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Before Taliban: Genealogies of the Afghan Jihad
By David B. Edwards. 2002
If you want to read one book to understand the background to the political conflicts in Afghanistan and the Taliban's…
rise to power, this is the book. Edwards tells the stories of three men--a Marxist politician, a tribal leader, and an Islamic militant--to explain the complex political culture of Afghanistan.Seeking Good Debate
By Michael S. Evans. 2016
Why do religion and science often appear in conflict in America's public sphere? In Seeking Good Debate, Michael S. Evans…
examines the results from the first-ever study to combine large-scale empirical analysis of some of our foremost religion and science debates with in-depth research into what Americans actually want in the public sphere. The surprising finding is that apparent conflicts involving religion and science reflect a more fundamental conflict between media elites and ordinary Americans over what is good debate. For elite representatives, good debate advances an agenda, but, as Evans shows, for many Americans it is defined by engagement and deliberation. This hidden conflict over what constitutes debate's proper role diminishes the possibility for science and religion to be discussed meaningfully in public life. Challenging our understanding of science, religion, and conflict, Seeking Good Debate raises profound questions about the future of the public sphere and American democracy.Nevertheless, We Persisted: 48 Voices of Defiance, Strength, and Courage
By Amy Klobuchar. 2018
A powerful collection of essays from actors, activists, athletes, politicians, musicians, writers, and teens, including Senator Amy Klobuchar, actress Alia…
Shawkat, actor Maulik Pancholy, poet Azure Antoinette, teen activist Gavin Grimm, and many, many more, each writing about a time in their youth when they were held back because of their race, gender, or sexual identity--but persisted. "Aren't you a terrorist?" "There are no roles for people who look like you." "That's a sin." "No girls allowed." They've heard it all. Actress Alia Shawkat reflects on all the parts she was told she was too "ethnic" to play. Former NFL player Wade Davis recalls his bullying of gay classmates in an attempt to hide his own sexuality. Teen Gavin Grimm shares the story that led to the infamous "bathroom bill," and how he's fighting it. Holocaust survivor Fanny Starr tells of her harrowing time in Aushwitz, where she watched her family disappear, one by one. What made them rise up through the hate? What made them overcome the obstacles of their childhood to achieve extraordinary success? How did they break out of society's limited view of who they are and find their way to the beautiful and hard-won lives they live today? With a foreword by Minnesota senator and up-and-coming Democratic party leader Amy Klobuchar, these essays share deeply personal stories of resilience, faith, love, and, yes, persistence.Catholicism Today: An Introduction to the Contemporary Catholic Church
By Evyatar Marienberg. 2015
Catholics are not Christians. They worship Mary. They do whatever the pope says. They cannot divorce. They eat fish on…
Fridays. These flawed but common statements reflect a combined ignorance of and fascination with Catholicism and the Catholic Church. Catholicism Today: An Introduction to the Contemporary Catholic Church aims to familiarize its readers with contemporary Catholicism. The book is designed to address common misconceptions and frequently-asked questions regarding the Church, its teachings, and the lived experience of Catholics in modern societies worldwide. Opening with a concise historical overview of Christianity in general and Catholicism in particular, the text explores the core beliefs and rituals that define Catholicism in practice, the organization of the Church and the Catholic calendar, as well as the broad question of what it means to be Catholic in a variety of cultural contexts. The book ends with a discussion of the challenges facing the Church both now and in the coming decades. Also included are two short appendices on Eastern Catholicism and Catholicism in the United States.American Religions: An Illustrated History
By J. Gordon Melton. 2000
Melton (Institute for the Study of American Religion, Santa Barbara, California) begins with over 400 native religions being practiced at…
the time of European contact. He then discusses the initial colonization and religious pioneers, how religious groups dealt with their new dependence on voluntary member support and the forces leading to the Civil War, the emergence of fundamentalism and its development up to current controversies, and the leap in religious pluralism at the end of the 20th century.My Revision Notes: Religious Ethics
By Jill Oliphant. 2013
Unlock your full potential with this revision guide which provides both the key content you need to know and guidance…
on how to apply it for better gradesMy Revision Notes: OCR A2 Religious Studies: Religious Ethics helps you to stay motivated and focused during your revision - and gives you the opportunity to practise and refine your skills to achieve the best grade in your exam. Breaks down all topics into short sections - easy to read and revise from Exam-style practice questions help confidence with the exam Concise notes, clear layout and colourful features keep you engaged You can check your learning with the 'test yourself' questions and tick-box designTantric Ethics: An Explanation of the Precepts for Buddhist Vajrayana Practice
By Jeffrey Hopkins, Gareth Sparham, Je Tsongkhapa. 2005
Tantra, or Vajrayana, Buddhism is a set of esoteric practices that involve mantra recitation and complex visualizations. Tantra constitutes the…
fabric of a Tibetan Buddhist's daily practice, but no practice of tantra can be successful without adherence to the tantric precepts, the highest of three complementary sets of vows. Tsongkhapa is perhaps the greatest philosopher ever produced by Tibet's Buddhist culture, and this book is a translation of his explanation of the tantric precepts.In the Cool Shade of Compassion: The Enchanted World of the Buddha in the Jungle
By Kamala Tiyavanich. 2018
A fascinating collection of stories of the Thai forest monks that illuminates the Thai Forest tradition as a vibrant …
compassionate and highly appealing way of life This work ingeniously intermingles real-life stories about nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Buddhist monks in old Siam today s Thailand with experiences recorded by their Western contemporaries Stories of giant snakes bandits boatmen midwives and guardian spirits collectively portray a Buddhist culture in all its imaginative and geographical brilliance By juxtaposing these eyewitness accounts Kamala Tiyavanich presents a new and vivid picture of Buddhism as it was lived and of the natural environments in which the Buddha s teachings were practiced This book was previously published under the title The Buddha in the JungleCambridge Classical Studies: Revisiting Delphi
By Julia Kindt. 2016
Revisiting Delphi speaks to all admirers of Delphi and its famous prophecies, be they experts on ancient Greek religion, students…
of the ancient world, or just lovers of a good story. It invites readers to revisit the famous Oracle of Apollo at Delphi, along with Herodotus, Euripides, Socrates, Pausanias and Athenaeus, offering the first comparative and extended enquiry into the way these and other authors force us to move the link between religion and narrative centre stage. Their accounts of Delphi and its prophecies reflect a world in which the gods frequently remain baffling and elusive despite every human effort to make sense of the signs they give.Misfit Faith: Confessions of a Drunk Ex-Pastor
By Jason J. Stellman. 2017
Provides a vision for a broader more hospitable Christianity Publishers Weekly The co-host of…
the popular podcast Drunk Ex-Pastors offers an earnest and irreverent look at what it means to be a Christian in an upside down world Perhaps failing at faith is an ironic success since disaster is where grace happens Jason StellmanJason Stellman has always felt like a misfit A Protestant pastor with a sharp wit a restlessly inquisitive mind and a love of pop culture and rock and roll he has long sensed that something was missing when it came to his relationship with God In time he felt drawn to the Catholic Church so he stepped down from his ministry and embraced Catholicism only to still feel misplaced and homeless His feelings thoughts and troubles echo the disillusionment and confusion of many people who struggle relating to ancient faiths in a postmodern world In a book that mixes memoir with theological insights and taut storytelling Stellman gives an edgy honest heart-on-his-sleeve account of what it means to be a mixed-up Christian outsider in the twenty-first century and why this is a can be good thing Misfit Faith is an invitation to all the religious vagabonds and exiles with nowhere to really call home those wanderers who increasingly feel like mere fans of spirituality rather than committed members of the team If you ve ever questioned your faith felt like a spiritual malcontent or sought solace for your existential angst at the bottom of a bottle of bourbon then Stellman just may be the best drinking buddy you ve never metEarth Blessings: Prayers, Poems and Meditations
By June Cotner. 2016
In this book of poems and prayers for the planet, you find not only beautiful prose written by modern writers…
and from ancient cultures but illuminating passages and reflections on the condition of the planet, and humans' place here. In Earth Blessings, Cotner and her contributors, many of whom are award-winning writers, contemplate every aspect of the environment, from grasslands to ocean, desert, and mountains, with gorgeous meditations on the world around us, how we are nurtured by nature, and the vital role as stewards of the earth. Earth Blessings fosters environmental awareness and insight, and it inspires individuals to view the Earth as sacred and cherish it as they explore writings about the relationship of humankind and the environment. The selections in the book remind readers of the necessity for sharing and conservation. The overriding intention of Earth Blessings is to create an ecological celebration of inspiring poems, interfaith prayers, and spiritual prose. By nature of the spiritual focus of Earth Blessings, the selections energize readers to recognize and embrace environmental stewardship.This Precarious Moment: Six Urgent Steps that Will Save You, Your Family, and Our Country
By James L. Garlow, David Barton. 2018
America is at a crisis point. We have a limited amount of time to get it right. The nation must…
get “back on track” or be forever derailed. That is not melodrama. That is fact. Only Biblical truth can save our country. Some don’t seem to care that it is saved. But many of us do care. For our children, grandchildren, and future generations. There are six serious problems – racial strife, a massive immigration disaster, failure to understand Israel’s role in the world, millennial thinking, misunderstanding of the nature of government, and a church that has capitulated to culture – that are screaming for solutions. And the good news is: there are steps we can take. In this book, Pastor James Garlow and evangelical political activist David Barton present fellow Christians with six steps America needs to take to prevent chaos at this precarious moment in history.Interpreting Scriptures in Judaism, Christianity and Islam
By Rita Copeland, Jon Whitman, Cohen, Mordechai Z. and Bar-Asher, Meir M. and Copeland, Rita and Berlin, Adele Whitman, Jon, Mordechai Z. Cohen, Adele Berlin, Bar-Asher, Meir M.. 2016
This comparative study traces Jewish, Christian, and Muslim scriptural interpretation from antiquity to modernity, with special emphasis on the pivotal…
medieval period. It focuses on three areas: responses in the different faith traditions to tensions created by the need to transplant scriptures into new cultural and linguistic contexts; changing conceptions of the literal sense and its importance vis-à-vis non-literal senses, such as the figurative, spiritual, and midrashic; and ways in which classical rhetoric and poetics informed - or were resisted in - interpretation. Concentrating on points of intersection, the authors bring to light previously hidden aspects of methods and approaches in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. This volume opens new avenues for interdisciplinary analysis and will benefit scholars and students of biblical studies, religious studies, medieval studies, Islamic studies, Jewish studies, comparative religions, and theory of interpretation.Yentl's Revenge: The Next Wave of Jewish Feminism
By Danya Ruttenberg. 2001
A diverse group of young women--from witches to rabbis--explore the new Judaism. Contributors ponder Jewish transgenderdom, Jewish body image, Jewish…
punk, the stereotype of the Jewish American Princess, intermarriage, circumcision, faith, and intolerance.Inside Sudan: Political Islam, Conflict, And Catastrophe
By Don Petterson. 2003
Sudan, governed by an Islamist dictatorship, became a pariah nation among the global community not because of its religious orientation…
but because of its record of human-rights abuses and its fostering of notorious international terrorists. As the last American ambassador to complete an assignment in Sudan, Don Petterson provides unduplicated insights into how Sudan became what it is. Petterson recounts the consequences of the execution of four Sudanese employees of the U. S. government by Sudanese security forces in the southern city of Juba. He relates the experiences of Americans in Khartoum after Washington put Sudan on the black list of state sponsors of terrorism. He offers his personal observations on war-devastated southern Sudan. In this newly revised edition of Inside Sudan, Petterson recounts the events in Sudan from 1998 to the present, considers Sudan’s connections to international terrorists, including Carlos the Jackal and Osama bin Laden, and assesses the changes in the relationship between Sudan and the United States after 9/11.One Heart: Universal Wisdom from the World's Scriptures
By Bonnie Louise Kuchler. 2003
The purpose of One Heart is to illuminate the common sacred ground at the heart of seven faiths: Buddhism, Christianity,…
Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Taoism. Its method is to identify 65 essential principles, among them: Feel what other people feel; Don't harm others; Lead with virtue and concern for others; Be honest; Practice what you preach; Be content; Don't let anger take over; Choose your companions wisely; Accept the existence of spiritual beings; Seek and you will find. Illustrating each principle are one, two, or three quotations (adding up to more than 600) from a wide variety of texts sacred to each of the seven faithsincluding the Old and New Testaments, the Talmud, the Mahabarata, the Tao Te Ching, the Bhagavad Gita, the Analects of Confucius, and many other sacred sources. In addition, each chapter also provides guidance on a spiritual theme or practiceprayer beads, a home altar, labyrinth walkingto enhance our understanding of these wise words and universal principles.The Knights Templar: The History and Myths of the Legendary Military Order
By Sean Martin. 2004
This book is an essential exploration into the history of a legendary group of Crusaders, which are prominently featured in…
Dan Brown's recent best seller, The Da Vinci Code. The Knights Templar rose from humble beginnings to become the most powerful military religious order of the Middle Ages. Formed to protect pilgrims in the Holy Land, they participated in the Crusades and rapidly gained wealth, lands, and influence. Seemingly untouchable for nearly two centuries, they fell from grace spectacularly after the loss of the Holy Land. In the ensuing centuries the Templars have exerted a unique influence over European history; orthodox historians see them as nothing more than soldier-monks whose arrogance was their ultimate undoing, while others see them as occultists of the first order. With clarity and ease, Martin navigates between the orthodox and the speculative, the historical and the myth, to bring alive the story of the Templars. Like those other legends of the Middle Ages--the characters of the Arthurian tales--The Knights Templar holds captive the imagination of all those intrigued by conspiracy and how history and myth intertwine to become the stuff of legend.The Edda
By Winifred Faraday. 2012
The term Edda (Old Norse Edda, plural Eddur) applies to the Old Norse Poetic Edda and Prose Edda, both of…
which were written down in Iceland during the 13th century in Icelandic, although they contain material from earlier traditional sources, reaching into the Viking Age. The books are the main sources of medieval skaldic tradition in Iceland and Norse mythology.The Wholehearted Life: Big Changes and Greater Happiness Week by Week
By Susyn Reeve. 2014
The Whole-Hearted Life is the culmination of Susyn Reeve's lifelong work. Comprised of 365 days of change-your-life ideas to try…
a few minutes each day, this is a guide to a life of contentment and community, where you give and receive love, including the oft-missing piece of self-love and compassion. Reeve, who apprenticed under Don Miguel Ruiz for years, is a scholar of the human soul and is on a mission to help everyone live a whole-hearted life, one of inner serenity, esteem toward self, shared joy and limitless love. Reeve's warm and wise encouragement offers readers 52 week's worth of ways to pray, play, and passionately pursue a life lived utterly and fully from the heart. Reeve's new book is a step-by-step and day-by-day guide to wholehearted living mapped out over a year's time. Readers can undertake the program for all 52 weeks of the year or dip into the rich resource Reeve has provided and sample the offerings for a great sense of the fullness of life. This book will help you learn how to: Eliminate gossip Seize the moment--be here now Go on a media diet Listen to and follow the still small voice Use your feelings as your guide Detach and let go Write your obituary20 Reasons to Abandon Christianity
By Chaz Bufe. 2016