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Possession: Demoniacal and Other Among Primitive Races, In Antiquity, The Middle Ages, and Modern Times
by T. K. OesterreichPossession: Demoniacal and Other Among Primitive Races, In Antiquity, The Middle Ages, and Modern Times by T. K. Oesterreich is a comprehensive and scholarly exploration of the phenomenon of possession throughout human history. This classic work, first published in the early 20th century, offers an in-depth analysis of how different cultures and eras have understood and interpreted the concept of possession, whether seen as a form of divine inspiration, a psychological disorder, or a manifestation of demonic influence.Oesterreich, a distinguished philosopher and psychologist, meticulously examines accounts of possession from ancient times through the Middle Ages and into the modern era, drawing on a vast array of sources, including religious texts, historical records, and ethnographic studies. His study spans the globe, considering how various societies—ranging from tribal communities to classical civilizations and medieval Europe—have responded to and attempted to explain cases of possession.Possession delves into the different forms possession has taken, from shamanic trance states and spirit possession in indigenous cultures to the demoniacal possessions documented by the Church during the Middle Ages. Oesterreich also explores the psychological dimensions of possession, considering how mental illness and cultural beliefs have shaped the interpretation of these extraordinary experiences.This book is not only a historical account but also a critical analysis of the enduring fascination with possession and the human need to understand the mysterious forces that seem to control or influence individuals against their will. Oesterreich’s balanced approach considers both the supernatural explanations and the psychological underpinnings of possession, making this work a valuable resource for scholars of religion, psychology, anthropology, and history.Possession remains a definitive study on the subject, offering readers a rich and nuanced understanding of one of humanity’s most intriguing and unsettling phenomena. T. K. Oesterreich’s work continues to be an essential reference for anyone interested in the intersection of culture, religion, and the human psyche.
The Possession of Barbe Hallay: Diabolical Arts and Daily Life in Early Canada (McGill-Queen's Studies in Early Canada / Avant le Canada)
by Mairi CowanWhen strange signs appeared in the sky over Québec during the autumn of 1660, people began to worry about evil forces in their midst. They feared that witches and magicians had arrived in the colony, and a teenaged servant named Barbe Hallay started to act as if she were possessed. The community tried to make sense of what was happening, and why. Priests and nuns performed rituals to drive the demons away, while the bishop and the governor argued about how to investigate their suspicions of witchcraft. A local miller named Daniel Vuil, accused of using his knowledge of the dark arts to torment Hallay, was imprisoned and then executed.Stories of the demonic infestation circulated through the small settlement on the St Lawrence River for several years. In The Possession of Barbe Hallay Mairi Cowan revisits these stories to understand the everyday experiences and deep anxieties of people in New France. Her findings offer insight into beliefs about demonology and witchcraft, the limits of acceptable adolescent behaviour, the dissonance between a Catholic colony in theory and the church’s wavering influence in practice, the contested authority accorded to women as healers, and the insecurities of the colonial project. As the people living through the events knew at the time, and as this study reveals, New France was in a precarious position.The Possession of Barbe Hallay is both a fascinating account of a case of demonic possession and an accessible introduction to social and religious history in early modern North America.
Possession, Power and the New Age: Ambiguities of Authority in Neoliberal Societies (Theology and Religion in Interdisciplinary Perspective Series)
by Matthew WoodThis book provides a new sociological account of contemporary religious phenomena such as channelling, holistic healing, meditation and divination, which are usually classed as part of a New Age Movement. Drawing on his extensive ethnography carried out in the UK, alongside comparative studies in America and Europe, Matthew Wood criticises the view that such phenomena represent spirituality in which self-authority is paramount. Instead, he emphasises the role of social authority and the centrality of spirit possession, linking these to participants' class positions and experiences of secularisation. Informed by sociological and anthropological approaches to social power and practice, especially the work of Pierre Bourdieu and Michel Foucault, Wood's study explores what he calls the nonformative regions of the religious field, and charts similarities and differences with pagan, spiritualist and Theosophical traditions.
Possibilities for Over One Hundredfold More Spiritual Information: The Humble Approach in Theology and Science
by Sir John TempletonThus Sir John Templeton challenges the reader to apply the same energy that has been devoted to scientific inquiry to the pursuit of spiritual information. The world is at a state of unprecedented technical expertise, but why has our knowledge and faith in our own spirituality stalled and become obsolete in recent times? Possibilities for Over One Hundredfold More Spiritual Information seeks to address this question. It points out that our spiritual knowledge would also have the capacity to increase dramatically if we were to open our minds to the endless possibilities that await us in terms of our spiritual lives. These include altruistic love for all people, new knowledge of the Divine, and a greater sense of our place in the universe. In order for us as human beings to take advantage of all of the spiritual gifts that we have been given, we need to be open and receptive to our individual spiritual natures, and to open ourselves to the limitless spiritual possibilities available to us. The book acknowledges the ancient scriptures and thinkers who have guided us for centuries. Vastly expanded research and the use of scientific method would only enhance our understanding of the wisdom contained within these wise teachings. The benefits of extending our spiritual knowledge might, in fact, exceed the benefits we have realized thus far from scientific and medical advances. Possibilities for Over One Hundredfold More Spiritual Information seeks to reawaken our desire for spiritual knowledge pushed aside so long ago in our quest for scientific knowledge. When these fields work together, the world will reap greater rewards that we can ever imagine.
The Possibilities of Sainthood
by Donna FreitasWhile regularly petitioning the Vatican to make her the first living saint, Antonia Labella prays to assorted patron saints for every help with preparing the family's fig trees for a Rhode Island winter to getting her first kiss from the right boy.
Possibility Living: God's Health Plan
by Robert A. Schuller Douglas Di SennaIn this guide for spirit, mind, and body, internationally known minister Robert A. Schuller and natural health specialist Douglas Di Siena weave scripture, spirituality, natural health advice, and inspiring true-life stories together in a practical, innovative approach to living wholly, healthfully, and happily. By taking positive steps, such as eating a natural diet, fasting, and praying, you can tap into your innate power for possibility living, remaining open to the voice of God in your life as you nurture your whole being.
The Possibility of Altruism
by Thomas NagelJust as there are rational requirements on thought, there are rational requirements on action. This book defends a conception of ethics, and a related conception of human nature, according to which altruism is included among the basic rational requirements on desire and action.
The Possibility of America: How The Gospel Can Mend Our God-blessed, God-forsaken Land
by David DarkPublished in the years following 9/11, David Dark’s book The Gospel according to America warned American Christianity about the false worship that conflates love of country with love of God. It delved deeply into the political divide that had gripped the country and the cultural captivity into which so many American churches had fallen. <P><P> In our current political season, the problems Dark identified have blossomed. The assessment he brought to these problems and the creative resources for resisting them are now more important than ever. Into this new political landscape and expanding on the analysis of The Gospel according to America, Dark offers The Possibility of America: How the Gospel Can Mend Our God-Blessed, God-Forsaken Land. Dark expands his vision of a fractured yet redeemable American Christianity, bringing his signature mix of theological, cultural, and political analysis to white supremacy, evangelical surrender, and other problems of the Trump era.
The Possibility of Christian Philosophy: Maurice Blondel at the Intersection of Theology and Philosophy (Routledge Radical Orthodoxy #Vol. 2)
by Adam C. EnglishThis is the first to book to explore Blondel's entire body of work and provides an introduction to his life and writings and their relevance to the debates surrounding the radical orthodoxy identity. Detailing Blondel's impressive research output during the first half of the twentieth century, this volume highlights his relevance to philosophy and religion today and his commitment that philosophy cannot be separated from a theological narrative. This highly original work will be of great interest to scholars of philosophy and religion, particularly the students of the radical orthodoxy movement.
Possibility of Interreligious Dialogue (Interreligious Studies in Theory and Practice)
by Michael H. MitiasIs dialogue between the major religions of the world possible? If it is possible, under what conditions? In this book, Michael H. Mitias argues that it is possible provided various conditions are met. These conditions include mutual respect, mutual understanding, and God-centeredness. First, how can a religion that is unusually complex—composed of a doctrine founded in a unique divine revelation, a leadership class of theologians, teachers, clergy, and administrators, and a community across global cultures—show uniform respect to another religion? How can a complex institution like a religion truly understand another religion? Third, can the different religions worship the same God if their conceptions of God are based on their unique doctrines? Mitias addresses these questions and argues that it is possible for religions to respect and understand one another. Further, he argues that the different conceptions of God are necessarily founded in a belief in the existence of a transcendent, infinite, and wise being.
The Possibility of Naturalism: A philosophical critique of the contemporary human sciences (Critical Realism Ser.)
by Roy BhaskarSince its original publication in 1979, The Possibility of Naturalism has been one of the most influential works in contemporary philosophy of science and social science. It is one of the cornerstones of the critical realist position, which is now widely seen as offering perhaps the only viable alternative to positivism and post positivism. This fourth edition contains a new foreword from Mervyn Hartwig, who is founding editor of the Journal of Critical Realism and editor and principal author of the Dictionary of Critical Realism.
The Possibility of Prayer
by E. M. BoundsPray, Pray and Pray some more! God loves it and the Devil hates it. E. M. Bounds offered perhaps a more profound understanding of prayer than any other contemporary Christian thinker. His classic books on the personal communication with God explore how prayer must come from the whole being and strengthens faith in Christian lives. It is through prayer that we share our thoughts and desires our father God. Doing good works, communion, church activities and the like, do not and should not replace prayer. Prayer must be a priority in our lives. "Prayer should be the breath of our breathing, the thought of our thinking, the soul of our feeling, and the life of our living, the sound of our hearing, the growth of our growing. Prayer in its magnitude is length without end, width without bounds, height without top, and depth without bottom. Illimitable in its breadth, exhaustless in height, fathomless in depths and infinite in extension." In The Possibilities of Prayer E. M. Bounds addresses; The Ministry of Prayer, Prayer and the Promises, Its Possibilities, Answered Prayer, Divine Providence and much more. Edward McKendree Bounds was a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal Church South and author of eleven books, nine of which focused on the subject of prayer. Bounds was a practicing lawyer at age nineteen and after three years, began preaching for the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. At the time of his pastorate in Brunswick, Missouri, war was declared. Bounds became a prisoner of war after refusing to take the oath of allegiance to the Federal Government. Upon release he served as chaplain of the Fifth Missouri regiment until the close of the war.
The Possibility of Prayer: Finding Stillness with God in a Restless World
by John StarkeThe world clamors for efficiency and productivity.
Possible: A Blueprint for Changing How We Change the World
by Stephan BaumanWe need a better vision for saving the world. Across the world, people like you are rising up to fight poverty, oppression, and injustice--not just professionals, but bloggers, musicians, entrepreneurs, artists, homemakers, and advocates. People who refuse to accept the world as it is, who dare to believe change is possible. But we face a crisis of vision. We sense what needs to be done, but often we don't know how to do it. Without a better blueprint for doing good well, our moment in history will slip away. Stephan Bauman, president of a leading charity believes true change begins in the hearts and actions of ordinary people. In Possible, he presents clear and biblical thinking, powerful stories, and practical tools for sustainably impacting our workplaces, neighborhoods, villages, and cities. Possible is an eloquent and personal call to reconsider what it means to change ourselves so that we can change the world.From the Hardcover edition.
Possible Lives: Authors and Saints in Renaissance Italy
by Alison Knowles FrazierPossible Lives uses the saints'lives written by humanists of the Italian Renaissance to explore the intertwining of classical and religious cultures on the eve of the European Reformation. The lives of saints were among the most reproduced and widely distributed literatures of medieval and early modern Europe. During the century before the Reformation, these narratives of impossible goodness fell into the hands of classicizing intellectuals known as humanists. This study examines how the humanist authors received, criticized, and rewrote the traditional stories of exemplary virtue for patrons and audiences who were surprisingly open to their textual experiments. Drawn from a newly constructed catalog of primary sources in manuscript and print, the cases in this book range from the lure of martyrdom as the West confronted Islam to the use of saints'lives in local politics and the rhetorician's classroom. Frazier discusses the writers'perceptions of historical sanctity, the commanding place of the mendicant friars, and one unique account of a contemporary holy woman.Possible Lives shows that the classical Renaissance was also a saintly Renaissance, as humanists deployed their rhetorical and philological skills to "renew the persuasive force of Christian virtue" and "save the cult of the saints." Combining quantitative and anecdotal approaches in a highly readable series of case studies, Frazier reveals the contextual richness of this little-known and unexpectedly large body of Latin hagiography.
Possible Spaces of Somali Belonging (Islamic Studies Series)
by Vivian GerrandWhat happens when Somalis migrate to countries with which they have few cultural ties? What helps Somalis to feel at home in their new Western countries of residence? Possible Spaces of Somali Belonging explores representations of Somali resettlement to understand the mechanics of contemporary belonging and the challenges faced by Western societies as they attempt to 'integrate' Somali migrants. How do particular representations contribute to or detract from Somali belonging? In the contexts of Australia and Italy-taken as case studies-Somalis are marginalised in different ways. With a multi-disciplinary approach, this book examines different forms of Somali representation in Australia and Italy that engender a sense of belonging and expands exclusive definitions of nationhood. Islamic Studies Series - Volume 21
The Post-Black and Post-White Church
by Efrem SmithA blueprint for missional, multi-ethnic Christian communityEfrem Smith, an internationally recognized and innovative African-American leader, offers a workable plan for connecting theology, practical ministry models, and real stories of people in multi-ethnic Christian communities. Using the example of Jesus, Smith develops a theology of multi-ethnic and missional leadership. Embracing urban and ethnic subcultures such as hip-hop, this book provides a rich mix of multi-ethnic church development, reconciliation theology, missional church thinking, and Christian community.Provides a common-sense approach to creating a multi-ethnic Christian communityIncludes practical ministry models and real stories of people who are members of thriving multi-ethnic congregations Author is acclaimed African-American thought leader who planted and led a multi-ethnic churches of close to 1,000 and now leads a regional division of a denominational committed to ethnic, multi-ethnic, and missional churchesThis book is written for anyone wrestling with what it means to be a Christian in an increasingly multi-ethnic world polarized by class, politics, and race.
Post-Christian Feminisms: A Critical Approach
by Lisa IsherwoodThis book explores the impact and contribution of post-theories in the field of Christian feminist theology. Post-theory is an important and cutting-edge discursive field which has revolutionized the production of knowledge in both feminism and theology. This book fills a gap by providing a text that can make authoritative statements on the use and status of post-theory in feminist theology, and secondly it makes an on-going contribution to the discourse of Christian feminist theology and its liberation agenda. Distinguished and established scholars contribute conclusive essays on the most recent and exciting developments in post-theory, feminism and theology.
Post-Christian Interreligious Liberation Theology
by Hussam S. Timani Loye Sekihata AshtonThis book explores the ideals of liberation theology from the perspectives of major religious traditions, including Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhism, and the neo-Vedanta and Advaita Hindu traditions. The goal of this volume is not to explain the Christian liberation theology tradition and then assess whether the non-Christian liberation theologies meet the Christian standards. Rather, authors use comparative/interreligious methodologies to offer new insights on liberation theology and begin a dialogue on how to build interreligious liberation theologies. The goal is to make liberation theology more inclusive of religious diversity beyond traditional Christian categories.
The Post-Church Christian: Dealing with the Generational Baggage of Our Faith
by J. Paul Nyquist Carson NyquistYou've heard the stats by now: the Millennial generation is leaving the church. Walking away in disillusionment and frustration, they are looking for new communities to welcome them. As they seek to follow Jesus, they are leaving the churches they grew up in to find a new way.In an attempt to exemplify the story of Millennials and seek answers for the future, Dr. Paul Nyquist, President of Moody Bible Institute, has teamed up with his son Carson to share an honest and thoughtful conversation on this topic. As father and son they've experienced this generational disconnect both personally and in the church. Hear their story as they converse about the experiences of Millennials in the church and share thoughts for how to move forward.
The Post-Church Christian: Dealing with the Generational Baggage of Our Faith
by J. Paul Nyquist Carson NyquistYou've heard the stats by now: the Millennial generation is leaving the church. Walking away in disillusionment and frustration, they are looking for new communities to welcome them. As they seek to follow Jesus, they are leaving the churches they grew up in to find a new way.In an attempt to exemplify the story of Millennials and seek answers for the future, Dr. Paul Nyquist, President of Moody Bible Institute, has teamed up with his son Carson to share an honest and thoughtful conversation on this topic. As father and son they've experienced this generational disconnect both personally and in the church. Hear their story as they converse about the experiences of Millennials in the church and share thoughts for how to move forward.
Post-Holocaust France and the Jews, 1945-1955 (Elie Wiesel Center for Judaic Studies Series #2)
by Seán Hand Steven T KatzDespite an outpouring of scholarship on the Holocaust, little work has focused on what happened to Europe’s Jewish communities after the war ended. And unlike many other European nations in which the majority of the Jewish population perished, France had a significant post‑war Jewish community that numbered in the hundreds of thousands. Post-Holocaust France and the Jews, 1945–1955 offers new insight on key aspects of French Jewish life in the decades following the end of World War II.How Jews had been treated during the war continued to influence both Jewish and non-Jewish society in the post-war years. The volume examines the ways in which moral and political issues of responsibility combined with the urgent problems and practicalities of restoration, and it illustrates how national imperatives, international dynamics, and a changed self-perception all profoundly helped to shape the fortunes of postwar French Judaism.Comprehensive and informed, this volume offers a rich variety of perspectives on Jewish studies, modern and contemporary history, literary and cultural analysis, philosophy, sociology, and theology.With contributions from leading scholars, including Edward Kaplan, Susan Rubin Suleiman, and Jay Winter, the book establishes multiple connections between such different areas of concern as the running of orphanages, the establishment of new social and political organisations, the restoration of teaching and religious facilities, and the development of intellectual responses to the Holocaust. Comprehensive and informed, this volume will be invaluable to readers working in Jewish studies, modern and contemporary history, literary and cultural analysis, philosophy, sociology, and theology.
Post Modern Youth Ministry: Exploring Cultural Shift, Creating Holistic Connections, Cultivating Authentic Community
by Tony JonesThe rules have changed. Everything you believe is suspect. The world is up for grabs. Welcome to the emerging postmodern culture. A "free zone" of rapid change that places high value on community, authenticity, and even God--but has little interest in modern, Western-tinged Christianity. Postmodern Youth Ministry addresses these enormous philosophical shifts and shows how they're affecting teenagers.
The Post-Secular in Question: Religion in Contemporary Society (Social Science Research Council #7)
by Philip S. Gorski David Kyuman Kim John Torpey Jonathan VanAntwerpenThe Post-Secular in Question considers whether there has in fact been a religious resurgence of global dimensions in recent decades. This collection of original essays by leading academics represents an interdisciplinary intervention in the continuing and ever-transforming discussion of the role of religion and secularism in today’s world. Foregrounding the most urgent and compelling questions raised by the place of religion in the social sciences, past and present, The Post-Secular in Question restores religion to a more central place in social scientific thinking about the world, helping to move scholarship “beyond unbelief.” Contributors: Courtney Bender, Craig Calhoun, Michele Dillon, Philip S. Gorski, Richard Madsen, Kathleen Mahoney, Tomoko Masuzawa, Eduardo Mendieta, John Schmalzbauer, James K. A. Smith, John Torpey, Bryan S. Turner, Hent de Vries.
Post-Secular Society
by Gustaaf GeeraertsPost-Secular Society argues for several characteristics of the secular: the experience of living in a secular age and the experience of living without religion as a normal condition.Religion in the West is often seen as marked by both innovation and disarray. In spite of differing approaches and perspectives of secularization, rational choice and de-secularization, many scholars agree that the West is experiencing a general "resurgence" of religion across most Western societies.Post-Secular Society discusses the changes in religion related to globalization and New Age forms of popular religion. The contributors review religion that is rooted in the globalized political economy and the relationship of post-secularism to popular consumer culture. Also reviewed is innovative discourse as a religious belief system, theories of the post-secular, religious, and spiritual well-being, and healing practices in Finland and environmentalism. This paperback edition includes a new preface by Peter Nynas.