Religion

Widely praised as a seminal contribution to the study of the Old Testament when it first appeared, Michael V. Fox's Character and Ideology in the Book of Esther is now available in a second edition, complete with an up-to-date critical review of recent Esther scholarship. Fox's commentary, based on his own translation of the Hebrew text, captures the meaning and artistry of Esther's inspiring story. After laying out the background information essential for properly reading Esther, Fox offers commentary on the text that clearly unpacks its message and relevance. Fox also looks in depth at each character in the story of Esther, showing how they were carefully shaped by the book's author to teach readers a new view of how to live as Jews in foreign lands.

Why has our society become so focused on money--and at what human cost? Carol Johnston explores the value assumptions of Western economic theory, revealing what economists contributed and what opportunities were missed as the theory kept narrowing--until only market decisions were considered and money became the only reality. She then offers a proposal to transform the focus of capitalism from wealth to community and national health.

As the world grows increasingly complex, human beings need more, not less, good counsel for Christian living. This book reaches into the treasury of Anglican spirituality and draws out pearls of wisdom for today's needs. The Anglican tradition has shown an abiding concern for a holy living that leads to a holy dying. Spiritual Counsel in the Anglican Tradition offers earnest, practical devotion to inspire and to instruct the Christian pilgrim in the path of discipleship. Here readers will find not a general collection of spiritual writings but direct words of spiritual counsel on such crucial subjects as discipleship, vocation, scripture, sacraments, vice and virtue, money, patience, forgiveness, perseverance, marriage and family, friendship, and the natural world. Readers will also encounter many passages selected for both authoritative content and surpassing beauty. Represented in these pages are fifty Anglican authors, including Lancelot Andrewes, John Donne, Austin Farrer, C. S. Lewis, Samuel Johnson, William Law, Hannah More, J. B. Phillips, Michael Ramsey, Frederick W. Robertson, Dorothy L. Sayers, Robert South, Geoffrey A. Studdert Kennedy, Jeremy Taylor, William Temple, Evelyn Underhill, and Olive Wyon. This book takes seriously the Anglican emphasis on a form of religion that quickens the mind, forms the conscience, guides the will, and lifts the spirit.""Probably every Christian who has led others through a crisis or rallied for a controversial issue knows what it's like to stand alone. For such times, as well as calmer ones, Spiritual Counsel in the Anglican Tradition offers friendship with wise counselors. Their deep familiarity with the vagaries of the spiritual life carries the reader from struggle to enlightened companionship with God in Jesus Christ, and to a wonderful, existentially felt participation in the Communion of Saints.""--Elisabeth KoenigProfessor of Ascetical TheologyThe General Theological Seminary""These pieces of thoughtful holiness touch all sides of the life of faith and will help those who use them carry divine wisdom into living practice. We owe David Hein and Charles Henery much gratitude for sifting several centuries of Anglican faith for these gems. I will use this volume for the rest of my life.""--Edward HendersonJaak Seynaeve Professor of Christian StudiesLouisiana State UniversityDavid Hein is Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Hood College. He is the author of Geoffrey Fisher: Archbishop of Canterbury, 1945-1961 (2007) and coauthor with Gardiner H. Shattuck Jr. of The Episcopalians (2005).Charles R. Henery is Director of Spiritual Life at St. John's Northwestern Military Academy and Priest-in-Charge of the Church of St. John Chrysostom in Delafield, Wisconsin. He is the editor of A Speaking Life: The Legacy of John Keble (1995) and of Beyond the Horizon: Frontiers for Mission (1986).

In 2017 Christians around the world will mark the five hundredth anniversary of the Reformation. In the midst of many appeals for reformation today, a growing number of theologians, scholars, and activists around the world believe Reformation celebrations in 2017 and beyond need to focus now on the urgent need for an Eco-Reformation. The rise of industrial, fossil fuel-driven capitalism and the explosive growth in human population endanger the fundamental planetary life-support systems on which life as we know it has evolved. The collective impact of human production, consumption, and reproduction is undermining the ecological systems that support human life on Earth. If human beings do not reform their relationship with God's creation, unspeakable suffering will befall many--especially the weakest and most vulnerable among all species. The conviction at the heart of this collection of essays is that a gospel call for ecological justice belongs at the heart of the five hundredth anniversary observance of the Reformation in 2017 and as a--if not the--central dimension of Christian conversion, faith, and practice into the foreseeable future. Like Luther's Ninety-Five Theses, this volume brings together critical biblical, pastoral, theological, historical, and ethical perspectives that constructively advance the vision of a socially and ecologically flourishing Earth.

How deep has Pannenberg''s influence been on American theology? Which particular ideas or themes from his work have been most pervasive to Ameri­can thinkers, and which have encountered the greatest resistance? What implications does his work have beyond explicitly theo­logical contexts--e.g., for philosophy, ethics, environmental concerns, political ac­tion, and the natural sciences? What new forms have his ideas taken as they have been adapted to fit the very different context of American theology? The authors of the twelve critiques in this vol­ume represent a broad cross section of American thought on religion. The essays cover virtually all of the major areas in which Pannenberg has published. An intro­ductory survey provides a comprehensive overview of the critical literature on Pannenberg from the early 1960s to 1986. Together, the essays represent an ac­curate barometer of the influence Pannenberg has had in America, as well as the sorts of reservations that the English-speaking world brings to his work.It has now been many years since Pannenberg''s first visit to the United States. At that time the discussion with Pannenberg fo­cused on the radically historical character of his proposal for theology, centering around revelation and resurrection. In the meantime, Pannenberg''s thought has ex­panded almost encyclopedically into most of the major disciplines studied in a modern university. Without doubt the most comprehensive theologian at work today, his place in the history of twentieth-century theol­ogy is well assured.Carl E. Braaten, Professor of Theology at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, is founding editor of Dialog: A Journey of Theology. Among his many books are Justification: The Article by which the Church Stands or Falls, Principles of Lutheran Theology, and, edited with Robert W. Jenson, Christian Dogmatics (2 vols.). Philip Clayton teaches in the Department of Philosophy at Williams college, Williamstown, Massachusetts.

The Holy Trinity, volume 3 of the Confessional Lutheran Dogmatics series, explains the difficulties we face in confessing the Trinity in our world today and how we overcome these challenges by placing Christ and the Gospel at the center of our preaching and teaching. The Holy Trinity returns us to Scripture and shows how the Old and New Testaments carefully and decisively present the indivisible oneness and irreducible threeness of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Finally, The Holy Trinity introduces readers to the sound pattern of words used by the Fathers and Lutheran reformers to clarify and defend the trinitarian witness of Scripture. We confess, worship, and glorify the Holy Trinity rightly when we boldly proclaim the pure Gospel of Jesus Christ. Carl Beckwith is professor of church history and doctrine at Beeson Divinity School in Birmingham, Alabama.

A History of Preaching brings together narrative history and primary sources to provide the most comprehensive guide available to the story of the church's ministry of proclamation. Bringing together an impressive array of familiar and lesser-known figures, Edwards paints a detailed, compelling picture of what it has meant to preach the gospel. Pastors, scholars, and students of homiletics will find here many opportunities to enrich their understanding and practice of preaching. Volume 1 contains Edwards's magisterial retelling of the story of Christian preaching's development from its Hellenistic and Jewish roots in the New Testament, through the late-twentieth century's discontent with outdated forms and emphasis on new modes of preaching such as narrative. Along the way the author introduces us to the complexities and contributions of preachers, both with whom we are already acquainted, and to whom we will be introduced here for the first time. Origen, Chrysostom, Augustine, Bernard, Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, Wesley, Edwards, Rauschenbusch, Barth; all of their distinctive contributions receive careful attention. Yet lesser-known figures and developments also appear, from the ninth-century reform of preaching championed by Hrabanus Maurus, to the reference books developed in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries by the mendicant orders to assist their members' preaching, to Howell Harris and Daniel Rowlands, preachers of the eighteenth-century Welsh revival, to Helen Kenyon, speaking as a layperson at the 1950 Yale Beecher lectures about the view of preaching from the pew. Volume 2, available separately as 9781501833786, contains primary source material on preaching drawn from the entire scope of the church's twenty centuries. The author has written an introduction to each selection, placing it in its historical context and pointing to its particular contribution. Each chapter in Volume 2 is geared to its companion chapter in Volume 1's narrative history. Ecumenical in scope, fair-minded in presentation, appreciative of the contributions that all the branches of the church have made to the story of what it means to develop, deliver, and listen to a sermon, A History of Preaching will be the definitive resource for anyone who wishes to preach or to understand preaching's role in living out the gospel. "...'This work is expected to be the standard text on preaching for the next 30 years, ' says Ann K. Riggs, who staffs the NCC's Faith and Order Commission. Author Edwards, former professor of preaching at Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, is co-moderator of the commission, which studies church-uniting and church-dividing issues. 'A History of Preaching is ecumenical in scope and will be relevant in all our churches; we all participate in this field, ' says Riggs...." from EcuLink, Number 65, Winter 2004-2005 published by the National Council of Churches

A central theme of the philosophy of Kashmir Shaivism is the highly esoteric principal known as spanda. Swami Lakshmanjoo tells us that the word ';spanda' means established stable movement. That is, it is movementless-movement, vibrationless-vibration. It is this secret, mysterious and yet essential principle that Swami Lakshmanjoo clarifies and elucidates in his revelation of the two texts dealing specifically with this principle, the Spanda Karika and the Spanda Sandoha. The theory of spanda is not new. It was hidden in the body of the Tantras and extracted by Vasugupta, founder of the Shiva Sutras, and initiator of monistic Shaivism in the valley of Kashmir. Vasugupta composed the Spanda Karika, a text filled with the fundamentalprecepts (karikas) regarding spanda and the philosophy surrounding it. Ka hemaraja, the chief disciple of the very important and central figure in the tradition of Kashmir Shaivism, Abhinavagupta, is the author of the second pivotal text regarding spanda, the Spanda Sandoha. This text is an extensive exposition (sandoha) on the first verse of the Spanda Karika.

Steps to Knowledge takes you on a great journey of discovering Self Knowledge, the mysterious source of your spirituality and inner authority. Following this inner Knowledge leads you to thegreater relationships that you will need in order to find and to fulfill your mission in life.Steps to Knowledge provides the lessons and practices necessary for learning and living The Way of Knowledge. Presented in a selfstudy format, it contains 365 daily "steps" that enable you to experience inner certainty and direction. It is this experience that can sustain and guide you every day and in every situation.Steps to Knowledge is for you if you are ready to undertake your greater work in life and if you have a sense of mission at this critical turning point in our history. This book is here to serveyou.Steps to Knowledge is the Greater Community Way of knowing and seeing. It is not based upon any specific world religion or philosophy. This Teaching has never been presented in the world before. These are new times and this is a new way. You came into the world with the Knowledge of who you are, who you must meet and what you must accomplish. It is time to find this Knowledge and begin to live it.

By 1940 World War II was raging, and one of the most prominent men in the UK was Air Chief Marshal Hugh Caswall Tremenheere Dowding - more widely known as Lord Dowding. Dowding was the commander of RAF Fighter Command during the Battle of Britain and is generally credited with playing a crucial role in Britain's air defence, which contributed to the defeat of Hitler's plan to invade Great Britain.What is less well known is, after the Battle of Britain Dowding devoted most of his life to exploring life after death; what we now refer to as psychical research. He authored four books on the subject: Many Mansions (1943), Lychgate (1945), The Dark Star (1951), and God's Magic (1960).After the war ended, Dowding was often contacted by mothers and loved ones of the airmen who died on his watch, and when he asked his local vicar how he should respond to their grieving, allegedly, the vicar replied, "Tell them they're with God." Not being content with the vicar's answer, Dowding continued his own investigation in an attempt to find the truth to the age-old question, "what happens after we die?" These books are the result of his search.

In the early period of Ancient Egyptian history, earlier than in any other culture, before the Hindus, Buddhists, Kabbalists and Taoists, there was a teaching of the TREE OF LIFE and the teaching of the SERPENT POWER. This was a special teaching describing the secret wisdom about the nature of the universe and of the soul as well as a path to make the journey, through varied phases of spiritual evolution, from mortal to immortal and from earth to heaven and beyond. The goal is to regain ones divine stature and transcendental place. In its earliest form, originated in Ancient Egypt, it was related to theurgical religious system developed in the priests and priestesses of the Ancient Egyptian city of Anu and the Tree was seen as the source of life. This book explains that teaching, which has been available to all, but missed by those who did not possess the keys to unlock its mystic formula. In this volume the Creation teaching of Anu, the TREE OF LIFE metaphysical teachings, disciplines and techniques, from the hieroglyphic texts, are given. This new expanded edition contains original translations of the texts whereby the teachings, that are discussed, originate from. Thus, the avid student of the Ancient Egyptian Mysteries may see the source of the mystic wisdom for themselves directly.The manuscript "The Kemetic Tree of Life" by Dr. Muata Ashby is a profound exploration of ancient Egyptian spirituality and philosophy. Dr. Ashby, a distinguished scholar with a Doctor of Divinity Degree and a Masters degree in Liberal Arts and Religious Studies, has dedicated his life to the study and teaching of ancient African traditions. His extensive research and practice in Egyptian Yoga, Indian Yoga, Chinese Yoga, Buddhism, and mystical psychology, along with his deep understanding of Christian Mysticism, make him a legitimate and authoritative voice in the field. Dr. Ashby has authored over 40 books on yoga philosophy, religious philosophy, and social philosophy based on ancient African principles, and his work has been instrumental in highlighting the advanced social and religious philosophies of ancient Africa, comparable to Eastern traditions such as Vedanta, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism.This manuscript delves into the mystical and metaphysical origins of the Anunian Company of Gods and Goddesses, the philosophy of Shems, and the psycho-spiritual journey through the principles of creation. It provides a detailed description of the Anunian Theurgy Tree of Life Cosmiconomythograph and offers insights into the principles of Heru, Set, Nebthet, Aset, and Asar, among others. The text also explores the disciplines for the Anunian Theurgy Neterian Tree of Life Spiritual Evolution System, offering practical guidance on how philosophy and meditation work to promote higher consciousness.One of the unique aspects of this manuscript is its discussion of Kemet, the ancient name for Egypt, and its rich cultural and spiritual heritage. The text highlights the worship of the Tree Goddess in ancient Egypt and the fundamental role of the Tree Goddess motif in Egyptian art. It also explores the mystical tree and the implications of the Pillar of Asar, providing a comprehensive understanding of the spiritual significance of these symbols in ancient Egyptian religion. Reading this manuscript offers numerous benefits. It provides a deep understanding of ancient Egyptian spirituality and its relevance to modern spiritual practices. I encourage you to purchase this manuscript, read it, and learn from the wisdom contained within its pages. Dr. Ashby's extensive research and deep understanding of ancient Egyptian spirituality offer invaluable insights that can enhance your spiritual journey and broaden your understanding of the world's religious and philosophical traditions. Explore the profound teachings of the Kemetic Tree of Life and discover the timeless wisdom of ancient Egypt.

The Science of Spirituality is a ground-breaking book that integrates the individual systems of science, psychology, philosophy, spirituality and religion into a unified system that describes the multi-dimensional nature of man and the universe. It provides a more comprehensive description of reality than conventional science can offer and fully explains the mechanisms behind an array of paranormal phenomena that mainstream science chooses to ignore. It explains the science behind religious, spiritual and new-age belief systems, and sheds light on some common misconceptions. The Science of Spirituality systematically describes the mechanisms behind a diverse range of subject matter including: consciousness, sleep and dreams, reincarnation, religion, creation, evolution, space and time, higher dimensions, heaven and hell, ghosts, angels and demons, out of body experiences, near death experiences, clairvoyance, psychic abilities, personal development, meditation and the meaning of life.

This inspirational book takes the reader through Advent to the celebration of Christmas through the eyes and beliefs of Celtic Christianity.

Nurturing children in the Christian faith is a privilege given to all of us whose responsibility it is to raise children. God's desire is that our parenting guides each child to meet and know him, and to live with him every day through to eternity.In this fully updated compilation of her Parenting Children for a Life of... series, Rachel Turner explores how the home can become the primary place in which children are nurtured into the reality of God's loving presence and encouraged to grow in a two-way relationship with him that will last a lifetime.This book examines how we can enable our children to know what it means to be in a relationship with God, rather than just know about him - helping our children to be God-connected rather than merely God-smart. Each chapter includes true stories and questions to help us reflect on our own experience as we journey together with our children.

Reading Genesis Well promotes a responsible conversation about how science and biblical faith relate by offering a reading strategy for Genesis 1-11, and the rest of the Bible, based on tools developed by specialists in linguistics, rhetoric, and literary theory.

This practical handbook for drawing down the moon's magical energy covers Wiccan spells on everything from romance and money to your personal super moon. Moon Spell Magicis your essential guide to the many rituals, incantations, and modern pagan practices that can lead to great personal growth and the life of your dreams. In these pages, you will find the essential lore and background information for a deeper grounding in magical correspondences, moon phases, astrological associations, and the myths behind the magic. Whether you are looking to conjure up a supernatural Saturday for your coven or rid your home of negative energy and blocks to happiness, this numinous guide can help you turn your home into a personal pagan power centerand have plenty of fun in the process. The moon has enormous power and celestial energy; by harnessing that, you can improve your life every day with the spells in this book. This comprehensive guide includes: More than 100 recipes for spells ranging from the everyday to special occasions and high holidaysSomething for every reader, from beginner level to advance students of the craftRitual resources including lunar lore, astronomical and color correspondences, plant associations, god and goddess invocations, and elemental aspects for creating personal spellsNew takes on the basics such as spells for love, health, money, and luck as well as many pagan practices for a modern lifestyleA ';personal super moon' section detailing your luckiest days of the year and the best times for work, romance, prosperity, and when you can access your ';Lunar Super Powers'