic meals, this time a passover meal. Jesus himself abstained but at it the disciples received a share in the atoning power of their Lord's sufferings.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Few preachers will lay down this book without an unhappy feeling of the cheapness of their own preaching; but equally, few preachers will lay it down without a new sense of the mystery and the splendour of the gospel which they preach. This will inevitably never be one of the popular books on preaching; it makes too many mental and spiritual demands on the reader for that; but it will remain one of the great books on preaching' (The Expository Times). With a biographical memoir by Ronal H. Preston.

Read more less

Book SynopsisGoing back to essentials, the first part explores the nature of signs and symbols, sacraments and rites from their earliest appearance. The second part then traces the development of Christian liturgy from the first gatherings to the elaboration of places and forms of worship. The third part turns to the eucharistic liturgy.

Read more less