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Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Aspects of religions (non-Christian) > Worship
All pilgrimages should be stopped.' This blunt assertion by Martin
Luther, echoed unanimously by the sixteenth-century Protestant
Reformers, is the pivot of Professor Davies's fascinating and
original study. Why were pilgrimages condemned? To answer the
question he gathers together material to illustrate the nature of
pilgrimages and the motives behind them, extending from patristic
times to the Middle Ages. Then he studies the effects of the
condemnation on the flourishing pilgrimage trade. During the
nineteenth century, the Holy Land again attracted visitors, even
among Protestants; here is another change which needs to be
explained. Pilgrimages may have been resurrected in our day, but
there has been little examination in depth of the criticisms
previously levelled against them among Protestants. A substantial
chapter attempts to fill this gap, at the same time supplying a
modern theology of pilgrimage. The book ends with a review of the
devotional aspects of modern pilgrimages, and with suggestions
about possible services, use of the Bible, meditations and soon. J.
G. Davies was Professor and former Head of the Department of
Theology in the University of Birmingham.
Given the recent interest in the emotions presupposed in early
religious literature, it has been thought useful to examine in this
volume how the Jews and early Christians expressed their feelings
within the prayers recorded in some of their literature.
Specialists in their fields from academic institutions around the
world have analysed important texts relating to this overall theme
and to what is revealed with regard to such diverse topics as
relations with God, exegesis, education, prophecy, linguistic
expression, feminism, happiness, grief, cult, suicide, non-Jews,
Hellenism, Qumran and Jerusalem. The texts discussed are in Greek,
Hebrew and Aramaic and are important for a scientific understanding
of how Rabbinic Judaism and Early Christianity developed their
approaches to worship, to the construction of their theology and to
the feelings that lay behind their religious ideas and practices.
The articles contribute significantly to an historical
understanding of how Jews maintained their earlier traditions but
also came to terms with the ideology of the dominant Hellenistic
culture that surrounded them.
WARNING This is a propaganda book. I realize the word propaganda is
not a word that is politically correct today. But in its original
usage, it was a word coined by Pope Urban VIII. He formed the
College of Propaganda in the 17th century in order to spread the
Christian faith. In this sense, I AM striving for propaganda. Much
of what I write in this book is meant to cause you to embrace
prayer as a friend as well as a vital tool of your faith. Prayer is
not boring; it is an adventure. I begin with the confession that
there is probably nothing else in my spiritual life or disciplines
I have struggled with more than prayer. I have read thousands of
books on the subject (yes, an exaggeration), and I have been
reluctant to add yet another literary work to the chaos of
differing opinions, theological studies, and sure-fire
methodologies that will guarantee a successful prayer life. Right
And yet, as I pondered the direction of this volume, it dawned on
me that my personal journey has had little to do with theology or
methodology. It hasn't even had much to do with verbiage. But it
had and has everything to do with my honestly and openness before
God and with what's happening in my heart at the time I'm praying.
And it has everything to do with the words of Jesus--"Come to Me,
all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly
in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." Our Lord wants us
to pray. Always and about everything. During times of joy as well
as sorrow. He wants us to talk to Him...not about Him. I've asked
myself the question often lately--"Do I pray out of thoughtfulness
or habit? What can I do to get my heart involved as well as my
mouth?" I continue to struggle. May these writings help you in your
struggle. May you enjoy your journey through the school of groaning
in the days and months to come. God bless you.
Prayer can be your greatest asset and source of wisdom in raising
teenagers in today's world. Now expanded, this book features
updated content on issues like pornography, addiction, self-harm,
anxiety, rebellion, technology use, dealing with disappointment,
and more. It's never been tougher to be a teen--or the parent of
one. Thankfully, from your teen's first date to the next time they
borrow the car keys, you can take your concerns to God through
prayer. Drawing on the power of God's Word, this updated and
expanded edition of Praying the Scriptures for Your Teens equips
you to pray about the difficult issues your teen may face:
Relationship challenges Doubts about their faith Depression
Rejection Sexual purity Substance abuse Eating disorders . . . and
much more This book also guides you in praying about everything
from your teen's character and safety to the purposes and plans
that God has for his or her future. Filled with engaging
illustrations, biblical insights, and compelling prayer principles,
Praying the Scriptures for Your Teens shows how to make the Bible
your source for prayers that can powerfully influence your teen's
life. With a grace-filled approach and a warm, personal style,
author Jodie Berndt encourages you that there is not a need your
teen will face that God has not already thought of, and provided
for, in his Word--and that, no matter how far away our kids may be,
they are never out of his reach.
Extraordinary wisdom to help you understand yourself, lead your
life, and deal with other people.
As human beings, we have instincts for both good and evil,
conscious and unconscious. To rectify ourselvesto live spiritually
and properlyinvolves getting a handle on these impulses. "from the
Introduction
In this special book of practical wisdom, Dr. Abraham J. Twerski
draws from his extensive professional experience as a psychiatrist
and spiritual counselor, a life-long student of Jewish wisdom
texts, and his personal experience as a son of a wise Chassidic
rabbi to give us practical lessons for life that we can put to
day-to-day use in dealing with ourselves and others.
In a presentation as warm and witty as it is profound, Dr.
Twerski combines lively anecdotes, personal musings, and insights
and wisdom from sources ranging from Freud to the great Talmudic
and Torah scholars throughout the ages. And with deep compassion
and refreshing candor, he shows how these wisdom teachings can
guide us in all moments of our lives, whatever our faith
tradition.
Celebrate the Mystery, Compassion Wonder and Beauty of
Animals
Take a spiritual journey through this beautiful collection of
blessings, prayers and meditations about the creatures, wild and
tame, that inhabit our world. These moving contributions about all
types of animals playful dogs and beloved cats, giant whales and
powerful elephants, tiny insects and delicate birds are drawn from
many faith traditions, including Native American, Christian,
Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist.
A special section also provides animal blessing ceremonies you
can use to memorialize the loss of a companion animal, offer
prayers for an animal suffering illness or injury or simply
recognize the spiritual connection we create when we fully
appreciate another member of God's creation.
Contributors include: Basho Elizabeth Barrett Browning Feng Chih
James Dickey Meister Eckhart St. Francis of Assisi Joy Harjo
Stanley Hauerwas Jane Hirshfield Galway Kinnell D. H. Lawrence John
Muir Rumi Albert Schweitzer Rabindranath Tagore Evelyn Underhill
Walt Whitman and many more"
God's Word, the Holy Bible, is more than a history book or even
an instruction manual. It is a personal love letter from God to his
believers containing very specific promises.
God's answer seeks to link your concerns with his promises and
help you pray back the Scripture, his own words, to Him.
Jim Greene is a layman Sunday school teacher who challenges
himself and his class to enjoy a closer relationship with God.
This book, along with his others, Unlocking Your Spiritual
Greatness and A Place of Faith, are practical guides to that closer
relationship.
This book explores educational and cultural experiences of
"part-time unveilers" during their degree programs in public
institutions in Turkey. The term "part-time unveiler" is coined to
refer to undergraduate female students who cover their hair in
their private lives, but who remove the headscarf while at a
Turkish university as a result of the higher education headscarf
ban policy. The book is based on a qualitative study that involved
one-on-one interviews with thirty participants. The book highlights
how part-time unveilers understand and negotiate the policy, the
challenges and opportunities associated with unveiling and the
strategies they use in response to these, and the impact of the
headscarf ban on part-time unveilers' sense of identity.
The festive meal texts of Deuteronomy 12-26 depict Israel as a
unified people participating in cultic banquets - a powerful and
earthy image for both preexilic Judahite and later audiences.
Comparison of Deuteronomy 12:13-27, 14:22-29, 16:1-17, and 26:1-15
with pentateuchal texts like Exodus 20-23 is broadened to highlight
the rhetorical potential of the Deuteronomic meal texts in relation
to the religious and political circumstances in Israel during the
Neo-Assyrian and later periods. The texts employ the concrete and
rich image of festive banquets, which the monograph investigates in
relation to comparative ancient Near Eastern texts and iconography,
the zooarchaeological remains of the ancient Levant, and the
findings of cultural anthropology with regard to meals.
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