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Asian Religions in Practice: An Introduction (Princeton Readings in Religions #9)
by Donald S. LopezPrinceton Readings in Religions is a new series of anthologies on the religions of the world, representing the significant advances that have been made in the study of religions in the last thirty years. This volume brings together the introductions to the first five volumes of this acclaimed series: Religions of India in Practice (1995), Buddhism in Practice (1995), Religions of China in Practice (1996), Religions of Tibet in Practice (1997), and Religions of Japan in Practice (1999). The introductions to these volumes have been widely praised for their accessible, clear and concise overviews of the religions of Asia, providing both historical context and insightful analysis of Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism, Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shinto, and Bon, as well as many local traditions. The authors of the chapters are leading scholars of Asian religions: Richard Davis (India), Stephen Teiser (China), George Tanabe (Japan), and Donald Lopez (Buddhism and Tibet). They bring together the best and most current research on their topics, while series editor Donald Lopez provides an introduction to the volume as a whole. In addition to providing a wealth of detail on the history, doctrine, and practice of the religions of Asia, the five chapters offer an opportunity for sustained discussions of the category of "religion."
Asian Religions: A Cultural Perspective
by Randall L. NadeauASIAN RELIGIONS “A unique introduction to Asian religions, combining the scholarly rigor of an established historian of Asian religions with the willingness to engage empathetically with the traditions and to suggest that readers do the same.”Joseph A. Adler, Kenyon College “Randall L. Nadeau has accomplished what only a few have tried, but which has been much needed in the study of religions. He has written a genuinely novel approach to the religions of Asia… This is a work that should find its way into Asian humanities, history, religion, and civilization courses.”Ronnie Littlejohn, Belmont University This all-embracing introduction to Asian religious practices and beliefs takes a unique approach; not only does it provide a complete overview of the basic tenets of the major Asian religions, but it also demonstrates how Asian spiritualities are lived and practiced, exploring the meaning and significance they hold for believers. In a series of engaging and lively chapters, the book explores the beliefs and practices of Confucianism, Taoism, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Japanese religions, including Shintō. Using a comparative approach, it highlights the contrasts between Asian and Western modes of thinking and living, and debates the influence of religion on real-world issues including work, economic growth, the environment, human rights, and gender relations. Nadeau, a leading figure in this field, takes an empathetic approach to Asian religious and cultural traditions, and considers Asian spiritualities to be viable systems of belief for today’s global citizens. Integrating exercises, activities, and an appealing mixture of examples, such as novels and biographies, this refreshing book leads readers to an enhanced understanding of the ideas and practice of Asian religions, and of their continuing relevance today.
Asian Religious Responses to Darwinism: Evolutionary Theories in Middle Eastern, South Asian, and East Asian Cultural Contexts (Sophia Studies in Cross-cultural Philosophy of Traditions and Cultures #33)
by C. Mackenzie BrownThis volume brings together diverse Asian religious perspectives to address critical issues in the encounter between tradition and modern western evolutionary thought. Such thought encompasses the biological theories of Charles Darwin, Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, Earnest Haeckel, Thomas Huxley, and later “neo-Darwinians,” as well as the more sociological evolutionary theories of thinkers such as Herbert Spencer, Pyotr Kropotkin, and Henri Bergson. The essays in this volume cover responses from Hindu, Jain, Buddhist (Chinese, Japanese, and Indo-Tibetan), Confucian, Daoist, and Muslim traditions. These responses come from the decades immediately after publication of The Origin of Species up to the present, with attention being paid to earlier perspectives and teachings within a tradition that have affected responses to Darwinism and western evolutionary thought in general. The book focuses on three critical issues: the struggle for survival and the moral implications read into it; genetic variation and its seeming randomness as related to the problems of meaning and purpose; and the nature of humankind and human exceptionalism. Each essay deals with one or more of the three issues within the context of a specific tradition.
Asian Spiritualities and Social Transformation
by Simon Shui-Man KWAN Wai-Yin ChowThis book offers a cross-cultural and inter-religious understanding of the ways social transformation in Asia is related to Asian spiritualities. Bringing together scholars and practitioners from different cultures and fields of study, it collates cutting-edge research and applies it to the role of Asian spiritualities in social transformation. Spirituality has garnered increasing attention in recent years across diverse fields of research and practice, from psychology and healthcare, to anthropology, education, sociology, political sciences, social work, feminist studies, cultural studies, religious studies, theology, philosophy, and so on. However, the term means different things within these different disciplines. Spirituality can be understood to be private and personal, but also public and societal, not only as a force that brings about change but also one that helps maintain the status quo – not only as a core element in religion but also as something disconnected from it. This book poses that to gain a firm grasp of spirituality, one needs to traverse these different terrains. Disbarring the orientalist understanding of spirituality that is often found embedded in stereotypes of the East as mystical, esoteric, and spiritual, in contrast to the West as scientific and rational, this book deconstructs this binarism to enable a sophisticated understanding of the diversity within Eastern and Western spiritualities. It presents “Asian spirituality” as a misnomer, focusing on the plurality of spiritualties and the region’s multifaceted religiosity, and it also excavates interfaith terrains. It is of interest to social scientists, theologians and religious scholars, and students and researchers interested in Asian spiritualties and social movements
Asian Worldviews: Religions, Philosophies, Political Theories
by Rein RaudAn ambitious comparative introduction to Asian thought, expertly written for undergraduate courses in Asian Studies, Asian philosophy and neighboring disciplines Recent decades have witnessed a sharp increase of interest in the cultures and regions of South and East Asia, owing in part to the prominent role Asian economies have played in the era of globalization. Asian Worldviews: Religions, Philosophies, Political Theories is a unique, reader-friendly introduction to the intellectual heritage of the region. Assuming no previous background in Asian cultural history, Asian Worldviews moves beyond chronological and geographic boundaries to present an integrated treatment of the beliefs, teachings, and ideologies that have shaped the worldviews of approximately half of the global population. Rein Raud explores forms of knowledge in China, India, Tibet, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia, providing balanced coverage of all historical periods from antiquity to the modern day. Asian Worldviews embraces the connections rather than the divisions between the religious and philosophical dimensions of South and East Asian thought, and emphasizes a robust engagement with each culture's political, social, and economic contexts. Clear, accessible chapters discuss the development of religious, philosophical, and political thought in India, China, and Japan, and provide succinct overviews of the history of ideas in Korea, Tibet, and Southeast Asia. Throughout the book, Raud uses a comparative approach to examine the mutual influence and productive dialogue, past and present, between Asian cultures as well as with the West, and considers the impact of various worldviews on the development of modern Asian societies. Comprehensive and well-informed by recent developments in the scholarship, Asian Worldviews: Religions, Philosophies, Political Theories is an unparalleled resource for a broad range of courses in Asian studies, philosophy, religious studies, and global politics, as well as an excellent introduction for non-specialist readers looking for a contextual foothold in the rich cultural and intellectual history of South and East Asia.
Asian and Asian American Women in Theology and Religion: Embodying Knowledge (Asian Christianity in the Diaspora)
by Pui-Lan KwokThis book presents personal narratives and collective ethnography of the emergence and development of Asian and Asian American women’s scholarship in theology and religious studies. It demonstrates how the authors’ religious scholarship is based on an embodied epistemology influenced by their social locations. Contributors reflect on their understanding of their identity and how this changed over time, the contribution of Asian and Asian American women to the scholarship work that they do, and their hopes for the future of their fields of study. The volume is multireligious and intergenerational, and is divided into four parts: identities and intellectual journeys, expanding knowledge, integrating knowledge and practice, and dialogue across generations.
Asian and Feminist Philosophies in Dialogue: Liberating Traditions
by Ashby Butnor Jennifer McWeenyIn this collection of original essays, international scholars put Asian traditions, such as Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, and Confucianism, into conversation with one or more contemporary feminist philosophies, founding a new mode of inquiry that attends to diverse voices and the complex global relationships that define our world. These cross-cultural meditations focus on the liberation of persons from suffering, oppression, illusion, harmful conventions and desires, and other impediments to full personhood by deploying a methodology that traverses multiple philosophical styles, historical texts, and frames of reference. Hailing from the discipline of philosophy in addition to Asian, gender, and religious studies, the contributors offer a fresh take on the classic concerns of free will, consciousness, knowledge, objectivity, sexual difference, embodiment, selfhood, the state, morality, and hermeneutics. One of the first anthologies to embody the practice of feminist comparative philosophy, this collection creatively and effectively engages with global, cultural, and gender differences within the realms of scholarly inquiry and theory construction.
Asia’s Heritage Trend: Examining Asia’s Present through Its Past (Routledge Contemporary Asia Series)
by Jongil Kim Minjae ZoeKim and Zoh bring together a team of contributors to analyse the role of heritage studies across Asia, and its impact on Asia and its constituent countries. Is there such a thing as ‘Asian heritage’? Is it more helpful to understand Asia as a single unit, or as a set of sub- regions? What can we learn about Asia’s present through its archaeology and heritage? Covering a wide range of countries, including Afghanistan, Cambodia, China, Korea, Laos, Myanmar, Japan, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam, the contributors to this book address these key questions. In doing so they look at a number of critical issues, such as UNESCO World Heritage status, cultural propaganda, cultural erasure and difficult heritage. While addressing Asia’s past they also observe key issues within present- day Asia, further providing conceptual and practical insights into the methods that are being applied to the study of Asia’s heritage today. A valuable resource for scholars and students of Asian history and culture, archaeology, heritage studies, anthropology and religious studies.
Asimov's Guide to the Bible: The Old and New Testaments
by Isaac AsimovFrom the Publisher: Asimov's Guide to the Bible: The Old and New Testaments (2 Volumes in 1) clarifies such topics as the real nature of the Flood and the parting of the Red Sea, the significance of Cain and Abel, the Gospels' position on slavery, the astronomical explanation of the Star of Bethlehem (Halley's Comet), and more. From the book: This encyclopedic edition brings an important fund of knowledge to any reader of the Bible. Illuminating events of the Old and New Testaments by informing us of the actual historical, geographical and biographical aspects of the time, this is as provocative and entertaining as it is informative.
Ask Anything: A Pastoral Theology of Inquiry
by Richard L Dayringer Richard P OlsonKnow how to answer those most-asked questions-by using a scriptural perspectiveThe search for answers remains a valuable catalyst for the growth of personal faith. Ask Anything: A Pastoral Theology of Inquiry provides a fresh approach to answering questions of personal growth, facing problems, and building community. The questions most asked of today&’s pastors and pastoral counselors are answered by integrating psychological with biblical/Christian perspectives. Jesus&’ own questions from scripture are presented as a response to those difficult questions, sparking a self-reflective personal dialogue that illuminates as well as inspires. As each of us journeys through life, urgent questions arise even for the most faithful. Each chapter of Ask Anything: A Pastoral Theology of Inquiry takes parishioners' most-asked questions about the basic issues of life, death, and faith, and connects them with Jesus' questions from scripture, allowing a new depth of introspection and thought. These questions open a free flow of ideas that refreshes personal perspectives and leads to a spiritual resolution for the issue at hand. Jesus' teachings spring to life through the questions from the gospels and the probing thoughts of contemporary authors and scholars, stimulating a productive inner dialogue and positive direction for reflection. Each chapter is carefully referenced and includes helpful exercises and questions for group discussion, counseling conversations, or personal contemplation. Appendixes are included with complete listings of Jesus' questions from the gospels as well as a complete bibliography to facilitate further research.Ask Anything: A Pastoral Theology of Inquiry discusses these questions often asked of pastors: Where do I find meaning in life? How can I succeed? What can I do to protect my children? How can I know which leaders to trust? What can I do about my battle with depression? What can I do about my burnout and fatigue? How can I know God loves me? What is prayer? What happens when I pray? Why is my prayer unanswered? Why is there suffering? Where do I find hope? What happens when I die? What can I do about the pain of grief?Ask Anything: A Pastoral Theology of Inquiry is inspiring, eye-opening reading perfect for pastoral and other Christian counselors, ministers with responsibility for preaching, and any layperson hoping to gather greater insight into Jesus&’ personal answers to their own questions.
Ask Bethany
by Bethany HamiltonHonest, sometimes gut-wrenching questions from Bethany Hamilton's fan mail---paired with inspirational Bible verses and Bethany's own answers---will keep girls ages eight to twelve turning the pages of this book.
Ask Bethany, Updated Edition
by Bethany Hamilton Doris Wynbeek RikkersFrom Bethany Hamilton’s fan letters come these honest, sometimes gut-wrenching questions. Some questions you may have asked about yourself at some time. Bethany’s sincere answers reflect her faith, and with some of her favorite Scripture versus, her answers will inspire you, let you into Bethany’s heart, and possibly help you with some of your own life questions.This updated edition includes some new questions and answers, and lets readers see how she has grown and changed, and where she is today.
Ask Billy Graham: The World's Best-Loved Preacher Answers Your Most Important Questions
by Bill AdlerWould you like to know what Billy Graham thinks about the most important issues of daily life? What about politics, presidents and terrorism? This book contains answers to questions many of us would ask Billy Graham if we had the good fortune to sit down with the person many call "America's Pastor". Best-selling author Bill Adler arranges topics from Graham's sermons, speeches, interviews, television appearances and writings in an easy to follow Q and A format. Topics include Billy Graham on: Humor, Politics, Prayer, Technology and Religion, Race, Money, the Church, and Growing Older. Hear Graham's responses to questions likeWhat will heaven be like?Why does God bring on natural disasters?What do you think about the mixing of religion and politics?What do you say to an atheist who doesn't think there is a God?What is the greatest spiritual threat facing the United States?How can we achieve world peace?
Ask Hayley / Ask Justin
by Hayley MorganHayley Morgan and Justin Lookadoo answer questions teens are really asking. How do we know? Because every question in this book comes directly from a teen via our website, email, or one-on-one interaction. The topics range from theology and God to sexuality, family, friendship, you name it! Hayley and Justin give solid biblical advice on how to handle the tough stuff teens face every day.
Ask It
by Andy StanleyYou'll Never Make a Decision the Same Way Again Should I take this job? Buy this house? Marry this person? We ask questions every day about the choices we face. But are we asking the most important question of all? In Ask It, Andy Stanley identifies the one question that makes it easy to determine the answer to all other questions. You'll learn how to make decisions with confidence simply by applying the question that brings clarity to life's most challenging decisions.
Ask Leader Guide: Faith Questions in a Skeptical Age (Ask)
by Scott J. Jones Arthur D. JonesWe live in a skeptical age. People—especially young people—expressdoubts about Christian faith. In this thoughtful eight week studyBishop Scott J. Jones, author of The Wesleyan Way, partnerswith his son Rev. Arthur Jones, to address hard questions that all of usface when considering faith, religion, and the church.This Leader Guide includes everything a group leader needs to planand facilitate the eight sessions, helping participants to explore whatthey have read, to view a video, and to discuss the reading and videowith the group. The guide walks leaders through the study format andprovides options for tailoring sessions to the time-frame and style ofeach group.
Ask Lily
by Nancy RueLily becomes the "Answer Girl" and gives anonymous advice in the school newspaper.
Ask The Beasts: Darwin and the God of Love
by Elizabeth A. JohnsonFor millennia plant and animal species have received little sustained attention as subjects of Christian theology and ethics in their own right. Focused on the human dilemma of sin and redemptive grace, theology has considered the doctrine of creation to be mainly an overture to the main drama of human being`s relationship to God. What value does the natural world have within the framework of religious belief? The crisis of biodiversity in our day, when species are going extinct at more than 1,000 times the natural rate, renders this question acutely important. Standard perspectives need to be realigned; theology needs to look out of the window, so to speak as well as in the mirror. Ask the Beasts: Darwin and the God of Love leads to the conclusion that love of the natural world is an intrinsic element of faith in God and that far from being an add-on, ecological care is at the center of moral life.
Ask Your Angel Guides: How to Work with Celestial Energies to Create Abundance and Well-Being
by Susan Browne• Provides advice and examples on how to effectively ask the angels for guidance through all of life&’s challenges• Explores how seeking angelic help can bring prosperity, well-being, work life balance, and improved relationships• Offers coaching exercises, techniques, and visualizations as well as practical life hacks to realize your full potentialWHETHER YOU ARE SEEKING ABUNDANCE, well-being, or striking the ideal work-life balance, manifesting with the angels can work wonders in all areas of life. Susan Browne shows how to analyze the thoughts and beliefs that are not working for you and how to release them. Drawing on channeled wisdom from the angelic realms, she shares exercises, techniques, and visualizations to help you overcome life&’s challenges.Adopt an attitude of curiosity and learn how to quickly change problems into questions with your angel guides. Develop confidence in connecting with archangels, ascended masters, and other divine helpers from the higher realms to get your finances in order, work with your shadow, create clearer boundaries, and improve sleep. Celestial helpers can also assist in healing troubled relationships and manifesting a soul partner.The angels are like loving coaches that want us to discover and use our gifts so we can realize our full potential and truly thrive. With their higher guidance, we can learn to transform our energy as well as help others.
Ask Your Angels: A Practical Guide to Working with the Messengers of Heaven to Empower and Enrich Your Life
by Timothy Wyllie Alma Daniel Andrew RamerAngels have been with us in every time and culture, and in many religious traditions. ASK YOUR ANGELS vividly chronicles how they are currentlly reaching out to every one of us in a totally new way, bridging our physical reality with their pure spiritual energy. The authors show us how we can draw on the power of angels to reconnect with our lost inner selves and to achieve our goals, whether they be better relationships, healing an illness, or recovery from addiction.From the Trade Paperback edition.
Ask Your Guides: Calling in Your Divine Support System for Help with Everything in Life, Revised Edition
by Sonia ChoquetteThe New York Times best-selling author of Soul Lessons and Soul PurposeWe&’re all spiritual beings with a spiritual support system on the Other Side that oversees and helps guide our lives from the moment we&’re born to the moment we leave our physical bodies and return to Spirit. Not knowing this fact is a severe handicap, as the Universe is designed to care for and nurture all its creatures and help make our life&’s journey easier and more successful. When we learn how to connect with our angelic guides, our lives naturally fall into a pattern of ease and flow during which we grow our souls, fulfill our life&’s purpose, and make our time on Earth endlessly entertaining. This fascinating and inspirational book by Sonia Choquette provides all the information you need to help you connect with your spirit guides so that you can enjoy all the love, abundance, and joy you&’re entitled to.
Ask Your Guides: Connecting To Your Divine Support System
by Sonia ChoquetteWe’re all spiritual beings with a spiritual support system on the Other Side that oversees and helps guide our lives from the moment we’re born to the moment we leave our physical bodies and return to Spirit. <P><P>Not knowing this fact is a severe handicap, as the Universe is designed to care for and nurture all its creatures and help make our life’s journey easier and more successful. When we learn how to connect with our angelic guides, our lives naturally fall into a pattern of ease and flow during which we grow our souls, fulfill our life’s purpose, and make our time on Earth endlessly entertaining. <P><P>This fascinating and inspirational book by Sonia Choquette provides all the information you need to help you connect with your spirit guides so that you can enjoy all the love, abundance, and joy you’re entitled to.
Ask Your Spirit: Receiving Life-Changing Wisdom from Your Elevated Intelligence
by Christine LangWritten by leading medical intuitive and energy healer, Christine Lang, this practical and accessible guide goes beyond the &“trust your gut&” trope so often associated with tapping into your intuition by teaching readers how to converse directly with their enlightened spirit. What if your broken foot is a warning not to accept that new job? What if you got the flu not because of &‘bad luck,&’ but as a cosmic gift to keep you away from a family gathering that became a toxic bloodbath? What if all of your chronic symptoms are hints, pointing you towards a better life, if only you could decipher the clues? Ask Your Spirit answers these questions by teaching you how to converse directly with your spirit. The connection to this invaluable resource provides you with personalized guidance on health, relationships, and career dilemmas. Unlike many spiritual books that simply help you &“increase your intuition&” or offer general tips on connecting to spirit guides, esteemed medical intuitive Christine Lang provides a detailed, step-by-step process for establishing a practical dialogue with the wisest part of you that&’s committed to spiritual growth in this lifetime. This ongoing conversation with your inner wisdom is like having your spirit on speed dial. You&’ll learn how to discern between your soul&’s voice and your ego&’s voice so you can start trusting your spirit&’s priorities, decoding its messages, and understand the expiration date of your messages. Along with client-centered success stories and testimonials from medical professionals, you&’ll see exactly how these practices offer life-changing results.
Ask a Missionary: Time-Tested Answers from Those Who've Been There Before
by John McVayAsk a Missionary
Ask of Old Paths: Medieval Virtues and Vices for a Whole and Holy Life
by Grace HammanTraditional Christian virtue and vices like abstinence, gluttony, and sloth make many of us bored or uncomfortable. At their best, these words sound dead or confusing, like incomplete fossils that belong to a distant past awkwardly enshrined in a museum. At worst, they signify a prejudiced past, when these words were wielded like weapons.Yet in medieval writing, the language of the virtues and vices was powerful, lively, and delightfully weird. Patience is described as a peppercorn. Unicorns preach chastity. Knightly virtues fend off devious vices by throwing roses at them. In medieval books, words like avarice and meekness meant different things and carried different weight than they do today. And great medieval preachers and poets taught the virtues as crucial to what it meant to live a life of holiness, right alongside the Lord's Prayer and the Creed.Ask of Old Paths by Grace Hamman meditates upon those strange and wonderful word-pictures and explanations of virtues and vices found in medieval traditions of poetry, sermons, and treatises long confined to dusty corners of the library. It focuses on the ancient tradition of virtue language called the Seven Capital Virtue Remedies: pride and humility, envy and love, wrath and meekness, avarice and mercy, sloth and fortitude, gluttony and abstinence, lust and chastity.In accessible and thoughtful chapters, scholar and writer Grace Hamman shows how learning about these pairs of medieval virtues and vices can help us reevaluate our own washed out and insipid moral vocabulary in modernity. Our imaginations for the good life are expanded; our longing for sanctification sharpens. Old ideas can give us new fire in our practice of the virtue--and in that practice, we imitate Jesus and become more human.