Included in this anthology are four of Crowley's seminal works: The Book of Lies, The Book of the Law, Magick, and Cocaine. Each title has been newly edited and revised based on the original manuscripts, restoring each work as it was intended to be read by Crowley.

This volume brings together contributions that, from different disciplinary perspectives, highlight certain aspects and problems related to the configuration of the relationship between the religious and the secular in Japan. In the background stands the question of the historical path dependencies that lead to the formation of a specifically Japanese secularity. Based on the assumption that existing epistemic and social structures shape the way in which Western concepts of secularism were appropriated, the individual case studies demonstrate that the culturally specific appropriation of Western regulatory principles such as secularism has created problems that are of political relevance in contemporary Japan.

Spectres of False Divinity presents a historical and critical interpretation of Hume's rejection of the existence of a deity with moral attributes. In Hume's view, no first cause or designer responsible for the ordered universe could possibly have moral attributes; nor could the existence (or non-existence) of such a being have any real implications for human practice or conduct. Hume's case for this 'moral atheism' is a central plank of both his naturalistic agenda in metaphysics and his secularizing program in moral theory. It complements his wider critique of traditional theism, and threatens to rule out any religion that would make claims on moral practice.
Thomas Holden situates Hume's commitment to moral atheism in its historical and philosophical context, offers a systematic interpretation of his case for divine amorality, and shows how Hume can endorse moral atheism while maintaining his skeptical attitude toward traditional forms of cosmological and theological speculation.

(New York, NY) Dr. Howard Scheiner invites you to share his "I" ON LIFE, as he continues his highly personal journey of life and spirit. He offers his readers a distinctive, and even greater, understanding of universal truth as he enlarges his vision for happiness and a joy-filled life. Moving further than his last book, REAWEKENING, he adds new perspective and perceptions to self-awareness. Filled with enlightenment and wisdom, it is offered from the same point of intersection of science and spirituality called "belief." Through examples of his own life, readers are again given understanding and insight into their own personal journeys. A successful Manhattan physician, Scheiner awakes each day happy to be alive, feeling blessed with the joys and sorrows of his life, joyfully connected to All-That-Is and thoroughly savoring his singular journey. "How can the heart soar in the midst of personal struggles and a world in crisis? How can one savor blissful delight when emotional or physical pain takes hold? The answer is easy to state: when one recognizes that the struggles are only illusory and that apparent crisis is a perfect backdrop that offers opportunities for learning and growth; pain is a teaching, and we designed the course... The seemingly impossible task is to take the answer and believe it to be true." While most everyone has dissatisfactions, not everyone questions, nor recognizes that there must be a better way. He invites investment in a spiritual toolbox and offers his tools to do just this. He again bares his soul with a highly personal and sometimes humorous and often shocking "I" ON LIFE, enlarging his interpretation regarding the concept of "God/Universe."

Geraldine Cummins's fourth book, The Road to Immortality written in 1932, is a series of communications allegedly from F. W. H. Myers, the eminent psychologist and psychical researcher, who departed from the earth plane in1901. Communicating from the 'other side' Myers gives us a glorious vision of the progression of the human spirit through eternity. In the Introduction Beatrice Gibbes described the method of communication employed by Cummins. "She would sit at a table, cover her eyes with her left hand and concentrate on "stillness." She would then fall into a light trance or dream state. Her hand would then begin to write. In one sitting, Gibbes stated, Cummins wrote 2,000 words in 75 minutes, whereas her normal compositions were much slower-perhaps 800 words in seven or eight hours." Gibbes added that she witnessed the writing of about 50 different personalities, all claiming to be 'dead, ' and all differing in character and style, coming through Cummins' hand. Communicating through Cummins, Myers stated: "We communicate an impression through the inner mind of the medium.... Sometimes we only send the thoughts and the medium's unconscious mind clothes them in words." Speaking of God Myers explains; The term God means the Supreme Mind, the Idea behind all life, the Whole in terms of pure thought, a Whole within which is cradled the Alpha and Omega of existence as a mental concept. Every act, every thought, every fact in the history of the Universes, every part of them, is contained within that Whole. Therein is the original concept of all. Now considered a classic in afterlife literature, The Road to Immortality takes us on a journey we may all repeat some day, and with Myers as our guide, the journey is spectacular.

The untold account of the countless Americans who believe in, or personally experience, paranormal phenomena such as ghosts, Bigfoot, UFOs and psychics Given the popularity of television shows such as Finding Bigfoot, Ghost Hunters, Supernatural, and American Horror Story, there seems to be an insatiable public hunger for mystical happenings. But who believes in the paranormal? Based on extensive research and their own unique personal experiences, Christopher Bader, Joseph Baker and Carson Mencken reveal that a significant number of Americans hold these beliefs, and that for better or worse, we undoubtedly live in a paranormal America. Readers will join the authors as they participate in psychic and palm readings, and have their auras photographed, join a Bigfoot hunt, follow a group of celebrity ghost hunters as they investigate claims of a haunted classroom, and visit a support group for alien abductees. The second edition includes new and updated research based on findings from the Baylor Religion survey regarding America's relationship with the paranormal. Drawing on these diverse and compelling sources of data, the book offers an engaging account of the social, personal, and statistical stories of American paranormal beliefs and experiences. It examines topics such as the popularity of paranormal beliefs in the United States, the ways in which these beliefs relate to each other, whether paranormal beliefs will give rise to a new religion, and how believers in the paranormal differ from "average" Americans. Brimming with fascinating anecdotes and provocative new findings, Paranormal America offers an entertaining yet authoritative examination of a growing segment of American religious culture.

Superstition and Magic in Early Modern Europe brings together a rich selection of essays which represent the most important historical research on religion, magic and superstition in early modern Europe. Each essay makes a significant contribution to the history of magic and religion in its own right, while together they demonstrate how debates over the topic have evolved over time, providing invaluable intellectual, historical, and socio-political context for readers approaching the subject for the first time. The essays are organised around five key themes and areas of controversy. Part One tackles superstition; Part Two, the tension between miracles and magic; Part Three, ghosts and apparitions; Part Four, witchcraft and witch trials; and Part Five, the gradual disintegration of the 'magical universe' in the face of scientific, religious and practical opposition. Each part is prefaced by an introduction that provides an outline of the historiography and engages with recent scholarship and debate, setting the context for the essays that follow and providing a foundation for further study. This collection is an invaluable toolkit for students of early modern Europe, providing both a focused overview and a springboard for broader thinking about the underlying continuities and discontinuities that make the study of magic and superstition a perennially fascinating topic.

In the beginning, darkness caused itself to explode, causing the event science calls the big bang and Christianity refers to as creation. Many have associated darkness with nothing, but author Hyginus Mathurin describes darkness as the actual primitive state of the Creator. "Evolution of Darkness" presents a revolutionary perspective on the physical development of Darkness as it creates its physical kingdom in the universe.

Mathurin is concerned with the nature of Darkness, not as the dwelling place of the Creator, but as the actual Creator. He takes a bold step to declare that the universe is the actual Evolution of Darkness.

"Evolution of Darkness" is a declaration that the universe is perfect and could not have existed any other way. Every act and every thought is necessary for its effective operation.