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In Praise of Ageing: Awakening to Old Age with Wisdom and Compassion
by Carmel Shalev'In this moving and tender meditation on the process of growing old, Carmel Shalev reveals ageing as a new beginning rather than a shameful ending of life.'' -- Stephen BatchelorDrawing on the insights of Buddhism, In Praise of Ageing invites the reader to meet the challenges of growing older with an open mind in order to age with grace, understanding and wisdom. Written by an Israeli human rights lawyer who specialized in bio-ethics, including end-of-life care, the book looks at the current cultural context of youth versus age, and weaves the author's personal experiences of her own and her parents' ageing with ancient Buddhist wisdom that accepts growing older as a natural process. All phenomena appear, fade and disappear. So, too, our lives proceed from birth to death. The four parts of the book address reality, vulnerability, identity and meaning. We can acknowledge reality, see the impermanence of the weakening body, and accept that we are subject to ageing, sickness and death. But we also must deal with the social prejudices against ageing that bring new vulnerabilities, such as the questions of identity that arise when we retire from the workforce. This book shows that it is nonetheless in our hands to shape our place in the world and find meaning as elders with love, compassion, joy and equanimity. Ageing, indeed, has its hardships. Yet we have a choice how to relate to our experience - with animosity or friendliness. If we open our minds to ageing with a compassionate, curious and courageous heart, we can find treasures of wisdom to share as our heritage to future generations.
In Praise of Copying
by Marcus BoonThis book is devoted to a deceptively simple but original argument: that copying is an essential part of being human, that the ability to copy is worthy of celebration, and that, without recognizing how integral copying is to being human, we cannot understand ourselves or the world we live in. In spite of the laws, stigmas, and anxieties attached to it, the word “copying” permeates contemporary culture, shaping discourse on issues from hip hop to digitization to gender reassignment, and is particularly crucial in legal debates concerning intellectual property and copyright. Yet as a philosophical concept, copying remains poorly understood. Working comparatively across cultures and times, Marcus Boon undertakes an examination of what this word means—historically, culturally, philosophically—and why it fills us with fear and fascination. He argues that the dominant legal-political structures that define copying today obscure much broader processes of imitation that have constituted human communities for ages and continue to shape various subcultures today. Drawing on contemporary art, music and film, the history of aesthetics, critical theory, and Buddhist philosophy and practice, In Praise of Copying seeks to show how and why copying works, what the sources of its power are, and the political stakes of renegotiating the way we value copying in the age of globalization.
In Praise of Dharmadhatu: Nagarjuna and Rangjung Dorje on Buddha Nature
by Nagarjuna Rangjung DorjeNagarjuna is famous in the West for his works not only on Madhyamaka but his poetic collection of praises, headed by In Praise of Dharmadhatu. This book explores the scope, contents, and significance of Nagarjuna's scriptural legacy in India and Tibet, focusing primarily on the title work. The translation of Nagarjuna's hymn to Buddha nature—here called dharmadhatu—shows how buddha nature is temporarily obscured by adventitious stains in ordinary sentient beings gradually uncovered through the path of bodhisattvas and finally revealed in full bloom as buddhahood. These themes are explored at a deeper level through a Buddhist history of mind's luminous nature and a translation of the text's earliest and most extensive commentary by the Third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje (1284–1339), supplemented by relevant excerpts from all other available commentaries. The book also provides an overview of the Third Karmapa's basic outlook, based on seven of his major texts. He is widely renowned as one of the major proponents of the shentong (other-empty) view. However, as this book demonstrates, this often problematic and misunderstood label needs to be replaced by a more nuanced approach which acknowledges the Karmapa's very finely tuned synthesis of the two great traditions of Indian mahayana Buddhism, Madhyamaka and Yogacara. These two, his distinct positions on Buddha nature, and the transformation of consciousness into enlightened wisdom also serve as the fundamental view for the entire vajrayana as it is understood and practiced in the Kagyu tradition to the present day.
In Praise of Disobedience: Clare of Assisi, A Novel (Other Voices of Italy)
by Dacia MarainiAn author receives a mysterious e-mail begging her to tell the story of Clare of Assisi, the thirteenth-century Italian saint. At first annoyed by the request, the author begins to research Saint Clare and becomes captivated by her life. We too are transported into the strange and beautiful world of medieval Italy, witnessing the daily rituals of convent life. At the center of that life is Saint Clare, a subversive and compelling figure full of contradictions: a physically disabled woman who travels widely in her imagination, someone unforgivingly harsh to herself yet infinitely generous to the women she supervises, a practitioner of self-abnegation who nevertheless knows her own worth. A visionary who liberated herself from the chains of materialism and patriarchy, Saint Clare here becomes an inspirational figure for a new generation of readers.
In Praise of Doubt: How to Have Convictions Without Becoming a Fanatic
by Peter Berger Anton ZijderveldIn Praise of Doubt explores how to survive the political, moral, and religious challenges raised by the extreme poles of relativism and fundamentalism.In this insightful and thought-provoking book, two world-renowned social scientists, Peter L. Berger and Anton C. Zijderveld, ask and answer Big Questions, offering invaluable guidance on how to have convictions without becoming a fanatic.“A book of great practical wisdom by authors who have profound insight into the intellectual dynamics governing contemporary life.” —Dallas Willard, author of Knowing Christ Today“The virus of fanaticism takes several forms. In Praise of Doubt targets two: fundamentalists and relativists. . . . Bracing . . . lay-friendly and seasoned with humor.” —The Boston Globe“The best parts of In Praise of Doubt explore the cultural battlegrounds where a consensus has broken down or not yet coalesced . . . Berger and Zijderveld are optimistic: They believe that moral progress is on the march and that moderation is a virtue everyone can agree on.” —The Wall Street Journal“This is . . . a serious attempt to explain how to find middle ground between conviction—religious and otherwise—and doubt . . . In fact, Berger and Zijderveld argue that doubt—especially as expressed in the idea of a loyal opposition—is at the heart of a democratic system.” —Los Angeles Times“This book addresses, both broadly and individually, how to balance dedication to strong religious and moral beliefs, while simultaneously being objective and discerning. This book grapples, in a thoughtful, entertaining way with these and other meaty philosophical questions.” —Reference & Research Book News
In Praise of Failure: Four Lessons in Humility
by Costica BradatanSquarely challenging a culture obsessed with success, an acclaimed philosopher argues that failure is vital to a life well lived, curing us of arrogance and self-deception and engendering humility instead.Our obsession with success is hard to overlook. Everywhere we compete, rank, and measure. Yet this relentless drive to be the best blinds us to something vitally important: the need to be humble in the face of life’s challenges. Costica Bradatan mounts his case for failure through the stories of four historical figures who led lives of impact and meaning—and assiduously courted failure. Their struggles show that engaging with our limitations can be not just therapeutic but transformative.In Praise of Failure explores several arenas of failure, from the social and political to the spiritual and biological. It begins by examining the defiant choices of the French mystic Simone Weil, who, in sympathy with exploited workers, took up factory jobs that her frail body could not sustain. From there we turn to Mahatma Gandhi, whose punishing quest for purity drove him to ever more extreme acts of self-abnegation. Next we meet the self-styled loser E. M. Cioran, who deliberately turned his back on social acceptability, and Yukio Mishima, who reveled in a distinctly Japanese preoccupation with the noble failure, before looking to Seneca to tease out the ingredients of a good life.Gleefully breaching the boundaries between argument and storytelling, scholarship and spiritual quest, Bradatan concludes that while success can make us shallow, our failures can lead us to humbler, more attentive, and better lived lives. We can do without success, but we are much poorer without the gifts of failure.
In Praise of Folly: With Illustrations After Hans Holbein, And A Portrait, Together With A Life Of Erasmus And His Epistle Addressed To Sir Thomas Mor
by Desiderius ErasmusThis sixteenth-century religious satire by a Renaissance critic and theologian is &“a masterpiece of humor and wise irony&” (Johan Huizinga, Dutch historian). At the onset of his hugely successful satire of medieval European society, Dutch scholar Desiderius Erasmus invokes the goddess Folly, daughter of Youth and Wealth, who was raised by Drunkenness and Ignorance. She&’s followed by idolatrous companions, including Self-love, Flattery, Pleasure, and Laziness. Through Folly&’s wry and humorous speech, Erasmus denounces the superstitions and nonsensical eccentricities of his contemporary theologians and churchmen, monastic life, and the condition of the Catholic Church. An immensely influential humanist text, In Praise of Folly helped lay the groundwork for the Protestant Reformation and marked a transitional time between medieval beliefs and modern ideals.
In Praise of Great Compassion (The Library of Wisdom and Compassion #5)
by His Holiness the Dalai Lama Venerable Thubten ChodronDiscover the Dalai Lama&’s definitive teaching on compassion in this fifth volume of the Dalai Lama&’s definitive Library of Wisdom and Compassion series.In Praise of Great Compassion, the fifth volume of the Library of Wisdom and Compassion, continues the Dalai Lama&’s teachings on the path to awakening. While previous volumes focused on our present situation and taking responsibility for creating the causes of happiness, this volume concerns opening our hearts and generating the intention to make our lives meaningful by benefiting others. We are embedded in a universe with other living beings, all of whom have been kind to us in one way or another. More than any other time in human history, we depend on one another to stay alive and flourish. When we look closely, it becomes apparent that we have been the recipient of great kindness. Wanting to repay others&’ kindness, we cultivate a positive attitude by contemplating the four immeasurables of love, compassion, empathic joy, and equanimity, and the altruistic intention of bodhicitta. We learn to challenge the self-centered attitude that leads to misery and replace it with a more realistic perspective enabling us to remain emotionally balanced in good and bad times. In this way, all circumstances become favorable to the path to awakening.
In Praise of Heteronomy: Making Room for Revelation
by Merold WestphalRecognizing the essential heteronomy of postmodern philosophy of religion, Merold Westphal argues against the assumption that human reason is universal, neutral, and devoid of presupposition. Instead, Westphal contends that any philosophy is a matter of faith and the philosophical encounter with theology arises from the very act of thinking. Relying on the work of Spinoza, Kant, and Hegel, Westphal discovers that their theologies render them mutually incompatible and their claims to be the voice of autonomous and universal reason look dubious. Westphal grapples with this plural nature of human thought in the philosophy of religion and he forwards the idea that any appeal to the divine must rest on a historical and phenomenological analysis.
In Praise of Mixed Religion
by William H. HarrisonWhen asked "What religion do you follow?" the typical answer is to name a specific group, or to respond "None." An increasing number of people, however, are intentionally combining elements from various religious heritages, demonstrating that religions do not have firm boundaries, nor are they purely distinct. In Praise of Mixed Religion discusses the concept of syncretism, the term for the mixing of religious perspectives. The religious studies discipline has traditionally distinguished between two responses to syncretism: a subjective view, which treats syncretism as morally reprehensible, and an objective view, which treats it as a morally neutral phenomenon. William Harrison adopts a third perspective, the advocacy view, which claims that mixing religions is a good and necessary process. He cites countless examples - such as Islam's transformative encounter with Greek thought - from both history and recent years to show how religious traditions have gained theological and practical wisdom by borrowing key ideas, beliefs, and practices from outside their own movements. By encouraging syncretism, In Praise of Mixed Religion contests the hard boundaries between religious worldviews and presents a dramatic alternative for thinking and talking about religion.
In Praise of Mixed Religion: The Syncretism Solution in a Multifaith World
by William H. HarrisonWhen asked "What religion do you follow?" the typical answer is to name a specific group, or to respond "None." An increasing number of people, however, are intentionally combining elements from various religious heritages, demonstrating that religions do not have firm boundaries, nor are they purely distinct. In Praise of Mixed Religion discusses the concept of syncretism, the term for the mixing of religious perspectives. The religious studies discipline has traditionally distinguished between two responses to syncretism: a subjective view, which treats syncretism as morally reprehensible, and an objective view, which treats it as a morally neutral phenomenon. William Harrison adopts a third perspective, the advocacy view, which claims that mixing religions is a good and necessary process. He cites countless examples - such as Islam's transformative encounter with Greek thought - from both history and recent years to show how religious traditions have gained theological and practical wisdom by borrowing key ideas, beliefs, and practices from outside their own movements. By encouraging syncretism, In Praise of Mixed Religion contests the hard boundaries between religious worldviews and presents a dramatic alternative for thinking and talking about religion.
In Praise of Polytheism
by Maurizio BettiniWhat ancient polytheistic religions can teach us about building inclusive and equitable futures At the heart of this book is a simple comparison: monotheistic religions are exclusive, whereas ancient polytheistic religions are inclusive. In this thought-provoking book, Maurizio Bettini, one of today’s foremost classicists, uses the expansiveness of ancient polytheism to shine a bright light on a darker corner of our modern times. It can be easy to see ancient religions as inferior, less free, and remote from shared visions of an inclusive world. But, as Bettini deftly shows, many ancient practices tended to produce results aligned with contemporary progressive values, like pluralism and diversity. In Praise of Polytheism does not chastise the modern world or blame monotheism for our woes but rather shows in clear, sharp prose how much we can learn from ancient religions, underscoring the limitations of how we view the world and ourselves today.
In Praise of Religious Diversity
by James WigginsFirst Published in 1996. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.
In Pursuit Of Peace
by Jennifer JohnsonLydia feels like a failure. With a multitude of jobs and college courses under her belt, Lydia knows its time to make something of her life. But everything she tries fails. As a new Christian, Lydia is intrigued with the idea that God has a specific plan for her, but it sure would be nice if He'd reveal it! Gideon Andrews, on the other hand, was living a nice, well-organized life. Then his mom moved in and a friend started pressuring him to marry his widowed daughter. But even that was manageable--until he met Lydia. Suddenly, his world turns upside down. He feels bound by duty and pity to Maria but cannot get the irresistible Lydia out of his heart and mind. Will Gideon learn the difference between responsibility and love before it's too late? Will Lydia realize that pleasing God is all she needs?
In Pursuit of Great AND Godly Leadership
by Mike BonemIs it possible for church leaders to use biblical and secular leadership concepts in a way that keeps Christ--not the marketplace--at the center of their mission? Drawing on biblical material and business wisdom, In Pursuit of Great AND Godly Leadership explores the critical leadership decisions and practices that shape the success of Christian organizations. These decisions are illustrated in compelling interviews with over forty leaders of churches, universities, denominational bodies, and international ministries. Mike Bonem leverages his background as an MBA-trained manager and an experienced church leader to bridge the gap between the analytical and structured world of business and the faith-driven approach that is essential for healthy churches.Written to offer practical solutions for senior pastors, executive pastors, key laypeople, and leaders of other Christian entities, In Pursuit of Great AND Godly Leadership clearly shows the ways that secular practices can be imported into their organizations. Bonem addresses a variety of topics such as planning, finances, personnel management, measurement, team dynamics, and organizational change. In doing so, he points to the AND that every spiritual organization should strive to achieve.
In Pursuit of His Glory
by R.T. KendallIn Pursuit of His Glory is a revealing and moving personal account of R T Kendall's eventful and often turbulent 25-year tenure as Minister of Westminster Chapel, one of London's most historic Evangelical churches. He talks frankly about both the blessings and disappointments he has experienced in that time, including his touching relationship with Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones, and the pressures of succeeeding such a famous name; and some of the controversial changes he introduced, which in one instance brought him into such conflict with some members of the church that RT was almost forced to leave the Chapel.This edition includes 'The Day the World Changed', the text of two sermons RT gave in response to the events of September 11th.In Pursuit of His Wisdom is an engaging and page-turning read, rooted in solid theological teaching.
In Pursuit of His Wisdom
by R.T. Kendall R T Inc.We all want to live a good life - but how do we go about doing so? Much-loved author R. T. Kendall urges us to take the Bible at its word when it encourages us to get wisdom - and live by it. In this wise and practical book, R. T. encourages us that not only is God's opinion - his wisdom - on offer, God actually desires us to have it. 'Wisdom is supreme - the greatest good we can seek, the most noble virtue there is, the greatest gift that is on offer and the highest plateau for living that is available in this present world.'Join R. T. on the journey of a lifetime as he shows us the beauty of a life lived with God, secure in knowing the next step forward.
In Pursuit of His Wisdom: How to get God's Opinion on any Matter
by R.T. KendallWe live in a world where everyone has an opinion. From news commentary to popular blogs and social media, we are inundated with strong viewpoints from other people. But there is one opinion that matters more than any other. Do you seek God&’s ultimate opinion on your calling, the right place to live, the right job, or your future spouse? Accessing God&’s wisdom is supreme—the greatest good we can seek, the most noble virtue there is, and the highest plateau for living that is available in this present world. In In Pursuit of His Wisdom R. T. Kendall shows you how to pursue the knowledge of God, which leads to true wisdom. You can take possession of this precious gift in order to use the right timing, know the next step forward, gain 20/20 foresight in decision making, and avoid the consequences of rejecting God&’s voice.
In Pursuit of Peace: 21 Ways to Conquer Anxiety, Fear, and Discontentment
by Joyce MeyerThe #1 bestselling author explores the myriad ways readers can experience a life overflowing with tranquility.
In Pursuit of Purity: American Fundamentalism Since 1850
by David O. BealeMen from nearly every denomination and all walks of life are a part of that from Lyman Stewart, a Christian businessman, to J.Greshman Machen, the learned Princeton professor; from the fiery evangelist Billy Sunday to the dignified pastor W.B. Riley. These colorful men were united by a common faithfulness to their Lord and Saviour. And their activities were as varied as their pastoring churches, evangelizing the lost, conducting Bible and prophetic conferences, exposing liberalism, establishing Christian schools and colleges, and publishing Christian literature.
In Pursuit of Stability
by Calvin BelcherThe book describes how cultural distinctions and socialization processes can influence how we see the world and ourselves. As we mature, we find out that what little coping skills and positive assumptions do little to anesthetize us against the complex and ever-changing negative influences of the world in which we exist. In every complex situation of our life, whether intentional or by accident, seen or unseen we are challenged to find new coping skill and new rules to survive and live by. This survival mode prompt millions to turn to religion and the supernatural to reinforce our sense of stability and self-acceptance. As I did, millions of people find resolve and stability in understanding that the Holy scriptures with its doctrines were inspired for our learning and usage as we journey through this decaying world. It is my intention, in this book to unravel and expose the unmerited favors of the creator, fitted for mental and spiritual stability.
In Pursuit of a Princess
by Lenora WorthUSA Today–Bestselling Author: She married royalty—and now, back in America, she allies with a journalist to find the assassin who made her a widow . . .Princess Lara Kincade returned home to New Orleans, accompanied by a small staff of assistants and security people, to continue her late husband’s humanitarian work. She also hopes to force his killer out of hiding. But a priceless painting has put her plans—and life—at risk.Embroiled in a deadly art scandal, Lara must depend on handsome photojournalist Gabriel Murdock to help her expose a murderer. Gabriel’s determination to keep her safe has softened her heart to love’s possibilities again, and she finds herself sharing her grief with him. Somewhere among his photos lies the identity of the murderer who caused that sorrow—but can they uncover the killer before this heist turns deadly?
In Pursuit of the Almighty's Dollar
by James Hudnut-BeumlerEvery day of the week in contemporary America (and especially on Sundays) people raise money for their religious enterprises--for clergy, educators, buildings, charity, youth-oriented work, and more. In a fascinating look into the economics of American Protestantism, James Hudnut-Beumler examines how churches have raised and spent money from colonial times to the present and considers what these practices say about both religion and American culture. After the constitutional separation of church and state was put in force, Hudnut-Beumler explains, clergy salaries had to be collected exclusively from the congregation without recourse to public funds. In adapting to this change, Protestants forged a new model that came to be followed in one way or another by virtually all religious organizations in the country. Clergy repeatedly invoked God, ecclesiastical tradition, and scriptural evidence to promote giving to the churches they served. Hudnut-Beumler contends that paying for earthly good works done in the name of God has proved highly compatible with American ideas of enterprise, materialism, and individualism. The financial choices Protestants have made throughout history--how money was given, expended, or even withheld--have reflected changing conceptions of what the religious enterprise is all about. Hudnut-Beumler tells that story for the first time.
In Quest of the Hero: (Mythos Series) (Mythos: The Princeton/Bollingen Series in World Mythology #143)
by Alan Dundes Otto Rank Fitzroy Richard RaglanIn Quest of the Hero makes available for a new generation of readers two key works on hero myths: Otto Rank's Myth of the Birth of the Hero and the central section of Lord Raglan's The Hero. Amplifying these is Alan Dundes's fascinating contemporary inquiry, "The Hero Pattern and the Life of Jesus." Examined here are the patterns found in the lore surrounding historical or legendary figures like Gilgamesh, Moses, David, Oedipus, Odysseus, Perseus, Heracles, Aeneas, Romulus, Siegfried, Lohengrin, Arthur, and Buddha. Rank's monograph remains the classic application of Freudian theory to hero myths. In The Hero the noted English ethnologist Raglan singles out the myth-ritualist pattern in James Frazer's many-sided Golden Bough and applies that pattern to hero myths. Dundes, the eminent folklorist at the University of California at Berkeley, applies the theories of Rank, Raglan, and others to the case of Jesus. In his introduction to this selection from Rank, Raglan, and Dundes, Robert Segal, author of the major study of Joseph Campbell, charts the history of theorizing about hero myths and compares the approaches of Rank, Raglan, Dundes, and Campbell.
In Quest of the Historical Adam: A Biblical and Scientific Exploration
by William Lane CraigWas Adam a real historical person? And if so, who was he and when did he live? William Lane Craig sets out to answer these questions through a biblical and scientific investigation. He begins with an inquiry into the genre of Genesis 1–11, determining that it can most plausibly be classified as mytho-history—a narrative with both literary and historical value. He then moves into the New Testament, where he examines references to Adam in the words of Jesus and the writings of Paul, ultimately concluding that the entire Bible considers Adam the historical progenitor of the human race—a position that must therefore be accepted as a premise for Christians who take seriously the inspired truth of Scripture. Working from that foundation of biblical truth, Craig embarks upon an interdisciplinary survey of scientific evidence to determine where Adam could be most plausibly located in the evolutionary history of humankind, ultimately determining that Adam lived between 750,000 and 1,000,000 years ago as a member of the archaic human species Homo heidelbergensis. He concludes by reflecting theologically on his findings and asking what all this might mean for us as human beings created in the image of God, literally descended from a common ancestor—albeit one who lived in the remote past.