Few issues today cause more public - and private - debate than the interaction of homosexuality and religion. From the question of gay marriage to the place of gays and lesbians within faith communities, religious leaders and lay members must deal with these issues for now and for years to come. What is the historical position of the major denominations? How are people of faith balancing their beliefs? This encyclopedia provides an overview of the various attitudes and responses that religions have had to the presence of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered persons within their communities. This is the most comprehensive volume to date on the intersections between religion and homosexuality. The coverage in Homosexuality and Religion: An Encylopedia is comprehensive: Synthetic overview essays examine topics such as "Homosexuality, Religion, and the Law," "Homosexuality, Religion, and the Biological Sciences," and "Homosexuality, Religion, and the Social Sciences." The A-Z entries cover a wide range of religious traditions across the world. From "African American Churches" to "Buddhism," "Episcopalians," "Hinduism," "Islam," "Judaism," "the Metropolitan Community Church," "Mormonism," "Presbyterians," "the Roman Catholic Church," "Seventh Day Adventists," "Southern Baptist Churches," "Unitarian Universalist," and more. Entries contain significant bibliographic references, including websites, for further study Homosexuality and Religion treats the complete cross-section of religious traditions and their understanding of and approaches to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered persons.

Sacred Dreams & Life Limiting Illness is about friendship. It is about soul-friendship and the writer's two decade experience as an Anam Cara (soul friend), Chaplain and Pastoral Counselor to persons with life-limiting illnesses. Many people living with a life-limiting illness report dream intensification and acceleration as their medical condition progresses. This book examines the psychological and spiritual significance of end-of-life dreams and how these dreams can be transformative to those searching for meaning and psychospiritual-healing in the midst of a terminal illness. The book also investigates the therapeutic value of dream therapy as a method that helps persons more effectively interface and process the existential and psychospiritual distress that accompanies life-limiting illness. Finally, this work explores through case studies how dreams can connect patients and clients to an authentic experience of the Divine and the Holy.

"The Journey of a Christian Counselor" is written for the individual who feels drawn by the Holy Spirit to counsel, with or without formal training in the profession. It is a story within a story, a chronology of the spiritual and professional journey of a young woman searching for the meaning of a vision that she saw at the birth of her son. This vision changed her life, but it was not until the brutal death of her son that she gained the courage to release the vision and accept its purpose in her life.

The book defines and explores the Biblical concepts of "praise" and "worship." It also addresses several related issues: Is there a difference between praise and worship? How is praise or worship different from praise and worship? Is praise more important than worship? Is worship more important than praise? Must one follow the other? Can you have one without the other? How is music related to these concepts?

Phyllis saw the thread that the Lord had woven through her life-a thread of His faithfulness and strength to uphold her in the worst tragedy she could imagine.

All of this led to His calling for her to write and speak about His compassionate love for His children.

"This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:21-23)

"For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth." (Job 19:25)

The volume will provide a coherent critical examination of current issues related to the religious roots of contemporary, i.e. post-1990 European identity, by analyzing the components of contemporary European identity, the presence of religion in the development of national identities, manifestation of religious roots in secular society, and the role of religion in further European integration and social inclusion. The publication will involve a multi and interdisciplinary approach to the theme, by bringing together scholars in history, religious studies, sociology, cultural studies, European studies, and international relations. The rigorously edited volume will provide a coherent analysis of the religious roots of Europe's identity today, with particular attention to the secular context of religious communities. Europe is often perceived as secular by most of its citizens, regardless of their creed. Bearing this in mind, the authors will build upon their expertise in different fields of arts and humanities to identify some of the key elements of European religious heritage and its manifestation in Europe's identity, be it secular or otherwise perceived. The authors will also indicate the role that these elements play in further European integration. With the focused approach, the publication will identify a number of similarities across faiths and, more holistically, vis-a-vis Europe. This will serve the readers to perceive their own identity in a wider context of shared values, reaching beyond a particular faith or non-religious framework.

This book examines the ways in which religious communities experimentally engage the world and function as fallible inquisitive agents, despite frequent protests to the contrary. Using the philosophy of inquiry and semiotics of Charles Sanders Peirce, it develops unique naturalist conceptions of religious meaning and ultimate orientation while also arguing for a reappraisal of the ways in which the world's venerable religious traditions enable novel forms of communal inquiry into what Peirce termed "vital matters." Pragmatic inquiry, it argues, is a ubiquitous and continuous phenomenon. Thus, religious participation, though cautiously conservative in many ways, is best understood as a variety of inhabited experimentation. Religious communities embody historically mediated hypotheses about how best to engage the world and curate networks of semiotic resources for rendering those engagements meaningful. Religions best fulfill their inquisitive function when they both deploy and reform their sign systems as they learn better to engage reality.

Today's organizational environment is characterized by high levels of cross-cultural, cross-national, and cross-religious communication, conflict, collaboration, and commerce. This environment produces myriad encounters between individuals who embrace different ideologies, religions and spiritual practices. As such, unanswered (and even unasked) questions about management, spirituality, and religion abound. This book, seeks to advance our understanding by asking the big questions. Blessed are Those Who Ask the Questions: What Should We be Asking About Management, Spirituality, and Religion in Organizations? is intended to be provocative in nature. Its chapters address novel ways that leadership, organizations, and organizational stakeholders mutually impact each other by their similarities and differences in religious, spiritual, and ideological traditions, cultures, and practices. Interdisciplinary in nature and firmly grounded in scholarly literature, this book identifies and maps out bold new trajectories for advancing the study of management spirituality, and religion (including but going far beyond Western, Christian conceptualizations of religion). Sometimes universal, sometimes quite specific, this volume identifies unexplored, underexplored, or unresolved issues in the field and proposes new streams of research. Diverse conceptual, empirical, theoretical, and critical treatments that honor a variety of inquiry styles and research methods push the boundaries of MSR research.

A provocative down-to-earth functional approach for developing high-octane motivating skills to build race-ahead pace-setting organizations religious and non-religious based on Biblical principles. Lt. Colonel Kalivoda demonstrates that effective utilization of position and power is fully realized through dedicated service to those entrusted to us The Ones Who Get It Done. Keeping leadership and management simple in todays high pressure stress filled environment are brought into sharp focus. Hence, Back to Basics The Holy Bible. This fast-paced work zeroes in on the dignity of man recognizing and treating associates as children of God rather than your people. Reliance on others is paramount. Youre prompted to know yourself first on a journey through the book with the author. Contemporary buzz words as empowerment, entrepreneurship, synergism and servant leadership are shown to be nothing new. Secular thought on the subject is depicted as repackaging of common sense with Scripture references to the fact. This read will interest and influence the novice and seasoned. Use it for His glory and to your best advantage for energizing your effectiveness and realizing your goals. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Author Biographical Sketch Lt. Colonel Kalivoda retired from the United States Air Force as Squadron Commander and Chief of Supply for the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, home of the famed SR-71 Blackbird and U-2 aircraft. He holds numerous decorations from the Department of Defense, Joint Military Services and Department of the Air Force for his leadership capability. He is a graduate of The Ohio State University with a BSBA in Marketing, The University of Nebraska with a MA in Business Management, The Air Force Air Command and Staff College and The National Defense University. He is active in his parish and local communities in various capacities. He resides with his wife Rose and they are blessed with 4 children and 3 grandchildren. [email protected]

A hugely topical collection of essays from a cross-disciplinary group of leading academics focussing on the implications for an understanding of human identity in light of the current possibilities in medical science. The book brings together an international body of medical experts alongside philosophers, sociologists, theologians and ethicists in order to discuss these vital issues.

The ensuing discussion will allow public debate to be more informed about the actual possibilities inherent in medical science, alongside a sophisticated treatment of ethical and theological issues. The result is a focused collection of essays that raises new and challenging questions.