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Books > Mind, Body & Spirit > The Occult > General
Issued on the 25th anniversary of the Committee for the Scientific
Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal (CSICOP), this book
brings together personal statements by the leading skeptics of the
world. CSICOP, the first major organization of skeptics on the
contemporary scene, is worldwide in scope and is dedicated to the
skeptical evaluation of both paranormal and religious claims in the
light of scientific inquiry. All of the articles are original and
written especially for this collection. Many pieces are
autobiographical; others reflect on the current state of research
into paranormal claims.
The contributors focus on ESP and parapsychology, astrology,
UFOlogy, the difference between science and pseudoscience,
alternative medicine, magic, near-death experiences, spiritual
energy, Bible codes, and religious claims that purport to have
empirical foundations.
Among the thirty-seven distinguished contributors are Martin
Gardner (former columnist for Scientific American), Leon Jaroff
(former science editor of Time), Philip J. Klass (the leading UFO
skeptic), Antony Flew (noted British philosopher), Kendrick Frazier
(editor of the Skeptical Inquirer), the late Steve Allen (noted
author, comedian, and television pioneer), Bill Nye ("The Science
Guy"), Jean-Claude Pecker (one of France's leading astronomers),
Joe Nickell (paranormal investigator), Susan J. Blackmore
(parapsychologist), Eugenie Scott (critic of "creationism"), among
others. Contributors come from the USA, Canada, Britain, France,
India, the Netherlands, Spain, Mexico, and Russia.
This is a unique and exciting history of the current skeptical
movement.
"In the beginning, in the time that was no time, nothing existed
but the Womb. And the Womb was a limitless dark cauldron of all
things in potential: a chaotic blood-soup of matter and energy,
fluid as water yet mud-solid with salts of the earth; red-hot as
fire yet restlessly churning and bubbling with all the winds. And
the Womb was the Mother, before She took form and gave form to
Existence. She was the Deep. . . ."
With this dramatic, poetic recasting of the Genesis myth, Barbara
Walker begins this highly original and fascinating work, which is
both an incisive critique of patriarchal religion and a bold
proposal to establish a liberating alternative to the
Judeo-Christian myth. She envisions a religion and a spirituality
compatible with women's essential role in society and free of all
the superstition and demeaning imagery characteristic of
traditional, male-dominated religion. In place of theology she
suggests "thealogy," replacing the academic study of the God
concept with a down-to-earth "knowledge of the goddess" - a
knowledge that incorporates the scientific understanding of the
universe and recognizes the symbolic nature of religious concepts
and the psychobiological foundations of religion. Rejecting the
transcendent deity of patriarchal religion, thealogy would revere
an immanent personification of the real universe, especially of the
sacred Earth, the only source of life we know.
Hearkening back to the widespread worship of a mother goddess at
the dawn of civilization, Walker argues for a restoration of this
primal religious sensibility, which celebrated the Earth's
fertility and woman's innate power to bear new life. Women are
already rediscovering this ancient form of spirituality, Walker
shows, and redefining modern religion to conform to woman's new
appreciation of their rights and the long history of male
dominance.
The Golden Dawn is one of most prolific and legendary of all
Western secret and esoteric societies. Hundreds of people, from the
rich and famous to the common man, have walked through its halls of
the neophyte. Very few stood as tall in the history of the occult
sciences as Arthur Edward Waite, the creator of the Rider Waite
Tarot Deck. He founded the Fellowship of the Rosy Cross in England
in 1915. For the first time in more than 80 years, these secret
ceremonies are revealed and made available to you. Included in this
volume are the following deeply spiritual rites: 1) Invocation of
the Rosicrucian current during the Equinoxes, 2) Celebration of the
Solstices, 3) Ceremony of Consecrating the Rosicrucian Temple in
the First and Second Orders, 4) Consecrating the Temple in the
Highly Secret Third Order, 5) Ceremony for Enthroning the Keeper of
the Sacred Mysteries, and 6) The Ceremony Of Consecration On The
Threshold Of Sacred Mystery For The Watchers of the Holy House. Be
part of a historical moment in the tradition of the Western
Mysteries. If you are an aspirant of the Rosicrucian Mysteries or
the Golden Dawn Tradition and looking for moving mystical
ceremonies filled with high levels of esoteric wisdom, you will
find them in this book.
This collection of rituals, practices, and exercises has been drawn
from many sources; some have been preserved in their original
state, and some rituals have been updated by scholars from various
pagan groups. This deluxe one-volume edition has been specially
designed to be read by candlelight.
This text entitled Salvationwith a Faith Walk is a self taught,
Intermediate Educational resource, designed for Bible Class and or
Bible School. It is a continuation of Salvation and Spiritual
Growth. It is a three part Text book Collection. Each text book is
a one year self taught instruction. This three part textbook
collection on Christian faith is unique for three reasons. (1) It
is designed to be self taught. (2) It has the authors'comments on
each subject noted. (3) Lastly, it is a book within a book,
complete with answers to each question in the back with additional
comments. Remember, there are no failures, only opportunities. The
Theme of the textbook collection is enlightenment, through
knowledge.
My journey began when I was a child and I was repeatedly attacked
by a demon. As a young adult I wanted to learn more about my
supernatural experiences. I began journaling my dreams and I saw a
pattern emerge. What I was dreaming about days, weeks, or years
before was happening in my waking life. My encounter with my twin
soul at the age of twenty-four would forever change me. When my
eyes met his eyes I felt Eternity open up. I wanted to know what
was this consciousness behind this awareness. I began my esoteric
studies and found in religious text answers to what I have
experienced throughout my life. I had my kundalini awakening at the
age of thirty-two. This was due to a psychological crisis when my
marriage was falling apart. I also contribute my yearning for God
and years of yoga to my awakening. I began blogging three years
after my awakening. After twenty years of journaling my dreams,
insights, and encounters with other beings; I finally saw the
meaning they had for me. I finally had gained the confidence to
publicly share my journals. Now I am thirty-eight and have strung
together all of my life experiences and found they do serve a
higher purpose. God's abode is within every human heart. All one
needs to do is yearn for God. God does speak through dreams. God
also does reveal Himself to the devote Seeker. One must die to ego
for God to reveal His secret.
Journalist Ken Anderson analyzes claims made by historian Trevor
Ravenscroft and others that the Holy Lance, which is said to have
pierced the side of Jesus Christ, took center stage in Hitler's
life and was the focal point of Hitler's ambitions to conquer the
world. In addition to pointing out the flaws in this theory,
Anderson questions the veracity of the biblical story of the lance.
Was there some meaning behind the flight of Hitler deputy Rudolf
Hess to Britain, Hitler's supposed extrasensory perception, his
choice of the swastika as the Nazi symbol, the "superman" who
haunted the Fuhrer, the use of Nostradamus in propaganda, the way
Americans were taken in by the astrological propaganda war, and
strange similarities between Hitler and Charlie Chaplin? Anderson
offers rational explanations for these alleged strange events and
powers, demonstrating that they cannot be attributed to Hitler.
Mysticism is Evelyn Underhill's timeless manual, which offers
thorough and rich guidance to the principles of mystical
Christianity. A classic since its publication in 1911, Mysticism
remains an authority on its subject. Despite more modern works
providing a more updated or formal analysis of Christian mysticism,
none do so with the passion and splendour with which Underhill
tackles the subject. Having herself had spiritual experiences, the
author mentions that such events inspire those who feel them to
action rather than to continual idle reflection of the divine. This
publication is derived from treasured 12th edition, renowned for
its mindful revisions and additions Underhill appended. In reaction
to earlier reviews, additional notes are appended to clarify some
of the deeper passages and aid the comprehensive flow of the
chapters.
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