Showing titles in Philosophy

Why do Hindus feed their dead ancestors? And why do they prefer burning the dead to building tombs? Does Hinduism have no concept of Judgement Day? What is the impact of death on its notions of womanhood and caste? Is the Vedic approach to death different from the Tantric one? The idea of death and rebirth is embedded in the Hindu mind through ritual and story. Death is not just tragic, but ambiguous too. For instance, it is the end of one journey, but it is also the beginning of another.

In this sweeping narrative, which takes us from the Stone Age to the Information Age, Robert Wright unveils an astonishing discovery: there is a hidden pattern that the great monotheistic faiths have followed as they have evolved. Through the prisms of archeology, theology, and evolutionary psychology, Wright's findings overturn basic assumptions about Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and are sure to cause controversy.

Mircea Eliade Explained: Sacred and Profane, Myth of the Eternal Return, Hierophany, Shamanism, Initiation Rites, and the Structure of Religious Consciousness in Modern Life is a comprehensive and accessible guide to one of the most influential scholars of religion in the twentieth century. Designed for students, thinkers, and curious readers alike, this in depth exploration unpacks Eliade’s major ideas and shows why his work continues to shape conversations about myth, symbolism, spirituality, and modern meaning. Through clear explanations and structured analysis, this book examines ...

The Unmaking of Faith: A Journey Beyond Belief What happens when faith no longer feels like home? For many, Christianity begins as a source of comfort, certainty, and belonging. But for those who dare to ask honest questions—about doctrine, scripture, authority, and morality—the journey can become painful, isolating, and deeply personal. The Unmaking of Faith is written for those standing at that crossroads. This book is not an attack on belief. It is a companion for those who are unlearning. Blending pastoral reflection, critical insight, and compassionate storytelling, The Unmaking of...

In this culmination of his highly acclaimed Cultural Liturgies project, James K. A. Smith examines politics through the lens of liturgy. What if, he asks, citizens are not only thinkers or believers but also lovers? Smith explores how our analysis of political institutions would look different if we viewed them as incubators of love-shaping practices—not merely governing us but forming what we love. 

Read by the author. Is the existence of God essential to humanity? A World Without God is a philosophical exploration that challenges readers to consider the implications of a hypothetical society without divine influence. Like Dostoyevsky's enigmatic characters and the brutal depictions of...

Truth used to be based on reason. No more. What we feel is now the truest source of reality. Despite our obsession with the emotive and the experiential, we still face anxiety, despair, and purposelessness. How did we get here? And where do we find a remedy? Schaeffer's work takes on a newfound relevance today in his prescient anticipation of the contemporary postmodern ethos. His critique demonstrates Christianity's promise for a new century, one in as much need as ever of purpose and hope.

What is the relationship between charity and knowledge in the theology of Thomas Aquinas? Did Aquinas in his mature thought portray charity's act as antecedent to and independent of practical reasoning? Did he view charity's motion as rendering us morally good before God, apart from whether or not we do what is right in our actions? A dominant stream in contemporary Catholic ethics holds for precisely such a concept of charity, and many recent commentators on Aquinas maintain that this is his position as well.

One of the most influential Roman perspectives on religion came from a nonreligious belief system that is finding new adherents even today: Stoicism. How did the Stoics think about religion? In How to Think About God, Philip Freeman presents vivid new translations of Cicero's On the Nature of the Gods and The Dream of Scipio. In these brief works, Cicero offers a Stoic view of belief, divinity, and human immortality, giving eloquent expression to the religious ideas of one of the most popular schools of Roman and Greek philosophy.

Body as Sanctuary for Soul reminds us about "that primordial seed of memory" planted within, which once retrieved and nurtured becomes the inner intelligence of the soul. As Plato affirmed, we all move through "the river of forgetfulness" upon being born, and for some it can take a lifetime to retrieve what we have forgotten. Dr. Roberta Pughe teaches an embodied methodology to move this process along more quickly; to help call the soul home to live integrated within the container of the body.

Why do we buy what we buy, vote the way we vote, eat what we eat, and say what we say? Why do we have the friends we have, and work and play as we do? It's our choice? Yes, but there are forces, often unseen, that shape every decision we make and every action we take. These hidden, life-shaping values and ideas are not promoted through organized religions or rival philosophies but fostered by cultural habits, lifestyles and the institutional structures of society.

TAO, The Full Return To Nature A Handy Small-Sized Guide To The Philosophy Of Taoism Taoism is an Ancient Chinese philosophy about learning how to let go, embrace change, to trust and navigate the world, becoming at peace and harmonizing with nature. Tao means "way" or "path" and is associated with the Tao Te Ching, a text from around 400 BC attributed to Laozi (Lao Tzu/Tsu/Tze), which is the second most translated work in the world after the Christian Bible. You may take your first step on becoming a sage of wisdom, as part of your spiritual life journey. You will learn many of the core ...

Thomas Paine's The Age of Reason; Being an Investigation of True and Fabulous Theology, published in three parts from 1794, was a best seller in America, where it caused a short-lived deistic revival. Promoting a creator-God while advocating reason in the place of revelation, Paine’s controversial pamphlet caused his native British audience, fearing the results of the French Revolution, to receive it with more hostility than their American counterparts.

In this very short introduction, Tim Bayne introduces the field of philosophy of religion and engages with some of the most burning questions philosophers discuss.

Paradoxes of the Highest Science does not contain the paths to great wealth, the secrets to prosperity, nor the call to power; on the contrary, this work will provide the uninitiated glimpses of the true nature of the occult, hints of universal truth and wisdom.

A Mind-Bending Fusion of Faith and Philosophy from Early Christianity Clement’s eight-volume Stromata challenges and deepens Christian thinking through a striking blend of ideas. Explores spiritual maturity through Scripture, ethics, and classical philosophy Connects Christian theology to Plato, Stoicism, and Greek religious traditions Offers rare glimpses into lost works of ancient thinkers and heretics Defends the integration of faith and reason in Christian life A crucial window into second-century Christian education and formation In the Stromata (“Miscellanies”), Clement of ...

PROJECT BLUE BEAM - The Quest For A New World Order And The Rule Of The Antichrist Project Blue Beam is a conspiracy theory that claims that NASA in cooperation with other powerful forces is attempting to implement a new age religion with the antichrist at its head and start a new world order, via a technologically-simulated second coming. The new age religion would be the very foundation for the new world government, without which religion the fierce dictatorship of the new world order would be completely impossible. This incredible book reveals every aspect of Project Blue Beam and all of...

Discover the timeless wisdom of one of history’s most influential thinkers in Faith, Reason, and the Soul: Exploring the Enduring Ideas of Saint Augustine. Born during the final years of the Roman Empire, Augustine of Hippo transformed philosophy and theology with insights that continue to shape how we understand human nature, morality, and the search for truth. His works, including Confessions and The City of God, remain cornerstones of Western thought, blending classical philosophy with Christian faith in a way that still resonates today. This engaging and accessible book introduces ...

The Greek philosopher Socrates famously said that “the unexamined life is not worth living.” Taking this as a starting point, Eric Metaxas founded a speaking series that encouraged busy and successful professionals to attend forums and think actively about the bigger questions in life; thus Socrates in the City: Conversations on “Life, God, and Other Small Topics” was born.

Distinguished philosopher Hilary Putnam, who is also a practicing Jew, questions the thought of three major Jewish philosophers of the 20th century - Franz Rosenzweig, Martin Buber, and Emmanuel Levinas -- to help him reconcile the philosophical and religious sides of his life. An additional presence in the book is Ludwig Wittgenstein, who, although not a practicing Jew, thought about religion in ways that Putnam juxtaposes to the views of Rosenzweig, Buber, and Levinas.