Studies of religious interaction in the fourth century AD have often assumed that the categories of 'pagan', 'Christian' and 'Jew' can be straightforwardly applied, and that we can assess the extent of Christianization in the Graeco-Roman period. In contrast, Dr Sandwell tackles the fundamental question of attitudes to religious identity by exploring how the Christian preacher John Chrysostom and the Graeco-Roman orator Libanius wrote about and understood issues of religious allegiance. By comparing the approaches of these men, who were living and working in Antioch at approximately the same time, she strives to get inside the process of religious interaction in a way not normally possible due to the dominance of Christian sources. In so doing she develops new approaches to the study of Libanius' religion, the impact of John Chrysostom's preaching on his audiences and the importance of religious identity to fourth-century individuals.

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

In this "rare book that combines searing passion . . . with asubject that has affected all of our lives" (Chicago Tribune), thenovelist and cultural critic James Carroll maps thetwo-thousand-year course of the Church's battle against Judaism andfaces the crisis of faith it has sparked in his own life as aCatholic. "Fascinating, brave and sometimes infuriating" (Time),this dark history is more than a chronicle of religion. It is thecentral tragedy of Western civilization, its fault lines reachingdeep into our culture. Drawing on his well-known talents as astoryteller and memoirist, Carroll has created "a deeply felt work,a book that measures the "sweep of history" against [his]experience as a man of the church" (San Francisco Chronicle). Acourageous and affecting reckoning with difficult truths that willtouch every reader, "CONSTANTINE'S SWORD is a history written tochange the way people live" (Talk).

Thiagi's 100 Favorite Gamesis an exciting new resource from Sivasailam "Thiagi" Thiagarajan, who is acknowledged as the world’s foremost authority on interactive learning. This is a first-of-its-kind collection that represents game play at its very best. Thiagi offers the "how-to" and the "lowdown" on his all-time favorite games. With this resource, you’ll never be stuck for a fun, innovative, and effective activity. Thiagi’s 100 Favorite Games can be used to: Illustrate concepts Aid learning transfer Improve team work Build critical skills in any training event Energize meetings Or us as icebreakers, or openers and closers to a formal training session 作者简介：Sivasailam "Thiagi" Thiagarajan, Ph.D., is Resident Mad Scientist at the Thiagi Group, a Bloomington, Indiana–based organization with the mission of helping people improve their performance effectively and enjoyably. Thiagarajan has published forty books, one hundred and twenty games and simulatio

In this book, the founder of the internationally popularmagazine Feng Shui for Modern Living, Stephen Skinner, discussesvarious common themes of feng shui such as water, alignments,mountains, wind, ming tang, sha, and dry gardens and demonstratesthese concepts in 26 houses, restaurants and galleries in London,Hong Kong and Malaysia. The selection is varied and includes manyfamous interiors.

Karl Barth was, without doubt, one of the most significant religious thinkers of modern times. His radical affirmation of the revealed truth of Christianity changed the course of Christian theology in the twentieth century and is a source of inspiration for countless believers.

Is a two thousand-year-old Book relevant to life in the 21st century? Nearly every issue we face today is addressed somewhere in the Bible. From social issues (like war, poverty, and government) to interpersonal concerns (like communication, marriage, and friendship), the Bible offers wisdom and guidance you can put to use in your daily life. The Life Connecting Bible's more than 1,100 sidebars and the New Century Version present the Bible's message for modern readers in a way that is fresh, inviting, and easy to understand.

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.

Master the complexities of 3ds Max by working through more than 150 short tutorials under the guidance of 3D expert Kelly Murdock. If you're a beginner, a Quick Start chapter shows you how to create an exciting animation your first day using the software. You'll find extensive detail on the latest features, allowing quick ramp-up for veterans of earlier 3ds versions. In addition, the book includes a 16-page, full-color insert with examples of cutting-edge 3ds Max art as well as a DVD with all the examples in the book, models and textures you can customize, a full-color and searchable PDF of the book.

A scientific opinion is one which there is some reason to believe is true; an unscientific opinion is one which is held for some reason other than its probable truth. –Bertrand Russell --This text refers to the Hardcover edition. xploring the nature and scope of scientific knowledge, the increased power of nature that science affords and the changes in the lives of human beings that result from new forms of science, this is an insightful and accessible work that sees Russell at his very best. 作者简介： Bertrand Russell's many books include his Autobiography (2000) and Sceptical Essays (1998), both available from Routledge.

Live a life of peace, love, and happiness through spiritualawakening In Wake Up Now , author Stephan Bodian--nationallyrecognized expert on meditation and spirituality and formereditor-in-chief of Yoga Journal --reveals that spiritualawakening is not some faraway dream, or overly complicated toachieve, but an ever-present reality that is always available hereand now. Based on his own experience and over 30 years of teaching thedirect approach to spiritual awakening, Bodian has broken down theawakening process into five overlapping, loosely sequential stages:seeking, awakening, deepening and clarifying, embodying, and livingthe awakened life. Wake Up Now guides you through everystage of the journey, from the process of seeking through the oftenprolonged and challenging process of integrating the awakening intoeveryday life. "This book is one of the most concise guides to spiritualawakening I have read. Both profound and practical, it guides thereader through the intricacies of awakening as only someo

From ancient Palestine through Europe and Asia, to America andmodern Israel, Max I. Dimont shows how the saga of the Jews isinterwoven with the story of virtually every nation on earth.--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Hitchens takes on his biggest subject yet--the increasingly dangerous role of religion in the world. With insight and wit, he describes the ways in which religion is man-made, immoral, and repressive and argues for a new enlightenment through science and reason. (World Religions)

From The Message comes an entirely new way to experience God's Word. The Message with Its Translator is a special annotated edition that features commentary from Eugene Peterson, one of today's most influential pastors and teachers. Filled with a wealth of insights, this study Bible enriches the text with notes from Peterson's own studies and sermons. Peterson's personal style will engage readers as he guides them through Scripture and encourages contemplative study. Features * Presented in the beloved Message translation * Companion commentary from one of today's most valued pastors * A personalized approach to studying Scripture * Notes and insights from Peterson's own sermons and studies * A fresh approach to studying God's Word

A history so funny, so true, so scary, it's bound to becalled a conspiracy. "Meticulous in its research, forensic in itsreasoning, robust in its argument, and often hilarious in itsdebunking, Voodoo Histories is a highly entertaining rumblewith the century's major conspiracy theorists and their theories"(John Lahr). From Pearl Harbor to 9/11 to the assassination of JFKto the Birthers, Aaronvitch probes and explores the majorconspiracy theories (and theorists) of our time. In doing so, heexamines why people believe these conspiracies and makes anargument for a true skepticism.

Jerusalem: The Saga of the Holy City is for lovers ofancient maps and world history. Jerusalem is among the most ancientof cities, a city of sanctity and refuge that the world's majorreligions venerate. Jerusalem is the city of faith. In 1954 threeeminent Israeli archaeological scholars from the Hebrew Universitypublished an encyclopedic compendium of Jerusalem's history andgeography, from prehistoric times to 1947. Now, Overlook presents this richly linen bound book with fullcolor illustrations and a slipcase. Jerusalem: The Saga of theHoly City chronicles the rich history of this city in concise,straightforward segments. The ten color plates of maps that depictthe city through the centuries are extraordinary works of art,dazzling in their detail. Two additional freestanding maps arepocketed in the back. One is a large map of the Old City, the othera map showing the city's principal Jewish, Christian, and Moslemholy places.

To really grasp God's word, understanding the Bible's historical, geographical, and cultural contexts is vital. After all, Scripture is not just a set of abstract ideas; God chose to reveal Himself through real people who lived at specific places and times. 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.

This is the book that Bruce Lee had intended to publish as anin-depth follow up to his Chinese Gung Fu. Prior to his death, hehad written the majority of the text, which explores such topics asyin-yang as it applies to martial arts, Eastern and Western fitnessmethodologies, and martial arts and self-defense techniques. Themanu* was completed by martial arts expert John Little incooperation with the Bruce Lee estate. 100+ photos.

This systematic introduction to Buddhist ethics is aimed atanyone interested in Buddhism, including students, scholars andgeneral readers. Peter Harvey is the author of the acclaimedIntroduction to Buddhism (Cambridge, 1990), and his new book iswritten in a clear style, assuming no prior knowledge. At the sametime it develops a careful, probing analysis of the nature andpractical dynamics of Buddhist ethics in both its unifying themesand in the particularities of different Buddhist traditions. Thebook applies Buddhist ethics to a range of issues of contemporaryconcern: humanity's relationship with the rest of nature;economics; war and peace; euthanasia; abortion; the status ofwomen; and homosexuality. Professor Harvey draws on texts of themain Buddhist traditions, and on historical and contemporaryaccounts of the behaviour of Buddhists, to describe existingBuddhist ethics, to assess different views within it, and to extendits application into new areas.

In God’s Mechanics, Brother Guy tells the stories of those who identify with the scientific mindset—so-called “techies”—while practicing religion. A full fledged techie himself, he relates some classic philosophical reflections, his interviews with dozens of fellow techies, and his own personal take on his Catholic beliefs to provide, like a set of “worked out sample problems,” the hard data on the challenges and joys of embracing a life of faith as a techie. And he also gives a roadmap of the traps that can befall an unwary techie believer. With lively prose and wry humor, Brother Guy shows how he not only believes in God but gives religion an honored place alongside science in his life. This book offers an engaging look at how—and why—scientists and those with technological leanings can hold profound, “unprovable” religious beliefs while working in highly empirical fields. Through his own experience and interviews with other scientists and engineers who profess faith, Brother G

Feng shui is the 3,000-year-old Chinese art that looks at how objects affect energy, an important concern when arranging furniture, building a home, or planting a garden. There are several different variations of feng shui, which has led to confusion about its most basic principles. Clear Englebert explains the differences and then discusses how to put feng shui into practice. He addresses concerns about architectural features such as doors and windows, about finding the right place to situate beds and other furniture, and about landscaping. Other topics include removing clutter, creating empowered positions, avoiding "poison arrows," and what to know about clocks, mirrors, glass, air circulation, and the five elements. Straightforward and comprehensive, this guide enables anyone to practice the art of feng shui for a more peaceful and harmonious living environment.

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.

A landmark new translation of the sacred text of Islam- in anelegant deluxe edition Literally "the recitation," The Qur'an is considered within theMuslim faith to be the infallible word of God. Tarif Khalidi, theforemost scholar of Islamic history and faith, provides a freshEnglish translation that captures the startling, exquisite poetryof one of the world's most beloved religious texts. Retaining thestructure and rhythms of the original Arabic, Khalidi enlivens theancient teachings and prophetic narratives central to the Muslimfaith and solidifies The Qur'an as a work of spiritual authorityand breathtaking beauty.