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Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Non-Christian sacred works & liturgy > Sacred texts
Since its appearance in China in the third century, "The Lotus
Sutra" has been regarded as one of the most illustrious scriptures
in the Mahayana Buddhist canon. The object of intense veneration
among generations of Buddhists in China, Korea, Japan, and other
parts of the world, it has had a profound impact on the great works
of Japanese and Chinese literature, attracting more commentary than
any other Buddhist scripture.
As Watson notes in the introduction to his remarkable
translation, " "The Lotus Sutra" is not so much an integral work as
a collection of religious texts, an anthology of sermons, stories,
and devotional manuals, some speaking with particular force to
persons of one type or in one set of circumstances, some to those
of another type or in other circumstances. This is no doubt why it
has had such broad and lasting appeal over the ages and has
permeated so deeply into the cultures that have been exposed to
it."
The environmental crisis has prompted religious leaders and lay
people to look to their traditions for resources to respond to
environmental degradation. In this book, Mari Joerstad contributes
to this effort by examining an ignored feature of the Hebrew Bible:
its attribution of activity and affect to trees, fields, soil, and
mountains. The Bible presents a social cosmos, in which humans are
one kind of person among many. Using a combination of the tools of
biblical studies and anthropological writings on animism, Joerstad
traces the activity of non-animal nature through the canon. She
shows how biblical writers go beyond sustainable development,
asking us to be good neighbors to mountains and trees, and to be
generous to our fields and vineyards. They envision human
communities that are sources of joy to plants and animals. The
Biblical writers' attention to inhabited spaces is particularly
salient for contemporary environmental ethics in their insistence
that our cities, suburbs, and villages contribute to flourishing
landscapes.
Tabari's Tafsir or "Comprehensive Exposition of the Interpretation
of the Verses of the Qur'an" is one of the great monuments of
classical Arabic and Islamic scholarship which, over a millennium,
has been a fundamental reference work for scholars engaged in the
tradition of Quranic commentary and exegesis. This two-volume
translation focuses on thirty selected verses and Suras, or
Chapters, associated with special merits and blessings and also
includes Tabari's own introduction to the Tafsir. Volume I
contains: Tabari's introduction; The Opening; the Throne Verse and
the final three verses from The Cow (2:255 & 284-286); The
Family of Imran (3:7 & 18); Repentance (9:38-40 & 128-129);
the story of Moses and Khadir from The Cave (18:60-82); the Verse
of Light from The Light (24:35-42); Prostration; Ya' Sin. Volume II
contains: The Companies (39:53-55); The Smoke; The Beneficent; The
Inevitable Occasion; Iron; The Gathering (59:18-24); Sovereignty;
The Resurrection; The Most High; The Sun; The Night; The
Earthquake; The Chargers; Rivalry; The Disbelievers; Aid;
Sincerity; Daybreak; People.
The Muslim perception of Christianity and Christians is an issue of
longstanding debate among scholars of both Islam and Christianity.
In this book, Jane McAuliffe analyses a series of passages from the
Qur'an that make ostensibly positive remarks about Christians. She
conducts this analysis through a close examination of Muslim
exegesis of the Qur'an, spanning ten centuries of commentary. In
this effort to trace various interpretations of these passages, the
author attempts to determine whether these positive passages can
justifiably serve as proof-texts of Muslim tolerance of
Christianity. She finds that commentators have consistently
distinguished between the vast majority of Christians, who are
denounced for having turned from the true word of God, and a small
minority, who accepted the prophethood of Muhammed and are praised.
Walk the path of holiness, stir your faith in God, and break free
from the bonds of a sinful nature with Joyce Meyer's Galatians
commentary, featuring inspiring questions and space for your
reflections. Paul's letter to the church at Galatia speaks largely
to how important it was to Paul that the people embrace unity in
Christ, no matter their differences. Galatians teaches that we're
only justified by faith in Christ only and encourages us to pursue
a life of holiness, not in our own strength, but in the knowledge
of God's empowering grace in our lives. In this comprehensive study
tool, Joyce Meyer offers an in-depth look at Galatians and
emphasizes that we are not only saved by faith, we must learn to
live by faith as well.
Explaining the language and the major themes of the Qur'an, its
unique literary structure, and its alleged "inimitability", Gade
highlights how it seamlessly weaves together law, narrative,
description and parable. With extensive extracts, illustrations,
and detailed insights into its textual history, The Qur'an: An
Introduction helps those coming to the translated text for the
first time and it explains the unique issues that Qur'anic
translation raises. Exploring how a huge variety of topics are
dealt with in the Qur'an, from gender and conflict, to mysticism,
and even ecological crisis, both students and general readers will
find this an invaluable primer.
Do we need the Old Testament? That's a familiar question, often
asked. But as an Old Testament scholar, John Goldingay turns that
question on its head: Do we need the New Testament? What's new
about the New Testament? After all, the Old Testament was the only
Bible Jesus and the disciples knew. Jesus affirmed it as the Word
of God. Do we need anything more? And what happens when we begin to
look at the Old Testament, which is the First Testament, not as a
deficient old work in need of a christological makeover, but as a
rich and splendid revelation of God's faithfulness to Israel and
the world? In this cheerfully provocative yet probingly serious
book, John Goldingay sets the question and views it from a variety
of angles. Under his expert hand, each facet unfolds the surprising
richness of the Old Testament and challenges us to recalibrate our
perspective on it.
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Upanisads
(Paperback)
Patrick Olivelle
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R310
R269
Discovery Miles 2 690
Save R41 (13%)
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Ships in 10 - 15 working days
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The Upanisads are the central scriptures of Hinduism. They
represent some of the most important literary products in the
history of Indian culture and religion, both because they played a
critical role in the development of religious ideas in India and
because they are our greatest source for the religious, social, and
intellectual history of ancient India. Composed at a time of great
social, economic, and religious change, the Upanisads document the
transition from the archaic ritualism of the Veda into new
religious ideas and institutions. The first major English
translation of the ancient Upanisads for over half a century,
Olivelle's work incorporates the most recent historical and
philological scholarship. The introduction and detailed notes make
this edition ideal for the non-specialist as well as for students
of Indian religions. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford
World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature
from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's
commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a
wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions
by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text,
up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
Be Equipped to Interact More Fruitfully and Thoughtfully with
Muslims The Quran with Christian Commentary offers a unique
introduction to the primary religious text of Islam. Alongside a
precise modern English translation of the Quran, author Gordon D.
Nickel provides in-text notes to explain the meaning of various
surahs (chapters) and ayat (verses), their interpretive history and
significance in Muslim thought, and similarities and differences
when compared to biblical passages. Additional articles on
important topics are written by an international team of today's
leading experts including: Abraham in the Quran by George Bristow
Early Christian Exegesis of the Quran by J. Scott Bridger Tampering
with the Pre-Islamic Scriptures by Gordon Nickel Salvation in the
Quran by Peter Riddell Fighting and Killing in the Quran by Ayman
S. Ibrahim Creation in the Quran by Jon Hoover Calling to Islam
(da'wa) by Matthew Kuiper Apocryphal Details in Quranic Stories by
Mateen Elass The Death of Jesus in the Quran by Gordon Nickel Son
of God in the Quran by Gordon Nickel Jihad in the Quran by David
Cook Moses in the Quran by Gordon Nickel Manuscripts of the Quran
by Daniel A. Brubaker Women in the Quran by Linda Darwish The Place
of the Scale(s) in the Reckoning by Daniel A. Brubaker Divine
Punishment of Unbelievers in This World by David Marshall Shi'ite
Interpretation of the Quran by Linda Darwish The Language of Love
in the Quran by Gordon Nickel Allah in the Quran by Mark Anderson
Eschatology in the Quran by David Cook Factual, respectful of
Muslims, and insightful on issues about which Muslims and
Christians disagree, The Quran with Christian Commentary equips
Christians to interact more fruitfully with Muslim believers.
Professors and students in courses on Islam and the Quran will find
this to be an invaluable resource, as will pastors and missionaries
who minister among Muslims. Written at a readable level, any
Christian who wants to learn more about Islam and the Quran will
find it to be a rich and informative introduction.
Every work on Jewish thought and law since the twelfth century
bears the imprint of Maimonides. A. N. Whitehead's famous dictum
that the entire European philosophical tradition 'consists of a
series of footnotes to Plato' could equally characterize
Maimonides' place in the Jewish tradition. The critical studies in
this volume explore how Orthodox rabbis of different
orientations-Shlomo Aviner, Naftali Zvi Yehudah Berlin (Netziv),
Kalonymus Kalman Shapira, Joseph Kafih, Abraham Isaac Kook, Aaron
Kotler, Joseph Soloveitchik, and Elhanan Wasserman-have read and
provided footnotes to Maimonides in the long twentieth century. How
well did they really understand Maimonides? And where do their
arguments fit in the mainstream debates about him and his works?
Each of the seven core chapters examines a particular approach.
Some rabbis have tried to liberate themselves from the influence of
his ideas. Others have sought to build on those ideas or expand
them in ways which Maimonides himself did not pursue, and which he
may well not have agreed with. Still others advance patently
non-Maimonidean positions, while attributing them to none other
than Maimonides. Above all, the essays published here demonstrate
that his legacy remains vibrantly alive today.
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