"The Koran" is universally accepted by Muslims to be theinfallible Word of God as first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad bythe Angel Gabriel nearly fourteen hundred years ago. Its 114chapters, or surahs, recount the narratives central to Muslimbelief, and together they form one of the world's most influentialprophetic works and a literary masterpiece in its own right. Butabove all, the "Koran" provides the rules of conduct that remainfundamental to the Muslim faith today: prayer, fasting, pilgrimageto Mecca and absolute faith in God.

For the first time in history,many millions of people want nothing to do with God．In the past，individuals went to great lengths to experience a sacred reality that they described as God，Brahman,Nirvana or Dao；indeed religion has been one of the defining characteristics of homo sapiens．But nOW militant atheists preach a gospel of godlessness with the zeal of Christian missionaries in the age of faith and they find a large and eager audience．How has this come about? Karen Armstrong argues that，historically,atheism has rarely been a denial of the sacred itself but instead has nearlv always reiected a particular conception of God．During the modern period，the Christians of the West developed a theology that was radically different from that of the pre—modern age．Tracing the history of faith from the Palaeolithic era tO the present，Armstrong shows that until recently science and religion were not at war with each otheL But science has changed the conversation．The meaning of words suc

Different styles of martial arts offer contradictoryinformation, philosophies, and techniques for the body in combat. Apractitioner of Judo might advocate grappling, reasoning that mostfights converge into close range after a short time, when anadvocate of Tae Kwon Do would argue that one should strive tomaintain one's distance in an encounter that would allow one to usethe legs, the most powerful weapon on the human body. As a lifelong student and teacher of multiple styles of martialarts, Steven Pearlman has sought to distill from these disciplinesnot a fusion of techniques, but rather a compilation of fundamentalprinciples that can guide the individual martial artist to theideal action. Through his exploration of a set of basic principlesthat range from the physical (spinal alignment, the triangularguard, breathing) to the spiritual (the void, the body-mind, thecharacter), Pearlman arrives at a system open to all martialartists without bastardizing the techniques of the originaldisciplines.

The temple, cemetery and family mansion of Confucius, the great philosopher, politician and educator of the 6th-5th centuries B.C., are located at Qufu, Shandong Province. Built to commemorate him in 478 B.C., the temple has been destroyed and reconstructed over the centuries; today it comprises more than 100 buildings.The cemetery contains Confucius' tomb and the remains of more than 100,000 of his descendants. The small house of the Kong family developed into a gigantic aristocratic residence, of which 152 buildings remain. The Qufu complex of monuments has retained its outstanding artistic and historic character due to the devotion of successive Chinese emperors over more than 2,000 years.

The Holman Illustrated Pocket Bible Dictionary gives you the essential information you need to study the Bible in a handy, pocket- size format. With more user-friendly features than ever. this edition is designed for those who need information quickly, but also want in-depth information on a variety of topics. Numerous color photographs, recon- structions, maps and charts illuminate the text and help you process information in a way you never thought possible,

In this new edition contemporary Judaism is presented in allits rich diversity, including both traditional and moderntheologies as well as secular forms of Jewish identity. While thefocus of the book is on developments that have taken place in thepast two hundred years, they are set against a historicalbackground, going back to the Bible. Beginning with a de*ionof the Jewish people as it exists in today's world, it studies theunique concept of Jewish peoplehood and its survival over thecenturies in the face of many challenges. An account of the keytexts is followed by studies of the different interpretations ofthe religion, and the ways that life is lived out both in the homeand in the community. Jewish theology is described bothhistorically and in terms of contemporary issues. An important anddistinctive section considers the goals of Jewish life andfaith.

A classic of American thought, this is an extraordinary study of human spirituality in all its forms and one of the most profound works of Psychology ever written. James was one of the first thinkers to seriously examine the psychology of religious faith and where he led, both Jung and Freud would follow. The Routledge Classics edition makes available in paperback for the first time the Centenary Edition published by Routledge in 2002 with new introductions on the historical and contemporary significance of James’ work and a foreword by the author’s grandson, Micky James.

This book provides a much-needed thematic and historicalintroduction to Hinduism, the religion of the majority of people inIndia. Dr Flood traces the development of Hindu traditions fromtheir ancient origins, through the major deities of Visnu, Siva andthe Goddess, to the modern world. Hinduism is discussed as both aglobal religion and a form of nationalism. Emphasis is given to thetantric traditions, which have been so influential; to Hinduritual, which is more fundamental to the life of the religion thanare specific beliefs or doctrines; and to Dravidian influences fromsouth India. An Introduction to Hinduism examines the ideas ofdharma, particularly in relation to the ideology of kingship, casteand world renunciation. Dr Flood also introduces some debateswithin contemporary scholarship about the nature of Hinduism. It issuitable both for the student and for the general reader.

Upanishads are mankind's oldest works of philosophy, predating the earliest Greek philosophy. They are the concluding part of the Vedas, the ancient Indian sacred literature, and mark the culmination of a tradition of speculative thought first expressed in the Rig-Veda more than 4000 years ago. Remarkable for their meditative depth, spirit of doubt and intellectual honesty, the Upanishads are concerned with the knowledge of the Brahman, the Ultimate Reality, and Man's relationship with it. The name Upanishad is derived from the face-to-face mode of imparting knowledge - in the utmost sanctity and secrecy, to prevent its trivialisation or perversion. Composed in Sanskrit between 900 and 600 BC, the Upanishads presented here are by far the oldest and most important of those that exist. Twelve were first translated more than a hundred years ago, and have been extensively revised and edited. The thirteenth is an entirely new translation by Suren Navlakha.

These are passages that inform and transform: enjoy theirpoetry, study their wisdom, or use them for Easwaran's "PassageMeditation"."Timeless Wisdom", the companion volume to Easwaran's"Passage Meditation", is a rich collection of spiritual texts fromall the world's great traditions, selected by Easwaran for studyand for his method of meditation.Here are flashes of insight fromthe Hindu Upanishads; prayers of comfort from the Christian saints;psalms from the Old Testament; songs of praise from the Sufis; and,deep wisdom from the Buddhist and Taoist traditions. Some of thesepassages, such as the Prayer of St. Francis, the Buddha's "TwinVerses", and the Twenty-third Psalm, are familiar and well loved,others may be fresh discoveries - all are beautiful. Short texts,easy to read and memorize, are interspersed with longer ones, whichthe reader can study in depth." Passage Meditation", together withits companion volume, "Timeless Wisdom", are the first two books inNilgiri Press' "Essential Easwaran Library",

Like no other resource, The Holman Illustrated Bible takes you there. Using over 1,000 color graphics, maps, photographs, reconstructions, and charts to enliven the Bible world, this special Bible edition enlightens readers to the contextual details of every major character and moment. In addition, helpful introductions list the author, date, original audience, and purpose of each book; give a key text and term; show Christ in each book; and place each book in the overall story of Scripture.

The history of Bible translation within the Catholic Church is characterized by a rich tradition of rendering the Scriptures into the language of the faith community. The CCNT features eight complete Catholic New Testaments that show the full range of expression for this central text of study, worship, prayer, and contemplation. A wide spectrum of people - including new and experienced Bible readers, homilists, and teachers - will gain from having this resource on their bookshelves. The Douay-Rheims, RSVCB, NRSVCB, and NAB are called formal equivalent translations (popularly referred to as "word-for-word" translations). This means that scholars rendered the New Testament's original language into English that is as close as possible to its original wording. The result is a translation that is particularly valuable for careful analysis of the text. Meanwhile, the JB, GNB, NJB, and Christian Community Bible represent the "thought-for-thought" school of Bible translation (technically described as dynamic or funct

Reproduced in historical sequence, these signs, seals, and symbols range from the simplest drawings of Egyptian gods to the intricate images of Greek and Roman deities. Adapted from ancient and primitive sources, the illustrations depict Assyrian, Babylonian, Nordic, Incan, and Aztec gods; as well as figures from cultures of the American Indian, Japanese, and Chinese. Included in the set are: One CD-ROM containing 142 high-quality, permission-free images scanned at 600 dpi and saved in six different formats (TIFF, PICT, EPS, BMP, as well as Internet-ready JPEG and GIF) A large-format 64-page book with every image on the CD-ROM printed large and clearly on one side of the page only and numbered for easy reference Of immense value to commercial artists and designers, this authoritative collection will serve as a practical, visual guide for students and teachers in the graphic arts. Anyone interested in religious emblems and divinity symbols will also be fascinated by this unique CD-ROM and book set.

This rich treasury of India's religious iconography was assembled from the work of one of the 19th-century's leading scholars. Its 300 captioned illustrations feature dramatic engravings and line drawings, including scenes from the Ramayana and Mahabharata as well as temple images of Krishna, Vishnu, Siva, and other major deities.

Regarded by Susan Sontag as "one of the most uncompromising and troubling witnesses to the modern travail of the spirit," Weil grips the moral imagination as few others before or since.

Not just another youth Bible - it's edgy, appealing, feature-packed, and challenging. Planet Word will push tweens to find ways they can impact their community and the world. This Bible is designed to appeal to the global and multicultural perspective of young people. It challenges them to see beyond themselves and make a difference in the world now - instead of waiting until they are adults.