What is God? What does it mean to believe in God? What happens to God after the death of God? This book examines "the death of God" from a philosophical standpoint. It focuses on monotheism, polytheism, and nature, and it discusses the renewed importance of spirituality-and the "spiritual but not religious"-in response to the death of God. In recent years, religious belief has been in decline, but secularism cannot satisfy our spiritual needs. We are now living in a "post-secular" age in which the relationship between philosophy, spirituality, and religion must be re-examined. As an exploratory essay, this book engages the reader at a profound level, and considers a variety of modern thinkers, including Nietzsche, Hegel, Freud, Levinas, Assmann, and Buber. It offers a sustained meditation on the origin of God, the death of God, and the future of "God" as a guiding ideal.

This book examines Leo Tolstoy's struggle to understand the relationship of God and man, in connection with his attempt to answer questions regarding the meaning of life. Tolstoy addressed such issues in a systematic way and with great concerns for the future of humanity. Predrag Cicovacki approaches Tolstoy both as a thinker and as an artist, and examines various sides of his intellectual and artistic engagement: his social criticism, his ambiguous relationship to nature, his understanding of art, and his attempted reconstruction of the true religion. By combining philosophical, religious, and literary analysis, Cicovacki undertakes an interdisciplinary study, showing much can be learned from Tolstoy's insights, as well as from his mistakes.

The Inner Life brings to Light what is evil, because man is more conscious of his vices rather than his virtues. Be aware of your own "drawbacks" and don't suppress them. If you can meet them, beat them and assimilate them no evil can touch you. Remember the Son of Man, can become the Son of God, so discriminate between the lower and higher parts of your conscious life.

This book presents cutting-edge research and theory in the emerging field of the indigenous psychology of religion. Its authors examine the influence of colonization and illustrate the use of novel research methodologies utilised in studies with communities in India, Korea, China, Indonesia, America, and Poland. Whereas Western psychology has traditionally viewed religion through an institutional lens and from a Euro-American perspective, this book aims to facilitate an understanding of indigenous spiritualities on their own terms and from the indigenous people's lived experience. In doing so, the contributors seek to support indigenous communities in the recovery of their voice, original vision, and ancient practices, and to follow their yearning as echoed in T. S. Eliot's words: "In my beginning is my end." The book is replete with examples of this recovery of indigeneity in, for example, Chinese notions of harmony and resilience; cultural differences in hearing the voice of the divine; the influence of animism on Christians in Korea; and in savoring the bereavement of loved ones. This novel collection presents fresh insights for students and scholars of the psychology of religion, indigenous studies, cultural psychology, and anthropology.

In an extraordinary study that takes us from the mythical times of Atlantis to a past life in the Chinese court of the Emperor Yu the Great, through to the failing medical systems of the present day, Are Thoresen comes to some striking conclusions with relevance to us all. Having previously brought to light the reality of spiritual translocation - the movement of pathological entities that cause disease - Thoresen now reveals the roots of this phenomenon in pre-history. The corruption of healing methods, in both conventional and alternative medical fields, harks back to the introduction of the five-element system in traditional medicine. This philosophy was founded by the legendary figure of the Yellow Emperor - a god in folk religion and the author of an influential book on which Chinese medicine is based. The Yellow Emperor, says Thoresen, was an incarnation of a mighty spiritual being whose influence has shone through the centuries. But this being seeks to deceive humanity. Its malign teaching is the reason that most diseases - and the demonic entities that cause them - are translocated, causing further suffering. Are Thoresen describes his past life as the foremost healer in the court of Yu the Great, two thousand years before the birth of Christ. The emperor, overshadowed by a powerful entity, ultimately becomes dissatisfied with his chief medical adviser and plots his demise. The Lucifer Deception presents this gripping narrative as well as offering profound spiritual insights into illness and healing in the present day.

Normalmente no nos identificamos con el autor de una gran historia. En lugar de eso, nos aferramos al heroe y heroina de quienes se trata la historia. Compartimos sus sufrimientos y sus triunfos. Celebramos sus logros y sufrimos sus perdidas.Cuando pensamos en nuestra propia historia, vemos a Dios como el autor intelectual, omnisciente y omnipotente pero fallamos en reconocerlo como el personaje principal. Este libro relata una vez mas la historia del evangelio en cuatro actos, John Eldredge nos invita a revisitar el drama de la vida, considerando a Dios no solo como el autor sino como el actor principal, explorando su corazon y sus motivos. Eldredge examina el poder de la historia, el anhelo de un "plan" que tenga sentido profundo dentro de nosotros, nuestro deseo de tener un papel significativo que desempenar, nuestro amor por los libros y las peliculas, y como todo esto nos dirige anbl evangelio mismo.!Es una historia mejor que cualquier cuento de hadas! Nuestros corazones humanos estan hechos para grandes sucesos, y el Evangelio, con su tragedia y grandeza, es verdaderamente majestuoso.

The Gospel According to Sam is a collection of thirty "animal stories for the soul," written by William Miller, a priest who's considered to be one of the best preachers in the Episcopal Church. The "Sam" in the title is Miller's Airedale, a lovable, "wounded healer" of a dog who survived a house fire that burned off his ears but couldn't extinguish his spirit. Sam becomes a vehicle for healing, humor, adventure, spiritual growth, and prayer for Miller and his parishioners. Sam isn't a typical warm-fuzzy, feel-good animal stories book, however. Miller writes with an earthy sense of humor and a Southern voice that has the reader laughing out loud--think of Molly Ivins, but with the voice of faith and prayer added in for good measure, and a low tolerance for sickly sweet theology. But then he slips in the zinger that cuts through the laughter and goes for the soul. His meditations aren't limited to Sam or even just dogs; birds, pigs, squirrels, rabbits, fish, bugs, and even yaks feature in his stories. An honest awareness and appreciation of the depth and breath of life are hallmarks of these real life adventures and thought provoking reflections.

Our inherent value and worth comes from God's love for us, but our modern world is filled with sexual expression that too often leads us away from the life of Christ. As Christians seeking to live a life worthy of our calling and desiring to pass along these values to our children and youth, this book explores how we (as parents and adults) can explore issues of sexuality in the context of our faith. A sexuality education resource from a mainline/progressive denominational prospective aids the adult reader/teacher/parent in learning and using skills that enable them to embrace and affirm the wholeness of sexuality and to talk openly and honestly about the connection of sexuality and faith. This book, grounded from a theological perspective, focuses on foundational issues for addressing how we (and why we) are called to have these conversations in a faithful community to support families. The importance of looking at one's sexuality throughout the lifespan through the lenses of decision making, faith and daily life, respect, growth and change, behavior, responsibility, values, prayer, and intentionality is be explored, offering a grounding as well as stand-alone resource for individuals and churches to build upon.

As Jesus went to the highways and byways, he sends us beyond our circles and comfort, to witness to the love, justice, and truth of God with our lips and with our lives. We go to listen with humility and to join God in healing a hurting world. We go to become Beloved Community, a people reconciled in love with God and one another. We seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves. We strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being. With God's help we cross boundaries, listen deeply, and live like Jesus. This series of seven Little Books of Guidance are designed for you to discover how following certain practices can help you follow Jesus more fully in your daily life.

It's the sort of experience familiar to many: Somewhere between illness and divorce, abusive relationships and brushes with death, faith failed to provide answers . . . or we failed to live as though we believed faith held answers. But surely, it's different for clergy, the ones who preach and practice faith? But faith requires more, and authors Martha Spong and Rachel G. Hackenberg, who grew up in the church and became ordained ministers, know first-hand about coming to terms with God and life, the need to search for answers . . . or at least assurance we are not alone in struggling for renewed hope. Denial is My Spiritual Practice is a companion for the wondering and struggling. The authors offer their own stories as evidence that God remains, both when faith fails and when faith finds new understanding. They combine stark life experiences, offbeat spiritual perspectives, and Scripture to offer comfort, grace, laughter, and a few tears along the way.

We are born with our hearts and arms open wide-trusting, confident, and brimming with vibrant life energy. Over time, though, the challenges of life constrain that flow, leaving us unbalanced. We often find ourselves stuck in inertia, exhausted by overdoing, or strained and preoccupied with trying to control everything. Roaming Free Inside the Cage will help you identify your unique pattern of imbalance and reclaim your inborn freedom so that you can move forward with clarity of vision, confidence in your own power, and composure in the face of life's adversities.

"There is much to digest and absorb here, principles and practices, history, symbolism, and poetic expression. This work requires only the caution that, as in much that is written about the Enneagram, we are dealing with subjective internal experience rather than objective external measurement. This is a book on experience of, rather than knowledge about. Come to it with a willingness to use the principles of optimal learning, be receptive and grounded in order to open your heart and mind with curiosity, and have the expectation of benefit. Then you will indeed benefit greatly from this fundamental, deep and penetrating work on the Enneagram and the Dao."

-David Daniels, M.D., September 2009, Clinical Professor, Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Stanford Medical School

No Student of Success Should Be Without This Book. If you are seriously interested in succeeding, you need this book! The Holy Spirit / The Assignment / The Seed / 17 Facts About The Holy Spirit / 7 Secrets of Survivors / The Power of Expectation / Singing To The Holy Spirit. Proven Results That Will Last You A Lifetime. 31 Chapters! Also Available in Spanish and Portuguese

In 1924 - in response to questions about the depletion of soils and a general deterioration of crops and livestock - Rudolf Steiner gave eight lectures on the spiritual foundations for a renewal of agriculture. Based on his suggestions and spiritual science, generations of farmers, gardeners, viticulturist, and researchers developed biodynamics as a healing, nurturing, holistic, ecological, organic, and spiritual approach to a sustainable care of the Earth. Biodynamic methods consider the farm or garden to be a self-contained organism, embedded in the living landscape of the Earth, which is in turn part of a living, dynamic cosmos of vital, spiritual energies.

The O Manuscript is a compelling account of one man's spiritual awakening, written with extraordinary energy, candour and humility. It is a personal and philosophical quest that challenges conventional wisdom and takes the reader on a mystical journey through ancient history and modern times. A work in three volumes, the book begins with the author at a crossroads, suffering from debilitating health, his personal and professional lives disintegrating around him. Bedridden for three years, Lars Muhl was put in touch with a seer who helped him, over the telephone initially, to recover his energy and brought him back to life. The Seer became his spiritual leader, teaching him the inner truths of existence. The second and third parts of the trilogy cover the Female principle, followed by that of the Bridal Chamber, a Sufi concept, in which both the Male and the Female meet to form One Unity. This trilogy is not only a spellbinding introduction to the ancient vision of cosmic interconnectedness, but also a critical evaluation of a long list of limiting New Age dogmas.

Just as we speak of "dead" languages, we say that religions "die out." Yet sometimes, people try to revive them, today more than ever. New Antiquities addresses this phenomenon through critical examination of how individuals and groups appeal to, reconceptualize, and reinvent the religious world of the ancient Mediterranean as they attempt to legitimize developments in contemporary religious culture and associated activity. Drawing from the disciplines of religious studies, archaeology, history, philology, and anthropology, New Antiquities explores a diversity of cultic and geographic milieus, ranging from Goddess Spirituality to Neo-Gnosticism, from rural Oregon to the former Yugoslavia. As a survey of the reception of ancient religious works, figures, and ideas in later twentieth-century and contemporary alternative religious practice, New Antiquities will interest classicists, Egyptologists, and historians of religion of many stripes, particularly those focused on modern Theosophy, Gnosticism, Neopaganism, New Religious Movements, Magick, and Occulture. The book is written in a lively and engaging style that will appeal to professional scholars and advanced undergraduates as well as lay scholars.

At the crossroads of life do not fluctuate but be grounded in what is morally right. We are slaves to the past and past actions are what we believe to be right. This is incorrect and one needs to be reborn and put all one's faith in God. This title helps you learn to deal with occasions and transform yourself into God consciousness.

In Queering Black Atlantic Religions Roberto Strongman examines Haitian Vodou, Cuban Lucumi/Santeria, and Brazilian Candomble to demonstrate how religious rituals of trance possession allow humans to understand themselves as embodiments of the divine. In these rituals, the commingling of humans and the divine produces gender identities that are independent of biological sex. As opposed to the Cartesian view of the spirit as locked within the body, the body in Afro-diasporic religions is an open receptacle. Showing how trance possession is a primary aspect of almost all Afro-diasporic cultural production, Strongman articulates transcorporeality as a black, trans-Atlantic understanding of the human psyche, soul, and gender as multiple, removable, and external to the body.