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Books > Religion & Spirituality > Non-Christian sacred works & liturgy > Sacred texts
There is general agreement in the field of Biblical studies that
study of the formation of the Pentateuch is in disarray. David M.
Carr turns to the Genesis Primeval History, Genesis 1-11, to offer
models for the formation of Pentateuchal texts that may have
traction within this fractious context. Building on two centuries
of historical study of Genesis 1-11, this book provides new support
for the older theory that the bulk of Genesis 1-11 was created out
of a combination of two originally separate source strata: a
Priestly source and an earlier non-Priestly source that was used to
supplement the Priestly framework. Though this overall approach
contradicts some recent attempts to replace such source models with
theories of post-Priestly scribal expansion, Carr does find
evidence of multiple layers of scribal revision in the non-P and P
sources, from the expansion of an early independent non-Priestly
primeval history with a flood narrative and related materials to a
limited set of identifiable layers of Priestly material that
culminate in the P-like redaction of the whole. This book
synthesizes prior scholarship to show how both the P and
non-Priestly strata of Genesis also emerged out of a complex
interaction by Judean scribes with non-biblical literary
traditions, particularly with Mesopotamian textual traditions about
primeval origins. The Formation of Genesis 1-11 makes a significant
contribution to scholarship on one of the most important texts in
the Hebrew Bible and will influence models for the formation of the
Hebrew Bible as a whole.
This book invites readers to reconsider what they think they know
about the opening chapters of the Book of Genesis, from the
creation of the world, through the Garden of Eden, Cain and Abel,
the Flood, and the Tower of Babel, to the introduction of Abraham.
Edwin M. Good offers a new translation of and literary commentary
on these chapters, approaching the material as an ancient Hebrew
book. Rather than analyzing the chapters in light of any specific
religious position, he is interested in what the stories say and
how they work as stories, indications in them of their origins as
orally performed and transmitted, and how they do and do not
connect with one another. Everyone, from those intimately familiar
with Genesis to those who have never read it before, will find
something new in "Genesis 1-11: Tales of the Earliest World."
There is no question that the Torah is one of the most influential
documents in Western civilization. It is the source of widely known
characters like Joseph, Moses, and Noah, and timeless stories such
as the Garden of Eden and the Exodus. Jointly authored by
professors of Judaism and Christianity, The Torah: A Beginner's
Guide takes a unique approach, exploring the interplay and dynamics
of how these two religions share this common scripture. Drawing on
both scholarly and popular sources, Kaminsky and Lohr examine the
key debates, while simultaneously illustrating the importance of
the Torah in western jurisprudence, ethics, and contemporary
conceptions of the family, morality, and even politics.
Tracing its history from Moses Mendelssohn to today, Alan Levenson
explores the factors that shaped what is the modern Jewish Bible
and its centrality in Jewish life today. The Making of the Modern
Jewish Bible explains how Jewish translators, commentators, and
scholars made the Bible a keystone of Jewish life in Germany,
Israel and America. Levenson argues that German Jews created a
religious Bible, Israeli Jews a national Bible, and American Jews
an ethnic one. In each site, scholars wrestled with the demands of
the non-Jewish environment and their own indigenous traditions,
trying to balance fidelity and independence from the commentaries
of the rabbinic and medieval world.
The Talmud is a confusing piece of writing. It begins no where and
ends no where but it does not move in a circle. It is written in
several languages and follows rules that in certain circumstances
trigger the use of one language over others. Its components are
diverse. To translating it requires elaborate complementary
language. It cannot be translated verbatim into any language. So a
translation is a commentary in the most decisive way. The Talmud,
accordingly, cannot be merely read but only studied. It contains
diverse programs of writing, some descriptive and some analytical.
A large segment of the writing follows a clear pattern, but the
document encompasses vast components of miscellaneous collections
of bits and pieces, odds and ends. It is a mishmash and a mess. Yet
it defines the program of study of the community of Judaism and
governs the articulation of the norms and laws of Judaism, its
theology and its hermeneutics, Above all else, the Talmud of
Babylonia is comprised of contention and produces conflict and
disagreement, with little effort at a resolution No wonder the
Talmud confuses its audience. But that does not explain the power
of the Talmud to define Judaism and shape its intellect. This book
guides those puzzled by the Talmud and shows the system and order
that animate the text.
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Jews and the Qur'an
(Hardcover)
Meir M. Bar-Asher; Foreword by Mustafa Akyol; Translated by Ethan Rundell
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A compelling book that casts the Qur'anic encounter with Jews in an
entirely new light In this panoramic and multifaceted book, Meir
Bar-Asher examines how Jews and Judaism are depicted in the Qur'an
and later Islamic literature, providing needed context to those
passages critical of Jews that are most often invoked to divide
Muslims and Jews or to promote Islamophobia. He traces the Qur'anic
origins of the protection of Jews and other minorities living under
the rule of Islam, and shows how attitudes toward Jews in Shi'i
Islam are substantially different from those in Sunni Islam.
Bar-Asher sheds light on the extraordinary contribution of Jewish
tradition to the Muslim exegesis of the Qur'an, and draws important
parallels between Jewish religious law, or halakha, and shari'a
law. An illuminating work on a topic of vital relevance today, Jews
and the Qur'an offers a nuanced understanding of Islam's engagement
with Judaism in the time of Muhammad and his followers, and serves
as a needed corrective to common misperceptions about Islam.
Daily Meditations and Prayers from Around the World "...I hope that
people of all faiths as well as those who do not believe in a
religion will find inspiration and understanding here that in some
way contributes to their own inner peace." -The Dalai Lama #1 New
Release in Buddhism, Sacred Writings Discover the power to heal
through many meditation and prayer voices. This interfaith book
provides insight from various religious and cultural texts that
touches on our pain and inspires the healer within all of us to be
reminded of hope and faith so that we may live a deeper, more
meaningful, and fully self-expressed life. Create a tapestry of
comfort and inspiration. Maggie Oman creates a healing space for
readers in her deeply spiritual book Prayers for Healing: 365
Blessings, Poems, & Meditations from Around the World. During
moments that are filled with despair, illnesses, depression, or
spiritual longing, Prayers for Healing draws on the power of wise
and healing devotionals for reflection and deep mediation. Embrace
physical, emotional, and spiritual transformation. Prayers for
Healing demonstrates the transformative nature woven through the
power of prayer and wisdom. It draws from a select collection of
influential spiritual leaders, philosophers and thinkers of our
time that include: The Tao Te Ching, The Koran, The Torah, Native
American texts, The Bible, Thich Nhat Hanh, Wendell Berry, ack
Kornfield, Rumi, Rainer Maria Rilke, Marian Wright Edelman, Martin
Luther King, Jr., and Marianne Williamson. If you have found that
works such as Prayers That Bring Healing, Earth Prayers, Prayers of
Hope for Caregivers, Prayers for Hard Times, or Prayers for Hope
and Healing have brought inspiration into your life, then this book
is an invitation to strengthen your inner healer.
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Kali Puja
(Paperback)
Swami Satyananda Saraswati, Shree Maa
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R592
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Originally published in 1976, Leon Hurvitz's monumental
translation of the "Lotus Sutra" is the work scholars have
preferred for decades. Hailed by critics as an "extraordinary" and
"magnificent" achievement, Hurvitz's translation is based on the
best known Chinese version of the text and includes passages of the
original Sanskrit that were omitted from the Chinese.
Beloved for its mythology and literary artistry, the "Lotus
Sutra" is one of the most popular and influential texts of Mahayana
Buddhism, asserting that there is only one path to enlightenment,
the bodhisattva path, and that all followers without exception can
achieve supreme awakening. The text argues that the Buddha cannot
be delimited by time and space and that a common intent underlies
the diversity of Buddhist teachings. Through parables of the
burning house, the wayward son, and other tales that have come to
be known throughout East Asia, the sutra skillfully concretizes
abstract religious concepts and clarifies bold claims about the
Buddhist tradition. Urging devotees to revivify doctrine through
recitation and interpretation, the sutra powered an organic process
of remaking that not only kept its content alive in the poetry and
art of premodern Asia but also introduced new forms of practice and
scriptural study into contemporary Buddhism. Stephen F. Teiser's
foreword addresses this vital quality of the sutra, discusses its
background, and reflects on the enduring relevance of Hurvitz's
critical work.
A fascinating comparative account of sacred languages and their
role in and beyond religion written for a broad, interdisciplinary
audience Sacred languages have been used for foundational texts,
liturgy, and ritual for millennia, and many have remained virtually
unchanged through the centuries. While the vital relationship
between language and religion has been long acknowledged, new
research and thinking across an array of disciplines including
religious studies, sociolinguistics, sociology, linguistics, and
even neurolinguistics has resulted in a renewed interest in the
area. This fascinating and informative book draws on Christian,
Islamic, Hindu, Judaic, and Buddhist traditions to provide a
concise and accessible introduction to the phenomenon of sacred
languages. The book takes a strongly comparative, wide-ranging
approach to exploring ways in which ancient religious languages,
such as Latin, Pali, Church Slavonic, and Hebrew continue to shape
the beliefs and practices of religious communities around the
world. Informed by both comparative religion and sociolinguistics,
it traces the histories of sacred languages, the myths and
doctrines that explain their origin and value, the various ways
they are used, the sectarian debates that shadow them, and the
technological innovations that propel them forward in the
twenty-first century. * A comprehensive but succinct account of the
role and importance of language within religion * Takes an
interdisciplinary approach which will appeal to students and
scholars across an array of disciplines, including religious
studies, sociology of religion, sociolinguistics, and linguistics *
Provides a strongly comparative exploration, drawing on Christian,
Islamic, Hindu, Judaic, and Buddhist traditions * Uses numerous
examples and ties historic debates with contemporary situations *
Satisfies the rapidly growing demand for books on the subject among
both academics and general readers Sacred Languages of the World is
a must-read for students of religion and language, scripture,
religious literacy, education and language, the sociology of
religion, sociolinguistics. It will also have strong appeal among
general readers with an interest comparative religion, history,
cultural criticism, communication studies, and more.
The Wisdom of Love strives to challenge the discrepancy between the
way source texts relate to love and the way they are perceived to
do so, introducing readers to the extensive, profound, and
significant treatment of love in the Jewish canon. This is a book
about love, not its repression; it is an opportunity to study the
wisdom of love, not those who lack such wisdom and are unlikely to
ever acquire it. The Wisdom of Love brings about not only a change
in perception recognizing the existence of the wisdom of love per
se but also the realization that this wisdom is the very foundation
of religious wisdom as a whole, rather than a peripheral branch of
it. All love derives from a single source: love between man and
woman. It is from this source that all other manifestations of
love, such as love of God, love of wisdom, and love of one s
fellow, draw their meaning.
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.
'Across the language barrier Dawood captures the thunder and poetry
of the original' The Times The Koran is universally accepted by
Muslims to be the infallible Word of God as first revealed to the
Prophet Muhammad by the Angel Gabriel nearly fourteen hundred years
ago. Its 114 chapters, or surahs, recount the narratives central to
Muslim belief, and together they form one of the world's most
influential prophetic works and a literary masterpiece in its own
right. But, above all, the Koran provides the rules of conduct that
remain fundamental to the Muslim faith today: prayer, fasting,
almsgiving, pilgrimage to Mecca and absolute faith in God and His
apostle. Also available from Penguin: The Koran with Parallel Text
9780141393841
A landmark new translation of the sacred text of Islam? in an
elegant deluxe edition
Literally ?the recitation, ? "The Qur?an" is considered within the
Muslim faith to be the infallible word of God. Tarif Khalidi, the
foremost scholar of Islamic history and faith, provides a fresh
English translation that captures the startling, exquisite poetry
of one of the world's most beloved religious texts. Retaining the
structure and rhythms of the original Arabic, Khalidi enlivens the
ancient teachings and prophetic narratives central to the Muslim
faith and solidifies "The Qur?an" as a work of spiritual authority
and breathtaking beauty.
A landmark new translation of the sacred text of Islam? in an
elegant deluxe edition
Literally ?the recitat ion, ? "The Qur?an" is considered within
the Muslim faith to be the infallible word of God. Tarif Khalidi,
the foremost scholar of Islamic history and faith, provides a fresh
English translation that captures the startling, exquisite poetry
of one of the world's most beloved religious texts. Retaining the
structure and rhythms of the original Arabic, Khalidi enlivens the
ancient teachings and prophetic narratives central to the Muslim
faith and solidifies "The Qur?an" as a work of spiritual authority
and breathtaking beauty.
This is a book about God, in the cut and thrust of everyday life.
Joshua shows God; dealing with a real conflict; meeting his
people's disappointment; restoring his followers after failure;
operating in real people. From Joshua we learn not only that God is
indispensable; he is also available to those who are available to
him.
Biblical Foundations Book Award Few issues are more central to the
Christian faith than the nature, scope and means of salvation. Many
have thought it to be largely a transaction that gets one to
heaven. In this riveting book, N. T. Wright explains that God's
salvation is radically more than this. At the heart of much
vigorous debate on this topic is the term the apostle Paul uses in
several of his letters to describe what happens to those in
Christ--justification. Paul uses this dramatic image from the law
court to declare that Christians are acquitted of the cosmic
accusations against them. But justification goes beyond this in
Paul's writings to offer a vision of God's future for the whole
world as well as for his people. Here in one place Wright now
offers a comprehensive account and defense of his perspective on
this crucial doctrine. With anew introduction, he provides a
sweeping overview of the central points in the debate before
launching into a thorough explanation of the key texts in Paul's
writings. While fully cognizant of tradition and controversy, the
final authority for his conclusions is the letters of Paul
themselves. Along the way Wright responds to critics, such as John
Piper, who have challenged what has come to be called the New
Perspective. For Wright, what Paul means by justification is
nothing less than God's unswerving commitment to the covenant
promise he made to bless the whole world through Abraham and his
family. This irenic response is an important contribution for those
on both sides of the debate--and those still in between--to
consider. Whether you're a fan of Wright's work or have read his
critics and would like to know the other side of the story, here is
a chance to interact with Wright's views on the issues at stake and
form your own conclusions.
Imam Nawawi's commentary on Sahih Muslim is one of the most highly
regarded works in Islamic thought and literature. Accepted by every
sunni school of thought, and foundational in the Shaafi school,
this text, available for the first time in English, is famed
throughout the Muslim world. After the Qur'an, the prophetic
traditions are the most recognised source of wisdom in Islam.
Amongst the collected Hadith, Sahih Muslim is second only to the
the collection of Imam Bukhari. With a commentary by Imam Nawawi,
whose other works are amongst the most widely-read books on Islam,
and translated by Adil Salahi, a modern scholar of great acclaim,
this immense work, finally available to English readers, is an
essential addition to every Muslim library, and for anybody with an
interest in Islamic thought.
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