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Freedom Is Your Only Choice
by Ajay KapoorIn Freedom Is Your Only Choice, Ajay Kapoor answers 108 questions related to the common issues that all of us -- meditators or non-meditators -- face in life, especially on how to attain freedom from our restlessness and pain. Each full answer is summarized and condensed into a mantra-like teaching that can be used as a meditation tool. Underlying all responses is the insight that within each of us resides a true self in a state of unconditioned peace, love, and calm awareness. We have the possibility of attaining that state provided we let go of our deep attachment to that which is not conducive to this attainment. Freedom Is Your Only Choice will inspire its readers, help clear confusion, and provide clarity about our choices in life.
Freedom Seeker: A Story About William Penn (A Creative Minds Biography)
by Gwenyth SwainThe son of a wealthy, repected admiral, William Penn did what was forbidden in seventeenth-century England--he openly practiced the Quaker religion. Penn dreamed of a place with freedom of religion. He asked for land in the New World and was given a colony called Pennsylvania. His success in establishing a new and just government there later became the blueprint for thirteen newly independent colonies.
Freedom Wherever We Go
by Thich Nhat HanhFreedom Wherever We Go takes the centuries-old Buddhist monastic guidelines of conduct (Pratimoksha) and updates them for the twenty-first century. "The Buddha," Thich Nhat Hanh says, "needs courageous disciples to make this revolutionary step." The Pratimoksha can be seen as the Buddhist equivalent to the rules of St. Benedict. Each rule has mindfulness as its foundation. Reading the revised Pratimoksha allows lay practitioners to understand the monastic codes of conduct as well as the monastic lifestyle.This is the first time that this text is made available to lay practitioners and non-monastic readers. It will nourish the practice of all practitioners. It can inspire everyone to go in the direction of living our daily lives with compassion, love, and understanding in order to protect and care for ourselves, our loved ones, the environment, and all living beings.
Freedom Wherever We Go: A Buddhist Monastic Code for the Twenty-first Century
by Thich Nhat HanhIn Freedom Wherever We Go, Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh takes the centuries -old Buddhist monastic code, the Pratimoksha,and updates it for the twenty-first century. "The Buddha," Thich Nhat Hanh says, "needs courageous disciples to make this revolutionary step."The Buddhist equivalent of the rules of Saint Benedict, the Pratimoksha defines and organizes the conduct of monastics and of the monastic community. The guidelines in this book emphasize right conduct, mindfulness, openheartedness, and clear communication. This is the first time that this text is available to lay practitioners and non-monastic readers.
Freedom and Despair: Notes from the South Hebron Hills
by David ShulmanLately, it seems as if we wake up to a new atrocity each day. Every morning is now a ritual of scrolling through our Twitter feeds or scanning our newspapers for the latest updates on fresh horrors around the globe. Despite the countless protests we attend, the phone calls we make, or the streets we march, it sometimes feels like no matter how hard we fight, the relentless crush of injustice will never abate. David Shulman knows intimately what it takes to live your beliefs, to return, day after day, to the struggle, despite knowing you are often more likely to lose than win. Interweaving powerful stories and deep meditations, Freedom and Despair offers vivid firsthand reports from the occupied West Bank in Palestine as seen through the eyes of an experienced Israeli peace activist who has seen the Israeli occupation close up as it impacts on the lives of all Palestinian civilians. Alongside a handful of beautifully written and often shocking tales from the field, Shulman meditates deeply on how to understand the evils around him, what it means to persevere as an activist decade after decade, and what it truly means to be free. The violent realities of the occupation are on full display. We get to know and understand the Palestinian shepherds and farmers and Israeli volunteers who face this situation head-on with nonviolent resistance. Shulman does not hold back on acknowledging the daily struggles that often leave him and his fellow activists full of despair. Inspired by these committed individuals who are not prepared to be silent or passive, Shulman suggests a model for ordinary people everywhere. Anyone prepared to take a risk and fight their oppressive political systems, he argues, can make a difference—if they strive to act with compassion and to keep hope alive. This is the moving story of a man who continues to fight for good in the midst of despair. An indispensable book in our era of reactionary politics and refugee crises, political violence and ecological devastation, Freedom and Despair is a gripping memoir of struggle, activism, and hope for peace.
Freedom and Forgiveness: A Fresh Look at the Sacrament of Reconciliation
by Paul FarrenBe enveloped in the gentle and tender embrace of a loving God who longs for a restored relationship with his children.What does confession mean? Why do I need forgiveness? How can I reconcile a broken relationship? Whoever thought that confession could be about God confessing his love for us? In confession we are reconnected to the voice of God in our soul who whispers -- Do not be afraid. I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are mine. You are precious in my eyes. Misplaced guilt and shame paralyze individuals, causing division, bitterness, and blame. God's love transforms our lives and affects our relationships with others. Father Farren's Irish storytelling background comes to the forefront as he writes simply but effectively, opening the door for people to be free to confess their need for God and experience his limitless forgiveness. Explore life-changing biblical insights about sin, confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Freedom and Forgiveness outlines God's true nature, explores spiritual graces, and promotes spiritual healing found in the sacrament of Reconciliation. "We all need God's mercy. Our God is unimaginable in patience and mercy. There is no limit to God's patience. There is nothing that can ever exhaust the divine well. It's never too late! This wonderful book on reconciliation helps keep us aware of that."— Ronald Rolheiser
Freedom and Order: History, Politics and the English Bible
by Nick Spencer2011 marks the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James' Bible and will see a great deal of celebration and comment about the impact of the Bible on British culture. Much of the story is well-known, such as the Bible's seminal influence on British language and literature, but one aspect - the influence of the Bible on English politics - is largely unknown or ignored. Moreover, when it is not ignored, the Bible's influence on politics is treated as that from which we have escaped, in order that we may enjoy our current freedoms, rather than something that contributed positively to political thought or history.This is misleading. FREEDOM AND ORDER seeks to inform people of the Bible's critical and positive influence on politics in Britain throughout modern history.
Freedom and Order: History, Politics and the English Bible
by Nick Spencer2011 marks the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James' Bible and will see a great deal of celebration and comment about the impact of the Bible on British culture. Much of the story is well-known, such as the Bible's seminal influence on British language and literature, but one aspect - the influence of the Bible on English politics - is largely unknown or ignored. Moreover, when it is not ignored, the Bible's influence on politics is treated as that from which we have escaped, in order that we may enjoy our current freedoms, rather than something that contributed positively to political thought or history.This is misleading. FREEDOM AND ORDER seeks to inform people of the Bible's critical and positive influence on politics in Britain throughout modern history.
Freedom and Sin: Evil in a World Created by God
by Ross McCulloughA fresh argument for a venerable but recently neglected solution to the problem of human freedom and divine sovereignty. If God is the creator of all that is, then God is the creator of everything we do. This basic premise of Christian theology raises difficult questions. How can we have free will if God is the source of all our actions? And how can we explain the existence of evil without ascribing it to God? Freedom and Sin resolves this conundrum through a classical position known as compatibilist indeterminism: the idea that God can determine our free choices while not determining all our choices. This solution, which insists that God&’s agency is both non-competitive with ours and is not implicated in our sins, has been neglected in recent years but remains the most compelling response to philosophical objections to Christian doctrine. In this volume, Ross McCullough provides a detailed defense and exposition of compatibilist indeterminism, showing how human freedom is not compromised but perfected by being fixed to the will of God. With a novel re-working of Hans Urs von Balthasar&’s account of analogy, with an attention to everyday Christian concerns about suffering, and with a consideration of challenging scriptural passages—Jesus&’s cryptic explanation of parables in Mark 4 and Paul&’s account of election in Romans 9—McCullough demonstrates a commitment both to formidable theological questions and their concrete applications.
Freedom and the Captive Mind: Fr. Gleb Yakunin and Orthodox Christianity in Soviet Russia (NIU Series in Orthodox Christian Studies)
by Wallace L. DanielFreedom and the Captive Mind is a biography of Fr. Gleb Yakunin, the first Orthodox priest to adopt an ecumenical approach to Russian Orthodoxy, earning him the enmity of conservative groups within the Church and gratitude from other religious denominations. Father Yakunin believed the survival of the Church depended on its willingness to reform. When he was suspended, Yakunin continued to fight the system, working to expose the persecution of religious believers in the Soviet Union. After years of exile, Yakunin entered politics. He was criticized by religious authorities, denounced by nationalist politicians, and excommunicated by the Russian Orthodox Church. As Wallace L. Daniel demonstrates, the letters Yakunin wrote and his revelations about the relationship between the Church hierarchy and the KGB stand as monuments of courage and the determination to reveal the truth about abuses of power and the authoritarian mindset that predominated in both institutions.
Freedom and the Spirit
by Nikolai BerdiaevIn this book, Berdyaev tells us that the creative development of the spirit and the free exercise of man's powers can be conceived only as the free cooperation of man with the work of God. Creative spiritual development represents a new principle which signifies an offering of human freedom to God, an offering which God expects from us. The life of the spirit is a creative and dynamic process. Spiritual development is possible only because there is freedom. Spiritual development is not movement on the plane of the external world, but the bringing to birth of forces which lie hidden in the inner depths of existence. To quote Berdyaev, "the spiritual world is like a torrent of fire in free creative dynamism." The Russian philosopher Nikolai Berdyaev (1874-1948) was one of the greatest religious thinkers of the twentieth century. His philosophy goes beyond mere thinking, mere rational conceptualization, and tries to attain authentic life itself: the profound layers of existence that are in contact with God's world. Berdyaev directed all of his efforts, philosophical as well as in his personal and public life, at replacing the kingdom of this world with the kingdom of God. According to him, we can all attempt to do this by tapping the divine creative powers which constitute our true nature. Our mission is to be collaborators with God in His continuing creation of the world. This is what Berdyaev said about himself: "Man, personality, freedom, creativeness, the eschatological-messianic resolution of the dualism of two worlds - these are my basic themes."
Freedom from Anger
by Alubomulle SumanasaraExtinguish anger forever and find true happiness with this step-by-step guide.Anger is a potent poison that ruins health and damages relationships. In today's world of Twitter feuds, road rage, and internet trolls, it is all too easy for anger to grab hold of us. This timely book offers practical advice on how to put aside anger and ego and embrace laughter and reason. Like a friendly family physician, Venerable Sumanasara helps you see what triggers your anger, what affect it has on you, and what you can do about it. Maybe you have trouble at work or at home, maybe you had a difficult childhood, or maybe you just get angry in traffic. In short, bite-sized chapters, he offers wisdom, along with a laugh, that you can use. Drawing on easy-to-follow metaphors and parables from a variety of cultural traditions, in an accessible, conversational style free of dogma, Venerable Sumanasara shows us how to manage our emotions so that we can lead healthier, happier lives finally freed from anger.
Freedom from Anxiety & Depression: 10 Steps to Get Your Life Back -Now!
by Mike MarinoBack Cover: “Anxiety and depression can literally suck the life out of you! They are the most common psychiatric disorders in America today. However, your life does not have to be defined by stress, sadness and failure. If you're feeling hopeless and helpless this book can change everything! We'll examine the information and tools you'll need to find your personal path to freedom--from biological, psychological, social and [Christian] spiritual perspectives. You really can get your life back and live with purpose and passion! “Don't waste another day mired in the pit of anxiety and depression. Your life can be better, much better! Small changes in your thinking patterns, support community, diet and spiritual life can make a huge difference. What are you waiting for?”
Freedom from Extremes
by Jose Ignacio Cabezon Geshe Lobsang DargyayWhat is emptiness? This question at the heart of Buddhist philosophy has preoccupied the greatest minds of India and Tibet for two millennia, producing hundreds of volumes. Distinguishing the Views, by the fifteenth-century Sakya scholar Gorampa Sonam Senge, is one of the most important of those works, esteemed for its conciseness, lucidity, and profundity. Freedom from Extremes presents Gorampa's elegant philosophical case on the matter of emptiness here in a masterful translation by Geshe Lobsang Dargyay. Gorampa's text is polemical, and his targets are two of Tibet's greatest thinkers: Tsongkhapa, founder of the Gelug school, and Dolpopa, a founding figure of the Jonang school. Distinguishing the Views argues that Dolpopa has fallen into an eternalistic extreme, whereas Tsongkhapa has fallen into nihilism, and that only the mainstream Sakya view - what Gorampa calls "freedom from extremes" - represents the true middle way, the correct view of emptiness. Suppressed for years in Tibet, this seminal work today is widely regarded and is studied in some of Tibet's greatest academic institutions. Gorampa's treatise has been translated and annotated here by two leading scholars of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, and a critical edition of the Tibetan text on facing pages gives students and scholars direct access to Gorampa's own words. Jose Cabezon's extended introduction provides a thorough overview of Tibetan polemical literature and contextualizes the life and work of Gorampa both historically and intellectually. Freedom from Extremes will be indispensable for serious students of Madhyamaka thought.
Freedom in Bondage
by Erik Pema Kunsang Marcia Binder Schmidt Rinpoche Adeu Rinpoche TsoknyiAdeu Rinpoche's life was extraordinary from the beginning. He was recognized by an incarnation of the previous Adeu Rinpoche and enthroned at the age of seven as the Eighth Adeu Rinpoche. As a child and teenager he mastered writing, calligraphy, poetry, astrology, mandala painting, prayer, and meditation. Then, in 1958 at the age of twenty-seven, his monastery was attacked and all sacred texts and statues were completely destroyed by the Chinese as part of the Cultural Revolution. Sentenced to fifteen years in prison for his religious beliefs, the author was sent to a remote labor camp, where he watched many of his friends die under the harsh conditions. But imprisonment had an unexpected blessing: he met many accomplished masters, including the late Khenpo Munsel, and learned many practices from them. Freedom in Bondage offers a portrait of the life and philosophy of one of the twentieth century's most respected meditation masters--his early training in spiritual practices, his flight and capture, interrogation and sentencing, and the years in prison. His voice is calm and nonjudgmental, uplifting the reader with his compassion for his captors. The title captures the author's inner liberation in a dire situation.From the Trade Paperback edition.
Freedom in Response: Sources and Controversies
by Oswald BayerThe leitmotif of Freedom in Response, as the title suggests, is a reasoned exposition of the nature of freedom, as it is presented in the Bible and developed by such later theologians as Martin Luther.
Freedom of Conscience in: Legacies of Michael Bourdeaux and the Keston Archive (NIU Series in Slavic, East European, and Eurasian Studies)
by Rowan Williams Michael Long Julie K. DeGraffenried Xenia DennenFreedom of Conscience in (Post)Soviet Space, a collection of original essays edited by Julie K. deGraffenried, Michael Long, and Xenia Dennen, is inspired by the work of Michael Bourdeaux, the holdings of the Keston Archive, and continuing questions of freedom of conscience. Ranging from England to Siberia and moving chronologically from 1917 to the twenty-first century, this book reveals the unique organization and methodology behind the Keston's collection of materials and the ways those in the West thought about religion and communism during the Cold War, including the connection between religious liberty and human rights.The essays demonstrate the depth and breadth of current research on religion in communist and postcommunist contexts, a much-needed corrective to contemporary political uses of religious freedom. Bourdeaux's activism and preservation of materials influenced many fields of study, as reflected by contributing authors' varied disciplines—history, theology, sociology, languages, and literature. A preface by the theologian and former Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams comments on Michael Bourdeaux's life and significance.
Freedom of Religion and Belief in Turkey: Religion, Society and Politics
by Özgür Heval ÇınarThe freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, from which stem the tenets of pluralism, tolerance, and open-mindedness, are some of the most basic freedoms of a democratic society. This book illustrates the current state of the freedom of religion or belief in Turkey and the challenges and complex problems facing it, concentrating on the most topical issues: being compelled to reveal one’s religion and beliefs on the national identity card; the right of conscientious objection and conscientious objectors; compulsory religious education; recognition of faith groups and the opening of places of worship; and using and wearing religious symbols and dress in the public sphere.
Freedom of Religion and Constitutional Law: Traversing Myth and Modernity in India (ICLARS Series on Law and Religion)
by Amit BindalThis book investigates the intersection of religion and modern law. It explores how secular courts encounter the religious or mythical question which is disavowed by modern institutions. It questions the private-public dichotomy of liberal constitutionalism which relegates religion to the private sphere. It argues that in ex-colonial societies like India which are foundationally and diversely religious, the courts need to work through and engage with the difficulties and complexities posed by their continual encounter with the question of religion rather than re-affirming the myth of separation of law and myth, state and religion. This work demonstrates that any other approach leads to its repression and resultant reemergence in various forms. Such an approach of working through religious categories will be effective in the struggle against religious fanaticism that has seen a resurgence in contemporary times. The book will be a valuable resource for students and academics working in law, religious studies, history and political science.
Freedom of Religion and Religious Diversity: State Accommodation of Religious Minorities (ISSN)
by Md Jahid Hossain Bhuiyan Ann BlackToday, pluralism is increasingly the norm and can be seen as a permanent characteristic of modernity. As seen in world events, religion has not become irrelevant but more diverse, giving rise to a complex web of religion and belief minorities, together with intra-plural majorities. Nations seek ways to implement the ideal of freedom of religion, but as this book shows, whether East or West, in the global North or the South, there is no simple formalism for accommodating religious diversity. Different faith communities have competing needs and demands for the same social space, with tensions inevitably arising. This book highlights responses from liberal democracies which enshrine secularism into their constitutions to other constitutions where religion and ethnic identity are enshrined to prioritise their ethno-religious majority. Western and Asian countries encounter different obstacles and challenges. With analysis from 19 international scholars, the book explores different obstacles and responses to accommodation of religious minorities in a range of jurisdictions. In a globalised world, it will be invaluable for comparative legal scholars, for law and religion scholars, researchers and students, and decision-makers, e.g., governments, non-governmental organisations, and for those who seek to better understand the challenges of our time.
Freedom of Religion, Apostasy and Islam
by Abdullah SaeedDebate on freedom of religion as a human right takes place not only in the Western world but also in Muslim communities throughout the world. For Muslims concerned for this freedom, one of the major difficulties is the 'punishment for apostasy' - death for those who desert Islam. This book argues that the law of apostasy and its punishment by death in Islamic law is untenable in the modern period. Apostasy conflicts with a variety of foundation texts of Islam and with the current ethos of human rights, in particular the freedom to choose one's religion. Demonstrating the early development of the law of apostasy as largely a religio-political tool, the authors show the diversity of opinion among early Muslims on the punishment, highlighting the substantial ambiguities about what constitutes apostasy, the problematic nature of some of the key textual evidence on which the punishment of apostasy is based, and the neglect of a vast amount of clear Qur'anic texts in favour of freedom of religion in the construction of the law of apostasy. Examining the significant challenges the punishment of apostasy faces in the modern period inside and outside Muslim communities - exploring in particular how apostasy and its punishment is dealt with in a multi-religious Muslim majority country, Malaysia, and the challenges and difficulties it faces there - the authors discuss arguments by prominent Muslims today for an absolute freedom of religion and for discarding the punishment of apostasy.
Freedom of Religion, Minority Rights and the Law: The Status of Jewish and Muslim Minorities in Europe and Beyond
by Aleksandra Gliszczyńska-Grabias Aviad HacohenThis book provides an in-depth, scholarly reflection on the challenges that arise in guaranteeing religious freedom and protection of the rights of religious minorities in law and practice. Currently, the protection of religious minorities constitutes one of the foundations of the international human rights protection systems and is provided for in the constitutions of all democratic states. The volume identifies, analyses, and assesses the legal status of religious freedom and protection of religious minorities, with special focus on Jewish and Muslim minorities in the European and Israeli legal environments. It compares the discourses on the scope and boundaries of religious freedom with the actual treatment of religious freedom in legal regulations, the case law, and in practice by the general society. The book employs the resources of comparative law and national and international law, as well as legal theory. Extensive use is also made of decisions of the international courts, including the European Court of Human Rights and the Court of Justice of the European Union. The book will be a valuable resource for academics, researchers, and policymakers working in the areas of law and religion, international human rights law, comparative constitutional law, and religious studies.
Freedom of Religion, Security and the Law: Key Challenges for a Pluralistic Society (Routledge-Giappichelli Studies in Religion, Law and Economics in the Mediterranean Space)
by Natascia Marchei Daniela MilaniThis collection addresses many of the issues arising from the management of religious and cultural diversity in a multicultural society and refers to the complex relationship between the right to religious freedom and security. In recent decades, and particularly since September 2001, the right to religious freedom, which has hitherto been widely protected, has come up against a significant challenge in terms of security, or rather, in the subjectively and publicly perceived feelings of security. This book collects original theoretical, legal and comparative contributions addressing several implications for the right to freedom of religion or belief through the lens of security. It offers a new key to understanding how to manage the processes of integration of religious diversity in multifaith societies. Written by leading experts in the area, the work reveals the importance of avoiding simplistic conclusions and unfounded prejudices about religious freedom, and of limiting restrictive or repressive interventions to situations of genuine danger. The book will be an essential resource for researchers, academics and policy-makers working in the areas of Law and Religion, Human Rights Law and Security Studies.
Freedom of Simplicity
by Richard J. FosterWritten in the same warm, accessible style as Richard Foster's best-selling "Celebration of Discipline, Freedom of Simplicity articulates a creative, more human style of living and points the way for Christians to make their lives "models of simplicity." Foster provides a way to rethink our priorities and to "seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness." He shows us how to live in harmony with the rich complexity of life while stressing the relation of simplicity to prayer, solitude, and all the Christian Disciplines.
Freedom of Simplicity:
by Richard J. FosterA revised and updated edition of the manifesto that shows how simplicity is not merely having less stress and more leisure but an essential spiritual discipline for the health of our soul.