Worship, rites, ceremonies and rituals Books

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Book SynopsisA beautifully presented paperback featuring the stories and messages of 40 of Pam's favourite hymns.Table of ContentsContentsIntroduction 7All Creatures of Our God and King 10All Glory, Laud and Honour 14All My Hope on God is Founded 17Angel Voices, Ever Singing 21As with Gladness Men of Old 25Be Thou My Guardian and My Guide 28Breathe on Me, Breath of God 32Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing 35Come, Ye Thankful People, Come 39Day by Day 43Father, Lead Me Day by Day 47Forth in Thy Name, O Lord, I Go 50Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah 53Hail to the Lord’s Anointed 56Hark! The Herald Angels Sing 60Holy, Holy, Holy 64I Need Thee Every Hour 68I Stand Amazed in the Presence 72If Any Little Word of Mine 75In Full and Glad Surrender 79Jesu, Lover of My Soul 82Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho 86Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee 90Lead Us, Heavenly Father, Lead Us 94Little Drops of Water 98My Hope is Built on Nothing Less 102My Jesus, I Love Thee 106New Every Morning is the Love 109Now the Day is Over 113O Jesus, I Have Promised 117O Little Town of Bethlehem 121O Worship the King 125Rock of Ages 129Shall We Gather at the River? 132Teach Me, My God and King 136The Battle Hymn of the Republic 139The God of Abraham Praise 143Through All the Changing Scenes of Life 146We Plough the Fields, and Scatter 150Ye Holy Angels Bright 154

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Book SynopsisBrand new research on the place where Buddha attained enlightenment: the temple site of Bodhgaya in eastern India.Table of ContentsIntroduction Michael Willis, Sam van Schaik, John Clarke 1. The Mahābodhi Temple Before its Restoration (J. P. Losty) 2. The Āsana: Where the Buddha Sat (Daniela De Simone, Dániel Balogh, Sven Bretfield) 3. Pīṭhīpati Puzzles: Custodians of the Diamond Throne (Dániel Balogh) 4. Early Burmese Inscriptions from Bodhgaya (Tilman Frasch) 5. The Internalisation of the Vajrāsana (Sam van Schaik) 6. Tibetan Inscriptions in the British Museum Archive (Tsering Gonkatsang, Michael Willis) 7. Buddhist Sealings and the ye dharmā Stanza (Peter Skilling) 8. Dhāraṇī Seals in the Cunningham Collection (Gergely Hidas) 9. A Terracotta Plaque with an Old Mon Inscription (Marc Miyake, Tilman Frasch, Michael Willis) 10. Five Terracotta Plaques with Figurative Imagery (Serena Biondo) 11. The Mahābodhi Plaque of the Goddess Mārīcī (Jinah Kim, Kashinath Tamot, Sushma Jansari) 12. From Bodhgayā to Berlin (Claudine Bautze-Picron) 13. Numismatic Finds at Bodhgayā (Robert Bracey) 14. Deposits at Bodhgayā: Objects, Materials, Analysis (Michael Willis, Joanna Whalley, Beatriz Cifuentes, Robert Bracey) 15. Chinese Inscriptions from Bodhgayā (Michael Willis, Serena Biondo) 16. Materials of Plaques 1887,0717.146-147 (Marei Hacke)

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Book SynopsisIn this thoughtful book, Freya Jaffke describes festival celebrations in relation to child development in the first seven years. She considers in detail the main festivals throughout the year: Easter, Whitsun, St John''s, starting school, harvest, Michaelmas, lantern time, birthdays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Advent, Christmas, Epiphany and carnival.Drawing on many examples, she shows how we can celebrate festivals with children at home and in kindergarten in a meaningful way. Every festival is prefaced with a deeper contemplation for adults, before considering preparations with children, followed by the actual organization of the festival -- with games, craft activities and decorations, stories, songs, poems and the seasonal nature table.Trade Review'Freya Jaffke presents a lively picture of how the Christian cycle of festivals in the northern hemisphere can be reinvigorated and brought to consciousness in a rich and meaningful way ... This is an immensley practical book that shows us what we might make of these worn out festivals when celebrating them with young children. Her genius is in bringing together clear pictures of the inner work of the adult alongside the practical details of life with young children. This is not another book about seasonal crafts and traditions that might be fun to do, but more about, for example, how cleaning and tidying create the Advent mood, how children can enjoy and find deeply meaningful the simplest of activities ... This is an extremely useful handbook for kindergarten teachers, giving full descriptions and explanations of all the festivals that she celebrated with her kindergarten children and their parents.'--New View'Throughout, one feels how childhood itself is respected and protected. She conveys her warmth for the subject in all the practical advice, of which there's plenty. Drawings and pictures are included whenever necessary ... Celebrating Festivals with Children is a very useful and stimulating book and is recommended to anyone with young children.'--Perspectives

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Book SynopsisMecca is the heart of Islam. It is the birthplace of Muhammad, the direction towards which Muslims turn when they pray and the site of pilgrimage which annually draws some three million Muslims from all corners of the world. Yet Mecca's importance goes beyond religion. What happens in Mecca and how Muslims think about the political and cultural history of Mecca has had and continues to have a profound influence on world events to this day. In this captivating book, Ziauddin Sardar unravels the significance of Mecca. Tracing its history, from its origins as a barren valley' in the desert to its evolution as a trading town and sudden emergence as the religious centre of a world empire, Sardar examines the religious struggles and rebellions in Mecca that have powerfully shaped Muslim culture. Interweaving stories of his own pilgrimages to Mecca with those of others, Sardar offers a unique insight into not just the spiritual aspects of Mecca the passion, ecstasy and longing itTrade ReviewOne of the best-known Muslim public intellectuals in the world today ... A pioneering writer on Islam * Guardian on Muhammad: All that Matters *Sardar is funny, self-deprecating and humble … One of the wittiest intellectual figures commenting on Islam * Islamic Voice on Muhammad: All that Matters *Britain’s own Muslim polymath * Independent *Readers of Mecca may at times feel they are still accompanying Sardar on his journey as a sceptical Muslim; mostly, they will sense a wide ranging intellectual engagement with a city that has been one of the world’s most important over the last one and a half millennia. In his hands they can appraise how this long history connects with the predicament facing his fellow believers in the world today. -- Geoffrey Nash * ASTENE Bulletin *Ziauddin Sardar’s poignant book Mecca: The Sacred City, describes the desecration of Islam’s holiest site -- Yasmin Alibhai-Brown * Independent *

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Book SynopsisTimothy Radcliffe holds a unique position in the modern Catholic Church. As Master of the Dominican Order in Rome for nine years, he held one of the most senior and influential appointments the Catholic Church has on offer. But he is a member of an Order of Preachers and is thus truly apostolic. The order''s motto consists of one word, Veritas (Truth), and it is the vigorous pursuit of intellectual and emotional truth which is the hallmark of his writing. This new book will not disappoint his admirers. Here, Fr Radcliffe argues that Christianity will only thrive today, overcoming the challenges of secularism and religious fundamentalism, if we rediscover the beauty of baptism. It touches the deepest dramas of human life: birth, growing up, falling in love, daring to give oneself to others, searching for meaning, coping with suffering and failure, and eventually death.Trade ReviewIn this wide-ranging, wise and engagingly written book, Fr Radcliffe initially deals with many of the practical questions that people ask about Baptism, and then proceeds to discuss not only the various elements of the baptismal liturgy, but also the nature and challenge of the Christian vocation. In doing so he displays a deep understanding of sacramental theology, but also a deep compassion and pastoral concern for people. He has a broad and inclusive approach, finding support for his position in the Gospels as well as Church teaching, and is always clear-sighted and honest. * Spirituality *Take the Plunge is a must-read not only for priests and deacons, but also for religious education catechists and those conducting pre-baptism sessions for parents and sponsors. Readers will want to approach this book with a yellow highlighter in hand. To bypass this book would be like stumbling upon a gold mine and mistaking its ore for coal. -- Alfred J. Garrotto * US Catholic Magazine *Take the Plunge is a spirituality book based on living initiation, so its appeal is not limited to sacramental preparation or explicitly baptism-based programs. It would be a helpful resource for preaching, for faith formation of adults or young adults, and for any interested lay reader. Though written from a Catholic perspective, the ecumenical consensus on initiation may make it ecumenically useful as well. -- Kimberly Hope Belcher, University of Notre Dame * Worship *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. This Child? 2. What Name? 3. Commandments and Claim 4. Listening to the Word 5. The Community of Saints 6. Fight the Good Fight 7. The Oil of Gladness 8. A Fertile Word 9. The Moment of Choice 10. Stripped 11. Take the Plunge 12. God's Anointed 13. God's Holy People 14. The Paradoxes of Sanctity 15. Seeing in the Dark 16. Did you receive the Spirit? 17. Growing Up Epilogue Bibliography

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Book SynopsisBaptism is a subject which has caused confusion amongst Christians for many years. Jesus included it in his final charge to the disciples. It is clearly important, so why do we spend so much time arguing about it? Baptism is a God–given sign, not to obscure the gospel, but to make it clearer. Karl Deenick explains not only what baptism is, what it isn’t, and who should be baptised, but he follows the threads of symbolic cleansing through both the Old and New Testaments. He explains and exalts the gospel and shows how the Old Testament foreshadows Jesus and how he fulfils the Old Testament.Trade ReviewI encourage all to read and interact with this work, and I hope we can all agree with Deenick that we look to Jesus alone for salvation. -- Thomas R. Schreiner (James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation and Associate Dean, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky)… opens up fresh angles on baptism, no matter which side of the issue you stand on. But what makes this book particularly valuable is that it not only stimulates rigorous thought about baptism in a very accessible way; it does so opening up wonderfully rich perspectives on the gospel itself – the glorious gospel that baptism points to. -- Murray A. Capill (Principal, Reformed Theological College, Victoria, Australia)… with a mixture of theological acumen and pastoral sensitivity, he explains how baptism is, ultimately, a sign of the gospel for the entire family of faith. Easily one of the best books about baptism you will ever read! -- Michael F. Bird (Academic Dean and Lecturer in Theology, Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia)Deenick weaves together a host of Biblical texts on circumcision, sacrifice, covenant, and the Spirit in order to demonstrate that, more than anything else, baptism is a sign of the gospel and of the community gathered around God’s Messiah, Jesus. If you’re tired of hearing the same arguments on baptism reheated and served as leftovers, this book is for you. -- Joe Barnard (Pastor, Holyrood Evangelical Church, Edinburgh Author of The Way Forward, and Surviving the Trenches )Whatever you believe about Baptism, this valuable book will give you many generous doses of Biblical Theology, Biblical evidence, theological cohesion, and pastoral clarity. It is theologically deep, and highly practical. Heartily recommended. -- Peter Adam (Vicar Emeritus, St Jude's Church, Carlton, Victoria, Australia)

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Book SynopsisWorship professor and practitioner Constance Cherry shows how to create services that are faithful to Scripture, historically conscious, relevant to God, Christ-centered, and engaging for worshipers of all ages in the twenty-first century. More than 150 colleges and seminaries have used or currently use the first edition as a required text. In this new edition, each chapter has been substantially updated and revised, including illustrations, key terms, examples, technological references, and suggested resources for further reading. A new chapter on global worship and a new appendix on live-streamed worship are included.Table of ContentsContentsIntroduction: Why a Book about Worship Design?PHASE ONE: Laying the Foundations for Worship1. Establishing the Foundation: Biblical Worship2. Setting the Cornerstone: Worship Is Centered in Jesus ChristPHASE TWO: Raising the Structure for Worship3. Four Rooms for Encountering God: The Gospel Order of Worship4. The First Room: The Gathering5. The Second Room: The Word6. The Third Room: The Table of the Lord7. The Third Room: The Alternative Response to the Word8 The Fourth Room: The SendingPHASE THREE: Installing Windows for Encountering God9. Encountering God in Prayer: Capturing the Heart of Worship10. Encountering God in Music: Singing the Church's Song11. Encountering God in Music: Offering "Sound" MusicalLeadership12. Encountering God in the Christian Year: Remembering the Whole NarrativePHASE FOUR: Welcoming Worshipers for Authentic Engagement13. Engaging Style: Expressing Worship in an Authentic Voice14. Global Worship: Open the Doors and See All the People15. The Hospitable Worship Leader: Engaging Worshipers as ParticipantsAppendix A: A Definition of Christian WorshipAppendix B: Ten Basic Steps in Designing Vital WorshipAppendix C: Checklist for Designing Vital WorshipAppendix D: Seven Tips for Engaging with Livestreamed WorshipIndex

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Book Synopsis Based on the bestselling video series What''s in the Bible?, Why Easter? features a foundational faith concept and charming illustrations to help parents teach preschoolers why we celebrate Easter. Clive laughed. ". . .But colorful eggs and fluffy bunnies aren''t what Easter is about anyway." "They aren''t?" Ian asked. "Why do we celebrate Easter then?" As brothers Clive and Ian dye Easter eggs and discuss their favorite things about the holiday-the Easter pony . . . or is it a bunny . . . or perhaps an Easter chicken?-Clive explains that Easter is about more than colorful eggs and fluffy bunnies. So why do we celebrate Easter? The answer is as exciting as it is wonderful: because of Jesus!

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Book SynopsisIn a small medieval palace on Kathmandu's Durbar Square lives Nepal's famous Living Goddess - a child as young as three who is chosen from a caste of Buddhist goldsmiths to watch over the country and protect its people. To Nepalis she is the embodiment of Devi (the universal goddess) and for centuries their Hindu kings have sought her blessing to legitimize their rule. Legends swirl about her, for the facts are shrouded in secrecy and closely guarded by dynasties of priests and caretakers. How come a Buddhist girl is worshipped by autocratic Hindu rulers? Are the initiation rituals as macabre as they are rumoured to be? And what fate awaits the Living Goddesses when they attain puberty and are dismissed from their role? Weaving together myth, religious belief, modern history and court gossip, Isabella Tree takes us on a compelling and fascinating journey to the esoteric, hidden heart of Nepal. Through her unprecedented access to the many layers of Nepalese society, she is able to put the country's troubled modern history in the context of the complex spiritual beliefs and practices that inform the role of the little girl at its centre. Deeply felt, emotionally engaged and written after over a decade of travel and research, The Living Goddess is a compassionate and illuminating enquiry into this reclusive Himalayan country - a revelation.Trade Review"Completely fascinating, beautifully written and stranger than fiction. I loved it. (Joanna Lumley) A unique insight into an astonishing tradition (Colin Thubron) An extraordinary story, beautifully told. Isabella Tree combines the observational and literary gifts of a Diana Eck or an Andrew Harvey with Roberto Calasso's ability to retell mythology and Wendy Doniger's ability to interpret it. The resulting search is nothing short of a revelation. (William Dalrymple)

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Book SynopsisThere is great contemporary interest in the mystery centres of antiquity, such as prehistoric caves, the pyramids of Egypt, Newgrange in Ireland, and the Externsteine in Germany. The trials and rites that took place there were for the chosen few, and are vividly described in this book -- from the trials of fire and water to the three-day near-death sleep.The author goes on to argue that modern-day initiation, however, has a substantially different character. Whereas a 'hierophant' -- a guide -- was previously needed to navigate a trial, these days it is life itself which brings us trials, which can sometimes lead to deeper experiences of the spiritual.Trade Review'It is rich in references, rich in illustrations, rich in knowledge and practical advice.'-- Paul Carline, New View

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Book SynopsisUnlike other Christian creeds, the creed of The Christian Community is not a statement of belief, but rather a series of assertions that act as a path to a deeper understanding of Christianity.Peter Selg offers an insightful and informative overview of how, in the time leading up to the founding of The Christian Community nearly one hundred years ago, Rudolf Steiner formulated both the creed itself and its founding principles.He also examines the history of Christian creeds – including the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed – and compares them to each other. Finally, he explores the ongoing significance of the creed for The Christian Community today.Trade Review'This clearly written and comprehensive overview of the history of the creed through the ages and the importance of its renewal at the time of the foundation of The Christian Community [...] will certainly help those who are new to the words of the Creed to deepen their interest and continue their studies. It could also open a door for those who have been seeking for a deepening of their spiritual life and a direction to guide their religious feelings... This is an interesting and helpful new addition to Selg's series of introductory readers.'-- Camphill CorrespondenceTable of ContentsAnthroposophy and religionBefore the founding of The Christian CommunityFirst reading of the Creed of The Christian CommunityFinding the words for the new CreedThe development of the text of the CreedChristian Community works on the CreedThe Creed as preparation for baptism First formulation of the Creed The Creed as a defence against gnosisThe Nicene CreedThe priest and the CreedComparison of versions of the CreedSteiner’s reticence in explaining the CreedOur responsibility todayThe Creed for the futureNotesBibliography

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Book SynopsisTowards the end of his life, Rudolf Steiner published a series of weekly letters addressed to the members of the Anthroposophical Society. Among them were fourteen letters in which he described the mission of the Archangel Michael, the mighty spiritual being who has accompanied humanity's evolution from primordial times right up to the present day. In this insightful book, Charles Kovacs draws on his knowledge of Steiner's work to provide a deeper understanding of the history and ideas that inform each letter. He shows how the Archangel Michael is the great champion of human freedom in the modern age and how he can help us transcend divisions of national identity to embrace a truly universal view of humanity.Trade Review'Steiner always asks us deliberately to make an effort to create imaginations from given words, be they on paper or through spoken word. Where Steiner is scientific, Kovacs tells stories. Thanks to his wonderful calm and sure way of leading us through what are fundamental and essential concepts, this effort is made a little easier for us. From clear ideas to imaginative pictures, from difficult-to-grasp spiritual facts to primeval fairy tale images, Kovacs helps us make sense of these in the context of human development and thus weaves a bridge between the known familiar and the cosmic truths hidden behind them...'-- PerspectivesTable of ContentsForeword 1. At the Dawn of the Michael Age 2. The Condition of the Human Soul Before the Dawn of the Michael Age 3. The Way of Michael and What Preceded It 4. Michael’s Task in the Sphere of Ahriman 5. The Experiences of Michael in the Course of His Cosmic Mission 6. The Activity of Michael and the Future of Humanity 7. The Michael-Christ Experience of Humanity 8. Michael’s Mission in the Cosmic Age of Human Freedom 9. World-thoughts in the Working of Michael and in the Working of Ahriman 10. At the Gates of the Consciousness Soul 11. How the Michael-forces Work in the Earliest Unfolding of the Consciousness Soul 12. Hindrances and Helps to the Michael-forces 13. Michael’s Suffering Over Human Evolution Before the Time of His Earthly Activity 14. A Christmas Contemplation: The Mystery of the LogosReferencesIndex

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Book SynopsisAssist Our Song combines accessible teaching about the theology and shape of worship with essential information about the forms of music used, including congregational hymns, songs, canticles and psalm chant, and music performed by choirs and musicians. It explores the range of resources available, how to extend repertoire, blending the old with the new, changing patterns of church life, and other practical issues. Its aims are the heightening of the profile of music within the church, increasing the skills and understanding on the part of musicians and choirs, assisting leaders of worship and empowering congregations to see themselves also as ‘ministers of music’ It offers practical assistance for the ‘delivery’ of music – choosing music, making the most of choirs and working with musicians. It will be welcomed by all who lead, provide or curate music in worship, as well as clergy and ordinands who lack musical expertise or confidence.

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Book SynopsisHave you ever visited a mandir or a mosque? Eaten at a gurdwara or sung hymns at a church? This series will take you through different places of worship, showing you what goes on and teaching you about different practices and celebrations. So, come along and worship with me!

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Book SynopsisThe summer of 2022 saw the celebration of the seventieth anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, the first time in British history that a monarch has reached this remarkable milestone.As the event was the first of its kind to be televised, images from the ceremony inside Westminster Abbey are instantly recognisable. Far less familiar are the scenes in the streets outside, where huge crowds assembled to see a procession of state coaches and historic regiments marching past public buildings festooned with patriotic banners and colourful grandstands erected outside many famous landmarks.Using a private collection of more than 200 rare images of London’s West End, Protect and Keep looks back to the day that the Queen pledged herself to her country. It provides a unique and precious record of an historic occasion: the day of the Coronation as it was seen by ordinary members of the public.

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Book SynopsisAnother rich and wide-ranging anthology from Wild Goose, including resources for Lent and Holy Week and Advent and Christmas.Also includes resources for evening worship, Valentine's Day, weddings, funerals, International Women's Day, the UN International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, Mother's Day, Father's Day, Pentecost, St Benedict's Day, a service of solidarity with rough sleepers, Trans Day of Remembrance, the United Nations International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, and more.As always with the Iona Community, this is worship which is contextual, prophetic, with a strong justice and peace edge.These liturgies and resources were originally published as single digital downloads. The book is a follow-up to the four previous Wild Goose Big Books.Contributors include Janet Lees, Alex Clare-Young, Simon Taylor, Rodney Aist, Thom M Shuman, Iain and Isabel Whyte, Tom Gordon, Bob Warwicker, Stephen G Wright, John Murning, Jan Sutch Pickard, Sandra Sears, Urzula Glienecke, John Harvey, Ian M Fraser, Kathy Galloway, Elaine Gisbourne and Nancy Cocks.

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Book SynopsisA concise guide of what to expect when attending ceremonies of the world’s major religions – from how to behave, to what to wear, this handy reference book gives you what you need to know for respectful participation in different faiths around the world. In today's multicultural society we are increasingly likely to meet and become friends with people from different religious backgrounds, and to find ourselves attending an unfamiliar ceremony. When this happens, there can be few of us who know exactly what to expect or are confident about how to behave. This book will help you: Understand the backgrounds of the key festivals, ceremonies, and practices of the major world religions Participate in the main holidays and festivals of the different religious calendars Know what to expect and how to behave when invited to attend a Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, or Buddhist service Join in the family celebrations of friends from different backgrounds, armed with this basic information, you will feel relaxed enough to enjoy the occasion Perhaps inspired to discover more about the spiritual world view of another cultural tradition. It is very easy to potentially offend when you are unfamiliar with another's religious customs. So, here's some quick Top Tips: Do not take alcohol to a Muslim celebration Never point your feet at the Murti (sacred deity) in a Hindu Temple Be prepared to stand for up to three hours at an Orthodox Christian wedding Do not take flowers to a Jewish funeral Keep your head covered at all times inside a Sikh Gurdwara (Temple) Flowers are welcome at a Catholic or Protestant funeral Be prepared to be gender-segregated at a Muslim wedding Cover your arms, legs, and chest, but not your head, at a Buddhist Temple Access the world's religions with Simple Guides: Religion a series of concise, accessible introductions to faiths around the world. Written by experts in the field, they offer an engaging and sympathetic description of the key concepts, beliefs, and practices of different faiths. Ideal for spiritual seekers and travellers alike, Simple Guides aims to open the doors of perception. Together the books provide a reliable compass to the world's great spiritual traditions, and a point of reference for further exploration and discovery. By offering essential insights into the core values, customs, and beliefs of different societies, they also enable visitors to be aware of the cultural sensibilities of their hosts, and to behave in a way that fosters mutual respect and understanding.

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Book SynopsisTrue prayer comes from the heart, so why do we need a method? The great devotional commentator and pastor shows here that Christians benefit from discipline just as much as talking freely with God. You will discover the methods Jesus taught, look at styles of prayer, and see helpful examples. Duncan has incorporated some of Henry’s other work on prayer.Trade ReviewWhether the reader is looking for a guide to public prayer or an encouragement to private prayer, Henry's work is a key text, drawing the mind again and again to Scripture as it seeks to shape our prayer life by the forms and priorities of God's own revelation of Himself. -- Carl R. Trueman (Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies, Grove City College, Pennsylvania)It's good to see this classic on prayer in an accessible edition. Ligon Duncan has done brilliant work, adapting Matthew Henry for twenty-first century readers without sacrificing any of the depth and devotional value of the original Puritan work. -- John MacArthur (Chancellor Emeritus, The Master’s University and Seminary and Pastor–Teacher, Grace Community Church, Sun Valley, California)When a tool that has helped teach Christians to pray with biblical fidelity and spiritual integrity, across a span of three centuries, is being distributed again and in fresh ways, thoughtful believers can only applaud and give thanks to God for the grace that has brought forth this fruit. -- D. A. Carson (Emeritus Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois)The great and nearly unique benefit of Henry's Method for Prayer is that it flows so directly from the biblical text. His approach enables the believer not only to read the Bible and study the Bible, but also to pray the Bible -- Philip G. Ryken (President, Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois)This is an reprint of an old classic Matthew Henry of Commentary Fame. It is two books in one...For Henry, as for other puritan nonconformists, prayer was not simply a Sunday activity. He presupposes the earnest Christian would engage in public prayer, private prayer and family prayer. He regrets that it is to spend so many hour in sleep! The value of this publication is shown by the fact that it has required three editions in recent years. -- British Churchman NewspaperPrayer is an amazing privilege, but it's also a discipline for which we need direction and instruction. Like a trellis, Henry's Method for Prayer helps us to grow up in a Godward direction, not only to think more biblically, but to pray more biblically as well. -- Michael HortonMatthew Henry sets out a specific plan for prayer - a reminder that prayer should be ordered and not haphazard and the Lord's prayer is a pattern to which we ought to pay more attention...good biblical teaching which, if followed and worked at, would enrich both private and public prayer. -- Evangelical TimesIf I were to recommend one book for those who are to lead in public prayer, this would be it. Can we pray 'according to Scripture'? Two hundred astonishing pages into Matthew Henry's A Method for Prayer and you will realize the answer is an emphatic YES! Henry's Method, which is really just traditional Protestant public prayer, will revolutionize the prayer life of any individual or congregation that studies it. -- Terry L. JohnsonLigon Duncan's editorial work has given this valuable book a new lease of life. -- Banner of TruthPrayer is the breath of the believer's heart. It is a delight, a duty, and a discipline in which we desperately need the aid of godly pastors such as Matthew Henry. For more than a decade, A Method for Prayer has sat beside my desk where I can feed upon its timeless sustenance as it instructs me and bids me to gaze upon our Lord and feed upon His Word in public and private prayer. -- Burk ParsonsThis book is a classic resource for learning how to pray according to biblical priorities, and for being re-inspired to pray with a heart for God's purposes. The work is timeless because Henry's words are so resonant with the heavenly themes that enable us to face earthly trials. -- Bryan ChapellReading this book elicited a twofold response, ranging from a sense of guilt and shame as it exposed many shortcomings in this important duty, to inculcating an earnest desire for fervency, and to add considerably to the petitions normally brought before God. This book is highly recommended. -- Monthly Record"Matthew Henry's A Method for Prayer is not simply a classic book in prayer. It is a marvelously relevant tool for assisting believers in shaping their prayers before God. I have found great help in Henry's method, but even more help in his passion for encouraging his readers in bringing their hearts to the God whose steadfas love has been manifested in Jesus. Highly recommended!" -- Sean Michael LucasWho of us hasn't had trouble with prayer at some time or another? And here is a God-sent solution: Matthew Henry's A Method for Prayer. This book is worth its weight in gold (platinum?). No one utilizing this book can fail to profit from it. -- Derek W. H. ThomasOur Sovereign Lord communed with the Father in prayer. His disciples wisely asked, 'Teach us to pray.' And that request has been answered through the centuries both through the word of God and through the example of praying saints. Matthew Henry's A Method of Prayer is itself an answer to prayer, an answer to the request, 'Teach us to pray.' Henry's life and ministry make it clear that he was a man of prayer. -- Thabiti AnyabwileMatthew Henry towers above the centuries as the undisputed king of devotional commentators, the premier verse-by-verse expositor of the English language. He is a treasured gift to the church, who speaks to all generations in all places. To sit at his feet is to be served a rich banquet. To study his Method for Prayer is to drink from a deep artesian well. Wise is the one who plunges themselves into this storehouse of truth. -- Steven J. LawsonMatthew Henry's work is a most helpful resource and safeguard for ministers, but it will also be of great use to all Christians who long for more structure in their prayers...Every prayer is not only grounded in Scripture, but bursting to the seams with the very words of the Bible; -- The Evangelical Magazine

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Book SynopsisThe hunger for modern, relevant resources for the Christian seasons and celebrations is deep. Here is a book that will help to fill this need. Suitable for group worship or personal reflection, and with material for Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, Mothering Sunday, Palm Sunday and Holy Week, it is a collection to accompany readers through Lent and Easter for many years. Eggs and Ashes includes a Lent discipline for those who care about the environment, liturgies, responses, prayers, poems, reflections, meditations, stories, stations of the cross, sermons, monologues and songs, with some all-age resources written by Iona Community members, associates, friends and others. Ruth Burgess is the author of A Book of Blessings and Friends and Enemies, both published by Wild Goose Publications. Chris Polhill is a frequent contributor to Wild Goose books.

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Book SynopsisPhil Smith (Crabman/Mythogeography) and Tony Whitehead join forces with master photographer John Schott to lead readers on a `virtual’ journey to explore difference and change on their way to an unknown destination. “What is most real is what you have still to discover.” “Relax in your seat. Allow the train to take you along the water’s edge to the beginning point of your walking pilgrimage… When the train pulls into the platform, step off. Hidden behind the platform is a broken machine; a mechanised fortune teller – the `voice of truth’ – discarded from the nearby arcade of slot machines. Propped against the side of a building, its mouth is silent, its pronouncements have ceased; any truths you find today will be your own.” Pilgrimages – real and imagined - are always popular, sometimes compulsory. Bodh Gaya, Santiago, Mecca, Jerusalem, Puri: a few of the sites that beckon. The pilgrimage to the authentic self takes a similar path in an interior landscape. In the 15th century, Felix Fabri combined the two, using his visits to Jerusalem to write a handbook for nuns wanting to make a pilgrimage in the imagination, whilst confined to their religious houses. For Guidebook for an Armchair Pilgrimage, the authors followed Fabri’s example: first walking together over many weeks – not to reach a destination but simply to find one – then, in startling words and images, conjuring an armchair pilgrimage for the reader… along lanes and around hills, into caves and down to the coast. “We arrived again and again at what we assumed would be a final `shrine’, only to be drawn onwards and inwards towards another kind of finality… rather than reaching a destination, the pilgrimage was repeatedly reborn inside us, until its most recent rebirth in this book.” Over the course of the 19-day Armchair Pilgrimage, they invite us to experience the world around us just as they did as they walked. So, over the first three days, they suggest that we contemplate, among other things: • Our habit of generalising – acquired 40-50,000 years ago, when our `chapel’ mind of specialisms became a `cathedral’ mind • Our tendency to let one thing remind us of another thing • What it might be like to be an ocean where fish swim through us • How the world experiences us just as we experience it: `gently feel for the feelers feeling for you’ • A world where we tend to `add’ meaning and intensity • A world where we let go (without the aid of dementia) of memory, imagination, desire and wild fancy. And, as the pilgrimage concludes: “Returning is never going back to the same place.” “A brilliant idea, inviting us to `be present’ to a reality that is imagined and recorded, mediated by words and images. The feelings and emotions are no less `real’ than if we were actually standing in and experiencing that reality. I love the genius of words and images displayed here -- no less than the reality itself.” Carol Donelan, Professor of Cinema and Media Studies, Carleton College, MinnesotaTrade Review“A brilliant idea, inviting us to `be present’ to a reality that is imagined and recorded, mediated by words and images. The feelings and emotions are no less `real’ than if we were actually standing in and experiencing that reality. I love the genius of words and images displayed here -- no less than the reality itself.” Carol Donelan, Professor of Cinema and Media Studies, Carleton College, Minnesota

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Book SynopsisMeeting the Buddhas is a modern classic, giving a vivid and accessible introduction to all the main figures meditated on in the Indo-Tibetan Buddhist tradition. First published in 1993, this new edition incorporates a section on Vajrakila, as well as new images, and hundreds of small changes that nuance and deepen earlier editions. It is a mine of information for those who want to learn about buddhas, bodhisattvas and tantric deities, and of inspiration for those who are already doing the practices. Vessantara powerfully evokes the figures, giving the reader a real feeling for what it's like to meditate on them, and how they can transform us on a deep level. It gives detailed descriptions of the figures, including their mudras and symbolic emblems, so it can be used as a handy reference to identify and learn about particular images.Trade Review'The depth of Vessantara's own practice and comfort in visionary realms means this book is an invitation to experience our lives infused with imagination, light, love, power, and mystery.' - Vidyamala Burch, OBE; 'This wonderful book was an absolute treasure trove for me.... A gift of wisdom and inspiration.' - Professor Paul Gilbert, OBE, author of 'The Compassionate Mind'; '...a wonderfully rich, comprehensive, and thorough exploration of the world of Buddhist Vajrayana....' - Rob Preece, author of 'The Psychology of Buddhist Tantra'Table of ContentsIllustrations About the Author Preface to the New Edition Acknowledgements Preface to the Original Edition Publisher's Acknowledgements Introduction Part One Meeting the Buddha Chapter One The Fountainhead of Buddhism Chapter Two The Development of Buddhist Sadhanas Chapter Three The Benefits of Sadhana Practice Chapter Four Taking Up Sadhana Practice Part Two The Mandala of the Five Buddhas Chapter Five Entering the Mandala Chapter Six Touching the Earth in the Eastern Realm Chapter Seven The Wish-Fulfilling Jewel in the South Chapter Eight The Red Buddha and the Mudra of Meditation Chapter Nine Crossed Thunderbolts and the Buddha of Action Chapter Ten At the Centre of the Mandala Part Three The Great Bodhisattvas Chapter Eleven For the Sake of All That Lives Chapter Twelve The Thousand Arms of Compassion Chapter Thirteen The Soft-Voiced Prince and the Flaming Sword Chapter Fourteen Vajrapani - the Path of Heroic Transformation Chapter Fifteen Green Tara - the Quick Way to Wisdom Chapter Sixteen White Tara - Cheating Death Chapter Seventeen The Eight Great Bodhisattvas Part Four Tantra and the Tantric Deities Chapter Eighteen The Tantric Approach Chapter Nineteen Prajnaparamita - the Book That Became a Goddess Chapter Twenty Vajrasattva - Prince of Purity Chapter Twenty-One The Tantric Gurus Chapter Twenty-Two The Oath-Bound Deities Chapter Twenty-Three Dancing in the Sky Chapter Twenty-Four The Dark Armies of the Dharma Chapter Twenty-Five The Refuge Tree and Its Future Growth Notes Illustration Credits Glossary Selected Reading Index

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Book SynopsisThe book of the brilliant BBC Radio 4 series, Three Vicars Talking, in which the Reverends Richard Coles, Kate Bottley and Giles Fraser discuss birth, marriage, funerals, Christmas - and Easter in a time of coronavirus.Trade ReviewI am not at all religious (I thought) but Three Vicars Talking on @BBCRadio4 was beautiful. -- Bryony Gordon on TwitterThere are no preens here. Each seems genuinely engaged with the others’ experiences. All are funny, wise, thoughtful, occasionally confessional. They listen to each other. There is even the odd pearl of wisdom . . . This is good stuff . . . The clever producer is Christine Morgan. -- Gillian Reynolds, The Sunday TimesThree Vicars Talking is a meditation on priesthood, wrapped up as a stocking filler . . . Bottley radiates warmth and relatability . . . Coles plays the familiar entertainment part of host struggling to control his effervescent guests . . . Fraser goes in to bat for muscular Christianity. * Church Times *It was heartening to hear a Church of England priest - Canon Fraser in this instance - state unashamed, "We're good at funerals", and he can also lay claim to the most affecting story of the half-hour, when he admitted to a temporary loss of faith after officiating at the funeral of a child. * Church Times *Entertaining * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisEven the briefest glance at an art museum's holdings or an introductory history textbook demonstrates the profound influence of Christian images and art. From Idols to Icons tells the fascinating history of the dramatic shift in Christian attitudes toward sacred images from the third through the early seventh century. From attacks on the cult images of polytheism to the emergence of Christian narrative iconography to the appearance of portrait-type representations of holy figures, this book examines the primary theological critiques and defenses of holy images in light of the surviving material evidence for early Christian visual art. Against the previous assumption that fourth- and fifth-century Christians simply forgot or ignored their predecessors' censure and reverted to more alluring pagan practices, Robin M. Jensen contends that each stage of this profound change was uniquely Christian. Through a careful consideration of the cults of saints' remains, devotional portraits, and pilgrimages to sacred sites, Jensen shows how the Christian devotion to holy images came to be rooted in their evolving conviction that the divine was accessible in and through visible objects.Trade Review"Elegantly designed and replete with full-color illustrations (many photographs by the author), From Idols to Icons…will ignite scholarly dialogue beyond traditional disciplinary categories and methodologies into the foreseeable future." * CHOICE *"This richly illustrated and subtly argued account…commends itself, and the author’s commitment to, and, indeed, affection for, her subject illuminates the text as it does the images." * Reading Religion *Table of ContentsContents List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Preface 1. Early Christian Condemnation of Idols 2. Aniconism: In Defense of the Invisible God 3. Epiphanies: Encountering the Visible God 4. Early Christian Pictorial Art: From Sacred Narratives to Holy Portraits 5. Holy Portraits: Controversies and Commendation 6. The True Likeness 7. Miraculous and Mediating Portraits 8. Materiality, Visuality, and Spiritual Insight Epilogue: The Idols’ Last Stand List of Abbreviations Notes Bibliography General Index Index of Sources

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Book SynopsisIt is commonly understood that the Qur''an sought to transform social and religious practices in its seventh-century Arabian milieu. Yet the nature of that transformation is debated, especially as it relates to women, warfare, kinship and community. This book offers a fresh perspective by undertaking the first historical-critical study of all the Qur''an''s verses on women, who were integral to this transformation, and by offering an initial overview of households and patronage late antique social structures that took the place of formal state structures in the Qur''an''s tribal milieu. The findings of this study call into question common approaches to Qur''anic theology, law, and narratives, to the nature of the early community, and to women''s place in that community. Bauer and Hamza adopt a holistic method, which integrates aspects of the Qur''an that are commonly considered separately, showing, for instance, how stories act as precursors to law, with female characters acting as moTrade ReviewAn essential contribution! Karen Bauer and Feras Hamza's judicious and thorough study engages longstanding and pressing questions about the coexistence in the Qur'an of gender hierarchy with moral-spiritual equality. They show that its treatment of women and households must be understood within its salvific message - and that women and households are key to its vision of individual and communal salvation. * Kecia Ali, Boston University *Bauer and Hamza's magisterial study shows how the extensive amount of Qur'anic data on women makes compelling and coherent sense when viewed from an innovative vantage point: the importance of households in the Qur'an's late antique Arabian milieu. Women, Households, and the Hereafter in the Qur'an brims with fresh and exciting insights into how the Qur'an ties together the social and the soteriological and how it negotiates the tension between this-worldly hierarchies and an egalitarian eschatological piety. This monograph constitutes a major advance in the scholarly understanding of the Qur'anic world-view. * Nicolai Sinai, Oxford University *A refreshingly original contribution. The authors focus on the Qur'an's deeply egalitarian moral message, a radical idea in the late antique Arabian social setting of households and patronage structures. For the field of gender studies, the authors offer a consistently innovative reading of the Qur'an. The sacred text's treatment of women serves to designate the emerging Muslim community as a moral community: how can women who are vulnerable in a patriarchal patronage society become moral exemplars? The response offered is a profound revision of the traditional scholarly understanding. * Roberto Tottoli, University of Naples *

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Book SynopsisSince the beginnings of Christianity, veneration of the Virgin Mary has played a fundamental rôle in the confession of the Christian faith. This fully illustrated book explores Marian devotion and its significance.

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Book SynopsisHughes Oliphant Old masterfully summarizes the worship of Israel and the early church and traces the development of worship through the period of the Reformation. He provides a sterling historical study that will be highly useful for pastors and church study groups as well as for scholars and students interested in Reformed worship. An...

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Book SynopsisPrayer becomes "faith in action" in this enduring classic about how the prayers of a nation can lead to revival.

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Book SynopsisA balanced overview of the role of prophecy in the Christian community, including practical information to help readers discern the authenticity of prophecies and learn to exercise the gift themselves.

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Book SynopsisThe Rite of Confirmation is the primary focus of this work by Gerard Austin, O.P. For Father Austin, confirmation''s connection with the total initiation process is the touchstone for an understanding of the sacrament. As with the other books in this series on the reformed rites, this book consists of three parts: The Tradition, surveying the historical development of confirmation; The Reforms, dealing with modern reforms; and The Future, analyzing present praxis with an opening to the future. A secondary focus of this book in on the Rite of the Blessing of Oils and the Rite of Consecrating the Chrism. Reverend Gerard Austin, O.P., was the chairman of the Department of Theology at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C from 1983-1986.

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Book SynopsisWhat was the impact of liturgy on the development of orthodox doctrine in the early Christian church? With renowned liturgical historian Maxwell E. Johnson as a guide, readers of Praying and Believing in Early Christianity will discover the important and sometimes surprising ways that worship helped to shape what was believed, taught, and confessed. In particular, Johnson considers this relationship in terms of soteriology: What is the role of grace in the process of salvation? Trinity: How did early devotion to Christ and the church''s baptismal and eucharistic liturgies help shape the developing doctrine of the Trinity? Christ and Mary: What does the devotional and liturgical term theotokos say about them both? ethics: How does the liturgy contribute not only to doctrine but also to convictions about morality? Johnson also explores the ways this relationship worked in the opposite direction: How did doctrinal developments shape liturgical texts in the patristic period? ThTrade Review"Finally! A renowned historian of liturgy explores at length the creative interplay between liturgical practice and theological reflection. This has been a desideratum for some time now, especially given the fresh readings of early Christian sources and the glimpses these provide of liturgical practices. In his new book, Max Johnson offers a nuanced, carefully argued, and expertly corroborated look at how doctrine shaped liturgical prayer and how prayer shaped the church�s faith in the early centuries. Mapping the interplay between praying and believing in a multidimensional way, Johnson makes an important and much needed contribution to the ongoing conversation about the relationship between worship and doctrine in the church�s life. I highly recommend this book." Teresa Berger, Yale Institute of Sacred Music, Yale Divinity School"Professor Maxwell Johnson of the University of Notre Dame has written a short but fulsome account of the influence of the liturgy on the development of the doctrines of grace, Trinity, Christology, and Mariology in the ancient Church and on early Christianity�s moral practices. Entering into current debates in liturgical theology, Johnson challenges claims about liturgy and prayer as primary theology (lex orandi) and disagrees with the understanding of orthodoxia as `right praise� (it is `right teaching�). Rather, he sees a simultaneous development of both liturgy and dogma in the early centuries in which one should look for the theology embedded in the liturgy and doxology and supplication expressed in theology. While Johnson aimed this book at master�s level students, it will be of interest also to his peers, who will find points to challenge precisely because they are so engagingly made." The Rev. Dr. Frank C. Senn, STS, Pastor (retired), Immanuel Lutheran Church, Evanston, Illinois"Assembling ample documentary evidence from the early Christian centuries, and drawing on supportive argumentation from recent scholarship, Maxwell Johnson here demonstrates the prime role of worship and devotion in shaping the Church�s doctrine and ethics; and then in turn he signals the recurrent need for the classical faith to inform contemporary liturgy and the moral life. A tightly reasoned book, with many illustrative examples!" Geoffrey Wainwright, Robert Earl Cushman Professor Emeritus of Christian Theology, Duke Divinity School"This insightful book, while ostensibly for master�s-level students in liturgical studies, should be on the required reading list for graduate students not only in liturgical theology, but also in historical theology, worship studies, systematic theology, practical theology, pastoral theology, moral theology, and Christian spirituality. This book should also be considered, at a minimum, as supplemental reading in church history courses for seminarians." Donna R. Hawk-Reinhard, The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies, Horizons"Masterfully synthesizing a wealth of early sources with the best of current scholarship, Johnson convincingly argues for a mutual and ongoing relationship between liturgical prayer and doctrine. He presents abundant evidence relating to the ways in which eucharistic, baptismal, and devotional prayer shaped doctrines emerging from Nicaea, Constantinople, Ephesus, and even Chalcedon. Similarly, he demonstrates how liturgical prayer was affected by doctrines received from these councils. This scholarship alone makes Praying and Believing in Early Christianity an important text." David A. Pitt, Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa, Worship"Praying and Believing in Early Christianity is an important contribution to the question of the formative role of liturgy in doctrinal development. Johnson’s audience is ‘beginning students in liturgical studies at the master’s level’ (xiv). He does assume some background in the theological controversies addressed by the first four ecumenical councils. However, in most cases Johnson provides enough context so that the book can be read with insight by those who are not knowledgeable about these controversies. Therefore, I would recommend a wider readership than graduate students in theological studies." Wilburn T. Stancil, Catholic Books Review"A scholarly tome on the impact of liturgy on doctrine in the early Christian church. Johnson provides an excellent translation of significant sources throughout his chapters, serving as a great resource on how these ancient doctrinal and liturgical discussions shaped how we prayed and later believed."John Thomas J. Lane, SSS,�Emmanuel

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Book SynopsisAt Lent, David Walker explores different aspects of human belonging through scripture and story in order to help us recognise the different ways in which we are God’s beloved.

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Book SynopsisThis book provides twenty-three pages for listing the names of living Orthodox loved ones to pray for and provides twenty-three pages to list Orthodox loved ones who have died.

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Book SynopsisThe Routledge Handbook of Religious and Spiritual Tourism provides a robust and comprehensive state-of-the-art review of the literature in this growing sub-field of tourism. This handbook is split into five distinct sections. The first section covers past and present debates regarding definitions, theories, and concepts related to religious and spiritual tourism. Subsequent sections focus on the supply and demand aspects of religious and spiritual tourism markets, and examine issues related to the management side of these markets around the world. Areas under examination include religious theme parks, the UNESCO branding of religious heritage, gender and performance, popular culture, pilgrimage, environmental impacts, and fear and terrorism, among many others. The final section explores emerging and future directions in religious and spiritual tourism, and proposes an agenda for further research. Interdisciplinary in coverage and international inTable of Contents1. Investigating the intersections between religion, spiritualty, and tourism. Section I: Definitions, Theories, and Concepts. 2. Pilgrimages, journeys, and outings: The historical mobilities of religious praxis. 3. The political economy of religious and spiritual tourism. 4. The religious and spiritual dimensions of leisure travel. 5. Religion, spirituality, and wellness tourism. 6. A new spiritual marketplace: Comparing New Age and New Religious Movements in an age of spiritual and religious tourism. 7. Fan pilgrimage, religion, and spirituality. 8. Secular pilgrimages in a post-secular world? Experiential journeys and hope for the future. 9. Pilgrimage, tourism, and peace building. Section II: Spaces and Places. 10. Environment as a sacred space: Religious and spiritual tourism and environmental concerns in Hinduism. 11. Tourism and spirituality: Green places, blue spaces, and beyond. 12. The religious and spiritual appeal of national parks. 13. Religious theme parks. 14. Religious and spiritual retreats. 15. Religious and spiritual world heritage sites. Section III: Motivations, Experiences, and Performance. 16. Travel motivations of pilgrims, religious tourists, and spirituality seekers. 17. Volunteer tourism: A spiritual and religious journey of meaning, transcendence, and connectedness. 18. Experiences along the Camino de Santiago. 19. Gender and performance in the context of religious and spiritual tourism: pilgrimage and sacred mobilities. 20. Issues of authenticity in religious and spiritual tourism. 21. Aftermath: Calculating the effects of pilgrimage. Section IV: Managing religious and spiritual tourism. 22. Socio-political and economic implications of religious and spiritual tourism. 23. The environmental impacts of religious and spiritual tourism. 24. Marketing religious and spiritual tourism experiences. 25. Managing religious and spiritual tourism sites. 26. Managing complex issues in religious and spiritual events, festivals and celebrations. 27. The use of information and communication technologies in religious tourism. 28. Interpreting religious and spiritual tourism destinations/sites. 29. Coexistence between tourists and monks: Managing temple-stay tourism at Koyasan, Japan. 30. Food and religion: Tourism perspectives. 31. Safety, fear, risk, and terrorism in the context of religious tourism. 32. Religious and spiritual tourism: Sustainable development perspectives. Section V: Emerging and Future Directions. 33. Religion, spiritualty, and tourism: Emerging and future directions.

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Book SynopsisThis Element offers a brief overview of Buddhist thought and modern scholarly approaches to its diverse forms of moral reflection. It then explores two of the most prominent philosophers from the main strands of the Indian Buddhist tradition Buddhaghosa and Santideva in a comparative fashion.Trade Review'This book makes an important contribution to the study of Buddhist ethics, as well as Buddhaghosa and Śāntideva studies, and I anticipate it will be much appreciated by students and professionals interested in a short but deep dive into Buddhist ethics.' Emily McRae, Journal of Buddhist Ethics'… a most relevant contribution to a central subject that deserves to attract more scholarly attention, the book is recommended to all who are working on the political and military history of the fourth century BC.' Sabine Müller, Global Military Studies Review'This concise and informative book reveals the diversity (or even disagreement to some degree) of the notion of morality within Buddhism rather than a generalized theory called 'Buddhist ethics'.' Huỳnh Cao Nhựt Quang, Religious Studies ReviewTable of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Buddhaghosa and the analysis of moral experience and development; 3. Śāntideva and an ethic of radical compassion; 4. Conclusions; References.

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Book SynopsisTracks the history of concepts and practices associated with the physical crossroads in the early modern period.Trade Review"Bill Angus offers a rich and fascinating exploration of the symbolic potential of the uncanny points at which roads simultaneously meet and diverge, showing that whether as places for selling one's soul, burying the outcast dead, or encountering the supernatural, crossroads in the early modern imagination were charged and dangerous.? " -Lisa Hopkins, Sheffield Hallam University

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Book SynopsisThe basic outline of the Christmas story is so familiar we might think we have no more to learn from it. But try looking at the Christmas story through different eyes. Through the eyes of Micah and Isaiah who foretold it; Anna and Simeon who witnessed it; and Paul and John who reflected on it. Wonder anew at this amazing story of the birth of the Son of God as a baby.Trade ReviewNo part of Scripture is better known than the Christmas story – and none is more widely misunderstood. David Randall … reveals the story’s dynamic, life–changing truth as seen through the eyes of its prophets and participants. Easy to read, enhanced by excellent illustrations and thoroughly grounded in God’s Word, Come and Behold Him will open your eyes, stimulate your mind and warm your heart. I strongly recommend it. -- John Blanchard (Internationally known Christian preacher, teacher, apologist and author)Does Christmas feel consumer–driven, or overly–sentimental, or even over–familiar? I heartily recommend this book as a refreshing and inspiring antidote! We see the story through the eyes of many different witnesses across scripture, providing us with a fresh perspective which is Christ–centred, faith–building and heart–warming – the best Christmas book I have read for many years! -- Jonathan Lamb (Minister–at–large for Keswick Ministries, IFES Vice President, and former Director, Langham Preaching)Through the eyes of fourteen biblical characters, David focusses us powerfully and precisely on the real Character at the heart of Christmas, Jesus Christ. Whether you’re a Christian who struggles to get excited about Christmas, or a seeker wondering what all the fuss is really about, this is a beautifully written invitation to come and behold the One at the heart of Christmas, Immanuel, God with Us. -- Andy Bannister (Director of Solas (Centre for Public Christianity), UK)

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