Dying Religions

When she was pregnant with her second child, Stephanie Arnold had a sudden and overwhelming premonition that she would die during the delivery. Although she tried to tell the medical team and her family what was going to happen, neither the doctors nor her loved ones gave her warnings credence. One member of the medical team who did take her concerns seriously enough made the fateful decision to order extra units of blood “just in case”. Then, during the delivery, Stephanie suffered a rare amniotic fluid embolism.

Past and present civilizations failed and fail for many reasons, but the number-one predictor of a civilization’s survival is its sense of religion—or lack thereof. So argues David Goldman in How Civilizations Die (and Why Islam Is Dying Too). The strength of a civilization’s religion affects its purpose, its fertility rate, and ultimately, its fate, says Goldman—who then argues that, contrary to popular belief, Islamic countries are in the last throes of death while Christian America is in a position to flourish.

John Wyatt focuses on the ars moriendi—quite simply the art of dying well and dying faithfully. He offers clear direction, warm reassurance and rock-solid confidence in the One who has conquered death. We cannot choreograph our own death, but we can die well. This is a book for those who are facing death. It is also for their relatives, friends, and caretakers.

Thomas G. Long, one of America's most trusted and thoughtful pulpit voices, provides a much needed theological and cultural critique of today's Christian funeral. Long begins by describing how the Christian funeral developed historically, theologically, and liturgically and then discusses recent cultural trends in funeral practices, including the rise in number of cremations and memorial services.

End-of-life doula Anna Lyons and funeral director Louise Winter have joined forces to share a collection of the heartbreaking, surprising and uplifting stories of the ordinary and extraordinary lives they encounter every single day. From working with the living, the dying, the dead and the grieving, Anna and Louise reveal the lessons they’ve learned about life, death, love and loss. Together they’ve created a profound but practical guide to rethinking the one thing that’s guaranteed to happen to us all.

Women who love Jesus often struggle with the endless pursuit of things they think will make them happy. Power, possessions, pleasure, Prosecco, Pilates. You get the gist. Margaret Jen Burke noticed that her life was becoming too entangled and that she was losing touch with the Creator. Dying to Live tells her story and helps women better prepare for what matters in eternity.

The case for assisted suicide can seem so compelling. Surely it can't be wrong to help desperate people to kill themselves? Don't we have a right to take our own lives in certain circumstances? There are no trite or easy answers. John Wyatt helps us to navigate the arguments with hearts and heads engaged, and above all with our Bibles open. There are practical and compassionate alternatives to assisted suicide, and as many who have gone before us have found, the end of our lives on this earth may turn out to be a strange and wonderful opportunity for growth and internal healing.

Samuel Rutherford (c. 1600 – 1661) was a Scottish Presbyterian pastor, theologian and author, and one of the Scottish Commissioners to the Westminster Assembly. Rutherford has been described as a "prince of letter writers" and was also known for devotional works like Christ Dying and Drawing Sinners to Himself which discusses the mercy of God.

The Rainbow Bridge illuminates the common ground within the world’s major religions and spiritual systems. It can be used to help bring about a sense of inner peace and calmness no matter what is going on in the world around you.

On December 10, 2009, Crystal McVea was being treated in a hospital for pancreatitis. Her heart stopped pumping for nine minutes before doctors managed to revive her. In those nine minutes, she went to heaven, stood with God, and was forever changed.

Have the Scriptures been twisted to keep you in bondage? The real Jesus wants to set you free. Addressing some of the controversial teachings about “striving,” “daily dying to self,” and more, Rebecca Davis untwists Scriptures by looking at word meaning, context, and the heart of God for His people. You can learn what the Bible really says about striving, what the Bible really teaches instead of dying to self, and what the Bible has to say about life, knowing that if you follow and love the Lord He does not require you to try to engage in ongoing death.

You don't have to be dying to have questions about death, the afterlife, legacy planning, and more. Life and legacy coach Elizabeth Turnage presents bite-size biblical answers on theological and practical issues, accompanied by beautiful hymns, prayers, reflection questions, and additional resources. Rediscover hope as you meditate on the glory that lies ahead.

Near death experience is a recognized universal phenomenon. Is it bringing us closer to the meaning of life itself? The phrase "near death experience" can be incredibly evocative. While for some it might simply suggest the proximity to an accident or a personal tragedy, the meaning behind a near death experience is often a great deal more spiritual. After listening to this audiobook, you will be knowledgeable about near death experiences and will know the truth behind NDEs.

Bringing Death to Life shines light onto a subject that is too often feared or avoided in our everyday conversations: death. But the authors of this book suggest that it might be wiser to recognize, understand, and accept death, rather than be frightened of it. When Patricia lost her parents, she experienced a journey of loss and grief, which later became the catalyst for this book.

Death is an inevitable part of our lives, yet most societies have struggled to come to terms with it. Today, we continue to grapple with the enduring questions - What is Death? Why do we fear it? What happens after death? Is it an end or a doorway to something beyond?

A priest and a dying atheist engage in a final dialogue. Reason vs. faith, and in the end...

This nonfiction audiobook will tell the story behind the upcoming film All Saints. The movie is inspired by the true story of salesman-turned-pastor Michael Spurlock, the tiny church he was ordered to shut down, and a group of refugees from Southeast Asia. Together, they risk everything to plant seeds for a future that might just save them all. Michael's first assignment as their new pastor is to close down All Saints, a dilapidated country church with a dozen devoted members and a mortgage well beyond its means.

Galactica: A Treatise on Death, Dying and the Afterlife: Continuing the journey begun in The Mysteries of the Redemption: A Treatise on Out-of-Body Travel and Mysticism, the author takes you on an out-of-body journey into the worlds of the galactic heavens, the worlds beyond death. Traveling the road of terminal illness, you'll follow the footsteps of a soul preparing for death, learn from those who have already crossed over, and witness the after-death experience of a soul as she leaves this world.

Pick up the acclaimed Atlas of Cursed Places, and visit the world's most nerve-wracking locations. With pithy historical profiles, this is a clever gift for the intrepid traveler or armchair adventurer who wants to explore destinations both remarkable and daunting. Visit: a coal town where the ground is constantly on fire; a Zambian national park where more than eight million bats darken the skies; the infamous suicide location of Aokigahara Forest near Mount Fuji; the lesser-known Nevada triangle, in which dozens of aircraft have inexplicably disappeared.

Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche’s experience begins the night he has chosen to embark on a four-year wandering retreat, slipping past the monastery gates. Alone for the first time in his life, he sets out into the unknown. His initial motivation is to step away from his life of privilege and to explore the deepest, most hidden aspects of his being, but what he discovers throughout his retreat - about himself and about the world around us - comes to define his meditation practice and teaching.