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Books > Religion & Spirituality > Alternative belief systems
From the 1990s the British developed an interest in
natural burial, also known as woodland, green, or ecological
burial. Natural
burial constitutes part of a long, historical legacy for British
funeral
innovation; from Victorian cemetery monuments and garden cemeteries
through the
birth and rise of cremation to the many things done with cremated
remains. The
book sets natural burial in the context of such creative dealing
with death,
grief, mourning, and the celebration of life. Themes from sociology
and
anthropology combine with psychological issues and theological
ideas to show
how human emotions take shape and help people consider their own
death whilst
also dealing with the death of those they love.
The authors explore the variety of motivations for
people to engage with natural burial and its popular appeal, using
interviews
with people having a relationship with one natural burial site
created by the
Church of England but open to all. They illustrate people's
understandings of
life and death in the sacred, secular and mixed worlds of modern
Britain.
In "Retha's Song: A Rhapsody of the Soul, "Retha hears her
"God," the sun, speak to her for the first time at the age of
seven. He speaks of a baby boy being born who lived far away from
her and is her beloved. As long as she listens to God's voice and
stays on her path and the young boy stays on his path, with God's
guidance, they will meet.
She strays many times from the voice of God and her path. During
the journey, she is struck with a devastating Bipolar Disorder, and
her young son is diagnosed with Crohn's disease, which nearly took
his life. Her faith began taking new direction, and she began
experiencing phenomenal supernatural events in her life. Her
intuition became increasingly powerful; however, internal,
mind-altering suffering kept plaguing her.
Music, directed by the angels, was the compelling force that was
the interwoven thread that could bring these two souls together, as
they are both singers and songwriters. Could a miracle happen?
It is inescapable-the issues of life affect everyone. Ways we
choose to accept those issues and deal with them vastly differ.
When these issues arise, we can go through the stages of
depression, self-doubt, and even the doubt of our God. In the midst
of it all, we must remember that God will never put more on us than
we can bear. He has already placed within us what we need to
survive these issues.
The most important aspect of our existence is that every living
thing is subject to two forms of evolutionary trends. One is
physical, which deals with the investigation of nature by means of
science and technology. The other is spiritual, which requires an
investigation of nature through perceptive power, commonly achieved
through meditative practices.
In "Spiritual Wisdom, author Ramesh Malhotra explores the
evolution of the attainment of spiritual knowledge and inner
tranquility and peace. Through practical examples of how to apply
these spiritual principles to everyday life, he provides insight
into the four tenets of eternal wisdom: mythological wisdom,
inspirational wisdom, transcendental wisdom, and absolute truth. He
provides an overview of the history of spiritual wisdom, the
elements of lower and higher knowledge, and the process of
self-revitalization.
Providing an in-depth investigation and discussion of the
spiritual knowledge and guidance found within the Bhagavad Gita,
Malhotra encourages further exploration of spiritual wisdom and
enlightenment in order to bring peace, tranquility, and happiness
to every life journey.
Drawing on ethnographic research, this book explores individualized
religion in and around Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire. Claire
Wanless demonstrates that counter to the claims of secularization
theorists, the combination of informal structures and practices can
provide a viable basis for socially significant religious activity
that can sustain itself. The subjects of this research claim a
variety of religious identities and practices, and are suspicious
of religious institutions, hierarchies, rules and dogmas. Yet they
participate actively in an overlapping and cross-linking informal
network of practice communities and other associations. Their
engagements propagate and sustain a core ideology that prioritizes
subjectivity, locates authority at the level of the individual, and
also predicates itself on ideals of sharing, mutuality and
community. Providing a new theory of religious association, this
book is a nuanced counterpoint to the secularization thesis in the
UK and points the way to new research on individual religion.
The Malleus Maleficarum is a seminal treatise regarding witchcraft
and demons, presented here complete with an authoritative
translation to modern English by Montague Summers. At the time this
book was published in 1487, the Christian church had considered
witchcraft a dangerous affront to the faith for many centuries.
Executions of suspected witches were intermittent, and various
explanations of behaviors deemed suspect were thought to be caused
by possession, either by the devil or demon such as an incubus or
succubus. Kramer wrote this book after he had tried and failed to
have a woman executed for witchcraft. Unhappy at the verdict of the
court, he authored the Malleus Maleficarum as a manual for other
witch seekers to refer to. For centuries the text was used by
Christians as a reference source on matters of demonology, although
it was not used directly by the Inquisition who became notorious
for their tortures and murders.
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