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Books > Religion & Spirituality > Alternative belief systems
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.
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.
Monsters in Greek literature are often thought of as creatures
which exist in mythological narratives, however, as this book
shows, they appear in a much broader range of ancient sources and
are used in creation narratives, ethnographic texts, and biology to
explore the limits of the human body and of the human world. This
book provides an in-depth examination of the role of monstrosity in
ancient Greek literature. In the past, monsters in this context
have largely been treated as unimportant or analysed on an
individual basis. By focusing on genres rather than single
creatures, the book provides a greater understanding of how
monstrosity and abnormal bodies are used in ancient sources. Very
often ideas about monstrosity are used as a contrast against which
to examine the nature of what it is to be human, both physically
and behaviourally. This book focuses on creation narratives,
ethnographic writing, and biological texts. These three genres
address the origins of the human world, its spatial limits, and the
nature of the human body; by examining monstrosity in these genres
we can see the ways in which Greek texts construct the space and
time in which people exist and the nature of our bodies. This book
is aimed primarily at scholars and students undertaking research,
not only those with an interest in monstrosity, but also scholars
exploring cultural representations of time (especially the
primordial and mythological past), ancient geography and
ethnography, and ancient philosophy and science. As the
representation of monsters in antiquity was strongly influential on
medieval, renaissance, and early modern images and texts, this book
will also be relevant to people researching these areas.
In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, entire communities,
particularly in central Europe were gripped by a fear of witches
and witchcraft, and pursued witches in order to bring them to
justice. Professor David Nash unlocks the sometimes opaque history
of the phenomenon of witchcraft in Britain, Europe and America. The
book explores the development of witchcraft and belief in witches,
the obsession with witches and witchcraft that spawned
witch-hunting, the hey-day and decline of witch-hunting, and the
fascinating 'afterlife' of witchcraft: covering not only the
survival of some beliefs into the nineteenth century but the
academic interest in witchcraft in the early twentieth century,
which culminated in the interest shown in the phenomenon by experts
serving the interests and ideology of Nazi Germany. Among the
themes that the author will examine are the geographical spread and
regional differences in witchcraft and witch-hunting across
Britain, Europe and America; the theories on the rise of
witch-hunting; and gender differences: why so many more women were
accused and convicted of witch-hunting than men.
As the population grows and technology advances, the world gets
smaller and smaller. Earth is no longer a vast metropolis; today,
it is a tiny village. As the Earth shrinks, confusion grows. We are
surrounded by what others say and do. We are told what to feel,
what to think, and what to say; our identities disappear until
"identity" loses meaning. But without identity, our lives also lose
meaning. "Outgrowing Fear" gives you that identity back. Told as
narrative, a story about many becomes a story about you. Why are
you the way you are? Amidst the layers of your personality exist
the answers. This is a step-by-step journey to finally realizing
your true self-without fear, without doubt, and without
disharmony.There is nothing more terrifying than looking at
ourselves objectively ... and nothing more necessary. The
characters in this book are seeking identity through religion and
spirituality. Through their difficult searches, you, too, may find
your answers. It is time to let the real discussion begin within
you. At last, face the unknown courageously, and achieve inner and
outer harmony through the discovery of your identity.
"This biography does not aim for completeness, but focuses on
Rudolf Steiner's being, intentions, and journey-aspects that must
not be obliterated by the many events, foundations, and people
involved with Anthroposophy.... It wants to convey (to quote Emil
Leinhas) 'the immense greatness and unique significance of this
individuality who radiates out over the centuries.'" -Peter Selg
(from the introduction) To acknowledge and understand Rudolf
Steiner's unique achievement and life's work, one must be able to
accept that the founder and spiritual researcher of Anthroposophy
was "a citizen of two worlds" the spiritual and the physical.
Anthroposophy teaches that this duality, rather than being a
quality reserved for special individualities, is inherent to human
nature. According to Rudolf Steiner, it is a central aspect of
being human, even in times when the suprasensory aspect of humanity
is eclipsed (for ordinary day consciousness) and almost eliminated
by certain civilizations. The interest in Rudolf Steiner's person
and essence, in his attitude toward life and work, will continue to
grow in the decades and centuries that lie ahead, both within and
outside the anthroposophical movement. It will take hold of
entirely different groups of people, including those who come with
spiritual questions or discover them in times of need. Rudolf
Steiner's work grew to be "one unique effort of bringing courage to
human beings" (Michael Bauer). This is the first of seven
comprehensive volumes on Rudolf Steiner's "being, intentions, and
journey." It presents Rudolf Steiner from childhood and youth
through his doctorate degree and up to the time of his work for the
Goethe Archives as editor of Goethe's scientific writings. By
considering his formative years in depth, we come to understand
better the roots and development of Rudolf Steiner's later
spiritual research and teachings.
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