Books published by HarperOne

A concise and up-to-date guide to the history, teachings, and practice of Buddhism by two luminaries in the field of world religions.

Now with an updated preface from the author celebrating this groundbreaking and increasingly relevant book. Nautilus Award WinnerThis revelatory manifesto speaks to the heroine in every woman and man, offering potent strategies drawn from ancient Greek wisdom that can help us find happiness even in today's unfinished social revolution. Four archetypal plotlines?two feminine, two masculine?chart this path toward greater life satisfaction.In this empowering work, Carol S. Pearson, the bestselling author of The Hero Within and Awakening the Heroes Within, reveals how the Demeter and Persephone story uncannily mirrors cultural and political dramas being played out today before our very eyes, and then shows how these conflicts could be resolved. In the myth, the earth mother wins a power struggle with a patriarchal god, thereby ending a famine (think climate change) that threatens human survival. As this is occurring, a youthful goddess gains her freedom, asserting gender partnership and equality, and as a result gives birth to joy and celebration.The archetypal figures and narratives that galvanize attention in the public world also activate them within us as individuals. The challenge, then, is to live these stories wisely, shifting their expression within us for our own good and that of our society. The example of the four major mythic characters illustrates how readers can move from feeling powerless to purposeful, disrespected to esteemed, trapped to free, and anxious to joyful.Drawing on her profound understanding of myth's enduring power to catalyze such transformations, Pearson guides readers of Persephone Rising on a journey of self-discovery, teaching us how to apply lessons from Demeter and Persephone, as well as Zeus and Dionysus, in our own lives?examples that reveal unexpected choices and opportunities available to us all.

A trip to Appalachia to investigate a religious "miracle" becomes a transformational spiritual journey for one unsuspecting Londoner in this modern tale that touches on the mysterious questions in our lives?a poignant, wry novel infused with the humor and warm skepticism of Nick Hornby's How to Be Good.Dumped, depressed, and bored with his dead-end job, Londoner John Mallory decides to shake up his life. He accepts his journalist brother's offer to help him on a documentary film investigating a pastor in rural Tennessee who claims he can walk on water. Locals are convinced it's the Lord's work. John and his brother, Steve, have their doubts, and hope the film will answer the question: Is it a true miracle?or a giant hoax?When John arrives in Appalachia, he discovers a few unexpected surprises, including a charming hotel receptionist who catches his eye and the charismatic, deeply religious pastor who coyly dodges the fact-focused investigation. The deeper John becomes immersed in this charming bucolic community that is so different from the harried, cold London he knows, the further conflicted he becomes. At a spiritual crossroads, John must decide what he wants: to force a decent man to prove his faith and return to an empty urban life?or to explore the possibilities this new world of mystery, warmth, and faith-focused life holds?Jacob Beaver's beautiful and witty novel challenges the assumptions and certainties of a logic-driven, mainstream urban culture, offering an inviting alternative perspective that is open to mystery and new beginnings.

The fates of two wise men from the same village living in different time periods are connected by one mythical creature--and forces they cannot control--in this compelling supernatural tale that imaginatively retells the historical legend of the Wolf of Allendale. In a Druid village in Northumberland, England, Bran, the village leader, must face two dangerous opponents: an otherworldly animal and formidable invaders from the south.Two thousand years later, at the dawn of the Industrial Age, this sleepy English village once again faces the frightening menace. Something is killing the sheep--and leaving large, mysterious footprints across the countryside.Bert, an old shepherd, is the only villager who understands what is happening. The beast that once terrorized this land, a mythical wolf known as a cysgod-cerddwr--shadow walker--has been disturbed for the first time since the Iron Age, and only one weapon can stop it: an ancient ritual that has nearly been lost to time.Separated by eons, Bran and Bert must battle this fearsome wolf using the sacred practice that has been passed down from generation to generation. Both must confront the threat of the mysterious beast and the end of their way of life. Bran's culture is imperiled by Roman conquest. Bert's shepherd life is threatened by the railways and mines that encroach upon his small town. In this thought-provoking paranormal novel, Hannah Spencer uses the story of the Wolf of Allendale as a creative lens to examine the clash of progress and tradition as she brings to light ancient folklore that is nearly forgotten.

In the tradition of The Red Tent, The Fifth Mountain, and The Mists of Avalon comes this absorbing historical novel that reimagines the life of one of the Bible's most revered women, the prophetess Deborah, and her epic journey to fulfill her destiny.Deborah's father dreamed that his daughter would one day become a prophet of the God of the Israelites. But the social and religious mores of her time dictated that a woman must marry--even against her will--and obey her husband. When Deborah is forced into an engagement with the violent son of her local judge, the young Hebrew woman rebels, determined to forge a new path. Captivated by the notion of transforming herself into a man to escape the arranged marriage and fulfill her father's dream, Deborah embarks upon an epic journey across the desert to find a mysterious elixirist rumored to be blessed with the gift of turning women into men. It is a journey that proves increasingly perilous--filled with wild beasts, lustful men, unscrupulous priests, and warring tribesmen. Yet Deborah discovers that she is not alone; an unlikely coterie of lepers, slaves, Moabite traders, and even a dead tiger come to her aid and defense along the way.Part traditional biblical fiction, part adventure, Deborah Rising is a captivating tale about the early life of one of the most famous figures from the Old Testament--a woman of courage and spirit whose battle to overcome discrimination, sexism, and paternalism speaks to women's lives today.

In this poignant spiritual novel that echoes the emotional resonance of The Glass Castle and Running with Scissors, an unexpected reunion at a remote lakeside camp in the Maine woods offers the possibility of reconciliation and healing for a man and his fractured family.For years, Paul Strand has been estranged from his family. But when his mother's escalating Alzheimer's disease creates a crisis that calls him home, he's pressured into hosting a reunion he's avoided for decades in the one place he thought his family would never return to: the rural state park in Maine where his little sister drowned years before on a family vacation. Over the course of ten days of guiding his family over difficult terrain, Paul finds himself torn between his desire for isolation and the need to reconnect with the only people who can make him whole. But after a lifetime of separation, is the painful chasm between them?and within Paul's own soul?too deep to overcome?Bryan Wiggins's beautifully rendered novel illuminates the mysterious power of the wilderness and the resiliency of the human spirit to heal in the wake of devastating trauma.

"Written in the Ashes is one of those rare novels that sets 'history' afire, to bathe readers in the glow of a greater, hotter truth. Fans of The Mists of Avalon will find this romantic/alchemical/feminist/spiritual epic equally captivating."?Tom Robbins, bestselling author of Tibetan Peach Pie: A True Account of an Imaginative Life and Villa IncognitoIn the bloody clash between Christians and pagans in fifth-century Alexandria, a servant girl becomes the last hope for preserving peace in this evocative and thrilling tale?a blend of history, adventure, religion, romance, and mysticism reminiscent of The Mists of Avalon.After she is abducted from her home in the mountains of Sinai, Hannah is enslaved and taken to Alexandria, where she becomes the property of Alizar, an alchemist and pagan secretly working to preserve his culture. Revered for her beautiful singing voice, the young slave is invited to perform at the city's Great Library, where she becomes friends with the revered mathematician and philosopher, Hypatia, as well as other pagans who curate its magnificent collections. Determined to help them uphold pagan culture and traditions, Hannah embarks on a dangerous quest to unite the fractured pieces of the Emerald Tablet?the last hope to save the pagans and create peace. On this odyssey that leads her to the lost oracles of Delfi and Amun-Ra and to rediscovered ancient cities and rituals, Hannah will experience forbidden loves, painful betrayals, and poignant reunions. But her efforts may be in vain. Returning to Alexandria, Hannah finds a city engulfed in violence, even as her own romantic entanglements come to a head. Now, it's not only her future, but the fate of all Alexandria that is at stake.

This engaging contemplation of maturity addresses the long neglected topic of what it means to grow up, and provides a hands-on guide for skilfully navigating the demands of our adult lives. Growing up happens whether we like it or not, but maturity must be cultivated. Challenged to consider his own sense of maturity while mentoring a group of teenage boys, Fischer began to investigate our preconceptions about what it means to be ࠮ adultߡnd shows how crucial true maturity is to leading an engaged, fulfilled life. Taking Our Places details the marks of a mature person and shows how these attributes can help alleviate our suffering and enrich our relationships. Discussing such qualities as awareness, responsibility, humour, acceptance, and humility, Fischer brings a fresh, and at times surprising, new perspective that can turn old ideas on their heads and reinvigorate our understanding of what it means to be mature.

Luskin has developed an accessible guide to understanding and overcoming the negative effects of anger, bitterness, and resentment. This book provides both the tools to learn how to forgive and the scientifically-proven research on the ways in which true forgiveness can lead to greater happiness.

Now in paperback, The Reluctant Parting is a poignant look at the New Testament exploring the forgotten question of intention and identity in Christianity's core writings- How did Jesus's followers stop being Jewish without meaning to? While other books have demonstrated the "Jewishness" of Jesus, none have grappled with the implications of the New Testament authors' relationship to their own Judaism. The Christian New Testament has led a life never imagined by its Jewish sectarian authors. Through lively and accessible scholarship, Galambush reveals the anguish of the early Christians as they first struggled with, and then left behind, the larger Jewish community. She illuminates the human drama of the split between Jews and Christians, revealing a deep loss at the heart of Christian tradition that continues to cry out for reconciliation between Christianity and the Judaism it so painfully left. Not just another well-credentialed scholar, Galambush is uniquely positioned as both a convert to Judaism and a former associate pastor to identify what is at stake for Jews as well as for Christians. The book's deeply empathic portrayal of the early Christians' struggle with their Jewish identity will allow it to serve as a resource for Jews and Christians alike.

A sweeping look at the complex patterns of the Jewish experience Jewish Women/Jewish Men offers a new and often controversial view of gender, generational, and social struggles throughout Jewish history. Author Aviva Cantor shows how every aspect of Jewish life has been affected by patriarchy and offers a liberating vision of a society transformed by humane feminist values.

"This book rests on a simple but profound truth: Spiritual meaning is vital to human life . . . Will help restore meaning and purpose to anyone who reads it". says Larry Dossey, author of Healing Words. "Jones makes a . . . convincing case for achieving individual connection with a sacred and so enhancing identity".--Publishers Weekly.

The Jesus Family Tomb tells the story of what may very well be the greatest archaeological find of all time--the discovery of the family tomb of Jesus of Nazareth. Following the accidental bulldozing of a tomb during the building of a housing complex in suburban Jerusalem in 1980, archaeologists from the Israeli Antiquities Authority were immediately called to the scene. Inside, the archaeologists found ten ossuaries--limestone boxes that served as first-century coffins. Six had inscriptions, including Jesus, son of Joseph; two Marys; and Judah, son of Jesus. The team concluded that the unusual group of names was merely coincidence. After removing and cataloging the ossuaries, they left the tomb to the builders to finish what they had already started.Twenty-five years later, Simcha Jacobovici, an Emmy award-winning journalist, tracked down the ossuaries in the Israeli Antiquities Authority's warehouse and decided to investigate this remarkable collection of names. Simcha mapped and then located the original tomb, which, to his surprise, was still intact. Granted unequaled access, he soon found that the archaeologists were unaware of key evidence that made this the discovery of a lifetime.This is a story that is destined to grab international headlines and raise fundamental questions about the historical Jesus. Are the "Jesus" and "Mary" referred to in these inscriptions the Jesus and Mary Magdalene of the gospels? Readers are taken on a remarkable journey: from telling statistical analysis, to a time-bending trip across two millennia, and an investigation of the patinas and DNA of the tombs that makes an episode of CSI look mundane. The Jesus Family Tomb arrives at an extraordinary answer to an ancient mystery.A riveting combination of history, archaeo-logy, and theology, this book will change the way we think about God, religion, and everything we have learned about the life and death of Jesus.

From the Creator and Coauthor of the Popular 101 Questions Children Ask about...Series--A Practical Guide on How to Build a Strong, Tangible Spiritual Foundation in Your Children's LivesMany of today's parents remember their own childhood experiences with God and religion as abstract and confusing, leaving them with more questions than answers. It is with this in mind that Rick Osborne has created Talking to Your Children about God, an indispensible guide for parents who want to be prepared for those "hard-to-answer" questions about God. Full of helpful tips and suggestions, this book provides answers that will satisfy the inquisitive and persistent nature of kids when they pose such difficult questions as: Why can't I see God? What's so important about the Bible? Why do we go to church? What should I say when I pray? Does God watch everything I do?What is heaven like?What are angels?I highly recommend Rick's resources to every parent. [He] is one of God's gifts to parents."--Josh McDowell, acclaimed Christian author and speaker.

John and Charles Wesley led the Methodist revival that swept eighteenth-century England and America and changed the face of Christianity forever. Their spirituality synthesized a unique blend of elements from the church fathers, Catholic mystics, and Protestant Reformers. This selection includes John's incisive writings on the spiritual life as well as the famous hymns of Charles, giving vibrant expression to the faith of the Wesleys. "About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation; and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death." -- John Wesley

Another book in the Little Books of Wisdom series: portable, elegantly packaged inspiration from around the world -- irresistible for the impulse buyer and the serious reader alike.

This HarperCollins Spiritual Classic collects the significant writings of the Pietists, whose influence continues to shape Christianity today. "Perfection is nothing other than faith in the Lord Jesus and is not in us or ours but in Christ or of Christ for whose sake we are considered perfect before God and thus his perfection is ours by ascription."--August Hermann Francke Although the movement was relatively brief, the longstanding influence of Pietism reaches many aspects of our intellectual, political and religious culture today. Originating in late sixteenth and early seventeenth-century, Pietism spread to influence Lutheran, Reformed and Wesleyan churches throughout Europe and North America, forever changing the face of Christianity. Preaching, which had previously been dense theological discourse, suddenly became directed toward the moral and religious life of the people in the pew. For the first time, congregants desired to grow their spiritual lives and devotional writing was born. The Pietists' emphasis on conversion through personal religious experience, heartfelt union with Christ, and the importance of Scripture as a guide in spiritual life, are still evident today in churches across the country. This classic collection of writings from the most prominent and important Pietists is essential to understanding our history as a religious people. Foreword by Phyllis Tickle Edited by Emilie Griffin and Peter C. Erb