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Secrets of the Druids: From Indo-European Origins to Modern Practices
by Teresa CrossA guide to the history and practices of the Druids and the Celtic faith • Reconstructs the Druidic faith from surviving remnants, parallels with other Indo-European traditions, and dedicated study of scholarly sources • Details magical rites and ceremonies, methods for consecrating an outdoor temple, and customs for celebrating important festivals such as Beltaine and Samhain • Discusses rules for firecraft, making offerings to deities and spirits, and the ancient Coligny calendar, including the names of the months in old Gaulish Druids and their magic, lore, and rituals have fascinated all those who encounter them, from the ancient Greeks and Romans onward. Even today, the mere mention of their name evokes pictures of standing stones, mistletoe, golden sickles, white-robed priests, and powerful sorcerers. But were they really as we picture them? Drawing on comparative mythology and linguistics, archaeological evidence, and etymology, Teresa Cross offers readers a comprehensive course in the history and development of the Celtic spiritual tradition and its lore, reconstructing the Druidic faith from the remnants that have survived and dedicated study of scholarly sources. She also reveals parallels with other Indo-European traditions, such as the similarities between Celtic and Vedic Hindu beliefs and practices. She chronicles the ethics and spiritual teachings of Druidism and the Celtic faith and examines what happened to these beliefs during centuries of Christianization. Moving from history to practice, Cross details magical rites and ceremonies as practiced by modern-day followers of Druidactos. She explores the structure of the Touta, which roughly corresponds to &“tribe,&” methods for consecrating a nemeton, the outdoor temple that offers the optimum sacred space for the meeting of heaven and earth, and the rites and customs associated with important festivals such as Beltaine and Samhain. She also explores the rules of firecraft, the sacred art of giving to the cosmos, making offerings to deities and spirits, sacred food and beverages, and the ancient Coligny calendar, including the names of the months in old Gaulish. Offering an authentic handbook for starting your own Celtic group led by Druids, Cross reveals the meanings and metaphysics behind the Celtic and Druidic customs and traditions, reuniting the fragmentary remains of long-lost Druid culture with the still-living practices of the Celtic faith.
Secrets of the Heart
by Gail Gaymer MartinEmbittered social worker Kate Davis meets and falls in love with handsome doctor Scott Ryan. Everything is perfect, but Kate has a dark secret that has shaken her trust and faith. Can she overcome the pain of the past so that love and happiness are possible in her future?
Secrets of the Heart
by Richard W. DortchA life that is free, that is what most of us seek. It isn't that we don't want some restraints...it's just our quest to know freedom...victorious living of heart, mind, and soul. Richard Dortch wants you to be a person who will let the sunlight in and let life be the beautiful experience it can be. Dortch, in his high-profile position as president of one of America's largest ministries, saw firsthand what secrets, compromise, and hidden things can do to a person. Now, after coming to terms with the secrets of his own heart, Richard Dortch is in a unique position to help others see what blessed freedom there is in living a life courageously and being totally transparent. You will not be the same after walking with him through the experiences of... Secrets of the Heart. On these pages we'll discuss: The warning signs of deception. How to avoid the penalty of secrets. The keys to self-examination. How to build trust and confidence. How to escape from denial. The keys to confession. How to find principles worth keeping. The 10 secrets for truthful living. How to find freedom from guilt. Life-changing declarations of truth.
Secrets of the Heart (Mail Order Bride #1)
by Al Lacy Joanna LacyKathleen O'Malley Stallworth a mail order bride? Not likely! But the Lord works in mysterious ways. Her parents and siblings died in the great Chicago fire; her husband was killed by a mugger; now her fabulously wealthy in-laws have taken her daughter Megan from her, claiming she's not fit to be a mother. In a newspaper ad for a mail order bride, Kathleen sees a chance to seek revenge on the Stallworth family. Instead, her westward adventure transforms her world and restores her faith. She returns to Chicago to fight for Megan but soon discovers God has prepared a victory she could never have imagined.
Secrets of the Heart (The Ravensmoore Chronicles #1)
by Jillian KentMadeline Whittington, daughter of the deceased Earl of Richfield, emerges from English society&’s prescribed period of mourning in the winter of 1815. Madeline believes that she no longer belongs in a world of gossip and gowns; instead she wants to help the orphans living within the walls of Ashcroft Insane Asylum. Once there, she discovers a dark secret within the asylum walls.Because of his elder brother&’s unexpected death, Devlin Greyson becomes Earl of Ravensmoore and struggles between two worlds: one of affluence and privilege and one of poverty and disease. Torn between his desire to become a doctor and the numerous responsibilities of his title, he wrestles with God&’s will for his future. Will he be able to honor this God-given gift and win the woman he falls in love with in a society that does not value gentlemen who work? And will Lady Madeline Whittington be able to honor her father&’s memory when she is attracted to the one man who could destroy the promise she made to her father?
Secrets of the Sixth Edition
by Randall HedtkeDarwin's On the Origin of the Species was originally released in 1859, and by 1872, the sixth and last edition was published, becoming the defining text for evolutionists. This controversial work has become the foundation of modern textbooks for scientific studies in origins, though Darwin himself expressed deep doubts about his own speculations and suppositions. Secrets of the Sixth Editionby Randall Hedtke exposes the critical flaws of this landmark book by using Darwin's own words against him. Provides an examination of Darwin's research and the faulty basis of his scientific writings Filled with extensive documentation looking at the fatal flaws in Darwin's assumptions Addresses strategies for possible changes to curriculum to address weaknesses in the evolutionary hypothesis. Take an insightful look at Darwin's work and its inaccuracies from a fresh and logical perspective. You will discover the often ignored reasoning behind his own abandonment of some of the core mechanisms of evolution later in his life, though they remain unchallenged pillars of unquestioning science today. This informative and easy-to-read study boldly declares the powerful truth that only biblical creation can explain.
Secrets of the Spirit: Wisdom from Luis Martinez
by Germana SantosHow do I develop a deep, loving relationship with God? Without glossing over the reality of sin and suffering, Martinez reminds us that the Holy Spirit guides us in our struggle to grow in union with Jesus.
Secrets of the Vine
by Bruce Wilkinson David KoppThe author shows you that as you progress on your journey, you'll realize why Jesus is the Vine of life. You'll also see that abundance-the overflow of true worth in a person's life-is exactly what you were born for.
Secrets of the Vine Devotional: Breaking Through to Abundance (Breakthrough Series)
by Bruce Wilkinson David KoppThose familiar with Bruce Wilkinson's breakthrough teaching on John 15 in the New York Times bestseller Secrets of the Vine have had their eyes opened to the work of God in and through their lives. In the Secrets of the Vine Devotional, the founder of Walk Thru the Bible Ministries takes readers even further towards making maximum impact for God. Daily readings, inspiring quotes, practical suggestions, and problem-solving will empower them to bear more fruit as Christians. This indispensable guided mentoring experience is a personal, thirty-one-day spiritual resource to use on the joyful path of consequence for God's glory.
Secrets of the Vine For Kids Book
by Bruce WilkinsonIn this version of Bruce Wilkinson's best-selling Secrets of the VineTM, "tweens" learn how God cares for them and directs their growth in the same way a Vinedresser nurtures his vineyards. Secrets of the VineTM for Kids enables children to both comprehend and apply Wilkinson's teaching of John 15 in their own lives.
Secrets of the Vine for Teens: Breaking Through to Abundance (Breakthrough Series)
by Bruce WilkinsonThe night before he died, Jesus told his closest friends what they needed to know to experience a fulfilling, world-changing life. In Secrets of the Vine for Teens, Bruce Wilkinson's powerful teen-focused message passes on the truths Jesus communicated to his disciples: how God uses tough times to set you free from the sin that's keeping you from the best in life, how He gets your attention about priorities that need to change, and how He invites you -- persistently and powerfully -- to experience Him. With real-life stories about teens, supporting scriptures, and interactive questions, Bruce Wilkinson reveals to young readers the pivotal secrets to the truly abundant life. Students, youth groups, and future church leaders will welcome this dramatic follow-up to The Prayer of Jabez for Teens.From the Hardcover edition.
Secrets of the Vine for Women: Breaking Through to Abundance (Breakthrough Series #9)
by Darlene Marie WilkinsonDarlene Marie Wilkinson, author of the New York Times bestseller The Prayer of Jabez for Women, explores Jesus' last teachings in John 15 and their special relevance for women. This thought-provoking book is a valuable feminine approach to the message of her husband's national bestseller Secrets of the Vine. Each woman who understands these secrets to intimately abiding in Jesus will become stronger, more joyful, and more effective than ever - confident that God is actively intervening in her life for her greatest good and His highest glory
Secrets of the Vine: Breaking Through to Abundance
by Bruce H. Wilkinson"Abundance-that beautiful overflow of true worth in a person's life-is exactly what you and I were born for. No wonder we so deeply desire it! Yet millions of Christians settle for less because they misunderstand and resist Gods ways of bringing it about. In The Prayer ofjabez, I showed readers how to ask for a life of abundant impact and significance for God. In Secrets of the Vine, I want to show you how God works in your life to answer that prayer-and what you can do to cooperate with Him to make it happen. You'll be surprised to discover how much God wants abundance for you. And you'll be relieved to know that you never need to misread His ways in your life again." An excellent devotional.
Secrets of the Vine: Breaking Through to Abundance (Breakthrough Series #5)
by Bruce WilkinsonIn this powerful follow-up to his bestseller The Prayer of Jabez, Dr. Bruce Wilkinson explores John 15 to show readers how to make maximum impact for God. Dr. Wilkinson demonstrates how Jesus is the Vine of life, discusses four levels of "fruit bearing" (doing the good work of God), and reveals three life-changing truths that will lead readers to new joy and effectiveness in His kingdom. Secrets of the Vine opens readers' eyes to the Lord's hand in their lives and uncovers surprising insights that will point them toward a new path of consequence for God's glory.
Secrets to Exceptional Living: Transforming Your Life Through the Fruit of the Spirit
by Joyce MeyerTo you want to learn the secrets to leading a powerful, effective, fulfilling and rewarding life- one that will help others achieve their goals as well? God has made available to us the means for leading an exceptional life when we recognize and focus on the things that He tells us are important. It is important to God that we have more love, joy, and peace in our lives- more patience, kindness, and goodness- more faithfulness, humility and self-control. Developing these attributes of God's nature, the fruit of the Spirit, empowers us to become all that God created us to be. In this book by bestselling author Joyce Meyer you will learn the secrets to growing spiritually like never before. Start impacting your life and the world around you. Family, friends and co-workers will begin noticing the transformation within you and will want to know the Source of this lasting change. Bear fruit and give it to others to taste and see that the Lord is good! When you apply the Word of God and cultivate the fruit of the Spirit, you will begin to lead the exceptional life that God has planned for you.
Secrets, Gossip, and Gods: The Transformation of Brazilian Candomblé
by Paul Christopher JohnsonIn this wide-ranging book Paul Christopher Johnson explores the changing, hidden face of the Afro-Brazilian indigenous religion of Candombl . Despite its importance in Brazilian society, Candombl has received far less attention than its sister religions Vodou and Santeria. Johnson seeks to fill this void by offering a comprehensive look at the development, beliefs, and practices of Candombl and exploring its transformation from a secret society of slaves--hidden, persecuted, and marginalized--to a public religion that is very much a part of Brazilian culture. Johnson traces this historical shift and locates the turning point in the creation of Brazilian national identity and a public sphere in the first half of the twentieth century. His major focus is on the ritual practice of secrecy in Candombl . Like Vodou and Santeria and the African Yoruba religion from which they are descended, Candombl features a hierarchic series of initiations, with increasing access to secret knowledge at each level. As Johnson shows, the nature and uses of secrecy evolved with the religion. First, secrecy was essential to a society that had to remain hidden from authorities. Later, when Candombl became known and actively persecuted, its secrecy became a form of resistance as well as an exotic hidden power desired by elites. Finally, as Candombl became a public religion and a vital part of Brazilian culture, the debate increasingly turned away from the secrets themselves and toward their possessors. It is speech about secrets, and not the content of those secrets, that is now most important in building status, legitimacy and power in Candombl . Offering many first hand accounts of the rites and rituals of contemporary Candombl , this book provides insight into this influential but little-studied group, while at the same time making a valuable contribution to our understanding of the relationship between religion and society.
Secrets, Lies & Alibis (The McAllister Files #1)
by Patricia Rushford Harrison JamesAs "Mac" McAllister reports for duty with the Oregon State Police, he must face the grittiness of real life . . . and discover that no situation, no matter how dark, is too big for God.
Secrets: A Novel (Glenbrooke #1)
by Robin Jones GunnThe Glenbrooke SeriesJessica ran from her past...but can she hide from love?Jessica Morgan wants desperately to forget the past and begin a new life. She chooses a small, peaceful town tucked away in Oregon's Willamette Valley as the place to start over--Glenbrooke. Once there, Jessica conceals her identity from the intriguing personalities she meets--including the compassionate paramedic who desires to protect her and the jealous woman who wants nothing more than to destroy her. Will Jessica's deceit ruin all hope for the future? Or will she find a deeper peace that allows her to stop hiding the truth from those who love her most of all? This heartwarming bestseller, book one in the Glenbrooke series, introduces the fascinating people of Glenbrooke in a compelling tale of romance and spiritual truth.From the Trade Paperback edition.
Sectarian Gulf: Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and the Arab Spring That Wasn't
by Toby MatthiesenAs popular uprisings spread across the Middle East, popular wisdom often held that the Gulf States would remain beyond the fray. In "Sectarian Gulf," Toby Matthiesen paints a very different picture, offering the first assessment of the Arab Spring across the region. With first-hand accounts of events in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, Matthiesen tells the story of the early protests, and illuminates how the regimes quickly suppressed these movements. Pitting citizen against citizen, the regimes have warned of an increasing threat from the Shia population. Relations between the Gulf regimes and their Shia citizens have soured to levels as bad as 1979, following the Iranian revolution. Since the crackdown on protesters in Bahrain in mid-March 2011, the "Shia threat" has again become the catchall answer to demands for democratic reform and accountability. While this strategy has ensured regime survival in the short term, Matthiesen warns of the dire consequences this will have--for the social fabric of the Gulf States, for the rise of transnational Islamist networks, and for the future of the Middle East.
Sectarianism and Orestes Brownson in the American Religious Marketplace
by Ángel CortésThis book reveals the origins of the American religious marketplace by examining the life and work of reformer and journalist Orestes Brownson (1803-1876). Grounded in a wide variety of sources, including personal correspondence, journalistic essays, book reviews, and speeches, this work argues that religious sectarianism profoundly shaped participants in the religious marketplace. Brownson is emblematic of this dynamic because he changed his religious identity seven times over a quarter of a century. Throughout, Brownson waged a war of words opposing religious sectarianism. By the 1840s, however, a corrosive intellectual environment transformed Brownson into an arch religious sectarian. The book ends with a consideration of several explanations for Brownson’s religious mobility, emphasizing the goad of sectarianism as the most salient catalyst for change.
Secuestrada: Una historia de la vida real (Atria Espanol)
by Leszli KalliPara los cuarenta y seis ocupantes del avión Fokker 50 de Avianca, que volaba de Bucaramanga a Bogotá, el 12 de abril de 1999 se convirtió en una pesadilla. Guerrilleros encapuchados secuestraron el avión y lo hicieron aterrizar en una pista abandonada. Entre los pasajeros viajaba Leszli Kálli, una joven de dieciocho años que soñaba vivir una experiencia facinante en un kibutz en Israel. En los campamentos de la guerrilla, Leszli escribió este diario en el que detalla el drama de estar privada de su libertad, las jornadas a pie por senderos sembrados de trampas y minas quiebrapatas, la solidaridad y los conflictos entre los secuestrados, las relaciones con los guerrilleros, a veces afectadas por discusiones, a veces por atracciones y afectos. La especial sensibilidad y el carácter recio de Leszli quedaron consignados en sus cuadernos, en los dibujos y juegos que se intercalan en sus páginas, en las cartas que escribió a Dios, a sus padres y a sus hermanos. Su amor por los animales la enfrentó a guerrilleros y amigos, y hasta a su padre, quien se horrorizó cuando ella le confesó que tenÍa de mascotas, bajo su camastro, a una serpiente y una tarántula. Este diario tambiên contiene la conmovedora defensa de la libertad que hace Leszli, su reclamo por un paÍs justo y sus alegatos contra procedimientos inhumanos de la guerrilla como el secuestro. Son centenares de páginas escritas con rabia, con lágrimas, con ternura, con la impotencia que siente al estar secuestrada.
Secular Buddhism: Imagining the Dharma in an Uncertain World
by Stephen BatchelorAn essential collection of Stephen Batchelor's most probing and important work on secular Buddhism As the practice of mindfulness permeates mainstream Western culture, more and more people are engaging in a traditional form of Buddhist meditation. However, many of these people have little interest in the religious aspects of Buddhism, and the practice occurs within secular contexts such as hospitals, schools, and the workplace. Is it possible to recover from the Buddhist teachings a vision of human flourishing that is secular rather than religious without compromising the integrity of the tradition? Is there an ethical framework that can underpin and contextualize these practices in a rapidly changing world? In this collected volume of Stephen Batchelor's writings on these themes, he explores the complex implications of Buddhism's secularization. Ranging widely--from reincarnation, religious belief, and agnosticism to the role of the arts in Buddhist practice--he offers a detailed picture of contemporary Buddhism and its attempt to find a voice in the modern world.
Secular Cosmopolitanism, Hospitality, and Religious Pluralism (Routledge Studies in Religion)
by Andrew FialaThis book explores the idea of religious pluralism while defending the norms of secular cosmopolitanism, which include liberty, tolerance, civility, and hospitality. The secular cosmopolitan ideal requires us to be more tolerant and more hospitable toward religious believers and non-believers from diverse traditions in our religiously pluralistic world. Some have argued that the world’s religions can be united around a common core. This book argues that it is both impossible and inadvisable either to reduce religion to one thing or to deny religion. Instead, the book affirms non reductive pluralism and seeks to understand how we should live in a pluralistic world. Building on work in the sociology of religion and philosophy of religion, the book examines the grown of religious diversity (and the spread of nonreligion) in the contemporary world. It argues that religious toleration, hospitality, and compassion must be extended in a global direction. Secular cosmopolitanism recognizes that each person has a right to his or her deepest beliefs and that the diversity of the world’s religious and non-religious traditions cannot be reduced or eliminated.
Secular Faith: How Culture Has Trumped Religion in American Politics
by Mark A. SmithWhen Pope Francis recently answered "Who am I to judge?" when asked about homosexuality, he ushered in a new era for the Catholic church. A decade ago, it would have been unthinkable for a pope to express tolerance for homosexuality. Yet shifts of this kind are actually common in the history of Christian groups. Within the United States, Christian leaders have regularly revised their teachings to match the beliefs and opinions gaining support among their members and larger society. Mark A. Smith provocatively argues that religion is not nearly the unchanging conservative influence in American politics that we have come to think it is. In fact, in the long run, religion is best understood as responding to changing political and cultural values rather than shaping them. Smith makes his case by charting five contentious issues in America's history: slavery, divorce, homosexuality, abortion, and women's rights. For each, he shows how the political views of even the most conservative Christians evolved in the same direction as the rest of society--perhaps not as swiftly, but always on the same arc. During periods of cultural transition, Christian leaders do resist prevailing values and behaviors, but those same leaders inevitably acquiesce--often by reinterpreting the Bible--if their positions become no longer tenable. Secular ideas and influences thereby shape the ways Christians read and interpret their scriptures. So powerful are the cultural and societal norms surrounding us that Christians in America today hold more in common morally and politically with their atheist neighbors than with the Christians of earlier centuries. In fact, the strongest predictors of people's moral beliefs are not their religious commitments or lack thereof but rather when and where they were born. A thoroughly researched and ultimately hopeful book on the prospects for political harmony, Secular Faith demonstrates how, over the long run, boundaries of secular and religious cultures converge.
Secular Faith: How Culture Has Trumped Religion in American Politics
by Mark A. SmithWhen Pope Francis recently answered “Who am I to judge?” when asked about homosexuality, he ushered in a new era for the Catholic church. A decade ago, it would have been unthinkable for a pope to express tolerance for homosexuality. Yet shifts of this kind are actually common in the history of Christian groups. Within the United States, Christian leaders have regularly revised their teachings to match the beliefs and opinions gaining support among their members and larger society. Mark A. Smith provocatively argues that religion is not nearly the unchanging conservative influence in American politics that we have come to think it is. In fact, in the long run, religion is best understood as responding to changing political and cultural values rather than shaping them. Smith makes his case by charting five contentious issues in America’s history: slavery, divorce, homosexuality, abortion, and women’s rights. For each, he shows how the political views of even the most conservative Christians evolved in the same direction as the rest of society—perhaps not as swiftly, but always on the same arc. During periods of cultural transition, Christian leaders do resist prevailing values and behaviors, but those same leaders inevitably acquiesce—often by reinterpreting the Bible—if their positions become no longer tenable. Secular ideas and influences thereby shape the ways Christians read and interpret their scriptures. So powerful are the cultural and societal norms surrounding us that Christians in America today hold more in common morally and politically with their atheist neighbors than with the Christians of earlier centuries. In fact, the strongest predictors of people’s moral beliefs are not their religious commitments or lack thereof but rather when and where they were born. A thoroughly researched and ultimately hopeful book on the prospects for political harmony, Secular Faith demonstrates how, over the long run, boundaries of secular and religious cultures converge.