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The Alchemist’s Journey: An Old System For A New Age
by Glennie KindredIn this account of 12 months in her life, much-loved author Glennie Kindred explores the powerful fusion of alchemy with the eight Celtic festivals, and shows us how to tap in to the natural energy of transformation inherent in the earth's cycles. Full of practical ideas to encourage us to be open to the power of transformation, and written in an inspiring and accessible style, this book brings the ancient alchemical processes into a fresh, clear light. Glennie shows us how each season is an opportunity to develop, adapt, and experience ourselves in a new way. This inspires us to unlock the love that brings healing to ourselves and our relationship to the earth. She reveals how we can find this true alchemical gold and become a powerful force for positive change in the world.
The Alchemy of Freedom: The Philosophers' Stone and the Secrets of Existence
by A. H. AlmaasWell-known spiritual teacher A. H. Almaas uses the metaphor of the mysterious philosopher's stone to discuss a tremendous liberating power that leads to endless enlightenment. For millennia alchemists sought the philosophers’ stone, the miracle substance believed to be the key to all the secrets of existence. The quest was fueled by some of the prime questions of human existence: What am I? Why am I here? How has this world come to be?A. H. Almaas shows that the tremendous liberating power of the mysterious philosophers’ stone is closer to us than we realize. In fact, it is the true nature of all reality—in all times and all places, without being limited to being anything in particular. Through the philosophers’ stone, real transformation can happen, our consciousness can become free, and we can open to all the possibilities of reality. Almaas discusses the factors that are involved in igniting the catalytic property of the philosophers’ stone and then begins to unpack the properties of true nature when it is free of constraints. Finally, we are left with the revelation that true nature is endlessly knowable, and yet nothing we can know or say about it exhausts its mystery and power. The result is a new understanding of what liberation and practice are—and a view of what it’s like when seeking ceases and life becomes a process of continual discovery. We begin to appreciate that the freedom of reality expressed in the complete and fulfilled life all human beings seek—and few find—is actually the simplicity of the ordinary.
The Alchemy of Stones: Co-creating with Crystals, Minerals, and Gemstones for Healing and Transformation
by Robert Simmons• Reveals that those who love and work with crystals and stones have been intuitively following the path of spiritual alchemy • Provides meditative practices with specific stones to go with each stage of the alchemical transformation process as well as other tools and techniques • Includes an illustrated dictionary summarizing the spiritual qualities of more than 375 different minerals, crystals, and gemstones The Alchemy of Stones presents an inspired breakthrough in Robert Simmons&’ thirty-five year career of exploring and revealing the spiritual qualities and potentials of minerals, crystals, and gemstones. This holistic, Earth-based framework for understanding stones and their energies initiates readers into an alchemical worldview that leads to spiritual healing, transformation, and transcendence. Engaging readers step by step, Simmons provides guidance on discovering and harnessing the three human powers of intention, attention, and imagination, each a crucial component for meeting and working in harmony with the energies of the Stone Beings. Simmons also introduces us to the Divine Feminine intelligence known as Sophia, or Wisdom. The Stone Beings are her emissaries, and through relating and co-creating with them, the healing and redemption of ourselves and the Earth becomes a reality. Offering an illustrated dictionary of the spiritual qualities of more than 375 different minerals, crystals, and gemstones, Simmons also explores in depth what he calls the Four Cornerstones of the Alchemy of Stones: Moldavite, Phenacite, Azeztulite, and Rosophia. He discusses the stages of alchemical transformation and provides meditative practices with specific stones to go with each stage. He also explores how to work with stone mandalas, crystal body layouts, gemstone elixirs, and Orgonite energy devices and details powerful techniques for working with stones. Woven throughout are Simmons&’ personal stories of the pivotal mystical experiences that triggered his capacity to feel stone energies and led him to develop his relationship with the stones, revealing how this work can open minds and awaken hearts. Lavishly illustrated, The Alchemy of Stones is an invitation to a journey of enlightenment, transformation, and spiritual metamorphosis aligned with the path of our living, conscious Earth.
The Alchemy of Your Dreams: A Modern Guide to the Ancient Art of Lucid Dreaming and Interpretation
by Athena LazUnlock the power of your dreams to lead you on the ultimate journey of self-discovery and personal growth.Roughly one-third of our lives is spent sleeping. We know that time spent asleep is vital for rest and rejuvenation, but what if this time could be used for something more? What if our dreams really are telling us something? Psychologist Athena Laz has dedicated her career to uncovering the wisdom of our dreams and revolutionising what it means to be in touch with ourselves and the universe.Packed with expert-level exercises and step-by-step instructions, The Alchemy of Your Dreams teaches readers how to interpret their dreams and how to lucid-dream in order to achieve more in their waking lives. From improved mental wellbeing to enhanced spirituality, this modern guide provides a roadmap to:- Decoding your dreams to uncover their innate guidance.- Learning the power of lucid dreaming.- Rekindling the connection to your unconscious and subconscious mind through your dreams. - Understanding the specific dream figures and symbols that appear in your dreams.- Exploring the world of consciousness and gaining clarity on who you really are.- Unleashing creativity and overcoming past pain for greater wellbeing.For anyone who has ever felt that their dreams have true meaning, this book provides the exact tools needed to unravel their symbolism, harness their power and level-up our lives.
The Alchemy of Your Dreams: A Modern Guide to the Ancient Art of Lucid Dreaming and Interpretation
by Athena LazUnlock the power of your dreams to lead you on the ultimate journey of self-discovery and personal growth.Roughly one-third of our lives is spent sleeping. We know that time spent asleep is vital for rest and rejuvenation, but what if this time could be used for something more? What if our dreams really are telling us something? Psychologist Athena Laz has dedicated her career to uncovering the wisdom of our dreams and revolutionising what it means to be in touch with ourselves and the universe.Packed with expert-level exercises and step-by-step instructions, The Alchemy of Your Dreams teaches listeners how to interpret their dreams and how to lucid-dream in order to achieve more in their waking lives. From improved mental wellbeing to enhanced spirituality, this modern guide provides a roadmap to:- Decoding your dreams to uncover their innate guidance.- Learning the power of lucid dreaming.- Rekindling the connection to your unconscious and subconscious mind through your dreams.- Understanding the specific dream figures and symbols that appear in your dreams.- Exploring the world of consciousness and gaining clarity on who you really are.- Unleashing creativity and overcoming past pain for greater wellbeing.For anyone who has ever felt that their dreams have true meaning, this audiobook provides the exact tools needed to unravel their symbolism, harness their power and level-up our lives.(P) 2021 Penguin Audio
The Ale Boy's Feast
by Jeffrey OverstreetThe king is missing.His people are trapped as the woods turn deadly. Underground, the boy called Rescue has found an escape.Hopes are failing across The Expanse. The forests, once beautiful, are now haunted and bloodthirsty. House Abascar's persecuted people risk their lives to journey through those predatory trees. They seek a mythic city - Abascar's last, best hope for refuge - where they might find the source of Auralia's colors. They journey without their king. During a calamitous attempt to rescue some of his subjects from slavery, Cal-raven vanished.But his helper, the ale boy, falling through a crack in the earth, has discovered a slender thread of hope in the dark. He will dare to lead a desperate company up the secret river.Meanwhile, with a dragon's help, the wandering mage Scharr ben Fray is uncovering history's biggest lie - a deception that only a miracle can repair.Time is running out for all those entangled in The Auralia Thread. But hope and miracles flicker wherever Auralia's colors are found.From the Trade Paperback edition.
The Aleppo Code: A Novel (Jerusalem Prophecies #3)
by Terry BrennanWill the code reveal history's most powerful weapon for destruction--or humanity's only hope?The living members of Tom Bohannon's band of adventurers gather again in Jerusalem--physically battered, emotionally exhausted, spiritually challenged, and in various stages of shock--to examine a copy of the tenth-century Aleppo Code, the oldest complete text of Jewish scripture. What the clues inside reveal could lead to the reuniting of the Ark of the Covenant with its true source of power, a weapon that could lead to victory for this ragged bunch trying to save the world.Hunted by the relentless assassins of the Prophet's Guard and caught in the web of an international conspiracy plotting the conquest of Europe, Bohannon's team searches the ruins of Ancient Babylon. Their search lands them amid the chaos that engulfs western Iraq, but they must press on to accomplish one of the most pivotal pieces of end-times prophecy. This intrepid group will uncover secrets that require them to risk everything for their faith, their country, and the peace of all mankind.Unfolding against the backdrop of an Israeli/U.S. strike against Iran and the planned economic overthrow of the European Union by the sinister, secret head of the international Muslim Brotherhood, The Aleppo Code is a heart-pounding race. Brennan takes an epic story on a grand scale and tells it primarily through the eyes of one man who is desperately trying to save the world as he follows God's purpose for his life.
The Alevis in Turkey: The Emergence of a Secular Islamic Tradition (Routledge Islamic Studies Series)
by David ShanklandThis is the only volume dedicated to the Alevis available in English and based on sustained fieldwork in Turkey. The Alevis now have an increasingly high profile for those interested in the diverse cultures of contemporary Turkey, and in the role of Islam in the modern world. As a heterodox Islamic group, the Alevis have no established doctrine. This book reveals that as the Alevi move from rural to urban sites, they grow increasingly secular, and their religious life becomes more a guiding moral culture than a religious message to be followed literally. But the study shows that there is nothing inherently secular-proof within Islam, and that belief depends upon a range of contexts.
The Alexia Lindale Collection: Life Support and Life Everlasting (An Alexia Lindale Novel)
by Robert WhitlowFrom the Christy-award-winning author of The List, The Trial, and The Sacrifice comes two twisting tales of tough decisions, mixed motives, and mysterious, healing grace.Life SupportAlexia Lindale knows her new case is a matter of life and death. She doesn't have a clue what it will do to her heart . . . and soul.Baxter Richardson survived a fall from a cliff while hiding in the mountains. Whether he'll make it through the next few weeks is unclear. His survival depends on the machines that help him breathe. On the haunted, unstable wife who wants to pull the plug and hide her secrets. On the doting father who wants him alive for reasons of love and money. On the conflicting legal documents that send the fight to court. And, on the music and prayers of an extraordinarily gifted pianist.Life EverlastingWith her client's husband somewhere between this world and the next, attorney Alexia Lindale makes an everlasting choice.The youngest son of a family consumed by greed, Baxter Richardson lingers on this earth in a coma. His wife wants him dead to protect her secrets. His brother wants him dead to gain control of the family empire. And though Baxter's father fights to keep him alive, even he has ulterior motives.But Baxter has a surprising ally. A classically trained pianist, Ted Morgan believes music can be used as prayer. And Ted's divinely-inspired playing has been slowly pulling Baxter back from the brink of death.Attorney Alexia Lindale represents Baxter's wife, Rena, but has no idea that she and her client are being played in a game that has higher stakes than a single legal case.The stronger Baxter grows, the more endangered he becomes. As Alexia navigates her responsibilities to her client, her relationship with the gifted musician, and her new relationship with God, she must discern the truth as it pertains to life, death, and life everlasting.
The Alien Jew in the British Imagination, 1881–1905: Space, Mobility and Territoriality
by Hannah EwenceThis book explores how fin de siècle Britain and Britons displaced spatially-charged apprehensions about imperial decline, urban decay and unpoliced borders onto Jews from Eastern Europe migrating westwards. The myriad of representations of the ‘alien Jew’ that emerged were the product of, but also a catalyst for, a decisive moment in Britain’s legal history: the fight for the 1905 Aliens Act. Drawing upon a richly diverse collection of social and political commentary, including fiction, political testimony, ethnography, travel writing, journalism and cartography, this volume traces the shifting rhetoric around alien Jews as they journeyed from the Russian Pale of Settlement to London’s East End. By employing a unique and innovative reading of both the aliens debate and racialized discourse concerned with ‘the Jew’, Hannah Ewence demonstrates that ideas about ‘space’ and 'place’ critically informed how migrants were viewed; an argument which remains valid in today’s world.
The Alien and the Proper: Luther's Two-Fold Righteousness in Controversy, Ministry, and Citizenship
by Robert Kolb Charles P Arand"This book probes the beating theological heart of Luther's evangelical theology." — Michael J. Chan, Ph.D., Concordia CollegeIn his Galatians commentary of 1535, Martin Luther insists that"our theology" relies on the proper distinction of two kinds of righteousness: Alien and Proper. In relation to our Creator, we freely receive our"alien" righteousness from Christ who has obtained it for us through his death and resurrection. In relation to humanity and God's created order, we practice a"proper" righteousness by actively fulfilling God's commands that set down the form and pattern for good human living.The Alien and the Proper “ helps us to appropriate Luther' s theology as our theology as well.” — Mark Mattes, Lutheran Bible Institute Chair of Theology, Grand View UniversityLuther posited that this distinction was the key to understanding our humanity. His regular use of this anthropological principle, particularly when applied to justification by faith, the nature of sin, and the proper practice of God's gift of humanity, demonstrates its centrality and importance.In The Alien and the Proper, five authors examine the historical development of Luther's Twofold Righteousness and propose ways in which it can continue to serve Christians today. Through these essays you will learn about Luther's radical divergence from medieval theological formulations, and you will discover what it means to be human.Essays by:David A. LumppCharles P. ArandWilliam W. SchumacherJoel BiermannTimothy SaleskaRobert Kolb (editor)
The Aliites: Race and Law in the Religions of Noble Drew Ali (Class 200: New Studies in Religion)
by Spencer Dew“Citizenship is salvation,” preached Noble Drew Ali, leader of the Moorish Science Temple of America in the early twentieth century. Ali’s message was an aspirational call for black Americans to undertake a struggle for recognition from the state, one that would both ensure protection for all Americans through rights guaranteed by the law and correct the unjust implementation of law that prevailed in the racially segregated United States. Ali and his followers took on this mission of citizenship as a religious calling, working to carve out a place for themselves in American democracy and to bring about a society that lived up to what they considered the sacred purpose of the law. In The Aliites, Spencer Dew traces the history and impact of Ali’s radical fusion of law and faith. Dew uncovers the influence of Ali’s teachings, including the many movements they inspired. As Dew shows, Ali’s teachings demonstrate an implicit yet critical component of the American approach to law: that it should express our highest ideals for society, even if it is rarely perfect in practice. Examining this robustly creative yet largely overlooked lineage of African American religious thought, Dew provides a window onto religion, race, citizenship, and law in America.
The All-Pervading Melodious Drumbeat: The Life of Ra Lotsawa
by Ra Yeshe SengeThe story of Tibet&’s notorious master of Buddhist sorcery—translated for the first time into EnglishAn essential sacred text of Tibetan Buddhism, The All-Pervading Melodious Drumbeat tells the wondrous story of Ra Lotsawa Dorjé Drak. Though he was canonized as a saint and a fully enlightened buddha, the eleventh-century Ra Lotsawa&’s life story presents a darker path than those taken by Siddhartha Gautama and Milarepa. Viewed by some as a murderous villain and by others as a liberator of human suffering, Ra Lotsawa used his formidable power and magical abilities to defeat his rivals, accumulate wealth, and amass a devoted following. His life offers a rare view into the often overlooked roles of magic and sorcery in the Buddhist tradition. Despite this sinister legacy, his fame also rests on an illustrious career as a translator of Buddhist scriptures, through which he helped spark a renaissance of Buddhism in Tibet. This spirited new translation gives readers in English their first opportunity to encounter one of the most colorful and memorable figures in Tibetan Buddhist history.For more than sixty-five years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,500 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
The Allegory of Love
by C. S. LewisThe Allegory of Love is a study in medieval tradition--the rise of both the sentiment called "Courtly Love" and of the allegorical method--from eleventh-century Languedoc through sixteenth-century England. C. S. Lewis devotes considerable attention to The Romance of the Rose and The Faerie Queene, and to such poets as Geoffrey Chaucer, John Gower, and Thomas Usk.
The Allied Countries and the Jews
by Hyman Gerson EnelowOriginally delivered as a series of addresses by Rabbi Enelow, this is a compilation of his views on the relations between jews and several European countries at the time.
The Allure of Gentleness: Defending the Faith in the Manner of Jesus
by Dallas WillardWhen called upon to explain their faith, Christians do not always feel equipped to do so--particularly when some of the most difficult questions arise. In The Allure of Gentleness, esteemed teacher and author Dallas Willard not only assures us of the truth and reasonableness of the Christian faith, but also explores why reason and logic are not enough: to explain Jesus's message, we must also be like Jesus, characterized by love, humility, and gentleness.Based on a series of talks and lectures on apologetics given by the late author and edited by his daughter, Becky Heatley, this book constitutes Dallas Willard's most thorough presentation on how to defend the Christian faith for the twenty-first century. This beautiful model of life, this allure of gentleness, Willard tells us, is the foundation for making the most compelling argument for Christ, one that will assure others that the Christian faith is not only true but the answer to our deepest desires and hopes.
The Allure of Immortality: An American Cult, a Florida Swamp, and a Renegade Prophet
by Lyn MillnerWall Street Journal’s Five Best Books About CultsThe true story of cult leader Cyrus Teed and his hollow earth theoryFor five days in December 1908 the body of Cyrus Teed lay in a bathtub at a beach house just south of Fort Myers, Florida. His followers, the Koreshans, waited for signs that he was coming back to life. They watched hieroglyphics emerge on his skin and observed what looked like the formation of a third arm. They saw his belly fall and rise with breath, even though his swollen tongue sealed his mouth. As his corpse turned black, they declared that their leader was transforming into the Egyptian god Horus. Teed was a charismatic and controversial guru who at the age of 30 had been "illuminated" by an angel in his electro-alchemical laboratory. At the turn of the twentieth century, surrounded by the marvels of the Second Industrial Revolution, he proclaimed himself a prophet and led 200 people out of Chicago and into a new age. Or so he promised.The Koreshans settled in a mosquito-infested scrubland and set to building a communal utopia inside what they believed was a hollow earth--with humans living on the inside crust and the entire universe contained within. According to Teed’s socialist and millennialist teachings, if his people practiced celibacy and focused their love on him, he would return after death and they would all become immortal.Was Teed a visionary or villain, savior or two-bit charlatan? Why did his promises and his theory of "cellular cosmogony" persuade so many?Now comes the bombshell news that David Koresh, apocalyptic leader of the Waco Branch Davidians, plagiarized Teed, and did so unwittingly. Released on the 30th anniversary of the deadly events in Waco, this edition of The Allure of Immortality includes a preface about this astonishing discovery. In this book, Lyn Millner weaves the many bizarre strands of Teed's life and those of his followers into a riveting story of angels, conmen, angry husbands, yellow journalism, and ultimately, hope.
The Allure of Immortality: An American Cult, a Florida Swamp, and a Renegade Prophet
by Lyn MillnerWall Street Journal’s Five Best Books About Cults For five days in December 1908 the body of Cyrus Teed lay in a bathtub at a beach house just south of Fort Myers, Florida. His followers, the Koreshans, waited for signs that he was coming back to life. They watched hieroglyphics emerge on his skin and observed what looked like the formation of a third arm. They saw his belly fall and rise with breath, even though his swollen tongue sealed his mouth. As his corpse turned black, they declared that their leader was transforming into the Egyptian god Horus.Teed was a charismatic and controversial guru who at the age of 30 had been "illuminated" by an angel in his electro-alchemical laboratory. At the turn of the twentieth century, surrounded by the marvels of the Second Industrial Revolution, he proclaimed himself a prophet and led 200 people out of Chicago and into a new age. Or so he promised.The Koreshans settled in a mosquito-infested scrubland and set to building a communal utopia inside what they believed was a hollow earth--with humans living on the inside crust and the entire universe contained within. According to Teed’s socialist and millennialist teachings, if his people practiced celibacy and focused their love on him, he would return after death and they would all become immortal.Was Teed a visionary or villain, savior or two-bit charlatan? Why did his promises and his theory of "cellular cosmogony" persuade so many? In The Allure of Immortality, Lyn Millner weaves the many bizarre strands of Teed's life and those of his followers into a riveting story of angels, conmen, angry husbands, yellow journalism, and ultimately, hope.
The Almost True Story of Ryan Fisher
by Rob StennettMeet Ryan Fisher. He's young, energetic, and needs an edge in the real estate market. He's found the perfect niche: Christians. His business doubles when he advertises in the Christian business directory, and he begins to think he could really cash in by planting a church. But when the church takes off, Ryan is in over his head. Also features Z+ bonus materials; including, author interview, added content, fun facts, and more.
The Aloha Reef Collection
by Colleen CobleSet on the breathtaking Hawaiian island of Kauai, the Aloha Reef Collection provides an intoxicating mix of romance and suspense with the rhythms of island life from USA Today bestselling author COLLEEN COBLE--now available in one volume!Distant EchoesIt seems like paradise, but dark secrets lurk just below the surface.When a tragic accident downs a tourist boat off the coast of Hawaii, dolphin researcher Kaia Oana is one of the first in the water, risking her own life to try and save others. She's enlisted to help the US Navy find out what really happened--utilizing her specially trained dolphins to help.Kaia and Lieutenant Commander Jesse Matthews team up in the investigation--but as they edge closer to the truth about the incident, their own lives are threatened. Will a spirit of grace and forgiveness prevail or will it be overshadowed by the distant echoes of past pain and the imminent danger from a cold-blooded killer?Black SandsAs a volcano on Hawaii begins to rumble, family crisis brings an unlikely couple together.Annie's the brainy type, quietly assisting her father in his volcano research. She's always admired her brother's friend Mano for his outgoing athletic ways, but her devotion turns to disdain after Mano's mistake results in her older brother's untimely death.Mano's mistake haunts him. It cost his best friend's life. But just as he's bringing Tomi's belongings to his family, Mano discovers Tomi is alive--and in serious danger. That danger threatens to spill over to the rest of the family.Annie and Mano join forces to discover the source of the threat against the family, even as a long-inactive volcano rumbles in the distance.Dangerous DepthsSometimes life's most precious treasure lies at Dangerous Depths.Leia ditched a promising medical career to settle on a secluded island in Hawaii. Her ex-fiancé Bane has come to the island to find out why.When an act of sabotage pushes Bane closer to Leia, they are plunged into a tangle of emotion and peril--just as a series of threatening natural events grip the island.Midnight SeaLosing her sight turns Lani's world upside down, bringing danger, mystery . . . and unexpected romance.A seemingly random shooting at her aunt's coffee farm has left Lani Tagama blind. Now she must learn to navigate in a world of darkness. With the help of an ex-cop named Ben and a half-trained guide dog, Lani begins to regain her former independence.Then Lani and Ben discover that her injury wasn't caused by a random shooting. It was a botched murder attempt. They must work together to discover the identity of the would-be murderer before he strikes again.Holy NightOne sinister phone call has derailed their wedding. Will they let it tear them apart forever?A Christmas wedding on the beach--what could be more perfect? Poinsettias and fragrant pikake blossoms, soft sand and mistletoe, the gentle sound of the surf and the wedding march played on a ukulele. This wedding has been a long time coming--with Bane's trust issues and Leia's worries about her childlike sister, Eva. Now they can hardly wait for the day to arrive. Thrilled to be a bridesmaid, Eva keeps trying on her ruffled dress. The tent is reserved, the caterers are paid. Everything is going as planned--until Leia's phone rings and her world skids out of control. A muffled voice informs Leia that Eva's been kidnapped and will be killed unless Leia calls off the wedding without explanation--and no police! If she disobeys instructions and tells Bane, she'll risk her beloved sister's life. But how can she ever handle this without his help? And how can he ever trust her if she lies to him now?
The Alone Advantage: 10 Behind-the-Scenes Habits That Drive Crazy Success
by Terri Savelle FoyMaster Your Minutes in Private and You&’ll Master Your Life in PublicIn The Alone Advantage, Terri Savelle Foy shows how simple habits behind closed doors can reshape every aspect of your life.She knows what it&’s like to be in a rut, repeating the same routine with no significant progress toward deep-down dreams. Terri started noticing that although the average person does not spend time alone—the average successful person does.Whatever your unique, God-given dream is, Terri reveals what successful people do in private to prepare and achieve the dreams in their heart. Discoverthe morning routine that can change your life before breakfast,how to harness your imagination to visualize the future you want, andwhy successful people spend time alone.Step-by-step, Terri shows you how realizing your biggest dream starts with a daily to-do list. As you learn the habits of successful people—everything from waking up to cleaning up to growing up—you will become your own best cheerleader. The Alone Advantage equips you to wake up with vision, have a clear set of goals, and protect your time in private so God can promote you in public.
The Alpha Enterprise: Evangelism in a Post-Christian Era
by Stephen HuntThe Alpha Enterprise explores the development, growth and impact of the most widely used evangelising programme of recent decades. The Alpha course is run in over seven thousand churches in the UK and over five thousand in the USA. Across the world some four million people have graduated through the course in over 80 countries. Alpha is truly the fastest growing evangelising initiative, creating widespread support as well as stirring strong criticism. Stephen Hunt critically examines the content and working philosophy of the Alpha course through the experiences of the churches that have run it, as well as the individuals who have experienced it first hand. Hunt charts the history of the programme, its use of group dynamics and media, how it links with the charismatic movement, how it deals with issues such as homosexuality, how it is run not only in churches but in prisons and universities too, and concludes by measuring Alpha's impact and success. Engaging with debates regarding postmodernity, globalisation, McDonaldisation, consumerism, and secularisation, and based on real-life surveys, The Alpha Enterprise sheds new light not only on evangelism but on contemporary Christianity in general and how it engages with a post-Christian culture.
The Alphabet That Changed the World: How Genesis Preserves a Science of Consciousness in Geometry and Gesture
by Stan TenenRabbinic tradition asserts that every letter of every word of the Torah is a word in itself. Author Stan Tenen demonstrates that each letter is also a hand gesture, and it is at this level that Hebrew forms a natural universal language. All people, including children before they speak and people without sight, make natural use of these gestures. In The Alphabet That Changed the World, Tenen examines the Hebrew text of Genesis and its relationship to the alphabet. He shows how each letter is both concept and gesture, with the form of the gesture matching the function of the concept. There is thus an implicit relationship between the physical world of function and the conscious world of concept. Using over 200 color illustrations, Tenen demonstrates geometric metaphor as the best framework for understanding the deepest meaning of the text. Such geometry models embryonic growth and self-organization and the core of many healing and meditative practices. Many subjects in contemporary science were derived from the methods and means available to the ancients; The Alphabet That Changed the World makes this authoritative recovery of the &“science of consciousness&” in Genesis accessible for the first time to the contemporary reading public.
The Alphabet in the Park: Selected Poems (Wesleyan Poetry in Translation)
by Adélia PradoPoetry that eloquently concentrates on the spiritual and physical lives of women. This is the first book published in English by of the work of Brazilian poet Adélia Prado. Incorporating poems published over the past fifteen years, The Alphabet in the Park is a book of passion and intelligence, wit and instinct. These are poems about human concerns, especially those of women, about living in one&’s body and out of it, about the physical but also the spiritual and the imaginative life. Prado also writes about ordinary matters; she insists that the human experience is both mystical and carnal. To Prado these are not contradictory: &“It&’s the soul that&’s erotic,&” she writes. As Ellen Watson says in her introduction, &;“Adélia Prados poetry is a poetry of abundance. These poems overflow with the humble, grand, various stuff of daily life—necklaces, bicycles, fish; saints and prostitutes and presidents; innumerable chickens and musical instruments. And, seemingly at every turn, there is food.&” But also, an abundance of dark things, cancer, death, greed. These are poems of appetite, all kinds.