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Before I Wake
by Dee HendersonThe sheriff of Justice Illinois is hunting a killer. Women visiting town are being murdered, tourists in nice hotels, money still in their billfolds, jewelry still on the dresser. Quiet kills - they go to sleep and never awaken. The sheriff is not pleased to find the new detective in town, Rae Gabriella, working the case on behalf of one of the families. She's staying in the same hotel as one of the victims - and her classy looks and upscale car suggest she could be the next victim.
Before Orthodoxy: The Satanic Verses in Early Islam
by Shahab Ahmed“The most systematic, critical study of an especially important tradition from early Islamic history, the so-called incident of the Satanic verses.” —ChoiceOne of the most controversial episodes in the life of the Prophet Muhammad concerns an incident in which he allegedly mistook words suggested by Satan as divine revelation. Known as the Satanic verses, these praises to the pagan deities contradict the Islamic belief that Allah is one and absolute. Muslims today?of all sects?deny that the incident of the Satanic verses took place. But as Shahab Ahmed explains, Muslims did not always hold this view.Before Orthodoxy wrestles with the question of how religions establish truth?especially religions such as Islam that lack a centralized authority to codify beliefs. Taking the now universally rejected incident of the Satanic verses as a case study in the formation of Islamic orthodoxy, Ahmed shows that early Muslims, circa 632 to 800 CE, held the exact opposite belief. For them, the Satanic verses were an established fact in the history of the Prophet. Ahmed offers a detailed account of the attitudes of Muslims to the Satanic verses in the first two centuries of Islam and traces the chains of transmission in the historical reports known as riwayah.Touching directly on the nature of Muhammad’s prophetic visions, the interpretation of the Satanic verses incident is a question of profound importance in Islam, one that plays a role in defining the limits of what Muslims may legitimately say and do?issues crucial to understanding the contemporary Islamic world.
Before Sexuality: The Construction of Erotic Experience in the Ancient Greek World
by David M. Halperin Froma I. Zeitlin John J. WinklerA dream in which a man has sex with his mother may promise him political or commercial success--according to dream interpreters of late antiquity, who, unlike modern Western analysts, would not necessarily have drawn conclusions from the dream about the dreamer's sexual psychology. Evidence of such shifts in perspective is leading scholars to reconsider in a variety of creative ways the history of sexuality. In these fifteen original essays, eminent cultural historians and classicists not only discuss sex, but demonstrate how norms, practices, and even the very definitions of what counts as sexual activity have varied significantly over time. Ancient Greece offers abundant evidence for a radically different set of sexual standards and behaviors from ours. Sex in ancient Hellenic culture assumed a variety of social and political meanings, whereas the modern development of a sex-centered model of personality now leads us to view sex as the key to understanding the individual. Drawing on both the Anglo-American tradition of cultural anthropology and the French tradition of les sciences humaines, these essays explore the iconography, politics, ethics, poetry, and medical practices that made sex in ancient Greece not a paradise of liberation but an exotic locale hardly recognizable to visitors from the modern world. In addition to the editors, the contributors to this volume are Peter Brown, Anne Carson, Franoise Frontisi-Ducroux, Maud W. Gleason, Ann Ellis Hanson, Franois Lissarrague, Nicole Loraux, Maurice Olender, S.R.F. Price, James Redfield, Giulia Sissa, and Jean-Pierre Vernant.
Before Taliban: Genealogies of the Afghan Jihad
by David B. EdwardsIf you want to read one book to understand the background to the political conflicts in Afghanistan and the Taliban's rise to power, this is the book. Edwards tells the stories of three men--a Marxist politician, a tribal leader, and an Islamic militant--to explain the complex political culture of Afghanistan.
Before The King's Majesty (Canterbury Studies In Spiritual Theology)
by Raymond ChapmanLancelot Andrewes (1555-1626) was a towering figure in the formative years of the Church of England. Averse to the puritanical spirit of the age, he helped to create a distinctive Anglican theology, moderate in outlook and catholic in tone. He believed that theology should be built on sound learning, he held a high doctrine of the Eucharist and he emphasised dignity and order in worship. His influence defines Anglicanism to this day.A devout scholar and gifted linguist, he served as Dean of Westminster and under James I became Bishop of Chichester, then Ely and finally Winchester. In 1604 he was appointed as one of the translators of the Authorized Version and became responsible for most of the Old Testament. It was as a preacher that he achieved the greatest fame and he was a favourite of Elizabeth I, James I and Charles I. His spiritual classic, "The Private Devotions of Lancelot Andrewes" was for personal prayer what the "Book of Common Prayer" was for the worship of the Church. This is a wide selection from his writings and a general introduction.
Before There Were Kings: A Literary Analysis of the Book of Judges (Bulletin for Biblical Research Supplement)
by Elie AssisFollowing the great periods of national leadership by Moses and Joshua, the book of Judges depicts the stewardship of various judges that rose to power to solve local religious and military challenges in the premonarchic period. This volume provides a close reading of the entire book of Judges, taking seriously the distinct elements of the book and how they are interconnected.Elie Assis explores the ways in which the ideology and theology of Judges unfold through a careful literary analysis. Moving beyond the cycle of sin, punishment, and salvation, Assis demonstrates how differences in the descriptive language applied to each judge, as well as the evaluations in the opening and concluding chapters, provide clues as to the organization and message of the text. Most works on Judges focus on the historical background of the period or the historical process of the book’s composition and seek to dissolve its stories into component parts. In contrast, Before There Were Kings points to the deep underlying unity of Judges and the function of the individual stories within the whole.New and carefully drawn insights related to the purpose of each section and the themes that shape the book as a whole make this a groundbreaking, programmatic contribution to research on the book of Judges. It will be of particular interest to students and scholars of the Old Testament and the Hebrew Bible.
Before Utopia: The Making of Thomas More’s Mind
by Ross DealyBefore Utopia demonstrates that Thomas More’s Utopia (1516) is not, as is widely accepted, a rhetorical play of spirit but is instead built from a particular philosophy. That philosophy was not Platonism, but classical Stoicism. Deeply disturbed in his youth by the conviction that he needed to decide between a worldly and a monastic path, Thomas More’s outlook was transformed in 1504 by Erasmus’ De taedio Iesu and Enchiridion. As a consequence, he married in 1505 and wholeheartedly committed himself to worldly affairs. His Lucian (1506), written after working directly with Erasmus, adopts the Stoic mindset; Erasmus’ Praise of Folly (1511) shows from beginning to end the workings of More’s life-changing Stoic outlook. More’s Utopia then goes on to systematically illustrate the Stoic unitary two-dimensional frame of thought within an imaginary New World setting. Before Utopia is not just a book about Thomas More. It is a book about intellectual history and the movement of ideas from the ancient world to the Renaissance. Ross Dealy emphasizes the continuity between Erasmus and More in their religious and philosophical thought, and above all the decisive influence of Erasmus on More.
Before We Gather: Devotions for Worship Leaders and Teams
by Zac M. HicksA 52-week devotional for ministry leaders and worship teams to prepare their hearts and minds for the service and make the worship experience of their church more meaningful.Anyone involved in organized worship has probably seen what worship can be, and they've wondered: How can we tap into that transformative spirit more often? How can we overcome the problems of urgency, fatigue, and the temptation to just go through the motions? How can we gather before God, consistently ready to receive his presence?In Before We Gather, Zac Hicks—author of the best-selling book The Worship Pastor—provides a unique, year-long devotional that focuses the attention of worship teams and individuals on God. This book offers biblical reflection in a simple, engaging style, helping worship teams set the tone of a gathering by developing a rich theology of worship through the practice of prayer.Full of field-tested devotionals specifically designed for pre-service prayer times, each entry has a simple, three-part format: read a passage, reflect on it, and then spend time in focused prayer that will propel worshipers into the service.The 52 entries can be used once a week over the course of an entire year and are also indexed according to themes, individual Scripture verses, and the church calendar, allowing you to adapt and use this resource in the way that best fits your context.
Before We Were Us
by Denise HunterShe can&’t remember. He can&’t forget.When Lauren Wentworth wakes up in the hospital after falling from a ladder, she has more questions than answers. Way more. She knows where she is—the wilds of New Hampshire. But she&’s apparently lost the last four months of her life. Is she really contemplating forfeiting her big-city dream job for a position at a rustic resort? And how did her number one nemesis become her adoring boyfriend?Jonah Landry is crushed to learn Lauren has forgotten their entire summer together. Terrified of losing her for good, he determines to help her remember their deep connection as she finishes her obligation to the resort. But soon it becomes apparent Lauren doesn&’t want to remember falling in love with him or rethinking the entire course of her career. She wants to pretend the summer never happened and move on with her life. Without him.As Lauren falls back into the steady routines of resort work with Jonah, she&’s relieved her memories haven&’t returned and remains resolute about her big-city future. But as autumn leads into winter, she begins to see glimpses of the Jonah she&’s forgotten. Will she be able to resist the steady love of this patient man? Or is her heart destined for its own freefall?Charming contemporary romanceBook length: approximately 83,000 wordsStand-alone novelIncludes discussion questions for book clubs
Before You Climb Any Higher: Valley Wisdom for Mountain Dreams
by Thomas NelsonWe long for mountaintop experiences, but they&’re difficult to achieve and impossible to maintain without the rest, nourishment, and strength found in lush, life-giving valleys. GRAMMY Award winner Jonathan McReynolds shows us why having a valley mindset is not what you think—it&’s about receiving God&’s grace, love, and encouragement as His beloved child. Life is full of mountains to ascend, driven by our dreams, ambitions, and callings. But it doesn&’t take much for even the strongest climbers to grow weary or lose their way. It&’s important to have a &“mountain mindset&” to help us establish goals, to make steady progress, to achieve success, to do big things for God. A great mission requires from us a little grind, a little hustle, a little competition. But also plenty of time in the valley.Most people equate valley moments with difficulty and pain, but a &“valley mentality&” is different according to Jonathan McReynolds. He&’s reached the mountaintop—GRAMMY Award, nationwide tours, millions of followers, and more—but he experienced more refreshment, rest, and encouragement from the Lord off the mountain. He writes, &“The valley is not about finishing anything, studying anything, or doing anything, but simply being a child of God.&” In Before You Climb Any Higher, readers will discover: Taking breaks from climbing is necessary for your mental healthWays to find rest, renewal, and authentic community in the valleyIdentity should never be wrapped up in success and accoladesHow to prepare for the mountain climb with lessons learned in the valleyIt&’s possible to live abundantly in the valley and on the mountain We are more than our accomplishments, more than our mountaintop accomplishments. We are sons and daughters of God, who is calling us to rest in the valley, to replenish our souls, to be formed by the Spirit, to discover abundant life that is found only in Him.
Before You Get Engaged
by David GudgelBefore You Get Engaged offers priceless advice and direction for daters who are considering popping (or answering) the big question. Author and counseling pastor David Gudgel teams with his son, Brent, and Brent's girlfriend, Danielle, using anecdotes, dialogue, and diary entries to discuss the twelve relational indicators indispensable to a healthy, lasting marriage, including:Would you marry you?Are you spiritually connected?Are you better together than apart?Have you considered what God has to say?Complete with fun and endearing proposal tips as well as ways to gently ask your significant other for more time, Before You Get Engaged will equip you with the insight, confidence, and peace to make one of the biggest decisions of your life.
Before You Hit Send: Preventing Headache and Heartache
by Dr Emerson EggerichsWhen will we learn?With every sunrise we are given plenty of new examples of people “Hitting Send” and soon regretting it. Social media means what it says: it is social! Our methods of communication today allow for something to potentially be broadcast to everyone from Pekin, Illinois to Peking, China. But it’s not only Twitter fanatics who can find themselves in trouble. Every single one of us is capable of falling prey to this growing plague.Every day we have the potential of both verbal and written blunders. It makes no difference if we are talking to a stranger over a meat counter, chatting on a cell phone with our mother, or sending an e-mail to a coworker; we can and do miscommunicate and people can and do get the wrong idea. When we don't pause long enough to think before speaking or writing, it commonly yields a misunderstanding and leads to a clash. We end up being the person who said, “You know that sphere of the brain that stops you from saying something that you shouldn't? Well, I don’t have one of those.” This book is about preventing that misunderstanding and allowing for understanding. Said another way, preempting people from getting the wrong idea and enabling them to get the right idea! We all need work in this area in far more ways than just glancing through a checklist. From external examples to internal turmoil, Before You Hit Send is about the four things we must think through before communicating. In all things we wish to say or write, we would be wise to ask ourselves,Is it true?Is it kind?Is it necessary?Is it clear? When we ask and answer these four questions honestly, we will be thinking wisely before we speak. But to explore this fully, we need to find out a whole lot more about ourselves and uncover why we consciously and subconsciously get into these communication disasters to begin with. You may be surprised what you discover about yourself. Shall we begin?
Before You Meet Your Future Husband: 30 Questions to Ask Yourself and 30 Heartfelt Prayers
by Robin Jones Gunn Tricia GoyerBestselling author Robin Jones Gunn teams up with author and teen advocate Tricia Goyer on a devotional for young single women to help them establish God-honoring thinking and beliefs that will lay a firm foundation for their future marriage.Movies, television, and novels feature glamorous portrayals of dating and marriage, giving us unrealistic expectations of what true love looks like. A beautiful counterpoint to those dreamy fantasies, Before You Meet Your Future Husband focuses on three areas you, as a young woman, need to address in preparing for marriage:• your heart—nurturing a place where healthy love can grow• your head—realigning your thoughts with biblical truth• your hands—learning to make the most of your God-given potentialThis uplifting, interactive devotional helps you approach dating from a place of peace and strength, whether you&’re in a relationship now or simply hope to be married one day. With a focus on your own transformation, Before You Meet Your Future Husband offers biblical guidance, real-life stories, thought-provoking questions, and intentional prayers to help you prepare now for the future God has in store for you.Discover the freedom and contentment that come from preparing for a God-honoring, life-giving relationship.
Before You Plan Your Wedding...Plan Your Marriage
by Steve Halliday Erin Smalley Dr. Greg SmalleyBuilding a Marriage That Will Last a Lifetime Authors Greg and Erin Smalley open their hearts and share their lives in Before You Plan Your Wedding...Plan Your Marriage so that you can know not only how to build a marriage that will last, but also how to have the kind of marriage where you and your spouse feel safe and honored and valued. When you feel safe, your heart will be open -- and open hearts make for fulfilling, powerful relationships. Find out about the "fear dance" and how to stop dancing it. Discover the two biggest issues that threaten every marriage and how to stop them before they start. Learn what's more important than finding your soul mate and the significance of happiness in your union. As wonderful as a wedding is, it lasts only for a brief time -- yet marriage is meant to last a lifetime. This important book will show you how to plan your marriage before you plan your wedding.
Before You Quit: Everyday Endurance, Moral Courage, and the Quest for Purpose
by Doug GehmanHow Non-Quitters Changed the WorldYou&’re exhausted. As you see your time and joy being spent on something that isn&’t going the way you planned… some days you wonder if it&’d just be better to quit. Whether it&’s now or later, we&’re all faced with a choice between good and easy, between continuing on through difficulty or giving up. When that day comes, what will you choose?Doug Gehman observed firsthand how God used one man&’s relentless perseverance to change a country, and it changed him. In this book he shares dozens of stories of ordinary people who did extraordinary things for the kingdom of God because they simply kept going—through pain, discouragement, loss, and failure. He&’ll teach you how to cultivate a gritty perseverance that counts the cost and follows through. Become a person of courage and commitment. It&’ll cost you dearly, but it will change your life forever.
Before You Quit: Everyday Endurance, Moral Courage, and the Quest for Purpose
by Doug GehmanHow Non-Quitters Changed the WorldYou&’re exhausted. As you see your time and joy being spent on something that isn&’t going the way you planned… some days you wonder if it&’d just be better to quit. Whether it&’s now or later, we&’re all faced with a choice between good and easy, between continuing on through difficulty or giving up. When that day comes, what will you choose?Doug Gehman observed firsthand how God used one man&’s relentless perseverance to change a country, and it changed him. In this book he shares dozens of stories of ordinary people who did extraordinary things for the kingdom of God because they simply kept going—through pain, discouragement, loss, and failure. He&’ll teach you how to cultivate a gritty perseverance that counts the cost and follows through. Become a person of courage and commitment. It&’ll cost you dearly, but it will change your life forever.
Before You Say “I Do” Devotional
by H. Norman WrightNorm Wright shares a companion devotional for those who are about to be married. This unique tool features passages that can be studied individually and then discussed and also contains more than 60 insightful devotions that couples can complete together. Engaged couples will acquire a solid understanding of how to develop a biblical relationship based on Jesus Christ and prayerfully trust Him to be the cornerstone of their lifelong bond.
Before You Split: Find What You Really Want for the Future of Your Marriage
by Toni NieuwhofWhat would it take to leave your unhappiness behind instead of your spouse? A former divorce attorney lays out the hidden benefits of staying together in an age when separation and divorce are common.&“Toni Nieuwhof is the guide you&’ve been waiting for. Deeply wise, genuinely empathetic, and uncommonly insightful, Toni is a fresh voice with tried and true experience that offers a proven roadmap.&”—Ann Voskamp, New York Times bestselling author of The Broken Way and One Thousand GiftsIf you&’ve ever said, &“I can&’t do this anymore!&” out of frustration with your marriage, you&’re definitely not alone.In this practical and insightful guide, former divorce attorney Toni Nieuwhof shows that even if you feel disconnected or stuck in your troubled marriage—and worry about its impact on your kids—there is a way forward.Before You Split helps you find what you really want from your marriage and how to move forward to a better future by:• seeing yourself and your spouse more clearly• dealing with unrealistic expectations• empowering you with constructive ways to respond to difficult emotions• engaging the power of forgiveness• increasing your peacemaking skills• advancing your journey of personal growthEven when it feels like it&’s over, it&’s not too late. Change takes place one step at a time. Before You Split will help you make choices with your eyes wide open.
Before You Wake: Life Lessons from a Father to His Children
by Erick EricksonFrom Erick Erickson, "arguably the most powerful conservative in America today" (The Atlantic), an inspiring book about life's enduring values, based on a viral essay he wrote for his children after he and his wife both faced grave medical situations.In late 2016, prompted by the news that his wife was battling cancer and his own pulmonary medical scare, Erick Erickson posted a piece to his website, The Resurgent. Styled as a letter to his young children, the piece, titled "If I Should Die Before You Wake," was a stirring message--and challenge--about how to live a life of purpose and joy. The essay went viral, shared by figures like New York Times columnist and author of The Road to Character, David Brooks. Now, in a time when our country needs healing and a reminder of our values more than ever, Erickson has expanded the project, composing a total of ten letters, featuring a wonderful mix of the practical, inspirational, and spiritual.
Before You Were Mine: Discovering Your Adopted Child’s Lifestory
by Sherrie Eldridge Carissa Woodwyk Susan TebosWritten by an adoptive mother and an adoptee daughter, Before You Were Mine offers a unique Christian perspective on creating a Lifebook that commemorates your child’s birth story. Complete with worksheets and advice from adoptive families, you’ll find that remembering and celebrating your child’s history can be fun, rewarding, and even redemptive. You’ll discover how to ucover and organize details of their birth story, make the story both truthful and positive, and use the Lifebook to trace God’s faithfulness. This powerful concept takes the guesswork out of how and when you’ll talk about your adopted child’s beginnings—and offers him or her a lasting memento that helps them overcome uncertainty and fear to rest in Christ’s unconditional love. How will you embrace your child’s birth story as part of God’s plan? Before You Were Mine will help you relax and rejoice in the beautiful story God is writing for your child.
Before a Bad Goodbye: How to Turn Your Marriage Around
by Tim ClintonTim Clinton has seen three outcomes through his marriage counseling practice-divorce, marriage in name only, and reconciliation. Reconciliation is, by far, the most difficult option. In Before a Bad Goodbye, he shows couples at the breaking point how to nurture forgiveness, develop mutual respect and demonstrate selfless love on a new path to reconciliation.
Before and After
by E. Gaylon MccolloughBefore and After is the culmination of years of preparation and study-in various "schools" and arenas. It gave me reason to pause-to question why do we think what we think, do what we do? As I looked at choices being made by, for and about people living in a twenty-first century society, I saw justification for concern. And believing that a problem, once identified, is on its way to being resolved, / set out to do what I could to draw attention to predicaments facing us-one and all-and without fear of what I'd open up- for remedy's sake. I wrestled with the decision of how vividly to describe things as I see them. Subsequently I concluded that it was a reasonable thing to do. . .and the timing was appropriate. Before and After brings you face to face with opposing sides of the points at issue. The book is intended to be provocative. It weaves in and out of different timeframes, arenas and agendas. A straight-talk format brings questions to the forefront. You will see that we are in the midst of a civil war. In this new war standards are the enemy, achievers are the targets, and ideals are taboo. Opinionated readers at all bands of the social spectrum may be stirred. Problem-makers may cry "foul," but truth-seekers should find answers to new and old riddles. You will be encouraged to look inward and question how you fit into the scheme of things. We'll review methods of decision-making which might help you "bring success from inhospitable surroundings," then explore ways to make good things happen-to look better, feel better, be better. Before and After re-examines values based upon Natural and man-made law. As evidenced by the success stories of men and women you will meet, we are all very much a product of the choices we have made. If you follow the exercises in self-analysis set forth in Before and After you may discover how to identify and arouse a sleeping giant lying dormant within yourself. You could become more than you ever imagined-physically, mentally, vocationally, socially and spiritually. Before and After will challenge you to ask why as well as who, what, when and where-to look more closely at what is happening to, and around, you. You might also become more resolute in your convictions and recognize what a far-reaching effect the power of one can have upon initiating the kind of change that upgrades.
Before and After Muhammad: The First Millennium Refocused
by Garth FowdenA new historical framework integrating Islam into European and Asian historyIslam emerged amid flourishing Christian and Jewish cultures, yet students of Antiquity and the Middle Ages mostly ignore it. Despite intensive study of late Antiquity over the last fifty years, even generous definitions of this period have reached only the eighth century, whereas Islam did not mature sufficiently to compare with Christianity or rabbinic Judaism until the tenth century. Before and After Muhammad suggests a new way of thinking about the historical relationship between the scriptural monotheisms, integrating Islam into European and West Asian history.Garth Fowden identifies the whole of the First Millennium--from Augustus and Christ to the formation of a recognizably Islamic worldview by the time of the philosopher Avicenna--as the proper chronological unit of analysis for understanding the emergence and maturation of the three monotheistic faiths across Eurasia. Fowden proposes not just a chronological expansion of late Antiquity but also an eastward shift in the geographical frame to embrace Iran.In Before and After Muhammad, Fowden looks at Judaism, Christianity, and Islam alongside other important developments in Greek philosophy and Roman law, to reveal how the First Millennium was bound together by diverse exegetical traditions that nurtured communities and often stimulated each other.
Before the Door of God: An Anthology of Devotional Poetry
by Kimberly Johnson Jay HoplerBefore the Door of God traces the development of devotional English-language poetry from its origins in ancient hymnody to its current twenty-first-century incarnations. The poems in this volume demonstrate not only that devotional poetry—poetry that speaks to the divine—remains in vigorous practice, but also that the tradition reaches back to the very origins of poetry in English. There is a sense in these pages that the tradition of lyric poetry that developed was nearly inevitable, given the inherent concerns of the genre. <p><p>Featuring the work of poets over a three-thousand-year period, Before the Door of God places the devotional lyric in its cultural, historical, and aesthetic contexts. The volume traces the various influences on this tradition and identifies features that persist in devotional lyric poetry across centuries, cultures, and stylistic differences. To scholars, literary professionals, and general readers who find delight in fine poetry, this anthology offers much to contemplate and discuss.
Before the Flood: The Biblical Flood as a Real Event and How It Changed the Course of Civilization
by Ian WilsonIn the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.The great Biblical flood so described in Genesis has long been a subject of fascination and speculation. In the 19th century the English archbishop James Ussher established it as having happened in the year 2348 B.C., calculating what was then taken as the age of the earth and working backward through the entire series of Biblical "begats." Proof of the flood, which is an element of so many creation myths, began in earnest when archaeology started connecting physical evidence with Biblical story. The dream of proving the Bible as literal truth has proven irresistible, producing both spurious claims and serious scholarship.As best-selling historian Ian Wilson reveals in this fascinating new book, evidence of a catastrophic event has been building steadily, culminating in the work of William Ryan and Walter Pitman. Several years ago Ryan and Pitman had posited that around 5600 BC there had an inundation in the Black Sea of such proportions that it turned the freshwater lake into a saltwater lake by connecting it to the Mediterranean. Were that true, they estimated that there would be signs of civilization 300 feet below the surface of the Black Sea. In September 2000, using his famous underwater equipment, Robert Ballard (of SS Titanic fame) explored parts of the Black Sea near the Turkish shore and found the remains of wood houses. There had been a flood, and whether God's wrath or not it had destroyed everything around it for hundreds of miles, killing tens of thousands of people.Exploring all the archeological evidence, Wilson explains how the Black Sea flood and the Biblical flood have to be connected. In particular, Wilson argues, learnedly and persuasively, that the center of the civilized world was further to the West than previously thought-not in Egypt or Mesopotamia but in what is today Northern Turkey. The earliest, antediluvian civilizations may have migrated east into those places we have come to call the cradles of civilization, forced by the Black Sea flood to create new settlements.Scrupulous in its details and compelling in its sweep, Before the Flood is narrative detective history at its most provocative, contributing a vital new chapter to the debate about the Bible and origins of the modern world.