Khrisna of India. Thammuz of Syria. Esus of the Celtic Druids. Mithra of Persia. Quexalcoati of Mexico. All were crucified gods, and all met their fates hundreds of years before Jesus appeared on the scene. In this foundational work of modern atheism, American spiritualist KERSEY GRAVES (1813-1883) breaks the Christ myth down into its component parts and ably demonstrates how the story of Jesus has its roots in the depths of antiquity. Here you'll read about the surprising prevalence throughout global folklore of: . the miraculous and immaculate conception of the gods . stars that point out the time and place of a savior's birth . angels, shepherds, and magi visiting an infant savior . the 25th of December as the universal birth date of gods . saviors who descend into Hell . and much more. This is essential reading for students of comparative mythology and modern freethinkers. Also available from Cosimo: Graves's The Biography of Satan and The Bible of Bibles

This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature.

This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the original. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions that are true to the original work.

This was the first biography of Jesus to present him as a gifted and spiritual man, but as a man only, who was entirely human. He had wisdom, taught using parables, but being human, the Jesus of Renan was clever and opportunistic in his approach to achieving his aims. As time goes on, Jesus is shown to become increasingly enthusiastic and fanatical in the eyes of the author, to the point of deliberately allowing himself to be killed. Although one cannot prove this book to be more accurate than the traditional story (it is a matter of interpretation and opinion), it does offer a different view of Jesus that has been both criticized and praised. Renan had studied to be a priest by attending Catholic seminaries, had taken the minor orders of the Roman Church, but in 1845 abandoned the faith. This work sparked fierce controversy because of his priesthood connection and it caused him to be dismissed from the Chair of Hebrew at the College de France. This was the first in a series of four books meant to outline the complete history and formation of the Christian faith. Considered a classic work to this day, it is still widely referenced.

"Atheism: A Beginner's Handbook" is a basic introduction to why atheists think and act the way they do. In particular, what factors drive their unbelief, and why is the phrase "atheist morality" not an oxymoron.

Recent surveys have shown atheists to be the least trusted group in the nation, despite the fact that atheists espouse the use of reason in determining acceptance of claims. So why is reason so distrusted, and how did the atheist come to be seen in a negative light?

Until these questions are addressed, the U.S. will remain a highly polarized nation along both cultural and political lines. This we cannot afford, nor can we afford closing the popular mind to what atheism is about. This book makes a major effort toward casting much needed light on atheist thinking, and how the position of unbelief in a God or gods is arrived at on the basis of diligently applying scientific principles and reason.

The book is not about "converting" anyone toward an atheist mindset. Instead, it is more about shining a light onto the basis for atheist thought and logic. For the novice, a blueprint is provided for living authentically in a religious culture.

This enlightening work by renowned psychic Sylvia Browne contains the Gnostic tenets of her church, the Society of Novus Spiritus, and is a map of our charts regardless of what spiritual path we follow. It has taken many years of research to put together what at first seems simple tenets to follow, but in going deeper, this book carries within it the very heart of humankind's search for our own spirituality. Sylvia has also included many details from her own personal journey, which she feels is comparable to the quest that each of us follows to find our own God-center. As we travel this road, we can realize that long-forgotten, yet simple and truthful goal of viewing our life on Earth as our path to God.

The Latino population is a pastorally challenging polyculture. This diversity requires spiritual caregivers to approach every Hispanic individual with humbleness. "Cada persona es un mundo," "every person is a world," says Montilla. To equip professionals in ministry for their ministry with and for Latino/as, Montilla centers his presentation on families and rituals at the heart and soul of the Hispanic community as the key to caregiving. In that context he unfolds a variegated picture of the particular cultural guideposts for Latinas and Latinos in the U.S. today, especially their symbols and rituals, attitudes toward health and healing, abiding faith, and contemporary quest for creative agency and dignity. He closes by exploring pastoral strategies with issues of discrimination and racism, and contemporary issues in providing pastoral counseling with Latinas and Latinos.

A clear, concise explanation of human nature; the worlds of body, soul, and spirit; the laws of reincarnation; and the workings of karma.

This Book Is Comprised Of Three Philosophical Addresses Made Before The Students Of Cornell University At The End Of The 19th Century. Huxley And Scientific Agnosticism; Philosophical Agnosticism; Spiritual Religion: Its Evolution And Essence.

Contents Nature of Agnosticism Erroneous Views of Agnosticism History of Agnosticism Agnosticism of Hume and Kant Complete or Absolute Agnosticism Mitigated and Partial Agnosticism and Their Forms Partial or Limited Agnosticism as to Ultimate Objects of Knowledge Agnosticism as to God Agnosticism as to Religious Belief Agnosticism as to Knowledge of God

"Sunday School Lessons for Agnostics and Others Who Wonder" is a straightforward and unconventional approach to explaining God, His love, and the teachings of the Bible as they relate to certain Christian doctrines that bother unbelievers.

Author Richard B. Backus puts these issues in a useful context and helpful perspective for those who are troubled about the idea of 'blind obedience," which is encouraged by many religions. He aims to promote the development of individual faith and delves into a number of questions, such as: Is faith important? Is it real? Does it do any good to pray? Who is Jesus, really? Is Holy Communion divine cannibalism? Heaven or Hell: Are there such places? What does God require of me? You will encounter many doubts in your journey of faith, but how you resolve these doubts will define your relationship with God. If you don't know God, your behavior will demonstrate the absence of God in your life. Your faith is there to guide you, but it changes daily-and it must be relevant daily. Only God can save you-and He will, because God loves you unconditionally-and there's nothing you can do about it!

"A superb idea, superbly done"
--Thomas Berry

Reign is a prophetic work, an interpretation of what these tumultuous times, this dawn of a new Age, are really about.

I take my inspiration from the 12th century prophet Joachim de Floris: "There has been a Reign of the Father, we are in the Reign of the Son, there must come a Reign of the Holy Spirit."

My contention is that in all the darkness and disorder of the contemporary world, we are moving into the Reign of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Love, the Feminine principle of the trinity. Love is flowing into the planet right now, surfacing the darkness before it, cleansing our souls, renewing us from the depths of our beings. All are affected by this Awakening, this momentous shift happening on the Earth plane.

My key is Christ. Only now are we ready for the Love that Jesus taught, our true fullness of being, our soul-imagery, our reconciliation with the Earth. Here is a new interpretation of reality, a new enlightenment, spirituality, sexuality, a new understanding of Divinity.

All are called, chosen, have a role to play. God is with us. The Light is in the world and the darkness shall not overcome it.

"The Reign of the Holy Spirit" completes and crowns my metaphysical works. May you find in it perspective and inspiration, rest and renewal. Enjoy.

Volume 6 of 12: Discussions. In presenting to the public these editions of the writings of Colonel Robert G. Ingersoll, it was the aim to make it as handsome, durable and complete as possible - worthy in every way of the valiant, generous, much-beloved genius who penned these magical pages. Robert Ingersoll's tremendous message, one of the most important messages of all times, thunders through these volumes. The orator himself has passed away, but the words that awoke America from sleep and stupor ring out as liberty bells for all mankind!

The prevailing attitude in today's society is that all living things, our world and the universe was created and is under control of an omnipotent God. Civilizations from simple tribal groups to mighty nation, ancient to modern have worshipped supernatural deities, gods or a God. Do people living in today's sophisticated, industrial societies really believe in a God that was born in ancient times out of ignorance of nature and its workings?

Since there is no proof that God exists, doubts about his existence are always present. Doubts are disclosed in subtle ways to avoid being labeled a non-believer or even worse, an atheist.

For 2000 years, the Christian religion has been a way of life for most of the western world. It has shaped our lives by moral teachings supposedly handed down by God, for which we must be eternally grateful by paying homage to Him for our very lives. Where would the world be today if Christianity had not taken over the European world when the Roman Empire fell? "WHY GOD?" takes on these daunting subjects by examining these beliefs and attitudes.

This book takes a look at mankind's religious needs by exploring the origins of religious beliefs, the evolution of religion, the spread of religious beliefs around the world, and some of the questions of ethics, morality and logic that religion does not, and indeed cannot answer. Mr. Shaw maintains that is not necessary to believe in a Creator in order to derive meaning out of life. Good and bad events will happen whether or not we believe in a God, and the fight against evil can be won without religious beliefs. The author concludes that mankind's religious beliefs have become entirely inappropriate, and that humans have outgrown their need for the supernatural. The survival of the human species depends upon mankind's own inner strengths and resources, and not upon any gods or spirits.

1929. A collection of essays and works selected from the writings of such authors as: Thomas Henry Huxley; Charles Darwin; Sir Oliver Lodge; John Dewey; Samuel Butler; F. Nietzsche; Albert Bigelow Paine; Mark Twain; Ralph Waldo Emerson; Matthew Arnold; Thomas Hardy; George Santayana; Lucian; Omar Khayyam; Plato; William Blake; John Keats; Alfred Edward Housman; Christina Georgina Rossetti; and many more.

A refreshingly honest spiritual exploration from the New York Times bestselling author of the Anna Pigeon novels.
Actor, adventuress, seeker of truth, and author of the New York Times bestselling Anna Pigeon mystery series, Nevada Barr beckons readers to share her spiritual search for meaning in life.
Hat by hat, step by step, Barr leads readers down her path to enlightenment by sharing personal episodes, some of them funny and revealing, others painfully honest. Each chapter offers a truth or an answer forged through experience and deep reflection, and a nugget of insight certain to encourage thought and discussion among readers, who may, in turn, find their own spiritual language.

Jean Meslier, a Roman Catholic Priest, who, after pastoral service of thirty years wholly abjured religious dogmas left as his last will and testament to be published after his death this book originally entitled Common Sense. The book includes a biography of Meslier by Voltaire.

1) A Previewlite is a Child of God, serving God to the best of his/her ability, given his/her experiences. 2) A Saint is a Child of God, serving God to the best of his/her ability, given his/her ex

The I Ching is the written spiritual language of the Stone Age. Ten thousand years ago the subtle energies of life were widely understood by an enlightened neolithic priesthood, and eventually recorded to pass on to succeeding generations. Stone Age people also had an instinctive understanding of the magnetic currents that run through the earth. They used dowsing and rock art to interpret and pass on this knowledge of metaphysics. The author unifies the ancient earth energies from 3000 B.C. and their connection to the I Ching, connecting the 64 hexagrams to the 64 codons of DNA. Thus he accesses a flash of opened consciousness, past, present and future, as time and space momentarily combine to answer the eternal questions What is God' and Who am I

One of the peculiarities of Bulwer was his passion for occult studies. They had a charm for him early in life, and he pursued them with the earnestness which characterized his pursuit of other studies. He became absorbed in wizard lore; he equipped himself with magical implements, -- with rods for transmitting influence, and crystal balls in which to discern coming scenes and persons; and communed with spiritualists and mediums. The fruit of these mystic studies is seen in _Zanoni_ and A strange Story, romances which were a labor of love to the author, and into which he threw all the power he possessed, -- power re-enforced by multifarious reading and an instinctive appreciation of Oriental thought.