Religion

The Bible tells the stories of many empires, and many are still considered some of the largest of the ancient and classical world: the Assyrians, the Babylonians, the Persians, the Greeks, and finally the Romans. In this provocative book, nine experts bring a critical analysis of these world empires in the background of the Old and New...

Keith Nickle provides a revised and updated edition of a well-respected resource that fills the gap between cursory treatments of the Synoptic Gospels by New Testament introductions and exhaustive treatments in commentaries. In a clear and concise manner, Nickles explores the major issues of faith that influenced the writers of the Gospels. The...

"Here is a volume that is sure to be welcomed by anyone who teaches topics related to postmodernism. But it will be especially appreciated by teachers of religious education and practical theology because Friedrich Schweitzer does more than discuss various interpretations of postmodernism and its critiques. He paints a picture of the postmodern life cycle, which he claims is itself a theological issue. The brilliance of his treatment is further enhanced by the European and North American perspectives he engages in his critique of religious imagery, religious education, and pastoral theology within the context of present day pluriformity. Particularly unique is the author's attempt to make his work available to a broad audience. This book is public theology in its best sense."

The Khalil Gibran Collection Volume I include three of Gibran's famous works. Included are:The WandererThe Madman His Parables and Poems The Forerunner Khalil Gibran was a Lebanese-American artist, poet, and writer. As a young man he emigrated with his family to the United States where he studied art and began his literary career. His Romantic style was at the heart of a renaissance in modern Arabic literature he is still celebrated as a literary hero.

The life of Syncletica is one of the oldest lives of a woman saint and provides rare testimony to the life of female sanctity in the fifth century. This translation of the life forms Part One of a two-part set, while Part Two provides the first full-length study of the teachings and spiritual background of this most remarkable woman. Anchored firmly in the Scriptures and in everyday, human experience, Syncletica's teachings are as pertinent today as they were fifteen centuries ago. Her meditations, based on astute psychological insights, still have the power to inspire, to encourage, and to challenge latter-day disciples to live authentic Christian lives.

From a Spiritual Master Unlike Any,A Spiritual Masterpiece Like No OtherAUTHOR, TEACHER AND SPIRITUAL MASTER Jed McKenna tells it like it's never been told before. A true American original, Jed succeeds where countless others have failed by reducing this highest of attainments - Spiritual Enlightenment - to the simplest of terms.Effectively demystifying the mystical, Jed astonishes the reader not by adding to the world's collected spiritual wisdom, but by taking the spirituality out of spiritual enlightenment. Never before has this elusive topic been treated in so engaging and accessible a manner.A masterpiece of illuminative writing, Spiritual Enlightenment is mandatory reading for anyone following a spiritual path. Part exposé and part how-to manual, this is the first book to explain why failure seems to be the rule in the search for enlightenment - and how the rule can be broken.Says Jed:The truth is that enlightenment is neither remote nor unattainable. It is closer than your skin and more immediate than your next breath. If we wonder why so few seem able to find that which can never be lost, we might recall the child who was looking in the light for a coin he dropped in the dark because "the light is better over here." Mankind has spent ages looking in the light for a coin that awaits us not in light and not in dark, but beyond all opposites. That is the message of this book: Spiritual enlightenment, pure and simple.

Guns and bombs are children's toys. A true war wages, and you're invited. IT'S AN INVITATION you may not be able to accept if you want to, or decline if you don't. It's an invitation to fight in a war like no other; a war where loss is counted as gain, surrender as victory, and where the enemy you must face, an enemy of unimaginable superiority, is yourself.In Spiritual Warfare, the metaphor of warfare rarely appears. Instead, we are presented with the living reality of a very normal woman - a wife and mother with a demanding career and high-stress lifestyle - and we see what happens when she receives an invitation that, try as she might, she can't refuse. And we meet another woman, a woman who accepted the invitation and fought and won. In the closing chapters of this book, we attend her memorial service as Jed delivers her eulogy.Spiritual Warfare issues a damning and irrefutable indictment of its own audience and genre, putting spirituality and religion themselves on trial. A terrible crime is being committed against humanity, a crime of oppression and subjugation far beyond Orwell's 1984. We are the victims of this crime, but we are also its perpetrators. Our motive is fear, our sin is ignorance, and the chain in which we enslave ourselves is belief."Belief means not wanting to know what is true." -Friedrich NietzscheSpiritual Warfare is a book for those who do want to know; people who want to escape from their dark asylum and experience a direct and authentic spirituality; people for whom it's time to look, to think, to know, and, at long last, to put away childish things.

Including a scoring system to prove how blessings outweigh burdens, this uplifting book explores the many blessings that commonly are overlooked. Readers can experience an increased level of gratitude as they are reminded of the everyday experiences that make life more satisfying.

For novice students as well as experienced astrologers seeking a holistic look at the foundations, this accessible and fascinating study is filled with down-to-earth examples and carefully considered explanations of the profound spiritual elements behind various astrological concepts.

The Bhagavad-Gita, interpreted by Annie Wood Besant, presents a profound and enlightening perspective on this timeless Hindu scripture. In her interpretation of The Bhagavad-Gita, Annie Wood Besant offers a unique and deeply insightful exploration of one of Hinduism's most revered texts. Her work illuminates the Gita's profound philosophical and spiritual teachings, making them accessible to a broader audience. Besant begins by setting the stage for the Gita's dialogue, providing context within the epic Mahabharata, where this sacred conversation takes place. Her analysis delves into the conversation between Prince Arjuna and Lord Krishna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, unraveling its symbolic and metaphysical layers. Besant's interpretation brings forth the Gita's themes of duty, righteousness, and the nature of reality, which are as relevant today as they were millennia ago. Central to Besant's commentary is the concept of dharma (righteous duty) and how it applies to the spiritual and everyday lives of individuals. She elucidates Krishna's teachings on various paths to spiritual liberation - including devotion, knowledge, and selfless action - highlighting their universal relevance. Her insights provide readers with a deeper understanding of the Gita's guidance on living a balanced, ethical, and spiritually enriched life. Besant also delves into the Gita's teachings on the nature of the self, the universe, and the divine. Her interpretation is not just scholarly but also deeply spiritual, reflecting her own Theosophical views. She presents the Gita as a guide for spiritual evolution, emphasizing its significance in the journey towards self-realization and unity with the divine. The Bhagavad-Gita by Annie Wood Besant is more than just a translation; it is a profound interpretation that offers a deeper understanding of this sacred text. It is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in Hindu philosophy, spiritual growth, or the study of religious texts. Besant's work invites readers into the heart of the Gita's timeless wisdom, revealing its enduring power to inspire and transform.

In a busy world of things to do and places to be, a "quiet time" seems like just one more activity to add to our already over-booked agendas. In this 17th century spiritual classic, featuring the letters and conversations of Brother Lawrence, we're informed that God doesn't just exist in the areas of our life that we deem religious. He's closer than our breath, encapsulates our being, and desires to be part of our everyday activities. For Lawrence, "set times of prayer were no different than other times, and his work didn't divert him from God". His practical simplicity brings a depth of wisdom that all can apply to their lives. This beautiful paperback of The Practice of the Presence of God retains its original translation, while featuring 21 new contemporary woodcuts. All proceeds from the sale of this book are donated to charity.

In God and the New Atheism, a world expert on science and theology gives clear, concise, and compelling answers to the charges against religion laid out in recent best-selling books by Richard Dawkins (The God Delusion), Sam Harris (The End of Faith), and Christopher Hitchens (God Is Not Great). For some, these "new atheists" appear to say...