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Animals and Psychedelics: The Natural World and the Instinct to Alter Consciousness
by Giorgio Samorini Rob MontgomeryAn Italian ethnobotanist explores the remarkable propensity of wild animals to seek out and use psychoactive substances. • Throws out behaviorist theories that claim animals have no consciousness. • Offers a completely new understanding of the role psychedelics play in the development of consciousness in all species. • Reveals drug use to be a natural instinct. From caffeine-dependent goats to nectar addicted ants, the animal kingdom offers amazing examples of wild animals and insects seeking out and consuming the psychoactive substances in their environments. Author Giorgio Samorini explores this little-known phenomenon and suggests that, far from being confined to humans, the desire to experience altered states of consciousness is a natural drive shared by all living beings and that animals engage in these behaviors deliberately. Rejecting the Western cultural assumption that using drugs is a negative action or the result of an illness, Samorini opens our eyes to the possibility that beings who consume psychedelics--whether humans or animals--contribute to the evolution of their species by creating entirely new patterns of behavior that eventually will be adopted by other members of that species. The author's fascinating accounts of mushroom-loving reindeer, intoxicated birds, and drunken elephants ensure that readers will never view the animal world in quite the same way again.
Animals and Religion: Animals And Religion In Contemporary Japan
by Dave Aftandilian Barbara R. Ambros Aaron S. GrossWhat do animals—other than human animals—have to do with religion? How do our religious ideas about animals affect the lives of real animals in the world? How can we deepen our understanding of both animals and religion by considering them together? Animals and Religion explores how animals have crucially shaped how we understand ourselves, the other living beings around us, and our relationships with them. Through incisive analyses of religious examples from around the world, the original contributions to this volume demonstrate how animals have played key roles in every known religious tradition, whether as sacred beings, symbols, objects of concern, fellow creatures, or religious teachers. And through our religious imagination, ethics, and practices, we have deeply impacted animal lives, whether by domesticating, sacrificing, dominating, eating, refraining from eating, blessing, rescuing, releasing, commemorating, or contemplating them. Drawing primarily on perspectives from religious studies and Christian theology, augmented by cutting-edge work in anthropology, biology, philosophy, and psychology, Animals and Religion offers the reader a richer understanding of who animals are and who we humans are. Do animals have emotions? Do they think or use language? Are they persons? How we answer questions like these affects diverse aspects of religion that shape not only how we relate to other animals, but also how we perceive and misperceive each other along axes of gender, race, and (dis)ability. Accessibly written and thoughtfully argued, Animals and Religion will interest anyone who wants to learn more about animals, religion, and what it means to be a human animal.
Animals and Religion
by Dave Aftandilian Barbara R. Ambros Aaron S. GrossWhat do animals—other than human animals—have to do with religion? How do our religious ideas about animals affect the lives of real animals in the world? How can we deepen our understanding of both animals and religion by considering them together? Animals and Religion explores how animals have crucially shaped how we understand ourselves, the other living beings around us, and our relationships with them.Through incisive analyses of religious examples from around the world, the original contributions to this volume demonstrate how animals have played key roles in every known religious tradition, whether as sacred beings, symbols, objects of concern, fellow creatures, or religious teachers. And through our religious imagination, ethics, and practices, we have deeply impacted animal lives, whether by domesticating, sacrificing, dominating, eating, refraining from eating, blessing, rescuing, releasing, commemorating, or contemplating them. Drawing primarily on perspectives from religious studies and Christian theology, augmented by cutting-edge work in anthropology, biology, philosophy, and psychology, Animals and Religion offers the reader a richer understanding of who animals are and who we humans are. Do animals have emotions? Do they think or use language? Are they persons? How we answer questions like these affects diverse aspects of religion that shape not only how we relate to other animals, but also how we perceive and misperceive each other along axes of gender, race, and (dis)ability.Accessibly written and thoughtfully argued, Animals and Religion will interest anyone who wants to learn more about animals, religion, and what it means to be a human animal.
Animals and the Afterlife: True Stories Of Our Best Friends' Journey Beyond Death
by Kim SheridanKim Sheridan grew up with animals as her constant companions. Each time she faced the death of a beloved pet, along with the pain came the same questions, to which she could find no answers. Then, mysterious things began to happen that she couldn’t explain, which led her on an incredible journey to uncover the truth. <p><p>Along with her own extraordinary experiences, she compiled heartwarming and meaningful true stories of everyday people around the world, and discovered compelling evidence that forever erased her own doubts about an afterlife for animals. This book provides enormous comfort and reassurance to anyone who has ever cherished a pet, and food for thought for anyone who has ever questioned the place of these beloved creatures in the larger scheme of things, both here on Earth and beyond.
Animals and the Afterlife: True Stories of Our Best Friends' Journey Beyond Death
by Kim SheridanPETS/PET LOSS/LIFE AFTER DEATH Do animals have souls? What happens when they die? This book offers some amazing answers... KIM SHERIDAN grew up with animals as her constant companions. Each time she faced the death of a beloved animal, along with the pain came the same questions, to which she could find no answers. Then, mysterious things began to happen which she could not explain. This led her on an incredible journey to uncover the truth. Along with her own extraordinary experiences, she compiled the heartwarming and meaningful true stories of everyday people around the world. She discovered compelling evidence that forever erased her own doubts of an afterlife for animals. Today she is a highly respected and sought after expert on life after death for animals, and her time is devoted not only to animals but to those who are left behind when they pass. Her long-awaited book provides tremendous comfort and reassurance to anyone who has ever loved an animal, and food for thought for anyone who has ever questioned the place of animals in the larger scheme of things, both here on Earth and in the afterlife.
Animals Everywhere! (Thomas & Friends)
by Richard Courtney W. AwdryThomas rolls to the rescue after some mischievous monkeys let the animals loose from a visiting circus. Boys ages 3 to 7 will love this early reader featuring their favorite Thomas & Friends engines.
Animals, Gods and Humans: Changing Attitudes to Animals in Greek, Roman and Early Christian Thought
by Ingvild Saelid GilhusConsulting a wide range of key texts and source material, Animals, Gods and Humans covers 800 years and provides a detailed analysis of early Christian attitudes to, and the position of, animals in Greek and Roman life and thought. Both the pagan and Christian conceptions of animals are rich and multilayered, and Ingvild Sælid Gilhus expertly examines the dominant themes and developments in the conception of animals. Including study of: biographies of figures such as Apollonus of Tyana; natural history; the New Testament via Gnostic texts; the church fathers; and from pagan and Christian criticism of animal sacrifice, to the acts of martyrs, the source material and detailed analysis included in this volume make it a veritable feast of information for all classicists.
Animals in Islamic Traditions and Muslim Cultures
by Richard FoltzThis book, the first of its kind, surveys Islamic and Muslim attitudes towards animals, and human responsibilities towards them, through Islam's philosophy, literature, mysticism and art.
Animals in Spirit: Our faithful companions' transition to the afterlife
by Penelope SmithFrom a pioneer in the field of interspecies communication for more than forty years, Penelope Smith&’s Animals in Spirit teaches you how to release the feelings of loss and separation that follow the death of a beloved pet and instead stay connected to your pet before, during, and after they cross over the rainbow bridge.Losing an animal companion can be a painful experience, yet by examining their transition from a spiritual perspective, Animals in Spirit explores the process of dying from the viewpoints of both pets and their people. Learn how animals choose their paths in each life and the knowledge they leave behind for their human families. As animals make their way from the physical into the spiritual realm, Animals in Spirit can strengthen the union with our beloved friends by teaching us to accept and understand the full experience of the cycle of life. Our dear pets and companions may be gone from this world, but there is comfort to be had in the knowledge that we can still commune with them and that this is not really goodbye. With true stories, insights from animals and their human friends, as well as meditations to ease the mourning process or help you to communicate with animals in the spirit realm, Animals in Spirit will help heal the feelings of grief and separation by connecting you to your faithful companion in spirit.
Animals in the Qur'an
by Sarra TliliThe Islamic tradition has always held animals in high esteem, deserving the same level of consideration as humans. The Qur'an opines that 'there is not an animal in the earth nor a flying creature flying on two wings, but they are people like you'. This fascinating and highly original book examines the status and nature of animals as they are portrayed in the Qur'an and in adjacent exegetical works, in which animals are viewed as spiritual, moral, intelligent and accountable beings. In this way, the study presents a challenge to the prevalent view of man's superiority over animals and suggests new ways of interpreting the Qur'an. By placing the discussion within the context of other religions and their treatment of animals, the book also makes a persuasive case for animal rights from an Islamic perspective.
Animals in Tillich's Philosophical Theology (The Palgrave Macmillan Animal Ethics Series)
by Abbey-Anne SmithThis book explores how Paul Tillich’s systematic theology, focusing on the concepts of being and reason can benefit nonhuman animals, while also analysing how taking proper account of nonhuman animals can prove immensely beneficial. The author first explains the body of Tillich’s system, examining reason and revelation, life and the spirit, and history and the kingdom of God. The second section undertakes a critical analysis of Tillichian concepts and their adequacy in relation to nonhuman animals, addressing topics such as Tillich’s concept of ‘technical reason’ and the multidimensional unity of life. The author concludes by discussing the positive concepts in Tillich’s systematic theology with respect to nonhuman animals and creation, including the concept of universal salvation and Tillich’s interpretation of nonhuman animals and the Fall in Genesis.
Animating the Spirited: Journeys and Transformations
by Tze-yue G. Hu, Masao Yokota and Gyongyi HorvathContributions by Graham Barton, Raz Greenberg, Gyongyi Horvath, Birgitta Hosea, Tze-yue G. Hu, Yin Ker, M. Javad Khajavi, Richard J. Leskosky, Yuk Lan Ng, Giryung Park, Eileen Anastasia Reynolds, Akiko Sugawa-Shimada, Koji Yamamura, Masao Yokota, and Millie Young Getting in touch with a spiritual side is a craving many are unable to express or voice, but readers and viewers seek out this desired connection to something greater through animation, cinema, anime, and art. Animating the Spirited: Journeys and Transformations includes a range of explorations of the meanings of the spirited and spiritual in the diverse, dynamic, and polarized creative environment of the twenty-first century. While animation is at the heart of the book, such related subjects as fine art, comics, children's literature, folklore, religion, and philosophy enrich the discoveries. These interdisciplinary discussions range from theory to practice, within the framework of an ever-changing media landscape. Working on different continents and coming from varying cultural backgrounds, these diverse scholars, artists, curators, and educators demonstrate the insights of the spirited. Authors also size up new dimensions of mental health and related expressions of human living and interactions. While the book recognizes and acknowledges the particularities of the spirited across cultures, it also highlights its universality, demonstrating how it is being studied, researched, comprehended, expressed, and consumed in various parts of the world.
Animism and Philosophy of Religion (Palgrave Frontiers in Philosophy of Religion)
by Tiddy SmithMainstream philosophy of religion has persistently failed to engage seriously or critically with animist beliefs and practices. The field that is now called "philosophy of religion" could quite easily be renamed "philosophy of theism" with few lecturers on the subject having to change their lecture notes. It is the aim of this volume to rectify that failure and to present animism as a live option among the plethora of religious worldviews. The volume addresses four major questions: 1. What is this thing called "animism"? 2. Are there any arguments for or against animist belief and practice? 3. What is the relationship between animism, naturalism, and the sciences? And 4. Should we take animism seriously? Animism and Philosophy of Religion is intended to be the first authoritative scholarly volume on the issue of animism and its place in the philosophy of religion. Ambitiously, it aims to act as the cornerstone volume for future work on the subject and as a key text for courses engaging with the subject.
Animism beyond the Soul: Ontology, Reflexivity, and the Making of Anthropological Knowledge (Studies in Social Analysis #6)
by Katherine Swancutt Mireille MazardHow might we envision animism through the lens of the ‘anthropology of anthropology’? The contributors to this volume offer compelling case studies that demonstrate how indigenous animistic practices, concepts, traditions, and ontologies are co-authored in highly reflexive ways by anthropologists and their interlocutors. They explore how native epistemologies, which inform anthropological notions during fieldwork, underpin the dialogues between researchers and their participants. In doing so, the contributors reveal ways in which indigenous thinkers might be influenced by anthropological concepts of the soul and, equally, how they might subtly or dramatically then transform those same concepts within anthropological theory.
Animism In Rainforest And Tundra
by Vanessa Elisa Grotti Marc Brightman Olga UlturgashevaAmazonia and Siberia, classic regions of shamanism, have long challenged 'western' understandings of man's place in the world. By exploring the social relations between humans and non-human entities credited with human-like personhood (not only animals and plants, but also 'things' such as artifacts, trade items, or mineral resources) from a comparative perspective, this volume offers valuable insights into the constitutions of humanity and personhood characteristic of the two areas. The contributors conducted their ethnographic fieldwork among peoples undergoing transformative processes of their lived environments, such as the depletion of natural resources and migration to urban centers. They describe here fundamental relational modes that are being tested in the face of change, presenting groundbreaking research on personhood and agency in shamanic societies and contributing to our global understanding of social and cultural change and continuity.
Anishinaabe Ways of Knowing and Being (Vitality of Indigenous Religions)
by Lawrence W. GrossVery few studies have examined the worldview of the Anishinaabeg from within the culture itself and none have explored the Anishinaabe worldview in relation to their efforts to maintain their culture in the present-day world. This book fills that gap. Focusing mainly on the Minnesota Anishinaabeg, Lawrence Gross explores how their worldview works to create a holistic way of living. However, as Gross also argues, the Anishinaabeg saw the end of their world early in the 20th century and experienced what he calls 'postapocalypse stress syndrome.' As such, the book further explores how the values engendered by the worldview of the Anishinaabeg are finding expression in the modern world as they seek to rebuild their society.
Ann Judson: A Biography, Including Selections from Her Memoir and Letters
by Sharon JamesPreviously published as My Heart in His Hands, this book is fully revised and updated and is the best modern biography of Ann Judson available. If you only read one biography this year, read Ann Judson: a missionary life for Burma. <p><p> If you re going through trials or suffering you need to read this book and find out that trials are always for a purpose rightly understood they glorify God and build us up in the faith. Sharon James uses the sources carefully to bring Ann (and Adoniram) Judson s piety and hard work for the Lord to our attention, not to venerate them but to challenge us to deeper commitment and service to the Lord.
Ann the Word: The Story of Ann Lee, Female Messiah, Mother of the Shakers, the Woman Clothed with the Sun
by Richard FrancisFrom Publishers Weekly Ann Lee (1736-1784) was an illiterate who left no records of her own, making the biographer's task a challenge. Francis has culled this entertaining profile from public records of Lee's many incarcerations for disorderly conduct (those early Shakers were a loud bunch) and her followers' glowing recollections. Francis dispels some myths about Lee, including the notion that she "founded" the Shaker movement, which had been going for 11 years before she converted in 1758. In 1770, she had a vision in which she saw herself as a Messiah figure, and thereafter assumed spiritual leadership, bringing a small flock of believers to America in 1774. Francis does a fine job of placing early Shakerism within the larger context of the Revolutionary War and gives long-overdue attention to the historical import of the "Dark Day" of 1780. Francis is a fine writer who vividly conjures the religious and social worlds of the 18th century, though his allusions to popular 20th-century entertainments (Monty Python, Stephen King and the movie Groundhog Day) are more distracting than illustrative. The lack of citations of any kind is troublesome in a biography where so much of the "primary" source material was penned long after Lee's death; occasional glitches on Francis's part (e.g., calling the Anglican revivalist George Whitefield a Methodist) also undermine reader confidence. Despite these flaws, this is unquestionably the best and most absorbing biography of the irrepressible Shaker leader.
Anna and Tranquillo: Catholic Anxiety and Jewish Protest in the Age of Revolutions
by Kenneth StowA historical interpretation of the diary of an eighteenth-century Jewish woman who resisted the efforts of the papal authorities to force her religious conversion After being seized by the papal police in Rome in May 1749, Anna del Monte, a Jew, kept a diary detailing her captors' efforts over the next thirteen days to force her conversion to Catholicism. Anna's powerful chronicle of her ordeal at the hands of authorities of the Roman Catholic Church, originally circulated by her brother Tranquillo in 1793, receives its first English-language translation along with an insightful interpretation by Kenneth Stow of the incident's legal and historical significance. Stow's analysis of Anna's dramatic story of prejudice, injustice, resistance, and survival during her two-week imprisonment in the Roman House of Converts--and her brother's later efforts to protest state-sanctioned, religion-based abuses--provides a detailed view of the separate forces on either side of the struggle between religious and civil law in the years just prior to the massive political and social upheavals in America and Europe.
The Anna Anointing: Become a Woman of Boldness, Power and Strength
by Michelle McClain-WaltersBoldly change your life and those you influence by developing an ear to not only hear, but to also listen to God's heart. God released grace upon Anna to fast and pray unto the revelation of Jesus to the earth the first time. God is releasing a similar grace upon a whole generation of women who will operate in a similar anointing as Anna&’s unto the revelation of Jesus to the earth in His second coming. This book will be the catalyst for a prayer movement spreading all over the earth to usher in the greatest revival the planet has ever seen.
Anna-daan, Food Charity in India: Preaching and Practice
by K. V. Raju S. ManasiEating together unites people and has a significant impact on their physical, social, and emotional development. This book looks at practices and traditions of sharing food prevalent among major religious communities in India, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, Christianity, and Islam.Food insecurity is one of the major problems every country in the world is facing today because of increasing population, climate change, agrarian distress, wars and conflicts, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Including case studies from across India, this book examines the necessity and effectiveness of food-sharing practices in temples, mosques, and gurudwaras, among others. Emphasising the importance of these practices for the social and physical well-being of the most vulnerable sections of society, it showcases how traditional religious practices of food sharing have contributed to tackling hunger, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The volume also offers long-term solutions to address underlying issues which cause hunger and food insecurity.One of the first to study food sharing and alms-giving practices in India, this book will be an essential read for scholars and researchers of sociology, anthropology, food studies, religion, security studies, political economy, public policy, and South Asian history and culture.
Anna Finch and the Hired Gun: A Novel
by Kathleen Y'BarboWhen an aspiring reporter and a Pinkerton detective get tangled in Doc Holliday's story-- and each other--sparks can't help but fly. Despite her father's attempts to marry her off, Anna Finch dreams of becoming a reporter. A chance encounter with legendary gunslinger Doc Holliday gives her the opportunity of a lifetime, but Pinkerton agent Jeb Sanders is about to ruin everything. Though her father hired Jeb to keep her out of mischief, Anna's inconvenient attraction to her hired gun only multiplies her troubles. She doesn't realize Jeb has a score to settle with Doc Holliday, or that her association with the famous outlaw will affect more than just her marriage prospects. Between her father's desperation to see her wed and Jeb shadowing her every move, getting the story and fulfilling her journalistic ambition just got far more complicated than she ever imagined.
Anna, Grandmother of Jesus: A Message of Wisdom and Love
by Claire Heartsong Claire Ann ClemettThe self-published spiritual word-of-mouth bestseller.Anna, Grandmother of Jesus became a publishing sensation when the self-published version sold 50,000 copies through word of mouth alone, amassing a worldwide following in the process.Anna is the mother of the Virgin Mary and the grandmother of Jesus. Her teachings and service birthed a spiritual lineage that changed the world. In this book, you'll discover missing pieces of history concerning Anna, Mary and Jesus, as channelled by Claire Heartsong, who has been receiving telepathic messages from Anna for 30 years.Told through the gentle and heartwarming voice of Anna herself, this book offers insights into unknown places the holy family visited, people they knew and intimate details of their daily struggle to complete the Resurrection challenges. You will learn about the Essenes of Mount Carmel and their secret teachings and initiations, and gain a new understanding of Jesus's mission.Containing encoded activations to bring Anna's wisdom and energy into your own spiritual life, this book is an invitation to complete a journey of initiation begun long ago.
Anna in Chains
by Merrill Joan GerberAnna in Chains is a collection of stories about the reality of being an elderly woman in the modern world and all the struggles that go with it. Anna Goldman, nearly eighty years old, widowed and living on her own in the Fairfax Area of Los Angeles, struggles to remain independent as she moves through the modern world. Jewish, but disenchanted with religion in any guise, Anna eats bacon to dare God's wrath. Living in a mixed ethnic neighborhood, Anna pronounces her prejudices against all foreigners wondering where the values of the world she remembers have gone.PRAISE "Gerber has created a colorful and memorable character. Her prose is richly detailed, and along the way we learn much about the nature of loneliness and aging. The title story, set in a nursing home is truly moving... Happily, Gerber has dramatized Anna in these stories..." -Hadassah Magazine "Widowed Anna, with her short skirts, her tart tongue, her two pianos (Mozart is her 'religion') and her practiced cynicism about men, moves from her apartment in Los Angeles' Fairfax District to a retirement home, fully aware that it's her next-to-last stop. She stares Death in the face, and he almost seems to wink...There are funny stories that nonetheless bear our Anna's belief that 'we live on the verge of catastrophe, and the natural state of life should reasonably be terror.'" -Los Angeles Times "Prolific Gerber creates... a character who rages eloquently against the coming of the night... Full of antic, bittersweet detail." -Kirkus Reviews "Merrill Joan Gerber's work is distinguished by the precision of its insights and the elegance of her deceptively forthright style. No one is better at rendering the complications and frustrations of ordinary lives. Her touch is light, but her work is powerful." -Robert Stone "Merrill is, above all and underneath all, a crucially honest writer... She is one of those writers who discover us to ourselves, and move us almost more than we can bear." -Cynthia Ozick
Anna in the Afterlife
by Merrill Joan Gerber"Once her dying got underway, Anna could not really complain about the way the process moved along." So begins this deftly amusing, wryly perceptive look at the dying of a feisty, funny ninety-year old woman. During the four days between her death and her burial --and with the unique perception she is allowed prior to her funeral--Anna discovers certain secrets her daughters have hidden from her. She is deeply shocked by the revelation of an act that must have transpired between herself as a child and her much older brother. In her final moments of consciousness, Anna makes the last commentaries on her own secrets and crimes before stepping into eternity.PRAISE "Merrill Joan Gerber is not only one of our most underrated contemporary writers, she also may well be our least pretentious. Her utter lack of pretence is a major source of her raw power as a writer... Like Saul Bellow and Philip Roth, and some of the great Jewish comedians, Gerber extracts wry humor from embarrassing, awkward and desperate situations, even in illness and death... Like Bellow, Gerber has a genius for the irritable, the acrid and the embittered. The visitor from another planet who doesn't know what it means to kvetch would need to look no further than Gerber's fiction for superb illustration of the phenomenon... Her eyes are trained on the quotidian, but the acuity and intensity of her vision are not less extraordinary." -Merle Rubin, Los Angeles Times "Award winning writer Merrill Joan Gerber's mini-novel chronicles the unlikely but oddly believable tale of 90-year-old Anna-"dead but not buried"-during the four day interval between her passing (a word that Anna would have hated) and her burial... Readers of Gerber's previous novels and stories will recognize the characters... but that familiarity will serve to enhance the curious charm of his curious book." -Gloria Goldreich, Hadassah Magazine "Gerber is a careful observer of those thousands of details that forge family dynamics and skillfully transforms life's ordinary and gut-wrenching moments into compelling prose." -Judy Bart Kancigor, The Jewish Journal of Los Angeles