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Books > Religion & Spirituality > Aspects of religions (non-Christian) > Religious experience
One of the world's foremost exponents of the "pluralist" position
as the most adequate Christian theological account of religious
diversity turns to a new and urgent issue facing the community of
world religions. For Paul Knitter, the spectre of environmental and
social injustice looms over any serious discussion of humankind's
future. As urgent as it is to have peace among the world's
believers to achieve peace among nations, it is urgent that these
communities unite in understanding and defending of the earth. In
One Earth Many Religions Knitter looks back at his own "dialogical
odyssey" and forward to the way that interfaith encounters and
dialogue must focus attention on new challenges. Nothing less than
enlisting the commitment of the world's religions on the task of
saving our common home will do. In making that case, Knitter makes
clear the complex structurespolitical, economic, and social as well
as religious - that face those who approach this task. While
articulating a "this-worldly soteriology" necessary to overcome our
eco-human plight, Knitter offers practical considerations on
actions and projects that have and should have been undertaken to
stem the tide of environmental and human suffering. The global
crisis is both at the center of One Earth Many Religions and a test
case for Knitter and others engaged in the dialogue of religions.
Can religious differences concerning the nature of the transcendent
themselves be transcended in order to promote eco-human well-being?
The issue seems basic and clearif interreligious dialogue cannot
effect such a change, then one must question whether religion is of
any use whatsoever.
Raymond Lodge's death from shell shrapnel in 1915 was unremarkable
in a war where many young men would die, but his father's response
to his untimely death was. Sir Oliver Lodge, physicist, scientist,
part inventor of the wireless telegraph and the spark plug, could
not let go of Raymond and went on a controversial and bizarre
journey into the realm of life after death. Following Sir Oliver's
journey, Dear Raymond, explores the untapped topic of spirituality
pre- and post-war, the influence that a national tragedy can have
on a nation's belief system and the long lasting effects from this
time that we still feel today. Alongside Lodge were some of the
great names of the day, as a member of the Ghost Club and the
Fabian Society he was in contact with famous men such as Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle, who went on his own mission into the afterlife after
losing a son. Lodge's exploration and the controversy it exploded
opens our eyes to how modern religion has been shaped and changed
by the conflicts of the Twentieth Century.
There are times in life when we are caught utterly unprepared: a
death in the family, the end of a relationship, a health crisis.
These are the times when the solid ground we thought we stood on
disappears beneath our feet, leaving us reeling and heartbroken, as
we stumble back to our faith. The Days of Awe encompass the weeks
preceding Rosh Hashanah up to Yom Kippur, a period in which Jews
take part in a series of rituals and prayers that reenact the
journey of the soul through the world from birth to death. This is
a period of contemplation and repentance, comparable to Lent and
Ramadan. Yet, for Rabbi Alan Lew, the real purpose of this annual
passage is for us to experience brokenheartedness and open our
heart to God. In This is Real and You Are Completely Unprepared,
Lew has marked out a journey of seven distinct stages, one that
draws on these rituals to awaken our soul and wholly transform us.
Weaving together Torah readings, Buddhist parables, Jewish fables
and stories from his own life, Lew lays bare the meanings of this
ancient Jewish passage. He reveals the path from terror to
acceptance, confusion to clarity, doubt to belief, and from
complacency to awe. In the tradition of When Bad Things Happen to
Good People, This Is Real And You Are Completely Unprepared enables
believers of all faiths to reconnect to their faith with a passion
and intimacy that will resonate throughout the year.
The interpretation of certain key texts in the Bible by two
Dominican Friars: the celebrated preacher and author Timothy
Radcliffe and the Director of the Biblical Institute in Jerusalem
Lukasz Popko. When the Lord first spoke to Samuel in the Old
Testament, he did not understand. So it is in the modern secular
world that we too have muffled our ears. How are we, like Samuel,
to hear God speaking to us in the words of hope and joy in a way
that will make our ears tingle? As the Psalmist says, we have 'ears
and hear not'. Some people dismiss such sentiments in the Bible as
products of long-dead cultures that have nothing to do with us. As
with other religions, which have sacred texts, many hear them as
celestial commandments demanding unthinking submission. But God
does not address us through a celestial megaphone. Revelation is
God's conversation with his people through which they may become
the friends of God. The novelty of Biblical revelation consists in
the fact that God becomes known to us through the dialogue which he
desires to have with us. How can we learn to listen to our God and
join Him in the conversation?
Vaccination is a topic that has long divided opinion. Today, in
view of Covid-19, that debate has become ever more polarized.
Illustrated throughout with full-colour images, Covid Vaccines from
a Spiritual Perspective deals with scientific facts, but also with
research that requires spiritual-scientific methods. Led by main
author and activist Thomas Mayer, the volume features reports,
experiences and commentary from more than fifty contributors with
clairvoyant and psychic abilities. From their observations, it is
argued that Covid vaccines are not 'harmless jabs', but potentially
violent interventions in the subtle structures of the human body,
soul and spirit. The vaccines even have implications for an
individual's life beyond death. Instead of the soul evolving in the
afterlife, it could remain bound to the earth, suffering deeply.
--- Although this book's conclusions may appear alarming, it is not
the author's intention to create fear. He seeks only to provide
useful information and enlightenment, demonstrating how vaccinated
and unvaccinated people can deal with this subject consciously,
courageously and with hope for the future.
This Village to Village Map Guide to the Camino del Norte is a
lightweight minimalist guidebook to walking the Way of Saint James
from Irun to Santiago de Compostela on the Camino del Norte. The
Camino del Norte traverses the rugged and stunning northern coast
of Spain on a well marked traditional pilgrimage route replete with
pilgrim hostels. With 37 full-colour stage maps and over 100 city
maps, you'll always know where you and where you're going. Detailed
accommodations listings show everything you need to know about
pilgrim hostels (albergues) as well as private accommodations for
each budget. Planning and route tips keep you informed, in a
pocket-sized book that weighs just 100 grams.
Satish Kumar and his friend EP Menon embarked on an 8,000-mile
peace pilgrimage from India to Washington, from the grave of
Mahatma Gandhi to the grave of John F Kennedy. Walking at the
height of the cold war, taking no money with them and declining all
offers of transport and donations, they talked to heads of state
around the world and met with peace activists such as Martin Luther
King Jr. along the way. Kumar, author of No Destination and Earth
Pilgrim, tells the story of their pilgrimage in this autobiography.
When the philosopher Bertrand Russell was imprisoned for his
anti-nuclear activities, this was a call to action for Kumar. If a
90-year-old man would go to jail for peace, what could Kumar
contribute to the struggle? So he set out to walk to the four
nuclear capitals of the world - Moscow, Paris, London and
Washington. A young Georgian woman he met along the way gave him
packets of tea to give to the leaders of these countries, so that
they would stop and have a cup of tea when they might "get the mad
impulse to press the nuclear button". He was determined to deliver
a packet of this Peace Tea to each of the leaders. From New Delhi
to Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran and the Soviet Union, through
Poland, East and West Germany, Belgium, France and England, to the
US and finally Japan, Kumar and Menon walked for two and a half
years. They faced severe challenges - walking illegally without a
visa in the Soviet Union, imprisonment in France and experiencing
the Jim Crow laws in the USA - but everywhere they were met with
incredible generosity from the people who housed and fed them.
Pilgrimage for Peace is a book about trust - in yourself, your
companions, and humanity - about confidence, resilience and the
courage to stretch your limits. It is an ode to the power and the
solace of pilgrimage, to peace, disarmament and hospitality. It is
an adventure story that shows how travel can bring people together
in hope and help them understand one another. It demonstrates how
you don't always need money to see the world, just time and
patience. With conflict and war constantly in the news today, this
book is a timely testament not only to these pilgrims for peace,
but to the many people who cheered them on their way, seeing in
them the harbinger of a new peaceful future.
From Yehuda Amichai and W. H. Auden to Phyllis Wheatley and Walt
Whitman, Hearing God in Poetry invites you to take a closer look at
fifty great poems by some of the finest poets in the English
language. Some are well known, some deserve to be better known, but
all say something distinctive that will lift your spirit. This
beautiful Lent book for 2022 offers six poems for every week from
Ash Wednesday, leading up to Holy Week, with ten poems specially
chosen for Easter. A short reflection from Richard Harries
accompanies each poet and the poem, drawing out their spiritual
insights and how they communicate God's presence. Hearing God in
Poetry is an ideal Lent book for 2022 for poetry lovers and anyone
interested in how some of the world's finest poets have expressed
faith in their work. This book of daily readings will introduce you
to some wonderful poetry for Lent and Easter, and give you a deeper
understanding and appreciation of these brilliant works of
literature. It will also help expand your spirituality to see God's
presence in the world around you as you prepare for Easter. Full of
riches, Hearing God in Poetry is a book that you will want to turn
to time and time again - whether during Lent or in any other season
of the year.
Cassandra Eason's unique directory offers accessible information on
more than 150 crystals. Each crystal is explored in detail and set
in context with its associated mythology, herbs, oils, incenses and
astrological significance. Divided into sections by colour, the
book describes methods of crystal healing, colour wisdom, ways of
working with chakras and aura, and the basics of crystal divination
and magic. Learn how to select crystals that are protective and
empowering, and how to use them in the workplace, home and with
children, plants and animals. You'll also discover how to make the
most of crystals in the modern world: for decision-making and for
cleansing homes and workplaces of pollution, the adverse effects of
technology and negative earth energies. This book is not only a
comprehensive reference work for beginners and crystal experts
alike, it is also an essential workbook, whether you use crystals
to bring peace to your home or are a healer looking for new ideas.
For those looking to go deeper with Rob Bell's bestselling
pioneering book Love Wins, this companion offers:
Insights and commentary by theologians, Bible scholars,
scientists, and pastors
Deep analysis of all relevant Bible passages on heaven, hell,
and salvation
Detailed chapter summaries, discussion questions, and Bible
studies for individuals, groups, and classes
Excerpts from works throughout Christian history illustrating
the variety of teachers also debating the issues Bell wrestles
with
New material by Bell on his mission for the book and how people
can take the next step
From His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Mutt's cartoonist and
award-winning author Patrick McDonnell comes a powerful and timely
gem of a book on how to heal our relationship with the planet and
each other. At the Dalai Lama's residence in Dharamsala, India, an
unusual visitor has arrived. His Holiness interrupts his morning
meditation to greet a troubled Giant Panda who has travelled many
miles to see him. Welcoming him as a friend, His Holiness invites
the Panda on a walk through a cedar forest. There in the shadow of
the Himalayas, surrounded by beauty, they discuss matters great and
small . . . With a galvanizing message about the future of our
planet-text by His Holiness accompanied by McDonnell's masterful
illustrations-Heart to Heart calls for a Compassionate Revolution,
reminding us that "we are indeed all members of a single family,
sharing one little house." Told with whimsy, wisdom, and warmth,
this beautiful book is deceptively simple in its approach and all
the more powerful for it, as it elegantly and decisively conveys a
message of joy, hope and change. "There are only two days in the
year that nothing can be done. One is called Yesterday, and one is
called Tomorrow."
How can we be happy? How should we treat others? How should we
spend our time? Discover the path to peaceful living with this
beginner's guide to the ancient practice of Zen Zen is a philosophy
for living in a state of kindness, gratitude and awareness,
teaching us to be present and to experience the world as it truly
is. This book will guide you through the concepts of Zen, revealing
how you can apply its principles to your daily life and how you can
reap the benefits to gain a greater sense of peace and calm.
Through simple tips, guided meditations and thought exercises, you
can learn to cultivate Zen, whether you're new to the practice or
have been familiar with it for years. Are you ready to discover the
secrets of Zen? Within these pages you'll find: The history of the
Zen school of thought, and how it has shaped the world we live in
today An introduction to Zen practices and beliefs, including the
Six Virtues and the Five Precepts, and to Zen ceremonies, holidays
and rituals Tips for cultivating and perfecting your practice, and
developing your own sense of "Zen" Step-by-step instructions for
trying various meditations and exercises for yourself Ideas to make
your daily life and home more Zen Exercises in Zen arts, such as
calligraphy, painting, gardening and flower arranging Wise words
from the world's most enlightened thinkers Thought-provoking Zen
teachings to help you see things in a new light
Family. Faith. Finance. Friendship. Fitness. Learn to balance and
integrate these five critical areas of life. In The Holistic You:
Integrating Your Family, Finances, Faith, Friendships, and Fitness,
sought-after speaker and writer Rabbi Daniel Lapin delivers an
inspiring and insightful discussion of how to bring joy and
confidence to all of life’s many challenges. Rabbi Lapin
introduces you to his unique 5F system, weaving together family,
faith, finance, friendship, and fitness. He demonstrates how to
organize your life so that you’re not neglecting one area to
achieve success and connection in another. This book will show how
happiness for most is found in family structures and the sexual
relationships at their heart along with productive work and the
money it creates. It reveals how to defeat false ideas that are
projected into our brains about sex, gender, money, and health,
both mental and physical, which imperil every aspect of our
happiness. You’ll discover how to stop treating life like a
zero-sum game and how to apply your efforts in each of the five
elemental areas in ways that support your efforts in all the other
four. A recipe for balance and well-roundedness, the book also
provides: Universally applicable insights and strategies that have
worked effectively for generations of enthusiasts of 3000 years of
Jewish wisdom. Strategies to achieve, peace, and tranquility in
your daily life through balance and connection Ways to benefit by
strengthening unsuspectected connections between seemingly
disparate parts of your life Steps to improve life by integrating
humanity’s most fundamental institution and its most fundamental
ambition An essential roadmap for sculpting our lives in an
increasingly challenging world, The Holistic You will benefit
anyone who hopes to simplify and integrate all the most important
parts of their life.
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