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In Praise of Mixed Religion: The Syncretism Solution in a Multifaith World
by William H. HarrisonWhen asked "What religion do you follow?" the typical answer is to name a specific group, or to respond "None." An increasing number of people, however, are intentionally combining elements from various religious heritages, demonstrating that religions do not have firm boundaries, nor are they purely distinct. In Praise of Mixed Religion discusses the concept of syncretism, the term for the mixing of religious perspectives. The religious studies discipline has traditionally distinguished between two responses to syncretism: a subjective view, which treats syncretism as morally reprehensible, and an objective view, which treats it as a morally neutral phenomenon. William Harrison adopts a third perspective, the advocacy view, which claims that mixing religions is a good and necessary process. He cites countless examples - such as Islam's transformative encounter with Greek thought - from both history and recent years to show how religious traditions have gained theological and practical wisdom by borrowing key ideas, beliefs, and practices from outside their own movements. By encouraging syncretism, In Praise of Mixed Religion contests the hard boundaries between religious worldviews and presents a dramatic alternative for thinking and talking about religion.
In Praise of Polytheism
by Maurizio BettiniWhat ancient polytheistic religions can teach us about building inclusive and equitable futures At the heart of this book is a simple comparison: monotheistic religions are exclusive, whereas ancient polytheistic religions are inclusive. In this thought-provoking book, Maurizio Bettini, one of today’s foremost classicists, uses the expansiveness of ancient polytheism to shine a bright light on a darker corner of our modern times. It can be easy to see ancient religions as inferior, less free, and remote from shared visions of an inclusive world. But, as Bettini deftly shows, many ancient practices tended to produce results aligned with contemporary progressive values, like pluralism and diversity. In Praise of Polytheism does not chastise the modern world or blame monotheism for our woes but rather shows in clear, sharp prose how much we can learn from ancient religions, underscoring the limitations of how we view the world and ourselves today.
In Praise of Religious Diversity
by James WigginsFirst Published in 1996. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.
In Pursuit Of Peace
by Jennifer JohnsonLydia feels like a failure. With a multitude of jobs and college courses under her belt, Lydia knows its time to make something of her life. But everything she tries fails. As a new Christian, Lydia is intrigued with the idea that God has a specific plan for her, but it sure would be nice if He'd reveal it! Gideon Andrews, on the other hand, was living a nice, well-organized life. Then his mom moved in and a friend started pressuring him to marry his widowed daughter. But even that was manageable--until he met Lydia. Suddenly, his world turns upside down. He feels bound by duty and pity to Maria but cannot get the irresistible Lydia out of his heart and mind. Will Gideon learn the difference between responsibility and love before it's too late? Will Lydia realize that pleasing God is all she needs?
In Pursuit of Great AND Godly Leadership
by Mike BonemIs it possible for church leaders to use biblical and secular leadership concepts in a way that keeps Christ--not the marketplace--at the center of their mission? Drawing on biblical material and business wisdom, In Pursuit of Great AND Godly Leadership explores the critical leadership decisions and practices that shape the success of Christian organizations. These decisions are illustrated in compelling interviews with over forty leaders of churches, universities, denominational bodies, and international ministries. Mike Bonem leverages his background as an MBA-trained manager and an experienced church leader to bridge the gap between the analytical and structured world of business and the faith-driven approach that is essential for healthy churches.Written to offer practical solutions for senior pastors, executive pastors, key laypeople, and leaders of other Christian entities, In Pursuit of Great AND Godly Leadership clearly shows the ways that secular practices can be imported into their organizations. Bonem addresses a variety of topics such as planning, finances, personnel management, measurement, team dynamics, and organizational change. In doing so, he points to the AND that every spiritual organization should strive to achieve.
In Pursuit of His Glory
by R.T. KendallIn Pursuit of His Glory is a revealing and moving personal account of R T Kendall's eventful and often turbulent 25-year tenure as Minister of Westminster Chapel, one of London's most historic Evangelical churches. He talks frankly about both the blessings and disappointments he has experienced in that time, including his touching relationship with Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, and the pressures of succeeeding such a famous name; and some of the controversial changes he introduced, which in one instance brought him into such conflict with some members of the church that RT was almost forced to leave the Chapel.This edition includes 'The Day the World Changed', the text of two sermons RT gave in response to the events of September 11th.In Pursuit of His Wisdom is an engaging and page-turning read, rooted in solid theological teaching.
In Pursuit of His Wisdom
by R.T. Kendall R T Inc.We all want to live a good life - but how do we go about doing so? Much-loved author R. T. Kendall urges us to take the Bible at its word when it encourages us to get wisdom - and live by it. In this wise and practical book, R. T. encourages us that not only is God's opinion - his wisdom - on offer, God actually desires us to have it. 'Wisdom is supreme - the greatest good we can seek, the most noble virtue there is, the greatest gift that is on offer and the highest plateau for living that is available in this present world.'Join R. T. on the journey of a lifetime as he shows us the beauty of a life lived with God, secure in knowing the next step forward.
In Pursuit of His Wisdom: How to get God's Opinion on any Matter
by R.T. KendallWe live in a world where everyone has an opinion. From news commentary to popular blogs and social media, we are inundated with strong viewpoints from other people. But there is one opinion that matters more than any other. Do you seek God&’s ultimate opinion on your calling, the right place to live, the right job, or your future spouse? Accessing God&’s wisdom is supreme—the greatest good we can seek, the most noble virtue there is, and the highest plateau for living that is available in this present world. In In Pursuit of His Wisdom R. T. Kendall shows you how to pursue the knowledge of God, which leads to true wisdom. You can take possession of this precious gift in order to use the right timing, know the next step forward, gain 20/20 foresight in decision making, and avoid the consequences of rejecting God&’s voice.
In Pursuit of Peace: 21 Ways to Conquer Anxiety, Fear, and Discontentment
by Joyce MeyerThe #1 bestselling author explores the myriad ways readers can experience a life overflowing with tranquility.
In Pursuit of Purity: American Fundamentalism Since 1850
by David O. BealeMen from nearly every denomination and all walks of life are a part of that from Lyman Stewart, a Christian businessman, to J.Greshman Machen, the learned Princeton professor; from the fiery evangelist Billy Sunday to the dignified pastor W.B. Riley. These colorful men were united by a common faithfulness to their Lord and Saviour. And their activities were as varied as their pastoring churches, evangelizing the lost, conducting Bible and prophetic conferences, exposing liberalism, establishing Christian schools and colleges, and publishing Christian literature.
In Pursuit of Stability
by Calvin BelcherThe book describes how cultural distinctions and socialization processes can influence how we see the world and ourselves. As we mature, we find out that what little coping skills and positive assumptions do little to anesthetize us against the complex and ever-changing negative influences of the world in which we exist. In every complex situation of our life, whether intentional or by accident, seen or unseen we are challenged to find new coping skill and new rules to survive and live by. This survival mode prompt millions to turn to religion and the supernatural to reinforce our sense of stability and self-acceptance. As I did, millions of people find resolve and stability in understanding that the Holy scriptures with its doctrines were inspired for our learning and usage as we journey through this decaying world. It is my intention, in this book to unravel and expose the unmerited favors of the creator, fitted for mental and spiritual stability.
In Pursuit of a Princess
by Lenora WorthUSA Today–Bestselling Author: She married royalty—and now, back in America, she allies with a journalist to find the assassin who made her a widow . . .Princess Lara Kincade returned home to New Orleans, accompanied by a small staff of assistants and security people, to continue her late husband’s humanitarian work. She also hopes to force his killer out of hiding. But a priceless painting has put her plans—and life—at risk.Embroiled in a deadly art scandal, Lara must depend on handsome photojournalist Gabriel Murdock to help her expose a murderer. Gabriel’s determination to keep her safe has softened her heart to love’s possibilities again, and she finds herself sharing her grief with him. Somewhere among his photos lies the identity of the murderer who caused that sorrow—but can they uncover the killer before this heist turns deadly?
In Pursuit of the Almighty's Dollar
by James Hudnut-BeumlerEvery day of the week in contemporary America (and especially on Sundays) people raise money for their religious enterprises--for clergy, educators, buildings, charity, youth-oriented work, and more. In a fascinating look into the economics of American Protestantism, James Hudnut-Beumler examines how churches have raised and spent money from colonial times to the present and considers what these practices say about both religion and American culture. After the constitutional separation of church and state was put in force, Hudnut-Beumler explains, clergy salaries had to be collected exclusively from the congregation without recourse to public funds. In adapting to this change, Protestants forged a new model that came to be followed in one way or another by virtually all religious organizations in the country. Clergy repeatedly invoked God, ecclesiastical tradition, and scriptural evidence to promote giving to the churches they served. Hudnut-Beumler contends that paying for earthly good works done in the name of God has proved highly compatible with American ideas of enterprise, materialism, and individualism. The financial choices Protestants have made throughout history--how money was given, expended, or even withheld--have reflected changing conceptions of what the religious enterprise is all about. Hudnut-Beumler tells that story for the first time.
In Quest of the Hero: (Mythos Series) (Mythos: The Princeton/Bollingen Series in World Mythology #143)
by Alan Dundes Otto Rank Fitzroy Richard RaglanIn Quest of the Hero makes available for a new generation of readers two key works on hero myths: Otto Rank's Myth of the Birth of the Hero and the central section of Lord Raglan's The Hero. Amplifying these is Alan Dundes's fascinating contemporary inquiry, "The Hero Pattern and the Life of Jesus." Examined here are the patterns found in the lore surrounding historical or legendary figures like Gilgamesh, Moses, David, Oedipus, Odysseus, Perseus, Heracles, Aeneas, Romulus, Siegfried, Lohengrin, Arthur, and Buddha. Rank's monograph remains the classic application of Freudian theory to hero myths. In The Hero the noted English ethnologist Raglan singles out the myth-ritualist pattern in James Frazer's many-sided Golden Bough and applies that pattern to hero myths. Dundes, the eminent folklorist at the University of California at Berkeley, applies the theories of Rank, Raglan, and others to the case of Jesus. In his introduction to this selection from Rank, Raglan, and Dundes, Robert Segal, author of the major study of Joseph Campbell, charts the history of theorizing about hero myths and compares the approaches of Rank, Raglan, Dundes, and Campbell.
In Quest of the Historical Adam: A Biblical and Scientific Exploration
by William Lane CraigWas Adam a real historical person? And if so, who was he and when did he live? William Lane Craig sets out to answer these questions through a biblical and scientific investigation. He begins with an inquiry into the genre of Genesis 1–11, determining that it can most plausibly be classified as mytho-history—a narrative with both literary and historical value. He then moves into the New Testament, where he examines references to Adam in the words of Jesus and the writings of Paul, ultimately concluding that the entire Bible considers Adam the historical progenitor of the human race—a position that must therefore be accepted as a premise for Christians who take seriously the inspired truth of Scripture. Working from that foundation of biblical truth, Craig embarks upon an interdisciplinary survey of scientific evidence to determine where Adam could be most plausibly located in the evolutionary history of humankind, ultimately determining that Adam lived between 750,000 and 1,000,000 years ago as a member of the archaic human species Homo heidelbergensis. He concludes by reflecting theologically on his findings and asking what all this might mean for us as human beings created in the image of God, literally descended from a common ancestor—albeit one who lived in the remote past.
In Remembrance of Love
by Rosalinda Neria“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.” Luke 1:46 & 47 We live in a world where life often seems to have no rhyme or reason. There is so much discord, hatred and confusion. With this lack of harmony, we may ask ourselves, “Where is the Lord, our Divine Composer?” Then, above all the chaos in the stillness of your heart, there are words to loud you need to listen; there may even be a desire to write them down. It is not the volume I describe, but the intensity of awareness that comes with God’s “still small voice” which billows, “You are not alone.” His voice is incomparable, for it permeates with His love. God’s love is like a mighty wave saturating your sould, like a rolling flame consuming your heart. And to His Love we all must respond... Part of you may want to run away And the other part wants to kneel and stay. As we see ourselves we want to hide, But Jesus calls to our, you are My bride. As for me, to His words I hold tight, And as I wait for Him, In Remembrance of Love I write. I pray the words in this book put a little rhyme in your day and God’s Word always gives you a reason to know, “You are not alone!”
In Remembrance of the Saints: The Rise and Fall of an Inner Asian Sufi Dynasty (Translations from the Asian Classics)
by Muḥammad Ṣadiq KashghariIn the first half of the eighteenth century, rival dynasties of Naqshbandi Sufi shaykhs vied for influence in the Tarim Basin, part of present-day Xinjiang. In the 1750s, the collapse of the Junghar Mongol state gave one branch of this family an opportunity to assert their independence in the oasis cities of Kashgar and Yarkand. Others sided with the armies of the Qing dynasty, which were massing on the frontiers to invade. The ensuing conflict saw the region incorporated into the expanding Qing imperium.Three decades afterward, Muḥammad Ṣadiq Kashghari was commissioned to write an account of these Naqshbandi Sufis and their downfall. Blending the genres of collective biography and historical epic, mixing prose and verse, Kashghari’s text vividly depicts religious and political conflicts on the eve of the Qing conquest. It became the most popular and influential Chaghatay-language work to grapple with this divisive period. This volume presents the complete, long recension of In Remembrance of the Saints, translated for the first time into any Western language and extensively annotated with reference to both Islamic and Qing sources. The introduction situates the work in the Inner Asian tradition of Sufi biography and discusses the political factors shaping historical memory in Qianlong-era Xinjiang. Providing a rare local perspective on China’s expansion into Muslim borderlands, this translation sheds light on Xinjiang’s political and religious traditions and makes a foundational work of Inner Asian literature available to students and scholars.
In Rome We Trust: The Rise of Catholics in American Political Life
by Manlio GrazianoOn the heels of an extremely lively U.S. presidential election campaign, this book examines the unusually serene relationship between the chief global superpower and the world's most ancient and renowned institution. The "Catholicization" of the United States is a recent phenomenon: some believe it began during the Reagan administration; others feel it emerged under George W. Bush's presidency. What is certain is that the Catholic presence in the American political ruling class was particularly prominent in the Obama administration: over one-third of cabinet members, the Vice President, the White House Chief of Staff, the heads of Homeland Security and the CIA, the director and deputy director of the FBI, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other top military officers were all Roman Catholic. Challenging received wisdom that the American Catholic Church is in crisis and that the political religion in the United States is Evangelicalism, Manlio Graziano provides an engaging account of the tendency of Catholics to play an increasingly significant role in American politics, as well as the rising role of American prelates in the Roman Catholic Church.
In Search Of The Source: A First Encounter With God's Word
by Neil T. Anderson Larry R. Libby Hyatt MooreSome of us have grown up knowing that God created the world, that He loves us and gave His life in exchange for ours. But could we explain creation, love, and ransom to a people who didn't seem to have those words in their language? How can God's Word be translated to speak clearly, correctly, and graphically? <P> This exciting story tells how God helped Neil and Carol Anderson find the right words of the Folopa people of Papua New Guinea. As you read it, you will gain a deeper appreciation for the power of God's Word: Up to his chest in the black current of an underground river, Neil Anderson was just hitting his stride. In the eerie light of flickering torches, the wild hunting party was bringing down giant fruit bats with blow darts and killing them with their bare hands. The cave was full of yelling, splashing men, screaming bats, and deadly darts. That's when Anderson calmly suggested wading across the underground lake... and the party of former cannibals fell deathly silent. Within the depths of that subterranean lake in the heart of Papua New Guinea, Anderson would encounter a profound discovery... one of many discoveries that would change the Folopa people forever.
In Search Of Zarathustra: The First Prophet and the Ideas that Changed the World
by Paul KriwaczekA quest to find the most influential religious teacher in the ancient world: Zarathustra.IN SEARCH OF ZARATHUSTRA is a quest to trace the influence of the prophet the Greeks called Zoroaster and considered the greatest religious legislator of the ancient world. Long before the first Hebrew temple, the birth of Christ or the mission of Muhammad, Zarathustra had taught of a single universal god, of the battle between Good and Evil, of the Devil, Heaven and Hell, and of an eventual end to the world. Over several decades, Paul Kriwaczek, an award-winning television producer, has cast his eye across Europe and Central Asia, from Hadrian's Wall to the Oxus river, from the Pyrenees to the Hindu Kush. Passing via Nietzsche's interpretation of Zarathustra for a post-religious age, the Cathars of 13th-century France, the Bulgars of 9th-century Balkans, and the prophet Mani's revision of Zarathustra's message in the later Persian empire, Paul Kriwaczek then explores the religion of Mithras - before going back past Alexander the Great's destruction of the Persian Empire, and the era of the great Persian kings Cyrus and Darius in the 6th century BC, to the beginning of the first pre-Christian millennium.
In Search Of Zarathustra: The First Prophet and the Ideas that Changed the World (Vintage Departures Ser.)
by Paul KriwaczekA quest to find the most influential religious teacher in the ancient world: Zarathustra.IN SEARCH OF ZARATHUSTRA is a quest to trace the influence of the prophet the Greeks called Zoroaster and considered the greatest religious legislator of the ancient world. Long before the first Hebrew temple, the birth of Christ or the mission of Muhammad, Zarathustra had taught of a single universal god, of the battle between Good and Evil, of the Devil, Heaven and Hell, and of an eventual end to the world. Over several decades, Paul Kriwaczek, an award-winning television producer, has cast his eye across Europe and Central Asia, from Hadrian's Wall to the Oxus river, from the Pyrenees to the Hindu Kush. Passing via Nietzsche's interpretation of Zarathustra for a post-religious age, the Cathars of 13th-century France, the Bulgars of 9th-century Balkans, and the prophet Mani's revision of Zarathustra's message in the later Persian empire, Paul Kriwaczek then explores the religion of Mithras - before going back past Alexander the Great's destruction of the Persian Empire, and the era of the great Persian kings Cyrus and Darius in the 6th century BC, to the beginning of the first pre-Christian millennium.
In Search of Ancient Kings: Egúngún in Brazil
by Brian WillsonThe Egúngún society is one of the least-studied and written-about aspects of African diasporic spiritual traditions. It is the society of the ancestors, the society of the dead. Its primary function is to facilitate all aspects of ancestor veneration. Though it is fundamental to Yorùbá culture and the Ifá/Òrìṣà tradition of the Yorùbá, it did not survive intact in Cuba or the US during the forced migration of the Yorùbá in the Middle Passage. Taking hold only in Brazil, the Egúngún cult has thrived since the early 1800s on the small island of Itaparica, across the Bay of All Saints from Salvador, Bahia. Existing almost exclusively on this tiny island until the 1970s (migrating to Rio de Janeiro and, eventually, Recife), this ancient cult was preserved by a handful of families and flourished in a strict, orthodox manner. Brian Willson spent ten years in close contact with this lineage at the Candomble temple Xango Cá Te Espero in Rio de Janeiro and was eventually initiated as a priest of Egúngún. Representing the culmination of his personal involvement, interviews, research, and numerous visits to Brazil, this book relates the story of Egúngún from an insider’s view. Very little has been written about the cult of Egúngún, and almost exclusively what is written in English is based on research conducted in Africa and falls into the category of descriptive and historical observations. Part personal journal, part metaphysical mystery, part scholarly work, and part field research, In Search of Ancient Kings illuminates the nature of Egúngún as it is practiced in Brazil.
In Search of Ancient Roots: The Christian Past and the Evangelical Identity Crisis
by Kenneth J. StewartProtestantIn Search of Ancient RootsIn Search of Ancient Roots
In Search of Angels: Travels to the Edge of the World
by Alistair Moffat“This account of four west coast journeys in search of the remnants of the earliest Christian missionaries is intriguing . . . Moffat is an engaging guide.” —The ScotsmanFourteen centuries ago, Irish saints brought the Word of God to the Hebrides and Scotland’s Atlantic shore. These “white martyrs” sought solitude, remoteness, even harshness, in places apart from the world where they could fast, pray and move closer to an understanding of God: places where they could see angels. Columba, who founded the famous monastery at Iona, was the most well-known of these courageous men who rowed their curraghs towards danger and uncertainty in a pagan land, but the many others are now largely forgotten by history. In this book, Alistair Moffat journeys from the island of Eileach an Naoimh at the mouth of the Firth of Lorne to Lismore, Iona and then north to Applecross, searching for traces of these extraordinary men. He finds them not often in any tangible remains, but in the spirit of the islands and remote places where they passed their exemplary lives. Brendan, Moluag, Columba, Maelrubha and others brought the Gaelic language and echoes of how the saints saw their world can still be heard in its cadences. And the tradition of great piety endures.“This account of four journeys to three small islands and a remote peninsula in the Scottish north-west has an air of exotic adventure.” —The Times Literary Supplement“I was drawn to Moffat’s personal response to pilgrimage as he retraced the spiritual journeys of the early monks . . . This delightful book is part history, part pilgrimage.” —Church Times
In Search of Anti-Semitism
by William F. Buckley Jr.This is not a history of anti-Semitism, nor a survey of it. "In Search of Anti-Semitism" is a perceptive study of anti-Semitism. He examines these with wit, thoroughness, and an open-mindedness which most of his critics have acclaimed. The book focuses on three contemporary writers and one contemporary battleground. He examines the writings of Joseph Sobran; of Gore Vidal, who concluded in the pages of The Nation that Jewish Americans have "twin loyalties." And the book examines the scene at Dartmouth College, whose president assailed student editors of the undergraduate conservative journal The Dartmouth Review as racist, in pursuit of a vendetta between the college and that journal. Mr. Buckley draws a number of conclusions, some tentative some firm, about his subject: What Christians provoke what Jews? Why? By doing what? - And vice versa. Included are responses from many influential commentators, the reactions are varied and illuminating.