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Mystic Cults in Magna Graecia
by Giovanni Casadio Patricia A. JohnstonIn Vergil's Aeneid, the poet implies that those who have been initiated into mystery cults enjoy a blessed situation both in life and after death. This collection of essays brings new insight to the study of mystic cults in the ancient world, particularly those that flourished in Magna Graecia (essentially the area of present-day Southern Italy and Sicily). Implementing a variety of methodologies, the contributors to Mystic Cults in Magna Graecia examine an array of features associated with such "mystery religions" that were concerned with individual salvation through initiation and hidden knowledge rather than civic cults directed toward Olympian deities usually associated with Greek religion. Contributors present contemporary theories of ancient religion, field reports from recent archaeological work, and other frameworks for exploring mystic cults in general and individual deities specifically, with observations about cultural interactions throughout. Topics include Dionysos and Orpheus, the Goddess Cults, Isis in Italy, and Roman Mithras, explored by an international array of scholars including Giulia Sfameni Gasparro ("Aspects of the Cult of Demeter in Magna Graecia") and Alberto Bernabé ("Imago Inferorum Orphica"). The resulting volume illuminates this often misunderstood range of religious phenomena.
The Mystic Fable, Volume 1: The Sixteenth And Seventeenth Centuries
by Michel De Certeau Michael B. SmithThe culmination of de Certeau's lifelong engagement with the human sciences, this volume is both an analysis of Christian mysticism during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and an application of this influential scholar's transdisciplinary historiography.
The Mystic Fable, Volume Two
by Michel De Certeau Luce Giard Michael B. SmithMore than two decades have passed since Chicago published the first volume of this groundbreaking work in the Religion and Postmodernism series. It quickly became influential across a wide range of disciplines and helped to make the tools of poststructuralist thought available to religious studies and theology, especially in the areas of late medieval and early modern mysticism. Though the second volume remained in fragments at the time of his death, Michel de Certeau had the foresight to leave his literary executor detailed instructions for its completion, which formed the basis for the present work. Together, both volumes solidify Certeau's place as a touchstone of twentieth-century literature and philosophy, and continue his exploration of the paradoxes of historiography; the construction of social reality through practice, testimony, and belief; the theorization of speech in angelology and glossolalia; and the interplay of prose and poetry in discourses of the ineffable. This book will be of vital interest to scholars in religious studies, theology, philosophy, history, and literature.
The Mystic Heart: Discovering a Universal Spirituality in the World's Religions
by Wayne TeasdaleDrawing on experience as an interreligious monk, Brother Wayne Teasdale reveals the power of spirituality and its practical elements. He combines a profound Christian faith with an intimate understanding of ancient religious traditions.
Mystic in Motley: The Life of St. Philip Neri
by Theodore MaynardShould the title of this book appear startling, the life of the sixteenth-century saint described will appear no less so. To play the fool for the love of God was the delight of St. Philip Neri. Jesting was almost native to him, and a welcome joke book, the product of an age-long Christian culture. But it was his motive that supernaturalized his jocularity. Philip Neri lived in the sixteenth century, the era of the Reformation, the Counter-reformation, the corruption of Popes and clergy, and the making of great saints.
The Mystic Jesus: The Mind of Love (The Marianne Williamson Series)
by Marianne WilliamsonReturning to the topic of her beloved classic bestseller A Return to Love, spiritual guide Marianne Williamson builds on the ideas introduced in that book to lead us toward the light through the inspiring guidance of the mystic Jesus.In A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles, Marianne Williamson revealed how we each become miracle-workers when expressing love and forgiveness in our everyday lives. With The Mystic Jesus, Williamson reveals the role of Jesus in the teachings of the Course. For many, Jesus has become a precious relic, revered yet lacking the immediacy of authentic spiritual force. In The Mystic Jesus, Williamson writes of a Jesus who transcends both glib imagery and outdated religious dogma. She writes not only of an historical Messiah but of a spirit alive in all of us today.Williamson brings to The Mystic Jesus her talent at making the densest theological theories relevant to our everyday lives. She merges psychological and religious understanding, presenting Jesus as a guide to another way of thinking, therefore the builder of another kind of world. The Jesus in The Mystic Jesus truly is, in the words of St. Augustine, “ever ancient, ever new.”The Jesus presented here is a radical love, an ever-present teacher, an evolutionary elder brother, and a savior from the fear-based, twisted thinking that dominates our world. The Mystic Jesus is both theological and practical, signature Williamson in both its intellectual clarity and emotional impact.
The Mystic Rose
by Stephen R. LawheadStephen R. Lawhead's Celtic Crusades saga has won widespread critical acclaim and a legion of loyal readers. Now, he returns with the final volume in this magnificent series -- a tale rich in history and imagination, filled with danger, betrayal, courage, and faith, as the third generation of a Scottish noble family continues its eternal quest to secure the divine on earth, and preserve humankind's last true hope for salvation.While undergoing the initiation into the highest order of a secret religious society, Scottish lawyer Gordon Murray discovers the greatest revelation of all ...A thousand years after its disappearance, the Mystic Rose, which is the fabled Grail -- the Chalice of the Last Supper -- has been found, and the Knights Templar will stop at nothing to possess it. Led by the ruthless and corrupt Renaud de Bracineaux, the warrior monks embark on a dangerous and deceitful quest to find the Holy Cup.Only one person stands in their way: Cait, a young woman from the windswept hills of northern Scotland. Raised on the Crusader tales of her grandfather, Murdo, and her father, Duncan, the redoubtable Cait has determined to claim the prize for her own.The trail is long, and it is treacherous. Guided only by a handful of coded clues gleaned from a stolen letter, Cait and her small band of knights will make their way from the shadowed halls of Saint Sophia to the marble palaces of Aragon, from Constantinople to Santiago de Compostela and beyond, deep into the heart of Moorish Spain and a world unseen by Christian eyes for over four hundred years.Thus begins a race which quickly escalates into a battle of wits, will, and might between two implacable, cunning, and resourceful foes for the possession of the most valuable object in all Christendom: the Mystic Rose.Magnificent and breathtaking in scope, The Celtic Crusades traces the epic tale of one family fighting for its faith during one of the bloodiest epochs in history, and with The Mystic Rose delivers a powerful and moving climax to this unique and compelling historical adventure. Vividly interweaving the history of our own tumultuous time with events from long ago, and brilliantly blending sheer, visceral storytelling excitement with a powerful sweeping vision of human destiny, Stephen R. Lawhead concludes his thrilling trilogy of a Scottish noble family during the age of the Crusades and the secret society whose hidden ceremonies have shaped our world.
Mystic Sweet Communion
by Jane KirkpatrickSet in turn-of-the-century Florida, this frontier saga traces the life of Ivy Cromartie Stranahan, the first English-speaking teacher in the region, as she struggles to teach school in the Seminole Nation and lead Indian families to Christ. Ivy is disliked by tribal leaders in spite of her obvious love for their children, yet she eventually overcomes their resistance and serves as their spokesman in negotiations with the U S government. Already scarred by her mother's tragic death in childbirth, Ivy overcomes her husband's suicide and other devastating disappointments to share her faith with her adopted people and eventually earn their love. In 1900, Ivy Cromartie Stranahan gives up a promising teaching career to join her husband at the remote New River trading post in south Florida - but she doesn't give up her love for learning or her passion for righting wrongs. In this remarkable story of God's faithfulness and one woman's commitment, Ivy becomes a friend to the Seminole people, their teacher of forbidden English and the Christian faith, and finally, their spokesperson in a time of turmoil. Like all of us who search for meaning, Ivy yearns to experience the power of faith, understand the limitation of human protection, and learn the importance of perseverance in caring for those we love. She finds them in Mystic Sweet Communion.
Mystical Anthropology: Authors from the Low Countries (Contemporary Theological Explorations in Mysticism)
by John Arblaster Rob FaesenThe question of the ‘structure’ of the human person is central to many mystical authors in the Christian tradition. This book focuses on the specific anthropology of a series of key authors in the mystical tradition in the medieval and early modern Low Countries. Their view is fundamentally different from the anthropology that has commonly been accepted since the rise of Modernity. This book explores the most important mystical authors and texts from the Low Countries including: William of Saint-Thierry, Hadewijch, Pseudo-Hadewijch, John of Ruusbroec, Jan van Leeuwen, Hendrik Herp, and the Arnhem Mystical Sermons. The most important aspects of mystical anthropology are discussed: the spiritual nature of the soul, the inner-most being of the soul, the faculties, the senses, and crucial metaphors which were used to explain the relationship of God and the human person. Two contributions explicitly connect the anthropology of the mystics to contemporary thought. This book offers a solid and yet accessible overview for those interested in theology, philosophy, history, and medieval literature.
The Mystical as Political
by Aristotle PapanikolaouTheosis, or the principle of divine-human communion, sparks the theological imagination of Orthodox Christians and has been historically important to questions of political theology. In The Mystical as Political: Democracy and Non-Radical Orthodoxy, Aristotle Papanikolaou argues that a political theology grounded in the principle of divine-human communion must be one that unequivocally endorses a political community that is democratic in a way that structures itself around the modern liberal principles of freedom of religion, the protection of human rights, and church-state separation. <p><p>Papanikolaou hopes to forge a non-radical Orthodox political theology that extends beyond a reflexive opposition to the West and a nostalgic return to a Byzantine-like unified political-religious culture. His exploration is prompted by two trends: the fall of communism in traditionally Orthodox countries has revealed an unpreparedness on the part of Orthodox Christianity to address the question of political theology in a way that is consistent with its core axiom of theosis; and recent Christian political theology, some of it evoking the notion of “deification,” has been critical of liberal democracy, implying a mutual incompatibility between a Christian worldview and that of modern liberal democracy. <p><p>The first comprehensive treatment from an Orthodox theological perspective of the issue of the compatibility between Orthodoxy and liberal democracy, Papanikolaou’s is an affirmation that Orthodox support for liberal forms of democracy is justified within the framework of Orthodox understandings of God and the human person. His overtly theological approach shows that the basic principles of liberal democracy are not tied exclusively to the language and categories of Enlightenment philosophy and, so, are not inherently secular.
Mystical Bodies, Mystical Meals: Eating and Embodiment in Medieval Kabbalah
by Joel HeckerMystical Bodies, Mystical Meals is the first book-length study of mystical eating practices and experiences in the kabbalah. Focusing on the Jewish mystical literature of late-thirteenth-century Spain, author Joel Hecker analyzes the ways in which the Zohar and other contemporaneous literature represent mystical attainment in their homilies about eating. What emerges is not only consideration of eating practices but, more broadly, the effects such practices and experiences have on the bodies of its practitioners.
Mystical Body, Mystical Voice: Encountering Christ in the Words of the Mass
by Christopher Carstens Douglas MartisAs an initiative of the Liturgical Institute at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake and Liturgy Training Publications, Mystical Body, Mystical Voice: Encountering Christ in the Words of the Mass, uses the texts of the third typical edition of the Roman Missal to illustrate how the liturgy is enriched and the Church's understanding of the Second Vatican Council is deepened through the translation of the Missal. This book is not simply a guide that explains the revised texts as if we were simply changing the words we say at Mass; rather, it seizes the opportunity of the promulgation of the third edition of The Roman Missal as a valuable vehicle for liturgical catechesis.
Mystical City of God: A Popular Abridgement of the Divine History and Life of the Virgin Mother of God
by Mary Of Agreda Fiscar Marison George J. BlatterHistory of the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as revealed by Our Lady to this 17th-century Spanish nun. Venerable Mary of Agreda saw in ecstasy all the events recorded here. Later, Our Lady told her to write them down in a book. More than just the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, this book also contains information about the creation of the world, the meaning of the Apocalypse, Lucifer's rebellion, the location of Hell, the hidden life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, intimate details about Our Lord's life, and many other enthralling topics.
Mystical Crystals: Magical Stones and Gems for Health, Wealth, and Happiness
by Cerridwen GreenleafDiscover how to improve your life with the power of crystals in this comprehensive guide from the author of The Practical Witch’s Spell Book.Whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to using gemstones or crystals, this beautifully illustrated guide by Cerridwen Greenleaf has got you covered. Greenleaf has conducted workshops and retreats throughout the United States, leading participants in mysticism and spirituality practices. Backed by her experience, Greenleaf guides readers in each chapter of this book, teaching you about crystals, gems, minerals, and their various healing qualities.Rocks and gems have been a part of the human experience for millennia. We have a source of healing energy right at our fingertips! Each stone brings its own inherent quality and interacts with us in different ways, and Greenleaf shares with us how best to choose from this trove of life-changing sacred stones.We could all use some positive energy in our lives. Crystals and healing stones can create a flow of positive energy into the places we need it most. Whether that’s our love life, work life, or home life, using crystals daily can bring peace of mind and greater prosperity to each area of our life that’s hurting.In this insightful book for mystics and seekers of spirituality, you will find . . .Chapters such as “Birthstone Secrets: Discovering Your 4 Soul Stones,” “Tranquility Touchstones: Stress-Reducing Rocks,” and “Crystal Charms: How to Choose and Make Change-Your-Life Jewelry”Detailed information on healing crystals and stones to accommodate each and every area of your lifeA source of help, healing, and stress-busting guidance through channeling positive energy
Mystical Dimensions of Islam
by Annemarie SchimmelThirty-five years after its original publication, Mystical Dimensions of Islam still stands as the most valuable introduction to Sufism, the main form of Islamic mysticism. This edition brings to a new generation of readers Annemarie Schimmel's historical treatment of the transnational phenomenon of Sufism, from its beginnings through the nineteenth century.Schimmel's sensitivity and deep understanding of Sufism--its origins, development, and historical context--as well as her erudite examination of Sufism as reflected in Islamic poetry, draw readers into the mood, the vision, and the way of the Sufi. In the foreword, distinguished Islam scholar Carl W. Ernst comments on the continuing vitality of Schimmel's book and the advances in the study of Sufism that have occurred since the work first appeared.
Mystical Dimensions of Islam
by Annemarie SchimmelThus, to set out and delineate some main features of Sufism, both historically and phenomenologically, will yield no result that satisfies everybody.
Mystical Doctrines of Deification: Case Studies in the Christian Tradition (Contemporary Theological Explorations in Mysticism)
by John Arblaster Rob FaesenThe notion of the deification of the human person (theosis, theopoièsis, deificatio) was one of the most fundamental themes of Christian theology in its first centuries, especially in the Greek world. It is often assumed that this theme was exclusively developed in Eastern theology after the patristic period, and thus its presence in the theology of the Latin West is generally overlooked. The aim of this collection is to explore some Patristic articulations of the doctrine in both the East and West, but also to highlight its enduring presence in the Western tradition and its relevance for contemporary thought. The collection thus brings together a number of capita selecta that focus on the development of theosis through the ages until the Early Modern Period. It is unique, not only in emphasising the role of theosis in the West, but also in bringing to the fore a number of little-known authors and texts, and analysing their theology from a variety of fresh perspectives. Thus, mystical theology in the West is shown to have profound connections with similar concerns in the East and with the common patristic sources. By tying these traditions together, this volume brings new insight to one of mysticism’s key concerns. As such, it will be of significant interest to scholars of religious studies, mysticism, theology and the history of religion.
Mystical Experience of God: A Philosophical Inquiry (Routledge Revivals)
by Jerome GellmanThis title was first published in 2001: Engaging contemporary discussion concerning the validity of mystical experiences of God, Jerome Gellman presents the best evidential case in favor of validity and its implications for belief in God. Gellman vigorously defends the coherence of the concept of a mystical experience of God against philosophical objections, and evaluates attempts to provide alternative explanations from sociology and neuropsychology. He then carefully examines feminist objections to male philosophers' treatments of mystical experience of God and to the traditional hierarchal concept of God. Gellman finds none of the objections decisive, and concludes that while the initial evidential case is not rationally compelling for some, it can be rationally compelling for others. Offering important new perspectives on the evidential value of experiences of God, and the concept of God more broadly, this book will appeal to a wide range of readers including those with an interest in philosophy of religion, religious studies, mysticism and epistemology.
Mystical Experiences in 30 Days: The Higher Consciousness Program (In 30 Days)
by Keith Harary Pamela WeintraubThe exercises in Mystical Experiences in 30 Days by Keith Harary, PhD, and Pamela Weintraub teach readers to pay attention to subtle feelings, ideas, and capabilities just beneath everyday awareness. By shifting consciousness from mundane concerns, readers can learn to experience life from the vantage point of the sage.
The Mystical Geography of Quebec: Catholic Schisms and New Religious Movements (Palgrave Studies in New Religions and Alternative Spiritualities)
by Paul L. Gareau Susan J. Palmer Martin GeoffroyThis study of new religious movements in Quebec focuses on nine groups—including the notoriously violent Solar Temple; the iconoclastic Temple of Priapus; and the various “Catholic” schisms, such as those led by a mystical pope; the Holy Spirit incarnate; or the reappearance of the Virgin Mary. Eleven contributing authors offer rich ethnographies and sociological insights on new spiritual groups that highlight the quintessential features of Quebec's new religions (“sectes” in the francophone media). The editors argue that Quebec provides a favorable “ecology” for alternative spirituality, and explore the influences behind this situation: the rapid decline of the Catholic Church after Vatican Il; the “Quiet Revolution,” a utopian faith in Science; the 1975 Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms; and an open immigration that welcomes diverse faiths. The themes of Quebec nationalism found in prophetic writings that fuel apocalyptic ferment are explored by the editors who find in these sectarian communities echoes of Quebec’s larger Sovereignty movement.
The Mystical Language of Icons
by Solrunn NesThis lavishly illustrated guide to iconography explains through words and pictures the history, meaning, and purpose of Christian icons as well as the traditional methods that religious painters use to create these luminous, spiritually enlivened works of art. Solrunn Nes, one of Europe's most admired iconographers, illuminates the world of Christian icons, explaining the motifs, gestures, and colors common to these profound symbols of faith. Nes explores in depth a number of famous icons, including those of the Greater Feasts, the Mother of God, and a number of the better-known saints, enriching her discussion with references to Scripture, early Christian writings, and liturgy. She also leads readers through the process and techniques of icon painting, showing each step with photographs, and includes more than fifty of her own original works of art. Deeply inspiring and utterly unique, The Mystical Language of Icons will inform both those who are familiar with the rich tradition of religious art and those who are not. It also serves as a powerful devotional resource in its own right, one that Christians everywhere can turn to again and again.
The Mystical Life
by Pascal P. ParenteThe scope of this volume is distinct from that of THE ASCETICAL LIFE, also by Dr. Parente. Here the author discusses the higher realms in the life of prayer. As in the former work, he treats the subject with the greatest clearness.Why should a priest be acquainted with mystical theology? One reason is that at some time he may be the spiritual director of a soul that is in the way of the mystical life. Without adequate knowledge he is likely to be an unreliable guide.The work is divided into three parts, as follows:I. General Aspects and Basic Elements of MysticismII. Mystical States in ParticularIII. Mystical PhenomenaThe third part considers such phenomena as stigmatization, protracted abstinence, visions, private revelations.The information contained in THE MYSTICAL LIFE ought to be part of the theological equipment of every seminarian before he starts out on the work of the ministry. A priest who has not already acquired this knowledge will do well to study this volume.
The Mystical Life of Jesus: An Uncommon Perspective on the Life of Christ
by Sylvia Browne[Well-known psychic] Sylvia Browne addresses all of the major controversies surrounding Jesus such as: Was their a virgin birth? What did Jesus do during the first thirty years of his life? and Is there a Jesus lineage? Using her unique relationship with her spirit guide and her years of studying the Gnostic texts, she confidently answers these mysteries. Her book raises questions about the traditional Christian faith and gives insights into some of the contemporary, religious theology.
The Mystical Life of Jesus
by Sylvia BrowneStartling new archaeological discoveries and such groundbreaking cultural phenomena as The Da Vinci Code and The Passion of the Christ have sparked a renaissance in impassioned controversies about religion and the life of Christ. Now, Sylvia Browne, with the help of her spiritual guide, delivers the truth about Him, His teachings, and His works for God as she answers such provocative questions as: - Was there a virgin birth? - Was there a Star of Bethlehem? - What did Jesus do for the first 30 years of his life? - What really happened at the crucifixion? - Was he married? Was he divine? - Is a Jesus lineage a possibility? In Browne's own words, the answers may "rattle the cages" of her millions of readers-answers that could only have come from someone who has visited the afterlife.
Mystical Paths to God: Three Journeys
by Brother LawrenceCollected in this Omnibus edition are three classic works exploring the mystical nature of God. Included are The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence, Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila, and Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross. The Practice of the Presence of God is one of the most beautiful and touching stories of Christian devotion ever written. Brother Lawrence was a Carmelite Brother known for his profound peace and deep relationship with God; many came to seek spiritual guidance from him. The wisdom that he passed on to them, in conversations and in letters, would later become the basis for the book. This edition has two translations of this book to help the reader find a more complete understanding of this wonderful and enduring story. This is the definitive edition of St. Teresa of Avila's Interior Castle: translated by E. Allison Peers. This mystic book is as inspirational and enlightening today as it was when it was first written. St. Teresa lays out the foundation for an ideal journey of faith. St. Teresa was a reformer of the Carmelite Order and is considered to be, along with Saint John of the Cross, a founder of the Discalced Carmelites. She became the first female to be named a Doctor of the Church, in 1970, and is one of only three females to be awarded that honor. St. John of the Cross was a Carmelite friar and priest; he is renowned for his cooperation with Saint Teresa of Ávila in the reformation of the Carmelite order, and for his poetry and his studies on the growth of the soul. Dark Night of the Soul is considered one of the greatest religious poems ever written. This masterpiece of Mystic Christianity examines faith and how to keep faith when all seems lost. Think of it as guide to making it through the dark night of the soul to the brighter, happier, faith filled tomorrow that awaits.